Strengthen Our Hands to Build

AWAKEN.  REFORM.  BUILD.

Seasons are important to identify and adjust to.  In the previous blog, "The Power of Alignment", we looked at how vital proper alignment is concerning relationships, vision, direction, and leadership.  Recognizing the season things are in and working to make the most of it is also a substantial key to strong results.  We understand that concept with the calendar year and 4 seasons of nature.  We do what is needed in spring, we harvest in fall, we winterize things during those months, etc.

1 Chron. 12:32 shows there were those that understood the times and seasons.  Ecclesiastes 3 shares about how there are seasons for everything.  Each season carries unique focuses, activities, interests, requirements, and outcomes.  Good business leaders know how to recognize the seasons in their business or in the market.  They adjust accordingly to utilize that time frame for the most benefit.  Good spiritual leaders see the seasons of the year, seasons of need, and the seasons in God's direction.  Family leadership is to understand and have the pulse of their home and what is needed in each season of the journey.

I want you to be current in this season.  I challenge you to consider and pray over the season your life, family, business, or congregation might be in.  I encourage you to see the common thread happening among all those areas of your world.  Then, if you broaden your scope, you can probably pick up similar things with your friends, other congregations, other leaders, etc.  This all begins to add up and point to an insight of the season that you can capture and move with.  If you adjust your sails to the current season, you will be propelled by the wind that is blowing now.

I see 3 major themes happening in this season: Awaken, Reform, Build.

A season of awakening has been in play for a few years now, and there seems to be more and more recognizing that work of God.  Those that are experiencing an awakening are coming to see the need for reform in many areas, and that has a major number of people in transition, change, struggle, development, and even bewilderment. This awakening is calling us to rise above what has been and move more accurately in the ways of His Kingdom.  This requires a lot of reform.

As those that are awakened are moving in reform it is leading us into a season for building.

With increased revelation and insight, God is moving us in a grace to build.  The first part of 2013, I could hear in my heart that "new works of the Kingdom are going to spring up all over".  In just over a year from then, I am seeing that happening.  There is still much more awakening needed and certainly more reforming, but there are those God has maneuvered to start building and/or expanding.

You have been dreaming, visioning, and developing ideas for a good while now in preparation for the season to put it into operation.  God has been reforming you and shaping you into what is needed now.  Most likely through difficult and trying times, you have been made ready to put your hands to building.  For some, this is launching something that has not yet been.  For other, this is taking the next step in what you have been doing for a while.  A season of building is about advancement, hope, and progress.  Building is the place many have come into.

In my book, Generational Synergy, I start by showing us how Nehemiah was commissioned to rebuild a broken down city.  He has passionately consumed with the burden to fix what has damaged and build what was needed.  Like anyone, he faced all kinds of obstacles and hardships.  He had enemies that wanted to take him out and opposition that challenged his resolve.  But it was a building season, and he had to go for all he could.  God arranged favor with the King to let him go to the city, worked out all the materials needed, and brought together the generations to contribute their efforts so the project was accomplished.  God has been bringing you into favor, gathering the materials, and connecting what is needed for you to put your hands to building.  Nehemiah didn't wait for all these things to be in place and then move toward building.  He saw a need, recognized he was called to respond, and saw it was time to build.  He took each step as the Lord opened the way.  As he went with each step, he brought forth what was needing done.  In many ways you can say he was "awakened" to his role, he "reformed"/changed what he was doing, and went after "building" the ruined city.

You might be able to see the same kind of process in your life over the last few years.  God has brought you to this point so you are able to step towards building.  As I have been praying over this in my own life and those connected with me in RISEnetwork, I continue to have Nehemiah 6:10 brought to mind.  It shows how God caused Nehemiah to see the efforts of his enemies working a plot to get Nehemiah to give up and take his hands off "the plow of building".  To me, the awesome thing is Nehemiah's prayer at that moment.  Nehemiah requested of God "now strengthen my hands".  This is what I am asking in my life, and I am praying God strengthens your hands in this season of building.

