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I love Stuart Greaves; he is so real, and he really walks in the power and truth of the Spirit. He's the leader of the Nightwatch-intrinsically intense-and he spear-heads the Apostolic Preaching Program. There is no one like him who is as vulnerable yet godly as a teacher and leader. Anyway, enough bragging on him... Right now, we're in a season of repentance at IHOP, and here are the notes of Stuarts message to us preceding a solemn assembly:
Isaiah 33:6
The Lord can be with you and you not know it (Jesus in the manger, on the road to Emmaus, Jacob at Bethel, etc.). The awesomeness of the Lord is in our midst right now, and we must recognize it. He is speaking to us in the still small voice, and we must have ears to listen. The Lord is rising up the Nightwatch first in this because it is a signpost to His coming (Matthew 25:6). The natural transitions that are taking place are cues into the spiritual transitions that are taking place.
The Lord wants to move our hearts from being wowed by the stories to being wooed by them. The difference between these two is response. It is very easy to be overwhelmed by the stories and the idea of response that we have, but this only hinders response. It can only be done moment by moment, yes by yes, conversation by conversation, strength to strength, and God breathes on our hearts to push us through to overcome. Within the moment of temptation, you stop, say no, say ‘yes’ to Jesus, and move on (call friends to pray for you as well).
The battle field is our thought life and how we allow our emotions to be stirred. Do I allow things to be stirred in me unto fueling the flesh or do I allow things to stir me unto worship and prayer? We know what to and not to do, but it is the laying of the ax to the root.
“Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap your character; sow your character, reap your destiny.” Gird up the loins of your mind; it sounds exhausting, but it is the only way we have hope. Count up the number of times a lustful thought comes across your mind, then count up the times you have actively sowed seeds of pure thoughts or warred against the thoughts, and evaluate the difficulty based on that, not on your initial experience. We must start the process of forgiveness right at the moment of offense—don’t wait until the root of bitterness is manifest.
“You have done righteousness and loved wickedness.” We must rend our hearts and cherish righteousness in every part. Obedience in fear of consequences is the starting place, but we must get to a place of obedience out of a violent response of love.
The fear of the Lord manifested through anxiety is healthy. If you’re feeling nervous like, “I need to get with it,” that is the fear of the Lord. It drives us to make wise decisions, and that is why it is the beginning of wisdom. Once we respond in righteousness, the peace in that fear is given to us, and that is what is meant by the cleanliness of the fear of the Lord.
Character is about the image of Christ being formed in our mind, will emotions, and whole being (Psalm 51:6). Colossians 3:1-2. The things of the earth he is referring to are listed in 3:5-10, and he lists the things which are above in 3:12-17. Our prayer life in that one prayer meeting begins a month before hand. If we are preoccupied by all of our junk up to that point, we cannot be present with the Lord. “Others may but you may not.” “They are stewarding the drizzle of the Holy Spirit, and I will give to them the deluge.” We don’t want to be professional IHOPpers. What happened to Psalm 22? The way that our hearts stay pliable is by warring the inward fight for our thoughts.
Colossians 3:3. When we have these realities, godliness makes sense. This is the call to fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. There is a big difference between complaint and hunger. Hunger is aware of the bounty of God in the present, but longs for more. Complaint is only aware of the lack.
Assignment: spend the next month going to the people near & dear to you, and thank them. Be thankful. Thank them, and watch and see if life does not spring up in your heart.
The Lord can be with you and you not know it (Jesus in the manger, on the road to Emmaus, Jacob at Bethel, etc.). The awesomeness of the Lord is in our midst right now, and we must recognize it. He is speaking to us in the still small voice, and we must have ears to listen. The Lord is rising up the Nightwatch first in this because it is a signpost to His coming (Matthew 25:6). The natural transitions that are taking place are cues into the spiritual transitions that are taking place.
The Lord wants to move our hearts from being wowed by the stories to being wooed by them. The difference between these two is response. It is very easy to be overwhelmed by the stories and the idea of response that we have, but this only hinders response. It can only be done moment by moment, yes by yes, conversation by conversation, strength to strength, and God breathes on our hearts to push us through to overcome. Within the moment of temptation, you stop, say no, say ‘yes’ to Jesus, and move on (call friends to pray for you as well).
The battle field is our thought life and how we allow our emotions to be stirred. Do I allow things to be stirred in me unto fueling the flesh or do I allow things to stir me unto worship and prayer? We know what to and not to do, but it is the laying of the ax to the root.
“Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap your character; sow your character, reap your destiny.” Gird up the loins of your mind; it sounds exhausting, but it is the only way we have hope. Count up the number of times a lustful thought comes across your mind, then count up the times you have actively sowed seeds of pure thoughts or warred against the thoughts, and evaluate the difficulty based on that, not on your initial experience. We must start the process of forgiveness right at the moment of offense—don’t wait until the root of bitterness is manifest.
“You have done righteousness and loved wickedness.” We must rend our hearts and cherish righteousness in every part. Obedience in fear of consequences is the starting place, but we must get to a place of obedience out of a violent response of love.
The fear of the Lord manifested through anxiety is healthy. If you’re feeling nervous like, “I need to get with it,” that is the fear of the Lord. It drives us to make wise decisions, and that is why it is the beginning of wisdom. Once we respond in righteousness, the peace in that fear is given to us, and that is what is meant by the cleanliness of the fear of the Lord.
Character is about the image of Christ being formed in our mind, will emotions, and whole being (Psalm 51:6). Colossians 3:1-2. The things of the earth he is referring to are listed in 3:5-10, and he lists the things which are above in 3:12-17. Our prayer life in that one prayer meeting begins a month before hand. If we are preoccupied by all of our junk up to that point, we cannot be present with the Lord. “Others may but you may not.” “They are stewarding the drizzle of the Holy Spirit, and I will give to them the deluge.” We don’t want to be professional IHOPpers. What happened to Psalm 22? The way that our hearts stay pliable is by warring the inward fight for our thoughts.
Colossians 3:3. When we have these realities, godliness makes sense. This is the call to fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit. There is a big difference between complaint and hunger. Hunger is aware of the bounty of God in the present, but longs for more. Complaint is only aware of the lack.
Assignment: spend the next month going to the people near & dear to you, and thank them. Be thankful. Thank them, and watch and see if life does not spring up in your heart.
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