We had a guest speaker last night; Will Haag. Will is (or better, was) a Marine for many years and served across seas. He was Special Forces (if memory serves me right) and a real "dude's dude!" Tough on the outside and tough on the inside. A number of years ago, while serving in the Marines he fell ill with Crone’s disease (though didn't know what it was at the time). He was discharged and sent state side where he was officially diagnosed in 2006. True to his driven, Marine nature, Will picked up the mantle himself and tried every remedy and human way to overcome and battle this crippling disease. He only got worse. After years of going about it himself, God finally broke through his toughness and broke him. He reveal to Will his sin of self dependency and self "will / Will". Only when he agreed with God's prognosis of the true disease and he surrendered did the healing begin.
Will took the pulpit last night, not to tell of his miraculous healing from Crone’s disease, though that was certainly apparent, but more to encourage each believer to cast aside those things that hinder our intimacy with Jesus. To surrender to His will and to become God dependent, no longer self dependent. Some might see this as a crutch; to have a "god" to lean on in trouble times. I say he is no crutch; HE A STRETCHER! He is not someone we "lean on" only in troubled times, rather He is someone we trust and in Whose hands we place our entire life. Without him there is no rescue; there is no healing.
Will left us with a last though (paraphrased): What is it that is between you and Jesus to keep you from being sold out for Him". What ever that "it" is; that's your disease. Will thought his disease was Crone’s; turns out, his disease was Will's will. Be healed today from your "it" by surrendering and giving up your will for His. He wants all of you not just part of you.
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