Preparation for the New School Year – Part 8: Remove Hindrances to the Anointing
In our last post we talked about being anointed, which surmounts being prepared – being prepared is a given. The anointing goes beyond preparation and having a “good lesson.” When you walk away from the lesson, you can sense that your teaching was anointed. The question is, “How can one increase this anointing? It’s a very simple task. You begin by removing any hindrances to the anointing. After all, if the anointing is already there, inside of you, placed there by Jesus himself and affirmed by the Holy Spirit, it will be released if it were not for things that hinder it.
The hindrances to the anointing are not just in the life of teachers but all Christian educators. Dealing with these hindrances will allow for the full release of the anointing. As we present these hindrances, allow the Holy Spirit to point out any that you have experienced and work at removing them.
The first hindrance is grieving the Holy Spirit by rebelling against Him. Isaiah 63:10 says, “Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.” How does one grieve the Holy Spirit? We find one way illustrated in Ephesians 4:29-30. “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (BSB) So, don't grieve the Holy Spirit by what comes out of your mouth.
The second hindrance is getting mad at people or harboring bad attitudes, becoming bitter or angry, or allowing unforgiveness to reside in your heart. Eph. 4:31-32 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be ye kind and tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as in Christ’s God forgave you.” (BSB)
The third is disagreeing or fighting against what He is telling you to do. Acts 7:51, says “You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you!” (NLT) In addition to disagreeing or fighting against what he is telling you to do, failing to accept His comfort and not following His prompting, hinder the Holy Spirit.
Hindrance number four is failing to tell the truth or speaking evil of others. We are instructed in Col. 3:9-10: “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (NIV) So, failing to tell the truth and speaking evil of others will be hindrances to the anointing.
The next hindrance is following after the things of the world. The Apostle Paul warns of this hindrance “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Col. 2:8, KJV). How does one know whether or not they are following the tradition of men, one should know when they sense the conviction of the Holy Spirit. For example, the next time you are watching a TV program or movie and cuss words are spoken, and the Holy Spirit says these words are not good, just change the channel or stop the movie. In this case, you need to guard against these things of the world getting into your spirit.
Hindrance six is murmuring and whining because of unbelief. Is there anyone listening that has murmured or complained? Something none of us do. Right? Lord forgive us! How many times have you murmured and complained about school policies, procedures, or instructions given by your unit leaders or administrators? Or complained when you had to stay late to attend a last-minute conference or meeting. Maybe you complained about the parents of your students; murmuring and whining about something they did or did not do.
The removal instruction for this hindrance comes from Phil 2:14-15: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” (NASB) You can not be murmuring, whining, and complaining about your job or what you are being asked to do and expect the anointing to flow.
As these hindrances are removed, there will be an increase in the anointing. Furthermore, regardless of the level of anointing a person is currently experiencing, they can take additional steps to increase this level. Even if they sense they are at level zero, they can start there and move forward. Begin to take action toward change.
Here are some suggestions to increase the anointing. First, forget about past failures and shortcomings. The devil uses these to bring condemnation and guilt which rob Christian educators of the anointing and authority. If there is sin in your life, apply First John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NKJV) Confess it and forsake it. Begin to believe God for good things to come into your life, according to Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (NKJV)The anointing is a good thing. You can walk into the good works and plans that God has for your life, your classroom, and your school.
Second, Increase your level of sensitivity. Become sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Begin by being obedient to the little things the Holy Spirit speaks to you to do. Luke 19:17 says that faithfulness in these little things will bring greater blessing and a greater anointing.
The third action is to seek unity. Whenever the school staff is of one heart and one mind there is a special anointing. In Acts, believers were in one accord. It was then that the Holy Spirit fell on them (Acts 2:1-4). As a result, many lives were changed (Acts 2:41).
Action number four is to increase your level of prayer and fellowship with the Father. The best example of an increase in the anointing is found in the lives of Elisha and Elijah. When Elijah asked Elisha what he could do for him, Elisha answered, “. . . Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me” (2 Kings 2:9). The key to Elisha receiving his request is found in verse 10, “So he said, 'You have asked a hard thing.’ Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” (NKJV) Being able to receive a double portion required Elisha to stay close to Elijah so as not to let him out of his sight. The same is true for receiving an increase in the anointing: you must strengthen your relationship with the Father, get close to Him, keep your eyes on Him and His Word.
As Christian educators, we need to guard against allowing our Christian job to be our spiritual service to God by which we substitute hard work in a Christian setting for prayer and the touch of God. Give God first place at the start of each day and allow Him to speak His plan and to give you peace for the day. Rather than being driven by the cares of the classroom or the school, you will be led by the Spirit. Continue your fellowship with the Father throughout the day, allowing His fullness to flood your life.
The last recommendation for increasing the anointing is to search out the truth in the Word of God. An increase in the anointing comes to those whose hearts and lives are washed by the Word of God. Psalm 119:9 says, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” (NKJV) This cleansing is a continual process, requiring the application of the Word of God to all aspects of one's life.
Maybe you have been reading this series of posts and you realize that you need a greater release of God's anointing in your classroom or your school. Perhaps there was a time in your life when you felt this anointing, but you no longer sense it. Like David, you need to have a fresh anointing. David said, “I have been anointed with fresh oil” (Psalm 92:10, NASB). You need this fresh anointing so when you reach out to touch your students and parents, it is Jesus who is reaching out through you. Because of this fresh anointing residing in your life, you don't have to find a preacher to minister to them. You can simply reach out and touch them with the love and compassion of God. As you do this, all the junk that is in their lives, bitterness, depression, resentment, and hurts, are removed. The Holy Spirit through you can supply all that is lacking, to restore and to renew.
If you want this fresh anointing, agree with me in prayer, right where you are:
Heavenly Father, I believe it is Your divine will for my life to be a channel through which the Holy Spirit can flow. I submit myself to Your will. Let all hindrances that may be blocking this anointing be removed from my life, my classroom, and my school.
Release Your power and authority through me. And let your anointing strengthen me in all that I am asked to do. Help me to walk in this anointing, to speak, and to believe what Your Word says about the situations I face. Release this anointing in my life to bring about change in the lives of my students, the school staff, and our parents. In the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.