We have been ‘gathering’ monthly online for just under 5 years. Throughout that time our theme has been the two words given at the onset: ‘ASCEND ADVANCE’. During this period, we have adhered to the discipline of offering the Lord the two hours of our gathering, without agenda or any underlying prediction about a particular focus.
We believe the Lord has been using these gatherings to discipline us in His way of remaining in our ‘position’ in Christ in the heavenly realms, not just for the duration of our time together, but as training for our daily re-positioning as individual followers of Jesus and as members of His Body. He has warned us not to take our focus for prayer from the world’s media, but to seek his heavenly perspective and direction at all times.
The majority of our time together, over the past 5 years, has been spent in learning what it means to ‘ASCEND’. We now believe the Lord is leading us to learn what it means to ‘ADVANCE’ in his way. We posed a specific question to the Lord for our gathering: “What do You want to teach us about what it means to govern, in the heavenly realms, as citizens of Your Kingdom”?
Here is a summary of what was shared from our time of worship and listening:
- Rock, water, angels, trumpets – during the first period of waiting on the Lord, 3 separate members had a picture of a rock face; two saw waterfalls and two had an associated image of many angels sounding trumpets. There was a reminder of John’s revelation, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see… I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me… his voice was like the roar of many waters.” (Rev 1.10-15). As we are one with Christ, the rock, we will become a part of the outflow of God’s revelation, which will be as an unstoppable flow of the water of His Spirit. The water is for the thirsty, who are currently identified as especially those in Generation Z. Rocks are formed over long periods of time. What God is releasing now is a culmination of all He has been saying; similarly the water has been accumulating, but is now bursting forth.
- A clarion call – the Lord is looking for those who will be His mouthpiece.
- A call to Christ’s Church to govern – it is a call to govern both heaven and earth, (Col1.20) for the ultimate purpose of the liberation of creation. In Christ, we are connected to both heaven and earth – as in the image of Jacob’s ladder, referred to by Jesus (Jn1.51).
- The valley can be the place of ascent – David experienced intimacy with the Lord in the valley (Ps 23). We also often experience deeper intimacy with God when we are in a low place. Jesus descended to the lowest place Php 2.8 – we can meet Him there. From that place He was exalted by God. As we are one with Him, so we ‘ascend’.
We believe that the Lord wants us all to explore the practical outworking of what He has been teaching us. One way is through local Maranatha gatherings and Prayer Cells. We are preparing to visit different parts of the country to share what we believe the Lord is saying to His people.
If you would like to host a gathering in your area, please contact us.
