"True faith is not intellectual; it is known in the heart of man."
Just recently I awoke to a Heavenly alarm clock! Yes! There was a wake up call from God. I looked at my alarm clock (which I had not set myself), and the time was 5:11 A.M. I heard the Lord say, "Wake up to Isaiah 51:1."
Observe the three different translations of this passage which I have provided below and determine whether God is speaking to you right where you are. He is certainly speaking to me! (For a heads up, the "rock" that the Lord is referring to in this passage is the "faith of Abraham.") It's time for faith! As I have stated before, I believe 2008 is the year of the gates (click here to view previous word). I have previously written to you concerning the importance of being properly positioned at the gate in 2008. One of these gates is the faith gate.
"Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged." Isaiah 51:1 (King James Version)
For more clarity concerning Isaiah 51:1, let's look at other translations:
"If you want to do right and obey the Lord, follow Abraham's example. He was the rock from which you were chipped." (Contemporary Version)
"Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance--all who seek the Lord! Consider the rock from which you were cut, the quarry from which you were mined." (New Living Version)
What Are We Looking For in 2008?
Dear saints, are you following after righteousness? Of course you are! The Lord is answering your prayers, and He is saying right now, in this certain season, we are to look to the faith of Abraham. God made us just like Abraham; we are a people of faith. Do you want to do right and obey God? Well, of course you do! Then, follow Abraham's example. Do you need deliverance? Then, consider the quarry from which you were mined--you have the same faith inside of you that Abraham possessed.
God is asking for us to seek Him in 2008. He says that if we seek HIM, then we will find Him. If we seek the Kingdom of God, then all other things are added. To merely seek the blessings of God--is not seeking Him. Moses "saw" the miracles of God, yet he still longed to know God "and His ways" (Psalm 103:7), Moses' desire to know the ways of God empowered him to become one of Israel's greatest leaders. Read this next passage and gain understanding of the heart of Moses:
"Then Moses said to the Lord, 'See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.' Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people." (Exodus 33:12-13 emphasis added)
Two Things Concerning Going "His Way" in this New Season
The Lord impressed upon me two major points concerning Abraham and the year 2008, because it will be a time of great faith. We are at a new entrance, going through a gate of faith that involves increase, enlargement and expansion. It is a gate which involves building the Kingdom of God. It is a also a season of building and planting, but only building according to the Architect's design--God's design, and not by the hands of man.
We can no longer build with vain imaginations and previous mindsets; we need the mind of Christ as we build in this season. Unless we build "His Way," we build the house in vain. Psalm 127:1, "unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build….and unless the LORD guards the city…watchmen stay awake in vain."
To build in vain means there is striving involved as well as man's imaginations (mindsets, ungodly belief systems and paradigms) that hinder the finished product. We must not build according to what we have experienced in the past. And, to even station watchmen (intercessors) at the gate of a city which God has not built is also in vain. So, therefore, we need to be sure that if we are stationed at a particular gate, the city we are guarding needs that sure foundation! To station gatekeepers at a gate of a city that is crumbling due to a faulty foundation is futile and a waste of time and energy!
God sent Abraham "out" from where he lived to seek a new city. This is part of the "New Thing" to which I believe God is directing our attention to right now. Part of the new thing is the "New Building Plan." We have been protecting what is old, guarding old gates; and now God is building something entirely new, and He is being very sure it is built according to His Way. I heard the Lord say that He is going to rebuild the temples and reestablish sure foundations and, then, station gatekeepers at the gate of the New Thing! Get ready for change!
Resting in God
Though we are in a building process, which requires much work, God is using this to bring us into His rest. The entire time the children of Israel were in the wilderness, God was trying to reveal His ways to them, yet they remained stiff-necked and never really knew Him. Their foundation was defiled, they limited God to their own slavery mentality and, therefore, they could not build a future based on that old mindset. I have taught before that God speaks and sounds different during times of transition. In my book, Destiny Thieves, I go to great lengths to expose the seductions of the enemy during transition. If not careful, we rely on how God spoke to us in the past as He attempts to move us forward. We must hear a fresh direction for today and not rely on old patterns.
A Completion Anointing is Coming! If today we will hear and not rebel as He leads us in His way, then we will cycle out of the wilderness and enter into His rest! And, yes, it is possible to build and rest in God at the same time because all the striving is gone. Plus we will be empowered to "complete" the work. We can build, rest and become supernaturally empowered with a "completing" or "finishing anointing." Jesus is our completion and if we build upon Him, the solid Rock, according to His voice and design, we will complete the assignments given. Jesus knew His assignment and remained focused and determined and completed the work at the Cross.
