Saturday, January 18, 2014

THE ASHERAH POLE AND THE GLORY CLOUD


Pastor Sharron Scott
1/21/2010

...... I saw myself trying to move forward, reaching out around this HUGE pole that was before me, smashed against my belly and obstructing my view. I could only reach forward a short ways, and only with one hand at a time.

This was normal for me. I’d been this way all my life. But I didn’t allow it to get in the way of my doing Jesus’ work. I have plodded along, dragging this horrible, huge obstacle with me all my Christian life.

Finally I asked God what He wanted to teach me today about moving forward in His holy Will. I stood before our Master, with this huge marble and concrete pillar that was anchored into the ground between my feet, and reached into the heavens. The top seemed to hold up the sky above me. Indeed, I believed that it kept the sky from falling down upon me! I was “well anchored”.

Step back from your Asherah pole, little one” my Father said. “What? Oh, this pole, Father? That’s not an Asherah pole, it’s my pillar of strength! It’s my anchor! (how presumptuous of me, believing I could set the Father Creator straight!). “No, my little one. That is your biggest obstruction, and it is of your own making.” If you want to see what I need to show you, step back from it and take heed.”

So, I did step back, but only a few steps away.

Suddenly the ground burst open before me, and the pillar began to sink. The sky that I always feared began to gather and form a huge mass of clouds, as heavy as if they were about to give birth. The clouds pushed down on the pole, and it began to fall to the side. I fell to my knees, and put my head down, covering myself like a child in an earthquake drill. I was TERRIFIED.

I realized I was covered in a very fine mist, soft and soothing. I dared to lift my head up and saw the huge, all engulfing cloud as it hovered over the land before me, and the pole. The pole was partially buried in the dirt now, and didn’t seem quite as daunting.

Arise, child” my Father said. I did so, realizing that the cloud had dissipated. I realized with amazement that I could see clearly for the first time in my life, without having to look around any obstacle before me! I reached out BOTH hands at the same time, and clasped them together! The Father reached out his hand and beckoned me to walk forward. I stepped over what was left of the pole, and walked two steps forward. Looking back at the pole, I realized it had been pulverized, and was gravel reaching from one side of the giant crack in the earth to the other side. It had created a sort of bridge.

Looking down I suddenly felt EXTREMELY vulnerable. You see, my head, heart and belly were exposed to the world. I began to try to cover them up, and I started to cry.

I’m so sorry, Abba!” I cried. “All these years I have been protecting myself with that pole, and not relying on You for protection. Forgive me, Father!”

Little one, don’t you realize that your Asherah pole was named “Fear”? As long as it was before you, you were unable to be touched by others in any vulnerable way. You had ‘control’ over your mind, heart and gut.” What you failed to realize is that not only could no one touch you, but they could never see the real you, either. What you did not want them to see, you hid behind your Asherah pole. And your view of others and the world is limited to what you could see around the pole.”

But Abba! I am NAKED to the world without it!!” I begged. “Please, protect me!” “You know my armor has always been here for you, child.” He handed me a helmet, shield, belt, breastplate and sword, explaining “My belt of Truth. My Breastplate of Righteousness. My shield of Faith and the Helmet of Salvation. And my Sword of the Spirit, which is My Word.”

But Father,” I said with confusion. “I have been asking for these every morning, even before I got out of bed! Are you saying I have been in the world without them?” “No, I have followed you everywhere, every moment, carrying them for you. But you cannot wear them if you are glued to an Asherah pole. I have been waiting for you to step back far enough to put them on.”

I collapsed under the weight of my own heart. I began to cry tears of joy. Never had I known such a wonderful, safe feeling! Never had I felt so strong! The world was before me, without obstruction, and I no longer felt afraid. And I realized that when people looked at me, they would first see the armor of my King. “Ah,” they would say, “she belongs to Him! She is his warrior!”

I stood up, gleaming. Suddenly I had the countenance of one who has legions of angels walking with me! “Thank you, Father.” I said. He embraced me, and then I realized I was looking into the face of Jesus. He kissed my forehead, and said “I call you ‘Friend’.” A warm, all-encompassing, saturating feeling came upon me. I realized that the Holy Spirit, which had dwelt within me since I became born again, was now in every particle of my being—no longer confined to just “that place” where I kept God within me.

NOW I’M READY!!” I hollered, bouncing up and down with uncontrolled joy. “What now? Where do we go from here? What will we do? Who do we speak to, and about what? What mountains do we move?” I stopped, realizing that for the first time in my Christian walk I was saying “we” instead of “I”.

First you must write this down, child” they said. “because you know what a sieve your mind can be.” I immediately had an overwhelming sense of urgency to do just that. “And then you must share it” they said.

NOW?” I sighed. “OK, I will, I promise. But then what?” I asked.

You will see.” Father God said. Jesus grinned. The Holy Spirit downright giggled. “Oy” I muttered, for this was not the first time I had heard this 3 word statement from Papa God. I rolled my eyes up, heaved another sigh, and here I am typing (again).

Father God, my Jesus, my Friend, Holy Spirit my blood of life, how I love you. So, whaddaya wanna do TODAY??



Question: What’s your Asherah pole?



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