You can be very close to an anointing and yet fail to receive it. Elisha received Elijah’s spirit, but Elisha’s disciple, Gehazi, never received Elisha’s spirit. In fact, Gehazi disqualified himself from receiving the anointing of his master Elisha. Here is his story:

“Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, ‘My master has spared this Syrian, Naaman, by not accepting from his hands what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.’ So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and asked, ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Everything is all right,’ Gehazi answered. ‘My master sent me to say, “Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.”’
‘By all means, take two talents,’ said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them and tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away, and they left.
When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, ‘Where have you been, Gehazi?’
‘Your servant didn’t go anywhere,’ Gehazi answered.
But Elisha said to him, ‘Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.’ Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence, and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.” (2 Kings 5:20–27)

From Gehazi’s example, we see certain factors that act as obstacles to receiving the anointing. These include:

1. Wrong Priorities: The desire for material things rather than the anointing. When a man of God becomes too focused on earthly possessions, it can cause him to lose sight of his spiritual goals. You cannot focus on a man of God’s grace while envying his belongings.
2. Familiarity: Spending too much time around a man of God can breed familiarity. This familiarity will hinder your desire to receive from him, cause you to lose focus, and prevent you from moving forward. Familiarity occurs when you fail to recognize God’s grace at work in the life of the man of God.
3. Offenses: Harboring bitterness toward your pastor, church members, or others can disconnect you from the place where God has planted you. Bitterness toward the man or woman God has chosen to bless you can isolate you spiritually. It is nearly impossible to receive from someone with whom you have unresolved conflicts.

Key Points to Note:

a. It is easier to receive a bad spirit than a good one.
Receiving the transfer of a good spirit requires discipline, commitment, consistency, and perseverance. This is evident from the story of Elijah and Elisha, where Elisha sought a positive transfer. As 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The devil is always looking for opportunities. All it takes for a bad spirit to possess someone is their willingness to be available.

b. You must be aggressive to attract a good spirit.
Elijah told Elisha that he would only receive the anointing if he saw him being taken up. In 2 Kings 2, Elisha witnessed his master being taken up and cried, “My father! My father!” He tore his clothes in desperation—an act of aggressiveness and determination.

Today, you cannot receive what is upon a man of God without this kind of determination. As Matthew 11:12 states:
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”

In 1998, during a pastors’ conference organized by Bishop Oyedepo in Lagos, a young man (Dr. Paul Enenche) ran in front of our moving vehicle. Holding an envelope, he handed it to me, saying, “Please pray for me. I want what you have, sir.” I asked the driver to stop and said to him, “Do you want to die because of the anointing?” He replied, “Please bless me, sir.” I prayed for him, and we became close. Today, when I see him praying for the sick and sharing testimonies worldwide, I see the mark of Agyinasare’s transfer.

To receive what you desire so greatly, you must be willing to do what you have never done before. Your attitude is crucial in attracting a good spirit.

This text is an excerpt from the book “TRANSFERENCE OF SPIRITS” written by Bishop Charles Agyinasare.

We invite you to read the next article, “THE NEGATIVE TRANSFER OF SPIRITS.”

THE OBSTACLES TO RECEIVING THE ANOINTING. THE OBSTACLES TO RECEIVING THE ANOINTING.