ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Many believe that faith and spiritual life is vague, cosmic or ethereal in nature. However true spirituality has a practical sense to it. God teaches us to know Him by things we can grasp. So that if we learn to observe some of our own natural ways we may also see into their spiritual meaning as well.

Driving late into the night during a ministry tour across the USA, I was traveling along Interstate 90 from Seattle, Washington, through the mountains on our way to Peoria, Illinois. The Holy Spirit spoke "Peter now is the time to Exceed Boundaries, I have been preparing my people that I might show them things that the natural mind has not seen about my plans and purpose for today. Are you ready to walk in a new and living way before me."

I was immediately caught away and deep in thought to what the Spirit was showing me. What did the Lord mean by this? As I was passing over the Continental Divide at the 6,300 foot level the Lord said, "All truth is Parallel." You are doing things on a natural order that only a short time ago would not have been possible to do." God said, "Peter, in this same way my anointing will empower you and all who receive this testimony to exceed their boundaries."

Of course I knew what the word exceed meant but for the record I have included its definition from Webster's Collegiate Dictionary followed by the meaning from the Greek New Testament.

EXCEED implies going beyond a limit set by authority or established by custom or by prior achievement
1: to extend outside of the river will exceed its banks;
2: to be greater than or superior to suggests superiority in quality, merit, or skill. 3: to go beyond a limit set by implies a rising or extending notably above or beyond ordinary limits

G4052 perisseu, perisseuo from 4053; increase, to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure 1a) to be over, to remain 1b) to exist or be at hand in abundance 2a) a thing which comes in abundance, something falls to the lot of one in large measure 2b) to abound, overflow 2c) to be abundantly furnished with, to have in abundance, abound in 3a) to be pre-eminent, to excel 3b) to excel more than, exceed 3c)"Abounding" is used of a flower going from a bud to full bloom.

NO LIMITS

I was aware the Spirit was revealing something powerful, but how it would be applied was difficult to grasp. After all, there are limits on our lives everywhere and in every dimension. Having limits on behavior is what helps keep society decent and in order. There are rules of law that limit the coming and going of every facet of life and business in order to allow the free course of citizens in a culture that respects the property of others. There are borders separating nations, states and cities. County lines, townships and boundaries from house to house.

RULES OF THE ROAD

When you are driving from state to state and have hundreds of miles to go you get a real sense of the limit on your forward motion. First there is the speed limit. Go faster than you are allowed, you risk being caught, getting stopped and receiving a summons. Ask me how I know. : There are stop signs yield signs, red, yellow and green lights, all to regulate speed, cause us to slow down, make turns, and even stop. If we cross these boundaries with no legal authority to do so we risk being apprehended and suffer the consequences of such violation.

The laws of nature limit us. Gravity and the forces known through physics reveal the science behind the boundaries of the natural world and how we are limited to move through time and space. There were limits even placed on my faith and spiritual growth. Being taught there is only so much knowledge, power and manifestation of God we could expect in this world. The rest would come later on after we have passed away and gone home to be with the Lord. I have often asked myself, is the presence of faith in our hearts only to make heaven our future home or is their something beyond the veil of flesh? Something exceeding noble, higher and more glorious than we could imagine, in store for those who love God today.

There is a real need in our world for spiritual renewal and a divine breakthrough among the Sons of God. Things are changing very fast. Cultures and religious beliefs are in conflict within our own nation. Debate, strife and contentious voices have turned good citizens of society further away from the values that have brought our country to where it is today. Not to mention the need for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Where is the Holy Spirit directing His called out sons and daughters today? I desired to know with all my heart how God's prophetic purpose would find manifestation in our world?

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

CROSSING OVER

This happened to be the eighth time within a year I was crossing over the Rocky Mountains and accomplishing the entire trip in about twenty-four hours. A picture of the pioneers of the West came into my mind. It would have taken them several months to travel from one side of the country through the mountains to the Western portion of the nation. Like me, passing through this same route, likely found it challenging to say the least. With no paved roads to travel on they faced enormous obstacles such as, trees, bushes, hills, valleys sudden crevices in the mountains. Using simple covered wagons the settlers had none of the support systems we now have alongside the highway to help them on their journey. They were willing to face the risks, danger and challenges of that day for the hope of a better life.

In contrast, I was traveling in a van with many mechanical advances. Instead of a horse or two we had over four hundred horses under the hood. The engine needed no rest and the only nourishment it required was gas and sometimes oil. The van also had high tech conveniences. A phenomenal audio system including stereo radio, audiocassette and CD player, an air conditioner, heater and it had very comfortable seats as well as a complete kitchen and bathroom with shower. I could travel in all kinds of weather and at night as well. The united technologies that functioned in this van advanced my ability and comfort exponentially beyond those days of the early west. I was crossing over by a new and living way. In fact the science of engineering, mechanics, hydraulics, computers now working together make the life lived by the common person of today something that exceeds all the limits of generations living only a short time ago.

What had caused this dynamic transformation from that short period of time to our contemporary world of today? What was the key factor?

Daniel 12:4…and knowledge shall be increased.

The Knowledge of all things has increased. Knowledge not in and by itself, but as it is used and applied by and in those who learn and discover. That is why when a baby is born its potential to become something in life is unlimited. The ongoing education and discovery of the mind transforms the substance of our life into whatever you want to make it or become. People of today accomplish any number of things once thought not possible.

I knew that the natural picture was only a symbol of something about to be realized in the sons of God. Just as in the natural world, knowledge has been the cause of change, advancement and benefit, so shall it be in the spiritual world of God's Sons. The coming of Christ and His appearing in the earth is directly linked with the increase of revelation knowledge manifesting through his called out body of Sons.

Colossians 1:10…increasing in the knowledge of God;

I saw the knowledge and manifestation of Christ's power and nature increasing in us in such a way as to cause faith to soar and lift our spiritual walk above and beyond the limits of previous generations. Keep in mind that I am not speaking of self help, mental therapy, inner healing, positive thinking, name it, claim it, blab it, grab it, confess it possess it theology or any other idea based upon natural attainment. I am talking about the realization of CHRIST JESUS IN YOU, (the anointing=ability of God at work in you) and YOU IN CHRIST. (Col.1:27,28)

*For more information on this topic simply E-mail Peter Demetris at: pastorpeterd@comcast.net