New beginnings
2 CORINTHIANS 3: 17 - 18
"ever increasing glory" ; AMP - "from one degree of glory to another."
"Aside from God, the only thing that never changes is the fact that
there will always be change."
Do we desire to be changed more & more into the likeness of our
Lord? To what degree?
To see ever increasing glory manifest in our lives, requires that we follow
the path of change, that we be willing to embrace NEW BEGINNINGS.
"transition" - the development or change from one stage or state, to
another. Three phases to transition: 1. Every transition begins with an
ending. 2. There follows a phase of adjustment, with uncertainty and
potential distress. 3. A new beginning.
Many never reach phase 3, the new beginning, because they cannot enter
phases 1 and 2.
From OLD WINESKIN to NEW WINESKIN. It sometimes feels like
NO WINESKIN in between...
Environments of New Beginnings
A. SEPARATION OF GOOD FROM EVIL.
MATTHEW 13: 24 - 30 , 36 - 43
Many interesting perspectives on this... Broad overview: Jesus makes it
clear. Good seed are believers; weeds are those who aren't committed
to Christ. At judgment time, there will be a separation. Both are living
side by side presently, but at the appointed time, there will be a
separating. Zoom lens: Let's come a little closer on this. I believe
there's a principle here...
In each individual life, there are wheat & tares; growing together side
by side. All growth points towards harvest. When you plant seed, it's
with harvest time in mind.
In Roman times, sowing tares in someone's field was a method of
revenge. And it was also crime under Roman law.
JOHN 8:44 (Here's the biggest lawbreaker & criminal of all time.
He began to sow tares into the human race, from the start.)
There are 2 parallel tracks throughout human history, that reflect the
truths in the parable of the wheat & tares. Side by side, throughout
history, we see good & evil. The majority of movie plots... major
world wars... communist & atheistic regimes such as the Soviet Union
and China. Great fields of evil, but sown among the field - a vibrant
on-fire church.
From the beginning, God sowed into Adam & Eve, and so did Satan.
God sowed into Abel & Cain, so did Satan.
GENESIS, Chapter 5, gives us the lineage from Adam to Noah,
1,656 years from Adam to the Flood. These men & women lived
side by side. Adam was still alive when Lamech was born, Lamech
was Noah's dad. Methusaleh , the oldest patriarch who died at 969,
was alive up to the year of the Flood. He was Noah's grandpa.
Also in the lineage was Enoch. He only lived a mere 365 years. He
so pleased God and had such a strong faith, that God decided he
belonged in heaven.
GENESIS 6: 5 - 8
Two parallel tracks. God sows, the devil sows. Apply this principle
to your individual life. Whether you are a teenager or a senior citizen,
your life is like a field. What's been sown there?
I can tell you this - GOD KNOWS.
The seed He has planted in your life, He has His eye on - for a harvest.
The seed the enemy has sown, he has his eye on - for a harvest also.
This harvest isn't for the end of the age; it's a here and now, ongoing
one.
God has ordained seasons for your life. New beginnings are for
everyone. A harvest of the fruit of the Spirit is meant for all. And
in the lineage of your own life, though not as long as the patriarchs,
there will be a series of harvest times. These will include times of
separation, a "weeding out" if you will. IF WE DESIRE TO EMBRACE
A NEW BEGINNING, WE MUST EMBRACE THIS PROCESS.
In the time of Christ, women & children usually were assigned the
tedious job of manually separating wheat & tares.
*HARVEST TIMES ARE REVEALING
"darnel" plant - looks just like wheat in its' early stages. At harvest
time, the difference shows. Remember , when the "yuk" and the
"slop" of your flesh is manifesting, there is wheat growing alongside
of it. Manifestation makes for easier separation. We need to be
thankful for clear revelation on evil. It loses its' subversive power
when there is surface accountability.
GENESIS 1: 1 - 3a HEBREWS 11:3
God creating supernaturally. From nothing to something.
Creative environments are those in which God can speak clearly,
unhindered.
DEUTERONOMY 8:3 LUKE 4: 3 - 4
* When God's Word rises above, every other means of sustenance.
New beginnings are marked by our learning how to live on the
"It is writtens."
* Back *
Email: grosik@juno.com
