Grace in the Wilderness Pastor Rick Lunsford

“Thus says the Lord, the people who survived the sword found GRACE in the wilderness… I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Again I will build you, and you will be rebuilt.” (Jer. 31:2-4)

This promise, of course, was for Israel. God promised that He, out of His loving kindness, would rebuild her after her near extinction and exile from the promise land. But I also know what it is to be gratefully grafted into Christ Jesus, having been made joint heirs in Christ. We have received, with Israel, God’s chosen people, salvation to those who believe and His divine promises; both to them and to us together (Eph 2:10)

Even now God is, by His grace, giving revelation to those who would seek Him humbly. He is unfolding His word layer by layer, both for the future of the corporate church, His body, and for our individual lives; that we might find direction in these last days. The Psalmist says, “…Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light onto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) Therefore, having read and meditated on the words of Jeremiah, I believe that this is what the lord is saying to both Israel and the church.

In 1995 I gave a challenge to the church to respond to what I believe was an open vision I had received in March of 1996. In it I saw the Lord Jesus in His glorified body. His hair was as white as snow, His eyes were as a flaming fire, and His feet were as burnished bronze or gold. He held a two-edged sword in His right hand as He stood at the door of my home and was knocking. When I opened the door He spoke to me and said, “My son, I have come to thrust you through, for you must die.” I knew in my spirit that he was talking about the death of my flesh, so, in my usual, spontaneous way, I said, “ Then thrust me Lord.” As these words bolted from my mouth, my eyes met His. I was gripped by what I saw. Tears were flowing like rivers from His then soft eyes and were running down and off of His beard.

It was then that He spoke again to me, “No my son, you don’t understand. This is not an instant death, but rather, the way through humility, to embrace the fellowship of my sufferings.
You will be despised and rejected. You will feel alone, unloved, unwanted, not needed and many will turn against you. You will feel as though I have abandoned you and that your ministry has come to an end. Your beliefs will be shaken and you will be broken.”
He then said to me, “I will come to many with this SWORD and many will run from it and wait to die of old age. But to those who receive it, I will grant new life, fullness of joy, fresh anointing and greater intimacy; more than they have ever known or experienced.”

I then said soberly, “Then thrust me Lord.”
A year later I shared this vision with the Church body and gave an altar call, asking those who would receive the Sword of the Lord to come forward. I remember giving a stern warning not to come half-heartedly, for if they did come, God would surely thrust them through! I told them that the Holy Spirit would most certainly be relentless in His endeavor to gain their self-will. It was very much like the invitation given to Reese Howells by the Holy Spirit, in chapter five of Reese Howell’s Intercessor (a must read).

Many came forward and God began cutting deep. The Master Surgeon so precisely applied the scalpel. This surgery left many screaming for mercy while others became embittered, even walked away from the Lord, having their faith shaken to the core. But to those who, by His grace remained true; to those who humbly bowed the knee, and yes, to those who even now open their hearts by Gods grace, turn and be willing to go through the refiners fire, having had their heart circumcised of any self-strength, will, by the sword of the Lord, find grace in the wilderness to surrender to the higher call of God, “For by Grace we are saved through faith.” (Eph 2:8-9) To them God would say, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness. Again I will build you and you (surely) will be REBUILT!” (Jer. 31:2-4)

God is rebuilding Israel and His church. This Bride, having come through the wilderness, having survived the sword, will no longer resemble the former things as He has promised. “Behold I will do something new. Will you not be aware of it?” (Isa. 43:18-19) Everything that can be shaken will be shaken; and that which remains will be the Lords accomplishment.

Behold, the Lion of Judah roars and He is coming in the clouds. We must climb to higher ground. We must forsake the folly of the self-life and drag our will to the throne of God, kicking and fighting as it may, in order that we might stand in these last days. We must be a people of the Word of God! This is of the utmost importance, for how else will we know God, His character and His ways.

I know that in the days in which we live, there is a philosophy that says mankind will continue to survive and even rebuild their lives by human endeavor, but it just isn’t so. The truth is that God alone promises to rebuild our lives. It is the man, woman or child, who survive the sword of the Lord, that will find the grace to go on and be REBUILT. Having lost their lives for Jesus sake, they will surely find it!