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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME, IT'S TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE
A few weeks ago I was invited to a baseball game, the Rochester Red Wings, at Frontier Stadium, Rochester, NY. I had not really seen a game in a long while, the first live game I went to in California, was quite boring.
My dad was an avid Yankee fan, and as a child, I spent many hours watching baseball with him on TV.
This recent live game was an amazingly awesome experience! As I was watching the game the LORD spoke to me again, a phrase He had me share with someone a few years ago.
This person (a loved one of mine) was wanting 5050 custody of his children. But because he his fear had kept him from taking the step, and nine years had passed. Now at least three lawyers had told him, he did not have a prayer in this endeavor. I kept hearing the LORD tell me to tell him, “Step up to the plate, and God will hit it out of the park”. You see he was waiting for God to do a ‘poof ‘job! Meanwhile God was waiting for him to take the first step and trust Him. Stalemate, nothing happened.
His biggest obstacles were fear, fear of failure, and provision. Long story short. He found someone to take his case, he went on the report of the LORD, finally, and the rest was academic. He got the 5050 custody, in the most amazing way, and GOD did provide the funds, and that came also, in the most amazing way.
Back to the Red Wings game. I heard the Lord tell me to watch closely and to see the spiritual significances in this game:
- You have to step up to the plate. If you just sit in the dugout and never venture out, you will never have a chance to hit the ball. You could be cheating the other players of your expertise, not to mention yourself Sometimes it is 4 balls that gets you to first base, and not just a hit! But if you do nothing, nothing will happen.
- They wore protective headgear. We need to have on Ephesians 6 armor, especially the Helmet of Salvation.
- Let’s talk about David when threw the rock at the giant. I believe that it was an angel or Jesus Himself that carried that rock with such speed, direction, velocity and correct placement to nail that giant. What would have happened if he had not tried! He knew His God. God graced him with the faith to do the extraordinary, with the ordinary, and do the impossible. God uses the base things of the world to confound the wise! His ways are far above ours, and He loves when we prove Him. But we need to take that first step. Failure is the not the end, it is a very important part of part of the learning curve. Its ok if it does not happen and the first try. Each try should give us correction, and new strategy, and motivation, to succeed.
- I noticed that there is a coach at 1st and 3rd bases. 1st and 3rd bases are very important. 1st gets us in the game, and 3rd is one step to home plate. The Holy Spirit is there to coach us when we are trying to ‘steal a base ‘, move forward without waiting for the person on base to hit the ball. He can warn us, guide us, and the anointing that resides us will teach us. He does not leave us without guidance.
- It’s a team effort. The LORD is telling me this is not the season of the ‘lone wolf’, but He is bringing together HIS team. Each of us are endowed with unique and specific gifts, and the synergy of those gifts, as we work together, will cause the explosion in the spirit. I believe that this explosion will be the greatest this world has ever seen. Each person in the game has to give 100%, for the good of the greater good! If in any sport they don’t work together, there will not be a win. This is also paramount in any relationship.
- There are hidden cues especially the pitcher will give to the catcher and vice versa. God uses His prophets to warn us, edify, exhort, prepare etc. We will not be in life’s game with direction. His word says without revelation the people will perish. That word is translated prophetic revelation. An example of that I will never forget was a testimony from a conference speaker. He spoke of a person in Northern Ireland when there was much unrest. This person was working in a factory. There was announcement about a pending bomb threat. The order was given to the employees to get out of the building, and out to the street. The man was told by the Holy Spirit to go down to the cafeteria and eat lunch. This man knew God ‘s voice. He obeyed as ridiculous this seemed. The bomb went off in the street! Stay close and in relationship ,to hear the heartbeat of the Father, especially in these trying times.
- Everything in the game of life is done in order. He is a God of order. This game was in order.
- All the players were very vigilant, observing what was going on all bases, and listened to the coaches that could even see more, and offer them strategies.
- Sometimes there were fouls, and stray balls in the stands. All things work together for good! Some blessed person got a ball!
- God will be our umpire. We are not at the mercy of any circumstance. God will get the last word, rest assured in that!
- The game went into overtime if there was a tie in the 9th inning, until someone scored. God never gives up until His purposes are achieved. Winston Churchill once said, ‘Never, never give up’.
- At the end the winning and losing team shake hands, as a demonstration of good sportsman ship. It was not about winning per say, it was the joy of the game. That is how God wants us. He wants us linking arms, and remembering we are all here for a purpose. He frowns on his children envying others gifts, or trying to one up the other. His purposes, and not for selfish ambition and gain.
- There were fireworks at the end. But for the GLORY set before us, there will be great celebration in heaven, as we stand before him and He says to us, ‘Well done faithful servants, enter into the joy of the LORD’.
I am sure there are more parallels, but this is what I feel are the highlights of what He wanted me to convey.
WORD
The Lord is saying there are many of My people held back from these greater things than these that I did, for them to do, from fear, doubt, unbelief. I am calling them to ‘Step up to the plate, and ‘I’ will hit it out of the park! Don’t focus on your storms and impossibilities, but focus your gaze on me. Many of you are finding that the old ways are not working because I am guiding with closed doors, not just open ones. Embrace the new. To some I say, ‘take off the boxing cloves’. I will fight the battles for you. Worship and praise me! Stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. I will be that cloud by day and that pillar by night. Fear not. Step up and watch and see me move.
1 Cor. 1:27
Isa. 55:9
1 John 2 :7
Prov.29:18
1 Cor. 14:33
Romans 8:28
Ex. 14;13
Ex.13:21
Isa 41:10
Josephine M Ayers
www.flamesoffire.us
