Stretching

The scriptures teach that the church will go two different directions in the last days. Part will become more structural, liturgical, traditional and social – eventually becoming apostate. The other portion will become broken, humbled and stretching for a deeper and greater relationship with God.

God will not reward our self-contentment or unbelief. It is His M O to move on people and nations who are contrite. His moving will be across the lines of established groups since in various structures (regardless of their public professions) there are those who really seek Him as opposed to those who just go through the routines. I once mentioned in one of my messages about watching the wind blow across a corn field. Not every stalk was in the path of the wind but every row was affected.

If we are to get in the path of God’s moving, we cannot passively sit and await God’s presence. Action must be taken. Jeremiah said, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Isaiah admonished us: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). David voiced it thusly, “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart; These, O God, You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17).

When we receive Christ, we get all of God there is to get. He is not a stick of bologna to be portioned out. There is an immeasurable difference, however, between how much of Him we get and how much of us He gets! The latter is the issue.

All of our sophistication, creativity, and finesse will not enlarge His presence in and among us. I believe we should do everything we do with the best of our ability but that will not bring His favor and anointing – and that’s what is missing in the church at large in America today - all the way from the mini-church to the mega-church!

There is a difference in those things we do for Him and what He does through us. The things which will last into eternity are those things He does through us. It is extremely important that we understand this point and turn to Him with all our hearts. Otherwise we will continue the drift into a Laodicean mentality. We must heed Jeremiah’s warning where he said, “Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40).

Having great programs, worship services, personalities, etc. will not incite the presence of God neither will the lack of these things. These components are beside the point. Ultimately, if God does not manifest His mighty arm, all such things are futile except to excite and stroke the flesh.

It is very easy to drift off into professionalism having learned all the right things to do and to lose our desperation for the manifested presence of God. We should never take His manifested presence and blessing for granted. When we do, we may go on to greater heights as far as man is concerned but as for as God is concerned, we will sink to new lows.

Unfortunately, there are many church leaders and churches who have never experienced the manifested presence of God and have no basis of comparison. (I am not speaking of spiritual manifestations, there is a difference). Having been in the path of His moving, experiencing Holy brokenness and seeing His people broken, it is difficult to go back to business as usual.

Again, I am not speaking of emotionalism and spectacular events. I am speaking of the presence of God being so powerful that sinners rush to their knees, saints are broken and contrite before Him, marriages fixed, dysfunctions healed, apathy dispelled, tongues stopped, churches united, evangelism and missions incited, and hearts united in prayer and praise before Him.

I have experienced such blessings in times past and today, my heart’s cry is, “Lord, do it again.” We must have a great wave of intercessory prayer going up daily; praying and fasting for God’s mighty moving in our lives, homes, churches and communities if we are to see His moving in our day.

Jeff

• Jefferson H. and Norma R. Floyd, CO-directors • Jubilee International • P. O. Box 572 • Noblesville, IN 46061