graffiti - street art, spray painting, inscriptions, drawings, defacement, vandalism.
I would disagree with the above definition found in the dictionary on my Mac. Here is a vision God gave me a few years ago and I would like to bring it forth in this blog. This vision would dispute the idea that graffiti is vandalism. I know it may be misplaced but it is an art form that God is using and will use in the future. I pray that this could be a part of Rivers of Eden. How? Not sure yet but read below.
I saw. In color. In clear definition. I saw by the Holy Spirit a graffiti picture of a young man, in vivid colors, standing on a street. Suddenly the young man was lifted up into the heavenly realm, but only his head was in heaven and his feet were on the earth. It was a glorious vision and I loved it. I was thrilled that God gave it to me. Clear and simple and concise. Passion in me stirred for the artist that would bring forth this type of art. I admit to being a bit unfamiliar with it except for the clear passion that I love it in its color and its life.
The young man's head in the heavenlies and his feet on earth. What can God be saying through this? Pretty simple to me. Each generation has a sound and each generation will bring both creatively what resides in the depths of their heart. Whether the passion to create is fueled by anger, rage, peace, joy, happiness or any number of emotions, each generation brings forth a well of creativity that resides in them. This graffiti artist shows me that God desires to bring forth His art throughout the cities of the earth. Bring on the graffiti artists Lord, bring them forth in great number.
My hope and desire fueled this morning for creativity! I would like to prophesy that this ministry would be able to create movable walls in our studio in the future - wherever that may be - to bring forth graffiti that would change as the Spirit gives utterance. I would pray that Graffiti Artists that glorify the name of Jesus and give Him all praise and honor would create statements and visual displays to cause the atmosphere to change through color and image where they are placed.
I am laughing here because this is so real in me and whether we do this in California or in Finland or both, how will I do this? I am not sure but God bring it on. I have been thinking about graffiti for days. On with the vision and prophetically speaking.
Walls inside or out, perhaps movable in fabric that may change monthly, placed strategically, awash in color and image, giving glory by the Spirit to Jesus Christ. An 'in your face' type of art that is explosive reality created by the reality of the anointing of Jesus Christ. Ah! There is the difference. An art form that is used by the hand of God to bring Him glory. Perhaps it is vandalism when the art form is placed on city property that is defaced but I pray that God give place for this in prominent places appointed by the Holy Spirit. Lord give it to Rivers of Eden to do this. How again? I am not sure. Is anyone reading this in Finland now that can send some people our way to help us in this? Selah with a great smile.
What a strange blog! But gloriously strange as God said to pick up the computer and to start writing. We have set aside this year in Finland to begin this process and it is quite slow to try to attract creative people but we press, being faithful to the Lord God to anoint this work and bring forth fruit, creatively and passionately. You may be wondering, while reading this blog, "What does this have to do with me?"
Well, you are to glean from the creative process. This is not a cut and dry prophetic, thus saith the Lord word - those are easy for me and I have done it so much over the years. Now I want to spiritually write and may those who read be challenged to BE creative and to glean how they are to be creative from Christ in them, the hope of glory. Creativity is so wonderful and so challenging and so beautiful. Creativity given to us through the Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus breaks down walls of mundane apathetic Christianity and leave us without any excuse. Christ in you. Christ in me. Create!
Still meditating on this subject of creativity and will continue to meditate on it this year. It seems that some may find this topic impractical or question "How does this apply to me?" You see people often want the prophetic to be a clear path of being told what to think and told what God is saying. Yet I feel there is more. I simply desire to challenge people to think and to step out to find revelation that challenges them to grow in Christ. To hear the voice of God for themselves from what is being written and to step out in what they hear and see.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Myriads of ways to write about this verse but I choose one creative way here. Faith brings a pleasure to God that His kids are stepping out in Him, believing that He loves them and rewards that type of focus. Faith stirs up creativity. For so long I have felt, through being under law, that this verse implied that I must please God by stepping out and if I did not I was less than pleasing to God or worse yet, He did not notice me, see me or was concerned about me. I had a fear that I was not doing enough or a fear that I could not step out in what He wanted me to step out in. Fears inhibits faith and definitely halts creativity. How so?
Faith is a door that one must walk through in trust (not fear) that He who calls you is faithful. He is. That pleases God that we trust Him with our lives and know He has our best interests at heart. Diligently seeking Him does not mean striving because striving also inhibits vision and stifles our hearing and captures creativity and imprisons it in the mundane. Creativity naturally is birthed from faith because God is creative and when we believe Him and who He is, follow Him, we will follow our creative path chosen exclusively for us.
