Guarding Greatness In Our Hearts

Hi People,

This last week has been a significant one for me to say the least. It started with God's greatness invading my smallness while I worshipped with many saints at a conference where Bill Johnson and Che Ahn were ministering. The next stop was time with Colin and Mary Peckham who have seen, and been used in, revival. And to top it all, a weekend with the 'firebrands', Keir and Callie Tayler. Nearly seven days of God-encounters, significant healings and a heart to revive and reform this world with the love and power of God. To be honest, my heart is burning for more of Him as a result!
In the light of all of this I'd love to let you in on what I felt God show me in my devotions Wednesday morning. At a time of the increased moves of our Living God in our midst where He's saving souls, setting people free, lifting depression and anxiety off sons and daughters and healing bodies, there is a clarion call to guard the good deposit He has made and nurture it into full bloom. 'Guarding His greatness in our hearts' is of top priority right now ...

I have been reading through the Gospel of Mark recently, but I'd like to highlight Ch5:21 - Ch6:6.
Here's the scene, Jairus' daughter is on the way out and she's only a little girl. Although a synagogue ruler, Jairus' pursuit of the life of Jesus rips him out of the wretched clutches of religious thinking that he finds himself in, into the reality only found in Jesus. By the time Jesus gets to Jairus' daughter - having delivered a precious woman of 12 years of infirmity on the way - the crows are circling, cackling 'your daughter's dead'! Jesus' response is remarkable and penetrating - 'Ignoring what they said...' vs36 NIV! He then proceeded to put courage into the dead girl's father with 'don't be afraid'. It was with this that the Spirit challenged me with the first issue if I am to 'guard His greatness in my heart' - am I prepared to ferociously ignore, not deny, but ignore, all other circumstances and calls of the crows to see the resurrection life flow through me? The cackling is loud and circumstance generally glaring, but I must guard myself against these if I am to be a conduit of His transforming power. We know how it ends - the crows are scattered, and a father receives back her daughter, alive!
The account then moves from a religious ruler's faithfilled pursuit for life beyond rigidity to Jesus hometown. One would expect the fanfare of the town's 'blue-eyed boy' being welcomed home. Not at all! These town folk had a diminished view of the Messiannic Miracle Maker saying "he's just the carpenter's son". Their earth-bond, impoverished perspective; their small-heartedness; their parochial pettiness could not grasp His greatness and only inflamed offense. Basically they were saying to themselves : 'Who does he think he is? Doesn't he know where he's from?' They couldn't handle it! The result of this pathetic view of Jesus, which opened the door to offense, was a lack of faith that amazed Jesus. No miracles were done, and only a few were healed. This is remarkable - my diminished, unBiblical view of Jesus will open the door to offense when He 'comes to town' to release His life, resulting in no faith that will ultimately short circuit God's desire to reveal and demonstrate His loving kingdom. I see this in many - their poor perspective of Jesus can't handle what He longs to do, they take offense, and shut the door to Him. This in turn creates a void around them that sucks the life out of others. I see it in me to some degree and it is my personal responsibility to 'guard God's greatness in my heart' if I am to see His kingdom come in and around me. In fact, it is all of our responsibility!

So, two key issues at this time - 1. ferociously ignore the cackling crows that highlight circumstances, and 2. let your impoverished perspective be transformed.

Guard the good deposit and let's keep cultivating a culture of His kingdom coming!

Huge blessings,

Ryan