Genesis 19:17-20
Vs 17 "And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."
The purpose of this blog is to examine the mindset of people who have a calling of God on their lives. In Vs 17 we find God's command to all involved with him. I've brought you out of sin, now escape for your life and do not look behind you. This brings us a chilling reminder of how powerful our past is. God wants a church with vision. The Bible teaches that where there is no vision, the people perish. But that shows me that where there IS a vision, the people prosper! We cannot afford to be bound by our past! We live in an age where our pasts have become our crutch. We parade around with the mindset of, "Don't judge me, you don't know what I've been through", as if this somehow disqualifies you from being godly. You will never have the ministry or anointing God wants for you if your constantly looking back...
Then God tells him to get out of the plains (comfort zone) and get to the mountain, lest you be consumed. This is a very important principle in ministry. If we are not climbing the mountain of spirituality, revelation and understanding; we are traveling down a road of destruction. Complacency and indifference to the things of God will destroy you. If we want to see revival, we must go to the mountain. Mountains are fascinating to me, and are very significant to the word of God. A mountain is symbolic of a higher place in God. Mountains played an important role in the religious lives of people during Bible times. To the primitive mind, mountains were the place that connected the heavens and the earth. It was thought that the "gods" could only be reached from mountain tops. That's why the majority of temples were built on hills, or mountains. Even throughout scripture mountains played significant roles in revelation....
Mt Sinai-10 commandments
Mt Nebo- where Moses was able to see the Promised Land
Mt Carmel- Elijah's victory over the prophets of Baal.
Mt Moriah- Abraham's worship in the form of sacrifice.
Mt of Olives- Where Jesus opened the understanding of his disciples.
Mt of Transfiguration-Where Moses and Elijah appeared recognizing Jesus as the fulfillment of the law and the prophets; and where Moses finally stepped foot into the promised land!...
So we see mountains offer significant experiences during our relationship with God. There will always come a time where God will call you to a higher place, or to a higher level of intimacy and prayer. We are never to be idle in the plains of comfort, but 1 Peter 3:18 tells us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ! So God is offering Lot an opportunity like no other, a chance to change his life, and the life of his wife and children... Nothing is more beneficial for a family than growing in God together!... Look at Lot's response...
Vs 18-20 "And Lot said unto them, Oh not so, my Lord: Behold now thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou shewest unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Behold now, this little city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."
I am convinced that this has become the mindset of far too many apostolic people. Lot was offered an opportunity for revelation and anointing, but all Lot could think about was what if something bad happens along the way? I fear that we have come to a place in our generation where we have heard so much about the trials and tribulations of ministry, that we have now associated a stigma of evil that coincides with anointing. And now what has happened is we are now fearful of what it might cost to go that high, and instead we settle for a town called Zoar, which literally translates into the word little. Too many people are telling themselves, i don't know if i could go through that kind of trial, so how about i settle for this little thing, God just give me a little anointing, I'll still be doing the work of God but I'll do it from a much safer place! It is my personal opinion that if Lot would've gone to the mountain his family would've been saved as well. But The word of the Lord was emphatic, if you settle for the plains you will be consumed! Our churches are powerless because too many ministers have settle for the plains. I want to send a shout across the world today, Do Not Be Afraid of The Mountain!! our churches are depending on it, our families are depending on it, our young people are depending on it! Don't get comfortable in the small things, get up to the mountain and find an anointing that will turn our world, and our city upside down!
We fear the mountain because instead of seeing a place of revelation, we instead see Abraham's sacrifice. Oh God i don't know if i could give all that up to be used! The problem is that our perception of this encounter has been altered. We see sacrifice, Abraham saw worship... And what we fail to realize is that Abraham never actually sacrificed his son. Had Abraham viewed this experience the same way Lot did, I wonder how differently the text would read today? Instead the Bible tells us that there was a ram in the thicket. Now if you study that scenario out you'll find that it is against nature for rams to be that high. But while Abraham decided to start up the mountain on one side, God sent his provision up the other side! So that when Abraham got to the place where God called him, the provision was already there waiting! Some one needs to be encouraged, Don't fear the mountain, pursue the mountain! And if God is calling rest assured that He will have your provision waiting on you when you get there. You may walk through the valley of the shadow of death, Like the Psalmist David wrote about; But I shall fear no evil...why? Because thou art with me!
Thanks for taking the time to read my post, as I share my heart on this blog, i hope someone will be encouraged to pursue bigger and more extraordinary things in God, and not settle out of fear for the plains of ordinary. Be Blessed in Jesus Name.
