Reality: Things Are Not As They Appear!
REALITY: THINGS ARE NOT AS THEY APPEAR ➖ Daily Word-April 24,2019-Pastor Sheliah
“Look among the nations and watch; Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.” (Habakkuk.1:5)
If you have read or heard me in the past 15-years, certainly you have heard me say these are the “most exciting times” to be alive! More prophecy is being fulfilled in our life-time than, I believe, ever before. We are the Generation that will see the fulfillment of God’s Promises!
This passage stirs my heart every time I read it again: “All of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised, Because GOD HAD US IN MIND and had SOMETHING BETTER and GREATER in view FOR US – so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us.” (Hebrews.11:39-40)
Consider the Following:
~ OUT-OF-THE-PEW ~ Many who have lived relatively uneventful church-going lives with adequate provision and relative peace in a sweet-but-shallow religious lifestyle will SUDDENLY BE SHAKEN OUT OF THEIR PEWS as the GLORIOUS GRACE OF GOD IS POURED OUT US – even while at the same time – great troubling times of darkness are upon the world.
~ GRACE-INFUSION ~ An infusion of powerful, glorious grace now SUPERCHARGES HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE – empowering them to minister to all those who come to them. GOD’S SONS are sprinkled across the world where, for the most part – until now – they have lived in anonymity. These are humble people, empty of self-concern, those who will NOT merchandise the grace gifts and will not be entrapped by fleshly desires.
~ The EMPOWERMENT OF GRACE AND WISDOM ~ will flow as radiant glory into these Sons even while they stand before the Lord, not because of their own pain but on behalf of a world gone mad.
~ PARALLEL EVENTS ~ At the SAME TIME that the awesome INFUSION OF BRILLIANT, GLORIOUS GRACE is pouring into the chosen sons, DEEP DARKNESS is upon the world among the ungodly. The darkness sets the stage for the LIGHT to shine brighter than ever! This is a time of BOTH DARKNESS AND LIGHT over the earth when groups of BELIEVERS COME INTO UNITY and are ready to take the Gospel of the Kingdom and restore the wasted land.
~ THE REALITY IS ~ In this outpouring there is a REALITY on earth of the ONE church, ONE Body, under the ONE TRUE HEAD our KING. Around the world, SONS OF GOD – are now walking in the fullness of His GLORIOUS GRACE with the INTENSE ABUNDANT LIFE flowing from them and shining as LIGHT to those around them. We are gathering and reviving a community of LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD! We are His instruments through which He is releasing HEAVEN TO EARTH.
~ PLACES OF REFUGE ~ These are as refuges, holy places of rest and refreshing in a world of filth and strife. These communities are places of HEALING AND PROVISION! Located everywhere – off the beaten path in rural areas, and in populated areas among abandoned buildings or functioning businesses or in homes, apartments (or in whatever available venue the Lord provides.)
~ KINGDOM FOCUS ~ Many Christians are coming into a new intimate relationship of loving communion with God.
~ THE MANIFEST PRESENCE OF OUR GOD ~ We are being changed by His love and thus, becoming more as Christ is in the world. There is a shift in the Church’s focus. Less about buildings and programs – more about THE KINGDOM.
We are now – finally – seeking (and seeing) the Kingdom of God, personally and corporately, in the home, the marketplace, and in the city.
“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. “ (Rom 14:17)
“If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God, it will make – in the end – no difference what you have chosen instead” -CS Lewis.
“Arise; shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1-2
~ Shelia Hart Artt
[The original article is posted on my website https://outrageousgrace.org/reality/. ➖August.22.2014, but has been updated in some phrases for this posting.]