Jesus is alive and He is still speaking to those who pursue Him EVEN in the midst of our pain, ESPECIALLY in the midst of pain.
Story after story after story all through the Bible speaks of how God takes pain and turns it in to purpose when we are willing to see what He sees. Certainly, this is the message of the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
Our 2020 New Year’s Revelation is, “IF YOU CAN SEE THE INVISIBLE YOU CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE.”
God is constantly revealing His perspective in every situation for us to be able to respond to Him rather than react to circumstances.
Amos 3:7-8 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared-- who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken-- who can but prophesy? (NIV)
When we are in touch with what God is seeing and God is saying, something takes place within us that has the power to transform the world around us.
In the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic, God is showing up in powerful and personal ways.
· People are praying together.
· Parents are more effectively discipling and mentoring their children!
· We’re all being enlarged in places of reflection and prayer!
· God’s Word is having a more pronounced place in our lives.
It is as if God is using this time to awaken something deeply prophetic in our lives during this season. On 02/02/2020 Tracy spoke of the Roaring 20’s in a church service. She explained that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah would roar through the church in this decade of the 2020’s in powerful ways. It so resonated with me that I got up that morning and said this word is from God and is to be our focus starting Easter Sun
Here we are on Easter Sunday and I now see more clearly why this was so strong in me when she said it. Nothing that has happened has taken God by surprise and through it all. The roaring Lion of Tribe of Judah is awakening the church. There has been a shift in the spiritual atmosphere of our nation. Let’s not miss what God is doing right now in the midst of everything going on!
Even in despair hope is alive! Hope is not a principle. Hope is a person! His name is Jesus Christ! He came to introduce us to the conversation of God that has the power to transform the world.
In 1986 a man name Dave Wilkerson gave this prophecy: “I see a plague coming on the world, and the bars, churches and government will shut down. The plague will hit New York City and shake it like it has never been shaken. The plague is going to force prayerless believers into radical prayer and into their Bibles, and repentance will be the cry from the man of God in the pulpit. And out of it will come a third Great Awakening that will sweep America and the world."
Last year in September Chuck Pierce prophesied this year would be a “True Passover.” He said plague-like conditions would hit the earth, and February, March and April would be hellish but if we celebrate and honor His Blood, the death structure that is gripping these nations will shift at Passover.
This is not the time for us, the church, to be on our heels like the rest of the world. This is a time for us to be in places of prayer listening to what God has to say.
Isa 31:4-5 This is what the LORD says to me: “As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey…it is not frightened by shouts or disturbed by clamor — so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights. 5 Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” NIV
This Hebrew word in Isa 31 that translates “growl” is also the Hebrew word that translates “meditate”. When we meditate on God’s Word the roar of God is awakened in our lives. Circumstances in our fallen world will many times make no sense. Do not let circumstances have control of your perspective. Press into God in these difficult days.
Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer in the 1800’s. He and his wife grieved the loss of their two-year-old son. Immediately following he was ruined financially in 1871 from the Great Chicago Fire. He’d planned to travel to Europe with his wife and 4 remaining children but was entangled with the aftermath of the fire.
He sent his wife and 4 daughters on the planned voyage planning to follow behind the next day. While crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship crashed into another vessel. His wife survived but all 4 daughters died.
Plagued with grief he boarded the next ship to go and be with his mourning wife. As his ship passed the place where his daughters had died he went to his room to be with God and in a place of great pain he was inspired to write these words:
When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul!”
During these difficult days we face may we face them by pressing into God and listening to what He wants to reveal. Much can be born as a result if we are willing to completely surrender to Jesus.
We bring GP2RL action point:
Choose 3-5 verses of Scripture that you can focus on every day this week speaking them out loud throughout every day. Develop the roar!
Discussion Guide for Community Group Leaders
Click here for a downloadable PDF file of this guide
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: We have entered into unprecedented days for the church. God is not taken off guard so we must be intentional about moving from being on our heels to being on our toes. Our mission hasn’t changed. Love is our agenda and making disciples is our focus. God is speaking to His sons and daughters and it is important that we all take the time to hear his voice.
We’ve been starting our groups with the first and primary question that we want to continue even more specifically during this season:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Amos 3:7-8 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared-- who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken-- who can but prophesy? (NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
2. Share a time when you were caught daydreaming when you should have been paying attention.
When we catch ourselves daydreaming, we realize that we had become distracted from reality. Our imagination is fully capable of being completely distracted from reality. There is a spiritual reality that God is constantly drawing us into to introduce us to the unseen realm.
IF WE CAN SEE THE INVISIBLE WE CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!
The Hebrew word in Isaiah 31:4 that translates “growls” also translates “meditates.”
Isaiah 31:4-5 This is what the LORD says to me: “As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey…it is not frightened by shouts or disturbed by clamor — so the LORD Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights. 5 Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will ‘pass over’ it and will rescue it.” NIV
To meditate on God’s Word is to develop the roar God wants to bring through our lives into our world.
2 Cor 13:14 “May the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.” (NAS)
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. What are your 3-5 verses you can focus on to fulfill this week’s action point?
Feel free to use verses from this message or other verses that God may bring to mind.
Practice listening even in preparation to practice listening.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Choose 3-5 verses of Scripture that you can focus on every day this week speaking them out loud throughout every day. Develop the roar!