Part Six of previous articles: Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3 + Part 4 + Part 5
by Glenice Mills
Queensland and Christchurch are at critical times right now as they begin the process of rebuilding. I have included Christchurch, New Zealand, as they too begin to come back to some semblance of normality. Queensland has sustained record breaking rainfall with more than 95% of the state in flood declared areas. Christchurch, the major city of the South Island of New Zealand is now also having to begin the restoration, and recovery process. Words such as recovery, rebuilding, restoring, and re-establishing can be likened to words that feel like the transition season where there is discomfort and unsureness as to where to go and what to do next. There is a defining point of disaster, where nothing will ever be the same again, but then comes the time of having to pick up the pieces and begin to get your life back together. It is taking what one has here and now and working out what to do next. It is a time when clear leadership must be in place with words of encouragement and strategies and keys as to how to begin the process of rebuilding. It can also be likened to our walk with the Lord as we come to crisis point and acknowledge our need of Him. This is opportunity to reach out to the ones He has given to speak into our lives to help us put some things back together and begin the process of moving on.
The Lord has been speaking to me about the word ‘establish’. It is a pivotal word because there is no time like now in the rebuilding process, whether that be in our personal lives or as towns, cities or church that we make sure that things are established on firm foundations so the building process can take place smoothly.
The word establish means to set up a system on a permanent basis, a cause to be generally accepted, placed beyond dispute, to decree, to plant and to settle. It is to fix, to make fast, to set.
We know in Jeremiah 1 verse 10 where Jeremiah speaks about the rooting out, pulling down, destroying and throwing down but the next two words are crucial words for the season in God here and now, for countries, for the church and for many of our lives and they are the words ‘to build and to plant.’
To build and to plant go hand in hand as you must have both working together. For too long many rebuilding plans have taken place without the establishing fixed in place first.
The floods and the earthquake were life defining, life changing experiences for those involved, and there is shock, fear, and uncertainty at this time.
To establish something requires in-depth planning, organisation and leadership to bring about positive outcomes. Sadly, it was said things were going to change in Brisbane after the 1974 floods and as we know many of the same areas were affected again in these recent floods. Clearly something went wrong with the planning, and establishing of the new Brisbane after the original floods in 1974. The same could be said for the other flood affected areas in Queensland. That is why this next process is critical for what is ahead, as to where, how, and in what way, the establishing of the new will determine the outcomes down the road in time. If things are not established on solid ground they will crash and come to nothing.
I want to paint a picture in the natural as to what is happening, as it also speaks of what is happening in the spiritual. If we look at the recovery process involved in the rebuilding of Queensland and other flood affected areas it is crucial that things be established in correct order. Sadly a bandaid was attached to the flooding problem many years ago covering up and hiding what really needed to be done. A bandaid will work for so long, however it doesn’t address the festering sore underneath, the core of the problem. This is where the establishing on correct foundations must be put in so problems do not manifest later on. Things have to be set in place so what is built and added to will stand.
Anna Bligh, our Premier, has appointed a task force charged with putting some things in place ready for the rebuilding. She is also part of this task force. However, if the deep, core issues are not addressed the same problem will happen again. Objectivity is critical in the establishing phase. Objectivity is dealing with outward things or exhibiting facts uncoloured by feelings or opinions. It is a thinking and seeing outside the box. It requires visionary people with set skills for seeing the big picture. They must be people of integrity, without agendas for ‘feathering their own nests.’ Much is being said about the damage to infrastructure, that is the very heart of the community that sustains it and gives it life. Infrastructure is where the structures are set in place keeping an area ticking along smoothly: such as roads, water, sewage and electricity. Without these amenities life becomes difficult to maintain after a short period of time. This could be likened to our hearts, the life blood of our body, soul and spirit.
If we look at establishing spiritually we can see what the Lord is doing in our lives and the life of the body of Christ. Christianity will always have the ‘re’ in it as the Lord constantly brings us back to Him and His ways. The term ‘re’ means to go back and do again. This can be found in words such as return, repent, rebuild, re-establish, redeem, and if we seriously consider this in our lives we see it is because something on the inside of us has not been established correctly. It is no different in rebuilding towns and cities as a result of a disaster, or the rebuilding of the body of Christ on true Biblical foundations. The same principle applies.
