Shaking to Awaken
Prime Ministers, Presidents, News anchors and Health officials— so many voices are speaking at this time. We need their wisdom and value their guidance but what is God saying? Some are saying that Covid19 is judgment from God and others that it is the devil’s work and still others that it is the consequences of humanity’s sin.
I believe there are four sources of pressure at work in the world today. Firstly, God is shaking things. Secondly, the devil is raging. Thirdly, human sin has consequences. And fourthly the earth is groaning. All these pressures are operating at the same time.
During the last few weeks most Christian leaders, including myself, have been speaking positive messages of hope and encouragement. This is right, good and part of what God is saying...
Live in Hope Not Fear
As followers of Christ, we should not cower in fear at this time but should be filled with his supernatural hope (Romans 15:13). Do not fear; put your hope in God; he is faithful, unchanging and good.
Pray for Protection and Turn the Battle
We pray for protection and against loss of life. God does not take any pleasure in the loss of life: He desires that all may be saved (Ezekiel 33:11 and 2 Peter 3:9). Let us pray for our families, our loved ones and for the nation.
These are not the only things that God is saying and, I would suggest, are not the prominent message he is speaking.
Shaking to Awaken
There is an unprecedented shaking happening worldwide and it is meant to lead to the Church waking up. We have a lot of activity, programmes and business in the Christian world. Many are self- confident, self-sufficient and self-absorbed.
“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.” AW Tozer
Here are several statements I have been hearing; I believe that each is loaded with truth:
Wake Up and understand the times - Caught up into the Father’s bigger storyline
Wake up and fall in love with Jesus - First commandment in first place
Wake up and remove the idols - Restoring the Lordship of Jesus
Wake up and turn the battle at the gate - Contend in the place of prayer
Wake up and be courageously creative - New structures and patterns, wine skins
Wake up and live in Holy Spirit power - A return to Christianity like in the book of Acts
Wake up and bring in the harvest - A focus on soul winning and disciple making
The Lord’s desired outcome is an unprecedented move of his Spirit. It is a shaking that leads to being awake and responsive to our Lord.
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, ' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace, ' declares the Lord Almighty.” Haggai 2:6-9
‘He who has ear let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.’ —Jesus