fellowship

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Here in Minnesota, we’re currently getting some beautiful Spring-like weather with temperature finally making it into the upper 50’s and lower 60’s. I deeply enjoy gardening and so when it finally gets warm enough for me to work in the garden beds, I get very excited.

I was outside working in the garden with layered clothing—a t-shirt, shirt, sweatshirt, and vest to keep me warm. Before I finished my first project I was ripping off my vest. Ten minutes later the sweat-shirt came off. My body temperature was up and I was very comfortable in just my shirt and t-shirt. A little while after that, I was down to just my t-shirt. As I was peeling off my shirt, the Lord suddenly spoke to me about layers. But instead of talking about taking them off, He was speaking to me about putting them on!

He said, The body of Christ is like putting on layers. He continued. The first layer is reading or hearing my Word. It speaks to your heart and helps you become more acquainted with me. It helps build and sustain your faith. The second layer is mediating on my word and praying. When you do—when you give place to it and meditate on it and pray, it opens your heart to hear my voice. It facilitates the conversation between you and me. It’s key to the health of our relationship bringing warmth and intimacy.

The Lord spoke to me further. The third layer is you going to church and engaging with other believers in worship and fellowship. It helps protect you from the demonic elements that try to preoccupy your mind and depress your heart—trying to draw you away from me. It’s like coming inside from bad elements. When you open your heart to the preached word of God, it stirs the embers in your heart, teaching and reminding you of your life’s purpose through me. And when you serve others in my name, it’s like putting on accessories—it helps draw on grace and gift of God within you. It makes your life more complete! Without these layers you could feel cold and become cold in your relationship with me.

As I was thinking about all this, the Lord reminded me of Solomon. Solomon built walls around the temple. They were built with multiple reasons in mind including protection. And they were built with layers.

1 Kings 7:8-10 (Message Bible) “Solomon built his personal residence behind the Hall on a similar plan… No expense was spared—everything here, inside and out, from foundation to roof was constructed using high-quality stone, accurately cut and shaped and polished. The foundation stones were huge, ranging in size from twelve to fifteen feet, and of the very best quality. The finest stone was used above the foundation, shaped to size and trimmed with cedar. The courtyard was enclosed with a wall made of three layers of stone and topped with cedar timbers, just like the one in the porch of The Temple of God.”

Layers were used to fortify and strengthen the walls and to provide greater protection. As the Lord spoke this to me, I could see just how true that was in my life. God has used layers throughout His creation. Our human body is built with layers. All of His creations have layers. Amos 9:6 (NKJV) says, “He who builds His layers in the sky, and has founded His strata in the earth; Who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth–The Lord is His name.”

God has layers to reinforce and strengthen our relationship with Him as well as our Christian walk. When I have all these layers on, I feel so warm in the Lord. They strengthen and protect me. They keep me on track. They contribute to my intimate relationship with the Lord and the rest of the body of Christ. This is God’s way of fortifying our life in Him!

When you live in Minnesota and have to deal with our cold weather, layers make life work. And they make our life thrive with God also! Put on your layers and stay intimate with God!

Amos 9:6 (NKJV) “He who builds His layers…The LORD is His name.

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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