Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters... Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness andrivers in the desert." (Is. 43:16,18-19)
There is a people who are awakening to that which the Lord has purposed for the Church to do in the age that is before us. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord declares that He will do a "new thing" in the earth. He has, and is seeking out a people who will allow Him to reveal Himself to them, and then bring forth this "new thing" through them. For some the reality of “Kingdom now” living will contradict their way of thinking (Luke 17:20-21; 1 Cor.4:19-20; Eph.2:6).
The Lord has and is calling His people to walk in the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit is not having the nature of superiority, but it is being genuine and down to earth while living in the supernatural of God. Jesus, who is our example, lived and walked in the Spirit. His whole life was ordered by the Holy Spirit, and yet He had to be singled out from a crowd of people by a kiss from Judas (Matt.26:47-49). Those who did not walk in the Spirit could not recognize Him, and so it is today.
In chapter two of Colossians, we read where Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to be steadfast in their faith in Christ, not in the vanity of philosophy. In the King James version it says, "the Lord” is” come in the flesh." This version is correct, for He lives within us (flesh), and longs to be released through us today. We must realize that our life in this world is actually His life lived in and through us (1 John 4:17).
We are in a time of great preparation. The Lord is separating unto Himself a people who are allowing Him to cut them off from their mother’s womb (Gal.1:15). This is the born again experience. To be "born-again" is to be "in the Spirit." He is cutting the umbilical cord (as we allow) and bringing to birth a people by severing their dependence on the natural things in order to identify them with a new nature (the Lord Himself).
"That what is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'you must be born again...' John 3:5
If we do not eat the things of the spirit we will not grow thereby. If we do not feed upon the Word of God (the Bread of Life) daily with believing, receiving and conceiving hearts as it being for us today (Heb. 13:8; John 1:1), we will not grow spiritually and our ears will not hear what it is that the Spirit is saying to the Church this day (Rev.2:7).
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." (1 Pet.2:2)
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb.5:12-14)
We can spend a lifetime wondering why nothing is happening. We can spend a lifetime talking the talk, but never walking the walk. Our Lord greatly desires a people who will go beyond “taking notes and observing” and on into the experiential knowledge of what they have learned. The responsibility is ours “if we are willing..."(Is.1:19). God does not force us to do this, it is by our willingness that the door is open, and then when opened we must walk through the door.
One of the many questions that have been asked is, “Why is He taking so long to return? There is so much suffering in the world, doesn’t He care?”
We must realize that Jesus cannot return until ALL prophecies have been fulfilled (Acts 3:21).
King James Version "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began."
Amplified New Testament "Whom heaven must receive and retain until the time for the complete restoration of all that God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of ages past from the most ancient time in the memory of man."
Revised Standard Version "Whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets of old."
The Living Bible "For He must remain in heaven until the final recovery of all things from sin, as prophesied from ancient times."
We are responsible for the outcome of the world. We are the key to the lost and dying.
There will be a generation that overcomes all things, bringing about "the final fulfillment of all things from sin, as prophesied." I pray we are that generation. There are a people who are waking up and shaking themselves off. They are seeking solid food, and exercising their senses (Heb. 5:12-14). There is a generation of people who will accomplish and fulfill what Christ has preordained to be fulfilled. This will be done by those who pray, proclaim, and walk in what they pray and proclaim in Jesus name.
For too long the Church has looked for her hope outside of Christ. Looking for outward conditions to bring her joy and fulfillment, and looking for a way out rather than the way of growing up in all things into Christ who is the Head (Eph.4:13). Never before have we seen such an unhappy and selfish bunch of people as we see today. People are looking and reaching for some kind of glory to fill their needs, but missing something incredible all the while they are looking and reaching outward.
To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the HOPE OF GLORY”. Col.1:27
Our hope and the worlds hope is in a Person, not a concept. Our hope is not an outward condition, but an inward Existence that changes our sphere of influence.
For such a reason we bow down to Father, for He has granted to each one of us according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in our inner man, that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width, length, depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory IN THE CHURCH (that’s you and me!) by Jesus Christ to all generations, forever and ever – AMEN!! (Eph.3:14-20).
Keep yourself supple before the Lord. Cultivate your spiritual hearing that you may hear what the Spirit is saying this day. Be HOT for Jesus (Rev. 3:15,16). Don’t allow yourself to be caught up in the stupefying force of complacency. Shake it off! Rise up and shine in the Glory that is within you.
- Traci Carson (Written 2007)