“The Great Tsunami” – Rick Joyner
In 1987 I had a two-and-a-half-day prophetic experience in which I was shown a panorama of coming events that I wrote about in my book titled, The Harvest. Most of what I saw coming has now taken place, but the biggest event of all, the harvest that was at the end of the age, has not. It is now approaching.
Jesus said, “The harvest is the end of the age” (see Matthew 13:39). This will be the greatest ingathering of new Believers in history, greater than all the previous ones combined. In my vision, this came in two great waves. The first wave was the largest up until this time, but it was only the ingathering of those who were called to be the laborers in the coming even much greater one.
This first wave began shortly after I was given this vision and lasted for almost twenty years. During that time more people came to Christ around the world than had come to Him in all of history up until that time. Some estimates were that an average of almost four hundred thousand people a day were coming to Christ during its peak. There were countries where people were being born again faster than they were being born. Hundreds of millions came to Christ in Africa, South and Central America, and Asia.
Though this wave hardly seemed to touch North America and Europe, they provided many of the evangelists and workers for the other great revivals around the world, and their time is coming. I then saw a period of relative calm before the greatest of all moves of God began. We are near the end of that time and are about to be hit by a wave of revival like the earth has never seen before.
The Magnitude of the Harvest
When a tsunami is traveling across the oceans, it is barely a discernable ripple in the water, but when it approaches land, it begins to rise fast, sometimes to a height of several hundred feet. In minutes, a calm sea can rise up and sweep away everything in its path. Even though it may seem that we are in a spiritual calm now, a spiritual tsunami is coming, and we must prepare for it.
The biggest problem virtually every church will be facing is how to handle explosive growth. In the vision, I saw small churches of less than a hundred people adding a thousand new members a week at times. Of course, this happened on the Day of Pentecost, and then there were other days in which thousands came to Christ in a day. Even with a dozen apostles personally trained by the Lord, there was stress caused by this. Pressure points gave birth to new ministries such as the deacon. The infrastructure of church life that this produced is still the model that works, and we need to return to its effective simplicity to handle what is coming.
I saw churches that grew so large that they started renting football and soccer stadiums in which to hold their services. At times, hundreds of thousands would gather in parks and huge outdoor meetings just to hear Bible teachers to pray and to worship. Not only were whole cities coming to Christ, but also entire nations were coming so that the state itself became like a large church.
A few years ago I decided to watch the news for several hours a day for a week to determine what percentage of stories could be considered good news. During that time I did not see one good news story. They were all about problems, crises, disasters, and suffering. This was during the time of some of our greatest economic prosperity. Now it’s worse. However, change is coming. When this next wave hits, the news around the world is going to be dominated by good news.
We will see events like hundreds of thousands of people gathering spontaneously for prayer and worship, becoming the biggest news stories of the day. News teams will be following apostolic teams and evangelists like they do politicians and business leaders now. Much more is happening now than most are aware of, or that is making the news, but when the Lord “suddenly comes into His temple,” it will be the news, and the whole world will be aware of it.
There will be individual newscasts from secular networks that will cause more to come to Christ than Christian networks have in their entire existence. This is not to negate what has been accomplished by Christian networks but rather to stress the impact that this revival will have. We will go through a period when the news of the great things God is doing will crowd out just about all other news around the world.
Both the Welsh and the Azusa Street Revivals made front-page news around the world repeatedly for nearly two years. That was just a foretaste, a seed being planted for what is to come. The coming move of God will in some ways be a composite of many of the great moves of the past, but in one basic way it will be different—this will not just be a move of God, but it will be God moving.
This is not just semantics, because every true move of God is at least initiated by God, but He will bless many things He will not inhabit. His manifest presence will be so great in what is coming that people will not chase after individual truths, or acts of God, but they will be after the Lord Himself. He will be the conversation, not just what He does. This is a move that will lift up Jesus. When He is lifted up, all will be drawn to Him, not just to doctrines, projects, or missions, but to Him.
Doctrine certainly has its place, and there is a great need for sound Biblical doctrine to be imparted to all new Believers, and for all other Believers to build stronger foundations on His truth. There is a need for projects and missions that are His will, but “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” and the Main Thing is Jesus. The true apostolic Gospel was Jesus: “They preached Jesus and the resurrection from the dead.” Jesus will again be the Message, and it will be what He is doing that gets the attention.
