How To Become An Anointed Pastor

by Dag Heward-Mills

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Copyright 2008 Dag Heward-Mills

Published by Dag Heward-Mills on Smashwords.

E mail Dag Heward-Mills

info@daghewardmillsbooks.org

evangelist@daghewardmills.org

Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at:

http://www.daghewardmills.org

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http://www.daghewardmills.org/lci/

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible

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Contents

Chapter 1 - God Anoints the Desirous

Chapter 2 - Steps to the Anointing

Chapter 3 - More Steps to the Anointing

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Chapter 1

God Anoints the Desirous

God will pass over a thousand people who don’t care much for the anointing and will give it to a person who strongly desires it.

Did you know that Elijah’s first servant was not Elisha? Did you know that Elijah’s first servant was bypassed when it was time to be anointed?

This servant was active in ministry but he was not chosen to be anointed by God. It was this servant who Elijah sent seven times to see if the rain clouds had appeared.

…And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

1 Kings 18:42,43

Why did this servant not receive the anointing? Why did Elisha, who was not even in the ministry, receive the anointing? Elisha was involved in business. He was ploughing a field with his other business partners.

So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth:…

1 Kings 19:19

What happened to the servant? Why wasn’t he anointed? Why didn’t he become the next great prophet? Please learn this important principle right now! God will pass over a thousand people who don’t care much for the anointing and will give it to a person who strongly desires it. Desire the anointing more than anything else in this world. That is the first step to becoming “anything” in the Kingdom of God. God told Pastor Timothy to look for people with a desire to be bishops. It is people with strong desires who get spiritual gifts.

Paul said,

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts [anointing]...

1 Corinthians 14:1

If we could paraphrase this, it would say, “desire the anointing”.

When I was growing up in ministry, I did not know what I am teaching you now. God led me personally into this revelation.

I loved the ministries of certain men and I followed hard after them. The anointing that I unknowingly coveted began to operate in my life. God often uses a man or several different men to impact your life with the anointing.

When you have decided which gifts and anointing to covet, there are several hard steps or filters that you will have to go through. I call them filters because as people go through them, many “drop out”.

There are people who desire the anointing but never get it. It is because they are not able to pass through these tests. The steps are filters, which differentiate between the receivers and all others.

Chapter 2

Steps to the Anointing

Step 1 - The Principle of Vessel Change

The anointing is like liquid that is poured into a vessel. Every liquid has a corresponding bottle or vessel.

For instance, Coca-Cola will only be found in Coca-Col abottles. Sprite has its own bottle. In order to be filled with Sprite you need to be a Sprite bottle.

This is because specific fluids are associated with specific bottles. It is the same thing with the anointing.

Specific anointings are associated with certain types of people. An evangelistic anointing will go with a certain type of personality and character. A pastoral anointing will fit into a certain type of vessel. The Bible says that in a large house there are many types of vessels. You and I are those vessels.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

2 Timothy 2:20

If we want to be filled with a Coca-Cola anointing we need to be Coca-Cola bottles, so that the anointing will fit into us.

If you study the Prophet Elijah, you will see a particular kind of anointing on his life. The prophetic anointing (1 Kings 18:36) on Elijah’s life led him to do certain things. The anointing allows you to achieve certain things. He rebuked the kings of his day (1 Kings 21:17-20), fought with religious leaders (1 Kings 18:20-24), challenged sins and evil, was dramatic (1 Kings 18:30-39), and had his ministry ended by a woman, Jezebel (1 Kings 19:3,14,16).

The Bible tells us that John the Baptist operated in the same prophetic anointing as Elijah(Luke 1:76). We therefore see John the Baptist, rebuking the king of his day (Mark 6:17- 20), confronting religious leaders (Matthew 3:7- 10), fighting sin and evil and having a very dramatic ministry (Luke 3:7-14). We also see his ministry terminated by a woman, Herod’s wife (Matthew 14:6-10). This was the anointing of Elijah at work.

Elijah’s anointing operated in John’s life because he was changed into a vessel that could receive it. Note that both John the Baptist (Mark 1:4) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:4) lived in the desert. Both Elijah and John the Baptist ate weird things - locusts (Matthew 3:4) and worms (1 Kings 17:6). Both John the Baptist (Matthew 3:4) and Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) wore clothes made of camel’s hair.

To receive such a heavy prophetic healing anointing such as that on Elisha, a person cannot have problems such as lying, stealing and covetousness. The anointing of Elisha does not fit into lying and covetous vessels. Unfortunately, Gehazi did not pass the test of lying and stealing. He lied and misrepresented Elisha!

If a prophet is a liar, how will you know when he is speaking the Word of God? How would you know when he is speaking his own mind? Although Gehazi was close to the anointing, he did not obtain it! Elisha eventually cursed Gehazi for his unethical behaviour as a prophetic student.

