The second week in July 2004, upon awakening the Lord gave both my husband and myself the opening verse. We were having our morning coffee, waking up and sharing what was on our hearts and running through our thoughts that morning. It was the first time that we had ever received the same thing from the Lord at the same time, which we interpreted as being significant. A few mornings later this joint revelation happened again. This time it was Isa. 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The heart of the issue here is recognizing that we will never do anything for God by our own efforts. Only what originates from the Spirit of God has any value to change lives. It is heartbreaking to see all that man is striving to do "for God," but from man's own strength and intellect. We see evidence of the fact that regardless of how noble or altruistic the work may be; the reality is that the results are pitiful and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. This can all change in a twinkling of an eye, if we would but come to the realization that of ourselves we can do nothing.

There is only one way that God moves. That one way is by HIS SPIRIT. Jesus tells us in John 4:24 God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The things that we have been taught, accepted and practice, that we consider worship, are much more pleasing to our flesh than they are approved and acceptable to God. God is a Spirit. We, all of mankind, are created in God's image. It is the spirit part of us that is born again. It is the spirit part of us that must grow up in Christ. The flesh, with all of its weaknesses and lusts is nothing more than a vessel that we must put in its place, which is subservient to the Spirit. This concept is little taught or practiced.

Down through the ages, man has heard the Words of God, and interpreted those Words to suit his own agenda. Here a verse, there a verse, whatever is pleasing and comfortable to hear. Without the power of the Spirit the Bible is just words. Learned men have delved and searched the scriptures, developing all manner of theologies and doctrines, but have come no closer to discovering the secrets of the mysteries contained therein. Why, because they are using their intellect, their natural reasoning mind. Only the great Comforter, the Holy Spirit, can ever lead us into the Truth. We will never know God because one day we just decided we wanted to. No man cometh to the Father, except the Spirit draws him. There is no way of getting around it. In this Laodicean Age, we have most spiritual things backwards. This is not a criticism: it is simply a fact. Firstly, no man can come to God except the Spirit draws him. When we are born again, it is our spirit that is reborn. Our flesh must be put under. If we would be a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ, then we must grow up spiritually, we must learn to recognize and be led by the promptings and revelations of our Spirit, while we daily die to our fleshly, carnal impulses and reasoning. Only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this transformation within us. As believers, we are called to be more than overcomers, but few there be that are willing to pay the price. Instead, we find refuge in the traditions and doctrines of men, seeking the honor and recognition of men rather than the true righteousness of God. The standards of religion are so much easier to attain to than the standard of our example, Jesus Christ. Men are easily deceived by flattery and smooth words, while God knows the very thoughts and intents of our hearts.

I doubt there has ever been a time in the entire history of mankind when there have been more programs, outreaches and schemes to spread Christianity. So why aren't we seeing massive moves of God? The reason is quite simple. These works are the brainchild of men. God is moving mightily in the hearts and lives of those whom He has called and chosen. Those He calls friends are growing in their spiritual man, preparing for the work ahead. The two verses are intricately linked one to another. Not by might, not by power, but by MY SPIRIT; and they that WAIT UPON THE LORD. No flesh shall glory in His Presence. It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing. Jesus commanded his disciples to wait until they were endued with power from on high. We see pitiful results for our most valiant efforts because we are failing to meet the criteria in these two verses. We are not operating from the realm of the Spirit, and we are not waiting on the Lord. We think we know the will of God, and we rush out because our flesh can't stand to sit and wait.

Jesus plainly states in John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Life power is found in the spirit, not in the human nature of man. Our natural talents are nothing compared to Christ in you, the hope of Glory. How many people spend their entire Christian walk operating from the natural talents they were born with, without ever seeking to discover the spiritual gifts that God holds in store for them? Man tells them that their beautiful voice is a gift from God and they should use it for His Work. Their focus never gets beyond their fleshly ability. Most of what is done in Christian circles today is purely from the flesh. It appeals to the emotions, it registers with man's logic, but it never really gets beyond pleasing the flesh. It never breaks through into the throne room of heaven. What is labeled as His Work, is in fact building the ministry of leader so-and-so. Everywhere we turn today we see some man or woman's name in big letters with the word ministry behind it. Did they die for our sins? Do they hold a special appointment from God that gives them permission to accept the honor and admiration that belongs to God alone? Everyone talks about the early Church today and trying to emulate the early Church. Did Peter or Paul or Timothy travel the countryside setting up billboards advertising, "Come to the Great Revival, Hear Peter, Disciple of Jesus in Person?" It is totally carnal to lift up and exalt mere men, regardless of how anointed they may be. The greatest pitfall we encounter when God begins to use us in any way, is that of giving place to thinking we are something special. Spiritual pride is one of the most devious and successful ploys of the enemy, and vast numbers are snared and taken prisoner by getting their eyes off of Christ and onto themselves and their ministry. We need to remember that we have nothing that we did not receive, and if we received it from the hand of God, how can we take any glory in it for ourselves?

