This post contains a dozen revelatory insights I’ve received for my local congregation, the Three Rivers Bridge. Please pray for us as you read it. Thank you.1. New Colors in 2007 - 2008
I see a box of very colorful crayons or markers, a mix of new and used. Those never before used colors are being drawn from the box this year; they are the chosen instrument in the Master’s hand.
I see a painter’s palate; new, previously unused colors are being “squeezed” out and made available for the Master’s brush. New additions are about to be made to a beautiful, colorful masterpiece – a work in progress.
Brand new colors are being added to the artist kit. The colors are people and their gifts
2. New Sounds in 2007 – 2008
I see new instruments being utilized in worship; an eclectic unconventional sound will once again arise from the Pacific Northwest. It will not be readily welcomed but it is from God.
3. God is Giving and Taking 2007 – 2008
I see “missionaries” with a passion for freedom being sent out in 2007 & 2008.
I see a redefinition of the term missionary. Freely you have received, freely we are to give. Freedom is infectious and contagious, it will spread very quickly.
2007 is Act 6 & 7
~ Stephens will arise, men known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom
~ They will be falsely accused by the religious standard bearers of the status quo
~ Open heavens and throne room visions will mark a turning point from an Acts 7 period to an Acts 8 period
2008 is Acts 8
~ The church persecuted, scattered and advanced
~ I see the Master’s hand reach into his bag of seeds; he grabs a handful and scatters them across a barren, bleak, colorless landscape. Instantly this lifeless land is transformed into a lush colorful landscape filled with the very life of God.
4. Ready or not here you go.
Get ready to go. The prepared and the unprepared are being sent. The cloud is moving, you must move with the cloud or you will die in desert.
“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” Exodus 13:21-22
This land is not our home. We are not to camp here but take the high risk options - person by person, family by family and group by group. We haven’t come this far to stop now. This is not the Promised Land. We have yet to cross our Jordan. We can camp here and find rest but this is not what God has promised us. Don’t settle here; don’t settle for Jazer and Gilead when you’ve been promised Canaan (Number 32 & Joshua 1). Don’t settle for anything less than your destiny.
5. God Chooses the Small
David
“But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart…" So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.” 1 Samuel 16:7, 11-13
God is not concerned with how a person or ministry looks or with how big they are – he looks at the heart.
Gotta have heart in 2007 & 2008!
David -
"Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 2 Samuel 7:18
Moses –
“But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" Exodus 3:11
Gideon -
"But Lord, “Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." Judges 6:15
You -
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29
Who are you? You’re the very one God has chosen!
6. It’s Time to Get Small and Stay Low.
It’s time for us to clean out our physical and spiritual closets, basements and garages. It’s time to get rid of our excess baggage. We can’t take it with us where we are going. We must learn to travel light and travel in the light.
Our physical closets, basements and garages are a reflection of our spiritual closets, basements and garages.
We must learn to make humility our default position. In 2007 – 2008 the humble WILL BE exalted and the proud WILL BE humbled!
7. Moses & Joshua
Moses was a Deliverer and Joshua was an occupier
Moses must give way to Joshua.
We are in a transition, shifting from the ministry of Moses to ministry of Joshua
Fathers must make way for their sons in 2007 – 2008
This shift is orchestrated by God. To navigate it well we will need to hold on loosely to people possession and positions.
Fear not, God is still God
When life feels like it is out of control, fear not, it’s still within His control
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9:24
8. Theme Song for 2007 & 2008:
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29
Who are you? You’re the very one God has chosen!
6. It’s Time to Get Small and Stay Low.
It’s time for us to clean out our physical and spiritual closets, basements and garages. It’s time to get rid of our excess baggage. We can’t take it with us where we are going. We must learn to travel light and travel in the light.
Our physical closets, basements and garages are a reflection of our spiritual closets, basements and garages.
We must learn to make humility our default position. In 2007 – 2008 the humble WILL BE exalted and the proud WILL BE humbled!
