“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.”

All barriers down and fully merged. There is change in a moment spiritually that would take a thousand of years in the natural. Pivotal change like that of the day of Pentecost.

We have to keep pace with God. 

Our upbringing and journey will be responsible for how we think. The lens through which we see it is as we are. We are prone to life style thinking.

The kingdom however has to be built on God’s thinking not as our version. 

We need Jesus as the lens through which we see this. Look afresh at the world as Christ does, we have example of this in the Word.

My rights, my needs, my self dependence my self righteousness melt away and evaporate. Hardness, judgemental, prejudices, negativity and offence are not polluting the kingdom. 

The kingdom continually overwhelms and astounds us by its love and wisdom in all circumstances. The hurt and sin being perpetually washed away under even more outpouring of God’s generous love. 

A God who is not impervious to wrong and sin but who still wants our choice to be made by us however upside down that may be related to ugly world thinking. 

“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.”

God loves righteousness in His kingdom more than He loves people.  The story of the expulsion from Eden, of Noah being, examples of this. 

Now our choice is but one. To believe and follow Jesus who has redeemed us and provides the open door and way to the kingdom of heaven. 

“For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,””

There is no other side for us to have allegiance with but God’s. 

We allow God’s thinking to take over to build His future. Then it is leaps and bounds no longer small steps as we break through.

No more containment by our need to control but freedom in His mysteries. Billions of souls ripe for the harvest.

We have to embrace risk, we do not like the unknown. The supernatural is more natural than the natural.

God is beyond our fathoming but He has equipped us with discernment for all else. 

We know the difference between Holy, demonic and our own flesh. We have this fullness of who Jesus is within us if we do not reject Him.

Our character breaks agreement with the world. We declare instead the will of God.  

When we live the Kingdom life others witness something desirable that they are then jealous and hungry for.

The illustration shows us seeing the kingdom lit by the lens of Christ in the Trinity. Enabled to reflect that light that emanates to push back the darkness.

Two Scriptures that come to mind:

“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.”Psalm‬ ‭7‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”. ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song           Miracle Time.                  Matthew West

“It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.”

Some would say that from the onset of the pandemic God has been warning us of days similar to those of Joseph’s times. 

We are heading for a global reset. From prosperity to famine. The church warned can like Joseph advise ways to survive what the world remains in ignorance of. 

Heaven makes provision and space for us to remain sustained. Solutions created from the beginning of time for such a time as this. Hidden for God’s glory. 

“But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.”

Ours is to seek out the God of love, to call out to Him and He will answer. 

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

The kingdom of God is a mystery awaiting God to reveal. We are given access to these mysteries. 

“And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,”

The gospel is made known to everyone but the kingdom only to those with the keys to access the door. This may be Christians and Non-Christians. The kingdom belongs to Christ and as Christians we think we are entitled but we have to take. What we refuse to take hold of others with faith may eat. 

“She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”

That which the kingdom offers has to be taken.

Christian people wait for more kingdom people become a move and step into more.

Belief in God not self righteous works is key. Good can disqualify if we just settle for goodness as our right and expectation. 

Doing right does not always feel good but it is done in fear of Him and in obedience. We see this in Abraham who was to offer his own son Isaac as a sacrifice in a test of obedience.

As Christians we are not victims but conquerors. How much do we fear and trust the Lord?  Grief and blessing can come at the same time. 

Are we a sower or a blackmailer? We can never out give God. God gave His everything for us.

We have to be turned around from being the taker to being the giver. How can we bless the God?

Rahab the prostitute was considered righteous. She was in right standing with the Lord. Man pleasers are not pleasers of God often they are idolatrous. 

The illustration shows us in Christ becoming a key to the kingdom, light emanating to push back the darkness.

Seven Scriptures that come to mind:

“Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭17‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.” Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭28‬-‭32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭33‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,”. Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.” Matthew‬ ‭15‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

 The song.        We’re Here For You.                       Jeremy Riddle 

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”

God never changes whether we are surrounded by a storm or calm. Our sight set on Him He is our peace. 

Peace is a person and resting in Him becomes a weapon. In Him we are hidden from the enemy and our mind is transformed and in the right place. We become in a place where we can do an act of violence upon the enemy. 

