Programme: Writing the Vision (April Edition)
Date: Saturday, 22nd April 2023
Transcript Summary
1. We have been used to living before men because of the work that Satan did in us. As such, it will take another work to deal with that work of Satan and make us free. One way God deals with that work is by creating situations that seem reproachful, especially before the audience of men. These situations give us the platform to die to our wrong natures. One of the things that will be done in our hearts in the season when we are being weaned from living before men to living before God, is to be at home with shame.
2. Abraham wanted a child because it would give him a name before men. Like many of us, there are many things we want and desire but God will not give them to us. If God should hearken to our requests for such things, we will never leave the terrain of living before men to living before God. God can deprive us of some things that can give us a reputation before men, in order to strip us of the wrong images that limit our souls from being the temple of God.
3. If the gospel will become an inheritance to us, we will go through contradictions that are known before men. This is because contradictions and reproaches are necessary ingredients for the word to be made manifest in us. Oftentimes, we would rather preserve a name we have before men than go through the path of shame (to obey God).
4. We are to get to the point where we are with God rather than men. Like Melchizedek, we are to be delivered from all affiliations with men (Heb. 7:3) so that we can resist sin and death "unto blood" (Heb. 12:4). To be with God or live before His face is to become familiar with the glorious gospel of Christ and be decked with glory. This is because what man fell short of is glory. God wants to restore glory back to man, but the process of glorification is a shameful one. This process purges us of our old natures and deals with the things that limit our souls from becoming the temple of the living God.
5. The aim of some of the experiences we go through is to deal with the wrong images in us; this is how we can walk in the light of the work that God is doing in us. As such, we will begin to lean on a staff known as "the word of God". God wants to make men who can indeed lean and live on His words.
6. God knows that many of us do not desire salvation for what it is; rather, we seek it for gain. But as God purifies us, we will get to the point where unanswered prayers are no longer a threat to us. If we do not get to this point, there are some fallen spirits we would not overcome. We would never be able to live in the face of God if we do not get to a place of utmost trust in God, in spite of unanswered prayers – just like the three Hebrew boys (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – Dan. 3:16-18). God has to train us to live by commandments till we can solely rely on the word of God.
7. We are at a point in the spirit where God wants to deal with the same things He dealt with in the patriarchs of faith. Although we have a better substance for a greater inheritance (Christ, everlasting life, Eternal Life), we will still go through the same process. Civilisation does not prevent us from going through the same dealings they went through; these dealings are crucibles that will be customized to fit our souls, to enable us to pass into glory.
8. There are still things in us that can make us draw back, but we are being helped to become those who can live on the words of the Father. This is where we find strength to take our eyes off the things we are going through. The Lord is bringing a particular meal to us so that we are being fed to the point where we will not despise our dealings and the processes that the Lord wants to take us through. As such, we will be strong in faith like "father Abraham" who was giving glory to God irrespective of his dealings (Rom. 4:20).
Blessings!