As I have mentioned before what we see happening in the natural is also what the Lord is doing in the Spiritual, whether that be as individuals or corporately and in the bigger picture of the body of Christ in the nations in these times. When something is established it is done, it is complete, it is finished. The foundation of this success is when divine order is put in place. Order must be undertaken by ones who are unshakeable, focused, not moved by opinions or emotions. Instead they would rather hold fast to truth and what is right because of a foundation of knowing, of standing firm no matter what. It is being built on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ as found in Matthew 7:24 -27.
It is also what is required to lead people who need direction and strengthening in and of themselves as they start to rebuild. It is in fact bringing ‘order out of chaos’. It is the process of to build and to plant.
God’s heart is about the establishment of His kingdom here on earth, whether that be in our lives, or the governance of a nation, and the church. That is why the establishment of the new must be done in a Godly and orderly way so the foundations are solid. I am labouring on this as I feel God’s heart and an urgency that things be put in place on solid ground, on solid principles that will stand, so when the shaking comes, we will stand no matter what is going on around and about us.
Ephesians 2:19-22
"Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."
Just as it is critical that order be established as the rebuilding process takes place in the areas devastated by disaster, so it is that we as Christians be established on the truth of the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ. For it to be established, the church must come into the apostolic/prophetic dispensation, as correct foundations are laid so that people’s lives will stand strong in these dark days.
Order is not control. It is setting right again what was defective, to restore what had fallen into disorder. True Godly order can only come from one in an authority position, one called and ordained by God to lead and instruct. How we react to instruction and direction by these ones is our problem, that is why it is crucial we yield our lives to the Lord and to the ones ordained by God to speak into our lives. They should always have our best interests at heart and want the best for our lives.
The Lord is establishing the apostles and prophets in these times but most importantly He is establishing Himself in His people. Communities, the body of Christ, and nations must be established on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is why we are told to pray for those in positions of authority. They are charged with the responsibility of establishing things in order wanting the best outcomes for those they have charge over.
Lord establish Your Kingdom here on earth! Lord lay and establish a foundation deep on the inside of my life so I will stand strong and not bow to man’s ways but rather come into the truth of Who You are and what You want to be in my life.
Romans 16:25-27
"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith - to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.
Amen."
by Glenice Mills
Queensland and Christchurch are at critical times right now as they begin the process of rebuilding. I have included Christchurch, New Zealand, as they too begin to come back to some semblance of normality. Queensland has sustained record breaking rainfall with more than 95% of the state in flood declared areas. Christchurch, the major city of the South Island of New Zealand is now also having to begin the restoration, and recovery process. Words such as recovery, rebuilding, restoring, and re-establishing can be likened to words that feel like the transition season where there is discomfort and unsureness as to where to go and what to do next. There is a defining point of disaster, where nothing will ever be the same again, but then comes the time of having to pick up the pieces and begin to get your life back together. It is taking what one has here and now and working out what to do next. It is a time when clear leadership must be in place with words of encouragement and strategies and keys as to how to begin the process of rebuilding. It can also be likened to our walk with the Lord as we come to crisis point and acknowledge our need of Him. This is opportunity to reach out to the ones He has given to speak into our lives to help us put some things back together and begin the process of moving on.
The Lord has been speaking to me about the word ‘establish’. It is a pivotal word because there is no time like now in the rebuilding process, whether that be in our personal lives or as towns, cities or church that we make sure that things are established on firm foundations so the building process can take place smoothly.
The word establish means to set up a system on a permanent basis, a cause to be generally accepted, placed beyond dispute, to decree, to plant and to settle. It is to fix, to make fast, to set.
We know in Jeremiah 1 verse 10 where Jeremiah speaks about the rooting out, pulling down, destroying and throwing down but the next two words are crucial words for the season in God here and now, for countries, for the church and for many of our lives and they are the words ‘to build and to plant.’
To build and to plant go hand in hand as you must have both working together. For too long many rebuilding plans have taken place without the establishing fixed in place first.
The floods and the earthquake were life defining, life changing experiences for those involved, and there is shock, fear, and uncertainty at this time.
To establish something requires in-depth planning, organisation and leadership to bring about positive outcomes. Sadly, it was said things were going to change in Brisbane after the 1974 floods and as we know many of the same areas were affected again in these recent floods. Clearly something went wrong with the planning, and establishing of the new Brisbane after the original floods in 1974. The same could be said for the other flood affected areas in Queensland. That is why this next process is critical for what is ahead, as to where, how, and in what way, the establishing of the new will determine the outcomes down the road in time. If things are not established on solid ground they will crash and come to nothing.
