I was feeling that God had a follow up message to go with the one I shared a few months ago, and it seems the right time to now share it. My prayer is that what you hear is from God, and that which is not of Him falls to the ground
This message is titled ‘Movement and Mobilisation’!
The main part of this message I will be sharing relates to Mobilisation, but first let’s recap the Movement topic first shared around September/October 2022.
When seeking the Lord about what is going to happen in the next year or so (Hebrew year 5783; the year 2023) I sense that God has been speaking about several things, but the word that best sums it all up is…’MOVEMENT’. The season has come for new things, and particularly movement, as the Spirit of God moves as He wishes, including in surprising ways.
There are many aspects to this season of movement:
- In the earth: Land, wind, fire, and water – a time of great tumult around the world as these elements of earth are moved.
- Of people around the world – forced and of free will
- Within the church as God re-aligns His body like the re-ordering of dry bones before He bring revival
- By the Holy Spirit through the flow of His anointing, and His gifts, in a myriad of ways..even new ways
- Of wealth after the poor…the camels are coming bringing riches to those in need (and hungry for God)
As you might recall a chief characteristic of this movement means getting out of the cow track and going with the Holy Spirit’s flow. Letting go of the traditions of the past, even the ones associated with previous moves of God, and trusting His leading.
As part of this move of God, we are going to see Him use His gifts in us in a multiplicity of ways at the same time when we gather, or in different ways and places as we go about our daily business (out there where He has sent us). Healing, tongues, prophecy, deep stirrings of the heart, a word of knowledge, the good news shared, strange and wonderful signs and wonders, God is not limited by us and our imaginations, we are being challenged to let go and let God.
Share some crazy stories.
A key element of the motivation of God in the season of movement is the mobilisation of His saints.
But what does that mean?
Let’s look at the meaning of the word.
noun: mobilisation
1. the action of a country or its government preparing and organizing troops for active service.”mobilization of the army in 1941 brought 2,500,000 men under arms”
- the action of organizing and encouraging a group of people to take collective action in pursuit of a particular objective.”mobilization of the working class against big business”
- the action of bringing resources into use for a particular purpose.”the mobilization of resources to handle emergencies”
2. the action of making something movable or capable of movement.”mobilization of the shoulder can be resumed within 10 days following injury”
SO, there you have it, God is about mobilising us for action, and freeing us up so we can move!
How
God is going to use situations and circumstance to get us moving, and to break us out of the patterns of life that we have fallen into that might be our ‘norm’ but also mean we have not been mobilised for His purposes.
The Holy Spirit will be the key enabler. Moving in different ways. Like water, wind, and fire, He will empower us to not only to move into God’s plans, but also empower us to do them. He will give us the power, the love, and the gifts to be mobilised into His army. If the God of the universe has made His home in us and has also poured out His power by His Spirit in and upon us, is anything impossible for us in Jesus. The simple answer is no… but our lack of faith or expectations often gets in the way. For the enabler of this supernatural ability is faith in Christ…and getting out of the way to let Him work. The comforting thing to know it is not you that does the real work, it is God, all we need to do is obey and follow His lead…and believe.
It is hard to move if you have broken a bone, I have certainly experienced that problem when I broke my shoulder helping out at a youth event in a church! It stopped me in my tracks for a period, and rest was the main thing as well as demobilising the arm.
But once healed, it was important to get that joint moving as part of the recovery. God will heal your brokenness as part of this work of mobilisation, even broken hearts. Importantly though, we need to get moving into our healing when He does so. Sometimes if we have been broken for some time, we develop patterns and habits in our life which we continue even after we are healed. This is not healthy and can often lead to a life of disability. So, we need to make conscience efforts to get moving, and particularly in those areas where we have not done so for some time…walking in our healing so to speak!
For others you will be hearing the fresh call to get up out of the trenches of life, and the ‘apparent safety’ of the church compound, and to go with the great Commander of the Lord’s army directs. The great irony is that our ‘safe places’ were anything but. For we are not designed to step back (and hide away), and when we do, we are made more vulnerable to the enemies schemes. For in the stepping back there is perhaps a weakening of faith, with more of a dependency on us and other people, rather than believing in a saving and delivering God. We also risk stepping out of the purposes of God. There is world of difference between resting in God, and hiding away from life.
