After the Lord has been speaking to me recently and dealing with issues of bitterness in my heart I realised He has been speaking to me the same thing for years! So I posted the last post which was from January 2016. Yet even after that amazing revelation and work in me I still have need of cleansing this root of bitterness.
It seems each time He opens me up and does something I receive more revelation and understanding which I know is for others as well.
This weekend after being out of any church for 7 and half years my wife and I went to a little church in another city. Before we went I was very anxious about it. I opened the word and the Bible fell open at the following story.
I was amazed to see I was that lame man from my mother’s womb!! I expected to be delivered or something at the meeting but nothing happened. Instead I know God is still working in me towards that day.
You see if you are called to preach and minister to people you can only take them as far as you have come yourself. I believe I get free from bitterness but because no one “whole” reaches out to us and we do not beg for such help perhaps…then we end up back in the land of barrenness. As well as that if we do not rise up and walk—God can show us we are dislocated and bitter and out of joint every year but it will do no good.
We must RISE UP AND WALK!
In my case I rejected Apostles and Prophets back in 2003. And we left that church and have only been in a congregation for 12 months since and that was in 2010! So because I rejected Apostles and Prophets and am myself called as a Prophet(inspired preacher/intercessor) then I must be restored by a Prophet/Apostle.
Therefore I see in this story that very thing.
The lame man is the bitter wounded Christian from his/her mother’s womb. Some stumbling block causes them to be crippled. Thus even though you are called to preach or to teach the wounding of the enemy takes you out every time. This man saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple at the hour of prayer…which signifies their prayer life was regular and strong. That is the type of person you need to seek out for help to be restored. Then the beggar(wounded & Called Christian)asks the ones he has rejected in the past out of that woundedness. The ones he perhaps slandered and judged….now he must in all humility ask Peter and John for help!
Peter looks at him….no doubt recognises him as that crippled beggar seemingly under the curse of God, who if whole could have done so much for the Lord….and says to him RISE UP AND WALK.
For me that means begin doing again the things you once did before bitterness and offence took you out of the race. Begin praying daily, reading the word, meditating, worship, praise etc etc. to strengthen your spirit man. If we do not do this we shall go back to being a spiritual cripple! The beggar gave them his full attention….these ones are sent to you to help you–listen to them and do what they tell you!!
But Peter did not only just say rise up and walk–he did more than that. He reached down to the beggar and took him by the right hand and lifted him up. The one God has appointed to restore you will do this. The right hand is the right hand of fellowship. (Gal 2:9) The man or woman of God will fellowship with you so that you learn to walk out of your crippled mindset and walk like the man or woman of God you really are.
The last thing we see is that the beggar now whole and healed–having received strength in his ankles and feet–the place of lameness–signifying his walk with God—holds on to Peter and John. He was determined to hang onto them…. The enemy will again attempt to kill off any help that comes your way in order to kill any attempt at restoring you for you are a powerful tool in God’s quiver ….if restored. There was a time when I fellowshiped with Apostles and prophets in prayer and in private…..but the Serpent rose up in me and took me captive.
Act 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Act 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
Act 3:3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
Act 3:4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
Act 3:5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Act 3:8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Act 3:10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico
Act 3:11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
The calling of God on your life is too important to let it die! But if you have found yourself crippled and unable to walk…then perhaps like me you need to lay daily at the beautiful gate of the Temple and ask for help…then God will take you by the right hand and lift up….Perhaps he will send to you those who you have judged and run away from? Perhaps you may find yourself walking and leaping and praising God as you are restored to your full self in Christ Jesus in Godly submission and fellowship with a similarly called ministry.. God wants to bring you out of darkness and obscurity into peace and joy and fruitfulness. He wants your feet to be healed! He wants you to walk upon the highways of God–Isa 35.
Isa 35:3 Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.
Isa 35:4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”
Isa 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isa 35:6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.
