What is the church going to look like when we reach the other side of this re-set time?” We are still on the bridge from “here to there” and don’t really know what “the land” is going to look like as we enter into this new place. We know it is not going to be … “Whew – now that’s done, so let’s move on with things as usual. Let’s carry on with the same strategy and expressions we are used to.” Friends, there is so much that we must understand about what God is doing in this cross-over time. One thing we know for sure is that He is building the Temple – built with Living Stones instead of bricks and mortar! A temple fit for the glory of the Lord to abide within! Bricks that are set in place with mortar do not move. They simply sit within a structure and do the same job day after day. Living stones are free to shift, adjust, and grow. Do you realize that stones (rocks) actually are a living thing? Over time, they actually grow and change. Look at this quote from Live Science: Metamorphic rocks — which have been heated, put under pressure, or both — can grow stronger (harder to break) and heavier. The minerals in the original rock transform from the heat and pressure. Metamorphic rocks gain strength when heat and pressure cause their minerals to lock more tightly together. Also, a rock’s density may increase if it undergoes pressure — packing the same amount of material into a smaller space (volume). “This makes a piece of the rock feel heavier than the same-sized piece of the original rock,” Wow – do you think we are under heat and pressure right now? Stones also grow from constant exposure to water. The waters flowing over them or from being immersed deep within the flow of the water. No wonder the Lord chooses “living stones”! They are alive! They grow, and change! They are comprised of minerals and live matter! Sounds like us, right? When you see actual walls built with living stones, you will also find pillars placed along the way. These pillars are meant to provide strength and support – to enable the other stones to fulfill their place in the wall. Let’s look at it this way: the “living stones” are every member of the ecclesia (church), and the pillars are the “five-fold ministry” set in place to support the stones. The pillars themselves are also made of living stones placed in upright columns. Their job is to support and strengthen the other stones! The stone’s job is not to provide position and purpose for the pillars! For far too long we have sat in our seats and been happy little bricks, depending upon our purpose to come from the pillars, instead of desiring to fulfill our destinies. Let’s not keep looking for glory to be poured out in a building, but instead, let’s “arise and shine” and look for His glory to be poured out within “the temple” of the Living God! Buildings are meant to be places to train up, equip, and to release God’s people into the world for the sake of nations! Not as places to simply sit and say “we’ve been to church”, “wasn’t that a good message”, “wow – the Holy Spirit was really here today”. Folks, we are His temple! Would He pour the precious Holy Spirit into us for only the purpose of living our lives on easy street? If we are “His temple”, filled with His glory – let’s be determined to discover what He has in store for us! May God raise up pillars who will equip, strengthen, and support the stones so that the living stones may fulfill their role in the wall. Those who will not seek to profit from their positions. Not seeking power, fame, or fortune from their role in the family of God. Hallelujah! Do it, Lord! Raise up the true leadership from amongst the stones!
So, you are not foreigners or guests, but rather you are the children of the city of the holy ones, with all the rights as family members of the household of God. You are rising like the perfectly fitted stones of the temple; and your lives are being built up together upon the ideal foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, and best of all, you are connected to the Head Cornerstone of the building, the Anointed One, Jesus Christ himself! This entire building is under construction and is continually growing under his supervision until it rises up completed as the holy temple of the Lord himself. 22 This means that God is transforming each one of you into the Holy of Holies, his dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you! Ephesians 2:19-22 (TPT)
God’s whispered these words to me on June 16, 2020. Selah! Think about this and let God prepare your heart as a “living stone” being built and fashioned as a place for His glory to reside…
“You want to know what the rebuilding of my temple will look like? It’s stripping my people of the ways and agendas of the world. Removing the filthy rags of religion and self-efforts, self-promotion, and the fear of man. No longer looking to be validated by man, by efforts or accolades. It’s allowing me to remove the old, stained clothing and replace it with garments meant for my children. It’s preaching the ways that are pleasing to me. It’s giving my children food that nourishes them instead of foods that are pleasing to the flesh. My ways, my food, my plans, my agendas. I will raise up a people whose only desire is to follow me. Their only desire is to know me and spend time with me. People who will lay down their own agendas and ways and allow me to rebuild them into the temple fit for my Spirit to abide in. The rebuilding of the temple so that my glory can be shone. My ways and plans will be heralded and spoken – not the ways of man. Not for gain and profit, but for the profit of my kingdom. I want my children to be raised in ways that prepare them to become strong, pure, mature adults. Adults ready to handle the job of shepherding the children. Like an earthly parent who truly only wants what is best for their children. Not parents who try to conform the children into what they want them to be. But, instilling values and morals that come from knowing me. Loving me first and then loving others with my love. I will build the church. I will build the temple made with living stones. One stone at a time. No longer seeking to minister to the masses, but being willing to go after the one lost sheep and bring them back into the pasture. I am indeed looking for people who want my heart and to follow my ways. I will raise up the pillars in my house who will stand straight and tall. Those who will be the plumb-line examples for others to follow. Those not seeking their own glory, but only to release my glory. Who will leave their ways and allow me to do the work in them? These are the ones I am looking for. These are the ones who are responding to my voice in this hour. These are the ones I will use to proclaim my kingdom, my ways, and my plans. There is no going back. There is no doing things the old way. There is no plan of man that will produce life. My ways and plans – and only my ways and plans bring life. Who will listen? Who will respond? Who will go against the grain? Against the ways acceptable to man? Who is willing to look foolish to the world? I am calling you out of the places of bondage and shackles – into my glorious light and freedom. To each one who is set free and answers the call to GO – to become one who will herald my message …I will give my revelation, my ways, my plans. I will put my Spirit upon them and use them to set the captives free and to preach good news to the poor. A time is coming soon where I will begin to reveal my glory and the world will see that I am the God who loves them. Not all will receive, but all the world will see. This is a move of my Spirit that will sweep the earth and it will rise and release the rivers of life throughout all the earth. I will reveal my plans and strategies to those who truly desire them. We are about to build in ways not yet seen by mankind. The stones must be washed, polished, honed, and prepared. Not just any stone will be placed in the structure of the walls. They must be selected carefully and prepared to take their place. As my people listen to me, follow what I am saying, and doing – the stones will be prepared and the walls will be built.”
I am a person of few words. But I do listen.
And love what I hear.