The great lie is that the western world does not need the message of Christ anymore or is rejecting it completing. Sadly there are those who do reject the good news, however there are many who desperately need it..but just don’t know it yet. Common media channels will tell you we will all get on better if we drop religion and just comply with societal norms (another lie)…the sadder truth is that this is the very thing that will lead to spiritual and natural death at a rate yet seen. For where there is no Christ, there is death.
Why
When we consider our reading, particularly vs. 11-12, we are left with out any doubt that as Christians we have entered God’s heavenly army to advance His kingdom.
Matthew 11:11-12
“Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Luke 16:16-17
“The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
As if to reinforce this truth, the Apostle Paul made it clear that we are in a battle when he reminded us to be clothed in the Armour of God. (Ephesians 6). Different parts of the Bible, like the book of Revelations[1] are full of imagery that speaks of the Lord advancing as the triumphant King, leading His army in to battle!
God wishes to wake up and get moving His great army of saints. When Jesus came to earth, and tore that veil in two, He made the way for all who believe in Him to enter the very throne room of God. He also made it so that whoever believe in Him become the living temple of God. That is, you and me, from a child to an older one, whether brought up in a Christian family, or only just now received Christ, it does not matter. He did so, that we may receive His eternal life, and take Him to the world.
However, in the church we often find it easier, or perhaps have been led to believe, it is the job of the minister, the elders, deacons, and a few others to do the work of God, to be part of His army, and all we are to do is to come to church and tithe, and generally be good. I think we all know that is not really His plan…Moses is dead, it is no longer about a few ministering for God, we are all now called in to the priesthood of believers. No longer is God limiting the fight to the regular forces, but He mobilises all those in His kingdom for battle.
God is in the kingdom expansion business, and the taking back of lost ground. For that His key resource is the body of Christ, working alongside the hosts of heaven.
As a Father needs a child, so God needs YOU. He has chosen to partner with His children to do the work of the kingdom. Yes, He could and does do sovereign works, but His principal way of bringing the kingdom of God to earth is through His chosen ones…us.
But remember the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, and it is the heart and soul of people and communities He is seeking, and the redeeming of the land.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
God’s word, the good news of Christ, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the power of His love are the key weapons we have, and the armour of God as our protection.
The idea of being in a war is obviously not appealing, and we are taught rightly to as much as possible be at peace with our neighbour, but this war is not an earthly battle, it is for something much more enduring, i.e., for the saving of lives for eternal life and the kingdom of Christ. And whether we like it or not, it is underway anyway, and we are in it.
By way of exampling the battle we are in, consider this. As a nation in 1996 the number of Christians in Australia was 70+%, in 1966 it was 88.2%, and now it is around 43% (it was 52% in 2016!). In my home state in northern Tasmania in 2021 only 38.4% affiliate themselves with Christianity….50% have no beliefs at all! The society we lived in twenty five or forty years ago had its problems, sure, but the family unit was generally stronger, communities more caring, the courts more just, the societal norms more biblical in nature. Today, it is almost anything goes (as long it is not devout Christianity)…or heading that way fast. BUT, we are not here to recreate the past, we are born for such as time as this to be God agents of change for His kingdom now! Schools, businesses, communities, families…need Christ in you. Take solace in the knowledge God can do all things, and the predicament in the days of the early church was far worse.
The other purpose of this mobilisation is to move us in to the plans and purposes He has for us in this season, to get us to change gear and move out of the old plans, and into the new season He has prepared for us. This applies regardless of your age. 2020 marked the turning of an era, and in the last couple of years the Lord has been laying the groundwork in our lives for the next season, speaking into our souls about His plans, calling forth the new. The Father’s voice came to bring revelation, and the sons and daughters respond seeking insights from God. But now, we are to start moving into this wonderful new season, inspired and guided by what the Lord has been speaking to us in the last couple of years (or more).
Movement builds momentum, and that is what He seeks,
What
What does this mobilisation look like? Well perhaps for one example, we can look no further than to see what is occurring now in our church. Both John and Lyndon have been impacted by medical needs that requires them to rest, and now others have had to step into the breach. God working out His good purposes in this situation, bringing about a mobilisation of others into His work. The Lord is not about demobilising others to mobilise us, but He will use circumstances for His purposes.
