Today I want to share about four positions before God. For me, this is an important word. I want to reveal this topic so that it enters our spirit and we take it.
I was in a church that always kneels before God at their meetings. This is a large church, they purchase land in the jungle and build their city, Mahnaim, with all communications – there are even local firefighters, police and ambulance. This is a micro city in the jungle – they themselves process water etc. Thousands of people come there for the weekend to edify and stay in intensive training. The church is growing incredibly, at that time there were a million two hundred thousand.
They have taken an interesting tradition – before each meeting, they all – children and adults – kneel down. One woman, a sister, served us, wiped the tables, and then we found out that she was a government minister. When the brothers said this, she replied: “Brothers, let me be a sister at least here!” There was one pastor serving as a general, and the other was sitting next to him – a driver, but both of them were prophets.
And now they always go on their knees at the beginning and the end of every meeting and pray. Yes, it is very impressive, and I bless my dear brothers and sisters, because it is their revelation.
I saw other people who, who sit on a chair, leg on leg casual and pray. We can also pray sitting, but if I don’t feel the atmosphere of reverence, I ask the meeting to rise or kneel, this is right, because you can’t be in familiarity and be before the Lord – this is not useful for us. Perhaps, it’s not a sin to relax sometimes, and God sees everything, He is omnipresent – but when we begin to interact with Him, then all creation falls and all flesh is silent before Him. The more man knows the Lord, the more fear comes. Man starts to fear not judgments or punishments, or consequences of his actions, but he fears high holy things – they fear they may lose or something will pass by – valuable and precious – and for this the man is ready to cloth in reverence.
The first position is with one’s face to the ground before God. In Scripture, we see many examples when the saints were down with their face to the ground.
“So about three thousand men went up there from the people, but they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai struck down about thirty-six men, for they chased them from before the gate as far as Shebarim, and struck them down on the descent; therefore the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.”(Joshua 7: 4-6).
Imagine God’s man, Joshua, son of Nun lying on the ground, and behind him – the elders – also lie on the ground and put dust on their heads. This is a position before God.
“The Lord said to Joshua: “So the Lord said to Joshua: “Get up! Why do you lie thus on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. For they have even taken some of the accursed things, and have both stolen and deceived; and they have also put it among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they have become doomed to destruction. Neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you. Get up, sanctify the people, and say, ‘Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: “There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel; you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.” (Joshua 7: 10-13).
The expression “lying on the ground” is an expression of contrition when you are completely broken and crushed. This is the position of expectation of mercy, complete helplessness and hope for God. This is the most vulnerable position – a person can’t even see what is happening around. Anyone can come up, kick him, kill, throw a stone, that is, complete helplessness. And this is a surrender before him. But this didn’t help with Joshua. This doesn’t mean that you can “press for pity.” It didn’t help Joshua. God told him to remove the accursed thing.
And sometimes this position before a gathering is untimely. I want us to understand: not always what seems correct and humble to us is beneficial and effective for us. You lie on the ground before an outreach, and what do you ask? – The Holy Spirit? But He is given to us all!
Or: “Lord, I give you my humiliation, will you really not anoint me for a sermon?!” I think this is wrong. Therefore, we must understand – when and what position is suitable for the art of conducting our ministry.
And here I like the position “to lie on the ground”- when you have sinned, you are crushed, or you need the greatest mercy, and you simply humble yourself because you have become proud. Because you have lost your life, and you just beseech God, show Him your complete dependence – you surrender, you are vulnerable and hope only on Him!
The second position is on your knees.
“Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3: 13-15).
That is, Paul prays for the church so that they don’t lose heart when the apostle falls into sorrow. Paul was imprisoned or delivered into bonds, beaten for the Gospel, and the church was discouraged. So Paul asks them not to lose heart – because his sorrow is their glory. That is, Paul was writing this message and knelt down and prayed this prayer. This is not just a figure of speech – he really knelt.
What is he praying on his knees? – “… that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ”(Ephesians 3: 16-19).
That is, on his knees Paul, the apostle, is praying for the church. On his knees, he intercedes for the church, for the saints. On your knees – this is a sign of petition. He shows his dependence on God and intercedes for the church so that it is perfect in Christ Jesus, so that it is strong.
On your knees so pray intercessors, praying people – they give place for God to act. It is impossible to fight on your knees. On your knees, you can’t fend off a blow. Knees are a less vulnerable, but also inactive position. If you are a warrior, you will not do anything against feet. On your knees you are in a zone of high vulnerability – you can’t slip away from the blow, jump, catch up – you are on your knees.
On your knees, you give place for God to act. Therefore, not always according to tradition, only because you are “humble”, you need to kneel down.
See – I release revolutionary things, because if you are an experienced warrior, you will use the four positions as it is proper to the situation, as it is advisable. I am giving very accurate food – this is hard food, but it is for warriors so that you don’t make stupid things.
Here is a special forces soldier, he is in air forces, for example. Or there are climbers – this are also special forces, but these two have completely different boots and uniforms. Either sappers, or air force, or construction battalion. Each has their own certain rules, their own regulations, their own equipment, their own exercises, and so on.
In the Kingdom of God there are different angels, there are armed angels, there are those equipped with worship, equipped with judgments, equipped with benefits, and those who only come to speak, release information: there are ones with a measuring line, or clothed in linen.
