The Next-Level Christian

Salvation is free, but the anointing will cost you everything. When you get saved, you lose your unsaved friends. When you become anointed, you lose your lukewarm friends. There is a price to pay for the anointing. All of us have the anointing within us, but not all of us walk in the anointing.

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” - 1 John 2:27 (KJV)

The anointing is God’s power. We all carry God’s power, but not all of us live in such a way that His power can flow through us to help those around us. 

If you desire God’s power to move through you, then you must count the cost.

The anointing oil, which was symbolic of God’s empowering presence, was created from olive oil. The olives used for the oil had to be shaken from their trees and then crushed. So two things had to happen before the oil was produced: a shaking and a crushing.

If you want God to use you, you’ll have to be okay with Him shaking you from the familiar. God loves you too much to leave you in mediocrity. So He’ll shake the systems upon which you rely, He’ll shake the relationships that hold you back, He’ll shake the circumstances that limit your potential in Him. 

Don’t expect that your life will go just as you want it to go. Expect that your plans will be disrupted. Expect that you’ll find yourself in situations that require much faith. After all, if where you are doesn’t require faith, you’re not in the will of God.

And after you are shaken from the familiar, you will be crushed, put under pressure to be processed. Here’s the thing: pressure can only reveal what’s already within you; it can’t produce what’s lacking. Only the Spirit-filled produce power under pressure. 

So if you want God to use you, if you truly want to walk in the anointing, you must die to self. God must process you before He can use you. Now, sadly, because we live in the day of social media, anyone can create an online platform. And because anyone can create an online platform, anyone can skip the process.

But ministry is more than influence; it’s service. We’re ministers, not public figures; servants, not celebrities. We’re called to preach God’s Word, not our political preferences or personal opinions. Ministry is not a promotion; it’s a death to self. Put your desires on the cross and leave them there.

But the reward is beyond worth it. Our reward is that we will please the Lord. Our reward is knowing that Jesus will reap the reward of His suffering - lost souls.

So if you want the anointing, die to self. The Holy Spirit can’t fill you if you’re full of yourself. Your prayer should be, “Lord, spend my life for your glory.” Count the cost. Lay it down. Let God’s power flow through you.

And remember that the anointing doesn’t come through striving; it comes through surrender.

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A Fresh Anointing

Apathy, familiarity, monotony – these are far more detrimental to your spiritual well being than even some demonic assaults. Human nature can be so easily sidetracked. We have the tendency to veer off track. This is why it is so important to approach our walk with the Lord on a moment-by-moment basis. Whether yesterday ended in victory or defeat, we must focus on today.

We must learn to walk in a fresh anointing, a fresh touch of God’s power.

 “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.” – Psalm 92:10 (KJV)

(“Unicorn” in the original language simply means “beast with a single horn”. Some scholars speculate that David is referring to a rhinoceros in Psalm 92:10)

It is important to maintain the flow of God’s power upon our lives. Surely, the power and presence of the Holy Spirit are always within us. His presence is an internal and eternal reality. Though we do not need to acquire power within, we must live a life that maintains power upon. What good does it do to have God’s power within us if we live in a way that stifles the flow of God’s power upon us and through us?

Yesterday’s anointing cannot break today’s yokes. We need fresh oil!

It is so important to keep the oil fresh. This is accomplished through daily surrender to the Holy Spirit. Don’t get comfortable in spiritual success. Don’t get lazy with spiritual disciplines.

When we lack fresh oil, there is a dryness to our walk with the Lord. There is a struggle in the flow of God’s power. The miracle anointing loses its potency as it ages. We mustn’t operate from a reservoir of the anointing. We must receive it fresh daily.

Pastors and ministers, without the anointing, the ministry can feel like a career. Without a fresh anointing, we struggle to put together sermons and offer prayer. However, when we operate in a fresh anointing, we receive a stronger witness and joy.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8 (NLT)

“…the lampstand also for the light and its utensils and its lamps and the oil for the light;” – Exodus 35:14

The power of the Holy Spirit has been given to us to win souls. The oil is what keeps the light of the gospel burning in your life.