What is coming is the return to the apostolic Gospel. The Way is a Person. Truth is a Person, and if we don’t know that Person as our Life, then we don’t really know the Way or the Truth either. He is coming to take His rightful place in His Church. When He does, the Church will be profoundly changed. When Jesus becomes our desire as He should be, the Church will become the ultimate society on the earth that multitudes will be streaming to. There is no greater adventure than the true Christian life, and there is nothing more boring than religion. Religion is about to be displaced by the true Christian life, and the great adventure will supplant institutional religion.
Catch the Wave
We are coming to the most exciting times in history, but this is also a warning. If we are not prepared for what is coming, we will be victims of it. This coming worldwide revival will also be one of the biggest challenges ever. Moves of God are often referred to as waves in history because a wave is an accurate metaphor. For a surfer, there are few things as thrilling as catching “the big one.” However, if you’re casually strolling in the surf and the big one catches you by surprise, you will likely eat a lot of sand and drink a lot of salt water. Revivals can do the same thing to churches and ministries that are not prepared for them.
Riding a wave is not possible unless you are positioned right to catch it. To catch a wave, you must discern where it is going to break. Then you must position yourself in the right place. Then you have to begin moving in the right direction when it comes. Though it may seem that everything is quiet right now, we need to be getting prepared for what is coming by getting into position and be ready to move in the right direction as it comes.
The most important thing that we can do to get into the right position is to recover and strengthen our first love—Jesus. We all signed up for Him, not just good teachings, or a better way to live, though we do get those too. There is nothing on earth more contagious than a person who is getting closer to the Lord. Those “who have been with Jesus” are going to start standing out as never before. We only have true spiritual authority to the degree that we are abiding in the King, and the leaders of what is coming will be those who are the closest to the Lord.
What is coming will be far too big for any human leadership or strategy to control. Only the Captain of the hosts can lead this one, and He will. It is not just hearing the words of the Lord as much as it is hearing the Word Himself. The main strategy for what is to come will be to know His voice and to obey Him. He will be giving personal direction to His people. This is why we are told in Acts 2:17-18 that “in the last days” when He pours out His Spirit, the result is dreams, visions, and prophecy upon the old and young, male and female, which obviously includes everyone. This is because we are going to need this kind of guidance for what is to come, and He is going to give it to us as He always has for those who would seek Him.
The coming move of God will be the greatest challenge we’ve ever faced but also will be the greatest time of our lives. These are the times that even the prophets of old desired to see. The Lord has saved His best wine for last, and many who are reading this will witness the greatest move of God of all time.
It is right to appreciate the honor of living in these times, but it is also right to treat it as the great responsibility that it is. To whom much is given much will be required, and this will be a time when much work must be done. Even so, when we are yoked with the Lord, we will find rest and refreshment in our labors as we are told in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
You do not put on a yoke to go to bed but rather to do work. However, there is no greater rest and refreshment for our souls that we could ever find than being yoked with the Lord in His work. There is no job or profession we could ever have in this life more fulfilling than doing what He created us to do before the foundation of the world. This will be life on a level more exciting and fulfilling than most have ever known. Even so, knowing and abiding in the rest of the Lord will be crucial for all during this time. As much work as there will be to do with so many coming to the faith, we must not fall to human striving. Striving is counterproductive in the work in the true work of the Kingdom.
He Is Supernatural
We were created to have fellowship with God Who is Spirit. Because of this, there is a deep yearning for the spiritual, the supernatural, in every human being. Many cover it up, but we can never be truly fulfilled or at peace without this spiritual fellowship with God. As Jesus stated in John 4:23-24:
“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The Apostle Paul said that if we are at home in the body, or in the natural, we are absent from the Lord (see II Corinthians 5:6-9). We should be more at home in the spiritual realm than we are the natural because the “new creation” is born of the Spirit. This too is going to become a reality in what is coming. Then extraordinary miracles become common, and even the “greater works,” such as speaking to mountains and having them plucked up and moved, will be done to prove that the Word of God is true.
The true Christian life is a supernatural life, and this will be a reality in what is coming. However, that we will be seeing such miracles also means that we will be living in times when we will need those miracles. Everyone will be in either continuous awe and wonder at the great things the Lord is doing, or in continuous terror at what is happening in the world. The Apostle Paul said in Acts 14:22, “Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God.” This is true personally and for the whole world. In every trial there is a door to the Kingdom, and in the ultimate trial of the whole earth, the whole earth will enter the Kingdom.
