A Refreshing: From Rain Swept Storms to Cloudless Days

2 Samuel 23:2-4.............2 "The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me,
And His word was on my tongue.
3 The God of Israel said,
The Rock of Israel spoke to me:
'He who rules over men must be just,
Ruling in the fear of God. 
4 And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises,
A morning without clouds,
Like the tender grass springing out of the earth,
By clear shining after rain.'   NKJV

Is there nothing else like a refreshing rain on a hot summer day? Is there nothing as beautiful as the scents that fill your nose when walking out of doors after a sudden and wind swept rain that washes the dust away and causes the scents of plants, flowers and trees to take a  new life of green, a new exotic smell to fill the nose with oils of beauty and to leave the place before our eyes looking better than before the torrential rain came to wash away the dust?

Should not we add to others in the same way? Should we not be a "breath of fresh air" and speak life to them? 

In reading scripture this morning, I was taken back to another period in my life when I arose early with the sun. My parents generally were up before the sun rose. I was close behind in that I loved watching the horses in the corral in the early dawn. I watched how they came bringing a zest for their love to not only eat, but to run the sum of ground that kept them within a boundary for safety but still enough room to run and romp as a horse will do! They certainly entertained me as I ate breakfast before school and I looked forward to the afternoon when they would get their alfalfa hay (that is like dark chocolate to you and me). 

The sun would rise with no cloud to hinder it from our sight! The day would bring warm breezes and scents of honeysuckle to the nose, but it was the rain washed air that seem to change the whole scene of life before our eyes. We could certainly think we could hear the grass grow from a wild wind and rain swept afternoon of dark looming clouds, spectacular lightning show and the timely sounds of the booms of thunder as the storm moved overheard to another town, move to another pasture, and to another time.

Our family was out yesterday to eat a meal with us and they were talking of the opportunity to minister to another family not from the area from the night before at church. They were disappointed in that the time needed to minister was not available to do that one thing! And I thought how important sometimes it is to just stop and enjoy. Sometimes it is a great deal better to stop the "just doing stuff" and take account of the cost when we have the opportunity to minister to others especially those "not from our church", " not from our community," and "not the one who speaks good English". Now our son-in-law had some great ideas about being prepared for the next time. But I also was taken to another time at this same church of another family being ministered to a year ago and how history was repeating itself again in another family who is not from this area. When those times come and we see a new face, do we ask how the Lord will WANT US minister to them, and take in account that God is bigger and greater than any agenda to a service going on at the time?

Just a thought! And I think we need to take everything in account and work these out before the "visitor" shows up at the door, right? For it does not matter if you have a title, or is it just you, does not matter if you have a church or just a Bible study, and it does not matter if you are a youth or an elder person, we should consider when a "guest" comes, when the "leper" comes and needs healing and wholeness, right? So my son-in-law gave me some food for thought you might say.

The scripture above in 2 Samuel 23:2-4, was written by David. In truth it was his last words before he passed!

Do we want to keep doing the right thing but out of order? Like I wrote above, I take this to heart not for others but for me. Because we certainly can learn from mistakes made by others. But I truly want to be on the cutting edge, as I am certain you are too, and see the miraculous of God, not only for my life but for others as well.

In effect, ruling our hearts determines what and how we will minister to others. If I keep to my plan (yikes) problems will arise, but if I continue to look into God and His plan, I will not fail. But it has to be true to what God wants and how He wants it done to have that victory!

When we think of what David had on his mind,  in the last hours of his life, was that even though his family was having some big issues, BUT David knew that the Messiah was coming. He was on His Way to bringing a covenant that would stand firm. With a comfort ensured by the COMING ONE, David rested in a hope of knowing the gates of hell shall never prevail against his house.

So when someone comes to "our door" of the church, do we send them off with what they "needed" or what we "think" they needed?

Are we allowing the Holy Spirit the freedom to truly have His way in our lives, in our homes and in services within a church service or even a prayer meeting or Bible study?

Am I ruling as I see "fit" or am I allowing the Holy Spirit with resurrection power loosed in the "place" to see the miraculous done? It is the "light" of His Word that will dispel darkness, but we also must choose to stop "religiosity" and doing what we did a year ago! 

When we take into account when Jesus walked on earth, I never saw anything repeated! I never saw it written that Jesus said, "well we did it this way last year, let's do that again....." "surely it would work again"................NO, He never said or did anything like that at all!
People were healed, the blind could see, and the lame could walk. People were running up to HIM to receive what they asked for and in return they followed and some praised like the leper from the ten who were cleansed. But the one leper walked away whole for he had returned to give praise and thanks for his healing.