Fresh oil will also bring joy.

“You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” – Psalm 45:7 (NLT)

So I want to give you this simple encouragement: get back to or remain connected to the source. Get back to or stay in the place of daily surrender to the Holy Spirit. Whether good or bad, let the past be the past – receive fresh oil today.

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What's the Difference Between the Presence of the Holy Spirit & His Power?

The power of the Holy Spirit is what He does. The presence of the Holy Spirit is Himself. God’s message is endorsed by the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s people are endorsed by the presence of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit can change your circumstance, but the presence of the Holy Spirit can change your heart. The power of the Holy Spirit comes upon you. The presence of the Holy Spirit dwells within you. The power is for service. The presence is for salvation. The power helps you to do. The presence helps you to become. 

Here is the presence within you.

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? (1 Corinthians 6:19, NLT)

Here is the power upon you.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. (Acts 1:8, NLT)

The power stirs you. The presence stills you. The power activates the gifts. The presence is the glory. The power inspires praise. The presence inspires worship. The key to the power of the Holy Spirit is the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Tell me in the comments: Did I miss anything? How would you describe the power of the Holy Spirit? What would you say about the presence of the Holy Spirit?

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Are There Different Kinds of Anointing?

Just like most vehicles are powered by one kind of fuel - gasoline - so all ministries, gifts, and spiritual expressions are powered by one source: the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The anointing, simply put, is the power of God. It’s God’s ability at work in us. 

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:38, NLT)

Though the anointing can accomplish different purposes, there is only one anointing. If you have the Holy Spirit within you, not only does the anointing work within you; the anointing also works through you to reach those around you.

18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.f” (Luke 4:18-19, NLT)

The anointing brings the power to proclaim the gospel, the power to bring healing, the power to bring deliverance, and more. The power of the Holy Spirit does it all.

Now, some believers wonder how they can acquire the "healing anointing”, the “deliverance anointing”, or the "prophetic anointing.” Some imagine that there are different kinds of anointing that require different protocols and procedures in order to collect. They may think that there’s something special one must do for the healing anointing, perhaps a special prayer to get the deliverance anointing, and so forth. But it’s actually quite simple.

The key to walking in the power of the Holy Spirit is surrender to the Holy Spirit.

When you live a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit, you make yourself available for God to use you in whatever way He wishes. So there are no secret keys. Live holy. Have a strong prayer life. Stay in the Word. And follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Just love Jesus. 

When you surrender to the Holy Spirit, you get the power of the Holy Spirit.

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3 Kinds of Impartation

Impartation has the power to accelerate your spiritual growth and to help lay a foundation for the future of your ministry. Impartation is the spiritual transfer that takes place through relationship. When I open myself to the teachings of or relationship with an anointed individual, I become a recipient of impartation. A portion of what’s on their life begins to rub off on mine. 

So, here are the three kinds of Biblical impartation and how to experience them in fullness:

#1 Given Impartation 

#2 Shared Impartation

#3  Received Impartation 

Given impartation is when I reach down. Shared impartation is when I reach across. Received impartation is when I reach up. Given impartation takes place when I act as a mentor. Shared impartation takes place when I act as a fellow laborer. Received impartation takes place when I act as a student.

#1 Given Impartation

You may think yourself too spiritually undeveloped to teach anybody anything about the Lord or spiritual truths. But this is simply not the case. For example, let’s take the new convert. The new convert typically knows little to nothing about what the Bible says about various truths and life applications. However, even the new convert can share their testimony. In sharing their testimony with a non-believer, the new convert is sharing the gospel. And in sharing the gospel, the new convert is evangelizing. 