Hebrews 3:7-11, "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, "They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways." So I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest.'"
Because Israel had hardened their hearts in rebellion, the Lord swore that they would never enter into a season of rest. Dear ones, it is the same for us today. Unless we seek His ways and follow after His heart, we will never find rest. Unless we build according to His plans and with the sure foundation of Christ, we will never cease from striving.
However, there is hope! We can enter into His rest TODAY! Just as Jacob came to a "certain" place on his journey and the Heavens opened, we are at a certain place called "TODAY." God can open the Heavens for us right now and we can enter into our place of rest. All we must do is decide to step out and trust God and let Him show us His ways to build our lives, ministries, businesses and future! God said in Hebrews 4:2 that Israel did not mix their faith with what God had promised and, therefore, they did not enter into that place of rest. Dear ones, we are at a gate where we must mix our faith with what God has said and then, build according to His way.
The city which Abraham sought was one with a sure foundation. This foundation is knowing God and His ways. Unless we truly house ourselves in this foundation, we are merely building more walls and expanding on an unsure foundation--all of which will need to be eventually torn down and rebuilt once more.
The first important revelation He gave me concerned His people "looking for a city." Just as Abraham left Ur, we are leaving what has been familiar. We don't exactly know what to look for because we have not been this way before. Abraham left his home in the city of Ur which translates as "flame or fire." It is further translated as "to become a light." Abraham left his comfortable "home fires" and what used to ignite him behind, and sought to now "become a light" to others. How did he become a light? By stepping out in faith! He blazed a path for us to follow. His action is now used as our example of faith and hope. He is described in Scripture as "the father of faith." He has lit the path before us with his determination and faith. Abraham blazed a trail, leaving an example for us to follow!
What Was Abraham Seeking?
The city that Abraham sought was a city with foundations, and the architect and builder was God. Only because God called him out, was he empowered to leave what was familiar and comfortable (see Genesis 11). If he had remained in Ur, he would have been eternally "stuck" in an old place, with no hope or promise of expansion, no heirs and there would have been no foundation of faith for us today. Expect to be separated from what seems familiar (religious mindsets, belief systems, etc.) if you are determined to follow God. It is His nature to separate you from what is familiar and what we have built our lives upon--just get used to it! He is forever perfecting and transforming us into His divine image. God wants us seeking after what He desires to build, not seeking to build without Him and His blueprints.
Again, this new year of 2008 will be one in which our faith lies fully in Him. It is not a faith in our own faith, but rather a faith in Who He is and His Word. Yes, we are to stand on His Word for He cannot be separated from His Word, but many are deceived believing they can simply speak the Word and not have a relationship with the Word giver! He is calling us to live by faith in HIM alone. Intimacy is needed. Abraham didn't simply step out on a word; He stepped out in his faith in God's ability to perform that word. His faith was in God and in Him alone. This is part of having a sure foundation upon which we can begin to build in 2008.
Know What to Look For!
Abraham may not have known "where" he was going, but he knew "what" to look for. He looked for a city with a firm foundation which was designed by God. We must look for that same thing in 2008. My husband and I have been in full-time pulpit ministry for almost twenty years now. But also, we have been custom home builders in marketplace ministry for over thirty years. We are fully aware how important a foundation is when building a house and that there are certain fundamental principles that apply when establishing strong foundations.
Footings have to be constructed and then one has to dig deep enough to find bedrock in order to drive piers or pilings into the bedrock to fasten securely to that rock. If this task is not accomplished properly, the foundation can sink, crack or collapse under the weight of the building. It is the same in the spiritual. In this new season if we do not properly build, we will collapse. We will find ourselves cycling through the wilderness once again and will miss God's timing of "coming out!" I want out of this wilderness, don't you?
Over the years I have observed the collapse of many spiritual foundations. Ministries have rapidly grown, but there was no firm foundation. Ministries built solely on the gifts of the Spirit and not upon Jesus Christ--have no firm foundation. As wonderful as revelation is, there is only one sure foundation which is Jesus Christ. Gifts of the Spirit are wonderful, but they are not foundational and not to be built upon. Observe 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
Jesus is Not Just a Foundation; He is the Entire Building!
New Testament apostles and ministers had only one message--Jesus Christ! Their entire messages were about Him and "in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" Colossians 2:3. Jesus is not simply a foundation; He is the whole building process. Our faith should not waver concerning His ability to lead us into fulfillment. Once we know Him, we can trust Him. He, as the great Shepherd, will lead us into all Truth. He is the Way, the Truth and the Light.
