Numbers 20:1-13 The Israelites complained about not having water and gathered in opposition against Moses and Aaron. They quarreled with Moses and Moses went before the Lord about it. The Lord said to Moses, takes his staff and SPEAK to the rock before him, and it will bring forth water. Instead Moses was so angry at the Israelite people, he raised his arm and STRUCK the rock with his staff. For this reason both Aaron and Moses was not allowed to go to the promise land. NIV

Moses actions is a definition of operating in your own power. He did do what he was commanded in verse 9 when he gathered the assembly together in front of the rock as he was told by the Lord. By Moses not controling his emotions (natural self) in the midst of the Lord’s power he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. Moses some how allowed the negativity around him by the complaints and quarreling of the Israelites to give into his natural self instead of his spiritual.

How many of us like Moses, give into our natural self (own power) in being a servant of the Lord? Just because we are given the power, doesn’t mean the good Lord would take it away if we are not able to take control of our natural self by being discipline in surrendering to the Lord’s power (spiritual self). Scriptures declare the Lord is a spirit and we must worship him in spirit and in truth, John 4:24

All sorts of negative emotions, especially for some, fear, doubts, frustration and anger, rules in the natural self. But when operating in the spiritual self, nothing but the Lord, creator of heaven and earth, who’s in control and makes the impossible possible becomes oneness with you, to enable you to do great things and to be positive and good. For this reason any true servant with wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of the Lord, takes no accolade from other nor find themselves taking the credit for the Lord working through them. They know to acknowledge, it was the Lord doing.

It isn’t always about obedience, sometimes when you’d think of it!