The good thing is that the tribulation will not last, but the Kingdom will. For those who are staying close to the Lord, they will hardly know that they are passing through tribulations. In a prophetic experience, I was once caught up and found myself standing in front of a radar screen on a warship, with the Lord Himself standing next to me. There was a blip on the screen coming straight at us, so I called for the ship to turn 90 degrees. The ship turned, but the blip on the screen remained right in front and coming closer. I called for the ship to turn again, with the same results. I then braced for the impact, but the blip went away and nothing happened. I then asked the Lord what had happened. He said the blip on the radar screen was the great time of trouble. He said that it was coming and there was no way to avoid it, but if we stayed close to Him, we wouldn’t even feel it.
For those who are walking in their purpose, even the great tribulation will be a minor event. There will be far more attention on what Christ is doing than on what the antichrist is doing. As we read in Isaiah 60, at the very time when darkness is covering the earth, and deep darkness the people, the Lord’s glory will be rising on His people. Then, as we see in verse three, the nations will come to the glory. The light wins! We do need to know the devil’s schemes, but true security comes from knowing what Christ is doing, and uniting with Him in His purposes.
As we read in Daniel 2, at the same time all of the kingdoms of men are collapsing and becoming like dust, the Kingdom of God is growing, and it will keep growing until it fills the earth. Those who are obeying His command to seek first His Kingdom (see Matthew 6:33) will experience never-ending increase. Those who are seeking first the things of this world will experience increasing troubles. Every coming year this distinction will become more pronounced. It is time to put the Kingdom first, above anything else that we are pursuing.
One of the most important things that we can do to be positioned to catch the wave that is coming is to come to know the gifts and ministries of the Spirit that we are called to walk in, and begin to walk in them. The Ephesians 4 mandate of all true New Testament ministry is to equip others to do the work of the ministry, not just do it ourselves. Those who do not obey this mandate will soon disappear from leadership in the church, and those who train and equip their people will be the future leaders of the Body of Christ. These are the ones who are not burying the talents they’ve been entrusted with but are investing and multiplying them. We cannot accomplish what we must in these times without every part of the Body doing its part.
Summary
For the last five years I have been shown many difficulties and hardships that will be coming, and to date, they have proven to be accurate. Not many wanted to hear or believe what we had to say, and I have to admit that it has not been much fun having so many hard words. Even so, all of these trials have doors to the Kingdom that we must now walk through. Those who did hear the warning and prepared accordingly have done very well. The prepared will prosper in any situation. One of the most important preparations we can make for these times is simplicity of life.
Gaining or losing natural resources is not nearly as important in these times as being in the right place, equipped for our purpose. To lose everything we own is not nearly as important compared to missing the greatest of all spiritual opportunities that is coming. The most valuable thing we can accomplish in this life is to hear those greatest of words on the Judgment Day: “Well done good and faithful servant” (see Matthew 25:23). There is not a human being who would not gladly trade all that they accomplished to hear those words on that day. This is also what we must live for now. Those who do will be the happiest of all people, and that joy will not go away forever.
