The Fasted Life
I am feeling an urgency to share a powerful dream I had August 31, 2008, in which the Lord began to release into me a strong word for the days we live in..days of shaking, shifting, turning-days of great change. I have previously posted this elsewhere; but, feel now is the time to re-post here.
Before I do, let me give a bit of context for the following words out of the Gospel of Mark: “If you can?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24)
A father had a son who was possessed with a spirit that was torturing the boy-robbing him of speech, throwing him violently to the ground or into fire or water, trying to kill him. The disciples had tried to deliver the boy with no success, so the man pushed through to Jesus asking for help. Jesus speaks with the father concerning belief, or faith; then, with mercy and love, casts out the demon with a word (see verses 17-27). It is the exchange between Jesus and the boy’s father I am drawn to here.
“Everything is possible for him who believes.” And, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” The words of Jesus and the response of that father speak volumes. The word, ‘believes’ is literally ‘faiths’. That is God’s desire for us. We are called to ‘believe’, or better, called to ‘faith’. And we DO believe, we DO faith; but, still feel frustration, even helplessness, inside. We are like that father in many ways.
One way to look at this might be to consider the ‘son’ in the story as our own ‘child of destiny’. I mean, that which is birthed in and to us that carries on our life, gives us purpose. The frustration and helplessness is in seeing our destiny being stolen, killed, destroyed by circumstances and powers around us that seem out of our control. Just a thought.
With that in mind, let me share the dream, because out of it comes direction for our lives as we move from the place where that father stood into the place Jesus declared for us.
THE SEARCH
In the dream, I was with a group of people inside a large, beautiful, New England style 2 1/2-story home. Know the kind? White clapboard siding, tall windows with dark green shutters, fireplaces, many hallways and rooms, large front porch, slate roof. We were searching for someone throughout the house, a woman friend of ours who was missing. We were going from room to room; but, couldn’t find her. And, there was a growing concern, almost a fear that something was wrong.
Suddenly, I remembered we hadn’t looked in the ‘attic’. Typically, these classic homes have a stairway leading up to a door (unlike the rectangular ceiling access in modern homes). I found the stairs, and lead the way up. Pushing open the door we stepped into the attic. It was a huge, open space with a vaulted ceiling. It seemed to be far larger than was possible for the size house-it was huge. And was dimly lit by two small windows, one in each of the gable ends of the house. As my eyes adjusted I saw it was empty except for a single, narrow bed in the center of the room. On it was our friend, lying quietly on her back. We drew near, and I was impressed by two things. First, she was dressed in a beautiful, long, white dress, and she was very, very thin.
Those with me were shocked, and cried out, “she has starved herself to death!” They stopped and drew back. But, I moved forward. I didn’t feel any fear, just wonder. As I leaned near her, I found her awake, and far from the horror image that starvation often brings, she was stunningly beautiful. She looked at me and smiled as she raised her arms. I slid my arms under her body lifting her up and was amazed because she was light as a feather. Putting her arms around my neck, she moved her face very close to mine, and looked into my eyes. She softly said two things:
First, she said, “This is the fast”. Then, “push through for it is, Oh, so glorious on the other side”. At that, I woke up.
There are many details of that dream that carry significance; but, the overwhelming understanding I received was this: the woman we were looking for and found; the one I lifted up in my arms and held close to my face is HOLY SPIRIT. The words Holy Spirit spoke to me are of vital importance.
THE FAST
Here is what the Lord began to speak. He said we are being called to a NEW FAST for a NEW DAY.
We know that a fast is typically seen as a setting aside, or denial, of certain things (often food) for the purpose of grabbing hold of something else.
But, what is this ‘new fast’ we are called to? The Lord said this, “It is the fast of Paul.”
Now, this fast is found in Phillipians 3:12-15–“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: FORGETTING WHAT IS BEHIND AND STRAINING TOWARD WHAT IS AHEAD, I PRESS ON TOWARD THE GOAL TO WIN THE PRIZE FOR WHICH GOD HAS CALLED ME HEAVENWARD IN CHRIST JESUS.” (emphasis mine)
In these days when all that can be shaken is being shaken, we are called as never before to “forget”, lay aside, cast off–all of the old, all of what is “behind”; to shift our whole paradigm from the external realms of men and their kingdoms, to the internal realm of Spirit and the Kingdom of God–and it is NOW TIME!
Jesus, in John 4, said, “Do you not say, ‘four months more and then the harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (vs.35) With God, all is NOW. The Kingdom of God is a NOW KINGDOM. The urgency of our times demands a NOW response.
The Lord says, “You must let go, My Beloved. Let go of all the old ways of thinking, believing, behaving. For, I have made all things new through the Blood of My Cross. The old is gone, washed away.”
“You are still clinging to the old ways. You are still allowing the patterns of this world to hold control over you. Continue to do so, and you will not see the changes you long for in your life. You MUST let go to truly Taste and See that I AM Good. For, I cannot pour out the riches of My glorious inheritance, the fulfillment of My very great and precious promises, into your hands while you so tightly clutch the old ways to your heart.”
“I ask you this, Beloved. Did the old ways bring you the satisfaction and fulfillment you longed for? Did they truly bring into reality your Destiny? No, they promised much; but, delivered nothing. And, now they are crumbling into dust before your eyes.”
“Therefore, I AM calling you to cast off the old garments, soiled and stained by the ways of this world. Cast them away like refuse. They are the old wineskins, and I cannot, I will not put My New Wine into them.”
THE PUSH
The second word given by Holy Spirit is- PUSH THROUGH!!!! Romans 8:19, 22,23 says, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed..We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the PRESENT TIME. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (emphasis mine)
The Spirit (yes, the woman in my dream) says, PUSH, PUSH THROUGH! For we are birthing something. The sons of God are being “revealed”, being birthed…the Kingdom is advancing, and the time is at hand for that revelation.
Called to lay all aside–every old way. It is not simply “behavior”, no, it is every old perception, old pattern, old paradigm–and PUSH, STRAIN toward what is ahead. This is the seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is the Pursuit of the Presence of God.
The Lord says, “Do not think your adoption as sons, the redemption of your bodies, is merely a future event–no, you are ALREADY adopted, your bodies ALREADY redeemed–for I, says the Lord, am the GOD OF THE NOW, and, My Kingdom is a NOW Kingdom. You are ‘sons’, and as sons you are ‘heirs’ to the riches of My Kingdom. I HAVE GIVEN you My Kingdom. It is yours NOW.”
“The Blood of My Cross HAS RELEASED the FULLNESS of My Kingdom. My very great and precious promises HAVE BEEN GIVEN, so that you may receive TODAY all you need to be My Glory and My Praise.”
“The door is open,” says the Lord. “Step through. Let nothing stand in your way, for the obstructions and hindrances to your experience of My Kingdom Glory are not there by My design. Nor, do they have any power to prevent you from claiming what is rightfully yours. PRESS IN! Push through. Take My Kingdom violently, by force of Spirit. You will see every obstruction cleared away, and every hindrance crumble before you.”
“This truly is the Day of Delivery. A powerful, glorious Birthing is at hand. Press in, Beloved, and take freely what is rightfully yours.”