It's not enough to say that you are called. There should and will be a recognition, a confirmation, that you and I, as credential holders of the Assemblies of God, operate with a confirmation from the Church that we have been anointed and called to the position or assignment of leadership.

We fully believe and recognize that God's anointing comes in a confirmation of greater dimensions. It's my conviction that this commissioning — whether at an ordination service, a mission commissioning, or an installation — is not just a ritual, but it is a confirmation of the call — God's call.

1 Samuel 10:6,9 speaks of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon Saul and changing him into a different person. As Samuel walked away, God changed Saul’s heart. This is not a salvation experience — this is transformation. A transformation of carnal weakness into an instrument of righteousness. God was helping Saul become what he could not be on his own.

Pastor Jim Cymbala once said, “The greatest danger in ministry is not failure — it’s success without dependence.” That quote has never left me. It echoes in moments when I’m tempted to substitute experience for encounter, strategy for surrender.

Years ago, a lady approached my wife, Amber, and said, “It must be amazing to be married to such an anointed man.” Amber, with a smile and a real sense of wisdom, replied, “Well… he’s not always anointed.”

Never confuse the person who is anointed with the real you.

It’s true — I am not the anointing. I’m a vessel who occasionally lives in alignment with it. And sometimes, I’ve stepped into moments, meetings, or even platforms where I wasn't depending on Him like I should have been. We must remember: the anointing is not a personality or a performance. It’s His presence flowing through surrendered people.

There have been moments — and I can take you to them — where I stepped behind a pulpit and preached a message that was not God's assignment for that season. I felt it in the moment. I hadn’t even read the full text. I remember the tension in my heart and mind, the weight of conviction, and the grief of knowing I hadn’t heard from God like I should’ve. It was a Sunday night service, and I tried to preach what should’ve been shared Sunday morning. It fell flat. I missed the moment.

This past year, I’ve walked into meetings desperate for the anointing — for that divine help and wisdom I knew I didn’t have on my own. And, if I’m honest, there were a few moments where I didn’t crave His presence like I should’ve. I didn’t abide like I needed to. Maybe that’s where you are today. With summer schedules, holidays, and ministry rhythms, it’s easy to coast. But let this be your reminder: drift is subtle. 
Remember: the anointing is a supernatural assistance to help you do what you cannot do on your own. 

My encouragement to you as your superintendent is this: Would you reflect over the last season and ask: Am I depending on His anointing… or am I coasting? It’s easy to use muscle memory in life and ministry. But I’m striving for something deeper — a place where unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain.

I struggle with verbal communication. On my own, I am a mess. On my own, I can become petty, insecure, and impatient. On my own, I am extremely limited. But with the anointing, you and I operate on a different level. As Martin Lloyd-Jones reminds us, you “look on with amazement… It is not your effort; you are just the instrument.”

The anointing can take you where your character cannot keep you. God's Spirit can open doors, but it's the fruit of the Spirit that keeps them open. We need the anointing not just to be empowered — but to be transformed. God can appoint you for great tasks, but He will not grow your character for you. We must create a life habit of walking with His anointing in our lives. Not for a pulpit but daily life. 

Dr. Allen Tennison wisely reminds us, “The anointing is not simply an inward reality—it is a shared recognition of God's empowerment on a life.” He goes on to say, “When the early church commissioned leaders, it wasn’t just a formality. It was the community acknowledging that God had placed His hand on someone.”

Tennison also challenges leaders with this: “The danger is not just losing the anointing, but replacing it with ambition. Anointing will always serve others; ambition will always serve self.”

Stay small in your own eyes so God remains large. Saul didn’t lose the throne overnight — he stepped away from God’s Spirit over time. By relying on himself, he slowly drifted outside the anointing’s covering. The same danger faces us as leaders if we substitute dependence on God for self-management.

Create time to be still before Him. Don’t substitute preparation for presence. When Saul was small in his own eyes (1 Samuel 9:21; 15:17), God used him. His humility brought unity and victory. But when we forget our dependence, even past victories can become stumbling blocks.

If He convicts, respond quickly. Sensitivity protects longevity. As Saul’s influence grew, so did his self-confidence. He leaned on strategy rather than surrender. Pride isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s simply prayerlessness. '“And the Spirit departed from him…” (1 Samuel 16:14). Solomon’s warning is prophetic: “Pride precedes destruction…” (Proverbs 16:18).

Give trusted voices permission to correct and redirect. Saul stepped into priestly duties in panic, not purpose (1 Samuel 13:8–13). He was warned — but ignored the voice of correction. Every leader must ask: Have I lost sensitivity to conviction? Sensitivity to the Spirit is the safeguard of the anointed.

Live aware of how the Holy Spirit feels about your words, your attitude, and your actions. Saul offered what God never asked for (1 Samuel 15:22). He justified his disobedience with religious activity. In the end, he defended his image more than his anointing.

An exhausted spirit cannot carry fresh oil. Protect your sabbath moments.

Don’t rely on yesterday’s touch. Seek Him anew.