Submission and Anointing

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 Disclaimer: 

This writing is not in anyway about our wonderful church family. We thank God daily for them. The Collinwood Church of God family has a clear understanding of spritual authority as well as how important unity is. They truly practice "in honor preferring one another". As a result God is doing marvelous and amazing things in our midst!

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Several months ago I begin digging deeper into studying The Anointing. I want nothing more than to experience more and more of The Anointing. I am greedy for it! I will do whatever God requires of me! Even when that means being willing to be hurt, overlooked or misunderstood.

The litmus test of your anointing is not how much you shout, worship with intensity, lay hands on people, speak in tongues or prophecy. It is not how well you sing, teach or even deliver a powerful word. The litmus test of your anointing is how you behave when you are not "on".

The litmus test of your anointing is how well you receive the word "no". It is how well you submit to spiritual authority even when you do not agree with their actions or decisions.

I've been there. I have had to submit to spiritual authority that I didn't agree with. I've been required to submit to authority even when their decisions have deeply hurt me.

When someone in authority over you overlooks you, doesn't give you a position you deserve or promotes someone less qualified it hurts. When you feel "led" to minister in a certain area and their answer is "not now" or "no" it can hurt.

How you respond directly demonstrates your measure of anointing. Do you submit peacefully and then privately take the issue to the throne room or do you throw a fit, attempt to go over their head or just go off and start your own "ministry"? Do you pray for the "offender" or do you spread negativity about them disguised as "venting"? When you are not given the ministry you want in your church do you offer to work in a lesser position or do you get "hurt" and leave the church?

Many years ago we were affiliated with a different denomination than we are now. We were up for promotion but due to a negative report about us, which was not true, our authority figure made the decision that we were not ready for promotion. This cut our hearts like a knife. In addition, he required that we apologize to the false accusers.

We had a decision to make. Would we allow the hurt to become anger and quit or would we submit? We chose to submit.

We kept our hurt private. Later on the man who made the decisions used us as a sermon illustration and stated that he, himself, had learned from our response. He said we were a true example of humility and servanthood. (He didn't use our names...just told the story.)

Every time we step into the flesh we lose a measure of anointing. I don't know about you but my anointing cost me way too much to risk losing it!

If you are seeking more anointing, wanting your ministry expanded or desiring promotion I would encourage you to search your heart. Examine your secret attitudes. Pray as David prayed..."search me O God and know my heart".

By His Grace and For His Glory,

Pastor Jennifer

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