Stages of Faith - a pondering

Found this blog. 

http://3generations.eu/blog/stages-of-faith

 It talks about the stages of faith that we go through. Make sure you read through it first. You'll have a better understanding where I'm coming from if you do.

This is where I'm at in my journey, and my husband, Jim is not too far behind.

With regards to this example, is there a way to help people that have "hit the wall" so to speak? I hit that wall four years ago, and finally pushed through.... still no real guidance here though I meet with a group of prophetic people once a month or so, to pray and share testimonies. We want to become MORE like Jesus; "Jesus followers" rather than being in a Christian social club.  We are going deeper with our relationship with God, becoming intimate with our Bridegroom; learning to listen, not only to one another, but to our Father in heaven.

What does that look like, really? It's not self-centered, that's for sure. It's other people centered, and focused not on our own agendas. Living opened handed with God. Not allowing what another might think of what I do as heretical (unorthodoxed), but as Jesus initiated...bringing Heaven to Earth.  “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Jesus said that "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (now)." He ushered in that Kingdom. So how do we do this?  How do we “do”, as Jesus did? I want more of Him. It's not just reading the Bible. God is more than "the Bible".  God is real, alive and working in our lives. So...how do we get this "alive-ness" to those who need to wake up, so they can experience that "alive-ness" of God?

In order for "the Church" as a Body of Believers to make an impact upon this nation, God must become more "real, alive and working" in our lives inwardly, so that God's power can be shown to those outside of the building. We cannot be concerned or worried or scared. However, if we don't allow the Holy Spirit to take control (becoming open handed and allowing God’s agenda; not our own), the Body of Christ will continue to stay stagnant, frustrated and be powerless.

 Anyway, these are just thoughts rambling in my brain. Just thought I'd share them with you.  If anyone would like to discuss this….I’m open.

2011 was A Spiritual Birthing Journey

My story may help you to get some background from where I am coming from. First, I was in the Jesus Movement in the 70's. That's where I came to know Jesus as my Savior. Went to a conservative Baptist church and a Free Methodist University and then have been at an Evangelical Free Church for the past 38 years or so.

Early in 2011, I began to get spiritually antsy. Here is my journey that year.  Since that time, I'm still running!!!!

March 2011 - I didn’t know why I was so antsy.  I couldn’t keep still.  I had to pace. I had to think.  What was it I wanted?  What was it I needed?  I’m HUNGRY! What to do.  What to do?

April 2011 – It’s getting more intense. I wanted more.  Okay. I want more of what?  Well…better yet…’Who’?  I felt like I was empty inside.  Spiritually empty inside.  I wanted filled up.  I wanted a gushing fire hose.  The more I read the scriptures, the more I wanted- more.  I felt like I couldn’t get enough.  I wanted to know.  I wanted to know MORE.  No…I WANTED MORE of Him. 

May 2011 - I kept having dreams.  I couldn’t sleep.  I just tossed and turned.  Nothing was making any sense to me any longer.  My own viewpoint of who God was – was changing.  Who is this God I want and serve?  Who am I in the Kingdom of God?    Where do I belong?  I just kept asking questions.  I FEEL SO OUT OF PLACE.

 “You’re being  promoted”.   Promoted.  Okay.  A promotion from what to what?  “From a Watchman to a Gate Keeper?”  A what to a what?  (very puzzled face)  What in the world is a “Gatekeeper”?  Really?   Please explain.  “A Gatekeeper is exactly that, a person in charge of keeping the gate(s). Keeping things/people out that should not be there.  You’ve been an intercessor Watchman on the wall, now you are called to be down where the action is.”

Okay…my life has just changed.  Big time.

June 2011 – Play Rehearsals.  I’m dealing with certain spirits that I don’t particularly like.  So, I put up “gates” around the church, so I can have quiet and peaceful rehearsals. (Gates really are what most people pray a “hedge of protection”, and really its angels. I give them assignments for each gate where they are to protect.  What is allowed in and not. (I’m really sure what I’m doing, but I’m doing it and it seems to work!)

July 2011 – I’m asking and seeking more answers. In the meantime, I’m experiencing more of who God is; more of His leading.   Beginning to learn more about who the Holy Spirit is and what His role is in my life.

August 2011 – Day of a performance and someone tried to break in through a window. Where the cracked window was there was a BAD spirit hanging around. You could feel it.  Interesting, though, it couldn’t get through. (I had placed a gate.)   Called for some help and guidance regarding the spirit. Received it and learned from it.

September 2011 – Met a fellow ‘Gate Keeper’.  Interesting.  Fun.  Nice to know another person ‘like’ me.  Don’t feel so out-of-place.  Also, learning that this is my season to kind of “sit back, listen and learn”. 

October 2011 – Dreams. Good grief.  Learn. Groups of people.  I’m in a small group of people I know. We are all learning.  Then there is a larger group.  I’m being pushed by these people in the smaller group into the larger group.  But, I’m the leader of that larger group.   I am daunted by this dream.  I still am daunted by this dream. 

