“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Unintentionally we can get in the way of what God is doing through us and around us. We jostle for a seat in the arena to spectate when He desires us to step in humbly and fight for His advancement.
Kingdom space is limitless with room and provision for all.
His desire is for us to lock arms and together move forward in strength and solidarity.
Not for us to be elbowing each other out clamouring for ourselves.
Where the enemy sneaks out to do his worst in causing conflict and chaos in the world, we are to be the testimony of His love, healing, compassion and unity.
In partnership and sensitivity we are called to allow Him to position us next to those He wants us to nudge or support.
Taking the low place and enabling Him to lift us higher to serve Him.
Love will equip us to offer up to others the best first and to have the genuine interest in their best being provided for above our own.
We may be called to be workers of miracles and never know our part in it.
God has appointed us but we may be unaware of those we teach, those we prophesy to, those where our prayers have significance. It is not ours to know but to obey and to live a life of doing anyway.
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?”
Peter did not know how many miracles were displayed as his shadow fell upon people he passed.
“so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.”
Miracles are not for sensationalism but they point to the spectacular power in the Holy Spirit and in Christ.
The world’s heads are turned more to see spectacular in a firework display than in what matters.
We are being activated to roll back the darkness in the Nations and arise united as one body and as Light.
The illustration shows it as no longer being the time to elbow each other out of the way but us spiritually linking elbows and standing together in strength. Emanating light that pushes back the darkness.
Three Scriptures that come to mind:
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:1-4 ESV
“Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?” 1 Corinthians 12:27-29 ESV
“so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.” Acts 5:15 ESV
The song Find Your Joy. Bryan and Katie Torwalt
Lessisgreater 