It’s time to Step Back into the World, and Live as a Witness of God!
Did you hear that, now’s the time! Not tomorrow, now’s the time it involves a decision, will you step back into the world and live as a witness to God?
John 17:13-15 TPT gives information, Jesus said,“I have given them Your message and that is why the unbelieving world hates them. For their allegiance is no longer to this world because I am not of this world. I am not asking that You remove them from the world, but I ask that You guard their hearts from evil. For they no longer belong to this world any more than I do. Your Word is truth! So make them holy by the truth”.
The ending of that passage, wow! So make them holy by the truth! We say yes Lord! But how do we do that and live it out? As believers being not of the world is very important to many of us, as it should be for all of us who are believers. But this should never lead us out of the world.
That makes me wonder two things, what does an inward conviction really look like? What lie is holding us back from being released into greater freedom?
Just take a look around at the world and it’s easy to see that the world is under the power of the evil one, where the promises are huge, but the fulfilment and delivery of them is nothing at all. This is the trait of the devil who we know came to steal, kill and destroy from all God gives and is, but Jesus came to give life in all its abundance.
The GREATEST REWARD from life is not all that glitters and makes us feel good. It’s IN THE ONE that brought and offered SALVATION to all ever born.
How will the world recognise what a transformed life looks like, if you’re not in the world? Ooh ouch but good challenge aye? We as believers need to be deliberately planting ourselves in the world and living daily in the world, so those in the world can see Jesus in us. Somber thought isn’t it?
Ok how many of you have been at events, gatherings or services and noticed followers of Christ who are gifted, anointed, and victorious seemly gravitated and mixing only with those who hold the same beliefs, thoughts and opinions as them? It makes me wonder why this happens? If they decided to look around, they would discover there are ones that the Lord has placed for them to meet, that once they meet & start talking they would realise they have the same invitation and calling to follow Christ and be all in for Him. But sadly sadly this often does not happen for many are busy in their little groups talking.
This is what I call being outside of the world but of the world!
I could easily live like this, as it presents a more comfort, less stressful and conflict driven option. But is this the kind of living God wants for us to do? Let’s look to Jesus in John 16:33 He answers that question “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” He is saying I’m letting you in on truth you’re going to have trials and sorrows here on earth, but take heart, cheer up, trust Me and have peace in Me because I’m in you and I have overcome the world, so will you also.
Matthew 5:15-16 TPT backs up our statement we are to be in the world and not of the world so we can shine Jesus in the world which is to shine Hope, Peace, Truth, Love and so much more. We are called to shine as a light for and to Him.
“And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”
Do you remember being a new believer and wanting to share with everyone what you heard, saw and experienced from God? Being a witness to the transformation that had happened in your life we simply could stop sharing!
This exciting time I call the HONEYMOON phase (likened to after a Wedding) where we are desperately in love with God and desperate for everyone to know all about Him and what He’s done for us. But as we know the honeymoon period seems to wane, and turns into a marriage lifestyle WITH CHRIST through SALVATION. Which still should be amazing right and fill our every thought?
So why at this point does our witness, intention and direction change and instead becomes evaluated through our productivity or lack of productivity? This is a decision point where we become transformed and celebrate others transformed, or we grow and cultivate a lifestyle for ourselves that resolves around our family, this is not a bad thing, it’s just that we stop looking outside our own 4 walls, and only look internally. But that’s your choice to make, what will you choose?
Let’s go to God’s Word to help our choice, in Genesis Chapter 1 we start His Story with the Creation this is like our Salvation experience or the Honeymoon period where everything is good and happy and peaceful, there’s no sin. But wait we have just finished the first chapter and in Genesis 2 we see this secret revealed, the rose tinted glasses are taken off, and it’s now us living life after the honeymoon period of our Salvation has ended.
We pause and breathe, and look intently at Eve with the serpent, and ask the favourite question of a child – why? Why Eve? Why did you eat the fruit? Why did you give it to Adam? Why Adam? Why did you choose to eat the fruit? Why didn’t you say no?
Ok at this point you may be saying umm I know this part of His Story, how does it apply to me? I wasn’t there and I certainly have not eaten the fruit! So my question to you is what is the fruit? Again, what is the fruit?
The answer I’ve found is the fruit is anything that stops you being all you were created to be by God. Oh wow, we’ve all eaten the fruit right? We all can identify with aligning with things that limit or stop us being all God designed us to be. The first married couple Adam and Eve of the O.T experienced this as soon as they had taken their first bite, it dawned on them, realisation came they were naked. Do we realise when we are naked?
At this defining moment all our how, what, why questions are all summed up and answered with the same word ‘shame’. As we read more and see the story develop in Genesis 2 we see clearly that shame led Adam and Eve to hide away from God and not get the promise that He had for them. It was what lead them out of the garden and into the wilderness.
Shame is defined as the “consequence of sin, its relational and affects self identity” Shame doesn’t label the situation bad, it labels the one as bad, it seeks to destroy and distort the core of Who we are.
There is only ONE WAY to WALK OUT of SHAME and stop the cycle it’s called “IDENTITY” which is the very true understanding of who your are & whose you are! It’s Who created you and what promises & plans are over your life?
We are so excited that soon our 12 days of Discovering Your Identity course app will be released on Apple IOS and android OS! This has a PERSONAL Journal built in along with clear prophetic insight and teaching that will help you to discover and live in your true identity. Keep an eye out for it!
But for now it’s CHALLENGE Time!
1. Honest Prayer: “Father God show me how I see myself? “ Wait, give Him time, and write it down
2. Continued Prayer: “Father God how do You see me? Wait, allow Him time to reveal how He truely sees you.
3. Choice time: Do you want to change up the perspective of who you are?
4. Decision Prayer: “Father God I choose to give You and lay down …………(insert what He showed you of how you see yourself) and instead I choose to pick up………….(insert what He showed you) thank you Jesus Amen
5. Prayer time: “God reveal to me how I see You?” Write down all you see, hear, feel, smell taste by your senses and thank Him.
6. Prayer Time: “Father God would You reveal Yourself to me?” Write down all you see, hear, smell, feel taste by your senses.
7. Choice Time: Do you want to change up your perspective on who He is?
8. Decision prayer “Father God I choose to give you and lay down …………(insert what He showed you of how you see Him) and instead I choose to pick up…………. (insert what He showed you of who He is) thank you Jesus Amen
9. NOTE: I have found that in most cases these two questions “reveal how I see You and reveal Yourself to me” unlock a greater understanding of Him, and make an opening for people to see, hear and experience the fullness of a living relationship with Him.
10. AdditionalPrayer:“FathertodayI’mchoosingtostepbackintotheworld,notto be of the world, but to be a witness of what a transformed life in You looks like. Please help and protect me as I answer Your invitation to become all you created me to be. As Your son or daughter, what is my next step? Thank you, in Jesus name Amen.
Father we pray that all these amazing people, Your children will come to You and that by Your grace You will wipe away all their shame. To forgive and release them into Your fullness and transform them back to clearly seeing and believing truth about themselves and You. Would Your Love follow them every day of their life as they step back into the world as a witness of You to others. In Jesus name, Amen
Craig and Winnie Patten
Itinerate Pastors/ Apostolic Leaders
Encounter Ministries
