The Enablement

Greetings,
Well, here we are with a new year right before us. Many things have happened to each of us - some good, some not so good.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke something to my heart about a week ago and told me that this year will be a year of "enablement". A year, a period of time, where the Spirit of God will be actively working "enabling" the people of God. I want to share, just for a few moments, a couple of things we should consider.

Acts 2: 4 - And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. (New Living Translation)

The "Today's New International Version" reads "as the Holy Spirit enabled them". The Holy Spirit didn't speak FOR them, rather He gave THEM the ability to speak - He ENABLED them.

The Spirit of God is called the "Paraclete"; One called along side to help. He doesn't come to those who don't need help or want help. He comes to those who recognize their need of help and who stay actively involved through the process. You know, some folks cry out to God and when God shows up, they just shut down and expect God to do everything. I don't read that in the Word. I realize that the Scriptures talk about people who were to "stand still and see the salvation of God". That was told to a group of people who were engaged in seeking the will of God and had cried out to God in faith. God responded with "stand still..." and then the leader interpreted that as "let's go and confront the approaching armies with praise and trust in our God. Let's go expecting the Lord to give us victory since He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we can ask or even think!" (2 Chronicles 20)

Many times we are afraid of weakness, afraid of not knowing what to do, afraid of turmoil. We turn inward looking for the strength we need to overcome our situations. What God is desiring is that we look to Him as the One Who gives us the ENABLEMENT to do His will! Acts 10:38 and Luke 4:18 show something of Jesus in this regard.

Acts 10:38
"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,"

This is the year where His power and ability will begin to be demonstrated through the inability and weakness of His people who are finding ways to trust Him. People who understand that it's the weak, the insufficient in themselves, the no-accounts, etc. that are called and equipped by God.
(1 Corinthians 1:26-2:5)

Know this: as the year unfolds there will be a tremendous shifting in the spirit realm. Darkness and light will become more pronounced. The church is being shaken and will have to come to an understanding of Kingdom principles. Things that have worked in the past; i.e. church growth ideas, praise and worship (contemporary music) promoting, spiritual warfare, giving and receiving and tax deduction status, etc.; all these and more will be shaken and some things removed or radically changed so that what remains is what God, and only God, can work with. He works with things that don't have "flesh stains" on them. He works with those who's heart is humble and broken before Him, who NEED Him. He will ENABLE those who make themselves weak so they can be strong IN HIM. Paul said it in 2 Corinthians 12 :9,10 - "Each time He said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

In order for the Spirit's enablement to become more visible, more pronounced, understand that there will be much more opportunities to NEED the Spirit's ability. Don't let your heart grow weary during those needy times. They are necessary! Jesus said that it was to our advantage (John 16) that He go away, because when He left He would send the Spirit. It is necessary for us to understand our inability because it's at that point that we begin to understand that we can do ALL things THROUGH Christ Who gives us the strength.

Exciting times are ahead for those who will see their own inability and still press on to know Him and the power of His Resurrection. Let's cry out to the Lord expecting Him to answer with the ENABLEMENT that we and those around us so desperately need.

Pastor Jan