Monday, June 18, 2007

Limping Together to Change the World

Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Who are you standing with? Are you a Barnabas waiting for that Saul? Or are you a Timothy waiting for your Paul? Different seasons require that we stand with different people; yet, there are times when we wear multiple hats at once. We are a Barnabas to an emerging leader while as a Timothy still receiving oversight by a well seasoned father in the Lord. My point is this: Are you connected with the RIGHT people? Whom has the Lord called you to build with? Whom are you walking with?

I wrote the following excerpt to a father in the Lord this past weekend for Father’s Day; a man who is dear to my heart:

Humility is absolutely essential for significance in building the kingdom of God. Honestly, I don’t trust people who don’t walk with a limp. Those who limp are the ones that I want to build with. I teach frequently on the path of humility because we need to be reminded of it in our day and age of self-exaltation, instant gratification, and ego-casting.”

We should discern if a person walks with a limp, which is a mark of a man or woman having wrestled with God and lost.

A prophetic intercessor friend from Canada – Cathy Coulson – is earnestly praying for the emerging generation, wrote this to me several weeks ago:

God seems to be speaking to me about this generation (tweenties) as being the “Jacob Generation”…For some reason it seems to me God has a special love in his heart for this generation.”

To me, a “Jacob Generation” speaks of a generation that walks with a limp, a sign of one who has wrestled with God in the secret place, and lost. Yet, in losing we are given a new name – a new identity.

Genesis 32:22-30 (NIV)

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
27 The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered.
28 Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."
29 Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

This divine confrontation of sorts involves the “Me Generation” coming face-to-face with the reality of its condition – both personally and as a generation – before the face of the Almighty. This, I believe, will produce a deep brokenness in the hearts of this generation. Yet, it will emerge with an identity that has been forged by the Spirit of the Living God, and not through the mass media and demonic influences.

"Father, bring us to this place of brokenness before You. Let us see as You see. Have mercy on us for the deception that we allow to persist in our hearts. Help us to seek Your face above ALL else. Help us to love You like never before. Grant us the ability to see You as You really are. Break our hearts. Allow us to become a generation that walks with a limp; free from haughtiness; vain conceit; selfish ambitions; greed and lust; jealousy; the pursuit of self-comfort; and anything else that would hinder us from walking in Your fullness. Connect us in the days to come with others who are also pursuing the narrow path. Yoke us together with those whose hearts burn for the things deep within Your heart. Together, as we limp, may we change the world as we serve Your purposes for this generation."

Let me rephrase my earlier question: With whom are you called to limp with?

4 comments:

Cathy said...

YES,YES!! THANK YOU!

>>that's it!

Thanks for shedding light on this for me, Brian....sometimes I am so dull of hearing..

Anonymous said...

Ok Brian, you did it again. You pulled something out of me. I was going to respond here but it grew too large.
You can read it here if you want http://www.brandonrichards.com/journal/entry/rise_up_and_walk/

Kingdom Shifts said...

Cathy - You aren't dull of hearing...I didn't get this UNTIL you shared with me what the Lord was showing you. Together we were able to bring forth what the Lord had on His heart.

Brandon - It is cool when something "triggers" a thought process. I skimmed it quickly, but I'll get back to it later and write a response on your blog.

Karen said...

Brian:

Thanks for the encouragement that our weaknesses are, truly, what make us strong. I am always intrigued that Paul only boasted of 2 things - Christ and his weaknesses. We, often, are too caught up with impression management to be comfortable in having limps but it is the way of the kingdom. THANKS for the reminder AND encouragement that it is "normal" in the REAL kingdom reality.

Thanks for being one who has "limped" with me through many seasons!

Karen