A Pastor friend of our family, who is doing a great work for the Lord in American Samoa, wrote on April 19, 2011, “God’s been teaching me here in Asau, Samoa. The Christian life is about intimacy with and not industry for Christ. Our industriousness must be His work through us and not ours for Him. Only then is He glorified and we gratified. In short, we abide first and then abound. Never in reverse. God brought me here to a place as remote and removed as any to show me that it is His work to open a closed village, His work to bring souls to repentance, His work to build a church and a church building… Thank you, Lord!”
A man who is considered a general of the Christian faith of the early 20th Century said, “If at any time I were to seek man’s favor or earthly power, I would lose favor with God and could not have faith. God has never allowed any human being to be applauded for doing the Lord’s work.”
Matthew 7:21-23 says, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Personal relationship is most important to the Lord, and not accomplishments.
Judges 16:28-30 says, “And Samson called unto the Lord, and said, O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes. And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of the other with his left. And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.” Samson always relied upon his anointing and not his relationship with the Lord. Finally at the end of his life he got it right. He called out to God and relied on his relationship with the Lord and not his anointing.
The cart cannot be put before the horse. Any church, pastor or layman must first rely on their relationship with the Lord, and not on their anointing. Many churches are seeking revival. They think more programs and meetings are needed, when in reality all the Lord wants is relationship first, and second, only He is to receive all of the glory. The Lord will pass any church by that praises any of its works or any of its people. Only to Him be ALL the glory! I have cringed in various church services when I hear man praising man from the pulpit. You can feel the presence of the Lord lift from the service that had descended when the worship songs were sung. Paul, John, Peter, James, and Jude only sent greetings, encouragement, and instructions in their epistles, but never did they praise man with what only the Lord should receive. Let us never be guilty of giving praise to man that only the Lord should receive.
Annointing 