Just because sitting in a pew and listening to a man is all we have ever known, does not mean that it is the way God intends for it to be. Today what we know as Church is a culmination of centuries of man trying to control people through religion. We are so caught up in our programs, our schedules, our agendas, that there is no room left for the operation of the Spirit. What we need to recognize is this, that without the SPIRIT, we are left with nothing but the flesh.

There are only two options open to us....

The Spirit or the Flesh.

John 4:23, 24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in the spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Our Lord plainly states here that the Father seeks for true worshippers, and that true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit, and in Truth. All that we do in an attempt to worship God, which is not done in spirit and in truth, can only be done from the realm of the flesh, and is unacceptable to God. Does this knowledge cause us to stop and consider what we are doing, does it cause us to examine our own hearts, or does an overwhelming sense of resentment and anger rise up within that anyone should dare to find fault with how we worship? Man (the flesh) externalizes everything. The Spirit is not limited by any of the things that these mortal bodies are. The Spirit does not need a PA System, the Spirit does not need financial backing, and the Spirit does not need the approval of men, the Spirit does not need a million dollar building. All the Spirit needs is a yielded, willing vessel. A heart that is hungry to know God is all that is required. An individual that is willing to walk to obedience to all that the Spirit of God reveals to that person, regardless of how it appears to their own carnal understanding, or how their peers receive it.

God is moving today, By His Spirit. Our God is a consuming fire. We need to bring our vision into alignment with God's vision. We need to learn what it means to take up our own cross and follow Christ. We need to recognize beyond any shadow of doubt that HE is the head, while we are members of the body. We don't dictate to God what he should or should not be doing. We don't try to use the promises in scripture as leverage to get what we want. We are never going to manipulate God, which is exactly what many leaders today are in fact teaching. "Your word says this, so you have to do it." If we are not clothed in the righteousness of Christ, if we are not walking in the Spirit, then what do we really have? "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." The prosperity message being promoted today is carnal. It appeals to the flesh, but does nothing to promote spiritual growth. 3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. One of the definitions for health is to be uncorrupt, true in doctrine. People carnally interpret spiritual things, and totally miss the mark. If the things of this world determine our concept of prospering, we are failing to have spiritual eyes. The most prosperous individuals in the world today are those individuals that are living in an intimate, personal relationship with God. The enemy is presently in control of the kingdoms of the world, and gives it's riches to whomever he chooses. He declared as much when he tempted Christ in the wilderness. In Luke 9:25 Jesus said, For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? Possessing great material wealth is not necessarily an indication of God's blessing or approval. God is far more interested in our spiritual growth and development. If we would have the mind of Christ, if we would walk by the Spirit instead of the flesh, we would know the meaning of prosperity.

God is moving by His Spirit.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are born again. It is our Spirit that is reborn. We must then grow up in Christ, spiritually. Becoming religious is not growing in the Spirit; it is simply adhering to the religious ideas of men. Spiritual darkness and apathy in the world has never been greater. We need, as never before, to be in firm possession of a personal relationship with God. We need to live by the unction of the Spirit, disregarding the flesh. God's ways are not man's ways. We must be joined to Christ, becoming one with Him by His indwelling Spirit, to keep in step with what the Spirit of God is doing today. We must grow in spiritual discernment; we must be willing to wait on the Lord. We are called to be as Christ is in this world. Jesus didn't do his own thing. He was in direct union with God. He said and did those things that God directed Him to say and do.

We are called to walk in exactly the same way. God does not require us to come up with good ideas and gimmicks to win the lost. God requires our obedience. The sooner we realize that it is all GOD, the sooner we can learn to rest in Him. Of ourselves, we will never do anything for God, but as we learn to live and walk in the Spirit, we are transformed into a vessel that God can use according to His purposes. Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit saith the Lord.

We must learn how to wait on the Lord.

We must learn how to rest in Him.

Waiting on the Lord is in direct opposition to complying with men's programs.

"We have a schedule to keep, we have expectations to meet, if God doesn't move then we'll have to go on without Him" is basically how things are done today. We have a lot of people, claiming a lot of things, but very little evidence of the anointing of God in what they are doing and saying.

God already has a plan. It has been in place since before the foundations of the world were laid. God has a placement and purpose to be filled by each and every individual He draws to come to Himself. To discover God's purpose for your own life, you must seek to know HIM. No one else can reveal Him to you. We must determine in our own hearts to grow up in Christ, by the Spirit. We must learn... on a personal level... that in myself I can do nothing, but I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.

As we come to an understanding of the awesomeness of God, we will be content to wait. In fact, we will be in fear of saying or doing anything without His prompting, lest it be acting out of our flesh instead of His Spirit. We will come to know just how weak and ineffectual our flesh is, and learn to abhor it. Our trust and confidence rests in the knowledge that it is Christ in us, that is the hope of glory. We will no longer want to be seen by others as being spiritual, but instead will comprehend that to be a servant is an honorable station. God is moving today over the face of the world. He is testing and trying the hearts of believers the world over to see if we will love and serve God or not.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, peircing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Nothing is hidden from God. May we no longer see things carnally, but have our spiritual eyes opened. There is one way that God moves, and that is BY HIS SPIRIT! May we be in perfect step with the Spirit of God. From our hearts may we cry, "Not my will, but thine be done!"