Cease to hear instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.(Proverbs 19:27 – ESV)
If we’re not in the Word of God, then we’re not in the will of God, so we won’t have the wisdom of God, therefore we will be taken captive by the wooing of the world, the wants of the flesh, and the wiles of the devil.
We are all in a spiritual battle. There is no reason for you to believe that you will be successful in Spiritual warfare without having your sword sharpened and your armor on (Ephesians 6:10-18). If we are in an intimate, present reality, dynamic relationship with Christ, we will be invincible, in a sense. But when we look away from Jesus we, like Peter, begin to see the storms of life, and sink under our own weight of unbelief.
God wants communion with us; if we become lax in our prayer life, Bible study, and our corporate worship, fellowship, and stewardship, we will suffer. No matter how long we have been a Christian or how many verses we have memorized, our flow will be hampered. It is our constant communion with God that gives the Word its power in our personal lives. It is the Spirit that gives life. To stop the flow of communication means that using the Bible can become an exercise in our own strength, a one-way street where you just go to the Word when you feel like you need it. You can’t bottle the blessings of God (Exodus 16:15-21); that is why we are to pray for our daily bread (Matthew 6:11).
The wisdom from God is predicated upon a present tense relationship with Him. No amount of “build up” or maturity can take this fact away. Want proof? How about Solomon: Once he strayed from God, he sank into apostasy. If it can happen to the wisest man who ever lived, then surely it can happen to us. Consider also Samson and Saul; if your character doesn’t grow in proportion to your anointing, it will crush you.
Modern day examples abound. Consider the great preachers who had anointing by the barrelful yet fell all the way down the mountain because they trusted in the past without tending to the present, treating God as a means to an end, rather than their relationship with Him being the purpose itself. He is not a cosmic concierge, waiting at our beck and call.
Looking to our own lives, and the corporate life of the local churches, we cannot simply rest on our laurels. Leaders are to set the example, to live by a higher standard so that those who follow have something to look forward to. When called to lead we must do exactly that: lead, not lounge. We must move forward, not sit idle. We must continue to learn if we are to continue to lead, else we will learn, the hard way.
12 comments:
That first sentence was all I needed to hear... but the rest of it was helpful, too. Very good stuff.
Happy belated Resurrection Sunday!
"if your character doesn’t grow in proportion to your anointing, it will crush you."
Wow, I had never heard this message ever rendered like this before.
Thank you.
I came to know of your blog through Sista Cala.
-Godzheart
*finishes first cup of coffee*
Now that I'm awake, I will say that I keep many of those in mind who fell away. Judas, King Saul, and even Samson. Just remembering their fate keeps that healthy fear in me that I am weak with Him, and that I will make terrible choices without His law on my heart. We don't talk about these people in the manner of "take heed". I remember their stories being told in a manner of "oh, poor things. How could someone turn away from God like that?" It's easier than one might think.
1st sentence... Whew! Wise words (wink, wink).
Last night, I saw at least two examples of this in the lives of people who are close to me.
We do surely need to be fighting the fight of faith. Especially when it comes to praying for me.
"Judas, King Saul, and even Samson."
Interesting you chose these three Marcian. Got me thinking.
Judas, the son of perdition. He would have been better off never being born.
Saul, the king who was probably never really one of God's elect, but that's up for debate.
Samson, an elect child of God listed in Hebrews 11, and yet where was this man's faith, though he surely had faith.
As long as I'm His, and not a false disciple, then I'm blessed. For who can bring a charge against one of God's own.
Another excellent study in the Word.
Samson: made it but what a hard life...
Saul: started out in humility, didn't grow in it as he grew in power...
Solomon: as his kingdom got greater and greater, his walk with God apparently became lesser and lesser...
I personally think 2 of the three probably made it, but perhaps all three, and then again, maybe only Samson, but the point is the same, keep hold of God, or self will strangle you...
Saul. I used Saul's amazing beginnings to teach my Sunday school class how the people thought he was their choice, but really, God chose him first.
Excellent post. I may not get here as often as I like but I am always blessed by reading your posts. Keep up the good work. This was clear and to the point and easily understandable, even for me! God bless you. See you tonight.
If we don't grow, then we just become bench warmers. God wants us to keep growing closer to him.
Reading one of your other posts. Reminded me of the many times I will be reading,and even though I have read it 100 times, one day it just leaps off the page. Hope that makes sense.
"keep hold of God, or self will strangle you"
Amen to that. And the world and the devil don't mind helping self out at all.
You could the priest Eli to that list. Age/maturity didn't keep his focus clear. His memory of the voice of God was enough for him to advise Samuel to say 'here am I', but it wasn't enough to keep hearing God for himself.
All those comments were fantastic!
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