May 17th 2023.

NOT CONNECTED

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sometime ago, I was trying to do something on my phone. I had the intention of charging my phone alongside.

After using my phone for a while, I discovered it was not connected to the charger. All the while, I thought I was charging it. My assumption was wrong.

No matter how strong the battery of a phone is, the power of its battery life reduces with frequency of use. The only way to restore it is to charge it by connecting it to the power source.

Just as my phone was not connected for charging, the spiritual batteries of many believers are used up without proper recharging because they are not connected to the power source daily.

They assume there is restrengthening but looking closely, there is no connection with the one that can re strengthen them.

It is very unfortunate that some ministers and believers do not have a private devotional life where they can draw strength.

They may preach a storm and do ministry but they suffer burn-out quickly because they are not connected to the one who can strengthen them.

Jesus taught us the power of retreat. In Luke 5:16, the bible said, "But Jesus OFTEN withdrew to lonely places and prayed". Very profound.

The son of God didn't take chances on that. He wasn't just jumping from pulpits to pulpits neither was he trying to be popular in town with his face on every poster.

He understood the power of staying connected to the power source. Little wonder why his preachings and teachings amazed the people.

Some ministers have become career preachers not spiritual or anointed preachers. In these days of artificial intelligence, they can easily prepare a message and deliver using their oratory skills but devoid of life.

One may be deceived into thinking that having preaching engagements weekly is a sign of spiritual strength.

Yes, it could be a sign that God is doing something in your life but it should never be mistaken for quality of walk with God and spiritual strength.

I saw something written about Peter in Acts 10:8, "...Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:". You see, this apostle was part of the very first outpouring of the Spirit upon the church yet he withdrew to the housetop to pray.

He didn't rely on his initial experience. He was hungry for more. His life wasn't about how many invitations he got but the quality of fellowship he had with God

Something tells me that was his devotional culture. He had a time and place to refuel and stay connected.

We expend so much virtue when we minister and do ministry. That's why our spiritual batteries require constant charging. You do this by connecting with God in the place of fellowship.

As a minister, it is dangerous to study the bible only because you have a message to preach. Studying the bible should be for the benefit of your walk with God first before others.

To the believer, attending prayer meetings online and offline is not tantamount to having a prayer life. That's not the true definition of prayer life.

What we call "prayer life" is that constant and persistent prayer fellowship between you and God in your private closet all alone with God.

To avoid suffering a burn-out and emptiness after doing ministry here and there, go on personal retreats and ensure you maintain a devotional culture of prayer and the word. That's where we draw strength from.