We have the same potential as Abraham to possess the same faith--in fact I call it "God's faith!" When Jesus spoke to His disciples, He instructed them to have faith like God. Other translations quote it like this, "Have the God kind of faith!" We can have the same level of faith as God has because we are created in His image. We, like Abraham, are seeking that sure foundation, and God will direct us in 2008 if we go through the gate of faith.
The Second Thing to Look For is Boundaries!
Secondly, 2008 will require patience, perseverance and the understanding of our boundaries and assignments. Abraham sought a city built by God; he was not like those who were determined to build a tower of Babel--a work of their own hands. For those of us who have built our own kingdoms, God may be allowing some scattering and confusion because He is tearing it apart to build again. Though this is disheartening, it must be done if we truly desire to establish His Kingdom and not ours.
In order to build the Kingdom of God, we truly have to let go and release everything to the Lord. What you build might look different than another person's ministry. As long as you build according to His pattern for you, your foundation is sure. Do not consider what you do as a small thing. Remember, Jesus discipled only twelve and yet an entire world has been changed.
True faith is not intellectual; it is known in the heart of man. Faith comes by hearing and hearing His Word. But also, He is His Word, so faith comes by spending time with Him and knowing Him. When He is in our heart, we can believe! The apostle Paul said that the "eyes of our hearts" must be opened (Ephesians 1:18) and that it is "with the heart that a man believes" (Romans 10:10). Therefore, we also need spiritual insight and spiritual vision to "see" with the eyes of faith. Still, this comes from knowing Christ and spending more time in the Secret Place. Remaining in Him and abiding in Him will strengthen our foundation in this next season and will empower us to remain on track.
Counterfeit Faith
There is something to which I refer as a "counterfeit faith"--and it is pride. When we take pride in our ability to quote the word and don't know Who the Word is, we are exalting our head knowledge, our intelligence and confessing only for a blessing. I believe this grieves God because we are more interested in building our own kingdoms, planning big projects, and do not take time to know Him. Abraham stepped out in faith and believed God and yes, received a blessing. But, the blessing was also meant for us! Abraham was not self-centered; he was obedient. If we remain obedient, we will also be blessed.
Abraham's impatience resulted in an Ishmael, a birthing out of God's timing. Dear ones, we must know our times and seasons. Also, we need to be on assignment. Be careful that you do not take on projects that God is not building or that are not yours in which to participate. Every assignment has a boundary. Do not extend those boundaries unless He directs, or else you will take on more than His will has directed. If He desires expansion, He knows how to fund the projects. When Moses asked for contributions for the temple, he had to stop them from giving excessively! Now that's a building project from God!
I am not advocating that building is easy. No! Not at all! I am fully aware that the enemy will attempt to rob your finances when you step out to build. What I am feeling is that we need to be precise in building; build according to the pattern and plans of God, then He will empower us. Be sure to stay on track in 2008--in other words, track with God! Do not step into an area and build if His leading is not there. Walk uprightly and cautiously; yet remain in faith.
Whenever we step out in faith, there is a wilderness to walk through--when everything seems opposite of what God has promised. I know this because I have been there. However, I believe that at every "stop" in the wilderness when God tested Israel's heart, she had an opportunity to enter the gate of faith.
A Confirming Dream from God
While writing this article, my husband Mickey approached me with a dream God gave him the night before. It is amazing--it goes right along with this word that I am writing to you concerning faith. In his dream, there was a murderer. Mickey went to find the murderer and took his gun. When he found the murderer, Mickey started to aim to kill, and the murderer began to declare everything opposite of what God had been saying. This murderer spoke and began to verbally make bold declarations that negated all of Mickey's promises he had received from the Lord. Mickey declared, "No! You are speaking opposite of the Word!" He took aim again. The murder said, "I am going to use mind control and destroy God's people." The dream was over.
This dream is so clear to me that the devil has indeed come to steal, kill and destroy. He will begin to speak opposite of what God has declared. Precious ones, we must go back to our foundation in Jesus Christ and stand upon His sure deliverance and restoration of all God has promised. 2008 will be a year where great faith is needed because the accuser of the brethren will be very active. Remember, there are no great victories without great battles, and there is not great faith without great challenges. Be aware of your thoughts, casting down every vain imagination that attempts to exalt itself above what God has declared for you!
Wake Up and Build!
Let's enter into that new gate in 2008. It's time to wake up and build! Once more, remember that satan will come to you and say the very opposite of what God says, so cast down every word that negates what God has declared. Amen! I am very excited about all that God is going to do this year. Let's be determined to build the Kingdom of God and follow His divine design.
Sandie FreedZion Ministries
Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net
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