And the Spirit said, "Don't go there." by Ann-Louise
Posted December 11, 2009
__________________________________________________________________________________
Anointed. Called. Chosen. Sanctified. Gifted. Set apart. Equipped.
How ever you choose to describe God’s preparation, we all have a purpose. Each member of the body of Christ has been given spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. We are required to use these gifts to build up our brothers and sisters and to spread the light of the gospel to a darkened world. Some members of the body, such as pastors and evangelists, are called to serve in public positions. Some serve quietly, sharing God’s love in hands-on ways, like taking a meal to a sick church member or caring for a busy mother’s small children so she can have a needed break. Others are called to wrestle in prayer on behalf of God’s people as prayer warriors. One is not more valuable than another. There are simply different callings and different positions all combining together to build up the body and ultimately, to glorify the Lord.
“And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” (1 Corinthians 12:6-7)
Judges chapter 6 tells of a devastating attack upon Israel at the hand of the Midianites and Amalekites. The enemy had destroyed Israel’s crops and everything else in their path. “And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD” (Judges 6:6). The Lord’s response was to raise up Gideon to lead the people into battle and to victory. Gideon was certainly anointed, called, chosen, sanctified, gifted, set apart, and equipped for God’s purpose. Several thousand men rallied around Gideon.
There was a need. Their families were suffering.
There was a battle. They came to fight.
And the Spirit said, “Don’t go there.”
The Lord sent 22 thousand of them home. Why? Surely it was a good thing for them to protect their loved ones. Surely it was a good thing to join in the army of the Lord in this battle. It was not what they had been called to do. They were not equipped for this battle. That doesn’t mean they were useless. God did have a purpose for each of their lives, but this wasn’t it.
God ended up paring that army down to just 300 men, those He had chosen, anointed, equipped and prepared for just this task. Why did God send so few against so an mighty invasion force? To remind Israel and us of the truth that any victory in His Name is accomplished “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.” (Judges 7:2).
Anything we try to accomplish outside the anointing and calling God has placed on our lives will be a fleshly effort yielding fleshly results.
One day, during Saul’s reign, 30 thousand Philistine chariots and 6,000 Philistines on horseback “and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude” came on the offensive. The people of Israel scattered and were hiding in caves.
The people were afraid. The situation was grim.
Intercession was needed. Saul wanted an answer.
And the Spirit said, “Don’t go there.”
Saul did not heed that warning. “And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering” (1 Samuel 13:9). Then Samuel, the one whom God had appointed and anointed as prophet and priest, shows up. “And Samuel said, What hast thou done?” (1 Samuel 13:11). Saul, of course, had his excuses. “The people needed to be rallied… you weren’t here… we needed answers… so I did it.”
Saul had been anointed, chosen and equipped by God to serve as king over his people. He had not been anointed and appointed as prophet or priest over his people.
The result of his failure to heed the Spirit’s warning was devastating for him and his family.
“And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue : the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee” (1 Samuel 13:13-14)
Sometimes, we see a need or an area that catches our attention. Defending Israel was not a bad thing. Offering a sacrifice was a good thing. But, as we noted above, anything we try to accomplish outside the anointing and calling God has placed on our lives will be a fleshly effort yielding fleshly results.
A few years ago, I was presented with something that seemed good, which was (and is) an area of interest to me personally.
And the Spirit said, “Don’t go there.”
I went ahead anyway and pursed that interest. The result was not as devastating as it was for Saul but it was not good for my walk with the Lord or for a few people around me. I’m not talking about an area of sin here. It was an area that others may be called to, but I am not. The Lord graciously brought me back to the areas He wants me to focus upon – the areas He has called me to. This “interest” confronted me again recently.
The need was apparent. Questions were asked.
I wanted to share what was on my heart.
And the Spirit said, “Don’t go there.”
I went there again anyway, this time to explain my reasons for not going there. I had been told, “Don’t go there,” yet I did. What did it accomplish? Nothing good. It was a fleshly effort yielding fleshly results. The Lord has someone else in mind, someone else He has gifted for that purpose, but it is not Ann-Louise. Sometimes, I need to have things repeated a few times before I get what the Lord is saying to me. Ever been there? I am so thankful that the Lord is patient with me.
You are a unique and important member of the body of Christ. I am a unique and important member of the body of Christ. God has anointed, chosen and equipped you and me for a specific purpose – His purpose, for His glory. I’m not called to do what God has chosen you to do, or vice versa.
Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Walking in the Spirit means living a life of obedience, listening to His voice and following His leading. I pray the Lord will help us to obey when He says, “Go there,” and do what He has called us to do and to obey when He says, “Don’t go there,” and avoid what He has not called us to do.