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.

2 Kings 5:27

If you desire a particular anointing, God will mould you into the type of vessel that can contain that anointing. If God wants you to be a great pastor, He may work on your education. He may work on your knowledge of administration and law. To receive the anointing you must allow Him to work on you!

Some people are not educated, nor do they educate themselves by reading. Yet, they desire the anointing to be leaders of large numbers of people.

Don’t you know that pastoring a large number of people means that you will have several highly educated people in your congregation? How will you relate with all of these people? God may be working on your language. He may try to polish your manners and general etiquette! He may send you to a Bible school for training. He may send you off to a secular university for moulding. I’ve had seven years of university training. Those years moulded me into a suitable vessel. God may take you through various humbling experiences.

All God is doing is preparing a vessel that can handle the anointing. This is the principle of vessel change.

If you desire a strong prophetic anointing, God is likely to require of you a life of solitude. You cannot have such an anointing if you do not make time to wait on the Lord.

You see, many changes may have to take place in your character and moral life if God is to use you for great achievements.

Those who refuse to change and to modify are refusing to be recipients of the anointing.

This first step alone can explain why many people desire the anointing but never get it. Nobody pours Coca-Cola into a fuel tank. It is only petrol that is poured into a fuel tank. If you are a fuel tank, you will never receive Coca- Cola - you will receive fuel!

There are different containers for different anointings. Please accept this simple reality.

Step 2 - Servanthood

Throughout the Bible, those that received an anointing were servants. Joshua was a servant of Moses.

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, [servant]…

Joshua 1:1

Elisha was a servant of Elijah.

...Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water [servant] on the hands of Elijah.

2 Kings 3:11

Peter, James and John were the servants of Christ.

HENCEFORTH I CALL YOU NOT SERVANTS [the disciples were ushers, bodyguards and errand boys]; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends…

John 15:15

The position of a servant is a humbling one. You do not have your own mind! You must work for your master, taking him to be right all the time.

When you become a servant, you are like a grown-up child, ready to receive every instruction that is meted out to you.

No one is above the Word of God. If Joshua had to be a servant before he became an anointed General, so will you!

This is another reason why some people never become anointed. They are simply too big to ever become servants of anyone. They are too conscious of their age and position in society. They feel that their status must be constantly recognized. No wonder God has raised up many young people to receive an anointing. Many old dogs cannot be taught new tricks.

Although God has given me several thousand people in my ministry, I have been a servant for many years. I have served as an usher, drummer, arranger, sound technician and organist. There is hardly any department of the church, in which I have not been a servant.

I marvel at those who want pastoral positions based on their having a Bible school diploma. They are no nearer to becoming pastors than I am to living on the planet Mars. Some people just attend services and want to be appointed elders in the church, without serving their way to the top. These are the signs of a servant. Ask yourself if you are a servant or a boss.

Thirteen Signs of a Servant

1. A servant has a master.

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master…

Malachi 1:6

2. A servant is at the beck and call of his master.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Matthew 8:9

3. A servant is one who executes the command of another.

4. A servant cannot be inconvenienced by any job or task.

5. A servant does not see himself as equal to his master.

6. He doesn’t say things like, “We are all classmates. We are all engineers. We all have children.”

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:6

7. A servant carries out the wishes of his master.

Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

Titus 2:9

8. A servant cannot be embarrassed by his job.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:8

9. A servant does menial jobs: picking up crumbs, serving food.

When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

John 6:12

…Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.

2 Kings 3:11

10, A servant promotes his master while he stays below.

He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:30

10. A servant does not expect thanks or acknowledgment.

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Luke 17:10

11. A servant does what his master wants in the way his master wants it.

…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22

12. A servant ministers to his master of his substance.

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils. And Joanna, the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Luke 8:2,3

13. A servant has a reward.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Philippians 2:9

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

Step 3 - Receiving a Father

When God leads you to follow a man of God, (like Elisha followed Elijah) it is important for you to receive him as a father.

You will notice from the story of Elisha that he had an earthly father called Shaphat.

...Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat…

2 Kings 3:11

However, by the time Elijah was taken away, Elisha referred to Elijah as his father. He did this effortlessly and naturally.

And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father,…

2 Kings 2:12

Why is it important to receive your man of God as a father? What does it mean?

I want to bring to your attention two very important reasons why you must receive him as a father.

Two Important Reasons for Receiving the Man of God as a Father

1. Firstly, a person who does not have a father is very different from a person who has one.

A person with a father receives guidance and direction in life. A fatherless person has a life full of struggles.

I never worked whilst I was in the university. My father provided for me fully until I became a doctor. The money he gave me each month as a student was even more than my salary when I became a doctor. My father bought me a brand new car when I was in the fifth year of medical school. I was really blessed to have a good father looking after me. My life as a student was struggle free because I had a father! However, the same cannot be said for many people.

