I always like to let these articles simmer a bit in the crockpot...
What hit me immediately upon reading it yesterday, it still what I'm chewing on today....
This story of Gideon. Especially of his process of whittling down his army and how is relayes to the season I'm in currently.
Father God wanted Gideon and his "remnant" to be totally dependent upon HIM.
About 2 months or so ago, Father God began to prepare me for the season I am in now. He, many times, will use a combination of ways to speak to me. One was through a sermon that you preached, Pastor, titled, "Pack a Lunch."
Father God: "Daughter, you're about to enter a season of your life that I want to give you a specific assignment for....
Assignment:
Be quiet
Be still
Wait patiently
Listen for My voice
Intercede, intercede, intercede
Trust Me
Then He added one more from that sermon....
Be a "silent sermon".... let your light shine to those around you, wherever you are."
Many times, in the beginning especially, Father God won't tell me exactly WHY I'm going into a specific season, or, why He gives me a special assignment, but He has given me at least a glimpse, this time around.
Father God: "Daughter, you and many of those aroubd you have a "fix-it" personality. If you tell them things I have given you special wisdom into, you &/or they, will be tempted to fix it, in their humanness, their way, their timing, with,... unfortunately, human results, which is never as good as Mine.
If you remain quiet and still and wait for Me, you are chosing to not tempt your brother/sister in Christ to fix it on their own and then steal the credit and glory for themselves, which will tempt them to take on pride. (Acts 12:19-25, while reading this artice, I now, also see that same concept in Judges 7:2b))
If you remain quiet, still, waiting on Me, just bring it to Me in your private prayer closet, then I can work it MY WAY, IN MY TIMING, WITH MY RESULTS, and,... I GET ALL THE GLORY!!"
The deepest desire of my heart is to bring my Father God joy to His heart. Therefore,... I will be quiet, I will be still, I will wait, I will listen, I will intercede, I will trust Him, I will be a silent sermon!!
I was raised with the mentality, "if it's to be, it's up to me!" (Straight from the spirit of pride, right?)
As an adult, I worked as a crirical care nurse.... again, with that strong sense of, "fix-it mode." Obviously, that's why people come to the hospital, right?? Cause they need fixin'
The ultimate surrender to a fix-it attitude was Jesus' surrender at the Garden of Gethsemane!
There's a new song out this week on Air1 radio station, by Benjamin William Hastings, "Abandon." As I listened to it, the one single phrase that grabbed me so hard that it has rocked my world the rest of this week. I could not get it out of my head. Many different songs have come from this thought, based from Matthew 26:50-56. "He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels".
Jesus CERTAINLY could have snapped His fingers and "FIXED" that situation, now couldn't He?!
In my private time with Father God each morning, I've been reading about Moses this week. WOW!! Moses was a heck of a ReLeader, right? He did not have it easy!! Moses had his own ideas about how to "fix" this situation, I'm sure!!
He was assigned to "ReLead" Pharaoh to recognize the fear of God. We've all dealt with trying to ReLead some difficult narssacists, but this is a whole nother level right there, people!!
I wonder if Moses had some boyhood history with this dude. Cause I think Pharaoh got his eyes on the person and the fight and forgot his goal (leading his country) (Exodus 10:7b) and he didn't realize he wasn't even fighting against flesh and blood, he was fighting something much bigger!!!!
Yep, God allowed Pharaoh his free-will. And sometimes, it isn't about MAKING people see truth, it's about allowing them free will. If God does it in His time, it allows the other person to experience God's unfailing love, mercy, grace, etc .. think of King Saul, and certainly, King David's own son, Absalom... another narcissist!
Moses just finished that ReLeader job, then he had to deal with ReLeading the Israelites, who were used to being lead by Pharaoh (talk about a bad leader!) to being ReLed by God.
I recently finished a book about relationships in the body of Christ. It was pointing out that we all need those people in our group that have EARNED OUR TRUST that we can give permission to remind us of our "group identity."
Just like Moses had to remind the Israelites, "hey, guys, may I remind you that we are not a stubborn, stiff-necked people, we are God's treasured possession!!"
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
[12] Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Moses had his hands full, as a ReLeader, releading the Israelites mentality from victimhood, to VICTORY!!
Just a few thoughts that Father God has been pressing into my character,... to surrender that "fix-it" mentality, to Him, and allow Him to do His thing in His timing....
There is Moses and his father-in-law, taking time out to fill their joy-tanks....
Exodus 18:7-12
They're sharing with each other all the good things that Father God has done for them, how He has kept the Israelites safe through even the passover and across the Red Sea!!! "And Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel...."
Their Gratitude + Thanksgiving + Connectedness = JOY
It is rhetorical to think about that scenario where we must turn to the side and ask ourselves if those faces we see inspire us security or a bit of loyalty... ironically, only God knows! But it's true, Jon... it's motivating to see them there, by our side, ready to fight with you and for you. We can only say, 'Thank you, Lord, for each one of them.
Thank you Pastor for the article on the Remnant! I think all of us have experienced that in some area of our life!
Many deep thoughts and lessons can be mined from this! Thank you for your insight and research! But mostly for you hearing from the Holy Spirit in order to feed us!
I always like to let these articles simmer a bit in the crockpot...
What hit me immediately upon reading it yesterday, it still what I'm chewing on today....
This story of Gideon. Especially of his process of whittling down his army and how is relayes to the season I'm in currently.
Father God wanted Gideon and his "remnant" to be totally dependent upon HIM.
About 2 months or so ago, Father God began to prepare me for the season I am in now. He, many times, will use a combination of ways to speak to me. One was through a sermon that you preached, Pastor, titled, "Pack a Lunch."
