MEMORIZE: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Isaiah 61:1
READ: Judges 6:1-3
1 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
MESSAGE
Why did a whole army choose to wait until morning to attack just one man as we read in today's Bible text? l believe it was because they were afraid of Samson, and they knew they would need light in case he turned on them and they had to run. Who can make you a terror to the forces of darkness and use you to force open the gates of a city for the light of the gospel to flood in? The answer is the Holy Spirit.
I recall when we first started to hold crusades across Nigeria in our hunger to do God's work. We would call all the ministers together at chosen location, feed them, and explain that we wanted to hold a crusade in their city. They would come, eat our food, promise their full cooperation, and on the day of the crusade, they would all fix programs in their churches so there would be nobody to attend our crusade. After some time, out of frustration, I told God, "Father, I want to do your work, but I'm spending and being spent without getting results" God replied "The fault is yours; you're trying to do my work without the Holy Spirit"
When secret cults were beginning to take over Nigerian universities, the Holy Spirit ministered to me to take the Holy Ghost Service to the universities. I started with the university of Ibadan, and when we told them we were hosting a Holy Ghost Service, all the students, lecturers, and the Vice-Chancellor came out. To make matters interesting as I took the microphone that day, the rain began. Although we were in the open, no one left, not even the Vice Chancellor! When we asked those who wanted to forsake their secret societies to come forward, because the Holy Spirit was there, thousands of people came out.
Beloved above all you do, cultivate an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, and He will not only empower you but will also transform your life. For example, before I became born again, I lived in fear and could not visit my village because l was afraid of the forces of darkness there. Nowadays, however, I announce my visits ahead because I have been empowered by my intimacy with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will make you a terror to the kingdom of darkness as He did with the early disciples (Acts 17:6) if you surrender your life to Jesus Christ and build an intimate relationship with Him.
KEY POINT
The Holy Spirit empowers believers to destroy the works of the devil
HYMN 12: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIE1.
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See his banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers! Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
2. At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers,
On to victory.
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.
3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
Where the Saints have trod.
We are not divided;
All one body we:
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
4. Onward, then, ye people;
Join our happy throng.
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song:
Glory, laud, and honor
Unto Christ, the King.
This through countless ages
Men and angels sing.
