Freedom is the
rallying cry of many deliverers that God is raising up. Three streams of
revelation will become increasingly prominent. These streams mirror the three
stages of freedom that Israel experienced as she left Egypt and inherited the
Promised Land.
• The first level of freedom involved: Deliverance
from slavery in Egypt.
• The second level of freedom involved: Learning
the ways of God in the wilderness.
• The third level of freedom involved: Inheriting
the Promised Land.
Deliverance from Egypt
The nation of
Israel was enslaved in Egypt. They were the covenant people of God but they
were not living in covenant provision. Those who are in covenant with God are
connected with Him in a unique way. They intuitively know that they are
destined for freedom. Covenant creates a yearning for intimate knowledge with
the covenant partner. This knowledge brings freedom and fulfilment. Destiny is
awakened at a heart level.
Many in the Body of Christ today are enslaved by spiritual forces that
keep them feeling defeated and powerless. An intense cry for freedom is
awakening in their hearts.
The children
of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry
came up to God because of the bondage. Exodus
2:23
There will
be increased authority and revelation in the areas of healing and deliverance.
It is not God's intention for His people to remain in bondage. God is our
deliverer (Exodus 1-14) and our healer (Exodus 15:26).
Learning God's Ways
After being
delivered from Egypt, Israel was alone in the wilderness. God met with them at
Mount Sinai (Exodus 19). Encountering God set Israel apart from all other
nations. During a forty-day visitation God gave Moses the blueprints for the
tabernacle (Exodus 24-31). The tabernacle became God's dwelling place in the
midst of the nation. It mirrored spiritual realities in Heaven (Hebrews 8:1-5).
God used the tabernacle to teach Israel about the spirit realm and about His
character, His nature and His ways. As the nation embraced
this revelation they came into a new level of freedom. This freedom was
necessary for them to inherit the Promised Land.
Through
dramatic signs and wonders in Egypt, the nation was delivered from outward
slavery. However, the slavery mentality still existed in their hearts. Through
intimate encounters with the God of covenant they were delivered from inward
slavery.
There will
be increased authority and revelation in the areas of encountering God, moving
in the spirit realm and learning His ways. God encountered Israel at Sinai. His
greatest desire was to dwell among them. This desire was realized through the
tabernacle. Through the tabernacle Israel came to understand the spirit realm
and learn God's ways. Limited perceptions were smashed.
Inheriting the Promised Land
Deliverance
from Egypt was dramatic. Learning God's ways was mind-blowing. However, the
fullness of freedom didn't begin until they inherited the Promised Land.
• When Israel was in Egypt the nations despised
her.
• When Israel was in the wilderness the nations
feared her (Exodus 15:14-16, 23:27).
• When Israel was in the Promised Land the nations
were influenced by her.
Possessing
land enabled Israel to have an expression among the nations. Her unique culture
began to disciple other nations. People were free to live out their
God-ordained destiny. This level of freedom is true for us today.
Our land of
promise includes fulfilling the creative endeavours God has uniquely assigned
to each of us. The creative expression that is coming through Christ's Body
will disciple the nations in His ways. It will include great innovation in business and finance, technology, the
creative arts and education. There will be increased authority and revelation to
inherit these and other areas of influence that the enemy has held for too
long.
Preparation for Harvest
Here is a
summary of the three levels of freedom and what they represent for us today:
1. Deliverance from Egypt: Freedom from outward
slavery, demonic oppression and physical infirmity.
2. Learning God's ways: Freedom from inward slavery
and limited mindsets. Discovery of the depths of covenant relationship with
God. Inner transformation. Understanding the spirit realm.
3. Inheriting the Promised Land: Freedom of
expression. Fulfilling our unique destinies. Great authority to disciple the
nations (many express this as the seven mountain mandate).
Israel
progressed from one level of freedom to the next as a whole nation. We are
entering a season in the Church in which all three levels of freedom will
advance simultaneously. Many churches and ministries will be uniquely gifted
and called to focus on just one of these levels of freedom. God is preparing us
for a great harvest.
Each stream
of revelation must be strongly established so that people can easily progress
from initial salvation to the fullness of their God-ordained destinies. Each
level of freedom has a different emphasis. If these emphases are advanced in
the wrong way, they can be used to come against the other levels of freedom. God is raising up prophetic and apostolic messengers who see the big
picture. They will be entrusted with great authority to bring understanding and
clarity about the whole process. This is God's mercy so that we don't end up
fighting with each other.
The enemy
fears our cry for freedom. Each level of freedom is only possible because a
deep heart cry is ignited within us. We must determine to keep going until we
live in the full measure of freedom that God intends for us (Ephesians 4:13)
