“Of the increase of His government and peace (shalom) there will be no end,” Isaiah 9:7a
Last weekend we had the joy and remarkable privilege of being with Leif Hetland.
Leif inspires us with the messages he brings – and many of us are touched by way he ministers so personally. We’re inspired by Leif’s example - that human beings who carry God’s love and light - really can go into impossible and scary-dark situations – and many hearts will fall in love with Jesus!
Leif brings more than what he speaks, and even more than what he does. The best words I can find at the moment: Leif brings an apostolic influence when he comes to visit us. Leif talks about partnering with God to shift the spiritual/emotional atmospheres around us. This becomes a matter of great importance if, like Leif, you found yourself facing a suddenly very hostile crowd. It’s no longer a “nice to have” capacity – it is a question of “life or death”!
Leif carries the peace of being a loved son of Father God first and foremost. And Leif has learned to draw upon this internal reality and to call upon his Father to shift the spiritual/emotional atmosphere around him. Many of us sense things shift in our own emotions and spirit when Leif or someone with a similar capacity are around us.
And yet, Leif himself is seeking an increase of the government and shalom of the Son (Jesus) in his own life – and he invited us to go on our own 28 day shalom walk.
Leif talked about “Superheroes, Shoes, and Frogs”. While Jesus is the only Super-star but we are all called to live as “super-heroes” – as daughters and sons of the Most High. But, even the super-heroes of comic book fame have nagging issues in their lives. Leif calls these “frogs” – like the frogs that kept him awake night after night during a trip to the Philippines.
Walking in the “shoes” of the gospel of peace (see Eph 6:15) is our birthright as daughters and sons.
But what about the “frogs”?
Leif shared keys from King Solomon (whose name means “Shalom”). Father God planned for and empowered the reign of this man of Peace. He had peace from enemies on every side. It was Solomon’s father King David, a man after God’s heart who prepared the way for Shalom in Israel. For the sake of his people, David fought and won many wars and also joyfully prepared for the magnificent temple that Solomon later built. And it was then Solomon’s relationship with God – including the supernatural understanding and wisdom he received - that extended and deepened the Shalom of God.
We need Father God’s wisdom and Holy Spirit’s power to deal with the “frogs” in our life. As Bill Johnson says; we have authority over the storms we can sleep through (have peace in) (from Matthew 8:23-27 and parallel accounts). Yet, many of us have tried to ignore the “frogs” – the nagging issues in our own hearts, issues in our relationships with family and friends, and in our work life – and the result has not been shalom (well being). So, there is a difference in how we deal with “storms” vs. how we deal with “frogs” : )
I encourage you to accept Leif’s invitation: Ask God to show you the “frogs” that you’ve been trying to ignore but are robbing you of Shalom. Invite Holy Spirit to heal your own heart issues – and then give you loving wisdom in removing the “frogs” that are undermining Shalom in you, in your relationships, and your work life. Leif encourages us to focus on this for 28 days.
Helpful to keep in mind:
- Choose to love without an agenda. This means loving without seeking to control the other person/push an outcome.
- Seek to stay or return to “Seat #1” the seat of living in the New Covenant with God – trusting Him to counsel you and work on your behalf. Seat #2- the place of compromising love and integrity for the sake of convenience – makes the full Shalom of the Son impossible.
Love,
Pastor Russ Fochler
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