A Greater Anointing

by Benny Hinn

 Healing evangelist Benny Hinn leads crusades worldwide.   The cover photo on this Renewal Journal 14: Anointing is from his crusade in Kenya, East Africa, with police estimating over one million attending.

This article is reproduced from his pamphlet Seven Steps to a Greater Anointing.

 

Renewal Journal 14: Anointing – PDF

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Many people pray like Elisha, “Lord, give me a double portion of Your anointing.”  Yet they do not realize the preparation that is involved for such a miraculous thing to occur.  Here are seven things that happened in the life of Elisha before God allowed him to receive “the double portion” anointing.

1.  Elisha faced the spirit of the enemy.  Elijah and Elisha confronted the same enemy – the spirit of Jezebel.  Elijah faced a demonic spirit through this woman that once caused him to flee for his life (1 Kings 19).

Who Is Jezebel?  The Lord told the church at Thyatira, “I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (Revelation 2:20).

It is clear from this portion of Scripture that Jezebel is the spirit of filth and fornication which we still fight even today.  Only by the anointing can that spirit be overcome.

2.  Elisha relied on God.  Before Elijah was taken up into heaven, Elisha declared his loyalty and devotion to God by repeating these words: “As the Lord lives” (2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6).

You’ll never receive God’s anointing until you learn to totally depend on the Lord.  Elisha had a wonderful role model in the prophet Elijah – the one who stood before the 450 prophets of Baal and declared: “Lord God of Abraham, lsaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and, that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word”  (1 Kings 18:36).  That’s when the fire fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice.

3.  Elisha learned how to serve.  Young Elisha was plowing in a field – it was seed time – when he was called to become the servant of Elijah (1 Kings 19:19).  He came from a well-to-do family – after all, they had ‘twelve yoke of oxen’ (v. 1 9).  And Elisha was obviously a hard worker since his family could have hired a servant to do the same job.

Plowing and praying go hand in hand.  Scripture tells us to “break up your follow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord” (Hosea 10:12).  The moment he committed himself to Elijah, he became his servant, not his slave.

Do you want the anointing?  Get involved in a church or a ministry and start serving.  When you serve you are sowing your life as seed for an anointing that one day will be yours.

Just before Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha vowed that he would not leave the prophet’s side.  He declared, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you” (2 Kings 2:4).  He was saying, “As long as you remain anointed, I will not depart from you.”

4.  Elisha was a man of faith.  In the final days before Elijah’s departure, Elisha – over the prophet’s objections – stayed with him as he journeyed to four places: Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan.  Each has a special meaning.

Gilgal is the place where faith begins.  That’s where the manna ceased and the children of Israel had to learn to live by faith and not by sight (Joshua 5).  For forty years they had seen a cloud by day, a fire by night, and manna on the ground.  Then it was over.  And so it is with us.  The anointing will not come on our lives until we begin to walk by faith.

5.  Elisha knew what it meant to be tested.  Next, they travelled to Bethel – yet Elisha still would not leave the prophet’s side.

Bethel is the place of trials and tests.  That’s where Jacob fled when he was running away from his brother.  He lost his family and his comfort – and was sleeping there with a rock for a pillow.  It was at Bethel that Jacob made a vow that if the Lord would allow him to “come again to my father’s house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God” (Genesis 28:21).  And so also, will we be tested before God will entrust us with His anointing.

6.  Elisha knew how to wage warfare.  The two men of God journeyed to Jericho – the place of warfare.  The place where Joshua had fought his greatest battle (Joshua 6).

Elisha became a man of war in the spirit.  He understood the power that belongs to every believer, that can unlock chains and open doors.  We need to realize that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds”  (2 Corinthians 10:4).

When the demons of hell come against you, stay strong.  Declare, “I will not let this thing bring me down; I’m staying until the anointing comes.”

7.  Elisha had a vision.  Finally, they journeyed to the banks of the river Jordan where the Lord tested Elisha’s vision.  Was it of man, or of God?  The prophet said to the servant, “Ask!  What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you.”  Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me (2 Kings 2:9).

Elijah responded, “You have asked a hard thing.  Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you.” (2 Kings 2:1 0).

In other words, “If your vision is clear, and your eyes are on things above, you’ll receive it!”  Habakkuk 2:2 declares “write the vision and make it plain.”

There are 3 keys to seeing a vision fulfilled.

1) It must be plain, meaning a vision cannot be cloudy or full of questions.

2) You must run to receive it, meaning your prayer life must intensify.  Walking is prayer – running is intensified prayer.

3) The vision is for “an appointed time.”  Wait for it.  Never give up.  Your faith is vital for the vision’s fulfilment.

Suddenly, the prophet was raptured – caught up into the heavens!  A chariot of fire appeared – yet Elisha could see clearly enough to pick up the mantle that was left behind.

He walked to the same river where he had seen the prophet Elijah use the mantle to separate the waters.  He said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” – and the waters of the Jordan were again miraculously parted (2 Kings 2:14).

Please prayerfully read in context the Scriptures I’ve shared.  I pray this teaching creates a hunger for a deeper walk with the Lord and that you will receive God’s precious anointing as you apply the Word to your life.

Reproduced with permission from the Benny Hinn’s Partners in Ministry newsletter, November 1999.

© Renewal Journal #14: Anointing, renewaljournal.com
Reproduction is allowed with the copyright included in the text.

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CONTENTS:  Renewal Journal 14:  Anointing

A Greater Anointing, by Benny Hinn

Myths about Jonathan Edwards, by Barry Chant

Revivals into 2000, by Geoff Waugh

Book Reviews:

The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition by Vinson Synan
The God Chasers, by Tommy Tenny
Primary Purpose, by Ted Haggard

See also: Immune to Fear: Anointing, by Reinhard Bonnke

Renewal Journal 14: Anointing – PDF

Revival Blogs Links:

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GENERAL BLOGS INDEX

BLOGS INDEX 1: REVIVALS (BRIEFER THAN REVIVALS INDEX)

BLOGS INDEX 2: MISSION (INTERNATIONAL STORIES)

BLOGS INDEX 3: MIRACLES (SUPERNATURAL EVENTS)

BLOGS INDEX 4: DEVOTIONAL (INCLUDING TESTIMONIES)

BLOGS INDEX 5: CHURCH (CHRISTIANITY IN ACTION)

BLOGS INDEX 6: CHAPTERS (BLOGS FROM BOOKS)

BLOGS INDEX 7: IMAGES (PHOTOS AND ALBUMS)

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