Where your focus lies, is what will determine whether or not you have courage. The disciples didn’t have courage until Holy Spirit was released into the earth. Before God within was given, man was unable to find much courage. You’ll see that those in the Old Testament who operated in courage, were the ones who had been supernaturally infused with Holy Spirit…before Jesus’ death and resurrection, it appears that Holy Spirit would come to rest on man in a limited scope.
Now, we have a unique gift that they only dreamed about. We have the privilege and honor of our own bodies being the temple of the Holy Spirit. Wow!!! It’s so humbling when you really think about it. God in us…Holy Spirit.
This week I read about the time when Moses sent scouts to look at the Promised Land. The initial report from all but two of the men caused great fear to fall upon the Israelites…and as we all know, prohibited them from receiving the promise themselves. Only the two who saw from a different perspective would walk into that land…not only walk…but lead into it and fight for it.
This was their report to Moses: “We entered the land you sent us to explore, and it is indeed a bountiful country- a land flowing with milk and honey. Here is the kind of fruit it produces. But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are large and fortified. We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak! The Amalekites live in the Negev, and the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country. The Canaanites live along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Jordan Valley. But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once and take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” Numbers 13:27-30
It’s so interesting to me that when the others went into the land, they got so distracted by the challenges, that they laid waste to the Promise. Caleb and Joshua remained faithful to the Faithful One. They knew God could take the land. They saw the land in the light of the Promise…not the shadow of doubt.
The church today is so similar. In this hour, it has been made clear that the church has failed in many ways. We placed ourselves in the challenges we are in because of our refusal to be involved in things like government and entertainment…we failed by making the flock think that mission work could only look one way…by forfeiting our place in the marketplace.
I fully believe, without apology, that the church is meant to be front and center in all of culture. We are called to excel in the arts…Holy Spirit is the epitome of creativity. We are called to the marketplace…and politics. Yes, politics. Why on earth would the church ignore politics and then complain when evil laws are passed, and religious liberty is infringed upon?! It’s nonsense.
I have been told by pastors that the church isn’t supposed to get involved with politics and they use a cherry-picked verse to wobble upon. It’s nonsense. In my mind it’s no different than the polluted church culture I grew up in that told me I couldn’t operate in the things God has called me to, because I’m a woman. Then they would use one or two cherry-picked verses as a stick to beat me back with.
I refuse it. I can’t tell you how long it has taken me to move out from underneath that shadow. Now I see that God alone gives me interpretation of scriptures that I can trust.
I will never forget when I heard God call me into some very specific places of leadership. Immediately, I felt guilty and asked, “Am I allowed to do that?” He said to me something that I will never forget. He said, “I’ve called you to what I’ve called you to. If you believe scripture doesn’t support that, then you are the one who’s misunderstanding it.” From that moment until now, I’ve sought to have a greater understanding of those scriptures.
Wouldn’t you rather understand, than live bound to misunderstanding and misinterpretation?
God, give me Your wisdom. Shine Your light on the scriptures and teach me the truth. I don’t want to read it as a human, I want to read it in the light of Holy Spirit. I want to see what You see. Come near and explain to me what I need to know. I trust You to teach me. I trust You to lead me. I trust You with my life. I belong to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
365 Days in the Presence 