Spiritual war is less about screaming at the enemy and more about resting in the Lord.

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Victory is when the grace of Jesus is within us and anchored there we can take every thought captive. 

He will keep In perfect peace he whose mind is stayed in Him. 

It transcends and overrides our understanding. 

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

In this place of forgoing our right to understand but instead trusting we are in the strong tower and safe. 

A mindset of understanding that stops at that of a peaceful day does not cover the kingdom peace that we can live in. 

Jesus provokes the enemy with His peace that is born of victory not from retreat. 

The season we are called into is trusting in psalm 23. The world is in turmoil and we have the shepherd not only tending our needs but spiritually at warfare protecting us from the giants of bears and wolves. Equipped to slay the Goliath giants as was David because we know God well. 

Peace takes ground and damages the darkness. It is not passive but effective to flood darkness with light. The world in the season of chaos and God laughs and knows we shall lack nothing.  

“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”

Those we saw as shepherds pasturing their flock’s needs are arising now with the sceptre of power and authority held as well as the familiar crook.

Jesus, the good shepherd must not be limited but allowed to move forward. 

We lack nothing. We lack lack. Having everything we need we will fear no evil.

We are at peace. Peace is our weapon. The God of peace reigns. 

The illustration shows us resting in peace within the strong tower, the Shepherd with the sceptre to rule His kingdom and crook to provide for His flock. Light emanating to push back the darkness.

Four Scriptures that come to mind:

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”Psalm‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song          Peace.                           Bethel 

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

There is evidence that secular culture is becoming exhausted in all areas and despite the trend to seek self help strategies mental health is still a growing casualty of the population. 

The church declared Jesus would have its foundations upon the rock and the gates of hell will not prevail.

Biblical Christianity and truth must not be departed from in attempts to modernise and fit into culture but the reverse. Culture has to reform to the acceptance of the kingdom foundation and principles.

Our body as an individual and corporately has profound importance. Our faith and beliefs are influenced by our attitude towards this importance and respect.

Life in the human body is materially based. In the soul and spirit it is immaterial but requiring an earthly body to flourish.

Doctrines hinge into this. At the fall the sin significantly influence our body concept and image bringing shame upon its nakedness that God provided clothes to then cover.

The doctrine of Christ engulfs the necessity for Him to become incarnate and embody all stages of our development from embryo to death for our salvation.
The doctrine of the Spirit is in dwelling and activating each of us In our essence. The doctrine of eternity is from a disembodied spirit’s resurrection to a resurrection body.

Our contemporary culture of questionable identities needs a certainty of truth setting to unlock and liberate God’s intent and purpose for our creation. Humanity was His design. Culture is challenging that precept attempting to normalise what has become broken and fractured in the world.

The secular world does not have the foundational answers of who ‘Me’ is, it offers endless confusion. There is clarity in the word in Christ and the church body affirming truth not mis-concepts.
Our outer and inner beings have been carefully crafted as human beings.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

Our body is not an accessory or a disposable throw away receptacle for ‘us’.

It is our form we are as a human a body individually made for our spirit  and it is intrinsic to who we are inside and out and what happens to us. 

“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.”

We as a human being also become both one with Christ and the Holy temple that the Holy Spirit resides within, requiring righteousness and purity in both.

We honour God because our body is not our own. We have been purchased at a price and are His purposed to glorify Him in all we represent.

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

Wholeness and good living is how God  designed us to bring healing and wholeness and a culture of the kingdom to prosperity. 

The light in the darkness of the secular. The wisdom to the lost.

The illustration shows the simultaneous creation of the birth of the church rock foundation and of each of us as children of God in His image. Light emanating to push back the darkness.

Four Scriptures that come to mind:

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed.” Genesis‬ ‭2‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song            Hold On To Me.                     Laura Daigle

 “For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

We have all been called to ministry. To come to the fullness of the stature of the measure of Christ. Therefore we have to look like Him. Our purpose is to look and be like Him for the world who do not know Him to see and want to know. 

Face is synonymous with presence in the bible and God introduces Himself in creation coming face to face with darkness and dispelling it. He is compelled to speak; prophesies it into change.

Later in Genesis we notice that when man sinned he turned away from God’s face. It was not God turning away. God follows compelling us to turn back and be transformed.  