Father God: "Daughter, you're about to enter a season of your life that I want to give you a specific assignment for....
Assignment:
Be quiet
Be still
Wait patiently
Listen for My voice
Intercede, intercede, intercede
Trust Me
Then He added one more from that sermon....
Be a "silent sermon".... let your light shine to those around you, wherever you are."
Many times, in the beginning especially, Father God won't tell me exactly WHY I'm going into a specific season, or, why He gives me a special assignment, but He has given me at least a glimpse, this time around.
Father God: "Daughter, you and many of those aroubd you have a "fix-it" personality. If you tell them things I have given you special wisdom into, you &/or they, will be tempted to fix it, in their humanness, their way, their timing, with,... unfortunately, human results, which is never as good as Mine.
If you remain quiet and still and wait for Me, you are chosing to not tempt your brother/sister in Christ to fix it on their own and then steal the credit and glory for themselves, which will tempt them to take on pride. (Acts 12:19-25, while reading this artice, I now, also see that same concept in Judges 7:2b))
If you remain quiet, still, waiting on Me, just bring it to Me in your private prayer closet, then I can work it MY WAY, IN MY TIMING, WITH MY RESULTS, and,... I GET ALL THE GLORY!!"
The deepest desire of my heart is to bring my Father God joy to His heart. Therefore,... I will be quiet, I will be still, I will wait, I will listen, I will intercede, I will trust Him, I will be a silent sermon!!
https://youtu.be/ki5CA4oXL7w?si=8027FZO6mNXeMrj4
Wow!! You would not believe how Father God has taken this concept of Gideon whittling down his army, to do a deep work in my life this week!!!!
I just kept hearing the words, "it's all about surrendering that 'fix-it' mentality to Me, Daughter!"
As well as those verses,
Proverbs 3:5 NIV
[5] Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
[8] This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
https://proverbs.bible/proverbs-3-8
I was raised with the mentality, "if it's to be, it's up to me!" (Straight from the spirit of pride, right?)
As an adult, I worked as a crirical care nurse.... again, with that strong sense of, "fix-it mode." Obviously, that's why people come to the hospital, right?? Cause they need fixin'
The ultimate surrender to a fix-it attitude was Jesus' surrender at the Garden of Gethsemane!
There's a new song out this week on Air1 radio station, by Benjamin William Hastings, "Abandon." As I listened to it, the one single phrase that grabbed me so hard that it has rocked my world the rest of this week. I could not get it out of my head. Many different songs have come from this thought, based from Matthew 26:50-56. "He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels".
https://youtu.be/MEInA8CzWNI?si=lAjVPA9fOSBNrrd6
Jesus CERTAINLY could have snapped His fingers and "FIXED" that situation, now couldn't He?!
In my private time with Father God each morning, I've been reading about Moses this week. WOW!! Moses was a heck of a ReLeader, right? He did not have it easy!! Moses had his own ideas about how to "fix" this situation, I'm sure!!
He was assigned to "ReLead" Pharaoh to recognize the fear of God. We've all dealt with trying to ReLead some difficult narssacists, but this is a whole nother level right there, people!!
I wonder if Moses had some boyhood history with this dude. Cause I think Pharaoh got his eyes on the person and the fight and forgot his goal (leading his country) (Exodus 10:7b) and he didn't realize he wasn't even fighting against flesh and blood, he was fighting something much bigger!!!!
Yep, God allowed Pharaoh his free-will. And sometimes, it isn't about MAKING people see truth, it's about allowing them free will. If God does it in His time, it allows the other person to experience God's unfailing love, mercy, grace, etc .. think of King Saul, and certainly, King David's own son, Absalom... another narcissist!
Moses just finished that ReLeader job, then he had to deal with ReLeading the Israelites, who were used to being lead by Pharaoh (talk about a bad leader!) to being ReLed by God.
I recently finished a book about relationships in the body of Christ. It was pointing out that we all need those people in our group that have EARNED OUR TRUST that we can give permission to remind us of our "group identity."
Just like Moses had to remind the Israelites, "hey, guys, may I remind you that we are not a stubborn, stiff-necked people, we are God's treasured possession!!"
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
[12] Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
https://colossians.bible/colossians-3-12
Moses had his hands full, as a ReLeader, releading the Israelites mentality from victimhood, to VICTORY!!
Just a few thoughts that Father God has been pressing into my character,... to surrender that "fix-it" mentality, to Him, and allow Him to do His thing in His timing....
Blessings,
And then,....
There is Moses and his father-in-law, taking time out to fill their joy-tanks....
Exodus 18:7-12
They're sharing with each other all the good things that Father God has done for them, how He has kept the Israelites safe through even the passover and across the Red Sea!!! "And Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the Lord had done for Israel...."
Their Gratitude + Thanksgiving + Connectedness = JOY
It is rhetorical to think about that scenario where we must turn to the side and ask ourselves if those faces we see inspire us security or a bit of loyalty... ironically, only God knows! But it's true, Jon... it's motivating to see them there, by our side, ready to fight with you and for you. We can only say, 'Thank you, Lord, for each one of them.
Thanks for making me turn towards them.
That's good!
Thank you Pastor for the article on the Remnant! I think all of us have experienced that in some area of our life!
Many deep thoughts and lessons can be mined from this! Thank you for your insight and research! But mostly for you hearing from the Holy Spirit in order to feed us!
Thankful everyday that God sent you to us!
Much respect and love!
You and Dave were a part of that remnant that stayed at Victory Church and I'm so thankful you did! Love you guys!
Beautiful, beautiful article, Pastor!!!
Father God has been teaching me that it is all about the lens with which I CHOOSE to look through, in my life.
This articke reminded me of several different areas of my life where this could be applicable....
Good stuff, thank you!!