Fresh Oil Releases
Reversal is not Rehearsal
Friends,
In the last few months I have found the following scripture to more and more of a reality in my life:
Mat 13:52 He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the kingdom of heaven and has become a disciple is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and [treasure that is] old [the fresh as well as the familiar].
The Israelites ate manna on the Sabbath that had been gathered the previous day and in this season I have experienced that the Spirit of God has not so much been pouring out new revelation, but bringing to remembrance the revelation of the previous season and feeding and strengthening me with it. I have experienced the Lord doing this a number of times in recent days. And it is important to realize that being referred back to previous instruction and revelation does not mean that you have made no progress and must attend the class again! Instead it is an indication that the instruction contained in that learning module is about to come to an end, almost like revision of content before graduation. It is as if He repeats what He said at the beginning of a process, right at the end of that process as He brings that chapter to a close – in order to confirm and increase our depth of understanding as to His ways. This has the effect of dealing with any residue of fear or confusion that is still plaguing our souls and increases the depth of rest and trust within us, so that we may lie still within His hand and allow Him to do what only He can at this time! It is not our own strength or might that brings us into the promised land of our inheritance but His right arm and the light of His favor!
Psa 44:3 For they got not the land [of Canaan] in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your countenance [did it], because You were favorable toward and did delight in them.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to try my hand at archery for the first time! I will not give you a description of the results but on coming home the Lord reminded me of something I had written concerning arrows. I dug it out and saw so clearly that His intention in unearthing the Word from the archives was to clarify what was happening at this time. May it minister to you the joy and rest that it did to me!
The Arrow of the Lord 5th Jan 2006
Isaiah 49:2
‘In the shadow of His hand has He hid me, and made me a polished arrow; in His quiver has He kept me close and concealed me’
There is a time of being hidden and polished and refined as an arrow for the Lord’s purpose and then there is a time when He takes the arrow out of His quiver and puts it in the bow. The time has come for the sending forth to the target. This is the purpose for which the arrow was made and makes worthwhile all the time of rubbing and scraping and hammering, polishing and sharpening. The preparation was with a goal in mind. This sense of destiny is what has given the arrow strength and endurance to endure the refining.
What a sense of exhilaration as, at last the arrow is removed from the darkness of the quiver and into the sunlight, held firmly in the Master’s grip; and oh, the excitement at finally being fit into the bow! All the prophesies and whisperings of the Lord in the night season seem at last to make sense in the light and the target is clearly in view.
Then suddenly the arrow experiences something strange. Instead of being moved forward in the direction of the target, it is pulled back in the opposite direction to its destiny. It seems as if everything is reversing, although it is still facing in the same direction. Questions and doubts begin to assail this polished arrow and the tension of the bow string behind it becomes almost unbearable. The arrow feels almost backed against a wall. It can feel the tight grip of God’s strong right hand but the direction things are taking make no sense at all. The target is still in sight but growing further away by the second. What the arrow doesn’t realize is that the incredible tension in the string has stored up a large amount of potential or stored energy. The reversal is absolutely necessary to put into place behind the arrow, the power to propel it at lightening speed to the center of its target; and while it feels itself going backwards, the eye of the Archer is adjusting His focus on the target and making minute adjustments, which will make an enormous difference to the position and depth the arrow penetrates. God is taking aim because He doesn’t intend to just graze the enemy’s cheek. He is striking a death-blow and accuracy is very important.
During this process, the arrow is not required to do anything but lie at rest in the position the archer’s hand has placed it. The pressure within and without seems to be rising to almost unbearable intensity and still the arrow lies still facing the target. Then suddenly, when the string of the bow is a full extension and the arrow has been equipped with maximum power and accuracy of flight path, the archer lets go! And that arrow flies at incredible speed and sinks right into the center of its target. And the mission is accomplished!
So, to every arrow out there who has been through a long and painful preparation process – rest and trust as you feel everything going in the opposite direction to what God has promised. This is a vital part of your journey. Going backwards does not mean you have failed the Lord somehow and are headed for yet another season of refining and purifying. If you can see the target, you are in the bow and the archer has deemed you fit for flight. You have been made ready internally, shaped and formed by the Master’s hand. The time of the refiner’s fire making a weapon fit for its purpose is indeed over. However, without this time of reversal, increasing pressure from behind and the seemingly increasing distance from your target, you would not be equipped with the supernatural power necessary to cause you to fly straight and true to your destiny. The time of release is about to come. When you are at the point of maximum pressure and furthest distance from the target, do not misinterpret what God is doing! The moment of the fulfillment of His promise is at hand – you lie on the threshold of experiencing all that the Archer whispered to you during the days of painful polishing and sharpening. You have not misunderstood your purpose or God’s intention – once placed in that bow, you are on your way and the process has indeed begun, whichever direction everything seems to be going in!! The moment of release is known only to the archer. No-one watching has any clue exactly when it will occur – but occur it will - with devastating precision and effect! And know this too - from the point of release, everything will happen at lightening speed! God is about to do a quick work, a grand finale if you will, a masterful blow that displays the wisdom behind the length of time and minute detail applied to the preparation of a straight sharp arrow to accomplish His purposes.
Be greatly encouraged and be at peace with the external tension and pressure!
God is about to triumph gloriously!
Christine
freshoil@polka.co.za
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