1 Chronicles 13, 14, 15, Revelation 2, Matthew 25: 1-13

Jonathan Bellamy

If you've read C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe you'll recognise that famous phrase about Aslan the lion - a symbolic character for Jesus. The book is a great children's book but it carries a very clear presentation of the Gospel message.

Recently, since my wife mentioned it, I've felt God stirring that phrase in my spirit - Aslan's On The Move!!

One of my favourite passages in the Old Testament is the story of David bringing back the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. 1 Chronicles chapters 13, 14 and 15 tells the story. Basically all of Israel is bringing the Ark (The Glory Of God) back to Jerusalem. There's loads of celebration but at a certain point God suddenly kills a man called Uzzah who tried to steady the Ark from falling. David gets a fear of God at that point and says 'how can I ever bring the ark of God to me?'.

The place where Uzzah dies they call Perez-Uzzah which translated means 'An Outbreak Against Man's Strength'. In the next three months David leaves the ark at the house of Obed-Edom and has two battles with the Philistines. We read that David 'enquired of God' on both occasions and both times God led him to victory in different ways. Where he defeats the Philistines they call the place Baal-Perizzim which means 'Lord Of The Breakthrough'.

After these battles David humbly learns how he should haved looked to bring the Ark back, with the correct people carrying it and sacrificing along the way.

What's the lesson? If we believe we want to see the glory of God return to our community, city or nation (or even our own hearts) we can do only so much in our own strength and ideas. There comes a point that God will resist or 'break out against our strengths'. He will expect us to draw much closer to Him, learn to 'enquire' of Him and find His way in bringing His glory through.

It's about intimacy with God, not your hard work or even your structures. In Revelation 2 the letter to the church at Ephesus reads: 'I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance...you have persevered and endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet i have this against you: you have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent I will come to you and remove your lampstand from your place.'

In the story of David, the Ark spent three months with Obed-Edom before David was ready to take it all the way to Jerusalem. I feel we're in a period where God is calling His people to know Him personally. He's looking for a people who know their God and want only His purposes. Like the parable of the ten virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13) we need to be wise virgins and make sure we have enough oil - a relationship with God that only you can cultivate, and you can't give it to anyone else.

Now's the time - Aslan's on the move!