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The Swimming Hole

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Hebrews 1:1-3 In many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets, 2 [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].3 He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high,…

Three things really stand out to me when I read this passage: Revelations, God Spoke, and the Mighty Word of Power. The summer before I went to college (1981) I was terrified of going. I had only been walking with Jesus in a conscious, personal relationship for only a year and a half. I did not want to lose what I had with the Lord. My plan of action was to not work a part-time job that summer seeking to draw near to Him. Back then I didn’t know that’s what it was called – I just did it. Mostly I spent my time reading, memorizing, and studying the Word – praying about what I discovered in its’ pages. I had no idea the transformation it was making, the revelations that were coming to me, and how God was using it to speak to me. I had no idea until some friends from church invited me to go swimming in a creek located behind a golf course not far from my home. The only way we knew to get to that swimming hole was through the woods located on the other side. There was a footpath worn through the woods which ended abruptly with a twelve to fifteen foot cliff dropping off to the creek below. The scene offered you a breath-taking view of the golf course, the cliff, and the meandering creek. Whenever we visited this site we were compelled to run down the path, leap out in the air, hurtling towards the creek below. The run was necessary in order to clear the four foot bank located at the bottom of the cliff. It was a great place to swim. But on this particular day, while we were swimming and having a good time, a group of boys who lived on the other side of the creek near the golf course, chose to invade our space. I was OK with that until one of them used some profanity. It was just one word. But that one word shot through me as if someone had slapped me in the face. I was startled and stunned by it. Now you have to understand why this was significant. I had used profanity from the time I was nine years old. I wasn’t a stranger to colorful language. What struck me in this moment was why and how one word had startled me. As I pondered the significance of that moment several things came into focus, and Jesus’ Words came to me in revelation that deepened my understanding of the power of His Words. All Scripture is God-breathed. The Holy Spirit was reminding me of things Jesus had said, and in that moment a Scripture came to life: You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (Jn. 15:3) That moment was significant because I realized the significance of my spending time in His Word and prayer. His Word had been cleansing me, and now a distinction had been made between sacred speech and profane speech. His word was upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling me. His Word had been cleansing, and setting me apart to Him, and for Him. The even more amazing thing? I wasn’t even conscious of its’ effect. Ephesians 5:26 refers to the “washing of the water of the Word.”

James 1:18 states: He chose to give us birth through the word of truth,...and 1 Peter 1:23 states: For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. You have been born-again, or spiritually birthed, by His Word. And you are a new creation in Jesus because of that Word. Your new being is made for that Word – nourished and strengthened by it. Like us teenagers, that summer of 1981, new creations are called to leap out into the deep things of God. You are called to plunge into and swim around in the deep waters of His Word. It calls to you. By faith, pursue it, and don’t forget to have fun in seeking the Wonders of Who He is. Become conscious of the impact of those words, and praise Him for the gift you hold in your hands. In all the world there’s not a Book like it.

Cycles of God

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Numbers 1:1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month in the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt, saying,…

Recently I saw an article entitled: Fasting – What a Blessing! When I was younger I undertook fasting for 40 days and only lasted 30. The next time I was called to fast I went for the full 40 days. Other than the physical weakness, once I surpassed the 2-3 day mark, I was amazed at how His Grace carried me through. I even began to feel better, experiencing clearer thinking. I say all of this to say I am no stranger to fasting and have to admit that when God has called you to it – there is a great grace to make the impossible become possible. It’s quite amazing. But in all my fasting I would be quick to confess that I’ve not been caught up to the Third Heaven with the Apostle Paul, or experienced Throne Room worship with the saints and angels. Actually quite the opposite occurred and I would not have called it a blessing. But thank the Lord for His Grace that has caused me to learn a better approach in what to expect, or what some may call its’ secrets. What are some of those secrets?

Prepare to Enter a Spiritual Wilderness. When I first read books about fasting I was misled to believe it was going to be this glorious mountain top experience. But that was not to be the case. The Bible teaches that God has spiritual cycles that it carries us through (if we are paying attention): Ecclesiastus 3:1-4 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance.

Studying the life of the children of Israel from the exodus out of Egypt – through the wilderness – to their emerging victorious to enter the Promised Land – you observe three major cycles of God for His people. The Mountaintop Season or Cycle, the Wilderness or Valley Season or Cycle, and the Season or cycle of Warfare. To choose to enter a fast or even to seek after God will automatically default you to the Season or Cycle of the Valley or Wilderness.

Many of the things you lean on for spiritual props are removed during fasting teaching you to get in touch with your spirit. Prayer warrior, Andrew Murray once remarked: Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal.  Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God. And there it is: fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. It is not to be an emotional high but a walk through the dusty places of your soul in order to get to the wealth and riches of your spirit man. It is a journey of faith – not sight; not emotional highs – but one that can only be taken one day at a time.

Prepare to Listen for His Still, Small Voice. I have learned that through fasting I can count on receiving more revelation from God’s Word. The spiritual wilderness is where the “manna” of His Word falls. Like Israel of old rise early to gather as much as you want and trust and believe God will provide. Position yourself to hear His Spirit unlock the Word of God for you like never before.

Prepare for Offense. Another thing I have observed and experienced is that fasting “kick’s” up the offenses in me. Fasting is a means of humbling yourself not going on some quest to pay penance for your sins (although you can do that). Dt. 8:3 And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you recognize and personally know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Fasting is a means to humble yourself under what the Spirit causes to surface through others. What do I mean? I have learned that while fasting I need to pay special attention to every negative event in my life (for they will surely come). People will make me angry, offend, irritate, and confound me with all their many sins, weaknesses, self-centeredness, and pride. The painful truth is that their so-called weaknesses are really being used by God to expose my own. I’ve learned to not blame others for my offenses and irritations – but that these are the very things God is seeking to eliminate in me. I have learned to turn those issue into prayers of confession and repentance. I have learned to press into more of His Presence through thanksgiving and worship. These are the weapons that fight my battle.

Whatever season or cycle you find yourself in learn to open the DOOR of Laodicea and listen for His call and knock. He’s longing for any one who will take the time to enter His Narrow DOOR.