Familiarity

The Lord spoke to me about FAMILIARITY during the Encounter.

I have been to Encounter probably 4 or 5 times - once as a participant and baby Christian, I think 3 times as a guide, and the experience this January to teach a session to the girls. Thus the content has become quite familiar to me.

BUT last Saturday I realised I was struggling with familiar feelings.
"Okay, during 'God's Redemption Plan' I know I will be very moved by God as I hear the girls scream to Him to cut off every curse from their lives and families". And I was.

"Later when I watch the movie on the Cruxificion of Jesus, I know I will feel broken". And I did...

I am not saying that we cannot feel familiar feelings in a familiar setting. In my case I think my mind was so preoccupied in thinking "I already know how I would feel", that I INTERFERED in what the Holy Spirit wanted to do currently, at each exact moment.

Let's not forget that the Holy Spirit is God in the NOW. "... No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11b). What is God thinking for me now? What does God want me to pray for the person in front of me? What does God want to minister to me personally now? Who do I pray for? I should be asking the Holy Spirit at all times, and NOT rely on familiar feelings, thoughts or even familiar prayers.

I asked God to help me, lead me. And I thank Him that on Sunday I found myself asking the Holy Spirit many times "Holy Spirit, what do You want me to pray? Are you done already, or there is more that You want to do? If so, please continue". And until I am sure that His work is complete for that moment, then I would stop praying or open my eyes.

The Holy Spirit always works in new or deeper ways, each time we allow Him to have His way! Rely on Him totally!

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Biblical Incidents of familiarity the Holy Spirit spoke to me about:

+ Indulging in Past Familiar Hurts, Pain, Fear and Temptation- Unable to Move Ahead

(Numbers 13:26-14:4) God already promised the Israelites that the new Promised Land He was bringing them to was a land flowing with milk and honey. And it truly was! The spies saw!

But the moment the Israelites heard the report that the enemies staying there were huge and powerful, they feared and then forgot God's promises, including to drive out the enemies for them, and GRUMBLED against God, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt" (Numbers 14:2b-4).

Go back?! They did not even seek God or to fight, and wanted to go back to their 'comfort zone' which ironically was where they were under oppression. They would rather return to be under familiar oppression in a familiar environment, enduring familiar feelings of fear (which were still in their spirit, that is why they feared easily at the first report of the enemies), than trust God for that new Promised Land flowing with milk and honey just before their eyes!

Today if you know God has already set you free from certain issues in your past, do not entertain familiar emotions of hurt, pain or anger, or temptation when similar situations occur or when you are reminded of them. I am not saying that these feelings are not valid, but we should not allow them to revisit us in a way to bring our spirit down. Being set free means you can always be victorious in that area!

Look ahead and far! The victory is before you!

+ Do not be so preoccupied with the familiar or old ways or the law, that we ignore the Counselor

(Matthew 12:1-13) The Pharisees accused Jesus of healing on Sabbath.

Romans 7:5-6
For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.

Serve in the Spirit. Move in the Spirit. Be ministered in the Spirit. Minister in the Spirit.

When we pray for two persons both having flu, the deeper issues revealed by the Holy Spirit in each of them can be totally different.

Let's not interfere in what the Spirit wants to do in us and through us. Allow Him full reign!

Let's not be so familiar afterall!

Focusing on familiarity means relying on our minds, memory and own strength. Repent today if you have done so and thus interfered in the Holy Spirit's work. Ask Him to be your Leader, Teacher and Counselor in every step. Focus on God.