Series: Towards the Full Corporate Stature
Sun am 6th September 2009 – Kobus and Hazel Swart

(Gen. 1:1, 27-28); John 15:1-12; (Jer. 15: ); (Isa. 50:4); Ps. 23:1-6 – Message Bible
Ex. 31:1-5; Dan. 11:32; (Gen. 31:10-12); Ex. 35:30; Zech. 1:18-21;
(2 Cor. 4:7); (Acts 6:1-4); (Matt. 6:28); (Titus 1:15)

Hazel: We have been created in the image of God, the great Creator. Because we have been programmed by the world, we are only living a fraction of the life God has called us to live. The greatest joy we can bring to our heavenly Father is to give back the creativity He has put within our hearts. We don’t realize how many blockages we have in our lives. Every now again there is this surge of “Oh, I wish, I long for …” Who put the dream deep down in your heart? The Lord is saying, “I want you to be like Me; I want to unearth the things that are within you that belong to Me, the gifts that I put within you…. I want the world to see Me, not just within four walls on a Sunday morning. I want the world to be touched by Me.”

Start hearing God morning by morning. Take an empty book and start writing whatever comes into your mind. Even if you’re angry, write it down. Get rid of what’s on the inside. Your mind is so full He can’t even get through. “He makes me to hear Him morning by morning” (Isa. 50:4). Then receive your instructions early in the morning. Love and forgiveness might just come over you; just let go of bitterness and the past that is holding you back.
Don’t fear emotions such as feeling joy, feeling loved, experiencing God, experiencing that gush of tears. Can we put everything at His feet and surrender to Him? The blockages in our life prevent God from flowing through us. My second suggestion is that you take two hours in every week for yourself. No husband, no wife, no dog, no children – where you do something that you really enjoy. Part of creativity is play.

“God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life” (Psalm 23- The Message Bible).

Kobus: What happened to creativity in the Church? We are talking about the Divine nature in us. Paul says we have this treasure in earthen vessels (1 Cor. 4:7) If we abide in Him, that Godly creativity will bear fruit. The born again experience is supposed to activate that nature in a new way and resurrect your spirit on the inside. But religion has been quick to usurp a strong position in your Christianity, and has choked the Divine nature instead of creating a free environment in which this Divine nature can grow.

“….the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God]” (Dan.11:32 Amp). Great inventions, great musicals, great works of art seldom come from Christians. Why? Religion insists on conformity. This is a great indictment against the Church. God is going to speak to this house to break that mould. Start dreaming. Remember what Jacob’s dream did for him (Gen.31:10-12).

For too long now, the (1 Cor 12:8-11) gifts of the spirit have been limited to function in church meetings. If you read about the construction of the Tabernacles of Moses and the Ark, all the items in the Tabernacle were done by this man, Bezalel, whom God called and gifted by the Spirit of God and wisdom to be the craftsman (Exod 31:3-5). The word “Art” can include many things. There are vast horizons waiting for Christians filled with the Spirit of God to become co-creators with God. Compare the qualifications of the 7 deacons in Acts 6!

In all of you is invested amazing giftedness which has never been discovered or developed. The “making-a-living” mindset has dominated our life. Jesus tells us to look at the lilies of the field, and the birds of the air: no anxiety! Look what can happen if we seek first His Kingdom and righteousness (Matt. 6:25-33)!

Some think that making a nice garden is not spiritual. God does not always call the prophet to deal with problematic situations. He also called craftsmen to deal with the ‘horns and powers’ against Judah. [Dualism always tries to separate between what seems “sacred or spiritual” and what seems “materialistic or secular”. Paul says, “To the pure in heart, all things are pure” (Titus 1:15). Paul was not bound by religious regulations and codes.] The four craftsmen were the answer to four horns that attempted to scatter God’s people (Zech. 1:18-20). Skilful wisdom and artistic expressions can dismantle the strongholds of abusive power. In this season God is going to resurrect divine creativity.

Satan has no creative ability. He is not a creator but abuses and usurps creative abilities in the Christian. All he can do is destroy and deform what God has formed. May God give us the eyes to appreciate creativity as coming from God in whatever form it is expressed. Craftsmen are not simply wood workers or painters, or actors or musicians; everyone moving in their God-given creativity with excellence and integrity is a craftsman in the Biblical sense.

I believe where this divine creativity is released, the leavening influence of the Kingdom will impact and invade the seven Babylonian mountains of influence in society around us. The seven mountains are business, education, institutional Church, family, arts and entertainment, science and medicine, government or politics. We need men and women, gifted craftsmen to invade these seven realms of influence. Yes, the prophetic will be in you; yes, the Word must be alive in you; yes, you must be plugged into the Vine. We don’t want to wait another 1000 years before the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ. In the meantime there is a harlot sitting on these mountains, taunting the armies of God (Rev 17:9).

Why is the harlot still allowed to sit on these seven mountains?