The Responsibilities of Spiritual Privilege.
And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. At that time I will carry out against Eli, everything I spoke against his family...For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them. Therefore I swore to the house of Eli, ‘The guilt of Eli’s house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering.’”
Recently, I had a rather interesting experience that made me ponder over the seriousness and enormity of “spiritual privilege.” The experience left me wondering whether we are a bit too casual in asking God for an increased anointing from the Holy Spirit upon our lives. I really wondered whether most of us can handle the attendant spiritual responsibilities.
Can we handle the great pressures that are likely to be released against us by the Enemy?
Can we handle the fact that, like Job, we become a choice target of the forces of darkness?
Can we really walk in the kind of purity that certain levels of God’s anointing require? Can we handle the sufferings of Paul who had to endure constant buffeting from a messenger of Satan just to keep him from becoming conceited?
Can we handle the pressures that David had to live with as a “man after God’s own heart”?
Can we handle the hard work involved by way of long hours of prayer and communing with God that comes with certain levels of God’s anointing? And finally, can we handle the stripes that could be laid on us by God when we get out of line? Scripture tells us in James 3 that not many of us should become teachers because we would be judged more strictly by God.
Eli had enormous privilege as the Priest of Israel but with it came the great responsibility of setting the highest personal spiritual example for the rest of the nation. This meant he had to reign in his out of control children. “His sons blasphemed against God and he failed to restrain them.” Not heeding to God’s warnings to clean up his act led to severe judgment.
Spiritual privileges come with great expectations and responsibilities!
Question: So, what kind of spiritual privileges are you asking from God?
Are you factoring in the responsibilities of those privileges? May God graciously prepare us to handle all He entrusts our lives with. His grace is sufficient for us.
Can we handle the great pressures that are likely to be released against us by the Enemy?
Can we handle the fact that, like Job, we become a choice target of the forces of darkness?
Can we really walk in the kind of purity that certain levels of God’s anointing require? Can we handle the sufferings of Paul who had to endure constant buffeting from a messenger of Satan just to keep him from becoming conceited?
Can we handle the pressures that David had to live with as a “man after God’s own heart”?
Can we handle the hard work involved by way of long hours of prayer and communing with God that comes with certain levels of God’s anointing? And finally, can we handle the stripes that could be laid on us by God when we get out of line? Scripture tells us in James 3 that not many of us should become teachers because we would be judged more strictly by God.
Eli had enormous privilege as the Priest of Israel but with it came the great responsibility of setting the highest personal spiritual example for the rest of the nation. This meant he had to reign in his out of control children. “His sons blasphemed against God and he failed to restrain them.” Not heeding to God’s warnings to clean up his act led to severe judgment.
Spiritual privileges come with great expectations and responsibilities!
Question: So, what kind of spiritual privileges are you asking from God?
Are you factoring in the responsibilities of those privileges? May God graciously prepare us to handle all He entrusts our lives with. His grace is sufficient for us.
PRAYER:
Lord, please help me not to be flippant about my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Please equip me with the grace and strength I need to function in the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Lord, please help me not to be flippant about my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Please equip me with the grace and strength I need to function in the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.