I have met countless people who did not receive guidance in life. They threw away their talent and became non-entities in life, because there was no father to guide them. I know many people who do not even know their fathers.

The situation is worse for an orphan! Struggles abound for orphans. The future of an orphan is very uncertain. It is the same thing in ministry. When you have no one to influence you in the right way, your ministry is full of various struggles.

Although I have had different fathers in ministry, there are times I have been fatherless as far as developing into a pastor was concerned. I have had fathers in ministry from afar. I have gone through various struggles because I have not received support from nearby and potential fathers. Many of the struggles and frustrations I’ve experienced in ministry are because I had no one to help me in starting a church.

In fact, people who should have been fathers to me when I was beginning my church, were more of outright enemies. They opposed my cause and fought against me. Today, some of these people are always eager to claim fatherhood over my life because I am successful in ministry.

2. The second reason why it is important to have a father is because inheritance flows naturally from a father to his children.

In the ministry, spiritual inheritance flows naturally from the fathers to the sons. When my father died, his Will was read in court. He left all his properties to his children. Although he had many employees and friends, he didn’t leave anything to them. Dear friend, that is the reality of life. Inheritance usually goes to children.

There is something known as a spiritual inheritance (Ephesians 1:18). This spiritual inheritance of anointing and gifts passes naturally from fathers to sons. It does not pass from father to equals, colleagues and friends; it does not even pass from father to servants. It passes from fathers to sons.

Hello Boss!

I used to have a junior pastor who preferred to call me “boss”. I always felt uneasy when he called me “boss”, but I didn’t know why. You see, when someone calls you “boss”, it means that he sees himself more as a hired hand. A few years later this pastor departed under unpleasant circumstances. Then I realized why I had felt uneasy.

A servant or an employee does not stay around forever. He’s only there for awhile and will leave when it suits him.

And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

John 8:35

So, if you have a relationship with a man of God which becomes a father-son relationship, then you can expect a spiritual inheritance of anointing to flow effortlessly from him to you.

How to Receive a Father

How do you receive someone as a father?

1. When someone is your father, he can speak freely into your life and you trust what he says.

A child usually believes that his father really cares for him, no matter how much the father disciplines him.

If you have doubts in your mind about someone, or are suspicious of him, that person cannot be a father to you.

A pastor can be a good man of God to some people, but to others he becomes a father. When a person becomes a father to you, one of the main features is an attitude of fullest trust in him.

That attitude makes you admire and open up to him. You can never really open up your spirit to someone unless you trust him.

2. Maintain great respect and admiration for anyone you want to receive as a father.

Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9). Let the will of your father in ministry be done. If he tells you to pray and to fast, because you believe it is for your own good, allow that thing to happen.

3. Accept the father’s position and authority.

Every time we pray the Lord’s prayer, we end it by saying, “thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory.” We constantly affirm the position of our heavenly Father. In the same way, every son must overcome the temptation to fight his father’s authority and rule. Never fight a father; it is a dangerous violation. Instead, give the honour to the fathers.

The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

Proverbs 30:17

Chapter 3

More Steps to the Anointing

Step 4 - Follow the Man of God Closely

Another important step is to follow the man of God closely. All the examples of people who received anointing show that they stayed close to their mentors.

Elisha stayed with Elijah to the very end. Elijah tried on many occasions to get Elisha to stay behind, but he followed him to the very end. It was at the end that he caught the anointing. There are three ways you can follow a man of God closely.

Three Ways to Follow the Man of God

1. Physical association and close interaction

The first way is through physical association, close interaction and personal acquaintance with the anointed servant of God.

Joshua associated with Moses as his personal servant and minister.

…Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister…

Joshua 1:1

Elisha desired a double portion of the anointing on Elijah’s life. He knew that through service to the man of God he could obtain the anointing he desired.

Elisha became known as the person who physically washed the hands of Elijah. Close association of this sort may lead to a transfer of anointing.

...Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands [cleaned and ministered] of Elijah.

2 Kings 3:11

2 . Follow his words closely.

The second way by which you can follow a man of God is to follow his words closely. Not many people will have the privilege of interacting personally with their mentors. So how can anyone catch the anointing on a great man of God? The answer is simple. Is it the pouring of water or the doing of menial jobs that leads to a transfer of anointing? The answer is no! The physical interaction exposes you to his words.

Jesus said to His disciples, “...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit (anointing), and they are life” (John 6;63). The anointing is in the words. The disciples of Jesus soaked in the words of their master until He left them. They took His words seriously because He had toldthem that the anointing was in the words. Thank God that today the words of anointed ministers are available in books, tapes and videos.

