Is there a way forward?

Introduction

As an introduction to this story I want it to be clear that there is nothing ‘new’ in my sharing. In other words, you will have heard it all before. In fact, having heard it all before is one of those unfortunate detours on the journey of life that takes us further from Father’s grace intention, which is simply a call to ‘knowing Him.’ This well worn detour begins when we confuse ‘theory’ with experience! It is partly for this reason that I am sharing these things with you. It is heart breaking to consider how well we know of this story!

As a generation who have grown up in what is called the ‘information age’ we must guard against being distracted by exchanging God’s wisdom or revelation knowledge for information. To further clarify my statement. Too many present day believers think that having heard something automatically means that it will become a part of the fabric of their lives, and yet how much theoretical information have we exchanged in the last couple of years but find that our relationship with Jesus is still shallow, routine and without purpose!

It is in the midst of everyday life that Father has chosen a redemptive way of imparting His life to us that will be invaluable in making us more like Jesus. It may be that in this article there will be one or two aspects that touch you deeply and draw you to a still and quiet place with the Lord. Please wait at that place, to listen, learn and receive from Him. We may want to think carefully about this;

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”   [The Message]

Overview

There are those who have in the last few years moved away from church structures for many reasons to what is seen as a good measure of freedom. It has to be said that there are those who are within that number who may have settled back into routine as if this is the final destination. Israel lived as though Egypt was the place to settle. Again at Horeb! There is little pleasure in moving out of one system of church life only to start up another. There is a deeper purpose in God’s heart to change us on the inside, and our response is to be wholehearted in our obedience when we hear His voice. More on this later.

The challenge for us is that we require surgery from our old religious and legalistic systems of man. We need a complete transplant – that habitual cycle removed from our hearts in order that we might truly walk into the freedom that Jesus has made available for each of us.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!

We will see that freedom from ‘habitual Christianity’ or ‘routine living’ is a part of the much broader process of change that Father has for each of us. In fact the danger of not facing this painful surgery is reversion…a trait that repeats itself over and over and over again when we do not walk in the light of all that we have received. The difference in the Deuteronomy story between Joshua and Caleb and the other ten spies who went to check out the land was clear and the consequences for that generation devastating.

This journey we call life is a process called ‘transformation’ and can be retarded if we do not walk away from religious obligation towards truly pleasing Jesus. Eternal life for us is all about ‘knowing God’ – and that ‘knowing’ will bring us into a place of intimacy. A ‘heart to heart’ experience between our Father and His family for you and I.

There has been a wonderful emphasis on the Lord’s love for His people in the last few years and many have become liberated by understanding this in their hearts. The joy of this aspect of God’s character is that ‘perfect love drives out fear’ and prepares our hearts to move forward with courage towards the place of God’s choice for our life. This first part is all about the nation of Israel, a people loved by God; Father’s purpose for them and two men in particular; Joshua and Caleb.
How does this impact us as believers in the 21st Century? What does God have to say about our day to day relationship through people who lived in a different day and another culture?

Looking back

It is interesting to note that God actually prepared Egypt for His people through the process of a forerunner named Joseph. But again, they stayed too long and were eventually led out supernaturally by Moses.
These are all warning markers – Danger! – In our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes.

Here we have the nation of Israel leaving Egypt and moving through the Wilderness towards the Land God had promised to give them. We know the story well.
Then, as the Lord our God commanded us, we set out from Horeb and went toward the hill country of the Amorites through all that vast and dreadful desert that you have seen, and so we reached Kadesh Barnea. But they did not go in…But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God.
This story makes our journey much clearer in terms of the process of God’s dealings with real people.

At this point they were exhorted and encouraged once again. Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as He did for you in Egypt. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. In spite of this, you did not trust the Lord your God.

Does this not all sound familiar?

What is in your heart?

To depart from God’s way is to choose a life of crushing burdens, failure, disappointments and slavery. A life caught in the toil of endless problems never to be resolved. How often have we heard from other believers – “You are too ‘idealistic’ – that’s how it is in church life!” After all, we are only human. My response is, yes, we are only human but God has chosen to live within us and through us. Please let us not settle therefore for sub standard church life just because it happened in past generations!

I was asked a question one night by the Lord. Why did they, the Israelites, not go into the Land? My attention was certainly captured. The answer was simple yet clear. Because it was NOT in their hearts!

So today we see many who have left a system and have moved out towards the purpose of freedom in God, arrived at the place of His choosing [or Kadesh – a sacred place] but have not gone in to fulfil His will. They choose to live in frustration instead of being completely fulfilled and satisfied in Him. Part of that is because it is not in their hearts to go on and secondly they are held back by the considerable baggage of the past which they are either unable or unwilling to let go of. Be strong and courageous.

This land is NOT like the land of Egypt, from which you have come. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
We dare not delay our response to the Lord when we read about such amazing news. The Lord cares about every step we take in His wonderful purpose and His eyes are continually upon us. How wonderful. Yet, as I mentioned right at the beginning of this article you know this already.

Can we actually know and yet still not act?

[by John Langford]