We, as living stones, are being built as an altar of sacrifice (house of prayer) in our regions and seasons.
God can use us when we
- offer ourselves as living sacrifice
- adopt posture before Him rather than seek position
- know the times and strategy of the Lord
- let our steps be ordered by Him.
We, God’s children, accelerate toward becoming ‘sons,’ mature in His likeness, at the rate we say ‘yes’ to our Father. Our strident grasping and striving lead to fruitlessness, fatigue and disappointment but tiny steps of ‘Yes, Your will – not mine- be done’ align us with our Father and enable us to be and do all He has planned in our brief season on this earth. Tiny steps with God elevate us to His heavenly perspective and realm – lifting us in a state of rest from mountain top to mountain top; past the limitations of physical matter and forward and back in time, from glory to glory. Will you trust Him? Will you take tiny steps with Him? Will you step out with Him? Will you offer yourself as living sacrifice? Will you stand where He positions you?
We, in the prayer movement are forerunner intercessors, working with God as He changes the atmospheres and environments of earth and contends toward future manifestations of His kingdom on earth as in heaven. We are prophets and priests carrying the Lord’s presence and making a way for the people, the church, to transition. Our ordered steps leave stepping stones for others.
These thoughts arose from a series of encounters and conversations this week and the folowing scriptures:
Psalm 37:23 NKJ The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.
Matthew 11:28-30 The Message “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
1Peter 2:5 You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Genesis 22:1-2 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
Ephesians 5:1-3 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
2Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do-200 chiefs, with all their relatives under their command;
Joshua 4:9-11 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day. So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people.
