There were some remarkably talented musicians in the heyday
of rock & roll, back in the 70’s and such.
Have you ever noticed that a whole lot of the “big name” 70’s
bands are still on tour, still singing the same songs, still riding that wave.
And in all honesty, they’re still making a good living that way, reliving their
past successes.
Other artists with just as much of a heyday in the past, are
not riding on the past successes. They’re still pushing forward, still staying
fresh, still developing.
Don’t worry, this is going to make sense in a minute.
I was listening to one of those “golden oldies” (ironically,
it was a song called “Comfortably Numb”) when Father caught my attention, and pointed
out that there are at least two lessons to learn here:
1) The artists who made the turn and are still fresh and
creative have generally spent a season or three in a hard place before they
were able to move on in their craft.
2) This principle is true in the kingdom (and this one
really kicked me in the gut). There are lessons for me (and maybe you) here:
2a) There are some remarkably
gifted ministries of the past heydays of one revival or another who are still
singing the same (basic) message, still riding that wave. And in all honesty,
they’re still making a living that way, reliving their past successes. Some are big names; others still have regional
or just informal spheres of influence. We notice the big names more.
2b) There are other ministries (the
ones that come to my mind tend toward prophetic ministries, though that may
just be my perception) that have had just as much of a heyday in the past, but are not riding on the past successes.
They’re still pushing forward, still staying fresh, still pressing in for a
fresh revelation for this fresh season.
2c) The difference very often is
about who has been willing to be allured into the wilderness, away from busyness
and “success,” to sit with the Almighty, to listen to his heartbeat, to
understand more of his heart, particularly his intents for today.
I remember that after his baptism, Holy Spirit “drove” or “compelled”
Jesus into the wilderness [Mark 1:12] for a remarkable and memorable challenge.
But at the end of that adventure, “the angels ministered to Him.” And
afterwords, he “returned in the power of the Spirit.”
Apparently seasons in the wilderness are valuable.
I observe a few things here:
• Wilderness seasons seem to be God’s timing [cf Mark 1:12
& Hosea 2:14], not ours.
• But our choices are incredibly powerful here:
○ Do we choose to go to the scary,
uncomfortable place that he’s leading?
○ Once we’re in that place, do we
stand up and resist the evil that (mistakenly) thinks we’re weak? Do we whine
and beg for people to pray for us, or do we stand in the devil’s face and plant ourselves on
the foundation of the Word (both scripture and prophetic words)? [Note: Community
is precious in these times, but wildernesses are generally solitary events.]
○ Do we let angels minister to us?
(Do we know how?)
○ When
we come successfully through the wilderness, we walk in more of “the power of
the Spirit.” What do we do with that power, that influence?
If this feels rough, that’s only because it is. I’m in the
midst of these lessons myself. I don’t have all the answers anymore. I only
share this in case others are going through such a time, or will shortly, and
might benefit from some signposts along that trail into the wild places.
#AlMacksJournal
