As the years go on, the world seems to get increasingly unstable, or at least it feels that way. I’m never quite sure if it is becoming more unstable or if the level of access we have, through social media, makes us think it is much worse. We know the amount of information we consume every day can shift our focus and impact our perceptions.
When the world around us feels out of control, we may work harder to be in control in every area of our life. Why? Because God created us to have rule over the earth.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth'” (Gen. 1:26).
We have a natural, God-given desire to be in control, because within our very DNA is the capacity to rule and reign. However, when we try to rule and reign from the wrong space, authority or perception, we can manage to mess things up even more than they already are. In essence, we become part of the problem rather than part of the solution.
God spoke creation into existence. He didn’t strive or obsess over it. He imagined, and He spoke. His voice carried so much weight and authority He not only called light into existence, but then He separated it from the darkness. He spoke, and land appeared; vegetation began to grow; sun, moon and the stars were all created. With a word, fish, birds, animals and even human beings came into existence.
But there was something different when he created human beings. He gave them a mandate to reign. That was His original design, and that is what is contained within each one of us.
We only have to get to Genesis 3 to find the serpent (Satan) entering the scene. As Adam and Eve walked through the moments that followed that temptation, decisions were made that impacted generations to come.
God Saw, and God Sees!
Even when Adam and Eve handed over the rule and reign of the earth to the demonic realm, God still saw. God looked at that moment, looked ahead to all future generations, and at the same time, remembered the original intent. He had created humankind to rule and reign.
He saw the fullness of the issue past, present and future and stepped right into the middle of it. He had a plan, and that plan was executed to perfection.
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us—as it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'” (Gal. 3:13).
The transactions that took place through the cross of Jesus Christ are numerous. Sin separated us from God, yet the death and Resurrection of Jesus covered our sins. Death was defeated. The curse was broken. The more I study the cross of Jesus Christ, His death and His Resurrection, the more I am convinced that we only understand a small percentage of what happened in the spiritual realm with that event.
Yet our day-to-day reality does not always align with the power of the cross. We still can feel separated from God; sickness and death still knock at our door. Women still experience pain in labor, and men still toil to work the ground.
Does this mean the cross was not effective? Or does it mean that we have not appropriated the fullness of the power of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
The Creative Power of the Voice
In Ezekiel 37:1-14, we have the account of a conversation between God and Ezekiel concerning a valley full of bones. We discover the bones are ancient, dried out and scattered. The picture is one of chaos, death, destruction and disorder. God asks Ezekiel a pivotal question in verse 3: “Can these bones live?” From that point, God invited Ezekiel into a process to begin to speak over the bones. I have always found it interesting that God didn’t do the commanding. God told Ezekiel what to say, and it was up to him to speak or give voice to what God was saying. However, I also believe God was inviting Ezekiel to see things from a different perspective.
God was giving Ezekiel a prophetic picture of what was possible. However, even in the prophetic moment, Ezekiel had to choose to partner with God and speak.
I believe God is asking the bride of Christ several questions:
- Are we going to allow Satan and the demonic to continue to rule and reign, or will we take back our job and do what we were created to do?
- Are we going to continue to see and make decisions by natural sight, or will we learn to see from a kingdom perspective?
- Are we going to allow our voices to be silenced, or are we going to speak with kingdom power and authority?
Revival
Many within the body of Christ have been crying out for revival. Oh, how I long to see the church come alive and walk in the fullness, power and authority for which God created her. Imagine what it would be like to see the bride of Christ using her voice to call forth life where there has been death and destruction. How amazing it would be if the church began to use her voice to usher in the creative ideas from the kingdom of heaven.
Take a moment and dream with God. What would it look like if we walked in the fullness of all God created us for?
Lessons From Gardens to Bones
Adam and Eve were created to be in relationship with God. They were designed for such a level of active relationship that they walked with Him. Imagine going for an after-dinner walk with the Lord. What would you talk about? If we want to pave the way for revival in our lives, we must learn to converse with the God of the universe.
God’s way draws us into a relationship with Him. Adam and Eve were created to walk with Him, not without Him. That has not changed. We were created to be in constant relationship with God. He longs to share His thoughts with us and equip us for action. His heart is for a hurting world to see His reflection in you and me. The only way we can carry His reflection is to spend time with Him.
When was the last time you took a stroll with God?
Prophetically, Ezekiel stood beside the Lord and looked over an impossible situation. Ezekiel had to shift his focus from death, destruction and chaos to God’s vantage point, which involved life. Then Ezekiel had to begin to speak what he saw into being. He had to release his breath and voice for order to come into the chaos and life to be ushered in.
As we stroll with the Lord, we can be assured that we will be challenged to see things from His vantage point and speak life into death, destruction, and chaos.
Are we going to speak into earthly situations, risking ridicule and bring in heavenly solutions?
If we truly long to see revival in our lives, our cities, our nation and our world, we have to spend time with God, stand up, see the impossible and speak when and as God tells to speak. Hiddenness and silence are not an option!
For more on life this vital topic, listen to Real Truth With Ruth on the Charisma Podcast Network. {eoa}
Ruth Hendrickson is a conference speaker, ministry trainer, board certified counselor, pastor and above all, a follower of Jesus Christ. She is passionate about training, equipping and releasing individuals to walk in wholeness and freedom. Visit her website here.
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