The desires of God must again become the desires of our hearts and from that unity God’s will becomes ours and prayers transform. 

When Moses encountered God face to face His words were if your face does not go with us who will distinguish us on the face of the earth. 

“And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?””

The spirit of God again hovering over the face of the land has to be embraced the darkness to heal and transform the land and its people. 

Jesus came to show us the face of God that we need to be transformed into. 

God is not our problem solver but our transformer into Himself. 

We may now be coming out a season of mourning for losses and things that seemed not to manifest and come to fulfilment but mourning is not linear but circular and we return to what we thought would not be again.

God gives us beauty from ashes 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

God sees our naked vulnerability and gives us back our oil of joy. Knowing His presence we can get through whatever prevails.

What on the outside may look like death and failure is on the inside glory where we have been transformed to look like Him. 

We praise Him face to face. 

The illustration shows that which has died on the outside has new life on the inside. The spirit in all its fullness and in the image of Christ’s spectrum of light emanating to push back the darkness.

Three Scriptures that come to mind. 

“For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song      You’re Still God.              Philippa Hanna

“Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken. But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.”

The concept of the Spirit of God is equal to that of the river of God where there are no confines, it or more accurately He, will go where it /He wants to unharnessed and will not be controlled.

“Where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.”We cannot access or go there if we have not submitted and surrender and relinquished all our means of and desire to be in control. 

Nothing man made or generated will impede what God wants to do. 

His rivers will bring life where they flow. It is deep and has power to go round or through any obstruction. 

“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

If we are immovable and resist we will be worked around, ignored. 

We usually sense grief for what has happened but now is a time where we may be sensing grief for loss of what we realise will not be what we can no longer orchestrate even in our own destiny. We may have been hanging on tightly and need to let go.

We have to allow God to lead us on into the future without knowing what where or how that will be. Therefore relinquish control, allow control to dissolve from us  and discover the liberation of His upgrade. 

Our discovery may well be in no longer being able to do what we once could but being enabled to do what previously we couldn’t. 

God’s joy is when we learn to trust Him when we don’t know. 

Our life is enriched by being carried along by the spirit not captive to control. 

There is delight and joy to be had therefore in not knowing the answers and outcome but trusting them to be good. 

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.”

The illustration shows the spiritual river of life full of spectrum crystal colours carrying us where God wills carrying Christ to be revealed in the world. His light emanating to push back the darkness.

Three Scriptures that come to mind:

“Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken. But there the Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭33‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song         Because He Lives.            Celtic Worship 

“There is a divine mystery—a secret surprise that has been concealed from the world for generations, but now it’s being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!”

Christ is the hope and glory. It is easy to be distracted from that hope into a cycle of feeling hopeless.

We are bid to look up and not to the right and left, to keep our focus on Christ. 

The culture in the Kingdom is that He is the solution. There is power in His name. Everything that He has purposed shall go forth.

Christ is our treasure chest of hope. There is nothing in the world at this moment that is of surprise to Christ. He is not shocked. He has the answer.

Therefore there is no distraction of despair in us. The world is looking for that sign and reassurance.

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Therefore we partner with He who is already within us to release hope in both substance and action. Anticipation is a priority in our expectations.

Faith without action is empty. Faith is the vehicle that moves the atmosphere and the outcome. Hope is the fuel that propels it.

“Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.”

God is no respecter of person. If one can do it we all can. The barrage of the lack of hope must be broken off.

The role model was all identified in the first few lines of His word. God reveals Himself as creator. 

God ( who is Spirit ) brooded and hovered until the word is spoken to bring creation into being. Light, enlightenment, dispels the darkness and He manifests or cancels all other decrees.

So it is in heaven so let it be on earth. 

“So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”

We have to know God’s word. The truth enlightens and sets us free. 

Hopelessness immobilises us. 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

There is the power of life and death in our tongue. 

The Holy Spirit is not earned it is a gift for us all. God will prevail and His glory also. 

“But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.”

The illustration shows what is seen and heard in the spirit being spoken out and the power of the tongue bringing hope, expectation and light emanating to push back the darkness.

