Don't Shrink Back from Shame

Today, don't shrink back from shame!

It is very important that you keep moving forward. Why? Because Jesus said, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).

You were created a special purpose.

Maybe you feel lost or can't seem find out what that is. Maybe you're between careers or relationships. Or maybe you've been crying out to God only to feel ignored, abandoned or silenced by others.

Be encouraged!

I want to share a story about a blind beggar that captured my attention while I was listening to an online sermon from Times Square Church. Let's read:

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God  (Luke 18:35-43, NIV).

So many things stand out in this passage.

The first is that the blind man was not ashamed of his condition. He knew he wanted to see, and he wouldn't let others keep him from shouting to Jesus through the crowd. The second is that Jesus asked him a very important question.

"What do you want me to do for you?"

And the third? The blind man didn't even hesitate to ask for his healing, and it says immediately the blind man was healed.

Is there something in your life that chokes you from shouting aloud to God? Today, don't shrink back from shame! Ask and receive personally from Jesus.

If you're still not totally convinced, listen to this midnight watch prophecy from Lance Wallnau. He shared it on Facebook and I couldn't wait to pass it along.

"The season is shifting, and your season changes with it. Doors, once closed, are now opening. Guard the deposit of the word that I have placed in you for there is more to be added. Fresh revelation is at hand. Even now, a fresh word is being quickened to your spirit. Meditate upon it and you will find yourself release from cycles of confinement and lifted up to a new level. Let my word take root and you will have clarify of discernment and decision making. You will know what to do. My word in you will make a way where there is no way.

You will mark a path for others who hear you and come behind you.

Steward the hunger. Stay hungry and thirsty. It will lead you to the banqueting table of power that I have prepared for you -- even in the presence of your enemies. We are advancing! There is more ground for you. Not everyone is willing to expand their capacity to take it, but you will. You are getting a rare invitation.

He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them."Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them" (Matthew 13:11-12, NIV).

This is an important point. To him who has, more shall be given. Has what? If you don’t have it, you lose what you’ve got. So what is it? Whatever this is -- it’s a priceless commodity. It is the secret to supernatural increase. Jesus gives a clue right before this verse. “To him who who has ears to hear let him hear.” It has to do with hearing. It is this -- understanding by revelation..

If you have the ability to hear what the Spirit says, you have the gift given to Solomon…”a hearing heart.” Give attention to what the Spirit is saying and you shall have abundance.

The Spirit and the Word agree. Get ready. The Feast of Tabernacles is the next great feast to experience in the last days. We've had Passover and Pentecost. Tabernacles is when Jesus secretly went to the temple and began to teach. This coming feast is the feast of the open book! Scriptures Daniel was told to "seal up" are finding the seals broken as the day approaches.

Learn to scan the Bible with a hungry heart. Your born again human spirit will pick up on what the Holy Spirit is speaking.

God's Spirit communicates with your spirit and your spirit conveys understanding to your head. It's called a revelation or rhema.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children (Romans 8:14-16, NIV).

If you have ears to hear, you’ll have a feast to eat.

God will take you on a journey from book to book and reveal connections to you that will literally rewire your mind to think with the mind of Christ.

To live this way, you will need to put to death every competing desire, addiction and distraction. You will have to re-prioritise what's important. You'll have to overcome the persecution and tribulation that comes because of the Word, but you will have a fresh reviving as the Spirit and the Word come alive in you and through you."

Still don't believe me?

I remember a personal time in my life when Cindy, my mentor, asked me, "The Lord wants to know, if you were well, what would you dream?"

I was 21 years old. I had just been dumped by the guy I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I had no skin on my hands. I thought I had failed at becoming a writer because I had to move back from The School of Arts & Writing a 9 1/2 month Discipleship Training Program in San Antonio, TX. I was devastated. I felt like the blind man felt. Ignored. Abandoned. Overlooked by others. I left my classmates behind and moved back in with my parents.

When Cindy asked me that question it sparked something in me that I haven't stopped pursuing since: dreaming big.

I wrote down that I wanted to become a writer, speaker, in ministry somehow, mentor, and married to my best friend. I also asked God to heal my physically from my rash. The rash, however, was not the determining factor on whether or not I could effectively serve God.

I think the blind man knew this too.

He knew his blindness didn't disqualify him from speaking the name of Jesus out loud. It reminds me of something Maggie Winterton shared on DevotionalDiva.com. She said, "Does the fact that I have less followers than...other speakers really make my testimony less powerful? There is no exclusivity in being a Christian. Then why would we treat other Christians with exclusivity?"

Boom! Roasted!

The blind wasn't ashamed of what others thought of him. Even when Jesus' disciples rebuked him, he shouted louder! I want to encourage you today. We all have issues that we feel exclude us from the kingdom of God. Don't let any lack of influence, lack of health, or lack of (fill in the blanks) stop you from pursuing God and others.

Keep dreaming big. 

Question: What is currently causing you to shrink back from shame? What would it take to move forward in faith?