In fact, I didn't even want to write some ideas on this and take the predictable route when looking at Samson's life, so how about this: does it bother you that people can do things for the Lord, and it seems as though they still live in sin? I hope you're not reading this to say that I'm advocating that we can live in sin and still operate in the anointing. You don't need to live a holy life to be used by God--because you and I are expendable to the Lord's purposes--He can, does and will work despite us--not because He needs us. BUT you need to live holy to be a Christian--no ifs, ands or butts about that.

The Lord will deal with us on that level if we think we can get away with small or large sins without fully leaving them at the cross of Jesus. But my point is this: don't wait until you think you are perfect before finally stepping out and doing things for the Lord or you'll never do it--we are all a work in progress, some more than others. Until the we are taken home, we are still made out of flesh. Samson was a man consumed with lust and possibly had a bad temper if you will, and still did great exploits for the Lord. I've heard Curry Blake say that the reason God uses us, even though some of us may be in sin, is because we are expendable, and God cares more about the people He's ministering healing to than he does us. Paul understood this too, and feared being disqualified in the end after running the race (1 Cor 9:27). This also seems to contradict the whole "the Lord will sacrifice the work to save the worker" sacred cow. Jesus even dealt with this in the sermon on the mount which I will lightly touch in a moment.

Anyway, shifting gears a little bit:

I've noticed recently, that I've been coasting; that I've been relying on the arm of my flesh sometimes and confidence in what I know the Word says, instead of my confidence IN the Word Himself. In some ways I've been resting on my laurels, which is a dangerous place to find oneself, and in reaction to this I've been spending lots of time alone in my room upstairs (which probably has made Stephen and Francine wonder what I'm up to!) just getting into the Word of God and spending time alone with Him. I have officially decided I don't like being busy *doing* ministry at the expense of alone time with God. Anything a real minister does for the Lord flows out of intimacy with Him. I desire to have something to flow out of me from Him.

Last week I had a turn to lead the Bible study again. And I was asked to do it on a topic that is very dear to my heart and I could easily handle it in a Bible study setting without preparing notes for it. But I wanted to spend my whole afternoon seeking God's face and praying in tongues and just be locked in my room alone with no distraction. I didn't want to rest on the arm of my flesh. And I honestly couldn't sit down right away and turn on my laptop in preparation for the handout I provided. Alone time with God was more important. I had gotten too busy doing "missionary things" and making sure I had newsletter-worthy stories to write about--but my personal time alone with God had been slack for days--maybe a week. So I prioritized spending time alone with God, just reading the Bible where I'm at in my Old Testament readings.

Page 2 of 3 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 3 | Next