The verse in the picture goes on, ‘…who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’ Hebrews 12:1-3
This passage is calling us to a greater awareness of heaven, of those who have gone before us and are cheering us on to faithfulness and fruitfulness. Fasting, worshipping and praying make our spirit so much keener to the things of the Spirit. It helps us to shake off every encumbrance and the little and big sins that entangle us so easily, so we can follow Jesus faithfully and fruitfully where we live and work.
These four days are like putting our heads up out of the smog of the world and our flesh, to breath the rarified and pure atmosphere of the Kingdom. The things of this world grow strangely dim, as the old hymn goes and Holy Spirit is able to communicate Kingdom things and dreams to us. His whole purpose is to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Could I encourage you to take a moment during this time of heightened spiritual awareness, through fasting, to speak to Holy Spirit and ask, ‘Holy Spirit, are there things encumbering me? Are there small and big sins entangling me anywhere?’
I would recommend finding a quiet space to quieten your mind before asking Holy Spirit the questions above. Ask Holy Spirit and take a few moments to listen inwardly, sense inwardly, see inwardly. Holy Spirit loves to respond when we ask the right questions!
- Sean Dooley
In addition Hannah Mensah sent in the folowing today:
As I sit in a place of expectancy for the arrival of our baby, I’m also in a tussle to have the gift arrive. My body is tired and ‘done’ with pregnancy. I’m so keen to be ‘back to myself’ or ‘have my body back’ but also to have this long awaited gift of a new child. But in the waiting, and in the process of life being formed in the dark and secret place of the womb, I’m also too aware of the movements and inclinations of said life forming and so do not want to disturb the workings and hasten something out of time. I know God is sovereign, over everything and it is in ‘His timing’ but I wrestle with the flesh, the groans, moans and desire for this part to be over.
I wonder if this is what is happening in the spirit also – that there have been and are a lot of things happening in the secret place and in the concealed dark places that whether we’ve been aware of it or not, have been brooding, growing and developing into life that we are unknown/ignorant to. The slumber and sleep I feel is not that unlike the unknown or lack of revelation – if only we knew. The woman at the well is told by Jesus ‘if only you knew’ – our lack of knowledge of what is really going on actually draws us to desire although perhaps til now we’re just keen for the ‘main event’ or what we know and can see, touch and taste. But what if we’re being invited to listen to movements, groans and moans of our spirits for Jesus to provide the answer and quench our thirst (John 4:10 NKJV Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”)
We merely have to ask.
Perhaps the sleep and slumber is one of lack of asking or believing that what seems unknown or cannot yet be seen is actually life forming and yet to be delivered. Perhaps there is a call to yearn for a drawing into Him with me, Him in me, Him being my source. A dependency on HIM rather than self. We know the gift is worth the wait, but in the waiting, are we seeking Him and are we truly asking for Him and not ‘to be delivered’!?
I have to trust my body, along with God’s ordained time, are in sync and the gift will come but in the meantime, know that what’s being formed in the midst is in itself the main event – a drawing in and an appeal and desire to know the giver of gifts and not the gift itself.
Help me Lord in my weakness and desire for the gift to come and help me yearn for the living water you offer eternally. May my spirit long for and yearn for you eternally and may my heart have the revelation of life you are building in the midst of the darkness. I/we want to thirst for you again – Amen
- Hannah Mensah
I felt the text Mike Moses shared last night summed up what God was speaking about
Hosea 10:12
Sow righteousness for yourselves,
reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
and showers his righteousness on you.
Lets pray over everyone in KingsGate today:
- for increased freedom from all entanglements
- for increased expectation of what God will do
- for more of Holy Spirit poured out on us to transform us and those around us.