Six Scriptures that come to mind: 

“There is a divine mystery—a secret surprise that has been concealed from the world for generations, but now it’s being revealed, unfolded and manifested for every holy believer to experience. Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”‭‭Psalm‬ ‭124‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].” ‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.”Habakkuk‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The song Living Hope. Phil Wickham

“you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

God’s heart is for us to belong to one another and be in the vulnerable place of dependency on each other.

Whilst He overflows in abundance and generosity and is who we submit our dependency to He equally desires the level of belonging together one to another. For us to host each other in sharing both joy and pain and for no one to feel lost, alone or unseen.

It is physically possible to stand in a community of 200+ or a group of a few and feel alone. We sense Him pushing us together.

Loneliness in church is painful. The feeling of having no connection is exhausting. The sense of it being hard to break in resulting in a feeling of lacking and not fitting in and a hardening of hearts.
It is easier not to be there than to be there and not to be seen.

It may be that God has us sense and feel from our own heart what is a fault so that we live out His sign and embody His voice.

Relationship stings He desires to heal and restore safety and well being too.

The friendship we want or need for ourselves is the same we want to pursue, honour and sow into the relationship of others.
Deconstructing and reforming seasons are naturally needed. Fresh wine and fresh wine skins made compatible.

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

‭No criticism, no offence, no cynicism, no bitterness just bringing a solution before an issue or crisis sneaks in. 
God is encouraging flux to realign living stones to fit together well to have the capability for His glory. 
Belonging and no outsiders is the hallmark of the Kingdom life on earth as in heaven. 

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfil every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

The illustration shows the togetherness of Christ and the living stones of our church body belonging in the kingdom and emanating light that pushes back the darkness.

Three Scriptures that come to mind:

“you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song             In Christ Alone.            Celtic Worship

“He answered, “The Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word that constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.”

We have to rely on God daily. 

We are in the days of manna for every step of the way. 

There is a threat in such uncertainty in the world and we are reminded of how to journey with God and to hear His voice for each day as it dawns as it’s duration may only be for that one day. 

In instability God can always be relied upon by word and by Spirit. 

We are drawn out of ruts and traditions and find new ways that as yet have not been shown 

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

We seek His face always by drawing closer. 

Many sense our hearts break in the face of struggle and tears fall in our sense of His own heart. 

“and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”

There is tenderness in our full emotional connection.

 The Holy Spirit intercedes where we cannot and our prayer comes not out of words but out of our whole body. 

God observes and responds as in the same way to our caring. 

 His compassion simultaneously is His glory.  Jesus breaks out in a language of water and beauty. 

“As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.”

He emboldens and strengthens us in that place and goes before us with the assurance.   “I am with you”

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

We can be comfortable with not knowing the destination if we know the promises He makes. We can then step out of our comfort zone believing in His provision. 

The illustration shows our spirit drawn beyond all boundaries to God’s call as we rely upon His words and Holy Spirit. Emanating light that pushes back the darkness.

Five Scriptures that come to mind:

“He answered, “The Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word that constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.” Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” ‭‭Joel‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭84‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song                 Oceans.                          Hillsong 

“And I saw that the one seated on the throne was holding in his right hand an unopened scroll with writing on the inside and on the outside, and it was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw an incredibly powerful angel proclaiming with a great, loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and able to break its seven seals?” But no person could be found, living or dead, in all of creation —no one was worthy to open the scroll and read its contents. So I broke down weeping with intense sorrow, because there was found no one worthy to break open the scroll and read its contents. Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Look! The mighty Lion of Judah’s tribe, the root of David—he has conquered! He is the worthy one who can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a young Lamb standing before the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. He appeared to have been slaughtered but was now alive! He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out to the ends of the earth. I saw the young Lamb approach the throne and take the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat there. And when the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures saw the Lamb had taken the scroll, they fell facedown at the feet of the Lamb and worshiped him. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls brimming full of sweet fragrant incense—which are the prayers of God’s holy lovers. And they were all singing this new song of praise to the Lamb: “Because you were slaughtered for us, you are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals. Your blood was the price paid to redeem us. You purchased us to bring us to God out of every tribe, language, people group, and nation. You have chosen us to serve our God and formed us into a kingdom of priests who reign on the earth.”

