Here is an honest confession … in reading through the Bible, I acknowledge that some portions of my daily readings are far more enjoyable than others. I always absolutely love reading through the Gospels and the Book of Acts and I struggle reading through Leviticus. It is all that I can do to labor through the laws and commands. And then, in reading through other portions of the Pentateuch, I struggle with the genealogies and the chapters telling about where the different tribes lived. I have to develop the mentality of the little caboose as it was trying to make it up the mountain by constantly thinking “I think I can, I think I can, …” as I struggle through the verses. There, I feel better now that I’ve made that confession.
There’s one Old Testament book that is filled with stories of Israel’s ups and downs, the book of Judges. I read through that book this week and noticed that Samuel tells of when the Spirit of the Lord would come upon individuals so that they could perform a certain task …. Othniel to judge (Judges 3), Deborah to judge (Judges 4), Gideon to lead into battle (Judges 6), Jephthah to judge (Judges 11), and Samson to bring God’s judgement on the Philistines (Judges 13, 14, 15, and 16). I didn’t have to take off my shoes to provide additional digits to be able to count the number of individuals. Samuel lists and gives the stories of only five people that had the privilege of being clothed by God’s Spirit. Not five hundred or five thousand … five.
What a contrast to today. Each and every born again believer today has the potential and privilege to be clothed and possessed by the Spirit of God 24/7/365. No seminary degree is needed. No background check is required. No position in an organization or church is necessary. You don’t have to have the “right” last name. It’s just a matter of believe, receive, and then walk in the Spirit.
What a privilege. Each and every one of us gets to be a present day Spirit-clothed representative for the Kingdom. (Luke 24:49). We are critical to the plan of God for today. Let’s boldly walk with the Holy Spirit and do exploits to advance the Kingdom. Remember, exploits are waiting.
