DON'T WAKE THE BEAST!

PRESS, PUSH, PURSUE Dear Friends,  Have you ever felt like Hannah who was so consumed with the grief of wanting a  child she risked being accused a drunk in the presence of the Lord because she wanted His attention,  (1 Samuel: 8-18 ). Or like Gideon who, challenged God by putting a fleece on the ground and ask “God if it is really You speaking to me prove it, (Judges 6:36-40). I am sure we all have our moments of grief and doubts, but did we learn how to get God’s attention like Jacob, who refused to let go until God blessed him, (Genesis 32: 22-32). From time to time we go through different seasons of life and most often than others we don’t know how to make that transition from one season to the next. The beginning of a new year is always a season of transition. Many of us make “New Years” resolutions only come to realize that we are unable to keep on our own what we vowed. I truly believe  that it is not God’s desire that any should perish, but because of lack of knowledge we,  his people are perishing every day. With this new season upon us instead of  making resolutions, let  us look to Him for answers in how to make the transition from on season to the next. Today I will share with you a few words of encouragement; “PRESS,  PUSH and PURSUE" the Presence of  the Lord. Definition  In order to understand the full effect of what I am about to say let me define the words for  you. The context in which the words are used: PRESS: From the greek word apothlibō (ä-po-thlē'-bō ) which means to press on all sides, squeeze, press hard .  Luke 8:45 - And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press [thee], and sayest thou, Who  touched me? PUSH: From the Hebrew word nagach (nä·gakh') meaning to push, thrust,  or gore. Daniel 11:40 - And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him:  and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with  horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow  and pass  over. PURSUE: Pursue from the greek word diōkō (dē-ō'-kō ),  metaphorically, to pursue a) to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavour to acquire. Matthew 5: 6 - Blessed  are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Speak Over Yourself Sometimes we sit around waiting for someone to speak over us and to minister to our spirit for that which God has given us to come alive. We want others to speak hope to that which we are carrying. As believers we are containers of God’s presence and we have the power to speak the word of God over our lives. As one song writer puts it “speak over yourself, encourage yourself in the Lord,  (Donald Lawrence).” In order to receive what God has in store for us we need to learn how to press, push and pursue the presence of God to obtain the anointing necessary to carry us into what God  wants for us. There are things in our lives which will cause us to give up or become  comfortable where we are; yet we must determine in spite of what we are going  through, in spite of the challenges we need to do all  we can to dwell or enter in the presence of God. I had to learn to push myself beyond what I experienced in the past and the people of my past to worship God now. You have to determine no matter  what, I must touch God. There was a time when I couldn’t focus, when I needed to just be in the presence of the Lord. I became so consumed with people and things that I allowed the weight of life to weigh me down. There’s only one what to overcome  and that is to constantly pressing, pushing and pursing God. You have to begin to  speak over yourself and declare whether or not others recognize the gift God has given you , you are going to pursue the presence of God. A Fresh Anointing  The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who had to press, push and pursue the presence of God in order to see the promises of God fulfilled in their lives. Today we can hold on to their stories knowing that God is no respecter of person; what He has done for them He will do for you. Press, push and pursue the presence of God. When you stand before God it has to be in the  now. It cannot be in the past. We cannot continue to meditate on past anointing. We cannot fulfill the purpose of God for today with yesterday or the last season’s anointing. The anointing of yesterday or last season was to give you the strength to endure the challenge and struggles  you faced in that season. Now that you have come through you need a fresh anointing to be able to deliver that which God has deposited within you through the challenge.  Therefore, step out of yesterday and press your way into the presence of God. Step out of yesterday’s anointing and push your way past the memories of yesterday to  see the manifested presence of God in your life today. Step out of yesterday’s anointing  and pursue the presence of God for what  He has in store for you. The Vision  The Bible declares without vision the people perish (Proverbs 29:18). How are we to  do what God wants of us if we have no vision of what He wants us to do? You must  have a vision of what God wants to do through you in order to accomplish His plan.  The only way t see God’s vision for your life is to press, push and pursue His presence.  When Naomi decided to go back to Bethlehem, Judah from Moab; Ruth her  daughter-in-law wanted to God with her. Ruth had lost her husband and at that time she might have thought I cannot see anything for my life. I believer, however, that she caught  a vision of who God is and what He can do. Ruth had no idea what she would accomplish in Judah, yet when Naomi tried to discourage her from following her she declared: “Entreat me not to leave you, or turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God,” Ruth 1:16. Ruth caught a glimpse of the God of Israel and what He could do. We later learn from the genealogy of Jesus as recorded in Matthew chapter 1 she is the grand mother of King David. What an end for a young woman from a pagan country who decide to get a hold of the vision of the God of Israel? Zacchaeus had no idea what Jesus would do for Him the day he sought to see Jesus. He heard about all Jesus had been  doing and he wanted to get in His presence for himself. He had to see Jesus even if it  meant climbing up in a tree. Zacchaeus pressed, pushed and pursued Jesus and when he couldn’t get pass the crowd he positioned himself in a place where Jesus could see him. That day Zacchaeus and his house hold received salvation, Luke 19: 1-10.  Who knew Jesus had plans for a tax collector? Esther didn’t know what king Ahasuerus  would do when she pushed the door to enter his presence that day. Yet she was willing to  make the sacrifice to save her people from the enemy. In return God gave her favor with the king. Esther chapter 5:1-14. Do you need God’s Favor today? What do you need to  sacrifice in order to press, push and pursue the presence of God to see His vision for  your life? Remember without vision you will perish. That is why many of us become frustrated, bitter and angry because we don’t see what God see’s; so we try to be like those around us who we admire and crave the anointing yet refuse to pay the price to connect to the vision of God. The Challenge From the days of creation until now we have been challenged by the power of darkness to frustrate us to the point where we forfeit that which God has blessed us with. The enemy is determined to push us to abort the vision God has given us. When I look on my life and all the things I have been through and where I was with God sometimes I cry because I remember what it was like to stand in His presence and how He moved  through me. I recently spoke with my mentor and expressed to him how I felt about my life and he encouraged me to claim Isaiah 43:18-19 over my life. It reads; “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” The first couple of week I read this passage of Scripture I asked God “What is it you are going to do?” Honestly, when I was reading it I could not see anything promising for my future. I could not see what God had in store for me. I kept praying, make the crooked places straight before me and shed light into dark places. I realized then that every time I went before God I saw myself as it was in the past. That’s when I learned I need to press, push and pursue the presence of God in order to see myself in the now. There must be something better for me in Judah ( the House of Praise). I must tell you, after the death of my mother I began to question God, “now that the season of taking care of my mother has ended, what is going to happen?’ If I am not careful I can become consumed with grief and despair, but I  understand that in order to know what God is going to do next I must be determine  to press, push and pursue His presence to receive instruction for the mandate of the  new season I am about to enter. I must also be obedient to follow the Holy Spirit as He leads me. I must be willing to speak and do as He will even when no one chooses  to listen. As we transition from on season to the next we must be careful not to allow the enemy to trample us. God promises that those who hunger and thirst after  righteousness shall be filled, Matthew 5:6. Press, push and pursue His presence and  discover the vision he has for you this season. Remember yesterday’s anointing  cannot fulfill today’s purpose. References: Press http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G598,   Push: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=H5055&t=KJV,   Pursue: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1377)