"The Levitical priests, the whole tribe of Levi, shall have no portion or inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the Lord's offering by fire and His portion. They shall have no inheritance among their countrymen; the Lord is their inheritance, as He promised them." (Deuteronomy 18: 1 and 2)

As I read this passage this morning, I felt the Lord say this:

"All my people are called to be Levites--set apart for My purpose--called to love and honor and serve Me in all they do. To be My people wherever they go. And to bring glory to My name in all that they do.

They will live by My hand in all that they do. Their source will not be their jobs or their businesses--although they will honor me in that world--but Me. Look to Me for life even as you do your work as unto Me.

I will be your provider. In times of economic shaking those whose trust is entirely in Me will be safest and will draw many to Me."

The solemnity of revival

In his classic book on revival, In the Day of Thy Power, Arthur Wallis says:

It is a deeply solemn matter to seek God's face for revival, for He may deal with me as He does not deal with others.

I'm reminded of a Biblical passage that says something to the effect that from whom much has been given much will be required.

It is often said there is a price to be paid for revival. I am sure part of the price is that revived people--those who have truly been touched by the power of the Holy Spirit in that sovereign event called revival find themselves living at a different standard. Comfortable mediocrity, or complacency must fall off and new passion and purity and power must come in.

Sins once thought insignificant increase in felt significance. God deepens a process of searching and trying and purifying. Awareness of His presence and holiness and power and purity increases, while awareness of our need and desperation also increases.

There is surely joy in all this--but I suspect a life--once touched by the power of God, will be forever spoiled for the ordinary.

So, Lord, spoil me for the ordinary.

Wild horses

I had a mental image earlier today of standing in front of a herd of stampeding horses.

These horses are magnificent creatures--absolute warhorses.

They thunder toward me and just as they are about to trample me the horse part like a river.

They literally make the earth shake with their size and power.

The sound of their hoofbeats is like thunder. As they stampede past me their manes flow in the wind and I can hear the sound of the wind in their voices.

As I am in the middle of this stampede--this river of warhorses--I see myself swing myself up onto one of them and participate in this flow into battle.

What the Spirit seems to be saying to me is I (we) have a choice. I can resist the mighty flow of the Spirit and respond in fear and be trampled. Or I can embrace the move of God and go for an amazing ride with God.

Father take me where You want me to go.

Daily consecration

Another thing about consecration--we can take this life of being set apart literally one day at a time. In fact, we can even treat it as a moment-by-moment kind of thing.

Even as we make a lifetime commitment to obey--to give the Lord that absolute, unconditional yes, we live this life moment-by-moment.

In other words, today matters. The next moment matters. The next breath I take is a gift from God. The next action I take is the action of a man whose life belongs to God.

Live for Him today.

Commitment

I just read this in the book 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class and I think it applies, somehow, to consecration.

"When everyone else is tired, exhausted, and burned out from the battle, the great ones are just getting warmed up. It's not that they don't fatigue; but their commitment to their dream keeps them going...Champions don't recognize pain, because they have a commitment to do what it takes to win."

The connection is this--consecrated people burn their bridges behind them. They make an absolute unconditional commitment to press forward into God and all God has for them and they never turn back.

Consecrated people leave Egypt behind forever.

Consecration

Murray had a powerful exhortation this morning about consecration.

We are to set apart--committed to God's purposes--committed, in advance, to say yes to whatever He calls us to.

Whatever means whatever. And the yes is unconditional--given before the call is made.


Who does this call to a consecrated life apply to? Does it apply only to those called to paid ministry?
Actually it is clear the call to consecration applies to all believers.

I am satisfied God has called me to business. And by faith I am developing big dreams and visions for this business.

But God has been speaking to me consistently about consecration. My whole life is to be set apart for Him--that includes business--which is becoming a central part of this life He has led me to.
The life of a business person is not a lesser calling--not if it is truly God's calling on my life. It is a calling as surely as anything in what is traditionally regarded as ministry.
Does God's glory not fill the whole earth?

Joshua 1:3 says "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given to you, as I said to Moses."

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread---every place that the sole of your foot shall tread.

God wants His people to extend the kingdom to world of finance and business. And that requires business people who are set apart for His purpose--who are committed, in advance, to obey in the realm of finances--who can be trusted with riches because they have died to self.

This requires anointing as surely as that required for pulpit ministry.

This requires surrender.

This requires willingness to carry the cross

This requires integrity of heart and prophetic vision.

This requires people who walk in intimacy with the Father and who know the privilege of sonship.

This requires courage and a life hidden in Christ who is above.

May I be found a worthy servant.

The martyr's prayer

I find this message to be truly powerful. Give it a listen.