December
9, 2001
Preparing
For the Coming Winter
In
the past weeks, various pictures, impressions and stories from the Bible
kept coming back to my mind. Using all of these, the Holy Spirit began weaving a
spiritual landscape which I felt was a reflection of a spiritual season
that is coming upon us.
As I share these with you today, may you test them and allow the Lord to
speak to your hearts.
THE VISION, THE WORD
The first vision that came to me was the picture of a forest blanketed in
white color (meaning winter). The trees were bare and snowflakes
were falling all around. In the midst of this landscape, I saw a hand
stripping away the bark of every tree in that forest.
The second vision was the picture of a camel walking through a very
narrow door. The camel had to kneel down and squeeze itself through that
passageway.
The third vision was that of a person standing on a rug, and suddenly the
rug was pulled away from under his feet. I saw a surprised expression on his
face. He staggered a little but did
not fall.
As I watched and waited for interpretation to these visions, the Holy Spirit
began adding the story of Abram's parting way with Lot and how he offered
Lot first choice in selecting the land to settle in (Genesis 13:8-11). This was followed
by the story of Abraham offering Isaac at the altar (Genesis 22:1-11).
After that, the scene of the fire from heaven consuming the
sacrifice prepared by Elijah during his confrontation with the Baal priests on
Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:38) was brought back to my mind one after the
other.
Following everything, I heard these words impressed in my spirit, "A
new day is coming upon my people, and I'm releasing a new wineskin. Everything
related to the old will be stripped away and burned." (Matthew
9:16-17)
The winter landscape represents a season of decrease, of loss, of seeming
barrenness.
The stripping of the bark of the trees meant two things. First, the Lord is
exposing weakness or areas in our lives or in our ministries that need
correction. It also refers to
someone or something that are close to us.
The camel passing through the narrow door represents that the process will not
be easy but hard.
The rug pulled out from under the man's feet reflects a suddenness at which
events will dawn upon us.
All these are warnings for us to prepare for a time ahead which will be marked
by difficulty, and it further implies that unpleasant events will come
upon us suddenly and in ways that we will not expect.
FROM HUMAN PERSPECTIVE
When viewed from purely human perspective, it will initially seem like
death and disaster has descended upon us - whether physical or spiritual. We will see decrease,
experience loss, and taste isolation.
WHAT WILL BE AFFECTED
The area that will be affected will be very significant and important
to us. It will be our Isaac's, something or someone that is very close to
our hearts.
GOD'S GRACE: RELEASE
In the midst of these trying times, those who are affected by it will find their
hearts sovereignly covered by the Lord, especially against feelings of
"fear and regret." Yes,
there will be a season of mourning, wondering and even questioning,
but God will sovereignly shower His grace on us, and feelings of great RELEASE
will begin to flood the hearts and minds of His people.
A TIME TO TRUST AND TO HONOR OTHERS
The path that each will take may be different but the lessons will be the same.
The first lesson will be a stretching of our TRUST in the goodness of
our God. Like Job, many of us will
cry out, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of
the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21-22) Just as Job did not sin by charging God
with wrongdoing so, too, will we stand strong when we enter the winter season
that will come upon us.
Secondly, we are encouraged to put into action HONORING others above
ourselves. Just like the generosity that Abraham extended to Lot on many
instances by giving him first choice and even helping him when he was
attacked, so, too, the Lord is challenging us in the coming days to act in the
same manner towards people, not just those who support us, but even
those who persecute or hurt or disappoint us. He wants us to bless them
with our prayers and even our resources, to honor them before others even before
ourselves. He desires that we be willing to give them first share of any
blessing or inheritance which we feel rightfully belongs to us.
NEW WINESKIN
The new wineskin that God is preparing to release to His people is symbolic of
an anointing so great, so powerful and mighty and one that is purely from Him.
This will be made available to those who hold nothing back from Him.
DEATH TO SOME VISIONS, RESURRECTION FOR OTHERS
After this season is over, some of us will receive back the visions and dreams
which we thought had died. Others
will find themselves receiving a new vision or dream which will be totally
different from what had been surrendered to the Lord.
THE BEST
What God will give to us will be the best. It will be complete, and we will find
ourselves planted in the middle of it suddenly. We will not need to labor as we
have in the past.
TAKE HEART, GOD IS AT WORK IN OUR MIDST
If this is a race, we are entering the last lap of the run. Yes, many of us at
this point are physically weary. We bear many scars and have sacrificed
everything we hold dear to qualify for this race. WE WILL NOT FAIL FOR GOD
HAS CALLED US INTO THIS RACE.
PRAYER FOR MORE GRACE
"Father, we all sense in our hearts that we are coming to the end of our
human ability. We have given our all to the call that You've assigned to
each of us. We ask You today to accept our offering, flawed as it may be and
blow Your breath upon it. Let Your heavenly fire purify each of the offerings
that we lay before You. Thank You for giving us Your grace, not just to
endure, but more importantly to rejoice in the midst of our
suffering and pain for we know that You are with us and that You have a purpose
for this season. We look forward to receiving the new wineskin which You have
prepared for us. Fill us now with more of You.
In Christ’s Name we ask these favors.
Amen!"
Blessings in Him,
Sis. Ching Co
Cebu City
Philippines