Sometimes we can know some things, then we get a revelation, and then we ‘know’. There is a huge difference between knowing in our heads, and then having a head and heart revelation. The Lord does a slam dunk into our innermost being which brings clarity and understanding that was not there before.
As I was recently researching the history of Australian Christian women I was learning about the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. In their history it spoke of them receiving women missionaries from America who helped form this organisation.
Australia has always looked to other nations and particularly America for support, not seeing that it has what is needed within its own shores. Australia is not the only nation that has done this, but this word is for them in particular. Sometimes, we can’t see the resources we have, right under our noses. In some ways it seems easier to rely on those with the necessary skills, anointing or gifting who come from elsewhere. However, we have been naïve, and in some ways duped by this wrong belief. It has in fact stymied our growth and our resourcefulness, as we have reached out to Americans to speak God’s Word or bring what we believe is ‘present truth’. This is particularly so in the Apostolic/Prophetic move happening within the body of Christ, right here, right now, in Australia.
There are times when we need to hear the voice of others outside our nation, however there is a danger in this. We can become lazy and think they are the only ones who hear God’s heart for Australia. Sometimes we need to see and hear what is happening, and often it can be found right under our noses. What makes us think that someone from overseas has a greater anointing, a more ‘powerful’ word, or is able to move in signs and wonders, moving in greater power, because they are not from Australia? Do we not serve the same God? Is He not King of Kings and Lord of Lords over God’s church leaders in Australia as in America? We have, in fact, given these ones from overseas, a wrong position, and set them up to be placed as an idol. We look to these ones, particularly from America, as our ‘saviour’. It is in fact a ‘false saviour’ position, one that can actually set us up for idolatrous worship of a man/woman. In that, we place an unrealistic expectation upon them that they probably won’t meet, because we are looking to man rather than to the Lord Himself. There are times when we need an outside perspective, particularly as we can be blinded because of principalities and powers over a nation. However, a line is crossed when we discount, mock, dismiss and disregard any prophetic word or anointed minister because they happen to be Australian. It is in fact foolish and takes away from what the Lord is saying and doing here in Australia. Some of the most powerful prophetic words and ministering by Australians, and ones called to Australia, living in Australia, carry great weight in the Spirit, because they come out from the hearts of ones who have a deep love and concern for the road this nation is going down.
There are some attributes of the Australian way that sets us up to look to other nations to fill our inadequacies. We need to know what is at the root of this inadequacy.
This is not a criticism, but rather looking at, and acknowledging this nations shortfalls, so we recognise and know what is opposing the Spirit of God and stopping us coming into the fullness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The question we all need to ask ourselves is why is this happening? What is in the fabric of the people of this nation that would make us think other nations have more anointing/power than we do? Following are some keys the Lord has shown, it is a brief overview:
- OUR INSECURITIES: The reality is, Australians tend to be insecure, and this results in a striving and performing, trying to be recognised, and have some standing in the world scene. However, insecurities hold them back. They are looking to other nations, comparing themselves, and come under a mindset that everyone has what is needed and they don’t have anything to offer. They see themselves small in their own eyes, coming out from a place of deep insecurity.
- NOTHING GOOD COMES OUT OF AUSTRALIA: Can anything good come out of Australia? Australians judge themselves harshly and feel they are never good enough. Maybe this is rooted in shame because of its convict history, however it is not truth.
- TALL POPPY SYNDROME: Sadly Australians pull one another down so no one can move forward. If someone appears to rise above the pack, then the mentality is they have to be pulled back down to the level of everyone else. This restraining lid on Australians, of their own making, puts them in a situation where they have to look for someone from somewhere else to fill the void. This is not right, and is not a way of God.
- UNBELIEF: There is a cynicism and mocking that can be self-deprecating, but is actually rooted in deep unbelief. Religion has disempowered the body of Christ here in Australia and doubt and unbelief have taken root. Australians know they have powerful ministers but they DON’T BELIEVE that these ministers can be effective within this nation because of this unbelief and mistrust. It is easy to speak of the ‘oh but ….’, coming up with excuses, and speaking of all the things they are not, rather than declaring who they truly are. It is about seeing themselves with new eyes, with eyes of the Spirit.
- GRASS IS GREENER ELSEWHERE: The more we look over the back fence at everyone else and seeing them as being more ‘lush’ than us, we will always lust after what the other has. The grass always looks greener over the other side, however it does not necessarily mean that this greener grass is what is needed on this side of the fence. Things can look better elsewhere, but it isn’t necessarily so. That is the lie and that is where we have been duped by the enemies plans and schemes. The Lord doesn’t always want us to have what is over the fence. He wants us to draw from the well that is here, a well with plenty of provision of life giving water.
- WE CREATE A GAP: If we create a gap because of any wrong thinking something will fill it. The false can come in and appear to bring and give what is needed, however it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is lasting fruit. A ‘show’ can come to town, the people can be blessed from it, however it doesn’t mean there will be sustaining life and fruit. We must be careful that we draw present truth from the ones who carry it at this time and not from the ‘old wineskin’.
- WE CAN CAMP: The Holy Spirit is a ‘movement’, He is ever moving. We dare not camp at what we think is present truth when He has moved on to a new thing. It is easy to stay with what is safe rather than be ‘out there’ risking ridicule, mocking and scoffing by the ‘old move’. If you think of the early church, there were a lot of new things happening, and they were continually being tested as to what they believed. We must know what we believe, so growth continues, and we truly know we are being changed into His image every day.
- DISUNITY FROM A SEPARATIST THINKING: Unfortunately Australia often looks at itself from a state by state perspective rather than all the states joined together in unity as a combined force to be reckoned with. We in the body of Christ must come from this place of unity with a nation of Australia thinking rather than a local, state thinking.
Australians must stop believing the mindset of ‘Can anything good come out of Australia?’ Unless and until we break out of this thinking we will remain blinded and see ourselves from a negative viewpoint. We see in Scripture an example of wrong judgments about a place.
John 1:45,46
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’
And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
The body of Christ here in Australia must stop opposing forerunning women from this nation. There is a voice of Australian women coming out from Australia. Unless and until there is an acknowledgment by the body of Christ that women have a role alongside men and that wrong doctrine taught by male church leaders is addressed, we will continue to be less effective. We can look to women ministers from America as something to be esteemed, yet we don’t recognise key women here in Australia who also have a powerful message. Women ministers must be encouraged to take their position alongside men and that endorsement must come from the male church leaders.
Australian Christians love to boast that revival will come out of Australia and go out to the nations. Yes it will happen, but it CANNOT happen until the church of Australia is prepared to look at what aspects of its culture would hold it back from taking its rightful position as a leading nation of Christians sent out to bring revival to the nations.
