Tuesday 12 March 2013

March 2013 2.0 - Have You Rolled Up Your Rim® Today?

So, this is Canada in the middle of March.  Many Canadians are involved in their favourite pastime — rrrrrolling up the rim to win®.  Yes, so many of us are hitting the drive-thru and checking to see what we have won.  Many times us Christians are told to please pray again (I know, it says play, but be honest -- you pray before you roll the rim) and we dutifully do that.

My thoughts are about what we do with this process.  Are you so excited about the prospect of winning that you dump out your coffee and roll up the rim without even drinking it?  No, that would be ridiculous.  Ok, let’s drink the coffee first.  Now, are you so excited for winning a free coffee that you run out in the middle of your work, leaving your boss and your business to fend for themselves, while you go and turn in your coupon?  Nope: something wrong there too.  So, what do you do?  You drink your coffee, get your coupon and then turn it when it is convenient and appropriate to do so.

So, what are you trying to tell me Pastor Merril?  I’m saying that sometimes Holy Spirit empowered, prophetic people dump out their coffee and run off in the middle of something else that is happening just to hand in a coupon to someone, which they could receive and turn in at another time.  I can understand the excitement of giving someone a prophecy or word of knowledge or word of wisdom just as much as handing someone the Rav-4 coupon that you rolled up on your coffee cup.  However, it is impolite and even can be rude to dump out the cup of coffee that God has been asking you to drink or to interrupt the conversation He is having with everyone just to run off and hand someone a coupon.  Our personal agendas, desires or passions do not trump God’s plans for a group event (see Luke 14:16-24).

If God is speaking to you something that you need to pass on to someone else, while in the middle of worship or a sermon for example, then note it internally or externally (paper, smartphone, etc.) and wait for the proper time to pass it on.  You could even ask the Lord to deepen what He is speaking while continuing to worship, or whatever else is happening.  Allow what God is speaking to you to actually affect you so that you don’t simply deliver it like it is just some coupon but let it actually be rooted in the power of relationship.  Also watch for times in group settings where a declaration, proclamation, prophecy or prayer is appropriate to be given to someone, but be mindful to not interrupt what God is doing in you and others.

In 2012, 64% of 911 calls in Edmonton were not emergencies.  The majority of prophetic messages that prophetic people receive are not emergencies.  Wait for the appropriate moment and still be the Holy Spirit empowered, prophetic people God still wants us all to be.

Journeying with you,  Pastor Merril