There is a sense God is not wanting to limit this opportunity for us to just the few, but rather reminding us that there are others who can participate in the work of the church as He calls and anoints.
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
So, it goes much further than the church, and I would see this is the main reason for the Mobilisation of the Saints. Jesus commissioned His disciples almost 2000 years ago, and that commission is no less relevant now as it was then. He is stirring us all up to step out into life not just in who we are, but in who He is in us. I am sure there are people here who do so, but others of us are perhaps being given a big nudge.
Acts 1:6-8
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
It is time for us to step afresh into the spiritual battle ground of His kingdom, taking His light in to the places of darkness. Be that in businesses, homes, churches, parliaments, in the streets, schools, shops, community services, the heavenly places, the ports and gates of our land.
You are a temple of the living God. And the Lord’s power thus dwells in you, and where you are He is. His transforming power therefore abides in your presence. And so, you are His agents of transformation. Our job though is to let Him be Him in us…and to not get in the way with our unbelief and our own motivations.
Think of God’s presence in you like this. Imagine a lamp, with no bulb, and then someone puts a 100W bulb in it and turns it on. That bright light can only turn the darkness away. You are such a lampstand, and as you came to Christ, He placed in you a light bulb capable of out shining the sun…all this happens as you simply stand in Him, and do not hide who Jesus is to you. So, wherever you walk for Him, in the world around you the brightest light ever, with more power than anything, is shining brightly.
However, the enemy (Satan), has spent some time convincing us we are better of just staying content with the limited impact we can have in church, home groups, or with immediate friends, hiding away our light. Using lies, and the attitude of men, we are led to believe what we must share is of limited value or perhaps just plain wrong. But this is so NOT true. The spirit of the world would love it if we just did our own thing in our little church club and stayed quite or be like them for the rest of the week.
In fact, you have truth on your side…the Truth.
Your testimony of Christ in your life is true and is something no one can take from you, and as you share your story it has the power of the spirit of prophecy[2] upon it than can see it be recreated in other people’s lives as you share yours.
The Bible, the written word of God, is also a weapon you have in your hand that is undeniable, and Satan knows that. He cannot resist in when used, and neither can the world. Therefore it is good to meditate on it daily, for in doing so God is training you for battle.
Hebrew 4:12, 13
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
As we know the Word of God spoken upon the inspiration of God is even called the Sword of the Spirit[3].
In addition, the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, has made His home in you if you believe in Christ. As He leads you through your day, all you have to do is be where He needs you, and do as He prompts you, and He will do the rest.
Sometimes that looks like prayer, other times silence, saying hello, giving gifts of love, prophesying, laying on of hand, speaking up for the speechless, sharing inspired ideas in your business, standing for parliament, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and so on. Maybe you are being called afresh to be some of His greatest warrior for His kingdom…prayer warriors. Age is no boundary to God.
To finish
We are not to be afraid of Mobilisation. Remember these great truths:
1 John 4:4
You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Romans 8:37
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
As I preach this message, I am very aware there are people in this church who very much see themselves mobilised for God, and may His blessing and refreshing be with you.
For others, they are weary. The idea of raising up again to do battle, or to go out there in the power of His love, seems almost too much. God knows your pain and your tiredness. He would simply say rest in Him. For as you rest in the Lord, and allow His Spirit to minister to your soul, so you will find yourself being healed, and God using you to heal and restore others around you. You see, it is not what we do, it is what Jesus does in us. The same Spirit of God that will be resting upon you, will also flow to those and the situations around you.
For some of us, we need a fresh vision. We have become like old wine skins, battle hardened from the years of standing, but perhaps losing a sense of purpose or direction. Firstly, know that God loves us, and in His grace, He will work on our attitudes and hardness of heart to give us new wine skins. From this place we are given a fresh vision of what God can do through us. And so, we can jump out of those old cow tracks, and make new paths with God.
So let us continue to move as the Spirit leads through circumstances, callings, and more, and respond to the God’s call to be mobilised into His new purposes for us, and to understand that this means a fresh commissioning into the army of the Lord.
[1] Revelations 19:11-16
[2] Revelations 19:10
[3] Ephesians 6:17
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