Surf’s UP! – A new wave of God’s presence is about to hit. I really believe this based on what I am hearing from God and how others in the community are seeing and responding.
In Luke 9:1-2 we see that God has given us power and authority – and power is the ability might and strength to complete a task, but authority is the right to use that power.
Bill Johnson stated that with power you catch the wave of God such as a surfer does with the wave that is breaking, but with authority you create the wave –
Exodus 8:5 – God said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Wave your staff over the rivers and canals and ponds. Bring up frogs on the land of Egypt.'” That’s Authority.
Proverbs 29:2 – “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” Authority by the righteous or by the wicked creates a wave – The authority of the righteous creates a rejoicing atmosphere filled with waves of wealth, prosperity, peace and goodness but the authority of the wicked creates a wave of destruction, calamity and despair. How are we to do the same things that Jesus did and even greaterthings? We can do the same things through the power, but we do greater things through the authority that has been delegated to us.
I believe that the surf is coming up and a new wave is about to hit. There’s something in the atmosphere in the Kingdom realm and you don’t want to miss what God is doing.
Keep Praying – Keep Pressing In – Keep worshipping – Go Beyond what you are use to and have been satisfied with in the past, and move into the new realm of readiness and preparedness. I understand grace, but I also understand doing the work of the ministry. Right now it is time to work. To Press In. To get ready for the wave. In the natural, and when The Tsunami sirens sound way in advance, it is so that people can get ready for the tidal wave. Begin to extend your worship time and go deeper with more intensity. Get ready for the Kingdom wave of the Spirit to break in to your surroundings, your church and your city.
Hebrews 6:9 – “I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you’ve shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don’t drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.”
Psalm 63:2 – “So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.”
Luke 1:46 -And Mary said, I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened— I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him. He bared his arm and showed his strength,…”
Habakkuk 3:1 (God Racing on the Crest of the Waves ] A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk, with orchestra: God, I’ve heard what our ancestors say about you, and I’m stopped in my tracks, down on my knees. Do among us what you did among them. Work among us as you worked among them.” You’ve heard it before, if you want what the people in the bible had, you must do what the people in the bible did. When they were hungry for God, the pressed in for even more. They followed Jesus relentlessly, standing at times very hungry for 3 days (Mark 8:2) for physical food, but wanting the spiritual food more.
Set down your comfortable Starbucks mug and your Panera Bread rewards card. Stop being so concerned about fuel points at the Grocery store, and bonus points at your favorite restaurant. Quit whining that Chick Fil A is not built yet, or that the muffins are smaller at Mimi’s. Pick up that dusty book on the coffee table and ask God to feed you with something substantially more nourishing. Ezekiel 3:2-3 “So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. And He said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you. So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness”
2 Timothy 4:3 “You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food—catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But you—keep your eye on what you’re doing;”
Church growth advocates taught us to follow the crowd, but it is now time to follow the cloud. Following the cloud will produce and achieve more than you thought was possible by following the crowd.
The crowds love the Super Bowl and the World Series and how the real estate & stock market soars and when things are going well, but they turn in fear when their team loses, or the stocks plummet and the foreclosures hit. But according to Zephaniah 3:13, “The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; For they shall feed their flocks and lie down, And no one shall make them afraid.”
But what the crowds were chasing the remnant receives according to Zechariah 8:12 “For the seed shall be prosperous, The vine shall give its fruit, The ground shall give her increase, And the heavens shall give their dew— I will cause the remnant of this people To possess all these.” Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: Romans 9:27 “ Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.” Its not the crowd, but those that follow the cloud.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to settle for just a little bit. I don’t want only what Ezra 9:8 says – “And now for a little while grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.” Are we in bondage to Starbucks and other eateries to the point that we have lost our appetite for more of God. I don’t want just a measure and remain in bondage. I want the abundance and to be delivered from bondage and taken out of captivity too so that the only thing that captivates us as a city is the presence of the Lord. What captivates you? What grabs your attention?
I want all of the fullness of the Godhead dwelling – not visiting – but dwelling in us here in our city and region.
Psalm 16:11 – “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Colossians 2:9 – “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily”
I find it interesting that when we don’t eat or when we fast in the natural, at the conclusion of that time, we are very hungry and want to eat something. But if we stop eating the word of God, and stop sitting at the table of the Lord and move away from His spiritual food, that we often just don’t want anything to do with God. If we fast in the natural, we want to eat, but if we fast in the spiritual, we are content to continue not eating. If anyone brings up something about God or the Kingdom we quickly change the subject. We just don’t want to talk about God.
The opposite is true too. In the natural after we have had a large meal, the last thing we want is dessert or more food. Give me time to let my food digest before we eat another bite. Let me take a nap and rest. But in the spiritual realm, when we feed on the goodness of the Lord and get in His presence, we discover that we can’t get enough and that we want more and more and more. Get me to the banqueting table. Give me that new wine. I want more of you God!
Let that be said of our city. Let it be said that in our region, we asked for more. All we want is more!
Surf’s Up!
Anointed2Go MdM 