Rev. Melissa Pearce
enduringhopeministries.com
In preparation for 2020, I heard this phrase from the Lord, “Great Awakening.” I have heard this term before, but I was inquisitive as to what it meant then, and how it pertains to the now. As I inquired of the Lord, I heard that there will be a great awakening this upcoming year. However, this great awakening will not only pertain to revive unbelievers, but also to awaken believers’ hearts a new depth of maturity in Him. As each heart is awakened from her sleep and slumber, the year of advancement will be before God’s people.
In order to advance, the body of Christ will need to abide from a place of deep intimacy with the Lord, as well as to operate in her authority.
Jesus gives us the first key to advancement – Abiding.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me (NKJV- John 15:4).
There is an abiding that Jesus desires from us. He longs for our attention to be fixed upon Him. There are too many things vying for our attention. There are some opportunities and/or assignments that are good, or appear to be good, but in the end, they are distractions to keep you from pursuing where God is leading you. When we focus on Him, He gives us direction, counsel and peace.
As we abide in Him, He continues to settle His truths within our hearts and minds. The more we abide in Him, the more our hearts are awakened to His declarations of how He sees us, and who we are in Him. Our lives are no longer being guided by the broken ideologies. Instead, we establish and build a lifestyle based upon His principles and promises.
Freedom from the performance spirit is a part of the great awakening that will occur within the body of Christ. The performance spirit is engrained in works. It focuses on what you can do and what you can make happen. When your actions are not perfect, the performance spirit is relentless in making you believe you had failed.
The key to overcoming the performance spirit stems from abiding in God’s grace and love. From this position, He revolutionizes the way we see Him and the way we perceive ourselves. As our hearts become submerged with His, we function from His perspective. Doubt and fear are no longer strongholds that we entertain, but our self-worth and identity stems from Jesus.
Jesus gives us the second key to advancement – Asking.
As our hearts align with God’s, our desires are not for our own selfish gain, but for the purposes of God.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (NKJV-John 15:7).
Why was the early Church so successful in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ? They operated in their inheritance. In other words, they never lost sight of their self-worth and identity being in Christ Jesus. They understood that their authority came from Jesus and functioned in it. Their expectations were not in what they could do, but in Jesus and what He would do!
I’m reminded of the account of when Peter and John were at the temple and they encountered a lame man. Peter asked and God moved.
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk (NKJV-Acts 3:6).”
As hearts are awakened to the realization of the authority that has been given, each will ask (speak and declare), and we will see God move our behalf.
Jesus gives us the third key to advancement – Following.
We must follow God’s directives.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love (John 15:9-10).
In this upcoming year, we will need to pay close attention to God’s directives. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of familiarity. Even though you experienced success in the past in doing something a certain way, God never wants us to rely on our own understanding. There will be assignments given to us this upcoming year that will almost seem impossible. As we follow His lead, we will see God move in extraordinary ways. It is truly going to be a year of advancement.
I truly believe that 2020 is going to be an unprecedented year for many. Doors of opportunity filled with endless possibilities await you. It is going to be your year to advance!
