A GENTLE SPIRIT
.
Jeanne Stewart, Oklahoma
Our Spiritual Advance
There
is a pathway that confirms the entry of each believer 
into
Holy Spirit power if Kingdom ministry is to be advanced through us. This
pathway is His church. The great ‘I Am’
is at hand within us that are born of the Spirit. Spiritual endowment is needed
for ministering in genuine power to advance the truth of His word where
darkness is greatest. The church must carry God’s Light to those buried in lack
of knowledge. The overcoming believer in
Christ Jesus senses change within the spiritual atmosphere of our world as
unseen evil cries out in dark places.
Believers
make covenant with the hope of the Promise
Land’s faith to enter in “…and spy
out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel” (Numbers
13:2) We then progress on into accepting the Great Commission assignment of our Lord Jesus to advance His
Kingdom, “...even to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20)
Birthing Spiritual Advance ~
In
the story of Numbers chapter 13, we observe the twelve men who were sent to
survey the difficulty of conquering the land promised to them. The confidence
of only two stands out as they confront the negative report of the other ten
spies. Joshua and Caleb provide Moses the encouragement to enter in with the
confidence of God’s promise to uncompromisingly conquer the land and present it
to the generations of Jewish future descendants.
Spiritual
advance requires faith, while unbelief never sees beyond its many difficulties.
Unbelief permits fear of failure and destroys building on the unyielding
foundation of truth. We will move forward only as we view each difficulty as an
opportunity for God to stabilize His groundwork of birthing greater faith in
us. Each step we take into understanding His ways enables us to gain strength
to do exploits for the Kingdom of God with no fear of failure.
The Sign of Holiness Precedes Power ~
Jesus’
ministry did not begin until He received His ‘anointing’ as Messiah – the empowering that came through the
descent of the Holy Spirit upon Him. “And
immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the
Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.” (Mark 1:10)
The
disciples’ ‘Great Commission’ was
birthed within sincere worship and prayer. It is important to note that the
assigned command for Christ’s Church in Matthew 28:18-20, gained its power of
holiness through the obedience of yielded vessels. God’s acceptance of these
120 was with fire descending and resting on each head as they waited for the
indwelling of the promised Holy Spirit.
Dependence
on God’s leading and spiritual power becomes our greatest surrender of self
will for the advance of His will to be accomplished. “Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.”
(Ephesians 5:17)
Entering
in then becomes a walk of faith that builds the righteous character of His
holiness within each individual making up the entire community of believers.
Beyond Prayer and Fasting ~
Father God ~
When we have emotions of failure and are frustrated and overwhelmed, it
is impossible to hear You clearly. How will we ever accomplish Your will in
prayer and advance spiritually? We pray… come with Your unfailing love like
rain falling down over us washing all shame away… that we may pick ourselves up
again and go on into Your promised land of provision. Then we can do all things
through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)
My Children ~
Quiet your soul’s emotions and be still in Me...
Bring focus back in My direction... Look to Me... Worship Me…
Then allow Me to use this time as an opportunity to bring you to a place of
greater faith and understanding of My power. My Child... you will go no deeper
in spiritual understanding without Me taking you there. You can do nothing in
your own strength that will last apart from My Spirit moving within you.
Father God ~
~~~~~~~