When Jesus came, He came to set up His kingdom. In the case of the John the Baptist, John was born of the "old covenant " as was Jesus. But Jesus came to do away with "religiosity" and to set up a kingdom that is born of a love of the Father to the child and the child to the Father.

John the Baptist was the last of the old testament prophets. John certainly had to decrease as Jesus increased because Jesus was showing the "new" which had come. It was time for the new man "birth". Religion was being done away with and it was time for the new thing. RELATIONSHIP!

John was expecting like the "others" a conquering Messiah. But we know Jesus had to suffer at the hands of others, and experience the cross to be the sacrifice the world needed to be "saved". John probably had the thought that the kingdom would take over and he would be free to live as he had before being thrown in prison. But this was no "temporal" Messianic kingdom.

Jesus called John a "shining light"........in John 5:35. He called him "more than a prophet" in Matthew 11:9. He gave John worth that was no doubt under the old covenant. Jesus submitted Himself to receiving the step OF being baptized in water. And we know that submitting to this baptism was the symbol that Christian discipleship would begin. And discipleship is so important to all of us!

Certainly we see John as the forerunner of Jesus in ministry and of the message. But we can in truth of it  see it in John's death as well. Being put in prison can certainly put one in a disillusioned state. And that is what happened to John. Determined to preach righteousness and putting those in high positions on warning that greed was bad, he demonstrated that the people of that day were needing a moral regeneration. His words directed to them to seek their purging and express a voice to repentance of demonstrating nothing less than righteousness.

So why do I write all this.............John was preparing Israel to meet their God! He said, " Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight" (Mark 1:3). John knew who was to come after him who would baptize in fire and Spirit (Mark 1:7-8). John was a forerunner to the Mightier one, and it was dawning in Jesus Christ!

In any "thing' we call church or prayer meeting or Bible study, we should consistently ask the Leading of the HOLY Spirit and know His plan for that day. We know not what people may show up at the door and need a helping hand into the loving arms of a loving God. If we are repeating the same thing from last year, then we must ask what did we miss the first time around and be able to speak life, be a 'light" and send the people off in the glorious refreshing of the Lord.
So what if someone like that "leper" would come to a service, would we have time to see that he is taken care of or what?

The Apostle Paul tells us in his visit to Ephesus about 30 years after John's passing that he had found a group of John disciples.............

Acts 19:1-10......................19:1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all. 8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.   NKJV

John's influence had continued long after his death. But Paul wrote many years later (60 years) and encouraged those still under John's baptism and authority that Jesus' superiority ranked higher and following His Lordship was necessary and vital.

John had to go willing, submitting to all he was to Jesus's authority and rule. For John certainly spoke of Jesus' coming, and when we submit and leave the flesh creature behind, we can see the move of God in many ways we did not expect!  John was silenced and Jesus went to the forefront. 

Will we allow the Holy Spirit the leading in whatever circumstance or situation that arises either in church, Bible studies or prayer meetings? Will we allow freedom to see the "light" of God move in darkness and bring us to the forefront to see people's lives actually changed for good? Should the "leper" come and expect something from God but we give them something else?

Do I know what part I am to participate in for God's glory? If I am scheduled to do something, am I prayed up and ready to do my part or am I running to find another leader and see "if I am scheduled"?
Have I consistently shown up for meetings when I am expected or do I just "blow them off"?
And for those leadership meetings, am I just showing up to show the pastors I am there or am I willing to participate to see things go forward and see change for everyone involved?
What if God is wanting to put out some new "voices" in the arena for "let's say"new converts, but the old voices are still being heard? "Let's do this again, it worked last year!"

The Kingdom of God has certainly come:

Luke 18:16-17............"Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."   NKJV

Matthew 21:43-46..........43 "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." 45 Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet. NKJV

1 Corinthians 4:20-21................20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?  NKJV

Romans 14:17-18.................17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.   NIV

Services in church are awesome and serve to bring us closer to God but they must be the part of communion that continues every day and not just on Saturday night or Sunday morning. And then what comes out, is there the chance and good opportunity to serve someone who may be new to area and is just passing through like the "leper"?

Or is it always a hard fast rule, the Easter day thing looks like this......or the Bible study has to look like this or the Prayer Meeting has to look like this .......and THEN fit it into a pattern that is not broken or changed in any way for the last 10 or 20 years? Is it a hard fast rule to do the "same 'ole thing" in light of the Holy Spirit and His presence or slide on through and do "our thing" thinking ................"well, God wants me to do this...........so"........I am doing this....!

