During our ‘in-person’ and online gathering last Sunday, 3rd November, the Lord impressed upon us that this is a time when He wants us to focus on what He is doing in our hearts, as individuals and as a part of the Bride of Christ. The following is a brief summary of the key points highlighted during our time of worship and waiting on the Lord together.
- Washing – several words were given about the Lord wanting to ‘wash’ our hands and our hearts. The washing is more about refreshing, encouraging and strengthening than cleansing, although that is implicit. The Lord wants to minister to each of us individually, knowing our respective needs – many are tired and weary with wounds from the journey so far. Each one is loved and cared for uniquely. One member ‘heard’ the sound of a babbling brook with the words, “Do you hear it?” and the scripture Rev 1.15 “…his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.” At the same time another member was given an awareness of streams of living waters, in which we are to wash our hands. We should remember that the giving and receiving of forgiveness is central to the healing and renewal of our hearts and to the deepening of our oneness with God and others in the Body of Christ. “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…” (Eph 5.25-26). This requires dedicated time to be spent in the Lord’s presence, with eyes and hearts focused and open to Him alone, not our shortcomings – Ps 121: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” and our Shepherd will lead us to “springs of living water” (Rev 7.17).
- A Key – The Lord “…holds the key of David.” He knows that “… you are of little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” and He promises, “Him who overcomes… I will write on him the name of my God… and I will also write on him my new name.” (Rev 3.1-13). There is something inscribed on our heart as belonging to God, which is for a specific purpose at this time. The person who gave this word was not aware that this passage of scripture was given to the Community in 1993 before the first ‘A Call to the Nation’ was published and presented in the Palace of Westminster. The Lord spoke to the Community, in the midst of a significant spiritual battle, that He was giving us a ‘key’ and that He was ‘opening a door’ for us to speak to those in positions of authority at that time. This was the beginning of a period of unanticipated public witness, including Parliamentary work, and the call to ‘sound the trumpet’ as a ‘watchman for the nation’ (see Ezek 33). The Following word was given during the gathering: “In this moment, this holy moment, I want to tell you what you mean to me. You are My angels, My saints. To you I give the keys that will unlock the door to heaven – perpetual praise, a kind heart, willingness to follow Me wherever I lead you. Open to Me, let Me bring a bit of heaven to you this night.”
- The Fear of the Lord – it was suggested that the ‘fear of the Lord’ is ‘the key of David’. David lived in a right ‘fear of the Lord’ and was a man after God’s own heart (1Sam 13.14). Love of God and fear of the Lord are as the two sides of the same coin. There is a need for the return of a balance in the Church between the fear of the Lord and an awareness of His love. Jewish tradition says that ahavah (love) and yir’ah (fear) are the two wings on which the Torah soars through the heavens (see Deut 10.12-13). It is in the fear of the Lord that we enter into intimacy with God (eg. Ps 25.14). Feeling ‘comfortable’ with God and with life is an obstacle to the fear of the Lord. We should not expect to be comfortable in the face of all that is happening within our church traditions at present. Our calling is to stand firm in righteousness and a right fear of the Lord, not to try to find ‘solutions’ and not to remove ourselves from the struggle.
- A Clarion Call – in association with this, a word was given: “unwrap the grave clothes”. God can speak into new life that which we think has died.
We continue to wait on the Lord in openness to His call to us as a Community for this time. We believe that a heart attitude of worship is essential as we remain open to the Lord’s prompting.
