B
y Marney Blom
People have been asking me for my take on what is happening in the world, so I’ve summarized it in the points below:
Jesus is walking on the storm
During these past weeks, the story of Jesus walking on the stormy sea of Galilee, while his disciples feared for their lives in the boat, has often come to mind.
In the same way, I see Jesus walking on the storms currently raging in the nations. He is Lord, and the storms are under His feet. He has never taken his eyes off His people, so when we cry out to Him, He saves us, just as He did His disciples.
I sense the Lord is asking his followers, “Come. Walk on the storm with me.” So I’ve been praying, “Lord, show me what that means?” From the story it is clear — If we start to look at the storm (become fixated on bad news) like Peter, we will begin to sink. The key is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. Then we will walk in new paradigms of victory.
This is a drill
The escalation of the global pandemic has also brought to mind an interview I had with IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Avital Lieberman in 2012.
“We gain from every conflict or operation that we have … the [Israel Defence] Forces that we have today are better prepared, better trained … therefore I think we are in a very different place [in terms of our security].”
I have a sense that we are in a drill/time of preparation. It is a test to see how well we are doing — spiritually, mentally, physically and practically. Are we gripped with fear? Or do we have a deep peace? Where is our faith level?
It is also a time to come to terms with how extremely dependent we are on business and the world’s systems for our survival. We should be asking the Lord how we can prepare for even more challenging times ahead in order to become more deeply rooted in Him, and practically, become more self-sufficient.
Not to be insensitive to the suffering of so many, we need to maintain an attitude of gratitude for God’s provision and mercy. He is giving us a window to prepare for what is to come.
A time of gestation
In Luke 1:24, after Elizabeth (who had been barren) miraculous conceived John the Baptist in her old age, Scripture says, “[she] went into seclusion for five months.” I believe the body of Christ has gone into isolation (church buildings are closed) and is in a time of gestation.
New wine is coming and God is preparing/making the church into a new wineskin (Luke 5:37).
Like a type of John the Baptist, the body of Messiah that is coming forth will be unlike what we’ve seen before — a Church more closely resembling the ministry of Jesus (Luke 4:18,19, Isaiah 61:1) — walking in authority to bring the Good News, proclaim freedom to the captives, open blind eyes, set the oppressed free, heal the sick, cleanse the unclean, raise the dead and cast out demons. The body of believers coming forth will be preparing the way for the return of our Messiah, Jesus.
Isolation is an opportunity to enter into the secret place of intimacy with Jesus in preparation for a release of greater anointing to minister the Kingdom. We need to guard this special time for that purpose.
A great harvest is coming
I think back to the early days (1994) of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Toronto. In the dead of winter people stood outside in the frigid cold for hours just to get into the meetings. When the doors were opened, they raced in. Quickly the meeting room filled to capacity. Soon the location was too small to accommodate the eventual millions of hungry souls who would come looking for a deeper encounter with God.
I believe that was a foretaste of what is coming. And I believe the Lord is preparing home fellowships and houses of prayer as nets to catch the many souls who are about to enter into the Kingdom. Brick and mortar churches may not be able to facilitate the great harvest, and eventually may no longer be an option.
So hang in there. The best is yet to come!
Marney Blom is news director for the Acts News Network.
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