I was thinking about the plight of the Virgin Mary today. The idea that a girl would become pregnant in that culture outside of wedlock created a plethora of social problems. First, and surely foremost in her mind, is the very real possibility that she would be stoned to death. After that comes the reality that she would likely be slandered, gossiped about, and put down for the remainder of her life.
In that moment, it became obvious to me that prophetic people face a similar dilemma. We become “pregnant” with a revelation of the Lord that many in the church are woefully unprepared to accept. To say that our prophecies come from the Lord makes no more sense to many than to say that a woman became pregnant by the Lord. The world, and many in the church, simply do not have the faith to accept such things.
Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners? (Song of Solomon 6:10)
I had a vision at the small group meeting last night. I saw a field of dead flowers. I had the impression that the dead flowers represented our churches, people, etc. They had been exposed to the environment (sin, work, the world) until they shriveled and looked completely dead. Then, I watched as the Lord began to take potted plants that were full of life with lush green leaves and plant then into the field. The dead flowers began to come back to life as the Lord planted more and more potted plants.
Everybody wants to talk about coming boldly before the throne of grace but nobody ever wants to think about what happens once you get there. To behold God in His glory on His throne means death (to self). That’s why Isaiah said, “I’m ruined!” Lord, raise up a generation that knows about this death but chooses to enter in anyway.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.(Ephesians 2:6-7)
