The Place Called 'There'

The Place Called There was shared by Bro. Johann Amaratunga on the VCRL  http://groups.google.com/group/risenlordcommunity/?pli=1 in June 2008.  Over the past three years I read it many times, and it has blessed me, challenged me and has sent me back to The Place Called 'There'.  With Bro. Johann's permission, I am sharing it here.   

I am inspired to share this about Elijah!  

After great victories come great temptations. This is primarily because we lose our sense of humility and dependence upon God. Elijah had successfully defied the king, his armies, his prophets, and all the people in the nation. But the next day, a note from a woman caused him to run in terror (1 Kin. 19:2-3).  Praise The Lord!

The Lord appeared to Elijah and asked, "What are you doing HERE, Elijah?" (1 Kin. 19:9). Elijah wasn't "THERE" anymore. His place called "THERE" was back in Samaria. People were now worshiping the true God, but Elijah had run away in fear, leaving the people without a leader.

This resulted in the Lord replacing Elijah with Elisha. Elijah's ministry fell short of what it could have been. The Lord actually spoke to Elijah in an audible voice. He told him to do three things, one of which was to anoint Elisha to replace him (1 Kin. 19:15-16). Elijah anointed Elisha (1 Kin. 19:19), but didn't do the other two things. That means Elijah failed in two-thirds of the things the Lord told him to do. He was blown away from his earlier victories.. That's amazing.

Well this was not the end of Elijah's mission!!.. Elijah went on to prophesy (1 Kin. 21:17-24), and he called the fire of God down two more times (2 Kin. 1:9-12). And most impressive of all, Elijah never died; he was caught up into heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kin. 2:11).

This man, who failed miserably, still walked so closely with God that he never died. This speaks volumes to us.

He uses us in spite of what we do, and not because of what we do.

 If we will hold on to our faith, we can still experience wonderful things from the Lord even after failing BIG TIME…

I'm convinced that the great love that God has for us always causes Him to supply all our needs. It's obvious that we don't always receive those provisions, not because God isn't faithful to give, but because we aren't all "THERE". There is a place called "THERE" for all of us, where we act in obedience to what the Lord has called us to do. That's where God's supernatural supply is. The supply is always "THERE", waiting for our arrival.

The answer to all the present Crisis's go to the place "THERE"

May this be an inspiration to the many Elijah's we sometime become!!

Praise The Lord!

Johann

Dare to Believe

I was thinking of Moses this morning… when Moses went to meet the Pharaoh, all that the Pharaoh saw in Moses was a loser – a fallen Prince of Egypt, who was planning a “Mission Impossible” against him.  No wonder the Pharaoh didn't take him seriously! 

The loser took Pharaoh by surprise when he marched the Israelites out of Egypt with the wealth of the Egyptians… into the desert, through the red sea into the Promised Land.  What the Pharaoh failed to see was that Moses was a man sent by God, and God walked before Moses.

Moses did not walk into the palace of Pharoah without a clue… he knew what the Pharaoh was capable of, but he also knew what God was capable of.  He knew the challenges that he would have to face on the way to the Promised Land, but HE believed in the providence of God.  He heard the complaints of his fellow Israelites in the desert, and even the personal attacks against him, but he chose to listen to God. 

When God calls us, HE does not make us blind to our circumstances, but opens our eyes to see beyond them, to see what HE is capable of.  He does not make us deaf to the world around us, but he opens our ears to hear HIS voice.  HE does not make us immune to the hurtful things we may have to face, but HE gives us the strength to rise above them.  

If we continue to believe in our circumstances, they will continue to overwhelm us.  But if we dare to believe in God and what HE is capable of, we shall see the Promised Land.

Soldier in the Army of God, by B.J. Morbitzer

I am a soldier in the in the army of my God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare.

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit

Trained by experience,
Tried by adversity and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this Army,

And I am enlisted for eternity.
I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed out.
I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable.
If my God needs me, I am there.

I am not a baby. 

I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,
Pumped up, picked up, or pepped up.

I am a soldier.
I am not a wimp.
I am in place, Saluting my King,
Obeying His orders, Praising His name,
And building His kingdom!

No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards or, candy.
I do not need to be cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to.
I am committed.

I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into His Army, I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead.  I will win.

My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs.

I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.

Devils cannot defeat me.
People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me.
Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me.
Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me.
And Hell cannot handle me.
I am a soldier.

Even death cannot destroy me.

For when my Commander calls me from this battlefield

He will promote me to Captain
And then allow me to rule with Him.
I am a soldier in the Army,
And I’m claiming victory.

I will not give up.
I will not turn around.
I am a soldier,
Marching Heaven bound.