“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’”
Scripturally In the book of the Revelation of Christ, God speaks to early churches in history who have become corrupt, persecuted compromised and in turmoil for varying reasons.
That can be said of the turmoil and stress we encounter today.
What was truth then is truth for today and the need still to conquer and overcome.
Manna was food for each day, God’s provision for the Israelites in the wilderness.
He will feed us each day not with that physical bread of those OT days but with the provision of hidden, spiritual food to sustain and grow by to know daily the truth that He still provides.
Food for our Spirit changes our perspective and brings hope into situations.
The white stone with the name we receive and know individually is a gift that equites us from the mistakes we’ve made and gives a new perspective and hope to resolve and make solutions where previously we could see none.
Pressures and difficulties also give opportunities to overcome and can therefore be blessings. Resources of abundance and hope.
Sometimes when we are in the fire and under pressure it is the only place we get to see the other in the fire with us who we then put more faith and trust in.
Equally we depend upon each other.
When we continue to manage with our own resources we become more isolated. Together we can, on the one side get wounded and offended but on the other we can also become dependent upon each other and helped.
We are still pushing back the tide of suffering, the I’ll effects of the mindset of Covid and lockdown. Where we became insular, fear based and self preservation orientated.
God’s intention was never solo. He introduced Jesus and the Holy Spirit a Trinity dependence.
Jesus at the cross introduced the responsibility toward Mother and Brother relationship.
The whole concept of the body of church is of family and unity.
“Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Our redeemer and restorer can heal what to us seems impossible.
The Holy Soirit gives prompting and anointing.
In our life journey we may find that where we have left a story with no resolve suddenly has a turn around moment and in the hidden in between times God has been working in hearts bringing about change or healing balm.
Opportunities come with every spiralling cycle of revisiting.
Encouragement, wisdom, grace, mercy are strategies from the Holy Spirit for restoration. The Lord our redeemer buys back relationships and restores what we thought lost or that which we thought we would never have.
Reaching out has to be recovered in love and not in condemnation. Our eyes need to be off ourselves. Our eyes need to be up to God. Our eyes need to be on what He is doing.
Then we can partner and participate in His narrative and be convicted and impulsive to give.
At Pentecost the disciples received the Holy Spirit and we’re immediately propelled out to share Him.
When we are inward looking we are static and parked. When we give out, we step out, for all to taste and see what is good.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”
The illustration shows our opened hands receiving the daily hidden spiritual manna from heaven and the white stone with our name. Emanating light that pushes back the darkness.
Three Scriptures that come to mind:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” Revelation 2:17 ESV
“But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:48-50 ESV
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” Psalm 34:8 ESV
The song It’s Always BeenYou. Phil Wickham
Lessisgreater 