I am a Jesus pusher!!! “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:12). Once God chose the prophet, He COMMISSIONED him. This commissioning consisted of the “filling of the Spirit of God.” It was task oriented. It was not for the purpose of intimacy or purifying of the inner heart. It was to accomplish a purpose or task. The prophet was empowered to stand before the nation of Israel in confidence and boldness. They dealt with kings and the threats of those who had powerful armies at their command. Many of them did miracles, participated in defeating the enemies of God, and boldly proclaimed God’s message. The prophet dared not claim this power as his own. His power was the power of God who filled him.
It was this power which enabled the prophet to bravely endure persecution. The writer of the Book of Hebrews thunders forth this message. These individuals lived by faith. “Faith” is invoking the activity of the second party. In other words, their lives were a product of the Spirit of God who was using them as they responded to Him. And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment (Hebrews 11:32-36). Think of the privilege of joining this great group! Think of being filled with the Spirit of God for intimacy and cleansing. You will not experience persecution for Him; you will experience it with Him. I am a Jesus pusher!!!