[photo by Pixabay]
In a short vision, I saw a cardboard box with water in it, and “safety orange” tailor tape and a round hat. Then the water was poured out of the box. Hummm.
As I meditated on this, some key words came to mind. Safety measures. Something to wear. Water logged. In the box. Water poured out of the box.
Then I heard:
In the religious structures (the box), some find safety there, and put on what they think is “safe”. These “measures” are not in connection with my spirit. The “pouring out” has no “safety” in it, nor is it for being “in the box”. Take these things apart, separate them, and make something NEW. Discard the wet box. Be done with what “feels safe”. Just take the better part – the OUTPOURING. Everything else is TRASH. Those that have discarded the outpouring of Holy Spirit are left with the remains of what they feel safe with. Venturing out into the NEW is not “safe” from inside the box. The “walls” of the box become soft and useless. It falls apart. The “safety measures” are of no use. It disturbs me when the outpouring is rejected because it does not look like what is safe, like what has been seen before. MESSY. It seems nobody likes that, but those that understand that dealing with SIN IS MESSY, and understand that the process of CLEANING IS MESSY, the result is worth the effort when you see the “cleaned up” mess that is now a beautiful soul, ready to be loved and used by ME. RAISE THE BAR!
In thinking about the “RAISE THE BAR” statement, I was thinking about the “box”. We can’t stay in our “comfort zone”. I saw that as being applied on the upper side, as the ceiling that is placed on spiritual manifestations. The fear of expression of the gifts has quashed the expression. The caution of misuse has created a fear of being scrutinized. This explains why we don’t have any enthusiasm for the gifts, but rather fear “using them wrong”. If we don’t use the gifts or their expressions, they certainly won’t be used “wrong”. The stretching needs to happen on the bottom (to step up in our faith), and on the top (let the Holy Spirit remove the ceiling). Like has been said elsewhere, the former ceiling needs to become our new floor. Time to GO UP.
Comfort zones – where we want to stay.
Discomfort zones – where we don’t want to go.
God’s zones – wherever HE wants to go.
What we do and what we have done in the past is familiar. This is where we like to stay. This is also where we get in a rut. Same old same old. Predictable, but not an adventure by any stretch of the imagination.
Discomfort is where we need to expand our experience with Him or clean up. It takes courage to adjust and to accept things that seem out of the ordinary, but this is the nature of a new wine skin. Positive change will require stretching. Words like holiness, sanctification, accountability, commitment, vulnerability, transparency, resolving conflict, forgiveness, restitution, confrontation to make things right, accepting correction, are all things that are involved in growth. These are often hard words, but the fruit is enormous. What we get when we are pruned is not just pain, but healing and bigger, better fruit! Remember, the fruit is for OTHERS. A HEALTHY branch is our BEST position in the kingdom – connected to the VINE, bearing FRUIT!
God is calling us to come closer to HIM. He is bigger than we can imagine, and loves us FAR beyond our understanding. Confronting these areas (hesitation/fear or problems) in ourselves may make us squirm or cause us walk through pain. These are the areas that are holding us back, and God wants to deal with them. Once these are out of the way, the path becomes clearer.
Worship as was modeled by David, who “danced with all his might” was expressing to the full extent of his ability. Leaders that would follow God’s strange instructions were rewarded with supernatural victories. Warriors that would shout when told would see walls come down by the hand of God. Holy Spirit manifested on those that had faith, gathered and prayed, expecting, erupting into Pentecost. This same Holy Spirit then granted a life changing power and boldness that couldn’t be quenched. The enthusiasm of these people could not be stopped. They changed their world.
Don’t get stuck in the sandbox with the same old toys. Holy Spirit is beckoning us to learn to “play” with the full set of things He provides for us. The joy of the LORD is our strength. Release some JOY in your worship. Bring your ALL to the KING. Offer your BEST and see what he does with it. Don’t hold back. He didn’t hold back anything for you!
