COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

FROM GLORY TO RESISTANCE

It is often pointed out that those whom God has used mightily in the past often resist what God is doing in the present. What a shame! How sad! Shouldn’t happen!

Let’s examine the logic. Is it reasonable that God is in what resonates with us, but He is not in what does not resonate with us? Would God be moving in increase during one season of our lives, and then stop cold because we are getting older? I don’t think so.

Let’s examine some reasons for this resistance. Could it be that we have added to what God was doing then, and built something for ourselves around that season ~ like an institution, a "ministry," an income? Maybe.

A man who allowed his conclusions to crystalize at a certain point in history has caused a recent political firestorm by not keeping up with God in His progressive revelation and resulting societal changes.

Do you remember when you were so upset with those who always did it that way? But, now it’s your way or the highway! What happened?

It is a mistake to believe that our present revelation is the last chapter on a subject. God will often reveal and establish something as scaffolding to facilitate something that is yet to come. Some mistakenly assign that scaffolding kingdom value, and then fight the very thing that God was after all of the time!

People flocked to John the Baptist (Matthew 3:5). He was a forerunner who couldn’t hold a candle to the Man for whom he was preparing the way (Verse 11). Whatever we are involved in today is only a prelude to tomorrow. We get in trouble if we take ourselves (or what we are doing) too seriously.

Loosely hold your present revelation, and lift it up to God on the palms of your open hands. For, it will continually be adjusted to up-fit it toward the expanding revelation of Christ (and Christ in us the hope of glory). Don’t resist the next level of glory.

I’ve watched many partakers of the prophetic movement crystalize, organize, institutionalize, and not be able to realize that it needed to adjust to the emerging apostolic movement of God. Now, I am watching many who have been impacted by the apostolic movement crystalize, organize, institutionalize, and not realize that it needs to adjust to the emerging insights into a purer view of how the body of Christ is to function.

Some of the very ones whom God intends to be architects of this unfolding revelation (from glory to glory) have already entrenched themselves in their own mind sets and structures (often including financial systems) which they must protect and control for their own security. It is too common for them to rise up in opposition to a clearer present-day revelation that will further free and empower the priesthood of all believers.

Good ground that eagerly received the previous revelation and allowed it to grow and multiply has ~ somehow ~ taken ownership of that revelation and given it a life of its own. Thus: the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches have been added to our gardens, and are now choking out the new seeds that are attempting to sprout.

Some have gone from glory to resistance! What a shame! How sad! Shouldn’t happen!

These are critical days. God is refining our understanding and application of fivefold ministry. He is revealing His higher thoughts and ways so that all of His sons might fill the earth with His glory, the glory of heaven, without earth’s baggage.

We may get old in body. But, we can remain flexible and resilient in mind and spirit. We can enter the kingdom each day with childlike faith and expectation. This we must do for the common good!

For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore, we do not lose heart (good soil for current seeds). Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. - II Corinthians 4:15-16.

Don’t get attached to your current "cover crops." Let God plow them under. Perhaps their purpose was to further prepare the soil for the greatest harvest ever. It may seem like ~ if you let go of control ~ you will also be plowed under. I don’t think so. God is still trustworthy, and He still loves you.

Whatever I am, I am by the grace of God. Nobody can take anything away from that. And, I cannot add anything to that.

What a safe place to be! I do not need to promote myself or my ministry, add anything to my current circumstance, or cling to anything of the past, to preserve myself. It is safer for me to just ~ die!

I do not need to protect God’s interests or His truth. (What a silly thought that is!)

Don’t go from glory to resistance. Our Father intends for us to go from glory to glory. I’m excited about the future ~ whatever!