Photo provided by Jan Davis
The Holy Spirit is much like the wind and we tend to only trust the Holy Spirit when we can see what is taking place. We tend to be people who do not like the great unknown. We put our heals into the sand and dig deep to keep from letting change take place because it causes us to wade out into the waters of the unknown. I truly believe America is doing just that; wadding into the great unknown. America as we have always known it, is a thing of the past. This causes our hearts to feel we are wading into the depth of the darkness with nothing to hold onto. It sets fear into motion and for most of us when fear is set into motion we start wounding people around us. Trying to find something to hold on to-many times we grab hold of others and pull them down with us, much like a person drowning in water.
Is this a bad thing that is taking place in America? My answer would immediately be yes; if I were looking through my own eyes. Although if I take my rose colored glasses off and look at what is taking place through the eyes of Christ, I might see something far different.
In order to form such a magnificent picture as shown above there had to be several things that took place. The wind had to blow at just the right time in just the right direction, the sun had to be in just the right spot at exactly the right time. The water had to be calm and not raging. The moisture in the atmosphere had to be at the right level for the clouds to be summoned to that specific location and all the trees standing in attention.
You see, change had to take place in order for you and I to get to see the beauty displayed in this photo. The same is true in our community and our churches. We may try to fight change with all our being and in doing so we may miss the masterpiece of all times.
My heart chooses to believe the Lord has summonsed every nation and every tribe from around the world into America. Will she be the same? No, she will never be able to return to what she was. Will she be hurt from the change? Yes, I am sure she will be hurt. Just as Joseph was wounded when he was sold into slavery, and then found out that God had such a greater plan for his life. So America may find herself feeling the same for a period of time.
If you notice in the scripture that America isn't talked about in the last days, it may be due to the great change that takes place and she becomes weak so that the Lord's plan is displayed in a mighty way. When we try to be larger than God, the world only can see America but when she is brought low, God's glory will be set on display for the world to see.
You might say, "Why would the Lord possibly desire to bring all the nations of the world into America?" I say, "When Pentecost took place, which is a masterpiece of all masterpieces, people came from many countries into that specific place." After they had gathered into one place the Lord caused them to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, in their own language, and when they heard, they didn't stay. After they left that place, they shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with their families, which took the gospel of Christ into every country they returned to and caused the gospel to spread like fire.
Just as Thanh has come to America and learned about Christ and is now desiring for his family to know Christ, the same was true in that day. The bible says that every tribe and every nation will have heard about the gospel of Jesus Christ and will be without excuse before his return.
As the Lord causes the winds to blow, he draws those nations into this land and we are now given the opportunity of a lifetime. You can demand to get what you want and refuse to change or you can stand and watch the Lord Jesus Christ display the masterpiece he has planned to display.
The last few weeks, we were able to see Thanh come to Christ and in turn started sharing Christ with his family. What a beautiful masterpiece. We could have pushed him aside and been angry that he had come into our country and refuse to speak with him and we would have totally missed out on this masterpiece.
The Lord has more masterpieces planned to display. You can stand in the right place at the right time and get to be a beautiful part of that masterpiece that's put on display or you can scream, stomp and refuse to be a part. It's totally your decision.
It wasn't difficult for the wind to be set on display in this portrait and neither was it difficult for the clouds. The same is true for us. We just need to be where the Lord puts us, doing what he wants us to do and he will paint the rest of the portrait. A portrait filled with vibrant colors and one that could change your life, you community, your nation or your world.
I am sure when the countries gathered in Acts at Pentecost, had no idea what the Lord was fixing to display for generations to come, neither do we, but may we stand where he sends us and be who he wants us to be.
Acts 2: 1-21
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 ¶ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
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