We are awakening into an awareness of an unhindered life in Christ where in union and resting inHim we radiate His light and co-reign in that relationship and connectedness. 

The scroll is representative of a titled deed to the universe and God’s intent.

Also personally  to our soul destiny and purpose as written by God before we were born.

As we submit entirely to resting within the arms of Jesus we meld as one with Him and as we let go of our body, heart and mind it is our sacrifice to Him.

 We remove ourselves from the throne of our self making, striving ,experiences and generational DNA.

We sink into His arms and become enveloped and engulfed into His being and at one with Him.  

He sets us free and removes the residue of our previous nature that was not in God’s creation of us and we are separated from our old blood line creation and become a new creation and freed to operate from who we were destined and purposed to be led by the Spirit.

In this way Jesus has unlocked the seal of our life in Him and we become liberated by being enveloped and consumed by Him. 

We are flooded within deep peace where the noise of the chaos world that had attached itself to us falls away leaving profound Shalom. 

We live and have our being in Him. 

“for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’”

From His throne we we can unveil who Jesus is un-hampered by the divisions and mixtures embedded in our soul. Jesus is the source of our life.

The old has gone we are a new creation. 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

Our destiny is to find and reveal Him we have no separation from Him. 

When we become consumed by Him we become whole and liberated. 

The illustration shows us enfolded in the arms of Jesus to meld, be engulfed and consumed by Him to loose our self and be recreated as who we were destined, intended and purposed to be to reveal Christ. Emanating light to push back the darkness.

Three Scriptures that come to mind:

“And I saw that the one seated on the throne was holding in his right hand an unopened scroll with writing on the inside and on the outside, and it was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw an incredibly powerful angel proclaiming with a great, loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and able to break its seven seals?” But no person could be found, living or dead, in all of creation —no one was worthy to open the scroll and read its contents. So I broke down weeping with intense sorrow, because there was found no one worthy to break open the scroll and read its contents. Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping. Look! The mighty Lion of Judah’s tribe, the root of David—he has conquered! He is the worthy one who can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a young Lamb standing before the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. He appeared to have been slaughtered but was now alive! He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out to the ends of the earth. I saw the young Lamb approach the throne and take the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat there. And when the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures saw the Lamb had taken the scroll, they fell facedown at the feet of the Lamb and worshiped him. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls brimming full of sweet fragrant incense—which are the prayers of God’s holy lovers. And they were all singing this new song of praise to the Lamb: “Because you were slaughtered for us, you are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals. Your blood was the price paid to redeem us. You purchased us to bring us to God out of every tribe, language, people group, and nation. You have chosen us to serve our God and formed us into a kingdom of priests who reign on the earth.” Revelation‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’” ‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song                 Breathe.                     Brooke Ligertwood

“God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest. The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!”

God is balancing us.  Being well balanced is supreme in health and in justice and spiritually they are linked. 

Although it is early in a new year many of us have felt wearied and slow to come alive. It doesn’t stem from tiredness that can be fixed by more sleep or a holiday it comes from our very bones and soul. 

God desires to dislodge this weariness with an explosion from the Spirit and the word eyes fixed on Jesus brings about our strength. 

“My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!”

In weariness we may abandon the pursuit of what He wants us to do and therefore we need to be in a place of rest to allow God to minister to us to restore us to virtue and the ability to continue fruitfully. 

This discipline is our strategy. 

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Cycles of endurance keep us healthy in our soul and we can make a way forwards. Weariness is the fruit of not being fully surrendered and led by the Spirit. 

There is a satisfying tiredness in the completion of something but a weariness of unsatisfactorily trying to do things in our own strength or outside our grace. 

“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

Our place of balance and strength comes from being liberated by the Holy Spirit. Allowing Him to break down our inner walls, break out and lead us. 

Reset our foundations in order and grounded in wisdom so that we are not held captive but lifted higher above where we overflow with the goodness from His heart and become refreshed. 

Worship that rejuvenates, strengthens and balances us again from an uneven tilt out of kilter. 

“A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.”

God hurts personally when He witnesses His precious offspring getting it wrong just as we, as good parents, hate seeing injustice received or dealt out by our own. We attempt to readdress or convey correction on what has a light shine upon it in our life styles, choices, values. Try to fix and correct the balance.

