Are you seeking God for greater anointing? But are you looking in the right place? I’m convinced that the key to greater anointing is not praying for more but growing in sonship. Let’s look at four examples of this:
Elijah and greater anointing
When Elisha pursued Elijah to attain his anointing on the day that he would leave the earth, Elijah asks him what he wants:
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
Elisha’s reply must be understood in the context of the father-son relationship they had:
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
Or in the Hebrew, “Let me have a double mouth of your spirit”. This relates to Dt 21:17 where the firstborn son, receives a double “mouth” of the inheritance.
“He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength.”
Elisha wanted to inherit the sonship of the firstborn. Firstborn sons inherit. So he wanted identity primarily not the anointing. He knew this was the key to walking in the supernatural power of God.
David and greater anointing
King Saul received anointing at times but it didn’t rest on him because he didn’t live as a son. David defeated Goliath as a son not because he spent time interceding for anointing. So before David encountered Goliath the Spirit came to rest on him as a son:
“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David” (1 Sam 16:13)
Jesus and anointing
“When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.””(Lk 3:21-22)
The Spirit rests on Jesus at his baptism because he was the perfect Son, not because he had done anything special at this stage. It’s about sonship. This is before he started his ministry and before he had performed any miracles.
Howell Harris and greater anointing
Harris started the Methodist Revival in 1735 in Wales through his preaching. Early on his Christian life he had a profound experience of the love of His Father in heaven.
He received the Spirit of adoption, such that he did things because he was God’s son now and not because he wanted to approval or to earn God’s love, or that of others.
This was the key to his anointing as a great preacher.
So growth in anointing means growth in identity and resting in the Father as a son. So sonship is the key to greater anointing.
For more on how to grow in anointing and God’s presence see my book: