Why the Wilderness?

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Where has God revealed Himself most in your life? For me it has been in seasons of difficulty and trials. Those wilderness wandering times seem to be when I hear the Father speak the loudest.

Our recent trip to Israel started out in the hot, dry wilderness. This is intentional as the desert is where God chose to form His chosen people into His Bride (Ex. 19,20). In fact, the majority of the Torah-the first five books of the Bible-take place in the desert wilderness (Ex. 15- Deut. 24).

Sitting under a lonely tree in the wilderness of Zin, Pastor Bryan had us open up the Word to Deut. 8, where God reminds His people why He led them through the wilderness for 40 years.

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way into the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna…to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD…”      Deut. 8:2-3.

In life we face difficult seasons and these same truths from the desert remind us that we are His beloved children. Maybe God is revealing more of Himself to you by:

“Humbling you” – The Father uses the wilderness to purge Egypt or the world from us. Our culture bombards us with the lie that self is god-which only leads to chaos. The wilderness or suffering teaches us we are not gods but rather dependent children in need of God’s continual care. It is the humble and contrite spirit that opens our hearts to the wonder of God’s Fatherly love (Isa. 58:15).

“Testing you” – The refining fire of the wilderness displays what is in our hearts. Our response to suffering reveals where we may be spiritually. Too often in these tests I find myself grumbling and complaining just like the Israelites did showing my spiritual immaturity and the need for growth.

“Teaching you” – Lacking water and food in the wilderness was meant to teach the Israelites that their Abba Father was enough; that lesson is one for each of us as well. Our God is one of miracles, He brought water from a rock and manna from the sky to meet His children’s daily needs. He uses the trials in our lives to teach us to trust Him; He is faithful in keeping His Word.

I don’t know about you but I often fail at the lessons to be learned in humbling, testing and teaching. And that is when the Spirit of the Father reminds me to look to Jesus. Jesus passed the wilderness test perfectly (Luke 4:1-13). This is seen best as Jesus took all my failures with Him on the cross and then buried them in the grave and 3 days later the Father raised Him up as the perfect Savior of the World.

The wilderness is used to lead us to Jesus, our spiritual water and heavenly manna, who shouts out His constant care and faithful love for us. No matter what we may face in the wilderness when we seek the face Jesus who dearly loves us, we are able to be more than survivors, we are victors!

Whatever your wilderness, may it lead you to the greatest of all gifts, Christ Jesus living within you, for He is the Hope of glory! Col. 1:27

 

 

Rediscovering the Giant Slayer

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Victory is always found in Vision! One of our first stops on our Israel tour was to the hilly area of Azekah. Climbing to the top of the hill the famous Elah Valley, where one of the most epic battles in Biblical history took place.

Perhaps you recall the giant Goliath? He along with the rest of the Philistines camped on a hill to the west and the Israelites were across the valley to the east. For 40 days Goliath taunted Israel to send a man out to fight him to determine the victory. But no one from King Saul’s army dared take up the challenge.

That is until a young David, a shepherd, heard the Philistine’s champion’s challenge and burned with holy anger. I don’t need to retell to you this famous story of David’s victory from I Samuel 17, as I’m sure you know it well, however I do want to highlight the key to the victory.

David saw something that no one else in the army did, including King Saul. David saw the Giant Slayer. At a young age David had a vision of the glory of God that made Goliath look like an ant. You can hear this in David’s own words as he ran toward Goliath:

“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel…All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-48

This young shepherd boy could run to the battle against a 9 foot giant with a vision of a Heavenly Giant Slayer who was unstoppable. Being back on this historic sight reminds me about the importance of vision as we face so many giants today in the culture we live in.

Yes, David had skills he learned as a shepherd in the wilderness protecting sheep, but the greatest gift he received was an encounter with the glory of God. Somewhere out on the lonely hills of Bethlehem the Holy Spirit opened David’s eyes to the King of the Universe and that encounter would forever change him.

On top of the hill of Azekah we read Psalm 27 and notice what David’s greatest passion:

“Here is the one thing I crave from Yahweh, the one thing I seek above all else: I want to live with Him every moment in His house, beholding the marvelous beauty Yahweh filled with awe, delighting in His glory and grace.” Vs. 4

David’s passion was to see and live under the glory of Yahweh the promise keeping, saving God. He knew when His vision was on the glorious saving God-no giant could keep him from living in victorious love of His Father God.

If David found victory in a glorious vision of Almighty God, how much more should we-who have seen Him in the coming of the Son of David, Jesus Christ?

Looking over the place where Goliath was slain by David’s faith in God brought to mind Revelation chapter 1. The apostle John had a glorious vision about the resurrected King Jesus-causing him to fall down as dead at the feet of the Savior. I challenge you to read this powerful chapter and let this vision of Jesus be the all consuming passion in your life. If this vision becomes your “One Thing” you will witness the giants you face fall before His glory and you will live in His victory!

“Don’t yield to fear. I am the Beginning and I am the End, the Living One! I was dead, but now look – I am alive forever and ever. And I hold the keys that unlock death and the unseen world.” Rev. 1:17-18.

 

 

Drinking from the River!

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On Pentecost Sunday I was wide-awake at 4 AM and filled with gratitude to be in Jerusalem. Staying in a hotel just over a mile from the Old City, I kept feeling the nudge to venture to the southern steps of the temple mount where over 2000 years ago the dam of heaven broke and the Holy Spirit was released in abundance.

As the darkness of night gave way to the first rays of the morning sun I walked through the narrow streets of the Old City and located a bench with an incredible view of the southern steps and read Acts 2 and Ezekiel 47. Most scholars today believe the outpouring of the Holy Spirit happened on these very steps as the temple is also referred to as the House of God.

Reading these texts I pictured the fire of the Holy Spirit falling on the disciples as they prayed and worshipped with exuberant joy. When the disciples broke forth in languages understood by those present in town to worship at the temple for the feast of Pentecost, people were filled with awe.

Thousands stopped to witness heaven-invading earth as Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preached with fresh passion. That day 3000 people repented of their sins, put their faith in Jesus, and were baptized in local mitkvahs- the ritual baths all around the southern steps.

The prophet Ezekiel prophesied 600 years earlier that a river would flow from the temple. As the river surged from the temple south towards the Dead Sea it would continue growing deeper and wider and bring life to every place it touched. Trees near the river would bear fruit bringing healing to all nations.

As the sun brilliantly broke over the Mount of Olives and illuminated the steps I found myself rejoicing! The River of the Spirit that started on the Feast of Pentecost is flowing all over the world through the Gospel message and continues to enter into hearts with streams of living water just as Jesus promised in John 7:37-38:

“All you thirsty ones, come to Me! Come to Me and drink! Believe in Me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being, just like the Scripture says!”

During our stay in Israel our group witnessed people of every color, tribe, and nation of the world who have encountered this River of Living Water-Jesus’ saving love. People are drawn to this land to see the place where God walked on earth, loved His people, died on the cross, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven and poured out the River of His Spirit. There is no place like it in the world.

Later that Pentecost Sunday our whole group gathered on those same Southern Steps and remembered the work of the Holy Spirit and were challenged to keep drinking from the River so that we can produce the fruit of His love and offer His living water to others thirsty for more than this world has to offer.

What a joy it was to be at the place where the headwaters of the River started and to be reminded that every day I can drink from that river of living water. I don’t have to be in Jerusalem I can drink at ANY place and at ANY time when I turn my eyes to Jesus and ask Him to fill me afresh with the River of His presence.

Today, I encourage you to drink afresh from THE River of His Spirit, as many in our thirsty world need to taste and see the living water of Christ flowing through you!

 

 

 

“This is the Day…”

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Blog written by Ken & Danell Czarnecki Board Members of Oceans Ministries 

                              “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”                             

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

                           “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!!” (Psalm 118:25)

Three times the verse was proclaimed within the first hour or so of our Sabbath morning in beautiful Fish Hoek, South Africa. Our spirits were filled with promise and anticipation as we waited for the service to begin and for what the Lord would show us following the Discover Inner Healing Conference held the day before; hosted by Overflow Church and Oceans Ministries.

It was so good to be back in such beauty; the people and the country. Ken and I are just returning home after being at Oceans Retreat Center; whilst Tim and Patty are on their way to lead a group tour in Israel. It was a privilege to spend some time together and both see and experience what God is doing in their midst through them; in and around ORC.

Our week began with an amazing evening serving with Love in Action, a ministry that provides meals in a few of the nearby townships. I have never seen a pot so big!! Much less one filled with so much food! Many were fed; children, women and men; whoever came was offered a meal. And that pot just kept feeding; I imagined it was much like the feeding of the 5000; the pot never seemed to get empt

The next day we were able to spend some time at the Ocean View Preschool (one of the nearby townships). This township has been plagued with so much violence. The township is weighty on the spirit as you enter; but while on the grounds of the preschool you can’t deny the presence of their Heavenly, Protector Father! The teachers are incredible vessels of love and hope to the local children who attend; and it is often the only place some of the children are fed and are safe. Our hope and prayer was to bless and pray for them; but instead, we received the blessing and the prayers from them.

Saturday morning was the Discover Inner Healing Conference held at Overflow Church. Our prayer was for God to show up and lead us; and as promised, His presence was with us. The openness and hunger to experience release from the multitude of hurts and pains that hold many of us captive was present; and many expressed that a breakthrough was experienced. There was a vulnerability in the room you could sense in your spirit. Our focus for the morning was removing the bitter roots that hold us back emotionally and spiritually and then breaking free from the lies the enemy feeds us to keep us from living in freedom and from experiencing the fullness in Christ we are promised in Scripture. It was a holy time of God beginning a new work within.

As we gathered on Sunday morning; beginning with the worship team staff devotions; our worship time together as the service began, to the message on Father wounds and forgiveness; the sense that God was continuing to move in hearts was tangible; so much so my tears were flowing during the corporate worship; though I tried to keep them from coming.

Monday morning, as we were walking along the streets of Fish Hoek; we were stopped by a woman who said she attended the conference on Saturday and experienced a breakthrough and was healed from her pain and bitter roots, she said she felt the “roots being pulled out” as she offered forgiveness to those who had hurt her. She was so moved by her experience she came back to worship with us Sunday morning. We praised God for her testimony and prayed protection over her new found freedom and a filling of the healing Holy Spirit over her.

 

Inner Healing

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“In order to get rid of the rats you need to take out the garbage!” Those attending the Discover Inner Healing Conference certainly won’t forget this vivid illustration used by Danell Czarnecki.

The enemy comes in like rats eating away at our soul, feasting on our past hurts, wounds, trauma, and bitter roots that have attached themselves to our lives.

“See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Heb. 12:15

 We can try everything to push the demonic lies that eat away at our soul, but they will keep coming back like pesky rats-until that which “defiles” us is removed AND replaced by the healing presence of Jesus.

Danell’s teaching helped those attending to identify past traumas and uncover the places where bitter roots have grown deep roots and kept even believers in bondage and fear. She emphasized the importance of exposing whatever “it” is into the light through the Holy Spirit. This process is a painful surgery as hidden strongholds are revealed and exposed. As we take steps to wholeness the enemy hurls lies at us and he seeks to keep us from walking in the freedom of the light of Christ.

BUT don’t forget as we allow Jesus to come into our wounds His balm of healing grace begins! Jesus was and is grieving with us in that pain and through the power of the cross cuts away each bitter root.

The Holy Spirit’s anointing was evident as tears began to flow, the lies were being exposed, roots loosened and cut, the garbage thrown out. As the conference continued powerful words from The Lord’s prayer pointed us towards receiving granting forgiveness:

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,” Matthew 6:12

As the Spirit of Christ cut bitter roots through forgiveness-hearts opened to the voice of the Father offering affirmation to His beloved Children. In the still and quiet moments Abba’s voice could be heard, this was a precious moment to write down what our Heavenly Father wanted to reveal. Some courageous people offered to share how the Father spoke to them and the healing work starting in their souls.

It is hard to put into words all that The Father did as it was truly way more than we could have asked for or imagined. But I do know inner healing is needed in our world today. In South Africa, as well as all over the world, there is so much pain and trauma from generational sins, sexual sins, fatherless homes, and the destruction of the family. All this and more invites the enemy to sneak into our souls and control us with his lies.

Many have heard the Gospel, received Christ and yet, the bitter roots go deep keep us from walking as true sons and daughters of the King. Our families, our communities, and our world needs to know followers of Christ who are fully alive, thriving in the healing freedom of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Word and the Spirit have given us tools to destroy the works of the enemy and walk in the fullness of the Father’s love.

A heartfelt thank you to so many that upheld this conference with your prayers! However, it need not end here. Danell has written a curriculum about inner healing, and has agreed to share parts of this through a series of blogs this summer. So please resume your prayers for the transformation that is happening and what yet to come!

“So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free!” John 8:36