It’s Not the Time to be Limited
by Nathan Shaw
Last week I distinctly heard God say, “It’s not the time to be limited.” The world is in the midst of a global virus pandemic. Apart from essential services my nation is in lock down. For the most part we are confined to our homes. Evidently God is not phased. His perspective is often radically different to our own. John was in a similar situation when he experienced the supernatural encounters recorded in the book of Revelation. John was in exile on a small island called Patmos. In the natural realm he was limited. The spirit realm, however, remained wide open.
During his confinement John entered another place, referred to simply as, “in the Spirit” (Revelation 1:10). The glorified Jesus visited him in that place (Revelation 1:12-18). In that place he received profound words of encouragement, wisdom and warning for various churches (Revelation 2-3). But then, suddenly, he found himself in yet another place. “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the...voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’ Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne” (Revelation 4:1-2). Although John had changed to another location, both places were described as, “in the Spirit.”
Three things stand out in these verses: the door, the voice, and the throne. The door gave access to another place. That’s what doors do. The voice carried the authority of decree. It catapulted John from one place to another. The throne was a place of governmental decree. That’s what thrones are for. John wasn’t invited to this place just so he could see it. He was invited there so that he could become part of the scene. Everything in that place carried the authority of governmental decree.
Around the throne were four living creatures—beautiful, majestic beings, each with a different face, each with wings (Revelation 4:6-8). Two things stood out about the living creatures: they had penetrating eyes and thunderous voices. In fact, their whole bodies were covered with eyes. With all their might they cried, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!” Their cry was not just a statement about God. Rather, it carried the authority of governmental decree. Their eyes penetrated the depth of the One who sat on the throne. Their voices penetrated the heavenly realm, releasing not only sound, passion and emotion, but also decree. That sound penetrated John’s inner most being.
After John was shown many things he was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings” (Revelation 10:11). In the natural realm John was limited—an exile on Patmos. In the spirit realm he was shaping the history and destiny of nations. A few years ago I woke up one morning and heard God say, “Prophecy isn’t protest, it’s governmental decree.” Prophecy that comes from frustration over what is happening in the earth, the nations, or the church, is more protest than prophecy.
Protest is the voice of a victim. Governmental decree is the voice of a king and a priest. John made it clear upfront: we are kings and priests—or a kingdom of priests—to our God (Revelation 1:6). Priests had authority in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was both a seat of authority and a picture of the spirit realm. We can protest that which is happening in the earth, the nations, or the church—or like John, we can legislate in the spirit. Prophecy isn’t protest, it’s governmental decree. The choice is ours.
If the tabernacle was a picture of the spirit realm, how do we enter that place? The answer is simple: by faith. There is no other way. It's a simple, child-like response. In my previous house I had a walk-in wardrobe. I would practice stepping from my bedroom into the wardrobe, as though I was stepping from the natural realm into the spirit realm. In my present house I don’t have a walk-in wardrobe, but I do have an en-suite. Now I do the same thing by stepping from my bedroom into the en-suite. You can practice using any door! Often simple things in the natural realm can help us understand and access the spirit realm. The tabernacle had three doors that took you to different places. It was a concept with which priests were very familiar.
The devil has priests that legislate on his behalf—many of them are in government and media. We are well aware of the terms “deep state” and “fake news.” God also has priests that legislate on His behalf. They can be found within government and media, but many many places besides. Even a struggling single mum can be a priest with profound authority to shape the destiny of her children, her church, her community and her nation. Many of God’s priests have been lulled to sleep by the spirit of the age. They are about to wake up. God is enthroned in heaven, but speaks and acts through anointed priests on the earth. In this time of confinement and limitation, step into the spirit realm, and ask God what He wants you to do. The spirit realm is not in lock down. This is not a time to be limited!
© 2020 Nathan Shaw.
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