I hear God reminding us that He is
so much greater than any issue, any struggle, and any circumstance. I've
felt called to pray for seemingly impossible global issues. Broken
situations saturated in evil—issues as big as the sex trade, child abuse, and
abortion. They all seem like untouchable issues that desperately need to be tackled,
but God just simply asks "Do you have faith? Do you have faith in
me, the King of kings and Lord of lords? Do you have faith in my
redemptive power? Do you have faith in my word and what I have
promised?"
He wants His children to be bold in
prayer. To not be afraid to "go there" in our requests to
Him. He is not exhausted by the thought of battling for freedom from sex
trafficking. He is not exhausted by persistent pleading. He is not
exhausted by the mess that the world and our sin nature are so good at
creating.
I feel God stirring up His body to
pray bold prayers, to walk in extreme obedience, and to find unimaginable
joy. When I have gathered with other members of His body lately I keep
hearing Him stir up praise as a reminder of His heart reflected in this verse:
"I am
reminded of your sincere faith...For this reason, I remind you to fan into
flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for
God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self-control." 2 Timothy 1:5-6
Because He has and is training us
in faith He is leading us through a season of reminding us to fan the flame
within us. To walk in the power of the Spirit—to walk boldly, seeking His
direction. He has allowed members of His body to walk through extreme and
real trials in this life. He has expressed His compassion for them, His
desire for them to persevere and walk obediently, and to do so with a joy that
can only be found in Him.
These trials and lessons are not
without purpose. God wants His children to be firm—and if we aren't firm
in faith we will not be firm in anything.
These lessons are not for bottling
up. For keeping in a neat and tidy box that we can pull out when we meet
in buildings on Sunday's with a room full of believers. I feel God
stirring up His purpose.
He says:
"Therefore do
not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but
share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called
us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose
and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which
now has been manifested through the appearing of our savior Christ Jesus, who
abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I
suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed,
and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been
entrusted to me." 2 Timothy 1:8-12
There is a broken and hurting world
that is experiencing the same aches that we are facing—without a Victor.
God is stirring up such joy and praise in His body—people are going to
notice! The world is going to see a joy that is unimaginable given the
circumstances we have or are still facing. God's purpose is not only for
it to be evident in how we live, but He wants us to boldly proclaim what He has
freely gifted us!
He is stirring up His body for
something so much greater than the freedom we get to experience as
individuals. He is calling us to be His workers—to go out and be vessels
filled and equipped by Him to build His kingdom.
He tells us:
"Share in
suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in
civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him...Think
over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we
will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he
also will deny us;
if we are
faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:3-4, 7-13
He has equipped and is equipping
you, His child, to go boldly proclaiming the testimony of what He has done and
what He continues to do. Remember that gift He has been training you to
fan into flame? Yeah, His Holy Spirit dwelling inside you? He
cannot deny Himself! No matter what—under any circumstance—any suffering
we may face—He is faithfully walking with you through it all.
We are not called to have a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control. Let us not fear sharing the greatest news that has ever come to us! Let us be stirred up in praise, obedience, and joy with a heart set on chasing the purpose of God!
There are people ready to hear the
news. There are people waiting to hear that there is redemption from the
pain and suffering that they are experiencing. He allows us to be
the bearers of the best news that could ever collide with the pain of this
world! He allows us to shine a light into the
darkness. He allows us
to share in suffering and see the fruit of His Spirit redeeming even the most
challenging circumstances.
Are we ready for it? Are we ready to walk boldly, confidently, intently pressing into Him listening for His prompting? Are we firm in the faith that He is as mighty and powerful as He says He is?
Let the
stirring of your heart welling up to praise overflow into the rest of your life—not
just Sunday's, not just with other members of the body of Christ, but beyond
that. Flooding through the streets of your city, proclaiming the joy,
excitement, and healing power that you've experienced. I want to see it
catch like wild fire! He can do it. He wants to do it. He will
do it. The question is are we going to be a part of it?
