Empowering a New Generation of Anointed Leaders
David W Palmer
Today, we look at our role in doing what Elijah did in empowering a new generation of anointed leaders. God led him to do this to continue and complete his God-given assignment. They, and successive generations of delegates and anointees, were able to succeed in this as they operated under his spirit and power—including John the Baptist and then us. Jesus and Paul also did the same thing. Similarly, you can receive and pass on the anointing and delegation to complete Jesus's ministry assignment of reaching the whole world. And in particular, you can be part of the historic and continuing saga of preparing a people to be the glorious church and to be ready for the Lord's return; he is coming for a pure bride.
Let's begin today by reviewing God calling Elijah to anoint and release a new generation of prophetic and political leaders:
(1 Kings 19:15–16 MKJV) And Jehovah said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you come, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. {16} And you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place."
(John 3:30 EMTV) "He must increase, but I must decrease."
A very significant part of the profile of the Elijah-type ministry today is empowering and releasing a new generation of leaders—warriors and prophets. This is accomplished by hearing God's still small voice, pouring his anointing on them, training some of them, and providing an ongoing supernatural covering over them.
Jesus did this with his disciples. We see this clearly in operation when he sent them to cross the lake; they set out in the boat, while he provided a protective covering over them:
(Mark 6:45–46 NKJV) Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. {46} And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
Jesus is the perfect leader, disciple-maker, delegator, and covering. He first chose and sent his delegates/apprentices with their assignment: "go before Him to the other side." Then, he showed perfect leadership by going to the mountain of prayer—no doubt praying for them, the multitude, and the ministry to which God had called him next. While in prayer with his Father, he "saw" that the inevitable counter action by the enemy—who was clearly trying to steal the effectiveness of God's instructive word—had his disciples in peril:
(Mark 6:47–48, 51 NKJV) Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. {48} Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. ... {51} Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.
In this simple illustration, Jesus shows us how to successfully delegate and see anointing pass to a new generation of leaders. First, he gave them a clear-cut assignment. Then, he continued to cover them in prayer and watch over them in the spirit. As soon as they came into difficulty, he came close without interfering to assess how they were doing. When he realised they were out of their depth, he "went up into the boat to them." He saved them; "the wind ceased." And no doubt, through his teaching, covering, example, and prayer, they continued to grow and learn how to do what he did.
Once we have learnt like those obedient, battered but covered disciples, we can not only calm storms in Jesus's name and complete our assignments; but also we can be part of training, anointing, and releasing a new generation of leaders—albeit gradually over several years like Jesus did.
The first passage quoted today, 1 Kings 19:15–16, reminds us that this same process was the key to Elijah's eventual success; he and the delegates operating under his spirit and power removed false worship from his nation, and they restored it to proper relationship with God. A major part of God's strategy in this was to instruct Elijah to anoint new leaders and to provide a covering for the delegates. The second passage reminds us that in a similar (but difficult to accept) way, John the Baptist released Jesus into God's call. John empowered him with affirmation, prophetic declaration, and he released some of his disciples to follow Jesus:
(John 1:29, 32–34, 36–37 NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" … {34} "And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." ... {36} And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" {37} The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
In essence, whenever we empower new ministries in this way, we are releasing an aspect of Jesus's ministry. He has uniquely created, gifted, and called each son/servant to fulfill an aspect of his ministry on earth. As we release and cover these exciting new servants, like John the Baptist, we will be enabling Jesus to fulfill his assignment.
To understand our role in providing a covering under which these newer ministries can flourish, I encourage you to read my book: Empowered Under God's Covering.
God has been reemphasizing grace in recent years. Grace is God's empowerment to live a holy life—in the broadest sense of what holiness encompasses. Holiness is more than abstinence from social sins; it is being dedicated solely to God's purpose—this includes fruitful ministry, calling, and divine assignment. Ministries are empowered by grace. So our role in covering them is to release grace over their lives that enables them to fulfill God's purpose in his strength.
The apostle Paul explained how to access and release this grace:
(Romans 4:16 KJV) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
(Ephesians 4:29 KJV) Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Today, I encourage you to fulfil what God has given you to do. But don't ever think—like Elijah did initially—that you are the only one needed to fulfil this assignment (See: 1 Kings 19:13–18). Allow God to show you this onto whom you should pour this anointing. With some it is quick, and your role may be simply one encounter (God having orchestrated the bulk of their preparation as with Hazael and Jehu). With others, like Elisha serving Elijah, this may be a slower, drawn out process with a period of overlap like a baton change in a relay race. Either way, you can successfully empower a new generation of leaders in cooperation with Jesus and in his name. Begin today; if necessary, let go of the idea that it all depends on you and you alone, and put your full faith in Jesus to show you who and how to anoint someone of the next generation.