All of this began 8 months ago.  It’s like birthing a baby!!!  I just realized that!  Good grief.  This baby, however, is not sure if she is ready to be birthed. Daunted?  YES!!!  However, I am also realizing that in the Kingdom of God, He is the one who moves His children to prepare for things to come.  He wants me to be ready.  Not sure ready for what, but as I go along on this particular journey, I am at peace.   PEACE.  His perfect peace. Shalom. I have found that sitting in Papa’s lap is rather nice.  I am also discovering what it is really like to be filled/lead/controlled by Holy Spirit.   It is “Act in Faith”. It is a conscious movement and determination on my part, to allow Holy Spirit to take control, lead me and fill me.  I am in no way perfect.  FAR FROM IT!  I am however, beginning to sense that in order for me to be more intimate with God/Papa, I have to relinquish my control.  Relinquish my selfishness, my pride.   It is a two way street.  I have to also, well, be quiet and listen.

Here it is…almost the end of October.  Wow, I can’t wait for November and December. Once the baby is birthed, then comes the next season of learning.  What I do know right now, however, is that Holy Spirit is guiding me and counseling me along the way.  Goodness, between the Bible and Holy Spirit guiding me…I am content.  Still a little puzzled, a little overwhelmed, but content – and rather excited.

More of God

I’ve been thinking a lot lately.  I know, that may seem unusual for me, but I want more in my life. I don’t mean “stuff” and clutter. I have enough of that.

I want more of God. I want more of His presence in my life. I want to be with Him in His presence all day. I want His presence to be so evident in my life that His presence leaks out of me and the atmosphere around me changes; enough that people stop because something is different. 

What would it be like if that happened?  What if it is happening and I just don’t recognize it?  What does it cost to have that presence; that more in my life? 

I’ve read the Bible.  I love scripture….but I want MORE. 

There’s something missing, and I can’t place my finger on it.  I think it is a more intimate relationship with God. To hear His voice and know it’s Him – that’s what I really want.  Prayer isn’t just a one-way conversation. I want to hear God’s side of things.  I want to know His heart - what He wants, not what I want.  He’s not a genie to ask for wishes.  He’s the God of the Universe. The Creator of all the Universe.

God:

I’m hungry for more of you. . Take me to a secret place where you and I can meet. Show me more of who You are. Help me to just stop and be quiet, then help me to listen for your voice. That still small voice that roars in my spirit. I love you so much, I think I’m about to burst.  I guess, God, I just want to know Your heart.

Amen

Following Your Leader off the Map

Once again, I am challenged in my growth as a follower of Jesus Christ.  I've had so many questions since I accepted the Lord way back in the 70's during the Jesus Movement.  I would read the Bible and study the Gospels and get really excited.  Jesus was pretty radical as He walked the earth.  He came as fully man, leaving His rights and "god-powers" in Heaven, and came to earth.  Yet, Jesus did miracles; miracles that attracted people around Him to ask questions, and some to seek more miracles.  He talked to "unclean" people.  He went to places that the church people wouldn't go.  He did miracles on the Sabbath (which doing anything other than what the Church people put into "law" to do on the Sabbath was deemed sin).  He raised the dead. He healed people. He cast out demons. He loved people.  He served people, no matter who they were. And He died for them.

Jesus was a radical leader. Some of them called him a heretic.   You know what?  I want to follow a radical heretic leader and become more like HIM!

I want to be used by the Holy Spirit and LEAK Him, so others can see His power in my life. I yearn to be used of God to heal.  (And, I have had opportunities to do so.)  I want the power of God to be evident in my life, so that others will want to know what is so different in my life. Serving others in different ways has become more a part of my life.   I just want more and more and more of Jesus.  I want to be lead off the map!

 Bill Johnson in When Heaven Invades Earth puts it this way:

"History provides us with a lesson from a great military leader. Alexander the Great led his armies in victory after victory, and his desire for ever greater conquest finally brought him to the foot of the Himalayas. He wanted to go beyond these intimidating mountains. Yet, no one knew what was on the other side.  Senior officers were troubled by his new vision.  Why? They had gone to the edge of their map—there was no map for the new territory that Alexander wanted to possess.  These officers had a decision to make: would they be willing to follow their leader off the map, or would they be content to live within its boundaries? They chose to follow Alexander.

 Following the leading of the Holy Spirit can present us with the same dilemma. While he never contradicts His Word, He is very comfortable contradicting our understanding of it. Those who feel safe because of their intellectual grasp of Scriptures enjoy a false sense of security. None of us has a full grasp of Scripture, but we all have the Holy Spirit. He is our common denominator who will always lead us into truth. But to follow Him, we must be willing to follow off the map—to go beyond what we know. To do so successfully we must recognize His presence above all.

 There is a great difference between the way Jesus did ministry and the way it typically is done today. He was completely dependent on what the Father was doing and saying. He illustrated this lifestyle after His Holy Spirit baptism. He followed the Holy Spirit’s leading, even when it seemed unreasonable, which it often did.

The Church has all too often lived according to an intellectual approach to the Scriptures, void of the Holy Spirit’s influence. We have programs and institutions that in no way require the Spirit of God to survive. In fact, much of what we call ministry has no safeguard in it to ensure that He is even present. When our focus is not the presence of God, we end up doing the best we can for God. Our intentions may be noble, but they are powerless in effect."

 So, you see, I want to be more like Jesus. I need to get to know Him deeper than any "Now I lay my down to sleep" type prayer. Though I love the Bible, I need to be living out what Jesus did. Why else did He die?  Yes, of course, to save my soul, but that wasn't all.  He came to redeem His Kingdom.  When He step foot on earth's soil He came to bring Heaven to Earth.  He brought the Kingdom!

 Lead on O King Eternal!!!!  I follow YOU!