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NLT)

Evangelism, fundamentally, is a form of impartation. So no matter where you are in your spiritual growth, there’s something you can impart to someone who is coming along the path after you. 

#2 Shared Impartation

The Scripture tells us that iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17); it also tells us that bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33). Impartation doesn’t just take place between a mentor and a disciple. It can occur between two spiritual peers. The anointing of your peers rubs off on you, and the anointing on your life rubs off on them too.

#3 Received Impartation 

Now, it’s important to note that all power comes from the Holy Spirit within you, and that power works in proportion to your time spent in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. The more time you spend in the presence of the Holy Spirit, the greater the manifestation of power on your life.

But God has given to us gifts in the form of anointed individuals. For example, this is what the Word says in Ephesians chapter four:

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12, NLT)

While receiving from anointed men and women of God, it’s important to keep this in mind: There is a big difference between impartation and imitation. You’re not the next anyone; you’re the first you. 

In fact, impartation makes you a unique expression of God’s power. As you glean from various servants of the Lord, you become a unique and uncommon blend of the anointing.

Impartation doesn’t just help to make you unique. It also accelerates your spiritual growth, as you learn by the Spirit from those with decades of experience. Growth from impartation should be a reality experienced by every single believer.

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7 Levels of Ministry Influence

The Holy Spirit loves us all equally, but He trusts us in proportion to our obedience. Every sincere believer wants to be trusted and used by the Lord. So what’s the first step? Being used by God is as simple as obeying God. Simply do what’s before you, and allow promotion to come from the Lord. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NLT)

You will receive power when the Spirit comes upon you. What’s the purpose of that power? The purpose of that power is to turn you into a witness, one who shares the gospel. And as you are faithful in sharing the gospel, God is the One Who brings about the results. You do the possible, and God will do the impossible. You preach the gospel, and God will save the lost.

Now, notice that the Bible says, “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The early Church spread the gospel first in the city of Jerusalem, then the regions of Judea and Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth. 

Their influence grew gradually. So I believe it also goes with us.

These are the seven levels of ministry influence:

1. Personal

2. Corporate

3. Regional

4. National

5. Global

6. Generational 

7. Eternal

Personal influence first occurs in you, as the Holy Spirit works on your character and nature. He breaks the bondage of sin over your life and delivers you from demonic influence. That personal influence then begins to touch your loved ones. This is the initial stage of ministry impact.

Then the Spirit will raise you to become effective in a local body of believers, a local church, corporate influence. And, yes, a local church is Biblical. God creates systems - the solar system, your immune system, ecosystems, and so forth. Creation is filled with orderly systems that reflect the orderly nature of God. The church is no different. Yes, it’s organized, and, yes, that’s how God intended it. And it’s not possible to edify the body of Christ using your spiritual gifts outside of the context of the body of Christ, which is clearly described in the New Testament. And if you are faithful to serve in a local body of believers, God may raise you to have regional influence.

Regional influence is impact over a city or even a State or province. Likewise, national and global influence impact nations and the world.

Now, here I must stress that it’s important to think of ourselves soberly. Just because I preach in different States doesn’t mean I have national influence. Just because I have a list of countries on my preaching itinerary doesn’t mean I have national or global influence. National influence means that when I operate in my gift, nations shift. The same concept applies to global influence. Very few reach that level.

However, the level of your influence really is up to God. After all, it’s about His agenda, not our notoriety. So don’t concern yourself with how you’re raised. Just obey what God has spoken and leave promotion in His hands. How far you’ll go is none of your business. So don’t go after influence, go after obedience. 

And as we obey, we all can share in the collective impact of generational and eternal consequence. Just by living a holy life that glorifies God, you become the preservation of your generation - and generations beyond. And by simply sharing the gospel, you’re not just impacting lives; you’re impacting eternities. 

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How to Receive the Holy Spirit

How do you receive the Holy Spirit? The answer is that you receive the Holy Spirit by being born again. From the very moment you are saved, you are Spirit-filled. 

