Written for our example...

Greetings in the Name of the Desire of All Nations...

I'm going out on the limb a little with this teaching, but I really believe it's what the Spirit of God has been speaking deep into my spirit these last few weeks. He keeps bringing these things up - no matter where I'm reading in the Word, He seems to direct my thoughts and prayers back to this central theme. And that theme is what I'm going to share about now.

For teaching purposes, I'm going to speak as though I'm a history teacher and then draw some parallels with what's happening today. I'll try and keep my points as concise as possible.

1. The Lord always builds on relationships, not rules and laws. God appeared to Abram (Genesis 12:1-4; 15:1-21; 17:1) with no mention of rules or laws. It's not that Abram didn't need them; it's that as he began to know and trust the Almighty, the law and rules were obeyed as a result of the relationship they had with each other. Abram (Abraham) stuck up for God and God stuck up for Abraham!

2. Abraham's son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob, had a relationship with the Almighty, but not to the extent of Abraham. They each had a shining moment when God met their need or redefined their life (and Jacob's "walk"), but they didn't seem to nurture the relationship with El Shaddai; they knew that their God was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but when it came down to trusting Jehovah Jireh not a thing was mentioned about the Lord. They instead sought the help of Egypt. Now, mind you, God understood where they would be spiritually at this time and provided a savior (Joseph) anyway. And thank God He does! How many times have we depended on Egypt for our help and because our God knew where we stood He provided for our help to come from that direction. But that wasn't His best! As a matter of fact, Israel stayed in Egypt over 400 years. People of the promises living in a strange land, surrounded by strange gods.

3. The children of Israel had their traditions, their stories of the God of Abraham, but as long as they had their prosperity (the land of Goshen) and their ministries (shepherds, farmers, ranchers for Pharoah), they really didn't give two hoots about the Living God. Why? Because they didn't have a relationship with Him. No relationship, no fellowship; no fellowship, no ability to really touch God; no touch, no power! But that was to change.

4. The catalyst for the change was..."Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph." Exodus 1:8. When their comfort started waning, their focus started changing. Without the cry to God there will be no change, no deliverance. The children of Israel had gotten comfortable in their religion but just because they had prosperity and the acceptance of their world (up to that point) they were still not partaking of what God had promised. So, God would change that. He would reveal Himself to them as they had never known before. He would bring them out of their comfort, through a wilderness where the Law would be used to help forge a relationship with the Almighty, and He would bring them into the place of possession of the promises He had made to their ancestors. Their relationship with Him would be developed within the boundries of the Law, God's revealed purposes and procedures; as God would prepare His people to be His witnesses and change their world. By the time Joshua led the people across the Jordan, the Word of the Lord to him was - as I was with Moses, so I am with you (relationship). No one will be able to stand before you (or against you) all the days of your life. You will lead this people and divide to them their inheritance.

5. All of the above, I believe, is a type of what God is doing in the Church, the called out ones. 1 Corinthians 10:10,11 - "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
The Church didn't begin because someone read the Law or heard a rule. It began through a relationship that the Father initiated through sending His Son as THE Revelation of Love. He initiated the fellowship, much the same way the Father did with Abram. God came to us. Immanuel, God with us. Throughout the Gospels, the Acts, etc, we read of people building a relationship with Jesus and He with them. We read where people are "led" by the Spirit of God and whoever is "led" by the Spirit, THESE are the SONS of God. Led by the Spirit implies hearing and obeying, through a trust relationship, the voice of the Lord Jesus.

6. Unfortunately, and much like the son and grandson of Abraham and very much like the children of Israel, things began to change. For many years, though God has always had a remnant, the "Church", the "called out ones", became more and more content to be accepted by the world than accepted in the Beloved. The Church has gotten to the point where it is quite comfortable with the world's system, even though God says to not "love the world or the things of the world" (1 John 2:15-17). It's like we're Israel, back in Egypt, eating the best of the land. As long as there isn't any pressure, as long as we have our own land (tax exemption, "ministry", entertainment and industry (Christian music?), we seem quite content to live in the land of many gods as long as we're not bothered. As long as we can worship our "One God", we don't seem to bothered by the "many" around us.

7. But there is a transition that is taking place. Our God is in the process of bringing us to the place of relationship and then fellowship and power. But first, as it was long ago, there must be a moving of His people. A repositioning, a changing of the mind (repentance?), a separation from a reliance upon the world's system to a whole hearted faith in the One True God. And the thing that started Israel on that trek while "stationed" in Egypt was "now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph." There is coming a time, not too far off, where the church - the true believers - will be scorned by the world. We will be dropped by the world as "last year's lover". And while there will be miracles take place during this time of transition, it will be a very trying time as God takes us from being spoiled brats to sons and daughters who are trained to reign with Him. The "wilderness", a time of pruning, cutting, separating, learning His ways once more, knowing His provision as never before, knowing His likes and dislikes to where we hate what He hates and love only what He loves. And, as He used the Law of Moses to "pound out" the unclean elements and provide revelation to those who had an ear to hear, He will again be doing that through the Word of God. Once again there will be prophetic preaching that will cut the flesh but heal the wounds. It will decree "thus saith the Lord" and the Spirit's Presence will be as it was when the Holy Cloud covered Mount Sinai. Our God IS a consuming fire and He will shake anything that CAN be shaken - so that His purposes, His Holiness, His and His alone, may remain. Hallelujah!

8. Bottom line, saints: brace yourself. NO ONE will be left untouched. Every church, every leader, every denomination, every individual will be affected. Not all will embrace His "move", but as Jesus said "he that has ears, let him hear...", let us heed the word of the Lord to now "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." See 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 The Glory of God SHALL be revealed. He IS coming for a church that is without spot or blemish. He IS working in us that which is pleasing in His sight and He WILL perfect that which concerns us. No doubt about it. This is HIS SHOW and He will have His way.

The last thing the enemy of our soul wants is for us to enter back into the Promised land. He'd much rather we stay in Egypt, eating and drinking and telling all the glorious stories of old. We're a lot "safer" there. But God wants us inhabiting that for which Christ died. Amen? Amen!

Pastor Jan