Do we then become those who are reformed to the past things, hating instruction and especially "change"? Yikes!
Does the "doing" become more important than ministering to a "someone"..? Is it possible to set some extra time to minister to those who "might drop in" and be expecting them in our daily devotion time with God?
In our believing, are we open to, yes, the preaching of the Gospel, and yes, that others would want to attend, but also see that people coming are receiving as much in less time, being supported quickly and in a timely manner encouraged, spoken to as a real person and important, that produces to a harvest of fruit...........or we running with tongues hanging out and trying to play catch up with another leader because we have forgotten to check a schedule to see if we were scheduled to do our part.....for that specific day and service........?
Again, these are things I ask myself! For I have led Bible studies and Prayer Meetings and surely do not want to be in the Way when the Holy Spirit is wanting the freedom to move in someone's life!
When Paul saw those who continued to rally against the Way and the teaching...........he took those disciples.. who had received their baptism through John,......away to be established in a foundation of hearing the Gospel, and meeting together. Paul taught them of the authority in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Can families say they meet around the Word of God today? My husband and I meet around the Word every day. We talk the Word and finish the day with the Word of God and prayer.

Because like the scriptures above, the kingdom of God is in power, it is of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is coming as a child to receive that which God has freely given through grace to us! And are we seeing a harvest of fruit towards this end?
If not, then change is evident to have His power and joy in righteousness!


2 Corinthians 2:14-17.................14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.   NKJV

If a storm has really come into lives, are we changed to see the fragrance of the new day, with a great light and the beauty that comes when we allow the Lord's way into every situation? Will we experience the beauty of the fragrance of Him in our lives and send it out to those who are perishing, or to those who are to live?

For the storms I have experienced in my life, I desire to stop wasting valuable time and seek to find those who need that encouraging word and be given a life transfused with energy to move in power of the Holy Spirit and see their lives changed in dramatic ways that proves God is on the scene and that we all stop playing religious games!

Father, You cause us to triumph in Christ. We are thankful that as the spring day or summer day brings rain and wind, the day clears to the bright and shining sun. We are thankful that we have the opportunity to be the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. We are thankful that we are the aroma of death leading to death and to still others we are the aroma of life leading to life. Today we are not peddling the word of God, but we speak and write in the sight of God in Christ.
Father, today it is YOU who gives to us understanding in all things. I pray for all who receive this word and pray that we would be those who are ready in season and out of season. I pray that we are watchful for those coming to see us in church, Bible studies and Prayer meetings. We desire to stand with YOU Lord and preach the Word fully and courageously sharing the Gospel message of grace. I pray that we stand therefore girding our waists with the truth having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having our feet shod with the Gospel of peace, and above all that we take the shield of faith with which we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one and take the helmet of Salvation and Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God praying always with all prayer and supplication for all saints and for us that utterance be given us to open our mouths boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel. May we speak boldly as we ought to speak.

Father we know that discipline produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Father, we thank you for good friends, a great family and good health. We pray for opportunities to pray for those at church and to pray for people here in our home. We look forward to opportunities to minister to the "leper" and those coming for the first "visit" at the Bible studies, Prayer Meetings and church too! We seek to encourage them face to face. You have not given us the spirit of fear, but you have given us power, love and a sound mind. We ask for ample time to minister to the new person coming to these things Lord!

We thank YOU for favor everywhere we go to minister, favor in the workplace and favor on the roadways and parking lots. We thank You Lord, and call upon You now asking that You would deliver us from anything that binds us from reaching and ministering to the "leper" and yes, the first time guest to any Bible study, Prayer Meeting or church service. Deliver us from these things that bind us to past things, and open our eyes to the new things. Help us to get out of religiosity and be confident You are watching over these important areas and that You have begun a good work in us and will complete it. Give us hope this day that change is coming to these areas we need help in and that it is for Your glory. Make us remember to be praising people, for we know that when we worship You, we gain clear understanding and our lives are transformed, and we receive power to live Your way. Help us to hear Your specific instructions concerning ministering to the "leper", the "new guest" or "1st time guest" at any Bible study, Prayer Meetings or church services and help us and enable us to obey those instructions. I pray that YOU continue to give us hearts that long to do Your will and may we enjoy the peace that can only come from living in total obedience to Your commands. Amen


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