Romans 8:9

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

The Bible makes it perfectly clear that one cannot belong to God as His child unless that one has the Spirit of God. Salvation and the Spirit go hand-in-hand. If you are saved, you have the Spirit. If you have the Spirit, you are saved. The infilling of the Holy Spirit and born-again experience occur simultaneously.

So then what of this second experience? What does it mean for a believer to receive or be baptized with the Holy Spirit?

Acts 19:2

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

That’s a very interesting portion of Scripture. The believers mentioned had never even heard of the Holy Spirit. They had already believed the gospel. They were already born again. Yet they had never heard of the Holy Spirit. So how can this be? 

How is it that the Holy Spirit can be received at salvation and then received again? 

To understand this, you must understand that you are a spirit, who has a soul, that lives in a body. 

1 Thessalonians 5:23

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

Body. Soul. Spirit. At salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in your spirit. At baptism, He flows from deep within your spirit to affect the outer aspects of your nature. Jesus Himself confirmed this truth.

John 7:38

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.’”

At salvation, we receive Him. At baptism, we release Him. The baptism of the Spirit is not rain from Heaven, it’s a river from within. The baptism of the Spirit isn’t about you getting more of the Spirit; it’s about Him getting more of you. 

So you receive the holy Spirit into your spirit through putting your faith in Jesus and being born again. It is then that you become one Spirit with Him. And you receive the Holy Spirit into the soul and body, into your daily life, into your every moment, through obedience and surrender.

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Don't Quench the Holy Spirit

I was ministering at a church in Southern California, and the service was prophetically anointed. I mean the prophetic was activated with such intensity that I was shocked at some of the things that were coming out of my own mouth! People’s very thoughts were being revealed, and I could see and hear into the spirit with an unusual clarity.

I continued to prophesy over people, and each person receiving a word would either break down into tears or gasp at the detailed words of knowledge. I said something like, “I’m in a whole different place in the spirit now! I can see so clearly.” The people were captivated by the Spirit, and the room was silent with anticipation.

As I scanned the crowd with my eyes, I noticed a woman walking in from the very back of the church. She walked all the way from the back, moved down the aisle, and sat directly in the front row, right in front of me. The way she entered was so distracting that I watched her take her seat. Then, as if my eyes were released from a locked position, I readjusted my vision. Right at that moment, I felt normal again. The weight of power lifted from my shoulders, and I could no longer see with that astonishing clarity. The flow was broken. Immediately, I said, “Well, that’s it. I’m done.” Then I handed the microphone back to the pastor and left.

That woman disrupted the move of the Holy Spirit. She came in and distracted me—as well as the people.

I learned a long time ago that nothing breaks the flow of the anointing like distraction. It’s possible to disrupt a move of the Spirit.

Quench not the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 5:19 KJV).

The Holy Spirit is a fire, and He can be quenched. Remember, in us, He only goes as far as we allow Him to go.

I’m not suggesting that the Holy Spirit is a weak and easily frightened Person. We are the ones who can be easily distracted. Distraction doesn’t stop the Holy Spirit from moving; distraction stops us from recognizing and receiving that move.

We can stifle Him with distraction, rejection, and foolishness. Be careful to reverence and embrace the Holy Spirit. Don’t disrupt His moving. Don’t despise His ways.

Don’t quench the Holy Spirit.

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The Anointing

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” (Luke 4:18-19, NLT)

It is the anointing that makes the difference. Without the anointing, preaching is just motivation, churches are just gatherings, ministry is just charity, and people are powerless. If you truly want to walk in power, you need the anointing.

It was the anointing upon Jesus that empowered Him to preach the good news, proclaim freedom to the captives, and heal the sick. When it comes to operating at that level of ministry, there are no gimmicks or techniques that can be applied, no methods to manufacture results. It really is just the anointing. There are no substitutes or counterfeits for the anointing; either you walk in it or you don’t.

