Speak up and step out — Marian Fitz-Gibbon

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.  — Hebrews 4.12

Longing to love
The cultural narrative of devaluation is a ruthless saboteur of individual identity and expression as well as societal health. All we desire — no matter our age, race, gender, or beliefs — is to be celebrated and valued for who we are and what we can contribute to our world. This is not selfish or proud; it is part of our created design.

Every person wants the freedom to love and be loved for who they are. Watch young children as they engage with their parents, teachers and peers. There is a deep longing to be loved and to love. To deny each other love is to deny one another life. We are made to need and partner with one another, celebrating the beautifully diverse facets that together make up God’s favourite creation.

Wired for love
Our faith commands us to love one another (John 13:34). Beyond this law is the heart that recognises that the love, value, honour, and celebration of our fellow man/woman will not only heal our land but release us to build the Kingdom of God as fulfilled, whole, happy, and unique representatives of the heart of God.

 We are wired for love and science confirms this truth and now proves that our physical brains are wired for love and validation. We must come out of the four walls of the church and get out onto the byways and the highways. Scripture says: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. — Matthew 5:14-16

We are appointed

So, what stops us from sharing the most powerful lifechanging love? Is it the fear of rejection? The fear that perhaps we haven’t got it right. Ask yourself the question: what could be so wrong about love? If I thought you were kind, if I thought you could share with me, what if I wanted to hear your story, what if? What if I were to give you a direction to change your life forever, would you listen? 

Jeremiah 1:5-8 — “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces…”

Vision of outpouring
Oftentimes I find myself being raised up on the wings of angels to soar high above our earthly circumstances to see things as the Lord sees. The purpose of this not just aerial vision but to hear in the Spirit. The first time it happened I was quite overwhelmed with the insight and information regarding a particular group. Fear of rejection kept me from sharing the insight until the Lord impressed upon me the intel was not about me but for the moving ahead of many others. Oh to learn that “The fear of man brings a snare, wise man waits for justice from the Lord” — Proverbs 29.25-26

Priesthood of all believers
Of late there have been some more of these angelic transportations, so to speak. This time I saw a battlefield with thousands of people running to and fro with great intent to take out the enemy. There was smoke and mist on all fronts, noise and chaos. 

Then I heard the Lord say with great clarity: “Call my apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors and evangelists to attention. Its time to release my people to do the work of ministry. It’s the time of the priesthood of all believers to receive an increase”. 

Then the scene changed and instead of chaos people knew and understood just where to be and how to release the power and anointing of God. This went right up Africa; up into Europe; across over into Russia and Asia. I could feel the USA mobilising and other continents, I knew we were to be focused and ready for a mighty move of God. 

 ‘The Lord will pour out His Spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters will prophesy and they will see visions and your old men will dream dreams.’  Joel  & Acts “and it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth of my spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my bond slaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of my Spirit and they shall prophesy”.   

Go into the world
As leaders encourage those who follow not to allow the voices of criticism and fear to tear them down, mock them, hate, lie and steal the truth of the word of God from them. But empower them to go forth and share the goodness of Jesus, the Truth of the Gospel, lay hands on the sick and release the joy of the Lord.  

As is written in Mark 16. 15, 17 — And He said to them “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation ….’these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will case out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them: they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 

As Rodney Howard Brown said this is the Church’s finest hour. We must not shrink back, we must not and cannot afford to be intimidated and remain silent. The lives of people for all eternity are at hand. And it is you and I that are the spokespersons to bring the truth of the word at the hour of peril. 

Fight till the last
We are in a viral and spiritual combat and we shall fight it in the wards, we shall fight in the homes, we shall fight in the supermarkets and in the streets, we shall fight in the factories, we shall fight it in the hospitals and the theatres and we will never surrender. And if, — which we do not for a moment believe — this country, or a large part of it were conquered, then our nation, guarded by the angels of the Lord, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, He steps in and takes us home.

But for now, it’s a call to lift your weapons of warfare to engage in the Spirit for the souls of those who face eternal choices and be bold and pray for them to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Pray for the sick that they might recover. That the name of the Lord be lifted high. Pray for boldness for our frontline workers, that they may have supernatural encounters with the Lord. Let the light of Jesus shine in every dark place as we have been commissioned to do. Be bold and strong in the power of His might. 

Shalom  

Marian Fitz-Gibbon