The prophet Moses in covenant with God represented the presence of revelation. In the absence of revelation and authority the people were “running wild.”
Exodus 32:25 Moses saw that the people were running wild… (NIV)
The Hebrew word that translates “running wild” in this text is the same Hebrew word we see translating to “cast off restraint” in Proverbs 29.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. (NIV)
The world dwells in chaos and darkness without the prophetic revelation of God bringing order and light. Darkness and ignorance come from the same root word as do knowledge and light. What is God saying and why is he revealing what He is revealing when he’s choosing to do so?
We are not a people who stand on this earth and echo the sentiments of our culture. It takes no sacrifice or anointing to be negative and fearful. Don’t just pick up your feet and float downstream with everybody else. It takes faith and anointing to prophecy order into chaos, hope into despair. We are anointed to prophesy but we must wake up to get there! What are you releasing to your world?
If your revelation never gets bigger than your environment, you’ll always live a life of confinement.
In 2020 we didn’t just enter into a new year we entered into a new decade and we, as a church, began prophesying: We’ve entered into the roaring 20s. Not like the 1920s. Like the 2020s where the roaring Lion of the Tribe of Judah is awakening the roar of God in the body of Christ.
The Roaring 20's is a decade where the enemy is trying to roar and bring destruction but this will be overtaken by the prophetic roar of God awakened within God’s people.
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?
When the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars, we can’t help but prophesy! We are people in covenant with God!
What has been the response of Christians to our modern-day plague and how has this compared to how Christians have responded to pandemics in generations past? The response has been very different and very revealing.
In 1527, when the bubonic plague emerged, Martin Luther refused calls to flee the city to protect himself in order to care for the sick.
Historians point to a terrible Plague in the 2nd century, which wiped out 25% of the Roman Empire. Christians were so central to caring for the sick that Christianity spread like wildfire.
Bishop Cyprian became famously known for his message of challenging believers not to spend too much time grieving the loss of other believers who will spend eternity in heaven or fearing the loss of their own lives because eternity is the point.
In the 3rd century, an even greater plague broke out which triggered an even more explosive growth of Christianity. Christians were described by Bishop Dionysius as those who “Disregarded danger to take charge of the sick, attending to their every need.”
Sociologist Rodney Stark claims that death rates in cities with Christian communities were an estimated 50% of other cities. I wonder how much of an impact this had on Emperor Constantine’s decision to become a Christian in that era of time?
So many times, in all of our lives a crisis becomes an accelerator. It doesn’t change what’s going on as much as it accelerates it and magnifies what, otherwise, could quietly exist beneath the obvious.
What we see in our post-pandemic world is very telling about our nation’s spiritual condition.
Barna reports 30% of regular church attenders have completely stopped going to church. 1 out of 3 people who called themselves Christians quit going to church completely.
Those who say they still go to church have simply become very casual about being there. Current in-person attendance is, on average, 36% of what it was before Covid.[1] Attendance, giving, volunteerism have all changed dramatically.
God is doing something very strategic in this season of the church! I’m not here to echo the sentiments of these studies as my reality. I’m here to declare: People in covenant with God are rising up in this generation to reveal Jesus and show the world what the church was intended to be all along.
The church doesn’t exist to serve you. We, as the church, exist to serve those around us. For God so loved the world he gave his son. He only had one son and he gave that son as a seed that has produced a harvest of many sons and daughters to carry on his work.
Imagine how frustrating it was to principalities in cities and regions when Jesus would come walking into their territory (in covenant with God) laying his hands on people releasing God’s Kingdom in the earth.
Jesus died and the devil was relieved until the spirit of God began awakening the fire of God in sons and daughters all over the earth. Now there are millions of people in covenant with God who dwell in various cities and regions.
1 John 4:15-18 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear… NIV
“God lives in us, we live in God, in this world we’re like Jesus”
The people in Exodus who were running wild because they weren’t hearing God actually had been invited to be people in covenant with God. God invited them in Exodus 19 to be his people, the expression of his covenant to the earth and he would speak to them directly.
Moses came down to tell the people. Moses went back up to be with God. The people ran from their call because of fear.
Exodus 20:18-20 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid… NIV
Jesus came down to tell us we will all be taught by God and our assignment is to declare what God reveals. Jesus went back up to be with the Father and now it is up to us!
God did not give you a spirit of fear. Notice everything starts with God here. If we don’t start with God we will all lose our way and ultimately lose our mind. Next week we will look at how the spirit of fear is a spirit that works to move believers away from worship into worry. You are not capable of worshiping and worrying at the same time. One will prevail. Which will prevail in you?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Pray for people within your 5’ circle as you watch for grace and follow favor in any conversations God may be blessing.
[1] https://careynieuwhof.com/in-person-services-v-online-services-and-the-emerging-trap-of-doing-nothing-well/
PEOPLE IN COVENANT WITH GOD
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: As a church family we want to be OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
Our 2022 New Year’s Revelation as a church family is EVERYONE IS CREATED FOR ABUNDANT LIFE!
Much will flow from heaven into our hearts and homes this year!
The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy but realize the aim of death is not to kill you but to keep you from the fulness of life until you die. Distraction is destruction of what could have been in your life.
John 10:10b “...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” Amplified
Jesus came demonstrating that true life is discovered in a willing death. When we die to ourselves we learn what it means to be alive in Christ.
God’s plan is for us to hear his voice together as a family. This is why we start each group with the first question:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses. Don’t move on to the next question until everybody who is willing to share has had the opportunity to give their perspective.
EXODUS 20:18-21 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. NIV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Have each person give a 60 second summary of what these verses are saying, in their own words.
3. What do these verses teach us about God?
4. What do these verses teach us about people?
5. What should you do this week in response to what we are reading and what God is revealing?
6. Who comes to mind when considering a person you might share this with this week?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Begin praying for people within your 5’ circle as you watch for grace and follow favor in any conversations God may be blessing. Consider sharing an invitation card when appropriate.