Written by Mark Driskill:
Read Mark 6:7-13
Isn’t it interesting how the Lord prepares us to be used by the Holy Spirit? When Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, teach, and heal in his name he didn’t load them down with the things this world seems to think we need. He stripped them down of money, extra clothes, and even a staff for their protection. The only thing it says he gave them was authority. This is what he does with those who want to walk in the authority of the Spirit now. He sends us out completely naked before him. We have nothing to hide and nothing to hide behind. We have only his authority to keep us warm.
One of the great hindrances to our walk in the Spirit today is that we are over accessorized and under anointed! Twenty first century believers have more training, more money and resources, and a larger wardrobe than the apostles ever had and yet we are hard pressed to come even close to the impact they had. Why? It’s simple we have traded the Holy Spirit for personal comfort and convenience. We think we need Christian accessories and gimmicks to make us cool enough for the world when what we really need is the genuine anointing of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter how many degrees you have, how many seminars you have been to or how much money is in your budget.
You will never be effective in God until you are stripped naked and filled with his holy power. Perhaps you have been asking God to use you in a special way, but it seems you are losing everything instead of gaining. God is answering your prayer. Before he can really use you he often has to strip you of all the worldly junk and hype that has been weighing you down. He has to strip you of the garb of this world before he can clothe you in the power of Christ. Western Christianity has it all wrong. We think just the opposite. We think we have to have big money, big degrees, and lots of insurance before we can even begin to follow Jesus. You have to ignore Jesus to believe that.
There is coming a day in America when the church will be stripped naked. She will lose her money, her fancy gospel glitter, and her worldly seductions. Then, when all the half hearted gospel groupies either go home or get right, she will be clothed with power from on high! In short, if you want revival, if you want to walk in the power of the Spirit, you’re gonna have to get naked before God.
Challenge: Get rid of all your Christian accessories; Jewelry, T-shirts, etc. and ask God to so fill you with the Holy Spirit that people will see Jesus in you.
Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky. They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy. Mark is web minister for Begotten by the Word , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources. Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program.
Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.
Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.
