Divine Setups

We don't always talk about one of God's more unique characteristics, I believe, is Jehovah sneaky.  How is God sneaky?  One thing that makes my skin crawl is when people say...God allows...so...  I despise this deeply because often the picture that is painted is a God that really under the surface desires that I and others go through pain so we will get something.  Try telling this to a person who has suffered horrible and even unspeakable abuse, in effort to defend God's reputation and explain very difficult things there will be an explanation of ....God allowed...so He could teach you.....  Often times I believe the holes in our theology come out at the most inopportune times.  I believe strongly in the Sovereignty of God and I even believe that God does set us up but I believe this times when our deep inner world is exposed is not to teach us something but for us to ultimately encounter Him at a new level.  While I don't believe for a moment that a completely loving, kind, and good God causes anything that is evil to happen to us, He does know it's coming and works for our good to bring about transformation in us (Romans 8:28-29).  I don't understand why the Christian culture confuses the enemies role with God's role.  John 10:10 is clear:  "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."  Jesus makes it abundantly clear that where we see killing, stealing, and destroying we can know that the ultimate source is the enemy.  Jesus said He came to bring life and life abundantly, yet so often we subtly make God behind things like cancer, job loss, past abuse by the give away phrase "God allowed...so...that you would..."  I think it is important to address what I see as an error in our thinking about God before I move on to explaining Divine Setups.  I am keenly aware of these Divine Setups because I feel I am in the middle of one in my own life.  I was led by Father to start a ministry (Destined for Sonship Ministries) in September of 2012 focused on the Father's Love and taking people who experience life as Spiritual Orphans into the reality of being sons and daughters of God.  As I was led to set this ministry up, in my mind God began to affirm that I was created to share the message of Father's Love.  I knew I had some revelation of the Father's love, I had received a lot of healing ministry, read tons of books on the Father's Love, and even went out to "The Power of Father's Love School" with Shiloh Place.  Yet deep under the surface in my own heart there was still places of deep loneliness, lies of hopelessness, lack of comfort from deep grief (from my earthly father's suicide), and still lots of fear.  I believe unlike some that to be in ministry does not mean to have all of your stuff together and be healed of all your wounds, God has worked through me to bring healing to others in the midst of my own emotional pain, depression, and insecurities.  I am a wounded healer.  I even thought if I went to Toronto, a place known for the outpouring of Father's love, that this would take care of some of these deep places and give me a revelation of Father's love then I would be on my way to minister to more people.  Little did I understand the Divine Setup, Father has called me to share His love this has been affirmed by prophetic voices as well as people in leadership along with Him speaking to me but it was not going to happen the way I envisioned.  It became clear this last summer that my heart had been deeply broken after my father's death and then the years I spent in relative isolation (much of it the choice of an orphan heart).  Before I went to Toronto a prophetic voice told me, God wants me undone and that my expector is broken (hopeless lies implanted in my heart), He wants me in front of people in the open not hidden away, and  finally that He was transforming me into being the message (Father's Love).  At Toronto I received two separate words one that God was "enlarging my heart" and the second that He was "unlocking my heart".  As God has begun to work to unlock my heart (locked up for protection), He has shone light on how shattered I am inside.  Here I am thinking it's time to share more of Father's Love with others and yet Father has set me up to heal my heart and give me what I truly want for myself, to know His love at an experiential level.  Father want the ministry built on a revelation of His love and He is not satisfied with me having an intellectual knowledge of His love.  Love requires connection and experience, without it love is an intellectual concept rather than a relationship to be experienced.  I have some understanding that this revelation will be costly personally but at the same time there is not a price that is too great to truly encounter the living God.  Could it be in Father's infinite and sovereign love, He knows exactly what it will take to fulfill the deepest desires and longings of your heart.  I believe in the Father's pursuit of us, He wants to bring you into your own Divine Setup, so you can encounter His powerfully life-giving love for yourself.  Since God is love, this must fit with His nature yet also surpasses our limited experience and understanding of love.  I believe the Body of Christ will be getting a greater revelation of the Father's love that pursues the children He loves so greatly.  Our pursuit of Him is important (and Biblical) but I believe we have under emphasized His pursuit of us and this revelation will be key in the coming days.  Remember that Jesus is not coming back as a Lamb but a Lion, He is returning with fire in His eyes, a sword in His mouth, and a passion to be united to His people (being one as John 17 describes).  Will you say "yes" to a Divine Setup.

Setup for His Love,
Bret