Good morning from the wonderful country of the Dominican Republic!
Vickie, Zach, and I are all doing great, and we’re really seeing God do
some amazing things in our midst.
Last week we looked at the biblical account of Samson and how he set a
multitude of fox tails on fire and then sent them into the fields of
the Philistines. A lot of times we don’t understand that we
have been sent by God into a field. Jesus told us to go into all the
world; He sent us. He even said that He’s sending us as lambs into a den
of wolves. We have a mission, and it is a co-mission in which we are
partnered with God to do His will—to see His kingdom come—right here
where we are.
Continuing with the story of Samson, we see where he has been tricked
by his wife who just so happened to have divulged the riddle in an
attempt to save her family and home from being burned to the ground.
Samson comes up with a most unique strategy. This story has always
impressed me. When we think of Samson, we think of great strength, the
pagan temple falling down around him, and his eyes being plucked out.
Everybody likens Samson to being muscular and strong, but he was also
somewhat shrewd. Is it wisdom to set the field on fire one torch at a
time, or is there greater wisdom in setting the tails of foxes on fire
and letting them run wild into the Philistine’s fields? Which do you
think is most effective?
You see, that’s why teamwork is so much more efficient than when we’re
trying to accomplish something by ourselves because when two work
together, there’s something exponential that takes place, and the fruit
is multiplied. It’s one of the reasons that God has ordained this thing
that we call the “Church”! Church is not just for us to come and
fellowship. Church is a place for us to graze, and the world is a place
for us to blaze.
Samson had a shrewd idea of setting the fox tails on fire. Notice he
sent them out two by two. Does that remind you of anything . . . maybe
in Luke 10 when Jesus sent out the seventy? Remember, He sent them out
two by two. Why? Because two can work more than twice as efficiently as
one. Does that make sense? When two work together, it’s not like 1 + 1.
There’s a multiplication factor that kicks in and makes the work more
effective and efficient.
Just as Jesus sent His disciples two by two, I believe we’re seeing
something very similar here as Samson sets the tails of foxes on fire
and sends them into the enemy’s fields. Do you understand that we’ve
been sent into the fields of the Philistines? If you don’t believe that,
go downtown in any major city on a Friday or Saturday night. We have
been sent into the Philistine's fields!
God’s intended purpose is for you and I to set those fields on fire!
That’s why we’re here. I admit, some of us need a little fire put to our
tails. When you put fire on a fox’s tail, he’s going to run! God needs
to light a fire on our tail so that we’re sent out to run into the
fields of the Philistines to bring them the Good News. The news of not
only the Lordship of Jesus Christ, but also the revelation that God
loves them and He wants to not only save, but to also heal and restore
their lives back to what He intended them to be.
It’s time for some fox tails to get lit on fire and set these fields
ablaze! Are you listening to me? Say to yourself, “God wants to light my
tail on fire”! It’s always amazing to me how God uses the most natural
things to bring about the most supernatural results. He’s using foxes.
That is a natural thing doing a supernatural work; we see it throughout
the Bible. God used a bird to feed a prophet! He can use something as
natural as a tree to cause a short, little guy like Zacchaeus to be able
to see Jesus.
Why, He can turn water into wine. Come on, somebody say, “Now that’s
what I’m talkin’ about!” He can take the most natural thing, turn it,
and use it for His glory. He can take YOU and ME, flesh and bone, fill
us with the Holy Ghost, put the Word in our hearts, light our tails on
fire, and set us free to go out and do the most supernatural things.
Through YOU, souls can be saved. Think about that! If you just open your
mouth at the opportune moment, you can see the miracle of someone
getting born again!
He’s using something perfectly natural: YOU! He’ll set you in the
exact place, with the right people, doing exactly the right thing, and
BAM, suddenly a miracle takes place! Someone who was dead in their
trespasses and sins is suddenly made alive in Christ Jesus! That’s a
miracle, supernatural! I submit to you that God wants to light our tails
on fire!
That’s all for this week. Keep praying and seeking God, Church!
Peace and grace,
pg
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