PITFALLS OF THE ANOINTED

MEMORISE: ‘Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.’ (2 Cor 2: 11)
READ: 1 Kings 13: 11- 24

The anointed servant of God must be very vigilant and prayerful, lest he fall into certain traps of Satan. When you begin to cast out demons and set the captives free, you will be reported to the headquarters of Satan. Before you know it, a plot to attack you will be devised. Satan will instruct the demons not to attack you immediately. They may keep watch over you for a while to seduce you into sin, and afterwards unleash their attack. Satan does not mind sending his whole army against you, just as he did to Elijah in 2 Kings 6: 8-14. Living a holy and prayerful life every day can help you overcome satanic pitfalls.

Another area one anointed of God should watch out for is abuse of power. By virtue of the anointing on your life, you can cause great havoc. In 2 Kings 2: 23-24, Elisha had just received a double anointing when he met some children who were calling him gorimapa (bald head). Angered, he cursed them and immediately two she-bears came from nowhere and killed 42 of them. As one anointed of God, you should watch your temper. The more anointed you are, the more you should refrain your tongue from ill-advised use. You should also become more humble, quite, tolerant and less vindictive or else you will find yourself destroying your physical and spiritual children, whom God has brought to you for nurturing.

Another pitfall to watch out for, as an anointed man of God, is tat if you are not careful, you can be corrupted. As they say, power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely. Anointing in a man can bring pride. At a certain point you can being to exalt yourself above others and forget the purpose of the anointing. Scripture says: ‘Pride goeth before a fall and an haughty spirit before destruction.’

Lucifer fell from grace to grass because of pride. A particular young man who one raised three people from the dead and preached in fluent English at a higher institution when he could not normally communicate in English, became proud and refused to learn under anybody. Today, he is in a lunatic asylum. Never allow God’s grace on your life to go to your head!

ACTION POINT
Read 1 Corinthians 4: 6-7. Realise that allowing momentary successes and importance to elicit madness will peg destiny and rob you of chances of greater heights.