Friends Magazine Hong Kong
By Bro. Eddie C. Villanueva
August 2012 Edition

I know nobody who doesn’t want to be blessed.  In fact, in our moment of direst need, we often turn to God for miracles. This is a good thing because only God can turn an impossible situation around.

There are times, however, when God allows us to go through a process first before He brings us to our desired place of blessing.  There shall first be a great shakening, then great awakening, before the great outpouring.

Great shakening. It is said that anything that happens in the natural has a parallel spiritual significance, and vice versa. Hence the magnitude 9 tsunami that shook Japan in 2011 that shifted the earth on its axis must have been God’s megaphone to get the attention of mankind all over the world.

This brings to mind the LORD’s words in Haggai 2:1-9. In verses 6-7, it is written: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little whileI will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.I will shake all nations, and what is desiredby all nations will come, and I will fill this housewith glory’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Crossed-reference with Hebrews 12:26, it is decreed: “When God says, “Once more,” He means He will take away everything of this world that can be shaken so the things that cannot be shaken will be left.”

It cannot be denied that God also brings us also into a season of shakening “so the things that cannot be shaken will be left.” And like the Japan tsunami, collateral damages are inevitable when the force of God’s power is unleashed. Yes, it is a difficult and painful process, but to him whose mind is fixed on God (Isaiah 26:3), the LORD’s perfect peace is guaranteed.

Great awakening. To him who has ears to hear what the Spirit of the LORD is saying, even His shakening is an act of lavished grace.  Likened to God’s chastening, Hebrews 12:11 promises: “Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are trained by it.”

Deuteronomy 8:5 counsels, “You shall also consider in your heart, that, as a man chastens his son, so the LORD your God chastens you.”  And here’s a psalmist’s apt reply: “I used to wander off until You disciplined me; but now I closely follow Your word” (Psalm 119:67).  “I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me” (Psalm 119:75).  Indeed, “… happy is the man whom God corrects. Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty” (Job 5:17).

Ultimately, it can be said that the faithful will withstand the day of shakening when he responds to the dealings of the LORD in humility and repentance and awakens to the LORD’s call unto holiness.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12).

Great Outpouring. Given the process by which God is leading us today, it can clearly be seen that the great outpouring of His blessings is but a result of our humble submission to His way, work, and Word as expressed in the first two prerequisites.  We are mistaken if we only seek after God’s great outpouring while we disregard the LORD’s design for the proving of our character.

Remember the Israelites in their 40-year journey in the wilderness.

We all know that the Promised Land was their final destination – the land overflowing (outpouring) with milk and honey.  Yet, they had to first deal with the heat of the day and the cold of the night, the long walks of routes that were ever long and winding, the daily motions of gathering manna, the longings over the memory of Egypt’s spices, the sole leadership of Moses, among many others.

“Remember how the LORD your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey His commands” (Deuteronomy 8:2).

Notice here now how the great shakening, great awakening, and great outpouring may be lumped into a single test of our obedience to God.  Ultimately, this is the sole test we must pass in order to go through each critical season of the LORD’s leading in our lives.

Beloved, it is my personal prayer now that as you continue to open yourself to the LORD’s dealing and leading, may you find His grace more than sufficient to meet all your needs. In your weakness, may you find His strength perfected. Even at the brink of defeat, just when you’re about to give up, remember that everything that happens in your life is for a purpose (Romans 8:28).  If you fully trust in the LORD and completely obey His commands, nothing in this world can move you.

SHALOM! SHALOM!