The disciples when Jesus called them, dropped their nets and followed him and yet for us we sit there and try and work it all out, try and plan everything, finish things in order that we can go, etc etc.
Recently the Lord has been talking to us about going to Christchurch and we have stepped out in faith once already and gone and when there and since then, we received so many more words from the Lord about going down there and yet we sit here and try and work it all out, instead of just getting up and going. We have so many practical things we need to deal with, so many things we are 'responsible' for, and yet what comes to mind is the scripture of Jesus inviting people to the wedding feast and yet each one was busy with his own thing and couldn't come and so the invite went out to others.
Are we so busy with our own planning, processing, thinking long term instead of a simple step of faith and allowing God to make the next ones, etc that when Jesus calls us we have so many excuses as to why we can't go? And when he calls us, do we then try and work it out in 'our own strength' instead of from a place of simple faith and trust that God will provide in all the areas that we need provision for?
Oh, so deep and yet so simple.
We do it on so many levels that we don't even realise that we are now coming from a place of striving, of trying to work it all out, of trying in our own strength to fulfil and 'do' what the Lord said that we no longer come from a place of simple faith and trust, but rather suddenly find ourselves doing it in mans strength to do what the Lord wants us to do. And once again we become 'doers' of the word.
Revelation 2 keeps coming to mind this week verse 4:
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have lost your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place, unless you repent....To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
The place of 'first love' is one of simplicity, of just doing what the Lord said to do, of not questioning every detail because we trust that He will work it all out and has gone before us. First love is a place of safety, of security, of knowing that its all in control, of uninhibited abandonment.
Romans 14:22 "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" And once again Jim and myself find ourselves repenting this morning as we realise that we are not stepping out in faith, but rather trying to 'work it all out'. Our heart is right before the Lord of wanting to do what He wants us to do, but in that place, we so easily step into sin that we need to turn and repent as He shows us again how easily we are not moving from a place of faith and simple trust, but now trying to work it all out.
So in sharing our journey and what the Lord is saying to Jim and I, may it be of some use to some of you out there. Bless you heaps as you journey day by day in the Lord, as He opens your eyes to things that you quickly move into without even realising it, and that He continues to take you from glory to glory as you trust in Him.
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Tuesday, 7 October 2014
A Quantum Leap Season for New Zealand
Quantum Leap... a sudden and significant change or increase; something, sudden, spectacular and vitally important, a sudden highly significant advance.... breakthrough! (taken from Anthony Eddy's declaration booklet )
We are in a season of much change, much shifting, sudden-lies, alignment to the purposes and plans of The Lord. Be willing to move with what The Lord is doing. There will be change in many areas, be willing to move with the changes. And you will see the Glory of The Lord revealed through your obedience to what He is saying and doing.
God is a good God and has good plans for you, but not only for you but also for this nation and the nations of the world. New Zealand is a forerunner nation which will take what The Lord reveals to other nations and there will be a 'trading' of the different things that different nations have, that will bring a fullness to the revelation of the glory of The Lord.
Be ready to move with what you believe The Lord is saying, but also in the changes seek the counsel of those around you that carry wisdom and advice from a heavenly perspective and not a worldly perspective, remembering that our God is a God who can do all He said He would do. We are a people of promise, children and descendants of Abraham and we are called to be blessed but in order to receive that blessing, sometimes we may be asked to step out of our 'homeland', those places of comfort, where we are used to dwelling, and step out of the boat like Peter and see God take our hand and lead us on. I know this is never easy but in it The Lord he will make the way and he will make it easy in its right time. Don't try to run ahead of the promises of God, let him lead you by His peace. He is not one who comes with pressure, stress and so much challenge that you feel you can't do it, but he comes in a way that gently encourages you, pushes you on, and takes you by the hand. It may feel at times like a huge step of faith but He will come in that place and you will be amazed at what The Lord will do through you as you step out.
I believe we are in for exciting and challenging times and it's a time that we need to know who we are in Christ. Our 'identity' as a christian will be challenged but strengthened in the process of it all if we stand firm in who we are in Christ and what His word says. There are winds of crisis coming and its important that we hold onto what is good, that we stand firm using the weapons of our warfare as found in Eph 6. We are in a war, a war for our children, our families, relationships, for truth and integrity etc. We may not feel like we are in a 'war' as known by the world, but we are in a war to see Heaven here on the earth released that will change the world we live in, one of reconciliation, restoration, healing, of hope, of faith.
As a Christian we have the answer that so many are crying out for right now, and I encourage you to stand in boldness and in faith and declare the truth to situations, to people, to this nation. Our God is good and He loves all His children and His desire is that none perish. Pray, Pray, Pray for those around you, pray for the situations that you know about that need a touch from The Lord and see Him answer your prayers. But not only pray but also act if you are able to help those people you see in need as we are a people not just of talk but of action.
God answers your prayers - just believe! And He just loves to honour those who honour him and you will not be put to shame as you trust in Him.(Psalm 25)
Many many blessings in this season!
We are in a season of much change, much shifting, sudden-lies, alignment to the purposes and plans of The Lord. Be willing to move with what The Lord is doing. There will be change in many areas, be willing to move with the changes. And you will see the Glory of The Lord revealed through your obedience to what He is saying and doing.
God is a good God and has good plans for you, but not only for you but also for this nation and the nations of the world. New Zealand is a forerunner nation which will take what The Lord reveals to other nations and there will be a 'trading' of the different things that different nations have, that will bring a fullness to the revelation of the glory of The Lord.
Be ready to move with what you believe The Lord is saying, but also in the changes seek the counsel of those around you that carry wisdom and advice from a heavenly perspective and not a worldly perspective, remembering that our God is a God who can do all He said He would do. We are a people of promise, children and descendants of Abraham and we are called to be blessed but in order to receive that blessing, sometimes we may be asked to step out of our 'homeland', those places of comfort, where we are used to dwelling, and step out of the boat like Peter and see God take our hand and lead us on. I know this is never easy but in it The Lord he will make the way and he will make it easy in its right time. Don't try to run ahead of the promises of God, let him lead you by His peace. He is not one who comes with pressure, stress and so much challenge that you feel you can't do it, but he comes in a way that gently encourages you, pushes you on, and takes you by the hand. It may feel at times like a huge step of faith but He will come in that place and you will be amazed at what The Lord will do through you as you step out.
I believe we are in for exciting and challenging times and it's a time that we need to know who we are in Christ. Our 'identity' as a christian will be challenged but strengthened in the process of it all if we stand firm in who we are in Christ and what His word says. There are winds of crisis coming and its important that we hold onto what is good, that we stand firm using the weapons of our warfare as found in Eph 6. We are in a war, a war for our children, our families, relationships, for truth and integrity etc. We may not feel like we are in a 'war' as known by the world, but we are in a war to see Heaven here on the earth released that will change the world we live in, one of reconciliation, restoration, healing, of hope, of faith.
As a Christian we have the answer that so many are crying out for right now, and I encourage you to stand in boldness and in faith and declare the truth to situations, to people, to this nation. Our God is good and He loves all His children and His desire is that none perish. Pray, Pray, Pray for those around you, pray for the situations that you know about that need a touch from The Lord and see Him answer your prayers. But not only pray but also act if you are able to help those people you see in need as we are a people not just of talk but of action.
God answers your prayers - just believe! And He just loves to honour those who honour him and you will not be put to shame as you trust in Him.(Psalm 25)
Many many blessings in this season!