Take off your grave clothes...

 

This morning the Lord told me to speak to the dry bones. I wasn’t quite sure what He wanted me to say, especially since that’s all He said. So if you have been a reader for a while, you know I had questions. My thought was that it’s early in the year and folks have been fasting and praying, having fresh starts and declaring things over their lives. I wondered about the timing of such a message and thought about it most of the morning. Then the Lord instructed me to read the entirety of Ezekiel 37 and see what I saw. Initially, all I saw was a familiar story and message about renewal and being restored by God’s spirit. But then one line in verse 9 caught my attention.

“Next he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath! Prophesy, human being! Say to the breath that Adonai Elohim says, ‘Come from the four winds, breath; and breathe on these slain, so that they can live.’” (Complete Jewish Bible)

I looked through so many translations and particularly to this one that really captures the meaning of the Hebrew words. I saw a word that I don’t think I had ever paid attention to: SLAIN. It’s the past tense of the word slay and it means to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers; to strike down. God was speaking to a people that had literally been taken out by sin, disobedience, separation, and life. They had reached a point that their very essence was taken from them. They had nothing left but the shell of who they were. God had to come in and take them from nothing and rebuild them. From the ligaments that allow them to move to their flesh that covers them to their breath that allows them to actually live. He was making an important statement about His power. He was reminding them that He has the power to resurrect and to restore, even what circumstances, disobedience and sin have killed.

 

Maybe this sounds crazy to you but as I was reading, God began to show me you. He began to talk to me about how people have caused some of you to lose your passion and your purpose. He showed me how sin, disobedience and bad choices have made some of you stray so far from the relationship that you once had. He even showed me how the enemy has worked so hard in your life, that your breath is suspended. You literally have to work to breathe. You have been slain spiritually; killed and left to dry out. But today, God has told me to told me to speak to your dry bones and breathe life on your sadness. He has told me to breathe life on your stagnation. He has told me to breathe life on your fear. God is telling you to rise up, woman of God and get about His business. Stop letting individuals shape your dream. Stop allowing men to dictate your progress. Stop marching around a mountain that I told you to speak to. God is telling you to stand up, man of God and lead your family. Stop letting what “the man” has given you dictate how far you go. Stop letting your children find you on the couch on Sundays while they are heading out to church. Stop letting your pride keep you from asking for help. Receive the breath, dry bones!

 

I don’t particularly like when God gives me groups of people to speak directly to like that because others take it as a sign that God isn’t speaking to them. But here’s the thing! Today, God was so serious with me. He said it’s time for all of you to live. Not just exist and do what you are comfortable in doing but really LIVE. Life in Christ means loving people when it’s hard. Life in Christ means being obedient when He tells you to do the challenging thing. Life in Christ means that you don’t stay at the point of your crucifixion but you get up again to live.

 

In Ezekiel 37:12 -14, God says “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.  Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people.  I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’” (NASB) Do you get it? God is telling you to get up out of that grave so that He can place you where you need to be – your own land! He’s making you stop feeling sorry for yourself. He’s making you stop wasting time. He’s making you stop waiting on your situation to change and do what He said. He’s making you get off your high horse and acknowledge that you don’t know everything. GET OUT OF THAT GRAVE! That’s when you will know that He is Lord! That’s when you will know that you are alive again. That’s when you will know that the Lord spoke it and did it!

 

So what are you going to do? Are you going to stay in that dead place, feeling sorry for yourself? Are you going to keep wondering why this happened to you? Why they had to leave you or they had to die? Are you going to write that book? Are you going to start that business? Are you going to be a better spouse? What are you going to do? God has sent me to your valley and instructed me to get your attention. He’s told me to speak to your dry bones and send fresh air your way. Why? Not because I’m so special but because He’s ready to use you to do great things in the earth and none of it will get done from the grave. Get up, dry bones! It’s time to take off those grave clothes and live…

Amen

 

Think it not strange!

When I woke up this morning, I kept hearing the phrase, “think it not strange” but I couldn’t remember what scripture it went with. I knew it was one of those churchy phrases that folks like to use but I couldn’t get the context. It just kept repeating over and over again in my head. When I finally found myself in 1 Peter 4, I just about ran down the hall at my office. Today, God wants to encourage you! He wants you to know that He is watching and nothing that you are going through has gone unnoticed. You see, some of you have had some rough roads to travel and some hard situations to deal with. You have been attacked and somewhat surprised by the actions of those that should know better. But God said to tell you this morning that He knows what He is doing and He has it under control! There’s glory on the other side of what you’re going through.

In 1 Peter, the Apostle Peter is talking to the churches in Asia Minor that are suffering religious persecution and he is reminding them to maintain their faith in spite of the persecution. Chapter 4 is particularly powerful as he reminds the churches of their connection to Christ and His suffering. He reminds them of what they gained by leaving their past behind and embracing Christ and to keep pressing and using the gifts that God has given them. This morning,  God used “think it not strange” to bring me to a section of chapter 4 that I believe will bless you. It reads,

Friends, when life gets really difficult, don’t jump to the conclusion that God isn’t on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! It’s judgment time for God’s own family. We’re first in line. If it starts with us, think what it’s going to be like for those who refuse God’s Message! If good people barely make it, what’s in store for the bad? So if you find life difficult because you’re doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what He’s doing, and He’ll keep on doing it. (1 Pet. 4: 12-19 MSG)

Can I just remind you that God is present in your life? He is not taken by surprise when things come against you or challenge your faith. No! He is right there and He is ever ready to protect and keep you. This passage is an encouragement to you to keep doing what He says despite opposition, conflict, and downright evil. The NKJV says, “do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you…” Don’t be surprised that you are being attacked or mistreated because you are doing what He said. Instead, recognize that the test is to grow you and push you to your destiny. That challenging relationship is to build you and transform you for your purpose. It isn’t by accident and it isn’t going to kill you! Nope, it’s to prepare you for the glory that is coming after it. Oh and you don’t have to take judgement or punishment into your own hands. God is not only watching over you and the situations that you face, but He is paying attention to those that He loves that aren’t living up to His word or representing Him well. He will handle it. Take your hands off! In 2017, God is moving you and changing your strategy. He is shifting you out of how you have always done things and birthing creativity out of your obedience. Think it not strange, when the enemy tries to stop you. Just know that He doesn’t have the power to do so…unless you let him.

