Monday 24 September 2012

2 Peter 1:13 « I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body… »

Have you ever heard a message on Sunday morning and thought, “Boy I’ve heard this before”?  Have you ever received an impression on your spirit from the Lord and thought, “Yeah, ok.  I’ve heard that before.”  Have you ever been led by the Spirit to re-read a text that you’ve already read a thousand times?  I must confess that the older I get the more this happens.  But why does it happen?

The word translated here as “refresh” literally means “to awaken.”  Peter understood the power of repetition.  It takes hearing the same thing many times before the mind is “awakened” to the truth of what is being said.

Most modern education programs teach that truth is only two dimensional; in other words, I learn step A in order to get to step B.  But the Bible demonstrates that divine truth is multi-dimensional.  Truth is not just linear; it also has depth.  In other words, you could spend an eternity studying John 3:16 and never come to the end of all the truth contained in that one verse!

So yes, we have heard of the love of God.  Ah, but in this season the Holy Spirit is “awakening” our thoughts to a new depth of His love for us and for the lost.  We have heard of His presence.  True, but He is awakening our hearts to a greater sensitivity to His presence.  We want to know God and walk with God; but in this new season He is awakening our hunger to an intensity we have never known before.  We know that God has a plan for our lives.  This too is true, but He is awakening our thoughts to a greater awareness of our destiny in Him.

The apostle John described this experience in the following way: I looked up and saw a door open in the heavens.  And I heard a voice saying, “Come up here, and I will show you the things that will soon take place.” (See Revelation chapter 4)

As God awakens our thoughts to Him, we too shall find ourselves in a “higher” place in Him.  And as this happens we’ll look back to the way we used to live as though it were only a dream.  So, dear friend, during this last week of the fast let’s go further in Him.  He is calling.  Now is the time.  Let’s go there.