Injustice is not just ours but how God feels too. 

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Any injustice is first and foremost against God. To restore joy the starting point lies between us and Him. 

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.”

Weariness is being off centre and off balance. 

Therefore we sit with Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to shed light into our soul to bring us back to balance. 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

The illustration shows the balance of healthy Spiritual rest and justice in God’s word and our submission, wisdom and knowledge of His heart. Emanating light that pushes back the darkness.

Nine Scriptures that come to mind:

“God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest. The harvest you reap reveals the seed that you planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self-life into this natural realm, you can expect a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit. And don’t allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭28‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” ‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” Galatians‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”Psalm‬ ‭51‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.” Proverbs‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song.               Spirit Break Out.             Jeremy Riddle 

“And when Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him”

When Jesus was baptised heaven was opened. Heaven has remained open ever since that moment. 

The Holy Spirit came upon Him like a dove.  Gently settled upon Him and there was a sensitivity in Jesus to the Holy Spirit settling.  A dove will only come to rest in a place of safety. 

God tells us to look up to heaven and to have a relationship with Him. 

Then at Pentecost from this place many followers were filled with the Holy Spirit fire and power.

He has called us to be worshipping people gathered under an open heaven with interaction Spiritually between His throne and earth. 

A place where divine activity is taking place. Where angels ascend and descend much like Jacob’s vision at Bethel. 

God releasing on earth what is already available in Heaven. Kingdom life released on earth as it is in heaven. Released life, power, salvation, healing, deliverance.

We acknowledge God for no other reason than for who He is under an open heaven. We access His sovereign activity and His fragrance flows through us there too. 

We carry His Lordship into our lives because His kingdom has come. 

His life is here within us not over there or at a distance.  He abides in us and from His abiding in our hearts we can carry the good news of the gospel and become a doorway to access His fullness and kingdom. 

We live under an open heaven and have ever since Jesus was baptised. 

The new era today to encompass all kinds of people who do not yet know Him to be reached. His life the wellspring of life and abundance. 

““Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.”

People that may proclaim His name and be part of the big picture of redemption and Nations come into line with His purpose.  

We need pray no more for what we already have. We have open heaven and the Holy Spirit.

Belief in this for ourselves releases the same for others.

He will reveal Himself uniquely to others to bring them out of being darkness into being light.

From being nowhere into their destiny. From death into life. From orphans to sons and daughters.

The illustration shows the heavens opened as the dove like Holy Spirit descended to rest on Jesus at His baptism. Light emanating to push back the darkness.

Two Scriptures that come to mind:

“And when Jesus was baptised, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;” Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

““Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song      Holy Forever.                       Jenn Johnson 

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Encountering God’s presence is where we receive real rest, refreshment and restoration. It is where our deepest thirst in our soul is quenched. Our perspective shifts as we are caught up in greatness and majesty and therefore remove ourself from our self made thrones. 

God loves our faith. 

We may not on the surface see what God is doing underneath but we create space for Him to surprise as we do discover. 

It is especially in seasons of darkness and oppression where nothing appears to be happening and God may seem silent that scripturally we acknowledge God to be persistently concerned for His people’s welfare.  

Moses was defined as God’s friend and enabled to speak to Him face to face. 

“And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?””

He promises that His sufficiency is greater than any inadequacies. 

God’s grace is greater than all our failings. 

Our access to converse with honesty, intimacy and boldness has been accessed by Jesus becoming the way at the cross. 

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Mary out of the two sisters chooses the greater thing in prioritising to listen to the voice of the one who matters above all else. Jesus remains when all else fades away. 

Therefore let it be our choice to create more space to be in His presence. 

There is a temptation to be impatient and also to idolise other things.  Replicas are false provisions.

We have to allow God to define us and take priority. All else enslaves us. Offers nothing and costs everything. 

The Holy Spirit makes Jesus our reality and therefore brings life back to God’s

presence and makes us increasingly yearn for it. 

Our friendship with God makes us different. We wait upon the Lord and discover strength and courage that is tangible to those in fear. 

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

The illustration shows our face to face encounter of restoration in His presence emanating light that pushes back the darkness.

Three Scriptures that come to mind:

“And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song         All Sufficient Merit.                          Shane and Shane