Bethesda enjoys the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. We are far beyond asking for visitation, and have grown used to the flowing manifest presence of the Holy Spirit in all services. As I was seeking the Lord in prayer about keeping us fresh and thirsty and not taking this for granted I "saw":
A well full of fresh water but the well cap was off. Something was not quite right about it. There were roots and other obstructions interfering with the flow, even though the well was flowing well with fresh living water. God assured me that the well was exactly where it was supposed to be but that we needed to go deep and allow Him to clean out the obstructions.My answer was "Yes Lord, AMEN". As the Lord directed my prayer I continued, "Take us deeper, show us the obstructions so that they can be removed. Remove any and every hindrance/obstacles that your abiding flow of the Holy Spirit would flow, and fill, and refresh, refresh to a GREATER-NESS of flow/overflow."
A little bit later we were worshiping with the song "Wrap me in your arms" and I "saw":
Big Daddy God pick us up and take us deep deep deep into the waters of the well, deep into depths the waters, because the waters were flowing so much and this work had to be done ... ... the work that God was showing us had to be done, had to be done inside the deep in the depth of the secret places, the places that we could only go wrapped in His arms. There was a reassurance from God that this was a good work and to trust Him even if we have to face fear in this deep work, for when the work is complete there will be something like a greatner-ness of the flow ... like a directed intentional increased over flow. I could not find the word for it at the time.I simply cried out in agreement, "yes wrap us in your arms, do this work for your glory, in me, in each of us". Later in sermon the word for what God was showing me was spoken by Pastor Whichard: spill over. Later during the altar time God gave Pastor very similar pictures and messages about the well being full of fresh water but needing a new pump so that we could flow out so much that it would fill the spill over and send living water to those in the valley, etc.
I am blown away by how God is breathing on us in such one accord. We are all hearing the same message from the same God at the same time and pointing us in the same direction. This is not to be taken lightly. This IS God speaking.
There were more of these type of simultaneous one accord moving of God's wisdom, direction, and/or revelation. But here (in this blog post) I am only recording what I "saw" in my two little "visions".. while it was still fresh in my memory and before it was colored by outside influences.
One more thing: This seems very simple but I feel very pressed in my spirit to declare this over Bethesda. That the pool of Bethesda is a Fountain Gate - a Gate of Faith*, and that we need to press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us. The depth of meaning as I try to articulate it here is; that God has very intentionally declared that one of the purposes for Bethesda Community Church of God in Powhatan, VA is to be a gate a faith, a place of hope and healing because of the free flow of abiding faith, but we must press forward to attain this, to "prove it" as all the great saints of faith proved their faith by steadfast pursuit in action and perseverance (see Hebrews 11).
With face like flint we must press to take hold of it, humbly knowing we don't have it all yet, and that we are still working it out; we must guard this gate of faith, keep the stirring of the waters unhindered, and press for the prize. The "prize" is worth the price. We must humbly realize that our cost is far far short of the immensely large price that Christ already paid for us to attain it. It is our identity and/but we must press to take hold of it/ to attain it. The prize of elevating Christ and humbly and joyfully renown the reputation of our Mighty Faithful God, and proving what God has written in our name and onto our souls. Then we will ascertain, attain and prove our purpose in word and deed, and in Spirit and in Truth, that Bethesda is a Gate of Faith - a place of hope and healing.
You can tell from the many many words that I am still having a hard time accurately articulating this. I guess it is as simple as I first stated, and like the words, "I love you" it is simple to say but with a HUGE depth of meaning that far exceeds the words. So by the pressing of the Holy Spirit I declare and decree:
BCC is the pool of Bethesda - is a Fountain Gate - a Gate of Faith, and we shall press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us."
*Nehemiah 3:15-27
I need/want to read study the gates in Nehemiah 3 further
http://www.walkwiththeword.org/Studies/01_OT/16_Neh/16_Nehemiah_03.html
http://www.walkwiththeword.org/Studies/01_OT/16_Neh/16_Nehemiah_03_Study_Notes.pdf
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