DNA Calling!!!

I think I grew up in a culture of the Church that said, “You’re not…” much more than “You are…” Perhaps that’s why I’ve struggled with insecurity about my identity in Christ’s body for so much of my life. You see, I know who I am to Jesus, but who am I to people in His Church? Whenever I step into a new church group, I usually put out feelers to see what peghole they put me in and conform to it.

But I’m tired of surviving, tired of fearing what people think, tired of cringing every time I try stepping out of the little box the enemy puts me in. I’m going to let other people off the hook and admit it’s me—it’s me listening to the lies of the enemy. He’s the one whispering the accusations and shaming me into keeping to ‘my place’. Seriously?

Our place is in Christ! Seated in the heavenlies at Daddy’s right hand! Our place is in the center of His heart and saturated with the love of His Spirit! So what about those times when Godly correction is needed? During last week’s prophetic worship conference at Faith Center, Graham Cooke said it wonderfully: “Accountability isn’t calling people out on their stuff but calling them up into their true identity.”

So let’s apply this to calling. What if God’s callings on our lives aren’t positions to be attained to but Spirit-infused DNA—the same spiritual DNA that transformed us into new creations the moment of our rebirth? What if spiritual growth isn’t advancing through categories (like church worker, deacon, teacher, pastor, prophet, apostle) but maturing in our ability to express the calling God infused into our spiritual genes from the get-go: the Bride of Christ?

I think that if we, the Church, can see each other as ALREADY who we are meant to be and simply growing in our ability to operate in our Spirit-fused callings and giftings, we won’t be so hard on each other. In fact, I think we’ll say, “Yes, you are…. Let me help you” rather than saying, “Who do you think you are? You can’t do that. You haven’t earned the right to do such and such.”

Granted, increased responsibility comes with increased maturity. We aren’t going to put a baby or child in charge of a church. But a child will seek to act like his Father. A little girl will do her very best to copy Daddy. So let’s show incredible kindness and joy as we see each other stepping out in faith and desire, doing what Daddy has put in our hearts to do. After all, the Holy Spirit is within each of us, and He absolutely delights to do what the Father is doing and help us grow in the calling we were created to walk in.

So maybe a baby lion can’t protect the pride. He’s sure going to practice his roar…and one day, he’ll be big enough to do what he was born to do!

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we ALL come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children…” Ephesians 4:11-14

No Holding Back

Tonight while we worshiped during service at Faith Center, I saw a picture: a great dam, a strong dam, like the dam at Niagara Falls with a great big, beautiful, peaceful lake behind it. I felt in that picturesque moment, the power of the Spirit suddenly burst upon the lake.

As the power was released, I saw people in the water and the water felt like the souls of the people filled with such radical, absolute passion that they could no longer stand being held back. The people and the water rushed at the dam and broke through it, pulsating over the rubble fast and strong.

I felt in that moment that my heart wanted to burst. Yes, Lord! Let there be such intense breakthrough that nothing can hold the church back.

Then I felt, but I’m not sure, that the Lord said, “The dam is holding My church. It is built to create the lake, a quiet, peaceful place to learn and grow. But get ready! Get ready! The power of My Spirit is about to be released in a new way, a way unparalleled in history.

"It will seem as if the whole dam is breaking—the whole structure upon which you, My dearly beloved, lean. Upon which, you My dearly beloved Church, lean. Because I cannot be held back by anything man-made. I must have a glorious Bride—a Bride created for excellence, released by the Spirit to expect more than mind can see or heart can imagine.

"I’m coming again. I’m coming for a Bride washed, redeemed, and sanctified, wholly one in heart with Me. So I’m doing a new thing. I’m doing a radical thing. I’m taking the old and breaking it apart to allow an even greater impartation of grace by My Spirit.

"See, I’m doing this thing, here, now. And I’m letting you know so you can get ready! I want you ready so there’s no hindrance, no obstruction to grace. Don't fear, Beloved. Perfect love casts out fear and My love is perfect for you, My beautiful Bride, My beautiful Church.

"I say, 'Get ready!' Rush smooth and strong in perfect sync with the new wine I’m bringing, the passionate grace I’m imparting, not just to one or two but a dispensation of anointing upon everyone from the youngest to the oldest, from the wisest to the simplest so that everyone may see and know that I am the Lord your God.”

In the Trenches

Early on this week as I worshipped and prayed in my living room, God showed me a picture in the spirit realm. I saw a strong, powerfully fit man, the Holy Spirit, digging a trench in a dry, barren land. It was back-breaking work, toiling in the hot sun. The land desperately needed water.

I begged God, “Send rain. We’re waiting. We’re oh, so thirsty. Send rain.” The Lord said, “I have sent rain—time after time.” I said, “Oh, God, we need more…so much more.” As I cried out, I saw a prophet to the nations. I begged for him to come because I knew he carried God's anointing and would bring a deluge—a huge, torrential deluge that Papa God had reserved to be poured out upon this place.

I gasped in air as I saw the so-badly needed water about to be released, and in that moment I understood how it would just rush off, because it would move too fast, passing over the land before the hard ground could drink it up or stop it. I cried, “Oh, Daddy, the trench isn’t deep enough. It will have to be so much deeper to hold that much water.” Because a very, very deep trench could take in the water, hold it, store it, save it so it could irrigate the land as it soaked into the rocky soil.

The Holy Spirit leaned on His shovel, gazing just over the top of that trench He had dug by refusing to give into the heat, refusing to stop in His grueling, monotonous effort. He smiled, and Father said, “It’s deep enough. Let it rain.”