What Distracts us From Mandate?

Kathy Gabler—Our mandate is to rebuild this temple to house His presence and His purpose.  What distracts us from our mandate?  One of the things at the top of the list is pain. Pain has a way of capturing our attention.  Pain has a way of becoming a priority, but even pain must bow to God’s authority and power and purpose.  Marty hurt his back a few years ago.  He laid on the bed begging and pleading for healing and relief.  Between groans, he decided to call and cancel the service scheduled for the next day which would require four hours driving but the Holy Spirit said, “You are not dealing with this like a son.” “How do I do that, Lord?” he asked aloud.  The answer came just as loud. “Declare your position and purpose.”  Aloud he began to declare, “God has purpose for me in Lockhart, Texas.  I will go and do what I was born to do.”  Not even remembering how he got off the bed, he found himself packing.  He was still in pain, but able to move again.  He took ground inch by inch, moment by moment that day.  By the time he stood in the pulpit and preached, the pain had completely left him. He could have thought like Judah, “I will pursue the purposes of God someday, just not now.”  I have to recover first!  But as he adjusted his priorities in his thinking, the process of healing began as he headed toward purpose.