Strategy for Lift (iv)

For our final installation of the Lift series, today we conclude with some more principles found in the Scriptures that will certify that we experience what the Lord has spoken over us in 2024. Writing to the church in Colossae, apostle Paul encouraged them, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). The apostle makes it clear that prayer should never be a sporadic event, but that it should be a pattern we maintain throughout our life – with careful watching over what we pray for so we can observe the movements to our favor with anticipation. The truth is most Christians pray carelessly as a means of offloading and are not even mindful of the answers that come as a response to that prayer: but expectation is the breeding ground for miracles. We have to be joyfully observant and expectant, because God will always send through signs that will build our hope which will then fully mature into faith. This is important, because faith is like a magnet that pulls everything within its reach – but without mindfulness, we will miss out on all signals coming to confirm the workings of the Lord in our life. It is clear from apostle Paul’s exhortation that the church in Colossae were believing God for something that they likely were not yet seeing at the time, and it was his counsel that they persist in prayer regardless of things looking like they are not moving. Nothing is new church, even today some things take time to come to fruition, and we need to know that passing time does not signify a denial. Herein is the solution, remain in the place of prayer without neglecting a watchful eye and an expectant and thankful heart! 

Another important element to be mindful of in this year of lift is the importance of submission. Consider the exhortation of the church in Jerusalem, “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:7). The writer begins by telling the church to remember, because men have a tendency to forget and quickly become familiar with those who have been set to rule over them. These men and women are accountable to God for every single person sent to be under their care, and while they may be friendly, their first priority is not to be your friend. We are to follow their patterns and the way they do things, because it is in the following that we too partake of the anointing over their lives for our benefit. These leaders exhibit specific unchangeable patterns that can be likened to Jesus; who is also the same yesterday, today and forever. These are the spiritual coverings we refer to; systems, doctrines, and manners of life – submission to such structures thereof is what places you under the covering. This is why you do not come to an environment and begin doing your own things, bringing confusion and divisions within the camp. No! The oil flows from the beard of Aaron down to the ligaments, it does not splash anywhere haphazardly and without structure. The pastor in a church has his own role and in order to benefit directly from all God is moving through him for that specific tribe, you will have to align yourself with the house: because wherever there is unity, God commands a blessing. 

Apostle Paul echoed the same point, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). He makes this admonition because he knows it is not easy to submit, ridding oneself of themselves and fully conforming to a way of life outside of themselves. He continued, “Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (v.2) – let us do the same, being malleable to change and conformation to the space that the Lord has placed us in, because it will be the system that covers us from the wiles of the enemy. There is no special pastor’s covering or mentorship: the system and the doctrine taught is enough. This is what the first church did, wherein we read, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). While there were many other doctrines available, their benefit was in sticking to that which they received from the apostles and the continual fellowshipping with like-minded believers who carry different graces and anointings that can improve the quality of our lives. This is the same warning that the writer of Hebrews gave to the church, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12) – this was written because it is possible to be within a community and still maintain a heart of unbelief, wherein the word shared amongst the brethren is not able to minister to you and work for you – the Spirit of God refers to this as an evil heart, and we ought to be mindfully alert against it. Church, work towards being fertile ground for the word, soft and malleable; this will ensure that you are connected to the doings of God in the space you are in. The heart will never announce its own unbelief or its change in tune, you may be vehemently holding onto something and over time, your heart has churned away without your conscious input. This is why it is important to guard the heart with all diligence, because whatever frequency it is tuned to, it will flow in that direction without your permission. The passage continues, “But exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (v.13). It is possible to be hardened, it is possible to slowly drift away meter by meter. Isolation kills, and life is not designed to be lived alone. 

Lastly, in order to insure our year of lift, we have to learn to resist the devil. We have to learn to resist him in our thought life, we have to resist him in our words, and we have to resist him in our actions. We read from the apostle James, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). You cannot just simply jump to resisting the devil without doing what the scriptures stipulate to come first: submitting first to God. This enemy is to be resisted because he will keep coming, identifying a weakness that he can manipulate to his favor each time. So know your weaknesses, know the areas of possible advantage for the enemy and use your words to dissipate him because it is your responsibility to condemn him – “every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn” (Isaiah 54:17). Do not allow the words of the enemy to settle in your heart, quickly unearth them and replace them with the words of the Lord; it is better to deal with seed than it is with fruit! Resist the devil also in your actions, just do what the God of God has instructed us to do – do not go off course; do the word, and you will surely experience lift in 2024!

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for your word that instructs us and corrects us, showing us the way to go and reading the window of the soul so we may know the contents therein. We thank you for your grace, that teaches us unto godliness, enabling us with strength and willingness to walk the ways of wisdom and counsel. May you enlarge our hearts for submission, humility and unity. In the name of Jesus, Amen.