7. Moses & Joshua
Moses was a Deliverer and Joshua was an occupier
Moses must give way to Joshua.
We are in a transition, shifting from the ministry of Moses to ministry of Joshua
Fathers must make way for their sons in 2007 – 2008
This shift is orchestrated by God. To navigate it well we will need to hold on loosely to people possession and positions.
Fear not, God is still God
When life feels like it is out of control, fear not, it’s still within His control
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9:24
8. Theme Song for 2007 & 2008:
Worth it All – Rita Springer
I don't understand Your ways
I don't understand Your ways
Oh but I will give You my song
Give You all of my praise
For you hold on to all my shame (pain)
With it You are pulling me closer
And pulling me into Your ways
Now around every corner
And up every mountain
I'm not looking for crowns
Or the water from fountains
I'm desperate in seeking,
frantic believing
That the sight of Your face
Is all that I’m needing
I will say to You
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it
It's gonna be worth it all
I believe this
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it
You're gonna be worth it all
Jesus
He’s gonna be worth it
He’s gonna be worth it
He’s gonna be worth it
He’s gonna be worth it all
9. Motto for 2007 -2008: “I’m going to the other side”
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Mark 4:35-41
Be prepared for the storms
Make no mistake…
We are in the right boat
Jesus is in the boat with us
And we ARE going to the other side
10. Faith Required
The road ahead requires faith. Like snow chains over Snoqualmie Pass, faith is required. You’ll get stuck without them. Faith will get you through blinding storms and hazardous road conditional. Be forewarned; do not leave home without faith.
11. Fight the good fight, not each other
“But you, man of God, flee from all this (love of money, verses 3-10) and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith...” 1 Timothy 6: 11-12
There are spiritual battles on the road ahead. If we fight together victory is assured. If we fight with each other we’re doomed. You can not win fighting alone. Being a conscientious objector is not an option
This is a supernatural battle:
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Our Weapons: Holiness, Humility, Repentance, Forgiveness, Love, Worship, Prayer and Rest to name a few
12. Character
As we explore an –outside the box – expression of Christianity we must remain men and women of character and integrity
“…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:15-17
Peterson says it so very well in verse 16…
“Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath.” The Message
Yes indeed, there are surprises ahead, Lord make us ready, amen.
© Tom Zawacki 2007
9. Motto for 2007 -2008: “I’m going to the other side”
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Mark 4:35-41
Be prepared for the storms
Make no mistake…
We are in the right boat
Jesus is in the boat with us
And we ARE going to the other side
10. Faith Required
The road ahead requires faith. Like snow chains over Snoqualmie Pass, faith is required. You’ll get stuck without them. Faith will get you through blinding storms and hazardous road conditional. Be forewarned; do not leave home without faith.
11. Fight the good fight, not each other
“But you, man of God, flee from all this (love of money, verses 3-10) and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith...” 1 Timothy 6: 11-12
There are spiritual battles on the road ahead. If we fight together victory is assured. If we fight with each other we’re doomed. You can not win fighting alone. Being a conscientious objector is not an option
This is a supernatural battle:
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Our Weapons: Holiness, Humility, Repentance, Forgiveness, Love, Worship, Prayer and Rest to name a few
12. Character
As we explore an –outside the box – expression of Christianity we must remain men and women of character and integrity
“…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” 1 Peter 3:15-17
Peterson says it so very well in verse 16…
“Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath.” The Message
Yes indeed, there are surprises ahead, Lord make us ready, amen.
© Tom Zawacki 2007
It will be an interesting couple of years. I hold on to the promise of going to the other side, but that must mean the boat will be in storm. So long as the Lord and you stay in the boat with me, I'll be okay. Thanks for sharing you heart. Love Nadine
ReplyDeleteYou and your ministry have been blessed so strongly by God and I know these words are from Above. I will be in prayer for your church as well as all the Christians I know. This is so awesome!
ReplyDeleteColleen's Spokane friend, Mistylynn