For those who placed our trust in our position and standing with man, in our capabilities, in our jobs, in our intellect, in our titles, in our reputation, in our cars and homes, in our relationships, in all the false appearances and structures and idols of what appears to be the good life, which are all nothing more than the appearance of things, which are the empty promises of the world, sometimes the love of the Father for His child has to forcibly remove these by the force of a hammer, so that we can have the scales removed from our eyes, and our souls and minds set free from their unknowing bondage and chains.

     So great is His love for His children, that God will systematically decouple and dismantle all the artificial supports you have erected in your life that hold both your mind
and soul captive and slaves to a belief system that is false, to a belief system that exalts itself above the knowledge of God, so that He can replace it with a better belief system, and with the only real and genuine support structure for the souls and minds of man. And when He does, it can sometimes be as traumatic upon our souls and sensibilities as the intense process of the detoxification of a hard core addict. And the only way to set you free from bondage to these things is making you lose your confidence in them. Because then you will be able to let go properly, for once and for all, and cleave unto what is truly our confidence and real support. He tears down every bondage and chain that exalts itself against the knowledge of truth. It’s like the painful process of weaning an addict of his addiction who doesn’t even know that he is an addict. God has to wean us all off our addiction, which is a soul and mind addicted to a false belief system and the hollow support structure of the world, and an identity in that false structure. And the process of breaking our soul ties to the acknowledgements of the world is sometimes like breaking a rock.

     I was a rock. A rock is something that has its ways literally “set in stone”. It cannot change, and is therefore lifeless, and because of this, it is held in bondage to itself. It is in chains, because it is fixed and unyielding and hard. I was such a rock, a hard and lifeless rock. Just like an idol is. And He broke me. “Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 21:13). Is it not the same God who also says I will give you a new heart and a new mind not a heart made of stone, but one of flesh? Flesh, by design, has freedom of movement. It is not in chains. The harder rock of His Word will break the hard rock of our stubborn fallen nature. Jesus is referred to as “the Rock”. “Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed." (Matthew 21:44). I was broken by falling on Jesus. Which is infinitely better by comparison than being crushed by that stone. “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-12).

     Moses was a shadow of Jesus. He saved his people from slavery to the world (Egypt). They had to leave behind all that once held them in chains. And they could only do this because the LORD fought for them. In exactly the same way, Jesus has taken us out of the world (Egypt) to the new kingdom (land of milk and honey, Canaan) and has saved us from our bondage and slavery and addiction to the world. “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”” (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:13-14‬). The LORD fights for us. And it is HE who holds our peace. Paul said: “The “slight trouble” (affliction) of the passing hour results in a “solid glory” past all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:17 Moff. Trans.). “Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.” ‭(‭Psalm‬ ‭51:8).

      For all who are downtrodden, for all who are oppressed, for all who are afflicted, just like the river runs from its source in the high hills to the mouth in the sea, may the refreshing rivers of living water flow from its source in the high mountain of glory to the open mouths of the sea of humanity! Let Your Presence consume us and fill our wells to overflowing, Father. May we bask, this day, in the wonder of Your astonishing glory! May we lie down, this eve, and rest in the green pastures of Your divine hand and will. May we stand up, tomorrow, a new creation, one hand made upon the anvil of a genuine Father’s love! Please breathe Your breath of life into our lungs and all that we lay our hands to, Father. May we see the heart of the Father in all that You touch. May you raise to life the dead bones of our brokenness and give them new skin and tendons and sinews and flesh as in Ezekiel. For it’s not by might or power (man’s hand) but by Your Spirit.

     We lay our heart for this at your feet, Father, and ask You to do this good work in the name of love, the name of Your love, which is to lay our lives down for another. Be our steady anchor and our calming hand in all that we say and do and feel and think, and may we find our place and our position in You. Let us cleave to You like a lost son to a father who has just been found, and may we never fall from Your Presence and side. May we never return to our addiction and bondage to the artificial props and shallow, hollow postures of the world. To God be all the glory, for ever and ever, amen and amen. This we ask and pray in Jesus name, amen and amen.