RISE UP — The Wilderness Tribe

Jul 2

Jul 2 RISE UP

Remember the man who was expecting alms from Peter but instead got something better?

God STRENGTHENED his legs

and he stood up and walked in the Temple.

Peter said to him, “Silver and gold I do not have but what I have I give to you…”

Peter had just been saved himself…. I imagine he felt lighter than ever, He had just met with Jesus after he refused him three times and Jesus came back to him and asked him three times if he loved him… he said “Yes!!! Yes!!! Yes!!!”

and then God commissioned him to be useful, to be himself, to share everything he had with the world.

(COR) = courage… to share your whole self with your whole heart.

What Peter had just received was grace… So he gave grace.

He understood what he had been given just a little bit earlier from Jesus was for everyone and if he could receive it, if Jesus could come back and ask him if he loved him and that was all that was required then anyone could.

I love the Lord. I have said yes. But God has also proclaimed “yes” to me. He has commissioned me now to use my voice, to give what I have been given… grace … to you.

I see myself in the man who expected alms but was given something better.

I imagine he had a poverty and fixed mindset too.

He thought he was weak, insignificant and had settled for alms instead of life. This was me. This past year.

BUT GOD… sought him out through the love of Peter and STRENGTHENED HIM.

I was poor in spirit and heart, I was hopeless and worn, I was depressed and sick. I was hurting so much I couldn’t live a day without feeling so much anger and pain. It felt like I couldn’t breathe and I was lost. forgotten and abandoned. triggered every day by pain and memories unfinished. I was overwhelmed. I had settled. begging for alms. But I didn’t know I was poor. I didn’t know the depths of my poverty, the weight I’d settled on carrying. The wounds i’d tried to hide. The anger I’d suppressed, the real feelings I’d been harboring.. The injustice in my veins, the abuse I’d been silent over. But now I had a child. A baby, and having her, I could not hide any longer, my new gift would not allow it. Forced to rise to the occasion, I felt I barely did it. But perhaps she saved my life. It’s been hell, but I am free. free-er than I was eleven months ago. How marvelous.

I was weak and He made me strong.

I was panicked and He let it come and was with me.

I was insecure and He was with me, showed me why and taught me how to stand.

I was lost and He made me still and He found me.

I was hurting silently, and He addressed it, He allowed me to feel it.

When God heals, He heals the whole being… we need the whole Christ. He healed my heart, my soul and my body.

When God saved the man begging for alms, He healed his body, and heart + soul with it.

“I am with you.”

God is reviving our souls, our hearts and our beings.

This is revival. I heard Melissa Helser say recently that God spoke to her about prodigal sons and daughters coming home being revival.

Everything dead and hollow inside me is being awoken. I was crying out so dead inside, hurting and broken and God answered me. He revives my soul, he blows strength into our beings. I believe with my whole being God is making us still so we can reconnect with him so he can revive our souls and awaken our hearts, strengthen our whole beings to arise in who we are!!!!! This is not a drill this is a moment in HISTORY. We are a part of something so big… but it is beginning with us so we are ready.

Revival won’t look like one thing, it will be the unexpected thing that comes in the night, like a little babe who was king of the world born in a manger. We have to be kids to see it and feel it.

I want you to know I believe in you. You can do this. you don’t have to be strong, but willing. You don’t have to be perfect but open to change. You don’t have to have everything together but just say “yes” to his whisper, leading, soft prompt. You are ready because you are ready, because you are holy, because Jesus won you, because he is good, because he loves you and me, because he has great plans for his world, and we are in it, because he put us here, because we are born for such a time as this to be ready.

So…

be still.

be purposed in your heart.

be open.

listen.

it will be uncomfortable but it will be worthy of your time, because you are worth the time.

Jesus is waiting. He is here with you and me. He is doing something amazing in the earth. I can feel it. Revival is in the air. I know he wants us to be awoken to it. But I am here to tell you its not a secret prayer or a magic trick. It is just being still - first. Finding God again. Being uncomfortable, having a good cry, being honest and then on your knees, in your most honest space he will lift you up and we will arise with him, ready. Awake.

Acts 3:6-10 (NKJV)

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.