We need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Methods cannot replace miracles. The systematic cannot replace the spiritual. Programs cannot replace power. Don’t try to do it in your own strength. Cry out for a fresh anointing. Abandon the cares of this world and enter into the deepest places of prayer. There, in the presence of God, you will find the power of the Spirit - the anointing.

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Symbols of the Holy Spirit: Oil

What does it mean to be anointed?

In the Old Testament, when an individual was being anointed, oil was poured upon them (usually upon the head). This ceremonious applying of oil was known as “being anointed.” When someone was anointed, they were understood to be positioned, placed in authority, and ultimately set apart for a specific purpose.

The oil was a mark of power, of God’s call.

Kings were anointed.

Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be My king.” …So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah (1 Samuel 16:1,13).

Prophets were anointed.

Then anoint Jehu grandson of Nimshi to be king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from the town of Abel-meholah to replace you as My prophet (1 Kings 19:16).

Priests were anointed.

Clothe your brother, Aaron, and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they can serve as My priests (Exodus 28:41).

Special holy items and places, such as altars, were anointed.

Each day you must sacrifice a young bull as a sin offering to purify them, making them right with the Lord. Afterward, cleanse the altar by purifying it; make it holy by anointing it with oil (Exodus 29:36).

In the New Testament, God marked and anointed Jesus, not just with oil, but with the Holy Spirit.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38).

The anointing oil was a foreshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Just as oil was poured from above and onto the head of those appointed, so the Holy Spirit is poured out from above onto the head of the Church—Jesus Christ.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for He has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free (Luke 4:18).

You and I today are not anointed with oil but with power and the Holy Spirit. He sets us apart and empowers us for God’s use.

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9 Marks of a Move of the Holy Spirit

A true move of the Holy Spirit will always be marked in certain ways. While the move of God will vary in the way it looks from one generation to another, there will remain these distinguishing marks:

#1 The Church Emphasizes Evangelism (Acts 1:8)

When the Holy Spirit is allowed influence in the lives of His people, He will stir them to evangelism. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns for the lost, and those who truly catch that flame themselves burn to win souls.

#2 The Church Preaches the Gospel (Acts 2:38)

While we can become so distracted by many themes and concepts (leadership, encouragement, church growth, etc.), a true move of the Holy Spirit will always bring a people back to the preaching of salvation through Jesus Christ. That includes the themes of grace, forgiveness, the cross, love, and mercy. It also includes the themes of Heaven, Hell, eternity, repentance, sin, judgment, and death.

#3 The Church Honors Leadership (Acts 2:42)

Today’s culture portrays the “people in charge” as the villains and the oppressors. But the leadership of the Church is a gift from God - there not to rule us but to protect us. Godly leadership brings about spiritual freedom, not spiritual oppression. A people in revival respect and honor their spiritual leaders.

#4 The Church Lives in a State of Awe (Acts 2:43)

Cynicism and doubt dissolve in a culture of faith and awe. Awe undoes the effects of familiarity. When the Church is experiencing a move of the Holy Spirit, the awe of God returns to it.

#5 The Church Witnesses the Miraculous (Acts 2:43)

Miracle healing will never become outdated. Even with all of the advances in the medical field, there still remains a need for miraculous healing. The Church has the power to command sickness and diseases. In a move of the Holy Spirit, miracles and healing are a part of the culture. Miracles and healing should not be treated as liabilities but rather powerful tools to reach the world. The world is hungry for the supernatural.

#6 The Church Gives Generously (Acts 2:45 & 46)

Generosity is a key mark of a move of the Holy Spirit. People become overwhelmed by generosity with a focus on giving to expand the Kingdom of God.

#7 The Church Gathers Regularly (Acts 2:46)

Unity is cultivated in gathering. A simple yet telling sign of a move of the Holy Spirit is that people gather.

