An Apostolic Message for 2013

By Rev. J. Patrick Bowman

So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

(Exo 15:22-27 KJV)

For many, 2012 was a year of loss. Carnal mentalities, attitudes, and forms that we held so dear were stripped from us. Let us not grieve about this loss but rejoice in what lies ahead for us.  We dare not let the bitter waters of Marah keep us from moving on to rest and refreshment at Elim. Remember that even those bitter waters of Marah were made sweet again by the miraculous hand of God. The need was met in the midst of the bitterness. Moses’ obedience to embrace that tree and thrust it into the bitter waters opened the door for God to bring sweetness and life. The wood of that tree was not the agent of sweetness that some suppose. The cross of Christ does not seem sweet while it does its work in us. Indeed, it is not, as it holds the bitterness of our sin and shame. Only by embracing that cross, as Moses did the tree, will we be freed from bitterness and brought to a place of sweetness and life. Remember that a statute and an ordinance established at Marah preceded the rest and refreshment at Elim, an oasis in the desert.

2013 will be a year of accountability both for individual Christians and the corporate body of Christ. Those areas of carnality that the Lord has worked to strip from us this past year must not be resurrected. Consider the dead things dead and walk forward in newness of life. There is yet a work the Spirit desires to do in us and through us, and this will only be accomplished as we walk in the Spirit, live out the opportunities before us, and not allow carnality to hold us down. We must allow the voice of the Spirit to reveal within us further adjustments in our thinking, attitudes, and actions that will lead to clearer vision, purpose, and outgrowth in our lives. Our immediate need of water was met in 2012 and accountability established for our continued life and healing.  Elim awaits us in 2013.