More Articles Home Page
Anointed. Called. Chosen. Sanctified. Gifted. Set apart. Equipped.
How ever you choose to describe God’s preparation, we all have a purpose. Each member of the body of Christ has been given spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s purpose in our lives. We are required to use these gifts to build up our brothers and sisters and to spread the light of the gospel to a darkened world. Some members of the body, such as pastors and evangelists, are called to serve in public positions. Some serve quietly, sharing God’s love in hands-on ways, like taking a meal to a sick church member or caring for a busy mother’s small children so she can have a needed break. Others are called to wrestle in prayer on behalf of God’s people as prayer warriors. One is not more valuable than another. There are simply different callings and different positions all combining together to build up the body and ultimately, to glorify the Lord.
“And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” (1 Corinthians 12:6-7)
Judges chapter 6 tells of a devastating attack upon Israel at the hand of the Midianites and Amalekites. The enemy had destroyed Israel’s crops and everything else in their path. “And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD” (Judges 6:6). The Lord’s response was to raise up Gideon to lead the people into battle and to victory. Gideon was certainly anointed, called, chosen, sanctified, gifted, set apart, and equipped for God’s purpose. Several thousand men rallied around Gideon.
There was a need. Their families were suffering.
There was a battle. They came to fight.
And the Spirit said, “Don’t go there.”
The Lord sent 22 thousand of them home. Why? Surely it was a good thing for them to protect their loved ones. Surely it was a good thing to join in the army of the Lord in this battle. It was not what they had been called to do. They were not equipped for this battle. That doesn’t mean they were useless. God did have a purpose for each of their lives, but this wasn’t it.
God ended up paring that army down to just 300 men, those He had chosen, anointed, equipped and prepared for just this task. Why did God send so few against so an mighty invasion force? To remind Israel and us of the truth that any victory in His Name is accomplished “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). “And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.” (Judges 7:2).
Anything we try to accomplish outside the anointing and calling God has placed on our lives will be a fleshly effort yielding fleshly results.
One day, during Saul’s reign, 30 thousand Philistine chariots and 6,000 Philistines on horseback “and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude” came on the offensive. The people of Israel scattered and were hiding in caves.
The people were afraid. The situation was grim.
Intercession was needed. Saul wanted an answer.
And the Spirit said, “Don’t go there.”
Saul did not heed that warning. “And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering” (1 Samuel 13:9). Then Samuel, the one whom God had appointed and anointed as prophet and priest, shows up. “And Samuel said, What hast thou done?” (1 Samuel 13:11). Saul, of course, had his excuses. “The people needed to be rallied… you weren’t here… we needed answers… so I did it.”
Saul had been anointed, chosen and equipped by God to serve as king over his people. He had not been anointed and appointed as prophet or priest over his people.
The result of his failure to heed the Spirit’s warning was devastating for him and his family.
“And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue : the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee” (1 Samuel 13:13-14)
Sometimes, we see a need or an area that catches our attention. Defending Israel was not a bad thing. Offering a sacrifice was a good thing. But, as we noted above, anything we try to accomplish outside the anointing and calling God has placed on our lives will be a fleshly effort yielding fleshly results.
A few years ago, I was presented with something that seemed good, which was (and is) an area of interest to me personally.
And the Spirit said, “Don’t go there.”
I went ahead anyway and pursed that interest. The result was not as devastating as it was for Saul but it was not good for my walk with the Lord or for a few people around me. I’m not talking about an area of sin here. It was an area that others may be called to, but I am not. The Lord graciously brought me back to the areas He wants me to focus upon – the areas He has called me to. This “interest” confronted me again recently.
The need was apparent. Questions were asked.
I wanted to share what was on my heart.
And the Spirit said, “Don’t go there.”
I went there again anyway, this time to explain my reasons for not going there. I had been told, “Don’t go there,” yet I did. What did it accomplish? Nothing good. It was a fleshly effort yielding fleshly results. The Lord has someone else in mind, someone else He has gifted for that purpose, but it is not Ann-Louise. Sometimes, I need to have things repeated a few times before I get what the Lord is saying to me. Ever been there? I am so thankful that the Lord is patient with me.
You are a unique and important member of the body of Christ. I am a unique and important member of the body of Christ. God has anointed, chosen and equipped you and me for a specific purpose – His purpose, for His glory. I’m not called to do what God has chosen you to do, or vice versa.
Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Walking in the Spirit means living a life of obedience, listening to His voice and following His leading. I pray the Lord will help us to obey when He says, “Go there,” and do what He has called us to do and to obey when He says, “Don’t go there,” and avoid what He has not called us to do.
More Articles Home Page