Rather then be amazed at the faithfulness of Jesus, I would have to say I'm overwhelmed this morning. Last night before sleeping on the eve of my 44th birthday, I muttered under my breath, "Lord I want to move into night time encounters with you again."
It was as if the whole night I was aware of my spirit which was 'awake' and my natural mind which at times was a collage of thoughts and then at times was 'aligning' with my spirit as He spoke and walked around inside me. The text out the Song may give you a better grid for what I'm saying, " I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: "Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night." (Song of Solomon 5:2 NIV)
In true humility I could not dare to take any credit for such mutterings, regardless of how feeble, since it's in His Grace that He 'My Beloved Is Knocking' once again. It's His gracious 'knocking', even on my heart which is His, that has caused me to yearn again that the hours of sleep are not wasted but rather that we would commune, with me being but passive and asleep with His left hand under my head and His right embracing Me!
I saw in my dream Him walking 7 lambs and He spoke these words, "faith without works is dead." (James 2:26 CPDV). The beautiful thing was that I felt no condemnation at all, but rather just the opposite. It was as if for the first time I had understood this text correctly since it wasn't filtered by my preconceived understanding but rather it was 'breathed' by Him Who Is The Word.
He spoke again to help my spirit understand and it was then that my natural mind which was a sleep came into line with my spirit. He said, "Your Faith comes Alive when you reach out your hands towards the sick." Oh my goodness, what joy detonated inside my whole being, causing my almost lifeless flesh to awaken immediately, hence my clear recognition of the Encounter.
If I'm honest I haven't been reluctant to lay hands on the sick, but it's something that has stopped burning inside me since I've been distracted and preoccupied with my own affairs. Once again no condemnation since I would far rather reach out my hands in Love and in Passion then as any form of duty or because my callings requires such, or for any secret need to be famous.
My closing and encouragement to myself and you is this:
We have been given faith as a gift, however it seems to only become Faith Alive when we reach out our hands and open our mouths or operate in any other Holy Infused activity.
Eat, dear friends! Drink and get drunk on love! (Song of Solomon 5:1 CEB)
Greg Swart