Humility
Wherever you find real love, you will also find humility. Remember something: humility is not a weak and timid quality. Too often we feel that humility is a sign of weakness. This is not so. Humility is a show of security and strength. It is the solid foundation of all virtues, and I believe that the very first test of a truly great man is his humility. Kathryn Kuhlman
Ma gandesc adanc la Cuvantul Tau…
Cand a incetat sa vorbeasca, a zis lui Simon: “Departeaz-o la adanc si aruncati-va mrejele pentru pescuire.” (Luc.5:4)
Departeaza-te de multime Simone, departeaza-te de gandirea bazata pe legile lumii naturale, departeaza-te de ritual, nu lua in seama parerea omului, departeaza-te, lumea Mea functioneaza altfel, inteleg ca ai facut ce tine de mintea ta, de capacitatea ta omeneasca, acuma hai sa te invat cum functioneaza lucrurile in Imparatia Mea. In ape adanci acolo vei gasi pesti din abundenta, adancimea e cea care face diferenta, departeaza-te de banal, de mal, de margini, de ambiguu, de stat cu un picior in apa si cu altul pe uscat, in larg unde rupi orice legatura cu lucrurile pe care le poti controla cu de la sine putere, acolo e captura pe care o vrei, in apele adanci, vino cu Mine…
Ma gandesc adanc la poruncile Tale, si cararile Tale le am sub ochi. (Ps.119:15)
Sa tot stea voievozii si sa vorbeasca impotriva mea: robul Tau cugeta adanc la oranduirile Tale. (Ps.119:23)
Imi intind mainile spre poruncile Tale pe care le iubesc si vreau sa ma gandesc adanc la oranduirile Tale. (Ps.119:48)
O iau inaintea strajilor de noapte si deschid ochii, ca sa ma gandesc adanc la cuvantul Tau. (Ps.119:148)
Dupa ce Petru a ascultat de Isus si a departat barca la adanc, minunea s-a intamplat, acolo a avut parte de revelatia lui Dumnezeu, manifestarea Imparatiei, manifestarea supranaturala, acolo Petru s-a intalnit cu maretia lui Dumnezeu. In momentul in care Petru a avut captura aceea impresionanta de pesti, acea manifestare supranaturala care l-a lovit pe el nu a fost doar in beneficiul lui, cei din preajma lui, cei care erau la locul potrivit, care erau pozitionati bine, au fost si ei beneficiarii acelei minuni.
Luca 5:6,7. Dupa ce le-au aruncat, au prins o asa de mare multime de pesti ca incepeau sa li se rupa mrejele. Au facut semn tovarasilor lor care erau in cealalta corabie sa vina sa le ajute. Aceia au venit, si au umplut amandoua corabiile, asa ca au inceput sa se afunde corabiile.
Ce s-a intamplat cu oamenii astia cand s-au trezit cu revarsarea aceea de pesti peste ei? De fapt a fost mai mult decat o revarsare de pesti, a fost o revarsare a lui Isus peste viata lor. Oamenii astia au avut revelatia faptului ca viata fara El nu merita traita, au lasat totul si au mers dupa El. Luca 5:11.
Atentie la admiratori
Luca 4:16. A venit in Nazaret, unde fusese crescut; si, dupa obiceiul Sau, in ziua Sabatului a intrat in sinagoga. S-a sculat sa citeasca,
17. si I s-a dat cartea prorocului Isaia. Cand a deschis-o, a dat peste locul unde era scris:
18. “Duhul Domnului este peste Mine, pentru ca M-a uns sa vestesc saracilor Evanghelia; M-a trimis sa tamaduiesc pe cei cu inima zdrobita, sa propovaduiesc robilor de razboi slobozirea, si orbilor capatarea vederii; sa dau drumul celor apasati
19. si sa vestesc anul de indurare al Domnului.”
20. In urma, a inchis cartea, a dat-o inapoi ingrijitorului si a sezut jos. Toti cei ce se aflau in sinagoga aveau privirile pironite spre El.
21. Atunci a inceput sa le spuna: “Astazi s-au implinit cuvintele acestea din Scriptura pe care le-ati auzit.”
22. Si toti Il vorbeau de bine, se mirau de cuvintele pline de har care ieseau din gura Lui si ziceau: “Oare nu este acesta feciorul lui Iosif?”
23. Isus le-a zis: “Fara indoiala, Imi veti spune zicala aceea: “Doctore, vindeca-te pe tine insuti”; si Imi veti zice: “Fa si aici, in patria Ta, tot ce am auzit ca ai facut in Capernaum.”
24. “Dar”, a adaugat El, “adevarat va spun ca niciun proroc nu este primit bine in patria lui.
25. Ba inca, adevarat va spun ca, pe vremea lui Ilie, cand a fost incuiat cerul sa nu dea ploaie trei ani si sase luni si cand a venit o foamete mare peste toata tara, erau multe vaduve in Israel;
26. si totusi Ilie n-a fost trimis la niciuna din ele, afara de o vaduva din Sarepta Sidonului.
27. Si multi leprosi erau in Israel, pe vremea prorocului Elisei; si totusi niciunul din ei n-a fost curatat, afara de Naaman, sirianul.”
28.toti cei din sinagoga, cand au auzit aceste lucruri, s-au umplut de manie.
29. Si s-au sculat, L-au scos afara din cetate si L-au dus pana in spranceana muntelui pe care era zidita cetatea lor, ca sa-L arunce jos in prapastie.
