The Inward Journey

By Douglas B. Clark, March 31, April 3, 2006

Recently I came across a disturbing article on the Internet concerning the “out of church” folks. I believe the brother who wrote the article is sincere and loves the Lord with all his heart. I believe God is using him and that he recognizes a great many things that are not of the Lord, and is not afraid to speak up about them. But, on this issue I believe his perception is incorrect and hurtful.

My prayer is that this brother will rephrase what he has said, but most of all I pray that those who have been wounded by his words will be encouraged and know that God is doing a work in their lives and that He has not forsaken them.

Here is one paragraph of what this brother wrote concerning the “out of church” folk:

“For some people the ‘Out-of-church’ Revolution is “new”. But for me it is very old, and after 20 years observation there is one simple thing I can tell you: IT DOES NOT WORK. It does not transition into real New Testament ‘Body Life’. It does not lead to Revival. It does not transform the church. It “scatters” instead of gathering, and leads to what I call “amorphous blob” Christianity. -In other words, the Body of Christ becomes an unfocused mass of individualists without form or direction - “each man doing what is right in his own eyes.” I don’t know if we can find much more of an opposite to true body life than that.” End quote.

Here is what I believe the Lord has given me in response to my brother’s accusations:

While in prayer I saw the breath of the Holy Spirit, gently breathing on His people. I thought of how different this was from Him coming as a “mighty rushing wind.” As I was looking for a passage of scripture, I heard this, Ezekiel 37:9

“Then He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army.” Ezek 37:9-10 NIV

I believe this passage of scripture is a representation of what God is doing at this time.
There are many “out-of church” folk who have been slain by the trials and difficulties they have faced. They are completely poured out and have nothing left to give. They feel void of all spiritual life. I know this to be true for I was one of them. If you judge after outward appearances you will easily come to the conclusion that this group of lone rangers, have missed the voice of God and have fallen into complacency.

But I declare to you by the Holy Spirit, that the breath of God is gently breathing on these dry bones. For there are many who have been slain by the difficulties they have faced and have given up on their pursuit of righteousness, but My breath shall come upon them, and cause them to become alive, for it has been My hand that has orchestrated the difficulties in their lives. I have purposely hid what I was doing so that they would bare the reproach of the cross, and be utterly broken before me.”

The last portion of the scripture in Ezekiel refers to a vast army. I believe the army God is raising up at this time is not Joel’s army as many think. A more accurate picture of what is now happening is Ezekiel’s army of dry bones coming to life.

Some of you have thought your day had come and gone, while some have been holding on to what God spoke into your hearts so many years ago. Be encouraged, the Holy Spirit is about to breathe upon you. When He does you will see that He has been with you throughout your journey. Not for a moment has He left you!

Another scripture that comes to mind is: 1 Kings 6:7.

“In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.

When the blocks for Solomon’s Temple were made, all the hammering and chiseling took place in the quarry. It was only after each stone had been shaped into the right dimensions so that it could fit perfectly with the other stones that it was brought to the temple location to be assembled. What a wonderful picture this is of God’s work in our lives!

The hammer blows upon us are many as God shapes and chisels us into living stones that fit properly in the house not made with human hands. God is building a masterpiece that will fit together perfectly! But as each of us knows from experience, it is in the quarry where God is preparing us, and not in the glory of His temple.

There are a great many new ones that are being called out unto the Lord at this time. They are being taught directly by the Holy Spirit, but they will need true ministry that will encourage and confirm what God is speaking into their life.

As God unfolds His masterpiece I believe we will be amazed with the detail of His plan and the synchronization of all that He is doing. God is going to revive many of His lone rangers, while His kingdom is propagated throughout the earth, neighbor-to-neighbor, friend-to-friend. This Holy move of God will also bring judgment on the false ministries that have been birthed from the soul of man. The judgment will NOT be angry prophets shaking their fist, calling down fire from heaven. What will bring the judgment is the bright light that will shine on all that God is doing, as it contrast the darkness and futility of all of man’s efforts.

God’s government and kingdom does not resemble any kingdom of this world. It is not the hierarchy that many self-proclaimed apostles and prophets would declare. There will be no emphasis on leadership other than the leadership of hearing His voice. God’s government will have only one head, and that will be the mind of Christ, and any apostle, prophet or pastor will not dictate the laws of His kingdom, but they will be written on the hearts of men.

God has called us out of Babylon, but what a long process it is to remove Babylon from within us! Do not look to Jerusalem or physical local, for it is not any geographic location where you will find the administration of God’s government, for the kingdom of God is within you!

Over the past thirty years I have experienced many precious moments in the Lord along with many dry times where the heavens were as brass. I confess that I have not always cooperated with the Lord through the many trials I have faced. I have not done anything of myself that would give the right to lay claim to being some great spiritual authority, or leader. For the last eight years I went through depression, anger and finally acceptance of the difficulties I had faced.

It was at a moment when I felt completely spiritually dead, without one bit of His life in me, that the Holy Spirit began to breathe upon me. He has awakened His spirit inside me, and is speaking with me daily. He has caused me to walk upright before Him in victory, and in His rest, but it is not because of anything I have done. It is only because He chose to breathe His life into these dry bones.

Pay attention to the gentle breath of the Spirit that is now breathing upon His people. This is not the time for the mighty rushing wind, but for the gentle breath of God. This is a time of substance and a time of great truth and understanding. Then will we see a display of His power.

Douglas B. Clark
info@theinwardjourney.net