Time For A Spiritual Awakening!

 The world is in a mode of great anticipation and expectancy.  It is a season and time where there is a certain level of eagerness to see what's next on the horizon.  People are desperate to see and experience something new, something beyond the ordinary.  It's a time when some become comfortable in what they know, that they have no push or desire to seek out the unknown.  As children of God, it behooves us to never be too comfortable where we are but, to push and press deeper in HIM, the Fountain of Living Waters.

It is a season of spiritual awakening! The womb of the Spirit groans in great anticipation for a people who will rise up in the Spirit of the Lord, those who carry revival power and those who will become catalysts of revival.   Spiritual awakening is where we, through the power of the Holy Spirit are revived, regenerated and awakened from spiritual sleep and slumber.  

Very often, we are quick to think that only those who are unchurched need to be awakened spiritually.  I want to say to us that, such is not so.  As believers and as blood washed saints, there comes a time when we too, need to be spiritually awakened, and this can only be done through the power of the Holy Ghost.

In this season, there are many who have lost the fire and need a new touch.  Their fire sticks need to be placed in the fire once more.  For some, the coals upon their altar have become smouldered that what they continue to experience is smoke without any fire. 

On the other hand, many have succumbed to the perils of discouragement and disappointedness that they neglect prayer, worship and the word.  To a greater extent, they no longer anticipate coming together with the saints.  They have lost their sense of direction and purpose that they no longer know who they are in Christ.  Romans 13:11 states, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

There is also a set of persons who constantly keep serving and giving of themselves.  Many stretch themselves beyond capacity in order to fit and fill various positions in the Body of Christ.  These are the ones who continue to pour out into others and as a result, they feel as if they are running empty, having nothing to give.  To you, the Lord is saying, Isaiah 57:15 "For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite"

Others have lost themselves as a result of  heeding to the temptations of the enemy and thereby, living in sin or even falling into disrepute.  They may feel so broken, thinking that they are beyond repair and lost, that the enemy not only let them feel dismayed, sorrowful but also as if they are no longer worthy.  Romans 12:2 reminds us, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Acts 3:19 declares, "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus."

I want to say that if we ever find ourselves in any of these categories, we need a spiritual awakening.  It is when we truly repent of our sins, get back to where our all is placed on the altar of sacrifice laid, where we see only God Himself and where our all is lost in Him, that we desire to obey Him at all cost, desiring another dimension in Him that His manifested presence becomes more of a waking-walking reality to us then, we will see revival taking place. Matthew 11:28:30 declares, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Are we ready for a spiritual awakening? How about the posture of our hearts? Is our heart at the place where it is all upon Him? The songwriter carefully penned it well when he said, "Let me lose myself and find it Lord in Thee".  Are we willing to make prayer and fasting a lifestyle rather than just something we run to when we have a dire need? Are we willing to sacrifice what we see as important to us for God's greater glory? Are we willing to follow hard after the things of God forgetting vanity and holding onto obedience?

Spiritual awakening and revival comes to those who are ready and willing to pay the price.  William J. Seymour, Charles Parham, Frank Bartleman and Florence Crawford they postured themselves.  They wanted to experience God in a manner that was not common to them, and so they sacrificed their time, they prayed, they fasted, setting their minds and hearts upon Him and the Lord wrought the biggest and most powerful revival of all times called the Azusa Street Revival through them.

Are we ready for a spiritual awakening? The Holy Ghost is ready and so must you! Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

God bless you!

Shalom, shalom!

Get Out of Lodebar!

Have you ever been at a particular place in your life where you feel as though nothing seems to be changing? Have you ever questioned your very existence and why you were created? Is the place where you are at seems very unfulfilling, devastated, bland, gloomy and in despair? Does the question of, what am I doing her keeps lingering in your mind?  I've got news for you! Perhaps you have been dwelling in Lo-debar.

Lo-debar was a place or town in Canaan.  The word Lo-debar means, a place of no word, nothingness, uncertainty, no pasture or insignificant.  

We see in 2 Samuel 9, the account of David, wanting to give back to or bless the house of Saul. Hence, David asked Ziba, Saul's servant if there is anyone left of Saul's lineage to whom he can pay homage.  Ziba told David that Saul's grandson, Mephibosheth was still alive but he was crippled and was in Lo-debar.  David sent Ziba to get Mephibosheth out of Lo-debar and he blessed him and restored to him his due inheritance.

Some persons can very well attest to the fact that at some point in their lives they felt like a Mephibosheth.  Mephibosheth was robbed of his destiny and purpose when he became crippled in Lo-debar.  Lo-debar is a place that will thwart our dreams, motives, desires and kill our potential and kill our opportunities to succeed.  

Some of us may have been born into a community, an area, town or vicinity where when we look around; the young people have been held hostage, their dreams may have been cut short by being dropped out of school because of one reason or another, they become hooked on guns, drugs and living a life of partying, reveling and the like.  Individuals suffer a lack of employment so they tend to turn to illicit activities and, they either in the end are killed or imprisoned.  The spirit of witchcraft and obeah may have become rampant in the vicinity and no one seems to be moving up the ladder to success but are faced with dire hardships and difficulties whenever they seem to push for progress.  My friends, these are all indications that such is a LO-DEBAR situation. It is time for you to flee from Lo-debar!  Your David awaits you and is calling for you!

Lo-debar is a Place of No Productivity!

I want to encourage you today, if the place where you are at is not welcoming to you, if it is not blessing you or uplifting you, granting you success; such maybe an indication that it is time to chance your environment or location!  Most persons become loyal to a particular place, location or vicinity because they were born there, their family lived there or they have certain ties there and so they refuse to move.  Let me say to us that Mephibosheth could only experience and reap his long awaited blessings by being obedient and willing to move out of Lo-debar.  He changed his location! 

 Mephibosheth broke the ties and whatever linked or had him bound in a place of no productivity, unfruitfulness and nothingness.  Often times our blessing and breakthrough is tied to us being aware of when our season comes around and acting in that particular season.  Mephibosheth acted in a season that came to him!  He was made aware! When Mephibosheth help came, he accepted his help.  Sometimes our help may come from unexpected places and people who we are not accustomed to or we have no prior dealings with but when that time comes, I pray that the Lord will cause your eyes and spirit to be receptive so that you do not miss your time and season.  Many persons missed their season because God moved in a total different way from what they were expecting.  God is no Respecter of persons!  He will always do what is best for us and what will bring Him glory in the end.

Today is your day! I am causing you to become aware of the season that you are in if you are a Mephibosheth.  It is time to get going! It is time to move out and change your location! It is time to leave that environment and that place of nothingness and step into your newness.  It is a season for you to embrace new territories and branch off into new avenues.  It is time for you to be proactive and do something that you have never done before.

Many times we may receive different prophetic words and utterances but we are unable to see them manifesting, because the area or place where we are at is NOT conducive for it to manifest.  Therefore, there is a need to do something different.  It is time for a change!

GET OUT OF LO-DEBAR!  There is great potential in you! There is greatness inside of you waiting to come out!  The man, woman, boy or girl that the Lord would have you to be is still waiting to be made manifest.  

God bless you! SHALOM!