I want to paint a picture in the natural as to what is happening, as it also speaks of what is happening in the spiritual. If we look at the recovery process involved in the rebuilding of Queensland and other flood affected areas it is crucial that things be established in correct order. Sadly a bandaid was attached to the flooding problem many years ago covering up and hiding what really needed to be done. A bandaid will work for so long, however it doesn’t address the festering sore underneath, the core of the problem. This is where the establishing on correct foundations must be put in so problems do not manifest later on. Things have to be set in place so what is built and added to will stand.
Anna Bligh, our Premier, has appointed a task force charged with putting some things in place ready for the rebuilding. She is also part of this task force. However, if the deep, core issues are not addressed the same problem will happen again. Objectivity is critical in the establishing phase. Objectivity is dealing with outward things or exhibiting facts uncoloured by feelings or opinions. It is a thinking and seeing outside the box. It requires visionary people with set skills for seeing the big picture. They must be people of integrity, without agendas for ‘feathering their own nests.’ Much is being said about the damage to infrastructure, that is the very heart of the community that sustains it and gives it life. Infrastructure is where the structures are set in place keeping an area ticking along smoothly: such as roads, water, sewage and electricity. Without these amenities life becomes difficult to maintain after a short period of time. This could be likened to our hearts, the life blood of our body, soul and spirit.
If we look at establishing spiritually we can see what the Lord is doing in our lives and the life of the body of Christ. Christianity will always have the ‘re’ in it as the Lord constantly brings us back to Him and His ways. The term ‘re’ means to go back and do again. This can be found in words such as return, repent, rebuild, re-establish, redeem, and if we seriously consider this in our lives we see it is because something on the inside of us has not been established correctly. It is no different in rebuilding towns and cities as a result of a disaster, or the rebuilding of the body of Christ on true Biblical foundations. The same principle applies.
As I have mentioned before what we see happening in the natural is also what the Lord is doing in the Spiritual, whether that be as individuals or corporately and in the bigger picture of the body of Christ in the nations in these times. When something is established it is done, it is complete, it is finished. The foundation of this success is when divine order is put in place. Order must be undertaken by ones who are unshakeable, focused, not moved by opinions or emotions. Instead they would rather hold fast to truth and what is right because of a foundation of knowing, of standing firm no matter what. It is being built on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ as found in Matthew 7:24 -27.
It is also what is required to lead people who need direction and strengthening in and of themselves as they start to rebuild. It is in fact bringing ‘order out of chaos’. It is the process of to build and to plant.
God’s heart is about the establishment of His kingdom here on earth, whether that be in our lives, or the governance of a nation, and the church. That is why the establishment of the new must be done in a Godly and orderly way so the foundations are solid. I am labouring on this as I feel God’s heart and an urgency that things be put in place on solid ground, on solid principles that will stand, so when the shaking comes, we will stand no matter what is going on around and about us.
Ephesians 2:19-22
"Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."
Just as it is critical that order be established as the rebuilding process takes place in the areas devastated by disaster, so it is that we as Christians be established on the truth of the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ. For it to be established, the church must come into the apostolic/prophetic dispensation, as correct foundations are laid so that people’s lives will stand strong in these dark days.
Order is not control. It is setting right again what was defective, to restore what had fallen into disorder. True Godly order can only come from one in an authority position, one called and ordained by God to lead and instruct. How we react to instruction and direction by these ones is our problem, that is why it is crucial we yield our lives to the Lord and to the ones ordained by God to speak into our lives. They should always have our best interests at heart and want the best for our lives.
The Lord is establishing the apostles and prophets in these times but most importantly He is establishing Himself in His people. Communities, the body of Christ, and nations must be established on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is why we are told to pray for those in positions of authority. They are charged with the responsibility of establishing things in order wanting the best outcomes for those they have charge over.
Lord establish Your Kingdom here on earth! Lord lay and establish a foundation deep on the inside of my life so I will stand strong and not bow to man’s ways but rather come into the truth of Who You are and what You want to be in my life.
Romans 16:25-27
"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith - to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.
Amen."
