One degree of separation!

I'm still being challenged by the journey we are on, both personally and within my church.

I keep thinking how it was for Moses and then Joshua as they tried to lead the people from captivity into the promised land. Remember we are not just going "to it" we are going "into it" and taking possession "of it" for God.

Why did some come out but not go in? Why did others go in but not take possession? And who started strongly but eventually stopped following God and died in the desert?

How do we help people "get" the Kingdom message and stay with it as it transforms us?

As I look back over our journey I see many who caught a greater revelation than me about the "Good news of the gospel of the Kingdom of God." People read books and studied their bibles and found great freedom and awakening of passions and dreams for God that had been long buried by religious spirits and legalism. The freedom and joy they received was inspiring to us slow learners.

But as I look around today some of those faces are not around or have seemingly lost that sense of freedom and my heart longs for their return. I have not gone past them is revelation, it is not that, but at some point the newly found freedom has been stalled or deviated away from the journey God has us on. I want to help people get back on Gods path as it pains me to see people left behind. I cannot comprehend what went through Moses mind when God said He was going to wipe out the Israelites and start a fresh. His passion and love for his people "swayed" God and He with held His fury.

God help me to speak to hearts and encourage people to get back on the journey.

Two scriptures come to mind and a great message I heard at a leaders training time many years ago.

Gal5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?

At some point something may have cut in and derailed our journey to freedom. I guess this is the easy one although if it was people should have been able to see it more clearly. What decision took us out of freedom, what comment from a leader brought legalism, what encouragement from a friend brought rebellion or what character flaw emerged once we received a little freedom? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves. What decisions did the Israelites make in the desert after receiving freedom that stopped them from going into the promised land?

Can we look back twelve or eighteen months and see where we were on the Kingdom journey? Are we further or have we backed away?

Is receiving FREEDOM enough (salvation) or should we be moving towards a greater victory (Gods kingdom and our inheritance)?

This is not a "doing" thing but a heart issue. Are we still on the journey or have we settled at some point - some point of revelation or some point of error/hurt?

Who has cut across our path?

The second scripture that comes to mind is the parable of the sower in Mat13. The seed sown is the message of the kingdom. And there are several responses given - the enemy steals it, spiritual immaturity, the temptations of the world vs Gods word and finally the person who hears the word, grasps it and bears fruit.

Where are we on this journey? Has some of the truth we received been stollen? Has our "immaturity" meant that we could not handle the truth or is the price we have to pay become to great for us? I don't know your answer but God is testing me on mine.

I encourage you to take stock of your journey, see "who is/may cut in" on you and steel yourselves against it. Draw closer to God and he (enemy) will flee! As we capture our position as son's and daughters and live in the intimacy, dominion, authority and security of this the journey becomes easier.

Finally, several years ago Ian McKellor spoke at a leadership time on being 1 degree off course from Gods vision. He demonstrated how sometimes a small error can eventually take us totally away from the truth. Initially, we can still see the truth but our path starts to diverge the further/longer we are off course. Eventually we cannot see where we were and have no reference point to know we are off course.

It may only be 1 degree of separation but eventually, if not corrected, it will lead us off Gods path for our lives.

Today I hope that we will take the time to look at our journeys. See where we were 12 -18 months ago when we all "found freedom and joy". And now look at our lives today..

Are we further on the journey or has something "cut across" our path.

I want people to stay in the truth, to stay on course. I want to stay in the truth.

Be ruthless! The price Jesus paid for our freedom is too much for us to "dishonor" through offenses or immaturity. The cost of settling in the desert too great compared to the riches and blessings we will receive through "entering" and "possessing" the promised land - our inheritance!

God is gracious and full of mercy. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. As the prodigal son found out, it does not matter where or why we have strayed, it only matters that we return to the Father's house.

My prayer today is for the prodigals and those who have seen something "cut across" their journey. Today is the day of restoration. Today is the day for Gods family.

Today is the day of returning to the kingdom journey - and the fullness there of!

Today is the day to return to the path laid out before us by God, who orders the steps of the righteous.