Stop, Look & Listen!
By Bob and Bonnie Jones
Warning to the church! We need to keep our focus on Christ and be led by the Holy Spirit of Truth. We cannot just run after teaching, we must focus on the Teacher.
In a vision I saw a little boy break free from his father’s hand and run across the street without looking. What he saw on the other side of the street got his attention and he just went for it. Across the street was a big desk and office chair placed at the curb as if it was discarded and waiting for trash pick-up.
The boy, being young and immature, had his eyes on an empty hope and lost focus of what is important. I felt this was a warning to the church! We need to keep our focus on Christ and be led by the Holy Spirit of Truth. We cannot continue to run after teaching; we must focus on the Teacher. We must simply Stop, Look and Listen!
One of the first safety rules children are taught when they are very young is to stop, look and listen. Once this simple children’s poem is learned, it serves as a guide the remainder of their life.
Stop, look and listen
Before you cross the street.
First use your eyes,
Then use your ears,
Before you use your feet.
STOP! I believe God is calling us to halt from our labors, rest in Him and be led by the Holy Spirit of Truth. We are called to live by faith in Him and lean not on our own understanding. We have been motivated by our soul instead of being led by our spirit in oneness with the Holy Spirit.
LOOK! We must perceive with attention what the Holy Spirit is doing by keeping our gaze upon Him at all times. In doing so we will stay on the right path and be prepared for what the Holy Spirit is saying as we wait expectantly.
LISTEN! When we rest from our labors and set our gaze upon Him then we are prepared to receive what the Holy Spirit is saying. As we hear the voice of God we will be motivated by love to step out in faith and obedience.
Teaching is great because we need to be taught by the Bible but the body of Christ must move beyond the teaching of the word into an experience with the living God. We will only achieve this by coming to the end of our works and resting in Him. We must keep our gaze upon Him and wait expectantly for His direction. We cannot afford to be distracted by things that look good to our flesh. If we lose our focus we will be blindsided.
THEREFORE let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God (Hebrews 6:1 Amp)
End Of The Degree & Beginning Of The Decree!
In this season, as we mature into the sons and daughters of God, we move from death of the old way into the new life. It’s a new beginning. It’s the end of our soul being in control of our life and the beginning of the spirit man taking over our mind, will and emotions.
The body of Christ is coming to the end of the degree and beginning to decree a new thing! Because the soul has been in control the church has operated with a degree mentality. Degrees are awarded for completing a course of study such as college or seminary. Simply stated, it is a commendation given for works of the flesh or soul. It has mind power but no spirit. But in this day the body is moving into the DECREE.
You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God’s favor] shall shine upon your ways.(Job 22:28 Amp)
Decrees are a legal and binding command. They are decisions made with authority. When the Spirit of Truth leads us we will have the momentum of the Holy Spirit and those things we decree in agreement with Him shall be established.
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom. 8:12-14)
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