…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit [anointing], and they are life.

John 6:63

The anointing enters you as you listen to the Word. The Word is not just some philosophical discourse. It is different from a lecture in college. The Word is able to impart an anointing into your life. Look at this amazing Scripture in Ezekiel! The prophet said he could feel the anointing enter him as the Lord spoke to him.

And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me…

Ezekiel 2:2

I have always wanted the opportunity to live with and serve certain men of God. But that opportunity was never practical. However, following some of these men through videos,tapes and books has greatly blessed my life and ministry. The fact that you are reading this book is evidence that an anointing I received some years ago is real.

The Bible records that Elisha soaked in the words of his spiritual father. Elisha didn’t just wash Elijah’s hands. He didn’t just wash and clean in the house. Just like Jesus and the disciples, Elisha and Elijah engaged in lots of important conversation.

And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked,…

2 Kings 2:11

3. Decide to stay close to the very end until the anointing, which you desire, is flowing through your ministry.

Elisha walked so closely to Elijah that God had to separate them Himself. Don’t allow anyone to separate you from your spiritual father.

Do not allow circumstances to keep you away from your man of God.

…there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder…

2 Kings 2:11

Step 5 - Spiritual Ministrations

We must be careful not to make any mistakes. God will give you the anointing. No man can give you the anointing. Yet, He does it through men. It is important to pray and ask for the anointing.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Luke 11:13

Another way you can receive the anointing is through the laying on of hands. The laying on of hands is a foundational doctrine of the Church. Itis the principal way in which an impartation or gift is given. It is such an important procedure that God tells us not to hurriedly impart gifts through the laying on of hands.

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.

1 Timothy 5:22

Timothy, the pastor, had hands laid on him and he received spiritual gifts. The Bible plainly declares that he received the gift of God through the laying on of hands.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

2 Timothy 1:6

This means that the manifestation of the gift and anointing must have begun to operate in Timothy’s life after hands were laid on him. Thank God for the preaching of the Word of God. There is a place for the laying on of hands.

The disciples received an anointing when Jesus breathed on them and said,

…Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

John 20:22

These different spiritual ministrations are ways by which God can impart His gift to you.

Step 6 - The Passage of Time

Time is a very important element in the development of any ministry. The Word of God teaches us that Jesus adds to our gifts when He recognizes that we are faithful to what He has given to us.

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Luke 16:10

With the passage of time your faithfulness will be tested. Your faithfulness will provoke God to give you additional gifts and a greater anointing. You will discover that certain realms are inaccessible to you until “time” elapses. Unfortunately, there is no substitute for the test of time.

Some years ago, I tried to raise the dead but I did not succeed. I often wondered why God did not honour me then. If He had, I probably would have backslidden by now.

I now see certain things happening in my ministry, which I didn’t see before. If I had had that level of anointing some years ago, it could have destroyed me. It is important to trust God to allow time to pass so that He Himself can lift you up at the right time.

Step 7 - Minister to the Man of God

The last but not the least step I want to share with you is about ministering to the man of God with your substance.

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna, the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Luke 8:2,3

You must be able to minister to the man of God out of your own substance. If money is a problem to you then you cannot be a minister. The Bible teaches that people who have been taught should share their good things with those who teach them.

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

Galatians 6:6

The man of God will minister spiritual things to you and you will minister back to him in physical things. The anointing is provoked when you minister to the man of God. Anytime I have had the opportunity to be near those who have been a blessing to me, I have ministered to themout of my substance. When the woman with the alabaster box of ointment ministered to Christ, He said that she would be remembered.

When you pour an “alabaster box” on a man of God, you will provoke a blessing and be remembered.

Your ministry will have a longer life span as you decide to honour those before you. Your ministry will be remembered by many.

You will provoke the favour and anointing of God over your life.

Notice what great men like Abraham did when they met with greater men of God. They immediately ministered to the man of God out of their substance.

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him…And he [Abraham] gave him tithes of all.

Genesis 14:18-20

It should be the desire of every real minister to catch the anointing. Without the anointing, your ministry is reduced to philosophy and your church to an ideological institution. If you want to have a big church, you need an anointing.

If you want to teach the Word, you need an anointing.

If you want to be a prophet you need to be anointed.

Without the anointing, you will not be a successful minister. I see God anointing you!

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Other Best-Selling Books by Dag Heward-Mills:

Loyalty and Disloyalty

Leaders and Loyalty

Transform Your Pastoral Ministry

The Art of Leadership

Model Marriage

Church Planting

The Mega Church

Lay People and the Ministry

These titles are also available in Spanish and/or French. Information about other foreign translations of some of the titles above may be obtained by writing to our email address.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

God Anoints the Desirous

Chapter 2

Steps to the Anointing

Chapter 3

More Steps to the Anointing