She rises from her knees in her prayer closet, opening the curtains to the brightness of the risen Sun shining on her face.
She leaps and skips to the bedrooms, waking her family.
“Get up”, she calls out joyfully! “God is good! He is leading me into an adventure and . . . “
STOP
There is a large STOP sign directly in front of her face. She tries to look around the sign and peek behind the large octagon shape at the people standing in a line behind this sign. “Can we speak…?” she asks. The words are not heard. She is met with authority. The sign doesn’t listen. It only speaks.
Religion, defined here as (1) “an institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices”, religion (2) without the breath of God blowing through the nuances, this religion1 arrests her enthusiasm.
And what do we do when the church expects us to be Martha? What do we do when we set aside everything of value in our lives and sit at the Teacher’s feet, and He is calling us to walk a new path, not to follow the footprints that tradition carved into the sand from thousands of past traveler’s feet?
What happens when God calls a woman in your church on an adventure outside the boundaries of how you expected her to serve in YOUR programs and initiatives?
What then, women and men in leadership, whom she longs to bow the knee before and to serve with love.
What then?
What will be their Master?
Will you open the door, church leaders, both men and women, who are both officially and unofficially recognized as such in the church? Will you listen to her enthusiasm with an openness to be convicted by Holy Spirit? What if your church programs aren’t ALL perfectly aligned with the heart of God for this season?
If what they say is outside the current scope of your existing programs and activities but you sense the breath of God, too, blowing your congregation in this new direction, then friend . . .
what (or who) will be your Master?
Are you WILLING to open another door, to encourage others to follow her, if your spirit also testifies within as she speaks what Holy Spirit has been whispering, as you (1) listen and (2) have an open mind to the new thing God may be doing in our midst?
Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination!
(3) Will you encourage their flagging spirits?
That’s your job.
(4) Will you remove obstacles in their way?
Then sit back with a coffee and watch them soar. You did that, friend. You helped them fly.
Well done.
I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it?
May she be set free, church.
And may you and your congregation follow.
Innocent, simple faith that believes what God says is real and that expects Him to do what He says He will do – that’s the mark of a mature believer, not complicated doctrine and fancy arguments.
John and Carol Arnott in Preparing for the Glory: Getting Ready for the Next Wave of Holy Spirit Outpouring
Photo Credits: Sunrise by Sefa Murat Özdemir on Unsplash, STOP! by Anwaar Ali on Unsplash, Many Doves Soaring In the Sunrise by ekrem osmanoglu on Unsplash, Another Bird Flying by Happysurd Photography on Unsplash
Thank you for liking me! I like you too! Let’s journey together!
1 Every man and woman inside the church has a tendency toward legalism as defined here. Let’s rid our hearts and our churches of it, friends. What is God whispering to your heart? If you are not currently connected with a church, please rebuke us. We need you, too. Let’s soar together, brothers, sisters, and new friends!
Adventure Himself is calling.
Can you perceive it?
The world has never needed more hope than to be encouraged by the transformation of others they can see when they lift their eyes.
Restoring Life 