You are in the process of developing new endeavors in new directions, and I am asking God to strengthen you and make your hands strong to accomplish the dream.  You are doing awesome things, and what you are working on is so needed.  May your hands be strong, your heart passionate in the assignment, and your mind set to see all God has for you to bring forth.

This is a season to build!

Power of Alignment

Alignment = arrange in appropriate relative positions; a position of agreement and alliance

Hebrews 9:10 - … until the time of reformation.

Greek word for reformation here is: diorthosis which means “to make straight or aligned”

Ezekiel 37:1-10 is all about alignment.  It reveals how the breath of God brings things into its appropriate place for maximum contribution.  When we see things, and even ourselves, in dry conditions and having minimal effect, we should investigate if there is proper alignment. 

Ezekiel saw this valley of dry bones separated and out of alignment.  The bones were dry and non-functioning. It is amazing to see these same bones standing and being an impacting force once the breath of God brought them into alignment. 

Alignment is key to so many things.  The planets are aligned properly, our homes are to be aligned as God prescribes, our spines need alignment for optimal health and mobility, a car needs aligned to drive well, an army must be aligned in mission and as a unit, and we all need the right alignment in relationships.  Alignment speaks of agreement and contribution.

All of these examples provide insight to the importance of the agreement each part has to another and what each part does in relationship with another.  Alignment is vital to anything with purpose and a requirement to function.  In other words, life and progress happen from proper alignment. 

Hebrews 9:10 is a unique verse in that it is the only place the word reformation is used in scripture.  The book of Hebrews is so amazing in how it lays out the depth and scope of Christ’s supremacy over the old covenant.  The author of Hebrews was presenting the gospel of the New/Better Covenant and how it supersedes and abolishes the Old.  It is calling those of the Old Covenant and each generation forward to align with Christ and the New/Better Covenant He established.  The Greek word diorthosis is the root word to the English word orthodontist.  You can see the picture.  We are called to be aligned and made straight in the work of Christ.  It is amazing that the concept of alignment is used in the extremely vital requirement of being in Christ.  It really puts weight on the understanding of alignment. 

I think the modern Church has not emphasized alignment much because the view of the Church has been predominately a “sheep fold” instead of an ambassadorial army (Ecclesia / Matt 16:8).  As long as sheep are within the fold or pasture, they are free to roam and go about as they please.  They get to eat and sleep, but at the end of the day, not much progress or advancement is made.  That gives us a picture of sheep just waiting for something to happen, and if they can just stay in the fold they will be ok.  But God has called the Church to much more than wondering around, eating, sleeping, and waiting for another day.  He has called us to restore ruined cities, disciple nations, and display His glory. 

In order to advance in this assignment, we are required to adjust/reform from the disjointed, independent, roaming around way of Christianity.  We must come into alignment with relationships, direction/vision, leadership, and understanding that will allow us to contribute in ways that cause advancement of His purposes.  This brings dry, separated components into formation and to their feet as a glorious force of His Kingdom. 

Generations must align, families must align, congregations must align, businesses must align, and leaders must align.  Alignment brings order.  Order brings power that overwhelms chaos.  The absence of chaos provides a fertile place to thrive. 

RISEnetwork:

God has called RISEnetwork to provide alignment.  God is breathing on this so the proper parts begin coming together as a force.  RISEnetwork is where there are relationships and contribution.  We need the strength of relationships and the enablement of contribution.  Each person is valued and each skill is important.  We don’t want to be like sheep just hanging out together.  We want to be as an army advancing as each adds their portion.  We want you rising to your fullest as we move forward together. 

We want to align together because we recognize “Hope is Here”, and because hope is here we want to awaken, connect, and send the generations as a force of purposeful worship, pioneering hearts, and passionate leaders.  If something leaps in your spirit as you read this, RISEnetwork could be a proper alignment for you. 

Alignment will unlock destiny.  Alignment will propel you forward.  Alignment will cause you to thrive.  Like Hebrews 9:10, this is a time of reformation; a time of alignment.  God is positioning you in a movement that will impact the earth.  It is time we rise together!