30. Dar Isus a trecut prin mijlocul lor si a plecat de acolo.
Atata timp cat Isus le-a vorbit lucruri generale, nimeni nu a avut nici o problema, ba chiar l-au apreciat si aplaudat, dar in momentul in care Isus a spus niste adevaruri concrete despre ei, despre nivelul lor de credinta, despre judecatile lor gresite, atitudinea lor s-a schimbat brusc. Drumul de la aplauze la dorinta de a-L omora pe Isus a fost adevarul spus despre ei.
Rapsodia realitatilor
Pentru a descarca RAPSODIA REALITATILOR, devotionale ale pastorului Chris, click AICI
Egoismul
Filipeni 2:3-5. Nu faceti nimic din duh de cearta sau din slava desarta; ci, in smerenie, fiecare sa priveasca pe altul mai presus de el insusi. Fiecare din voi sa se uite nu la foloasele lui, ci si la foloasele altora. Sa aveti in voi gandul acesta care era si in Hristos Isus
Egoismul este o chestie care il face pe om sa isi dea cu stangul in dreptul. E o pacaleala uriasa a celui rau, prin care omul este inselat foarte subtil sub pretextul ca isi va face bine. De fapt egoismul este un interes personal pe termen scurt, in defavoarea beneficiului pe care omul il poate avea pe termen lung daca pune in practica altruismul. De cele mai multe ori daca nu de fiecare data, dorinta eului de a fi multumit pe moment, cat mai rapid si cat mai puternic, il impinge pe om sa faca greseli majore, actionand in asa fel incat dupa satisfactia de moment va urma dezastrul. Ca orice pacat, egoismul aduce satisfactie de moment, “placerea de o clipa a pacatului”, dar consecintele sunt foarte aiurea pe termen lung. Egoismul e o afacere paguboasa, care intotdeauna va sfarsi prin faliment, pentru ca pacatul duce la moarte, semanarea in fire va aduce recolta in fire, si desi cand semeni in fire e placut, recolta e una pe care nu ti-o doresti.
Trairea in adevar
1 Ioan 3:18-22. Copilasilor, sa nu iubim cu vorba, nici cu limba, ci cu fapta si cu adevarul. Prin aceasta vom cunoaste ca suntem din adevar si ne vom linisti inimile inaintea Lui, in orice ne osandeste inima noastra; caci Dumnezeu este mai mare decat inima noastra si cunoaste toate lucrurile. Preaiubitilor, daca nu ne osandeste inima noastra, avem indrazneala la Dumnezeu. Si orice vom cere vom capata de la El, fiindca pazim poruncile Lui si facem ce este placut inaintea Lui.
Sa iubim cu fapta si cu adevarul, nu cu vorba, nu doar prin vorbe. E extraordinar ce spune acest pasaj. A iubi cu adevarul. Oare ce inseamna asta? Cum iubesti pe cineva cu adevarul? Esti transparent, fara interese ascunse, dintr-o bucata, fara doua sau mai multe fetze, da al tau este da, nu al tau este nu, ceea ce spui prin intermediul cuvintelor este adevar si numai adevar, daca promiti ceva te ti de cuvant, faptul ca lasi sa se inteleaga anumite lucruri le faci pentru a ajuta persoana respectiva nu ca la un moment dat sa te folosesti de acele lucruri ca sa ai castig de cauza. Adevarul e adevar, nu permite nici o pata, nici o nuanta de gri, adevarul este clar, in adevar nu exista minciuna (1 Ioan 2:21) atunci cand traiesti in adevar nu ai nici un motiv sa ai crize de constiinta, esti in stare la orice ora sa dai socoteala pentru faptele tale si nu te ascunzi de ele, pentru ca in adevar tu esti liber.
Trairea in adevar linisteste inima, intareste inima, esti liber de presiunea condamnarii, vinovatiei. Eliberarea de sub presiunea condamnarii nu se poate face decat prin acceptarea adevarului, prin trairea in adevar, si eliberarea de ambiguu, de compormis, de chestii ascunse, de lucruri cu doua fetze. Si daca ai inima libera ai indrazneala la Dumnezeu, fara de adevar inima nu te va lasa sa te simti liber, sa vorbesti cu Dumnezeu si desi o sa ii ceri anumite lucruri nu o sa le primesti pentru ca nici tu nu crezi ca meriti sa le primesti, iar fara credinta nu avem nici o sansa in relatia cu Dumnezeu, credinta e moneda de schimb in Imparatia lui Dumnezeu. E uimitor faptul ca daca traim in adevar, daca traim in conformitate cu legile dupa care am fost creati, Dumnezeu ne spune ca orice vom cere de la Dumnezeu o sa primim.
