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But you have an anointing from the Holy One (1 John 2:20, NASB1995).
I believe that everyone is a leader. The most effective leaders build teams.
The greatest leaders that I have read about or observed were able to sense the anointing in another’s life and then position them correctly on a team. Many times, I have had someone tell me that they wanted to preach or lead worship – and the anointing wasn’t there.
I define anointing as…
The presence of the Spirit that manifests in effective use of spiritual gifts.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians…
Each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7).
Great leaders can see the anointing in others.
Understanding the anointing in others is the key quality of an effective leader. The best leaders can sense anointing and understand how to develop this anointing and release it in ministry.
The Apostle Paul again writes about anointing in 1 Corinthians…
There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
Anointing manifests in three areas: gifts, then the ministry in which the gifts are used, and finally, the effectiveness of the gift/ministry. A great leader works in all three areas to enhance and release the gifts, ministries, and effectiveness of other leaders.
Several observations…
- Anointing attracts anointing. In 2 Kings 2 Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit to fall upon him. A trademark of great leaders is that they have spent time learning from other anointed leaders. Often this process is called mentoring or coaching – but these are secular processes of leadership development that often miss the power of the Spirit.
- Choosing anointed leaders is a prayer process. Luke 6 describes Jesus spending a night in prayer before calling His disciples. Great leaders develop a sense of God’s Spirit in their devotions and personal walk with Jesus, allowing them to see the Spirit of God in others.
- Anointing begins and grows through grace. The gifts of the Spirit are gifts of grace. God’s grace is free and abundant. We restrict the Spirit… and our anointing… by clinging to the lusts and attitudes of the flesh. Anointing can’t be purchased or earned because it is received abundantly through humility.
To build a team, to become more effective with your team – seek God’s anointing yourself. True anointing attracts others of similar anointing. Growing a team is supernatural.
Great leaders are always surprised at the team walking with them.
They also know that it’s God, not them.
In 50 years of leading, my biggest mistakes were about not carefully and prayerfully sensing humble anointing. Building a team isn’t about finding the most talented or attractional (most of us would be disqualified) but allowing God to bring other anointed followers to join your team.
Learning the secret of anointing makes leadership easy and more effective.