Is your idea of ministry full of effort? Are you using expressions like "pull down" and "press in" to describe accomplishing a "spiritual" agenda? If so, what are you saying about your relationship with God and even God Himself? A vocabulary that does not reflect the truth that His yoke is easy and His burden is light may even be a symptom that it is laced with the leaven of the Pharisees, and exemplifies another kingdom, one of your own making. It frightens the well-meaning saint into a turmoil of works such as 24/7 prayer meetings and long fasts with noble-sounding goals. But you cannot serve the living God with dead works. Trust me, I know. I tried. At the end of that path was a dead end. I became weary and heavy-laden to the max! I had to repent, turn 180 degrees and go back the other way. It wasn't until I stopped trying that I found Him.
The problem with all my masquerade of faux spirituality was that I was actually demonstrating a kingdom alien to His, while I ignored the real truth: His Kingdom was already alive in me and releasing Him to other people was "no sweat." As I gradually learned to cease spiritual striving, He lifted the cover for me on a walk of grace with Him. The walk of grace is hidden from the spiritual striver. I never meant to be proud, but I had to learn that walking with Him is born of a humble concept of my weakness and complete trust in His strength.
I remember studying in countless places in the Old Testament hidden prophetic shadows of the coming new Kingdom, operating under a New Covenant. One of those places is in the ceremony prescribed in the Old Testament for the consecration of the priests. Back in the day, that ceremony included stripping the priest, washing him with water, and then clothing him with priestly linen garments that would not produce sweat. The High Priest anointed him with blood and oil. Sounds very spiritual so far.
But then came the annoying part ---- waiting! Where? In the Holy Place, the doorway of the tent of meeting, in the tabernacle, representing the Presence of God, Himself--for seven days! In that compartment, just outside the Holy of Holies, rested the golden lamp stand made of one large piece of solid gold, which had been beaten into the form of a central pipe with branches resembling almond bulbs and blossoms. It was the only source of light in that room. A priest would pour the oil into a center shaft and it flowed into the other branches. Then he ignited the wicks in the tubes with a fire that came from the altar. When Jesus said, "Abide in Me and I in you as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it abides in Me," (John 15) These nice, Jewish boys, knew what He was talking about.
In the compartment where the new priest sat, the light of that lamp stand illuminated a table with twelve fragrant loaves of freshly baked unleavened bread representing the twelve tribes of Israel, who were then the only people of God. The altar of incense in front of the veil emitted a cloud of smoke from the burning of a unique recipe made of priceless compounds. When they burned, the fragrance was "out of this world." There was no perfume on earth that could resemble that smell. The incense altar stood in front of the veil separating it from the Holy of Holies. That veil would be there until the day Jesus died on the cross.
So then what understanding was the newbie priest to glean from 7 days of sitting there? Listen in on a conversation with God while a newbie priest gets a clue:
"Lord, I love my new priest's outfit. It really sets me apart from everybody else! I've got my anointing. I'm all ready to start serving!"
"Where did you get that outfit? You didn't earn it, did you?" God chuckled as he saw the novice wince.
"No, the High Priest gave it to me."
"And how did you put it on? "
"It was 'easy peasy;' I just raised my arms like I was giving up -- but you know this, don't you, Lord.
"Exactly, hold onto that thought. By the way, you don't know it yet, but you are still not ready. It's not about looking the part and just knowing the scriptures. And it's not about doing chores, either. You have to wait awhile! Calm down and get quiet."
"But I want to get started 'doing stuff ' for You," protested the young priest.
"You aren't ready. You need to learn to abide in Me. It's the only way to bear everlasting fruit."
"But I have to plan the week and make some visits to pray for the sick, before I go to Intercessory Prayer!"
"Shhhhh. Quiet!"
"But ..."
"You'll get it, if you wait long enough."
After a long while...
"Why is it so dark in here?"
"The only way to see is if I illuminate the place where you are! You can't serve me without seeing circumstances and people the way I see them. Just abide in Me!"
After another long while...
"What's that smell?"
"It's the sweet smell of my people resting in My Presence."
"What people? I can't smell anything but incense."
A thick cloud of incense permeated the room.The newbie priest squinted until he saw twelve loaves of bread, lying peacefully on the table.
"Oh, you mean the smell of My life burning in the fire of love for My People...Hang on. Wait awhile and you'll get it.."
Seven days later, after the new priest's frustration finally relaxed into peace, God spoke again,"Ok, you are ready to begin your priesthood!"
"But Lord, I was beginning to love being with you in here. Besides, I can't do anything for those people unless I love them with your love. I can't see what I'm supposed to see, without You showing me. I want to live like this, in Your Presence...Can't we just stay here resting in your love?"
"You are always welcome to rest with me. In fact, you must rest in Me. It's where your real strength comes from. When you go out there, all I want is for the folks I love to catch a big whiff of that smell that has saturated into that linen garment you are wearing. They will know where you've been, and it will make them want to be with Me, too."
So before you keep on running to and fro about the earth trying to serve God in your own strength, sweating like any other human being and smelling like it, too, trust God enough to wait as long as it takes. It makes all the DIFFERENCE in the world!
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