suziwollman

Imitation is as important in a new Christian's life as it is in any new life. Few species are born with the innate knowledge needed to survive, and neither are we. It has been shown time and again what happens to a human child raised by an animal "parent," and it isn't a pretty sight. Exactly as little babies need nurturing, so too do baby Christians. As we learn to talk and walk by imitating what we see in our parents, we also learn to be Christ-like by imitation. Unfortunately, for many Christians, it means that they will learn a fractured sort of Christianity. It's important to remember that others are watching us, too! Discipleship ministries seem to me to have the most influence, therefore are the most important in terms of imitation. Small groups, fellowship, and other ministries are also important. In churches with missionaries, it is important to see and hear those ministries regularly so that they, too, can be a source for valuable imitation. Leaders in the church, whether the pastor, elder, Bible study leader, group leader, children's ministry leader, and so on, including parents, hold a place of greater judgement than those who do not lead. Paul warns us that not many should be teachers, because they are imitated, and what they live molds the lives of their disciples. An anecdotal example here will suffice, because it is typical of those who do not maintain regular Christian fellowship. A couple we know, who had always been an example of a godly, experienced, and wise Christian couple, became disenchanted with the churches they attended due to different problems with each one they visited. They decided to keep their own counsel and to worship at home together. It was about a year later that we visited them. Alas, my mentor from former years admitted to me that she hadn't opened her Bible in weeks, and they no longer studied the Word together, or even had regular prayer times together. It was so sad to see this happen, yet when we didn't attend church for a number of weeks, we found the same lethargy creeping into our own lives. "Get thee to a nunnery!" is, metaphorically speaking, a good idea. As missionaries, we have a lot of people watching us whom we do not know. Not only those we fellowship with and are family are influenced by our walk. It is a position that I take very spiritually, and it drives me to my knees. It is humbling to have someone you don't even know approach to say, "I watched you walk through that difficult time, and was uplifted by your dependence on God the whole time."

Why is the Holy Spirit's working so necessary to effective ministry? "No one can come to me unless my Father draws him." — John 6:44 God does his drawing via the Holy Spirit. What happens when the main power behind our ministry is will-power? "The steps of his strength are shortened and his own counsel casts him down." — Job 18:7 On the mission field, I saw one missionary after another give up and go home. I think it was the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Unless God is our strength, our will-power is not enough to weather the onslaught by Satan when we minister in God's name. What is the role of miracles in Paul's evangelism? "Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles." Acts 15:12 They believed because of the miracles. Jesus said that if we do not believe in him because of who he is, that they should believe in him because of the miracles he had done (couldn't find chapter and verse). What would happen if we saw miracles in evangelism in our day? "“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done inTyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." Matthew 11:21 In many parts of the world, we are seeing miracles, from healing to raising the dead. But in America, when we hear of them, we scoff and say that they are not true. Some would come as a result of miracles (particularly miracles pertaining to themselves or their needs), but the majority, not involved in the miracle, would not believe. We are a hard-hearted people. What is hindering this? "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush." Unfortunately, our society (and the world at large) has become so enamored with sin that it no longer causes it shame. Between the hardness of heart and the abundance of Satan's false signs and wonders, people would probably consider most miracles a trick of technology or a coincidence. I knew a young lady who called me one day and said, "Want to make a believer out of me? Tell God to give me this apartment!" I responded, "I will ask him, and he will give you what you ask. However, you will chalk it up to some other cause." Then I prayed, and God did, indeed, make the apartment available to her. (As an aside, the agent was a God-fearing son of missionaries to Russia — the same place my husband and I ministered!) She laughed, just like Sarah. But unlike Sarah, she refused to believe when she saw her miracle.