You see, as you read this, i don't want to sound so nebulous but very clear that we are creative because of Him. To have faith means to step into His will for our lives, not someone else's revelation or path. Our path. That means we walk with Him and His voice leads us in His way. That brings fear to many that are confined in law and structure and don't step out in any way. Many attend church and are spoon fed rather than learning to chew on fresh manna, meditate and find your way. When one does that, it benefits the Body of Christ at large for it encourages a fresh flow, diversity and spontaneity.
I was meant to be ME. God has created ME and created a place positioned for me in His body. His body is lacking something if I don't take my place or you don't take yours. There is a synergy of movement and flow when we creatively find ourselves in Him and walk in that alongside others walking in His way for them. It so it is our passion to proclaim it.
For instance, here in Finland, even though I love it, there is a mundane characteristic about it at times that simply has people walking in a rut. Day in, day out. Same way, same path, same picture. Now please know I love it here but that is why we are here - to be a creative spark. Many here are creative but many many are lost in the mundane. They don't believe they can be creative and sometimes I feel a social democracy stifles creativity. Creativity is birthed through struggle to find your way. Yes I know Finnish people struggle but with the current social democracy, at times, they are helped out in various ways that I, as an American, simply don't have - medical, help with rent, free education, financial help, etc. etc. I am not judging nor am I an expert on governmental affairs. But I do observe people and I have been coming to this country for a long time. We are a creative spark. Finland will be creative and is creative but God wants more, especially from Christians who are called to lead in Christ not follow the ways of the world. Just sayin'
Yes yes many Americans are not creative and are stuck but I am not in America right now. I am in Finland so let's start here for this is where I am called. For those of you reading this not in Finland :) be creative by faith where you are. Get out of the rut you may find yourself in, right where you are.
Eternal Creativity - this is a hard topic to tackle but this subject or creativity burns within me. As you can see, this is our 'bent' and our 'passion' and our 'mandate'. I have come to realize, after years of ministry, that we are not for everyone but we are to walk alongside those who share like passions with us in Christ.
Revelation 1:8 says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
Creativity IS the eternal. Creativity IS infinite. Creativity IS God in Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit. You can't get around it. The creative is birthed in the eternal and is to be manifested on the earth in us and through us. Look at the beauty represented throughout the Word of God. In just two examples, the design of the tabernacle, the color and light of the throne room show us the endless creativity of our God.
Revelation 1:8 reveals to us that He is eternal, and meditating on that alone brings us into the realm of the magnitude of infinity. Whose mind can honestly comprehend that in all its glory? Yet we can enter into the creativity into which He has called each of us. We can live our lives in the abundance of creativity so that the glory of the Living God shines through us each and every day. That is what you are living for and that is what you were created for here and now - to be creative in Him. You see, ministry does not define you nor does what you do but who and whose you are defines you as you radiate His glory and shine forth in His creativity now.
The realm of eternity is filled with possibility when we tap into it through intimacy with Jesus Christ. We are already seated in heavenly places and acceptable in the Beloved, according to Ephesians. We are already there so why don't we manifest that in the earth today?. To be creative, one must by faith accept your creative identity in Christ. To be creative, one must by grace, realize your creativity in Him as you step into this river of grace and flow forth in His abundance.
Faith brings us into the realm of revelation of creativity. Grace reveals to us the endless possibilities in Christ. We must realize we are so much more than what we believe ourselves to be in Christ. It is by faith that we accept that Jesus Christ as reality. It is by grace that we enter in to His person, daily walking a life in Him. Creativity is the natural outflow of an abundant life in Christ.
To walk in the realm of eternal creativity, one must begin to see and hear in the Holy Spirit. The creative process can be lost in analysis. Too much thinking can inhibit creative expression.
Religion and the law stifle creativity. Often, when one accepts the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, the immediate path can be indoctrination into a doctrine, a denomination, or a system rather that into the reality of a person. I encourage believers to journal, to read and experience His Living Word, to learn of the Holy Spirit and His precious gifts. I encourage knowing before doing, being in Him. The foundation upon which we walk is the life the that we will manifest. If you are mentored in law, programs, church, agendas, you will stifle the beauty of creativity. If you are mentored in relationship with your Savior and cultivating that relationship day by day, you will walk in creativity and fullness of life.
Think about it.........2 more posts this week on this topic.
