Flowing Together

Fierce winds blew in our region last weekend.  They removed anything that was not
securely attached and moved everything that was loose in the same direction.  As I was driving about I noticed that the fields of dried corn stalks were being impacted in the same way.  All of the stalks and their tassels were leaning in the same direction.  Like a great army, these rows of corn stalks looked like they were marching together in unity.
 
The Holy Spirit reminded me of Ezekiel 37 where the prophet was taken to a valley of dry bones and asked a question. "Son of man, can these bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3)  Ezekiel was instructed to prophesy to the bones as the Lord revealed His plans for them:  "I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord." (Verse 6)  So Ezekiel prophesied and "breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet--a vast army." (Verse 10)  The Lord continued to tell Ezekiel His intentions:  "I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.  Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it." (Verse 14)
 
Aren't these two pictures a vision of what the Lord wants to do with His Church?  I feel the winds of the Holy Spirit blowing on the Church to revive her and establish her as a mighty army flowing in the same direction so that she can accomplish her mandate. The Church abdicated to the ways of the world, but I hear the Lord saying that it is time for her to retake the ground that has been lost.  We are called to be set apart as holy, as God is holy. (1 Peter 1:17)  We are called to live our lives in reverent fear of the Lord. (1 Peter 1:17)  We are called to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls and minds. (Matthew 22:37)  We are called to be salt and light. (Matthew 5:13-16)
 
The things that unite the Body of Christ are greater than those that separate us.  In order for us to regroup and be that mighty army that the Lord desires we must humble ourselves, repent (change direction) and return to our first love, Jesus.  We are living in turbulent yet exciting times.  In the midst of the shakings the Lord comes with grace and empowerment for us to join Him in the new things that He is doing on the earth. (Isaiah 43:18-19)  We are part of the family of God, sons and daughters of the Most High God, who must walk in our identity.  This is what must be done to retake what has been stolen, plunder the enemy camp and occupy until He returns. (Luke 19:13)  
 
I am reminded of a song written by Martin Smith, lead singer of Delirious.  The words of this song, "Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?" are powerful!  The second verse of the song speaks to the movement of God through His people:
 
"Did you feel the darkness tremble when all the saints join in one song; and all the streams flow as one river to wash away our brokenness?  And we can see that God You're moving; a time of Jubilee is coming, when young and old will turn to Jesus.  Fling wide you heavenly gates; prepare the way of the risen Lord.
 
Open up the doors and let the music play.  Let the streets resound with singing.  Songs that bring your hope, songs that bring your joy, dancers who dance upon injustice."
 
These words ring true today.  The Lord is blowing on the Body of Christ to revive us and bring us together as one mighty river to flow together through the nations.  Arise, O children of God!  Our time is at hand!