4But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you,says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.'6 "For this is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 8 The silver is mine and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. 9 The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven's Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!"
As I was praying and seeking the Lord this week He began to show me two things. The first was a vision that was repeated again this week and the next was a physical manifestation of trembling in my body. As I prayed my body began to shake and tremble and the words shaking all things, I'm shaking My Church, and the Eternal will remain was uttered. The Lord began to show me a vision of Himself sweeping through the Churches and flipping the tables over. I watched as many of the tables were turned over and continued to spin from the force of the Lord. He then turned to look deeply into my eyes and He spoke these words "because I love her" I was so touched by the Lords love for His beloved Bride. Please hear His heart for us, It is His love for us that will compel us to move, that's calling us higher, that's beckoning us to go deeper still.
In the scripture above two things stood out to me like the Lord put a highlighter to the words. The first was get to work and the second was be strong. This shaking is coming to remove the complacency of our comfortable, stable, and lukewarm lives. The Lord would rather you be hot or cold but not lukewarm! I know it's not easy to hear but it is needed. Don't you remember the moment you first encountered His love and freedom? Don't you remember the dreams you and Him dreamed up together! Don't you remember your zeal for Him? How that He was the first one you said good morning to and then the last one you said goodnight to!! He misses you and your passion for Him, just as much as you miss Him. You let the dreams fade and have settled for good enough! But the greatness He is calling you to is not about you!! Get up and go! You hear Him calling you, you see what He is showing you but yet you stay. Why? The risk, the sacrifice, the work required? Oh Lord come shake us from our selfish, self sufficient, and self centered lives! I have seen it in my own life and the Lord shook me up and left a limp in my heart that cannot be removed. Go the easy way, trust me on that.
I'm not wrestling this time. Let me invite you into some personal shaking of my own. Four months ago the Lord spoke to my husband and I saying "Go to Ft Worth and give me your house, this is an old dream,and I have new dreams for you now. First of all let me just say, I did not plan on spending my Summer getting my house ready for sale or the soon coming packing process. I did not plan on moving from my home after being here for 8 years! This was a brand new home when we bought it, a dream fulfilled, and a place full of memories. Hear me now? Oh but the call of His voice and the love in His gentle words penetrating my heart" Come and follow me." And so we Go because we love Him so.
Where are we going Lord? How will we get there Lord? When will we get there Lord?
I will show you the way. For I know the plans I have for you...
Be strong Bride of Christ and get up and Go where He is calling, where He is leading, wherever He may go. And remember that His word to us is unchanging in that He still says and means that according to Hebrews 10:38 And my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back."
It's time to be shaken from complacency, to be strong in the Lord and His might, and get to work!