THE RISING TIDE

Over the centuries, there have been many and various ‘moves of God’ that are referred to in different terms, such as ‘awakening’ or ‘revival.’ Some are described as ‘waves of the Holy Spirit.’ Is there another wave coming, or are we to witness a rising tide of the Holy Spirit?  A rising tide seems to fit with the image of Habakkuk 2:14, where the knowledge of the glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea.

What are some of the signs of this rising tide, and how are we to respond?

One sign seems to be an exposing and removing of the spurious in Christian ministry. That is all that is in any way fabricated, fake, or false. This is a time for great integrity as God is bringing forth integrous sons and daughters under his fatherhood and fathering. We must walk with integrity, with nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and nothing to fear, where we come out of hiding and shame, and listening to the wrong voice (see Genesis 3:1-10). The Lord is training us to be sons (male and female) to him as the true Father, and thereby become fathers and mothers to many sons and daughters (Matthew 11:27; Hebrews 2:10).

Secondly, the Lord is releasing the greater activity of his Spirit. This is always met with some resistance (Acts 7:51), but we must press on into the fullness of what the Lord is doing. There is a need to be praying much in the Spirit, where heaven’s language produces heaven’s culture in our hearts. For many of us who have ministered in and with the Spirit, we may now need to relearn how to move with him in fresh ways (Galatians 5:25).

 Thirdly, there will be an increasing exposure of demonic spirits requiring a time for much deliverance prayer as the Lord is preparing to loosen many demonic bonds. As Jesus began his public ministry, as he was both filled with the Spirit and moving in the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1, 14), demonic spirits were immediately exposed and evicted (Luke 4:31-37, 41). This is a time when we need to know, appreciate, and announce the full effects of Christ’s accomplishment and authority over all (John 19:30; Ephesians 1:19-23; Colossians 1:13-14), and learn how to effectively bring lasting freedom and wholeness to those who have been bound and oppressed.

This rising tide is moving toward an extending and sustained manifestation of Christ’s glory (John 2:11; Isaiah 40:5; Habakkuk 2:14). It is time to rise with the Holy Spirit, be readied to ride with him (Isaiah 58:14), and see the transformational effects of the increase of his kingdom. At Mapmakers, our aim is always to help equip God’s people to be effective in all these areas.