A young minister asked a senior minister to pray for him to walk in his grace and anointing. The senior minister prayed, asking God to let the young man face the same troubles and challenges he had endured. He asked God to deal with the young man the same way He dealt with him. The young man questioned, “Are you cursing me?”
Friend, there is the road to the anointing (1 Samuel 9:3, 16). The anointing does not come cheap. Contrary to what a lot of people think, you cannot get the anointing for ministry or destiny just by laying of hands. A man of God can lay hands on you to be healed or delivered, but you cannot receive the anointing for ministry that way. You have to walk the road (Matthew 20:20-22).
The anointing of God rests on process (1 Samuel 16:1). One of such processes is consecration. Each consecration term you fulfil qualifies you for the next dimension in the calling and anointing of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the greatest prayer a man of God can pray for you is the prayer to start your journey of consecration early and to respond to the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1-14).
Service is another route to the anointing (1 Samuel 16:11-13). While everyone likes to have the double portion of the anointing like Elisha, very few are willing and ready to serve like Elisha. You need to serve your way into the anointing. Elisha left a lucrative business to start pouring water on the hands of Elijah (1 Kings 19:19-21, 2 Kings 3:11). It’s a job that’s meant for servants. Elisha never considered his age, status, wealth, etc.
What about you? What is keeping you from the anointing? What is keeping you from service (John 13:1-17)? The anointing you desire to walk in is the anointing you should be willing and ready to serve. Joshua got wisdom from Moses, not just because hands were laid on him. It was because he was Moses’ servant. He served his way into the anointing (Deuteronomy 34:9, Joshua 1:1).
Laying of hands can only work if you have walked your road to the anointing. Otherwise, it would be mere empty hands on an empty head (2 Kings 4:25-31). Rather than looking for who to lay hands on you, you need to get into your divine process. No amount of prayer can replace this. No level of closeness to the anointed can bring the anointing on you if you don’t respond to God and His dealings with you (Psalm 66:10-12).
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria