He Makes All Things New by Amanda Leonard

It seems one of our greatest setbacks, is the repetitious cycle of our old ways. Jesus talked a lot about old things becoming new. It is our choice to let go of the old and walk in the newness of Life in Christ. We must receive new wineskins because the old ones can't hold the new wine. Our old life is crucified, and now we have a new life in Christ. We can try all we want to change our old ways, but until we allow Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done in our lives, we will constantly revert back to the ways of the world, the teachings and wisdom of man. Man without Holy Spirit will just fumble through with limited knowledge and is unable to comprehend the things of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:12-18 "What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. "
Last week, while praying and talking with the Lord, I had a vision. I saw the church on a hamster wheel. While bowing low before the feet of the Father, I heard Him say, "The church needs to get off the hamster wheel!!" I could feel in my spirit, that He was pretty adamant about it. He was tired of seeing them run on this wheel, round and round in circles, not going anywhere. They were doing the same thing (old ways) and expecting to get different results. If I remember correctly, that is the definition of insanity. They were just expounding energy, just serving the Lord, because it was all they knew to do. They were trying their hardest to "run the race." They were so worn out and tired. This is the old way. The old must go to make room for the new.
The Father was calling them to rest in Him. This is the new way, to be one with Him. The new way is to stop all the striving in our own strength. Instead, keep our eyes fixed on the finished work of the cross and receive all that He has already given through the cross, His blood and resurrection life that now lives in us through the person of Holy Spirit.
We no longer have to wrestle like Jacob did. We no longer have to wait for a burning bush, or a cloud by day or fire by night. We have been made one with Him, we are reconciled to God through Christ. We are now the sign and wonder, we are the burning bush, the cloud of His glory, the ark of His presence and glory, we are His temple where His presence resides. The old is gone and the new has come.
Revelation 21:1-27 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death, there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. 5 And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold I am making all things new.' "
God is an absolute genius. He sees the future us, completely new and filled with the fullness of Christ. Eternity is His view and He's waiting for His sons to bring eternity into now. There's no separation to Him, just as heaven and earth are not separate to Him.
It may seem separate to us because we've been taught all our lives that it is. We have been taught that heaven is just a place that we go when we die physically. Death has never been a friend of God. Jesus has conquered death and now it's time for death to be conquered in our lives as well. Let's believe more in His life, than death. Heaven is here now, where He is, in you, wherever you are. I believe the second coming of Christ, is Him coming into His body. No longer do we even have to go in and out (John 10:9), you can if you want because it is your home but now we have the opportunity to dwell, to be where He is, Him be where we are, we go together. Hand in hand, heart in Heart.
I'd like to share this personal experience with you, just for you to know what is possible IN Christ. I am nothing special outside of Him. I want you to know that I did not pray for hours on end, or fast, or try to make this experience happen. It caught me totally off guard and it was in a corporate setting. The reason I even say these things is because, I am no different than you. I am learning to walk more in this reality of Christ and I together, us working together to bring His Kingdom to earth. It's an exciting journey, especially when you don't feel the pressure of trying to make something happen, or perform a certain way, but trusting in Him and being taken by surprise many times on this wild ride.
This is an example of how there is no separation between heaven and earth, that where He is, we are too, if we are abiding in Him by Holy Spirit. Also, as a side note, I do not practice Necromancy (calling on the dead) and I'm not a physic. I know things like this can make people question and it's risky for me to even make it public but I believe others are having same experiences as well, actually I know they are. Part of that feeling many people get when things make them uncomfortable, is because of our old teachings. Sometimes it's discernment but if we are in Christ, we will know and there's no reason to be afraid. So just ask Him about it. Anything is possible for those IN Christ!! Anyways, I'll cut to the chase smile emoticon.
I believe this was about a year ago or longer now, we were at the Outer Banks at a corporate gathering. We are all just resting in His presence, waiting on the Lord, worshiping and enjoying Him. My body was on the couch but I could see and experience what was happening in the heavenly realms. A young boy approached me, who looked to be in his early twenties, wearing all white, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Without saying a word, I knew that this was the son of the lady who was sitting right beside me, who had transitioned to heaven. He wanted me to give a message to his mom. He looked at me and said, "Will you tell my mom that God didn't take me, He received me? Also, here's a key for her heart. It's for her to keep and unlock when she's ready because Jesus wants to heal some places in her heart."
He turned and walked away, it looked like he was walking on water. I was shaking uncontrollably, because my flesh couldn't contain the glory of what had just taken place and the whole time I was sitting beside this boy's mom. I heard Holy Spirit clearly speak to me and tell me not to share this with her until her husband came and sat beside her. Not even a minute later, he stood up from across the room and came and sat beside her. I could barely get out the words to share with them of what had happened. There was so much healing that took place that day, all because Jesus knew that she needed it. There was no separation that day of heaven and earth, and in actuality there's no separation any other day. (Ephesians 2:6)
This is the new way, not that we are to seek the experience and try and make these sorts of things happen, but to know that in Him, through Jesus (our door) anything can happen, anything! So the new way is that if this does happen, it won't be weird but normal. The supernatural is really just super normal. It's supposed to be normal for us that are IN HIM. It seems like the Lord has been trying to show me bits of this truth for the past three years. As I look back, the things He was showing me all point to this truth. Many times my most intense times with the Lord have been when I had absolutely no agenda, things would happen that in no way could I work up or imagine. It is just a product of oneness.
I believe right now across the body of Christ that He is showing people things that are still the old way, so that we can bring it to Him and let Him show us His new way. Whether it's old wounds, old mindsets, old ways of prayer, His light is revealing the old that needs to go. There's no reason to get anxious, feeling like you have to get rid of every old thing you've learned, or all the old wounds that need healing. He is well able to show you what needs to go and what needs to be healed. By His grace, He will do it as we allow Him to. If it's broken He can fix it.
He longs for oneness with His bride, to tabernacle with His people. He wants His people to know that they are blessed, they no longer have to call forth blessings. Ephesians 1:3 NLT "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." He wants His children to know that we no longer have to beg for things He's already given, believe it and with great expectation receive it, and walk in everything He's so graciously paid for. This is the new way.
The bride is coming into her new name!! He wants His bride to know how lovely and accepted she is. He longs for her to walk as His equal, in the authority of Christ within her. No longer is she called deserted or the name of her land desolate. She is the crown of His splendor, in His hand a royal diadem. She will be called "Hephzibah" (His delight is in her) and her land "Beulah" (married). (Isaiah 62)
Newness, newness, newness is here!! Receive new names, new hearts, new assignments, new direction, new mindsets, new opened doors, new health, new bodies, new ways of prayer and worship, new awareness of our holy blessed union with Jesus the Christ!!!
He has given us His Spirit to give us everything that we ever need, you name it, He's given it to us. All of heaven and earth is our inheritance, there is no separation. All we have to do is realize it and come to Him, trust Him and His ability. Religion says the opposite, that we are separated from Him, we have to work to become clean, we have to earn His love by doing these steps, obey these rules and protocols and do the right thing.
So repent, (change your mind), for the Kingdom of God is in our midst. Receive His new and living way, where Rivers of His life flow. Old ways must shift, old wounds will heal and bring beauty from ashes, old mindsets make way for new oil, all the old must bow to our King Jesus! So thankful that in You King Jesus, YOU MAKE ALL THINGS NEW!!!!

Amanda Leonard
Time in His Presence