Sometimes I wonder if I’m not a stick in the mud. Yes! I can get excited about things, lots of things. But, I am not chasing the next good time, or the next great experience. Maybe, at 72, I’m just old! I do want to stay fresh and open to all the LORD has, and be available to do all He directs… and let’s face it, sometimes, as with Abraham directed to offer Issac, what He directs can seem pretty avant-garde. At least, seen through the eyes of the flesh or those of our own understanding. That’s why the directive of Proverbs 3: 5-6, which we all know and can quote, and verse 7 (which we don’t and cant), stays so sound generation to generation.
[Proverbs 3:5-7 NASB95] 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
I stopped looking for “new levels”, “the glory to fall”, and chasing the “latest move” years ago. I never stopped looking for and seeking the God who does new things. But, sadly, I have often found myself among believers who still are seeking the next great move, glory, what is happening now, rather than Him and the consistency of just listening for His voice and doing what He says. Those that do chase such “levels”, “the glory”, the “new move” I find are most often disappointed and frustrated, and, in the end, find themselves looking for yet another charge or experience.
The truth I’ve learned over the years is that change doesn’t come to the believer often by the so-called “new” or “fresh” move, or by thinking we must pull heaven/the kingdom down to earth. It comes from us plugging into the present reality that we are a conduit for the Kingdom to flow through in the now, and accepting the present reality of all He has provided and completed in the Spirit in us. And the truth that He is still working in us by the Holy Spirit in our mind, will, and emotions through a process of sanctification using His word to change and move us forward in His purpose individually as a believer, and as the church His body in the world. He uses both the written word of the scriptures opened to us by the Spirit, and what He still speaks to us by the Spirit in our inner man, as well what we behold of the Word made manifest-Jesus in others in the Body of Christ, and in the creation around us.
Bear with me as I plow some old ground here for a bit…
Sanctification has been completed in the Spirit, and you have been set apart for service (Ephesians 2:8-10). However, there is an ongoing work of sanctification by the Holy Spirit in the soulish man -mind, will and emotion- that continues to move us from one degree of glory to the next, glory to glory, into the image of the Lord Jesus whom we behold in His Word. (2 Corinthians 3:18). The Holy Spirit does this using the Word (John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26, I Thessalonians 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:13). It is not instant in a fresh or new move generally, but real change comes by dying to self to live to/in Him. It comes by crucifixion and suffering followed by resurrection and life. It came to Jesus, and through Him to us that way. We should expect it will come to us in the same way.
[Hebrews 5:8-9 NASB] 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
[Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB] 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
To be transformed into that glory which is in Jesus, changing from glory to glory, requires losing life to find it. There is no resurrection power without death. Suffering and glory go hand in hand in Him. The law of the harvest: [John 12:24 NASB] 24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. As John the Baptist said John 3:30 He must increase, I must decrease.
The issue then becomes: “How do I die to self, what must I do to decrease that He might increase?” The answer is to feed from the tree of life, which is Jesus. Simply rest in Him, live in Him. Do nothing but what He is doing and ask you to co-labor in. I think that may be what Proverbs 3 says: “In all your ways acknowledge Him”
We have a drive to work for Him, to earn reward and righteousness and by doing something for Him. He wants us first to find rest in Him. And then, take up the yoke for work in “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
[Matthew 11:28-30 NASB] 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
The paradox here is that Jesus asks us to take His yoke, an implement of work, upon ourselves. He is asking us to walk beside Him doing what He is doing. As we do He pulls the load, He leads, and we find rest for our SOULS (mind, will, emotions) under His Lordship/leading and strength as we learn from Him and work/walk with Him. The result is effective labor with Him, not for Him, and rest for us under a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. We get transformed into His image, by simply dying to doing our will to being yoke to Him and His.
You see, for the believer the question is never “What Would Jesus Do?” That question leads us only to dream stuff up to do what we think will please Him and to labor under our own efforts in the flesh. The question rather is always ” What is Jesus doing in this situation, right now, how does He want me to co-labor with Him in it?” Sometimes He has something for me to do and will speak and lead me in it giving me direction and strength by the Spirit. But it is often just “Peace be still, and walk with Me. Watch and learn of Me.”
Plowing ground I have visited before. In Luke 10 Martha is trying to serve and please Him, I think in the flesh, and ends up frustrated and judging her sister. Meanwhile Mary is sitting at His feet listening, getting to know Him, listening for His direction so she can know His voice and serve Him the way He wants to be served. Jesus tells Martha [Luke 10:41-42 NASB] 41 “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42 but [only] one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (indicating Mary will reap eternal dividends)
Now, with all that said, let me encourage you to seek not “new levels, moves” etc . But remind you to seek the God of “New Beginnings”. Our God is redemptive. He is the God of the New Beginning. He may be the God of what is happening now too, but He is not building the Church of “What’s Happening Now.” He is building the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all (Ephesians 1:23). Jesus is to be seen in us, not just the titillation of “what’s happening now!”
The New Year is traditionally a time of new beginnings (and often failure in them, if in the flesh). But, listening to Him, drawing close to Him in new beginnings can be a good and spiritual thing as He empowers success as we listen to the Holy Spirit.
I am often reminded of the prodigal son at the new year and the “New Beginning” party his father threw for him. The prodigal in the pigpen “ of his own making, came to his senses” and turned his heart toward home for a new beginning.
As one with a Non-traditional Christian worldview, I know new beginnings are something the faithfulness of God takes great pleasure and joy in. [Lamentations 3:22-23 NASB] 22 The LORD’S lovingkindnesses (mercy and goodness) indeed never cease, For His compassions (mercy, tender love) never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is His faithfulness. His love and mercy are new whenever you turn to Him. He is not there to crush with condemnation, but with tender love and mercy.
May this season of new beginning cause you to consider His tender love and mercy in Jesus. You will find when you come to your senses in whatever pigpen you may be in or have created of your life; He will run to you! He will kill the fatted calf, bring the best garments, a ring, and new dancing shoes and throw a New Beginnings (New Years) party!
[Luke 15:20 NASB] 20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion [for him,] and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
[Luke 15:22-24 NASB] 22 “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Real change may come through coming to your senses and repentance initially. But in His eyes, it will not remain a pigpen or sackcloth and ashes event. Out of tasting death and life, death to yourself and returning to find life in Him. It is a resurrection and life, new beginnings, event and the celebration is great and eternal. Because everyday is new, and holds promise and purpose, as we are living in Him/Jesus.