Recently God revealed to me people who are at an intersection in their lives. Some are setting back watching and waiting for God to move and some are waiting to see if God will ever move again. Setting back waiting can be good thing. I believe there can be a season when we set back, a preparation period, where God is preparing us for our next step in Him. This season in our lives can feel like a wilderness or a desert. You feel alone, nobody understands what your going through, your looking for the oasis. You wonder how did I get here? How do get out of here? Will anybody find me? I want to encourage you this is a great place to be, God deals with our hearts and minds when we feel completely isolated from all other influences. Isaiah 35:1-10 says 1 ¶ Wilderness and desert will sing joyously, the badlands will celebrate and flower—Like the crocus in spring,2 bursting into blossom, a symphony of song and color. Mountain glories of Lebanon—a gift. Awesome Carmel, stunning Sharon—gifts. GOD’s resplendent glory, fully on display. GOD awesome, GOD majestic.3 Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees.4 Tell fearful souls, "Courage! Take heart! GOD is here, right here, on his way to put things right And redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!"
5 ¶ Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped,6 Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert.7 Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly.8 There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It’s for GOD’s people exclusively—impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it.9 No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals—Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening. Only the redeemed will walk on it.10 The people GOD has ransomed will come back on this road. They’ll sing as they make their way home to Zion, unfading halos of joy encircling their heads, Welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night. The Message.
Let God strengthen you, let God restore you, let God bring you to the Holy Road where no one can touch you, nothing will harm you. This is the place of joy, gladness and expectation. Your joy will strengthen you and your faith will increase with high expectations of God. Be Encouraged In Christ, Pastor John... September 16, 2008
The last few weeks I have sat back and observed church after church close their doors. I asked God, what is going on? Why aren't the churches thriving? Then God showed me, as I read the local newspaper I see what has happened. The Churches have become another fundraiser activity with spaghetti dinners and bingo nights. They are trying to raise money to do the work of the Lord. Everything that I wanted to do for God, most importantly what God wanted me to do for him, he made the provision available to me. I believe that if God doesn't provide for it, then we shouldn't do it.
Its time the church stops looking to man for provision and start looking to God. Its time for the people of the church to take its rightful place. Rev. 5:10 Then you made them a Kingdom, Priests for our God, Priest-kings to rule over the earth.
We need to recognize who we are in God, either a King or Priest.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:10 Thy Kingdom come, he didn't say..Thy church come, Yes I said it and wrote it. My faith doesn't lie and wait for a Mega church to come, my faith lie and waits for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. We need to take the authority the God has given us and advance the Kingdom of God in our church, community, county, state, country and world.
Kings have answers and Priests help guide them with Godly wisdom. We have the answers that those who are lost are seeking. Lets stop living as slaves to the economy, stockmarket and world. Christ came to set us free, free from the bondage of sin and satan. Christ has given us this great honor to be Kings and Priests over the economy, stockmarket and world. Lets advance the Kingdom of God together.
Pastor John November 14, 2008