Today the Lord wants maturity. And you bow your knees only because it is the right way, to pray on your knees. Wait, let’s realize things. I adore all four positions, I am for them. But I am for the order of God in the prophetic dimension.
“Then the men turned from there and went toward Sodom; but Abraham still stood before the face of the Lord ”(Genesis 18:22).
The angels went to see, whether the cry from the ground was really so right. And they didn’t come to Abraham by chance. If Abraham had not received them, they would still go there. But Abraham was on watch – he caught them on the road.
Catch the angels on the road!
At first, Abraham was sitting by his tent. When he saw them, he received them with hospitality – and they went, and he still stood before the face of the Lord. He neither sat, nor was he on his knees – he stood on his feet. This is a completely different position before the face of the Lord. This is a completely different position than to be on your knees or lie with your face to the ground. It was perseverance, because from there he went into intercession. This is readiness, this is attention. This is a willingness to finish the matter. Therefore, he still stood before the face of the Lord, that is, the matter wasn’t yet finished.
There is such a kind of people – until they bring the matter to the end, they will not let it go. So Abraham had such a grasp. They have already left, but he still stood. Everything was fine, they passed the exam with Sara. But Abraham continued to stand. Why? – Because it was necessary to bring the matter to the end.
“ Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’ “Then you came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, and the mountain burned with fire to the midst of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness.”(Deuteronomy 4: 9-11).
All Israel stood, when the Covenant with God was made. They weren’t on the ground, neither they sat – they stood on their feet before God when the oath was made.
“The priests, the Levites—all the tribe of Levi—shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and His portion. Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He said to them…. For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons forever.”(Deuteronomy 18: 1-2, 5).
This is a position before God. Before the general soldiers stand “at attention”. If a soldier is sitting, it means he was let go. There was a command to rest. But if a soldier stands, he is at the post. And the Church, which stands, is awake, and the one that always lies, – sins constantly. There are those who have been sinning all their lives, sin-repent, repent-sin. And so it goes all his life. And all the time they lie on the ground calling it humility. But they are inactive, barren, because you can’t do work in this matter.
And standing is readiness for instant obedience. I remember that there is such a prophetic move. When in church they hear the Word, they jump and get up. They show that they accept the Word. Use it! A man of God hears the Word, and he stands up before God, accepts it, because the Lord is speaking now.
And I want to speak a prophetic Word today – that I feel with all my heart – today this third position for the Church of Christ is to stand! While in prayers – stand, while in worship – stand – showing that we are ready in the Lord.
Pray on your knees, pray as you lie down, but stand before God! Now we are practicing this – we pray standing. Let us stand on our feet, because this revelation has come upon us! And standing is prophetic. Because the church today, more than ever, should show readiness for obedience. Stand!
“Then the hand of the Lord was upon me there, and he said to me: “Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall speak with you” (Ezekiel 3:22).
God wants to speak to you when you are standing, and not lying, like a miserable bad guy. He can speak to you about forgiveness when you lie down, but in order to receive orders, receive strength, receive empowerment – you have to stand!
“ So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: “Go, shut yourself inside your house.” (Ezekiel 3: 23-24).
Again – the Lord put him on his feet! “I don’t want to talk with the one lying on the ground, I want to talk with the one who stands on his feet. I respect you! And I want to send you, you must be strong – stand up, servant, and become My son!” It was human – to fall before glory, but the Lord corrected him and raised him.
Today I urge you to pray so: pray that the spirit enters you and puts you on your feet. Let it become your prayer: “Lord, let the spirit enter me, and put me on my feet!”
This is the position of readiness for action, it is a stand before God, it is a readiness for instant obedience, it is the position of “now” for the Church of Christ – the willingness to stand before Him, hear His voice, receive tasks, receive empowerment, show readiness for obedience. This is the position of warriors, not defeats.
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.”(Revelation 11: 3-4). These two olive trees before the God of the earth.
Today I broadcast in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the position of the Church of Christ at this time is to stand before Him.
Practice prayer while standing. Do not sit before Him. I don’t see in Scripture where you can and should sit before God. I don’t see that a “seated” prayer makes us holy, I don’t see that we are growing spiritually when we sit. I see that we need to stand – stand before Him. If you really want to go on and receive, stand before Him. And even when God speaks to you, and you sit, stand up and receive the Word.
And the last position – it is there, but not that much prophetic today – this is a movement before God.
“ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may [obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize [j]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (1Corinthians 9: 24-27).
“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder: “Come and see” (Revelation 6: 1).
We can go, praying all the time in spirit, moving. Not just, because we have no time to pray having separated the time for the Lord, but because it is the martial arts of the Spirit – to pray on the go. I can even run and pray, run, showing zeal, and experience more specific fullness in spirit, because: “I run after you, Lord!” Or “I’m moving before Him!”
Going before Him, running before Him is the position of action, performing His will, signs of involvement in His destiny and His work.
This is all – positions before God. We will stand before the Lord with our soul, our body, our spirit! Take it as a revelation – not just pray, standing, but the awareness of this. Being on your knees and yawning is not glorious. Lying on the ground and thinking how to complete worldly affairs isn’t glorious either. It’s not our bodies that the Lord accepts, so we will have to stand before Him. The position of readiness.
I see how the church is standing. In heaven, in Revelation – the saints stand, they sing, angels stand, seraphim stand – they stand before Him. Abraham, Samuel, David, Moses, Elijah – stand before Him. And the Church of God should stand!