After the Anointing Comes What Happens

When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more, will be required. (Luke 12:48 NLT)

The greater the responsibility one holds, the greater the accountability one has before God and His people.
 
When God anoints a person and calls him or her to a position of leadership, a pattern of testing appears to take place at specific times in a person’s life. God often takes a leader through three major tests to determine if that person will achieve God’s ultimate call on his life.
 
How a person responds to these tests is the deciding factor in whether they can advance to the next level of responsibility in God’s Kingdom.
 
Control: Control is one of the first tests. Saul spent most of his time as king, trying to prevent others from getting what he had. Saul never got to the place with God where he entirely depended on the Lord. Saul was a religious controller. This control led to disobedience and ultimately being rejected by God. The man with the one talent did not rely on the Lord’s ability and did what he felt was right. God cannot use such a vessel. (Read Matthew 25:18)
 
Bitterness: This is the second test. Every major character in the Bible was hurt by another person at one time or another. Lord Jesus, Himself was hurt deeply when Judas, a trusted follower, betrayed Him. Despite knowing this was going to happen, Jesus responded by washing Judas’ feet. Every anointed leader will have a Judas experience at one time or another in his or her life.
 
God watches us to see how we will respond to this test. Will we take up an offence? Will we retaliate? It is one of the most difficult tests to pass. What was the reward for those who multiplied their talents? “Enter into the Joy” the opposite of bitterness. (Read Matthew 25:14-30)
 
Greed: The third test is a very difficult one. Money has the ability to have a great influence for either good or bad. When it is the only focus in our life, it becomes a tool of destruction. When it is a by-product, it can become a great blessing. Many leaders started out well, only to be derailed once prosperity became a part of their life. There are thousands who can blossom spiritually in difficult times; however, only a few can thrive spiritually under prosperity.

Father, I ask You for the grace to walk uprightly and close to You through times of testing. Keep me from offence and the love of money. In Jesus’ Name. Amen