(Part One in a series focused on the Holy Spirit’s anointing upon our lives as followers of Jesus)

The anointing of God upon a Spirit filled follower of Jesus is the supernatural ability to carryout a specific assignment from the Lord. It could be a gift of the Spirit as seen in 1 Corinthians 12. It might be a time when you are praying for someone and they are healed. It could be as you carry out your ministry responsibilities as a five fold minister as seen in Ephesians 4:11. Regardless of the context the anointing of God is essential to do what God calls us to do. Relying on our academic degrees or experience as Christians puts us in a position of failure since the focal point of those things is self, and not God.

There are five areas (though not exclusive) which impact the flow of God’s anointing in our ministry. For listing these, let it be clear that God’s power upon our lives through His Spirit is all up to His sovereignty. Not our perfection, knowledge, or any other man made effort. Nothing can we can do can manufacture what only God can do by His Spirit. With that being said, there are things we can do to position ourselves to encounter His Spirit in fresh and new ways.

1) Hunger for Him | Psalm 27:4-8

Seek His Spirit not for the gift or the anointing; but for Him as the divine Person He is. Our greatest friend, ally, and guide. As we seek Him, loving what he loves and hating what He hates, we will become holy vessels for His anointing in ministry.

2) Commit to Prayer | Luke 11:9-13

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Do not stop praying. Pray daily, hourly, minute by minute. Allow the Spirit to be in on every detail of your life and watch Him move in power. Bring fasting for periods of time into your life so that you can quiet the external noise and focus more in your life of prayer.

3) Love Others | John 15:12-17

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.

Allow the Spirit to guide you into what it looks like to love your neighbor. Love with big risks and discomfort. Put yourself out there in ways you never thought possible.

4) Trust and Word | Matthew 7:24-29

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Have faith and trust in the living Word and promise that comes from Him. Allow your faith to grow as you exercise your trust in Him like a muscle.

5) Praise and Worship | John 4:21–24

“…believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

When you hit a roadblock, praise and worship Him through it. Praise and worship Him throughout the day regardless. In the place of worship we encounter His Holy Spirit intimately and we receive our instruction and guidance. His anointing flows from this place.

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If we stick to these areas of discipline within us, we will see the anointing of the Spirit upon us. Trust Him and watch Him move as YOU move!