Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
In architecture, the foundation is the most important element of any building, be it a house or a high-rise. Simply put, the foundation is what everything rests on. Christ and the finished work of the cross were revealed as our foundation even before the foundation of the world (I Pet. 1:18-20).
When God does something new in our lives, many times He first brings us back to the reality of Himself and the cross. For the disciples it was when He asked, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15) It was in the context of that conversation that Jesus began to talk about the cross (Matt. 16:21-28). This is where we are, at the foundation of a new year and a new beginning.
Years ago I had a very compelling vision of Christ on the cross. His head was hanging down and His body was limp. I knew He was dead. The prophet Isaiah said, “He didn’t even look human— a ruined face, disfigured past recognition.” (Isa. 52:14) That image was forever burned into my heart. I then saw a spear pierce Him in the side and the water and blood came out. I heard “The Head Waters of the River of Life was released into the earth on that day.” (Rev. 22:1)
I now understand the vision was the beginning of a new spiritual era in my life and in the life of our church. It was the foundation of God opening the heavens upon us and beginning to pour out revelation like a river. It prepared the way for the River of Life to literally flow from the throne of heaven in our midst. We have never been the same since.
A few years after the vision we entered a very trying and heartbreaking time. All the tragedy, sorrow and loss became for us an invitation to join Him in the fellowship of His suffering (Phil. 3:10). It was a time to prepare us to know His heart and share His burdens in a far different way than what we had known.
All we had built and even believed experienced a very intense refining fire. If our beliefs and works constructed on the foundation of Christ and the Cross were truly from heaven, they would be tempered and refined. If not, in some way, they were doomed to burn up (1 Cor. 3:11-15).
Jesus told us, “Everyone’s going through a refining fire sooner or later” (Mark 9:49). In my opinion, it is better sooner, than later.
By His grace, we made it through the fire and much of our beliefs and the works we gave ourselves too over last few years also made it through. They have been tempered and purified. Now, God promises that He will reward us (1 Cor. 3:14). Get ready to be rewarded by God Himself. God loves to reward. We are in a time of being rewarded.
I believe part of that reward is a greater revelation of the Lord Himself, our identity, the invisible kingdom realm and the church in a fresh, broader and more in-depth ways (Matt. 16:13-12). We will see dreams brought back to life and new ones birthed. Our Father in heaven will make all things new (Rev. 21:5).
We will see with our own eyes that the enemy is truly defeated and shamed (Col. 2:15). We will experience the wisdom and the power of the finished work of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18, 24).
That is where we are and where we are headed. It is a New Year on the calendar, but more important, a new day in our hearts and lives.
Many Blessings, BW