#8 The Church Grows (Acts 2:47)

A crowd alone is not the mark of growth, nor is a crowd necessarily God’s endorsement. However, when the Holy Spirit is moving upon a people, disciples begin to multiply themselves.

#9 The Church Emphasizes the Work the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2)

The Lord spoke to me, “I’m calling you to introduce my Holy Spirit to your generation”, and I long to see the Church as a whole return to an emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s power. That’s why I talk about the precious Holy Spirit so often.

All other movements and trends will eventually phase out, but the move of the Holy Spirit will always come full circle - history and scripture assure us of that wonderful truth. I prophesy a fresh emphasis on the Person of the Holy Spirit.

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Honoring Your Saul

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and the Lord sent a tormenting spirit[a] that filled him with depression and fear. 15 Some of Saul’s servants said to him, “A tormenting spirit from God is troubling you. 16 Let us find a good musician to play the harp whenever the tormenting spirit troubles you. He will play soothing music, and you will soon be well again.” 21 So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. – 1 Samuel 16:14-16,21

That portion of scripture intrigues me for a couple of reasons. One, I can’t help but wonder what could have happened had Saul become broken in spirit enough to repent before the Lord. Could there have been a godly transition between David and Saul? Might Saul have served David as an advisor? Would scripture have acquired another story of redemption? Those are just a few of the questions that run through my mind.

Second, it is quite the display of character that David was able to serve Saul, the one he would replace as king. David knew that Saul was no longer God’s choice. David knew that Saul’s reign was coming to an end. Perhaps David even knew about the Lord’s displeasure with Saul. Still, David served Saul.

Saul was not right with God. Saul had many character flaws. Saul disobeyed God publicly and privately. Saul was self-absorbed, insecure, competitive, jealous, and ambitious. Yet David served him. Saul was a terrible example of God’s anointed, yet David served Him.

And the Lord was not angry with David for serving Saul; He was pleased with David.

Saul, at that point in his life, was the worst example of a godly leader. He lived well below the standard of what we imagine to be deserving of honor.

Yet David served him.

And in serving Saul, David didn’t aid in Saul’s disobedience. David didn’t align himself with Saul’s every belief.

My point is this: Saul is one of the worst examples of leadership, yet David served him. This means that we are without excuse when we don’t honor the men and women of God who have preceded us.

I often hear critical believers making unkind remarks about the mothers and fathers of our faith. Quick to pinpoint every error and slow to forgive, the conspiracy theologians blame our predecessors for every problem in the church, claiming that they themselves will redeem the name of Christ among this generation.

That’s easy to claim. But what happens when they make blatant mistakes? Actually, what happens when even their positive actions are purposely interpreted as an example of ungodliness? What happens when their every word is twisted and taken from context? What happens is they learn that it’s not so easy to lead.

I am not trying to make excuses for Saul. I am conveying this very clear warning: We must avoid this sort of pharisaic accusation, lest we also prepare to take it upon ourselves. The called must honor their predecessors, even if their predecessors are like Saul.

Am I saying to endorse or enable sin? Am I advising you to sit under the teaching of blatant heresy? Of course not! I’m simply saying that we must not carry a hyper-critical spirit. We must be ready to honor those who God has placed before us, even if those placed before us have flaws.

The honor you place upon your predecessors is directly proportional to your promotion in the spirit.

Furthermore, not every leader is a Saul. But if we are supposed to honor the Sauls, how much more should we honor the godly examples of leadership?

Honor the anointing. Have grace for the man.

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The Secret to Anointed Ministry

Unless you’ve gone out of your way, you’re reading these words on a digital screen. Your eyes are scanning across these letters that are presented upon a plain backdrop. What you don’t see, and what you’re not currently thinking about is this: behind this simple-looking display of words is a complex combination of technology that works to achieve the visual. This display shows up on your computer or device screen, and you don’t have to understand it to benefit from it.

