"The Spirit of the LORD came upon" Othniel, and he became Israel's judge, went to war, and a forty-year peace resulted. Why could he overpower the enemy even though he had no trained army? Because of God's power upon him. (Google image, Bible Sampson).
Today we have not only the spiritual powers of darkness arrayed against us (Eph. 6:12; Col. 1:13), but in addition often we face forces within our secular culture, vested interests, and the unrighteous media.
How dare we conclude that we can defeat and rout the forces opposing God's will without his repeated special empowering of our efforts? We must not just take it for granted. We must request it of God, if we would receive it.
Just because this is the dispensation of the Spirit does not assure that the Spirit will always automatically undergird, empower, and manifest God's triumph to the maximum.
We are in constant danger of relying too exclusively upon our human efforts and wisdom. The secret of the manifestation of the Spirit is our asking for it (Luke 11:13; James 4:2).
These promises were recorded long after the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. This is the Spirit's dispensation, but His working is often dependent upon our special asking.
The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and he blew a trumpet and rallied the tribes (Judges. 6:34) . . .The Spirit came upon Jephthah (Judges 11:29, and he advanced against strong enemy forces . . . The Spirit came upon Samson with such power that he confronted a young lion (Judges 14:6) . . . The Spirit came upon Samson again in power and he defeated the Ashkelonites (Judges 14:19).
We are too easily satisfied and glory in occasional past moments when God touched us by His power. God is delighted to empower us as often as we need him, and we need Him more often than we realize. We have become too complacent and too easily satisfied with minimum manifestations of His power.
Samuel promised Saul, "The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power . . . and you will be changed into a different person
(1 Sam. 10:6).
How tragic when a Christian leader, like Samson, has once known special times of the Lord's enabling when the Spirit came upon him "in power" then begins to rely on his own "know-how", his busy endeavors, and his administrative skills more than on the Lord.
Paul realized that it was when he was aware of his weakness and cast himself upon the Lord that he was most strong (2 Cor. 12:10). Jesus said to him, "My power is made perfect in weakness" (v 9).
As Christian leaders chosen by God, we have every right to experience the enveloping Spirit of God. Whether our role is to meet a particular and special need, guide God's people, teach them, encourage them, or rebuke them—God's clothing of our human best by the holy enduement of His Spirit and His power is our privilege. It can be ours through prayer and faith.
Our assignments for the Lord are of a different kind today, but the same power is available to us according to our need. God's power is as available for our generation as for any that has ever lived.
This is still God's day of grace. It is still the dispensation of the Spirit and His power. God has not changed. We are the ones who fail to appropriate. Ask God today to clothe you with His power!
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Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.
Ablaze for God
#8 The "UPON"ness of the Spirit
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 36 - 39) ZondervanPublishingHouse
Our prayer today-
 |
| Worshipping God |
Father, it's true that today we have spiritual forces against us as well as our secular culture, vested interests, and the unrighteous media.
It's a wonder that we think we can defeat and rout the forces of evil without Your Spirit.
Help us not take it for granted that we'll actually receive Your empowering Spirit's help without asking for it.
Your clothing our human best efforts for the kingdom will be most effective by the holy enduement of Your Spirit. May we realize that it is our privilege to receive this through prayer and faith.
As this is still Your day of grace, the dispensation of Your Spirit among us with power, help us not fail to appropriate it to be clothed with Your power.
We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
"And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy
"Therefore, since we are now justified (acquitted,
made righteous, and brought into right relationship
with God) by Christ's blood, how much more [certain
is it that] we shall be saved by Him from the indignation
and wrath of God" (Romans 5:9 AMP).
"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in
him (Jesus), (v. 20) and through him to reconcile to
himself all things, whether things on earth or things
in heaven, by making peace through his blood,
shed on the cross" (Col. 1:19, 20 NIV).
him (Jesus), (v. 20) and through him to reconcile to
himself all things, whether things on earth or things
in heaven, by making peace through his blood,
shed on the cross" (Col. 1:19, 20 NIV).
Spirit is also, Whom God has bestowed on those
who obey Him" (Acts 5:32 AMP).
Today's quotes:
~ Robert Henderson: "Satan is destroying and God is HAVING TO ALLOW IT. The Lord will only allow it until we take what Jesus did on the cross, step into the Courts of Heaven, and remove the legal right of the devil. The moment this is done, the Lord moves in our behalf and Satan's rights are revoked and curses are dissolved. When we operate from a legal perspective in the Courts of Heaven, we grant God the legal right He passionately desires to move for us." (p. 71 in Unlocking Destinies from the Courts of Heaven).
~ Arlene Pellicane: "Whether you are an engineer or teacher, accountant or cook, do you know your work matters to God? You may not be a formal missionary, but God can use you - right where you are - to do important work for the kingdom of God."
~ Robert Henderson: "Satan is destroying and God is HAVING TO ALLOW IT. The Lord will only allow it until we take what Jesus did on the cross, step into the Courts of Heaven, and remove the legal right of the devil. The moment this is done, the Lord moves in our behalf and Satan's rights are revoked and curses are dissolved. When we operate from a legal perspective in the Courts of Heaven, we grant God the legal right He passionately desires to move for us." (p. 71 in Unlocking Destinies from the Courts of Heaven).
Jill and Mark Savage's No More Perfect Date Night only opens a couple of times a year and one of those times is RIGHT NOW!
No More Perfect Date Night is for couples and for individuals. "If your spouse is willing to grow with you, you can use No More Perfect Date Night together! If your spouse isn't interested, you can use No More Perfect Date Night to keep growing as an individual in your marriage. Remember if you change how you respond to your marriage, your marriage changes!"
No More Perfect Date Night is for couples and for individuals. "If your spouse is willing to grow with you, you can use No More Perfect Date Night together! If your spouse isn't interested, you can use No More Perfect Date Night to keep growing as an individual in your marriage. Remember if you change how you respond to your marriage, your marriage changes!"
Today's question-
Do you know that you are loved?
If you've been released from a life of wrath, and now are a child of the King, you cannot walk in Christian knowledge without knowing Whose you are. Jesus knew the Father's love personally and obeyed Him explicitly, which released him to love, knowing where He came from and where He was going.
In John 13, we see true humility on display as Jesus washed His disciples feet, even Judas, the man who later betrayed Him. Don't put on a "false jacket" of sickness, depression or what have you as your identity. Put your faith in Jesus, the One who died for you and who loves you unconditionally.
Upcoming posts-
One Invitation at a Time
11th- Saturday's post by Debbie McEwen
#9 The Hand of the Lord Upon You
14th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
#10 The All-Essential Power
16th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
What Is Repentance?
18th-Saturday's post by Gypsy Smith
Jean's published book
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