By Mary Lindow
WHAT IS THIS OBSESSION THAT IS BEGINNING TO DRIVE PEOPLE AWAY
FROM RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES AND STRUCTURAL PROGRAMMING?
Is it fatigue from fleshly efforts?
Is it weariness with well doing?
Or!
Is it the beginning of a matter?
"Self Is The Blurred Veil That Hides The Face Of God From Us.
It Can Be Removed Only In Spiritual Experience,
Never By Simple Instruction."
- A. W. Tozer
The Lord is allowing man to have the joy and shock of coming to the end of his means of prodding and producing until he falls into a heap at the feet of the One who has the key to the place of hope and rest!
He.
The King of tranquility and Divine Purpose,
has the place of Sanctuary carved out in a definite place.
THE PLACE OF WORSHIP
" But the time is coming--it has, in fact, come--when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter."
"It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself--Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."
John: 23-24 (MSG)
THE CATALYST OF APOSTOLIC ORIGINS BEGAN WITH A "PLACE" OF SANCTUARY.
Those waiting for the Move of the Spirit of God in an upper room. Hiding from the world and its pressures and threats! Waiting. Worshiping.
Asking the heart questions of,
"Why are we here? What are we waiting for? Who is this all about?"
We are Again...
...In the same place.
AND FINALLY - AGAIN,
WE ARE SIMPLY RESTING IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THE LORD HAS BROUGHT US TO END OF THE OF THE PAST WAYS AND FORMS OF MAN.
He is preparing the way of His Power with a place of personal introspection and heart searching until we see that we must be truthful in our worship of Him.
We must come into agreement with His Spirit and the way that He desires to move among those who know Him and among those who do not.
Old things are passing away. LOOK! He does a new thing!
New to us.
BUT Not To Him.
AS WE BECOME OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF NOTHING TO PERFORM,
nothing to take to task, nothing to self generate but only to "marinate" and saturate in, we see the promises He has made begin to be realized.
SO OFTEN AS OF LATE, IN PLACES OF MEETING AND GATHERINGS OF HUNGRY SAINTS, THE HOLY HUSH OF HEAVEN HAS FALLEN WITH SUCH SWEETNESS AND SIMPLICITY.
All the fancy trappings of "noisy worship strategy" pale compared to this heavy rich perfumed presence that descends on those who will wait upon the Lord and grow stronger. There is no need for airy or trendy teachings and thoughts. No need for the pious and well versed to instruct in well-oiled speeches implying the way to go.
As we wait.
Humble.
At His feet...
...He moves upon many within the Body to rise up and declare, to share, risk, expound and grow in the Grace of God, as well as in much Mercy.
HEAVEN LONGS TO KISS THE EARTH AGAIN.
The King of Heaven is descending with an unexplainable and definite wave of stillness.
It is His manifested Presence.
In His Presence. His Sanctuary.
Is fullness.
Completion.
Needs met...
...And Joy.
COME. LET US BE MAGNIFICENTLY WRAPPED UP IN HIM!
"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
My soul thirsts for you, My body longs for you,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory."
- Psalm 63:1-2