Pica para malaiata in gura lui Natafleata
Oamenii vor solutii instant, se decid sa schimbe lucrurile doar cand circumstantele se vor schimba, cand toate lucrurile ii vor ajuta sa faca asta, amana confruntarea cu sine pana cand nu stiu ce anume se va intampla. Vesti proaste: daca nu vei lua deciziile corecte acum indiferent cum arata situatia, una la mana s-ar putea ca circumstantele sa nu se schimbe in veac, si doi la mana daca nu schimbi lucrurile acum cand ti-e greu nici cand o sa iti fie usor nu o sa schimbi nimic, o sa te complaci in bine si o sa uiti. Daca atunci cand ai 10 lei nu o sa dai 1 leu pentru Domnul, la gandul ca ai putini bani, iti garantez ca atunci cand vei avea 1 miliard nu o sa dai 100 de milioane pentru Domnul pt ca nu te-ai antrenat cand aveai 1 leu de dat, de data asta o sa iti spui ca nu poti sa te lipsesti de 100 milioane, sunt prea multi bani. Si asta se intampla cu fiecare aspecti din viata noastra.
Oamenii vor chestii care sa ii schimbe peste noapte, majoritatea covarsitoare dintre noi nu va avea parte de asa ceva toata viata, sunt exceptii, dar de obicei nu se intampla asta. Trebuie sa semeni ca apoi sa culegi, si daca Natafleata asteapta sa ii cada in gura para, Natafleata va ramane fara para din moment ce nici nu a plantat parul. Dumnezeu nu va face lucrurile in locul nostru. Da, El poate sa ne schimbe peste noapte, poate rezolva totul peste noapte, dar cu siguranta ca dupa aia nu L-am mai cauta, pentru ca n-am mai avea nici un interes, pentru ca atunci cand ne-a fost greu nu am invatat sa Il cautam, nu ne-am mai deranja pentru nimic, am trai dusi de valuri.
Noi oamenii asteptam ca semanand in fire sa avem rezultate extraordinare in duhul, si asta e imposibil. Doar cand semanam in duhul o sa culegem in duhul, si trebuie sa fim constienti ca o sa dureze o vreme pana cand o sa vedem rezultate concrete. Samanta de porumb nu se transforma in porumb peste noapte, necesita timp, dar daca tot astepti sa apara porumbul din pamant fara sa il fi semanat, daca tot speri la o minune, o sa ramai fara minune, o sa mori si minune nu o sa vezi. Da, Dumnezeu poate face sa apara porumbul din nimic, dar nu o va face, pentru ca El este impreuna lucrator cu noi, noi avem partea noastra, si El isi va face partea Lui, noi semanam in duhul si El va face sa apara roadele in duhul.
Asa ca Natafleata trebuie sa planteze parul ca sa vada para.
Laudarosia vietii
1 Ioan 15. Nu iubiti lumea, nici lucrurile din lume. Daca iubeste cineva lumea, dragostea Tatalui nu este in el. 16. Caci tot ce este in lume: pofta firii pamantesti, pofta ochilor si laudarosia vietii, nu este de la Tatal, ci din lume.
Laudarosia vietii este de fapt mandrie, aroganta, fala, lauda de sine, lucruri facute cu intentia de a impresiona si injosi, de a provoca, de a demonstra cine e cel mai tare, cine e cel mai plin de calitati, cine arata cel mai bine, cine are mai multe posesiuni si realizari, cam cat de superior e el sau ea celorlalti, cine e cel mai cu motz si daca vezi ca nu ai nici o sansa sa iei locul intai, incepi sa ii urasti pe cei care iti sunt superiori, sa ii invidiezi si sa visezi cum intr-o zi printr-o minune o sa ajungi tu in fata si atunci ei o sa crape de ciuda. Oamenii care se complac intr-o astfel de atitudine, carora li se pare normal sa fie asa, cei care isi gasesc placerea si isi iau hrana pentru suflet din asa ceva, Biblia ne spune ca dragostea lui Dumnezeu nu locuieste in ei, si cum Dumnezeu e dragoste, putem trage usor concluzia ca oamenii astia nu Il cunosc pe Dumnezeu.
