God delighted me with a flashpoint word while praying the other day. And as with a lightning bolt that you first “see” — like a dazzling illumination that instantly fills your entire vista — and then only “hear” the effects of it sometime later as an extended roll of thunder, the Spirit of God said that He has called His people to be "torch bearers".

     “In that day I will make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire among cut grain.”

Zechariah 12:6

     For just like the burning bush of Moses — where the “burning bush” is a type and pattern of the “torch bearer”, and likewise a type and pattern of His “trees of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:3); which are trees with “the nature” of righteousness, and that are “on fire” with the power and the majesty of the Holy Spirit, yet not consumed (Exodus 3:2) — He likened the notion of His people being torch bearers unto the pattern and model of the Olympic flame.

     For are we surprised to be called “trees of righteousness”? For are we not all called to “produce fruit”? Which is according to the natural order and very nature of “a tree”? Where “the nature” of such a tree is, in fact, “the way and the truth and life” of that tree? And “the fruit” of the way and the truth and the life of that tree, being it’s nature, is the “fruit of righteousness”? Which are all the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)? For are we not all called to grow both “deeper” and “higher”? Which is only something a tree can do at the same time? And are we surprised to be called a burning bush? Which is a tree that is infused with the nature and the power of the Holy Spirit? Which is the nature of righteousness set aflame in all its glory and majesty?

     For He said that His people are to first TAKE the lit baton from Him through "communion with God" (Matthew 22:37), being just like each of the Olympic torch bearers TAKES the baton from another — which in this case is to take the hand of the Holy Spirit the Helper — and then, as rivers of living water flowing from our bellies (John 7:38), and just like the 24-hour Olympic relay of torch bearers, through "community with man" (Matthew 22:39), we are to then GIVE or pass the baton on to others to run the race. So that the love of God may flow like a river of living water from its elevated source in the high mountain (throne of God) (Revelation 22:1), all the way down to the open mouth of the sea (being the open mouth of a mankind thirsty for righteousness). “But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:24.

     And as our neighbour takes and receives the flaming baton, a Pied Piper multitude of Olympic torch bearers will then ensue and ignite yet another, and even another, into a growing inferno, one tree of beautiful righteousness at a time. From one heart to the next. From one nation to the next. And as all the earth becomes reclaimed and healed (2 Chronicles 7:14) and saturated with an ever widening landscape of communities of oaks of righteousness planted by the Lord (Isaiah 61:3), each of these trees shall be “like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3.

     For has He not said: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you, When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you”? Isaiah 43:2. For is it not spoken: “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation”? Isaiah 12:3. And In so doing, the light on the high hill of God’s love, that cannot be quenched or overcome or hidden, shall shine its perfect grace and perfect love into the depths of a dark world with a burning flame that shall never go out.

     And in so doing, darkness will finally be divided, weakened and conquered. One soul at a time. Through the great love that is the “love of community” being shed abroad throughout all the earth, by a company and brotherhood of torch bearers whose overflowing cup of love comes from the sumptuous wellspring of the “love of communion”.

     And just as the Olympic flame is to never go out, it is both the “duty of care” and the “loving responsibility” of the fellowship of community, to likewise ensure that the “flames of God’s love” that have been shed abroad in each heart not only do not ever go out, but that each new member of the growing community of torch bearers are thoroughly equipped and discipled in love to pass the baton of love on to the next neighbour, in a never ending expression and accomplishment and circle of loving one's neighbour as oneself. And to continue in this way until, upon one day, the harvest and storehouse of God’s keep are both full and complete.

     Which is a type and pattern of “paying love forward” that is the five loaves of bread and two fish. So that “the five loaves of bread” (which represents the bread of life) and “the two fish” (representing fishers of men, for did God not send out the disciples two-by-two?), will multiply and feed all the masses of the poor and the downtrodden, the naked and the hungry, the widows and orphans, so that in all the earth, just as in heaven, His name may be hallowed, and His kingdom may come, and His will may be done. One soul and one heart at a time.

“I will open rivers on the bare heights And springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water And the dry land fountains of water.“

Isaiah 41:18

“For thus says the LORD, "Behold, I extend peace to her like a river, And the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream; And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees.”

Isaiah 66:12

      This is the very heartbeat of our high calling, and the very timbre of our chief responsibility. Being the fulfilment of the two greatest commandments. That, through working together as one, as five loaves and two fish, will then ultimately fill all the earth with the glory of the knowledge of God (Habakkuk 2:14), and at the same time, fulfil all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40).

     First, communion with God (Matthew 22:37). And then, community with man (Matthew 22:39). And so the circle of life which is "from Him and through Him and to Him are all things" may not only be fulfilled, but become the way, and the truth, and the life. "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen." Romans 11:36.