Amen.

On the other side of the glass...

Imagine yourself standing at a big window in your house. As you look out, you see lots of green fields that stretch for miles and miles. There is lots of beauty and life in those fields, every color imaginable. You think to yourself just how beautiful it is and you wonder what it would be like to go outside and walk amongst those fields. It’s a bit of a struggle to act on that desire because it is nice in your house. The temperature is just right and you know where everything is. You don’t have to search for food or water. You just have to live. What do you do? The Lord showed me this very vision and then He said, ‘sometimes your opportunity is on the other side of the glass’. Okay, God!

Isn’t it easy to get comfortable? You have a great routine, regularly scheduled date night, daily workout time, good seat at church. But what if God is calling you to something new, something challenging, something different? What if He is presenting you with green fields but it requires you to leave the safety of your warm house? What do you do when opportunity comes calling?

I thought about Noah. Noah walked with God. He was perfect in an imperfect world. As a matter of fact, the earth was a mess at the time of Noah. God was sorry that He had even made man. The King James Version says that God repented for making man and His heart was grieved. (Gen. 6:6). It doesn’t get any worse than that, does it? Well, you know the story! God tells Noah to build an ark because He is going to destroy earth and everything on it with the exception of Noah’s family and 2 of every creature, a male and a female. Noah is faced with a choice in that moment. He can trust God and build this boat on faith or he can risk death but stay in the comfort of what he knows to be true…what he can see. He chooses to follow God’s commands. Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn’t see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.” (MSG) How many times have you let what you couldn’t see stop you from believing God?

What about Abraham? I mean, he was the poster boy for walking out on faith, right? God promised him descendants numbering more than the stars if he would leave his native land and follow Him. What would you have done? Maybe a better question would be have you had an Abraham moment? Has God been speaking to you about stepping out from the familiar? Has he called you to a new place that requires you to trust Him like never before? I remember when I left my home church. It was a devastating time for me. I had to leave all that I knew…my family, my friends, my position. To some, it seemed like an easy move for me. But I was crushed, my spirit was crushed and I was lost. I couldn’t understand how the Lord could make my comfortable house uncomfortable. I couldn’t even see the green fields outside of the window but I had to trust Him. It was difficult but in stepping out in faith, I found parts of me that I didn’t know were there. God didn’t promise me easy but He promised me opportunity and life. “By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going.” (Heb 11:8 MSG) How many times have you let the unknown stop you from moving at God’s instruction?

God has a plan and vision for your life that is sure and beneficial. Though He doesn’t always give you the full layout and it isn’t always easy, you can be assured that it will work for your good.  Folks, you have to remember that your idea of timing and opportunity is not always the same as God’s. He may present something to you that seems so foreign but turns out to be exactly what you need. The whole point is to trust Him and not miss what He has for you because you can’t see the ending or you are scared. For some of you, God has been showing you the outside of the window for a long time. “I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.” Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.” (James 2:18 MSG) Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to walk out of the house…

God bless…AMEN

 

Abraham faith!

Happy New Year, friends! I had a bunch of preliminaries but God just told me to get straight to it. So here goes!

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.” (Rom‬ ‭4:18-22‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

God told me to tell you that this year will require perseverance and faith but if you endure, you will see all that He has promised. Many of you have made your list of goals or received a prophetic word for 2017 that spoke to your spirit. You are fired up and ready to go and my desire and prayer is that you stay in that place. I am not here to dispute any of that, and as a matter of fact, I'm excited about what God is going to do this year!  But as I was preparing to writeG od stressed to me that you CANNOT get caught up in what you see. Everything that you heard and saw  is not going to pop up immediately. There will be some struggles and some tests but they are announcements of the manifestation that is to come. Your job is to not lose sight of the promise!

Think about Abraham! He was promised more descendants than he could imagine, starting with his very own son. But guess what? It took a long time to see that come to pass and some of it, he didn't ever physically see. But even when his situation was at the point of death and the promise seemed to get further away, Abraham never wavered in his faith. He was convinced that no matter what it looked like, God would do what He said. The Bible says that because of his faith, God counted him righteous. Can I just encourage you that if you keep your eyes on God and what He said, you will see Him do the miraculous? He can bring life where all you see is death. He can bring provision to a place where all you feel is lack. He can bring rain to your desert places. He's that kind of God!

My prayer for you in 2017 is that you stir up your Abraham faith! Look at that prophetic word, that list, that vision and decide that you will move forward until you see it. Don't let the attitudes of people, the tricks of the enemy, or your own fears and doubts stop your progress. Please don't lose sight of what God has told you! I've watched people start out with great fire and conviction but get turned around because of someone or something. This year you will see what you have the faith to believe and endure for! Rise up, Abraham! You have a Promised Land to get to!

Amen