THE POWER OF TEACHING

I recently was in Swaziland....its vast nature, beautiful mountains surrounding you in every direction that you look, the fresh air, you can't help but take a deep breath every morning to begin your day. Its amazing, and it's spectacular views can't help but make you adore the works and wonder of the hands of our LORD. That seemed to be exactly what I needed to open my mind and spirit to what the LORD had to speak to me, to teach me.

As beautiful as Swaziland and it's people is, the mind-sets of His children result in a life of lack, most not receiving the promises of the LORD...this bothered my spirit, and God spoke to me through His Word about the mind-set, and the power that helps transform the lost and faithless individual to a man of valor who can do all things he puts his mind to do.

LUKE 5:1-11- this is where He spoke into my spirit. In this passage of scripture, Jesus reaches to the shore of Gennesseret, where a crowd of people were, jumped into one of the boats with Simon and, after teaching the crowd about the Word, tells Simon to cast his net down where he catches fish that tears his net. Infact, so much fish that a second boat is called to help load the bounty, but both boats reached to a point where they almost sank...the amount was just to great!.

The command that Jesus first gives for us to pull out a lil from shore is what takes place when an invidual gives their lives to Him...it's a call that moves you one foot away from your past and comfort zones, your habbits and thought patterns, basically, from who you are. The shore is a place of familiarity, habbits, natural surroundings and thought patterns- the place where which the Lord wants to pull you away from- you need only to anwer to his call and reach out your hands to the Gentleman's loving touch. Jesus meets you in the shore. reveals to you His reality. But that is not where He wants to keep you.

When He and Simon and pulled out a lil from shore, He began to teach the crowd that were gathered at the shore, and after doing that, told Simon to pull out even deeper into the waters, far away from dry ground...far away from you natural thoughts, from your securities, from your natural surroundings, from your mentality. He pulls you to His perspective, His thoughts, His love, His fruits, His power...He brings you to LIFE!!

Now the question arises, "How do I get to that place?", "how does Jesus get me to the deep waters where I can find life?". The answer? Well, it's simple. It's through the WORD, to be more specific, it is through REVELATION! Reading the Bibles without your spirit being open to the Holy Spirit, you never know what God is truly saying, and the depths of what He is saying (Romans 8:5-7). The WORD is ALIVE! IT HAS POWER!! What He says through time spent with Him is your teaching...that is the teaching that will give you faith to actually move into the deep waters, standing boldly in His name. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the WORD of the Lord. Before Jesus spoke, and commanded, He had to build up the faith in the people. Hearing, seeing, touching...those are all things that make something believable, that make things real. Teaching transforms the mind...teaching equips...teaching gives power, loosens chains of negativity and the "I can't do it" lie told by the Devil. Most importantly, teaching builds faith. But not faith in your own power, faith in His name. It is HE that calls you from the shores, it's HIS commands that bring authority, HIS name that carries POWER! How Simon responded when Jesus told him to cast out his net is beautiful, power - truly shaking. He was an experienced fisherman, and had been fishing that day but had not caught any fish yet. But when Jesus spoke, he said, "...but because you say so, i will do it", and he cast out His net. He heard and obeyed the command of the Lord. He acted based on HIS command and HIS name. Because of that, his bounty was plentiful- his cup ran over. Moreover, when they returned to shore, they left everything they had caught and followed Jesus. Jesus, the WORD, our Heavenly Father was soo real to them, the couldn't see anything else worth following rather than Him.

Teaching is what brings transformation...have a teachable spirit for you to learn, and if you haven't got a teachable spirit, i suggest you search your heart and ask God to give you strenght to look beyond the shame of being wrong and the pride of admitting your mistakes. Spend time with God, cause everything He teaches you will brng power and authority, and wisdom, into every sphere of your life!