There seems to be a wave afoot in the spirit. At this point, I consider myself to be a "middle-man", meaning that I imagine that many have already "been-there-done-that, got the t-shirt" to places where I am just now going, yet there are many who need someone to speak out so they can follow that way as well. I used to think the things I was experiencing in my own walk were just my personal path, but I am learning that many of these things are for the Body of Christ as a whole, for I am but one part of that one Body.

This entire year seems to be requiring new things in the spirit. There are new levels of heart commitments being asked of us all. The biggest change that I see? We are being pulled anew to SANCTIFY ourselves. What do I mean? I mean good, old-fashioned, being "set apart for the Father's use" sanctification.

Many in the Body are experiencing the same things that we are now. Old habits that were never all that serious are now bringing on Holy Spirit conviction. Many of you, even as you read this, are probably nodding your heads or chuckling in agreement. This is just the beginning folks!

The grace that once covered our "gray-area" activities is shifting. All those gray areas are having a new light shone upon them, causing them to be not quite so gray anymore!

You know all those movies or television shows that you USED to be able to watch? Well, get ready. Suddenly, you will start to notice all kinds of things that used to "be ok" are now definitely not acceptable. Our standards are being lifted higher. We can no longer accept whatever is being fed to us by the networks as ok - we are actually going to be choosy.

I think the Lord is really asking us to become DOERS this time. Active Christians. Participants in our own spiritual lives. All those things we hear in our respective churches from the pulpits are no longer only for those in full time ministry - it is for everyone.

You know what else? I believe He is going to ask many of us to lay down our GODLY activities as well. Yes, you heard me right. Even those multitudes of things we do in His name - some of those might be requested to be laid down as well. Why? Well, the best explanation I can give you, is that the Lord is TRYING to get us into our proper positioning in the Body of Christ. Many of us have rushed in to fill whatever need we saw, never considering whether we were SUPPOSED to be the ones doing that job or not. The busier we are in church, the better Christian we are, right? Don't you get a bigger crown if you hold lots and lots of job duties?? NOT SO!

I can hear some of you gasping for air on this one. I can hear the protests - "If I don't do it, it won't get done!" Well, perhaps it is time for something to NOT be done. Yep, you heard me right. Perhaps some things NEED to go undone. Radical thinking, huh? Well, the fact is, there are a lot of people in the Body of Christ, and in each individual church. There is not even one of us who needs to be a "human doing" instead of "human being". Many of us take on way too many things in a false attempt at servanthood.

This slides right into an obedience issue, which is something else the Lord is requiring afresh. While I will not delve deeply into that area right now, let me give you an example of what I mean. All of you who are parents can relate to this - let's say that you ask your son to take out the trash. He agrees cheerfully (ok, not-so-cheerfully), then proceeds to do all kinds of other things. Some of them are really helpful - he vacuums the floors, washes the dishes, he even starts dinner! All of these things are needed. All of these things are good. HOWEVER, the one thing you had actually asked him to do remains undone! The garbage is still sitting there, not taken out and it is beginning to stink!

How many of us in the Body are like that even now? We say "Yes Lord, we will Lord" (either cheerfully or not-so-cheerfully), and then proceed to do all kinds of other things, whether we were asked to or not. (And no, I am not referring to things we should ALL do, such as helping others in need, food banks, etc etc.) While we said yes with our MOUTHS, the heart obedience was not there - we were/are, in reality, doing our own thing.

I believe the Lord is asking us to really COMMIT to Him. He has always said that we were either FOR Him or AGAINST Him, but His grace has always covered our goofier decisions. This is a new season, however, and He wants more of us - and WE need more of Him! All of these changes we will be experiencing are for our own good - we will need a tight relationship with Him as we move ever-closer to the end of this age.

I encourage you today - if you feel that tugging in your spirit to make a positive change in your personal lifestyle or personal habits, then DO IT! It will definitely be for your own good! MAYBE He is also asking us to be QUIET for a season so we can HEAR Him!! Sometime, we get so busy that we stop listening. Much like the hubby who says "Yes dear" and has not really heard his wife at all (I know - none of us Christians has a spouse like that!), we are doing just that to the Lord. Yes Lord. I will Lord. Yet, we have to admit, we have only heard Him talking, not listened to what He was saying.

When you are able to surrender to one area, it allows the Lord to move you one step closer to what He REALLY has for you!! I encourage you all to dare to find the best the Lord has for you!
It might surprise you!

Blessings to you all -
Beth Muffley
Brick Busters Ministries



June 20, 2000

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