Something I didn't see expressed in the answers here lies at the heart of the persecution, both in Thessalonica and everywhere else they preached, was the mission of Satan to destroy the Messiah. We see his work everywhere in the New Testament, from Herod to Armageddon. Yes, there was jealousy, but the real reason was much, much more diabolical. (Satan can use our human tendency to sin, too!) Paul keeps preaching because once he had met Jesus, he had a singular vision: preach the gospel ("Occupy until I come.") Sometimes, if we do not stop our Christian activities, we will be stopped. That, however, doesn't mean our ministry ends. When Paul was prevented by severe persecution, he simply went on to the next place and continued. Occasionally, he returned at a later date to where he had experienced persecution, and continued preaching. He was always led by the Holy Spirit. As the Jews in the wilderness, when the Holy Spirit stayed, they stayed, and when he moved, they moved.

Saul is "battered" (spiritually speaking) as a result of the evil spirit from the Lord. Music seems to calm him for awhile, and David is ostensibly the provider of that music. However, David is teachable and relies on God everyday. Thus the Lord is able to teach him about governing from the place of kingship. When I find myself surrounded by something new and sometimes intimidating, I often focus on the situation at hand instead of on what the Lord is doing through it. I need to be more like David, accepting with grace whatever God deems good for me. I need to look to God in every situation, or I am not being teachable.

I find it interesting that Samuel uses a horn to carry the oil with which to anoint David. The ram's horn is particularly important in Jewish culture, both in David's time and now. The horn is blown to announce something of great significance to God's people. To me, it says that David is not only anointed with oil but will also be proclaimed a king after God's own heart, in due time. There is more to that than meets the eye, and it is something I want to study more. But today's question involves the anointing not only of oil, but of the Holy Spirit as well. That excites me, because I know that I have the same anointing that David had. The infilling of the Holy Spirit occurs at the time of our conversion, as it did when David was anointed. Once the Spirit has come upon the believer, He remains there. His power and wisdom is ever at our disposal, yet how often we turn aside just when we need it most! We can be guaranteed of success in anything God calls us to if we remain in connection to the Holy Spirit. He is faithful to lead us and guide us in the Lord's will if we are faithful to simply ask. "You have not because you ask not" Jesus said. And what could be more empowering than being led by the Holy Spirit? When David was anointed with oil and the Spirit, he was changed into a new man. He didn't become a different man, simply an empowered one. He had success with larger exploits, yet remained the simple shepherd he was when Samuel came to him. God made David who he was, and then He made him what he was. I like that the HS uses who we are and makes us what God wants us to be.

Poor Samuel! After being God's spokesman for who knows how long, he might have thought he could recognize God's preference. But not even he could know the mind of God. It's difficult for us to not have any expectations when we are asking God to do something or when He has asked us to do something. Yet, God rarely does things exactly the way we anticipate. He leads us step by step, not in great leaps and bounds (although He could if that were His intent). It is probably the most important thing we can do to accurately follow God by listening to His voice. Our heads are filled with clamoring ideas and thoughts, our eyes bombarded with visual messages, our ears assaulted with competing voices. That's why it's so important to find a quiet place and to still our hearts and minds, focusing on God alone, and waiting with anticipation to what He will say. I know that for me particularly, I tend to judge by the external shape of things instead of automatically seeking God's voice in a matter. Therefore, I desperately need quiet time with God to sit and wait on Him to speak to me.

Rebellion is "as the sin of witchcraft," by which the Bible means they are on equal footing in regards to being sin. Both look outside of God for direction, rebellion to the self, and witchcraft to demonic activity. Both have put someone other than God in His place, and do so intentionally. When I find myself seeking my own will rather than God's, I realize that I am responsible for my actions, whether in thought, word, or deed. I need to say with Jesus, "Not my will, but Thine be done." How arrogant is the one who seeks his own will instead of God's. In effect, he is saying, "I am as powerful, as knowing, as wise as God and am perfectly capable of determining my own destiny." It reminds me of the song, "I Did it My Way." I shake in my shoes when I hear someone sing that song, arrogantly proclaiming that he does not need God! When I realize I am in rebellion against God, most often it is in my thought life. Left alone, those thoughts will turn into words and eventually into actions, for every action begins with a thought (even if subconsciously). Once I have stepped over the line, I find it harder and harder to turn back. Instead, I need to cry out to God for forgiveness and the power to live life in a Christ-like manner. I rejoice that He is conforming me to His Son's image, and that includes carving out those areas that are tainted with rebellion.