The Lord over the past few week keeps taking me back to a story in the bible. Now this is simply to RE CENTRE, REFOCUS and MOVE my perspective from lack and the loss of what I can see or think to instead consider the bigger picture of Provision that holds a greater promise beside me or in my hand.
Let’s start with this point the Lord gave to me about a year ago while I was walking along the beach. He said “Many of My people mismanage My messages Craig”,He continued with “Relevance will draw you near but make sure it does not become distraction, but is the real revelation and direction that I intended it for! Wow right?
Luke 4:16-30 best illustrates this:
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marvelled at the gracious words that were coming from His mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
Did you see the Relevant words ‘is not this Joseph’s son?” This phrase, statement or words led all to mismanage the Lords message, confusing what was reality and what would lead possibly all astray.
Interesting what starts out amazing, ends like this in verse 29 “And they rose up and drove Him out of the town and brought Him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw Him down the cliff”. What a massive turn of events!
Unfortunately Discernment is the Greatest lack in the body of Christ as shown in Luke 4:16-30, and I believe this still remains today. How is your Discernment?
Past generations have at times lost their influence, by thinking and focusing solely on Jesus return, and in that posture they left their roles and responsibility to be in the waiting. But Jesus did not come when they thought, and the word of God says “no one knows the day or hour, so be ready and about the Lord’s work”
Can you see the importance of being open to hear, sift, and evaluate His word even when it does not come in the package we are used too?
Ask the Lord for authenticity, application, and timing with all words and leading which we get from the Lord.
Remember the Lord’s words “Relevance will draw you near but make sure it does not become distraction”
How we stop distraction or mismanaging words, it’s in the Intimacy with God, we crave to be in the secret place often with Holy Spirit, listening, hearing, worshipping Him and being reminded of Promises of God and Truth.
Because oh my we need that caution to make ‘Intimacy with God’ no 1 on our priority lists throughout the whole day, since the times we are living in and times to come, there will be many things, events, that seek to take our Focus and Devotion off the Lord, BUT we need to fight for Intimacy with Him, and to be about the Lord’s business of Loving God and Loving others, through asking each moment ‘what are You saying Lord, who do You want me to reach out to?
Get in the Presence of God, every time you hear or see something, and ask Holy Spirit ‘what is this? Is this for now? Is this for me? What do you want me to do with this information?
And lastly always go to the Written Word of God and see what God says. For His Word is Final, Eternal, He has the final say, and the 2 things remain about God, He cannot lie and He does not change His mind, His yes is yes forever, His word stands true and He NEVER contradicts it.
So I guess those are challenges and reminders for you to choose whether you will take them on board, I’ll leave it with you.
We will continue next time the final part and keys…
Father, thank You that all You desire is Intimacy with us, Your sons and daughters. That we have an open invitation to come and be with You, as we do would You help us by removing distractions and refreshing our Spirit, and mind to see and hear You. Holy Spirit fill us with greater discernment to do Your will, and forgive us for the times we have mismanaged words, and situations. We worship You. In Jesus name. Amen
Craig and Winnie Patten. Itinerate Pastors/Apostolic Leaders. Encounter Ministries