That’s the nature of ministry. People come and receive without knowing what it took for you to become God’s display. The public’s benefit was cultivated in your private struggle

God does His most effective work in you in the secret place.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1

What is the secret place? It is privacy. It is seclusion.

The secret to anointed ministry is how you treat the secret place, your private time. There must be a place and a time that you set aside for worship, prayer, and devotion to God’s Word. There is no substitute for what you do in the secret place.

I often marvel when someone asks me, “So how do you prepare for a service? Do you pray an extra hour or two before the service?” I answer by telling them, “Before each service, I rest, because I live in preparation. You can’t live an unhealthy lifestyle, exercise for a few minutes and expect to get a good report from a medical checkup. I’d be in trouble if I depended upon an hour or two if I wasn’t living in this daily.”

Last-minute study spurts can’t replace a lifestyle of devotion to God’s Word in the secret place. A quick prayer before you preach cannot do what a lifestyle of private prayer can do.

All true ministry is an overflow of the secret place. We must fill as many private moments as we can with prayer and the reading of God’s Word. If instead the secret place is filled secret sin and secret laziness, how can one expect to walk in public power?

There is no shortcut. There is no formula. There is no practice of skill that can bring about the anointing. Either you carry the power upon you or you don’t. And whether or not you carry the power is entirely dependent upon whether or not you walk in the presence. And the presence of God is known in its greatest depths in the secret place. Therefore, the anointing on your life comes from the secret place.

Sound too simple? Sound too easy? Good! Like salvation, being anointed is not dependent upon our effort but upon our surrender to the Lord. That’s really it. That’s really the key.

The secret to anointed ministry is the secret place of prayer and devotion. It’s that simple. All else flows from there.

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The Hiding Place: Where Power is Cultivated

Before God will bless you, He will test you. Before God will promote you, He will humble you. Before God will expose you, He will hide you. Before God will anoint you, He will process you.

Before David was a King, he was a shepherd.

The anointing will hide you before is exposes you.

“When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then Jesse told his son Abinadab to step forward and walk in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “This is not the one the Lord has chosen.” Next Jesse summoned Shimea, but Samuel said, “Neither is this the one the Lord has chosen.” In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” - 1 Samuel 16:6-12

Samuel the prophet, instructed of the Lord to anoint a king, went to visit the house of Jesse. Upon hearing of Samuel’s intentions, Jesse presented his sons before the prophet. But Jesse left out a son; he didn’t present David. David was the unconsidered son of Jesse but the next king of Israel.

Why did Jesse leave David out of the line up? Was it because of his work as a shepherd? Was it because of his age? Was it because of his strange behaviors of worship? Or was it simply because of the ability of Jesse’s other sons? Maybe Jesse thought, “My other sons are so qualified that David doesn’t stand a chance.”

David was anointed, and that anointing caused him to be hidden for a season. Whatever thought it was that ran through Jesse’s mind, ultimately it was God who kept David hidden. Like a developing baby is protected in the womb, so God will hide his anointed until their time.

Hiddenness is an important part of being anointed. Though hiddenness does not mean inaction, it does mean that you’ll at first be overlooked and counted out. Others will not see the value in you at first, but that will only be for a season.

Hiddenness brings growth. Hiddenness brings intimacy with the Spirit. In hiddenness, your prayer life is developed, revelation is received and your patience is tested. Don’t rush this season; it’s crucial to your ministry’s foundation. Don’t be discouraged when you feel overlooked. God is processing you. The deeper the roots go, the taller the tree will grow.

In fact, in every stage of growth, you will experience a level of hiddenness. Every level of promotion is preceded by a season of hiding. God must process you before you go on to the next level of your calling. At each stage of growth, a new influence or ability is revealed. Embrace the hiddnness and be glad.

Others may think the job belongs to another, because of their ability, connections or position. But remember this: nobody expected David the shepherd to become David the king except God; The next in line are the unlikely ones.

Don’t despise the staff; it is the key to the crown.

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