M-a blocat versetul asta, nu pentru ca nu l-as fi citit pana acum, nu pentru ca ar fi ceva greu de inteles si acuma am avut o revelatie, ci pentru ca poate pentru prima data m-am gandit practic la cati oameni din biserica isi gasesc placerea in asa ceva, e absolut devastator. De cand ma stiu pe lume, laudarosia vietii a fost o componenta absolut normala in bisericile pe care le-am frecventat, atat bapti cat si penti, e ceva general acceptat. Ma deprima realitatea asta.
Fundatia
Cum se construieste o casa? Prima data se face fundatia, cu cat proiectul casei este mai mare cu atat fundatia se face mai adanca si mai solida, ca sa poata tine cladirea care se va ridica ulterior. Pentru asta trebuie timp si nu se vede ca s-a realizat mare lucru in exterior. Ce se face apoi? Se cladesc zidurile, caramida cu caramida, iar apoi i se pune acoperisul si intr-un final are loc decorarea casei. Exact in aceeasi ordine se cladesc toate in viata noastra, mai ales viata spirituala, relatia cu Dumnezeu.
Foarte multi oameni vor sa puna acoperis la casa cand de fapt nici macar fundatie nu au, foarte multi vor deja sa puna decoratiuni prin casa cand nici macar nu au sapat santul pentru fundatie. Vrem doar lucrurile spectaculoase, dar uitam ca pentru ele trebuie o fundatie solida, altfel se vor prabusi in secunda in care vor aparea. Si ce ne facem daca avem o fundatie facuta in graba din paie si vreascuri, ce ne facem daca fundatia e facuta din fire si din roadele firii?
Ce se poate intampla daca teoretic, puterea lui Dumnezeu ajunge pe mana unui om care nu are fundament, sau a carui fundament este firea? Am avut un vis anul acesta cand eram cu nervii la pamant si cand totul din jur imi spunea ca trebuie sa platesc cu aceeasi moneda, ca si pe mine ma duce capul sa fiu ca restul oamenilor, sa faci rau nu e greu, si cand ma luptam cu asta am avut un vis in care am vazut niste demoni care stateau la discutie pe seama mea, erau foarte nervosi, se certau si i-am auzit cand au zis asa: daca ii vom strica caracterul va deveni un vrajitor in mainile noastre. Slava Domnului ca am rezistat presiunii respective, dar aceasta fraza nu o mai uit niciodata.
Un om fara caracter, care intra in posesia puterii Duhului Sfant, la urma urmei se va prabusi in mandrie, premergator mandriei vor fi alte pacate probabil, dar intr-un final va cadea in mrejele mandriei si desi poate nu isi va da seama, nu va mai sluji lui Dumnezeu ci diavolului, pentru ca diavolul este dumnezeul mandriei. Cand cineva traieste in mandrie sti ce face? Are partasie cu diavolul, cu demonii, si cred ca acelasi lucru se intampla cu fiecare pacat, cand omul staruieste in pacatul respective pur si simplu are partasie cu demonii. Stiu ca suna foarte dur, stiu ca nu e placut la citit ce scriu eu aici, dar asta e adevarul. (1Cor.10:20) Sunt destule exemple de oameni care au facut asta si fac asta.
Pe blog am scris foarte mult despre vindecari, despre semne si minuni, dar in aceeasi masura am scris si despre caracter. Si daca prin absurd, maine dimineata mi s-ar spune ca doar un aspect din astea doua mai poate ramane pe blog, si mi s-ar cere sa decid pe care l-as sterge, nici nu as sta pe ganduri, as sterge partea cu miracolele, pentru ca fara caracter esti terminat in fata lui Dumnezeu. Fara minuni poate esti terminat in fata oamenilor, minuni iti trebuie sa traiesti bine pe pamantul asta, sa ii faci pe oameni sa vina la Hristos, dar caracterul e o chestie personala de viata sau moarte vesnica.
