Don't Put A Lid On It

Don't Put A Lid On It

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. - Romans 15:4

Did you know it's possible to have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit flow OVER you without it residing IN you? Nothing scares me more than that possibility.

Sampson is probably the most famous historical illustration of this phenomenon. He did amazing, miraculous things, gave powerful speeches, and everyone knew that the hand of God was on him... and yet his life was always in shambles: he disrespected and argued with his parents constantly, his love life was unstable at best and downright sinful at worst, he took the anointing of the Lord for granted because his pride tricked him into thinking that he was special, that the show could not go on without him... and he ultimately died alone, a human tragedy.

Though God poured His presence and power OVER his life, calling him to a great destiny, Sampson's love affair with himself was a lid tightly shut against the presence of God living IN him.

Of course Sampson is an extreme example. Truth is, looking through Scripture, quite a few of the greats had their moment- David put a lid on it when his pride convinced him to count his armies and take credit for their victories, Peter put a lid on it when prejudice and legalism convinced him he couldn't sit and eat with people not of his race, Moses put a lid on it when he neglected his wife and children by putting ministry above them, Jonah put a lid on it when he allowed his heart to be filled with hatred and unforgiveness against his enemies...

The list goes on and thank goodness it does, because it gives us HOPE.  Tightly sealing their hearts against the power of God is not the only thing those men have in common: they also opened their lives and hearts to Him, recognizing their sin and allowing His presence to wash through them, revealing and releasing them from it. Each of those men became great, legendary, and changed the world in their time - and we still talk about them today in awe and wonder!

But the name Sampson, hmmmmmm....what does it inspire to this day?

One thing is certain: God has a calling, a destiny, an anointing for your life;  and for a time, He will pour it out over you, chase you, coax you to let Him in... He may even use that anointing to change the lives of those around you, to bring others to Him. But are you allowing His cleansing power and presence to reside IN you? It is my prayer that we take the lids off, that we let the Holy Spirit of God pour in and through us, that we might be changed and renewed and refined as we reach out to give this same power and truth to others.

Today, I check myself, too - I ask God to search my heart, to transform my mind, to reveal the ugly parts of me that need to be washed away in the flow of His presence... and I ask Him to help me to throw away the lids.