Consider ca fundamentul casei spirituale este caracterul. Daca in fundatie sunt lucrurile firii, casa se va prabusi, garantat, fara nici o indoiala cand ii va fi lumea mai draga, cand se va vedea mai frumos ornamentata, casa se va face praf si pulbere. V0rbeam de mandrie. Asta e buba cea mare care va izbucni intotdeauna, daca nu ti-ai cizelat caracterul, si daca nu ai murit fata de tine, fata de egoismul ala cat muntele cu care mai toti ne nastem, caruia ii place la nebunie sa i se dea atentie, sa fie laudat si care se hraneste din asta. Daca pornesti in lucrare fara lucrurile astea ucise in tine, imagineaza-ti care va fi reactia ta launtrica cand de exemplu un olog se va ridica din scaunul cu rotile. Chiar daca esti mort fata de mandrie, ea iti va da tarcoale, asa ca daca nu ai omorat-o inainte, acum te va omora ea pe tine. Si esti pierdut. Daca acum te dai mare cu fleacuri, imagineaza-ti cum te vei simti cand o gramada de oameni te vor aclama. Si nu ma intereseaza fraze de genul: “sti soro, eu dau toata slava lui Dumnezeu”. Noi ne putem pacali unii pe altii foarte usor prin vorbe, doar ca de obicei vorbele nu exprima adevarul, asta am observat eu de-a lungul anilor. “Da al vostru sa fie da, si nu al vostru sa fie nu” adica “vorbirea voastra sa fie clara, sincera”, asta poate a fost scris pentru extraterestrii ca oamenii nu prea iau seama la asta.
Luca 6:47-49. Va voi arata cu cine se aseamana orice om care vine la Mine, aude cuvintele Mele si le face. Se aseamana cu un om care, cand a zidit o casa, a sapat adanc inainte si a asezat temelia pe stanca. A venit o varsare de ape si s-a napustit suvoiul peste casa aceea, dar n-a putut s-o clatine, pentru ca era zidita pe stanca. Dar cine aude, si nu face, se aseamana cu un om care a zidit o casa pe pamant, fara temelie. Si s-a napustit suvoiul asupra ei, ea s-a prabusit indata, si prabusirea acestei case a fost mare.”
Nu e suficient sa vi la Isus, nu e suficient sa te urci pe stanca sa iti ridici zidurile si gata ai casa. Nu. Cu cat esti mai sus pe munte cu atat vanturile vor fi mai puternice si ai nevoie de o fundatie cat mai solida. Odata urcat pe stanca trebuie sa sapi adanc in stanca, pentru a-ti aseza temelia. Asta e faza cea mai grea si care dureaza cel mai mult, si culmea cand trecatorii vin sa vada care sunt progresele nu o sa vada nimic ridicat deasupra pamantului. Lucrarea asta se face in adanc, si nu e spectaculoasa deloc pentru trecatori, dar fara lucrara asta e ca si cum nu ai fi urcat pe stanca, pentru ca fara fundatie te vei duce la vale mai devreme sau mai tarziu si te vei multumi cu casa zidita pe pamant, care una doua e cladita. Casa pe pamant e spectaculoasa intr-un timp scurt, nu cere efort, nu are temelie, e facuta ca sa se vada de afara, oamenii vor avea in timp record ce lauda si aplauda, dar casa zidita pe pamant nu are valoare, e egala cu zero.
Moise a stat 40 de ani undeva unde si-a cizelat caracterul, a stat la oi, si apoi stim cu totii ce s-a intamplat cu el. David a stat si el o gramada de ani la oi, undeva departe de ochii celor care aplauda, Ioan Botezatorul a stat si el in pustie o viata de om, ca sa fie de folos lucrarii lui Dumnezeu, si am putea continua, Pavel a stat 3 ani in desert, unde a lucrat la fundatie, nimeni nu a vazut ce face omul ala acolo, era vorba de el si Dumnezeu, de transformarea mintii, de moartea fata de sine, de luarea crucii, de inlocuirea mandriei cu smerenia, de inlocuirea egoismului cu altruismul, si abia apoi a continuat constructia cladirii, toata viata lui a continuat cladirea si a ajuns si la decoratiunile spectaculoase. Dar totul s-a facut cu intelepciune, s-au luat lucrurile pe rand, s-a platit pretul.
Umblarea cu Dumnezeu presupune in primu rand caracter, si apoi semne si minuni, umblarea cu Dumnezeu presupune si proorocie, vindecare, vorbire in limbi, semne si minuni, dar in primul rand presupune dragoste, fara dragoste totul e o zanganeala suparatoare pentru urechile lui Dumnezeu.
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