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GOING FROM BRIDGE “NOWHERE”
TO BRIDGE “SOMEWHERE”
By Don Phillips
During the recent presidential campaign there was much criticism about the Alaskan bridge that was built to “nowhere.” Many people today are on a BRIDGE TO NOWHERE! They are desperately trying to find fulfillment and success that will bring deep joy and contentment. In this article I hope to help us see that God has provided a BRIDGE TO SOMEHWERE!
A few times lately God is waking me up at 2:00 AM with one-liners ringing in my heart. Recently he woke me with these words: “MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY!” I know that “Daddy, Papa, Abba God wants us to make room for Him.
This morning January 16, 2009, at 2:00 AM, these words were impacting my mind and spirit; “BRIDGE TO SOMEWHERE,” and “CROSS OVER THE BRIDGE!” After getting up and spending an hour in prayer and the Word, I sat down and began typing these thoughts on my laptop. As I sit here typing, the Holy Spirit is filling my mind and heart with some things I feel He wants me to share with you. He has a destiny for each of and He has provided the way and provisions for us to get there. Jesus is the way (the bridge) to get us to our destiny. I appreciate the gospel tract that shows a gulf or canyon between man and God and Jesus is the bridge, in the form of a cross, to lead us to the Father.
Jesus Christ is truly the Bridge that leads us God and all He has for us. Jesus is the DOOR to eternal life but many stop at the DOOR and don’t go any farther. Jesus is not only the WAY but He is also the TRUTH and the LIFE! May God help us to enter into the full abundant life He has for each of us. We need to CROSS OVER the bridge but not take up residence on it.
In the mid-60’s we lived on the campus of Golden Gate Baptist Seminary in beautiful Mill Valley north of San Francisco. There were times when we would be driving home across the Golden Gate Bridge, and the fog would be so thick we could hardly see. As we passed through Waldo Tunnel into Marin County, we were blessed with a beautiful view of a sun bathed scenic Sausalito and Mill Valley. I often thought this is a beautiful word picture of going from darkness to light, from chaos to order, from death to life, and from sadness to Joy.
In my book, HEALING BROKEN LIVES AND RELATIONSHIPS, I relate a prophetic word spoken over me in 1980 through Ernest Gentile. He prophetically saw this large crevice with people on either side trying to build relationships. They were getting frustrated because the bridge of relationship they were trying to build kept falling down. He saw a husband on one side and his wife on the other side of the crevice trying to relate to one another. He saw parents on one side and their children on the other sided being frustrated because they couldn’t seem to connect. He also saw members of the body of Christ trying to build bridges of relationship but to no avail.
Then Ernest saw me at one end of the crevice on my hands and needs, crawling into the open crevice. As I was crawling, I was praying and counseling and the crevice was closing behind me causing the disconnected parties to come together. He said, “Don, I see you as a GIANT ZIPPER.” When I heard those words, I wept because the Lord has commissioned me to be a reconciler. He has called me and anointed me to help reconcile people to God and each other.
When the word came to me; CROSS OVER THE BRIDGE, I remembered that in the 1950’s Sandy Patti sang the song,“Cross over the bridge.” Here are the lyrics, see if you can pick out the spiritual significance of these words.
CROSS OVER THE BRIDGE Sung by Patti Page (Written by: Bennie Benjamin and George Weiss)
If you're a guy who's had a gal
In each and every port
And you've forgot the rules of love
That life has always taught
And if you broke as many hearts
As ripples in a stream
Well, brother, here's the only way
That you can be redeemed
Cross over the bridge
If you have built a boat
To take you to the greener side
And if the boat is built
Of ev'ry lie you ever lied
You'll never reach the Promised Land of love I guarantee
'Cause lies cannot hold water
And you'll sink into the sea
I know it isn't easy
To resist temptation's call
But think of how your broken heart
Will hurt you when you fall'
Cause some day you will find
That you are hopelessly in love
And she'll belong to someone else
As sure as stars above
Cross over the bridge
Cross over the bridge
Change your reckless way of livin'
Cross over the bridge
Leave your fickle past behind you
And true romance will find you
Brother, cross over the bridge
Cross over the bridge
Let me glean a few things from these lyrics that the Holy Spirit may use to convey some things for our serious consideration.
If you're a guy who's had a gal In each and every port. And you've forgot the rules of love,that life has always taught. And if you broke as many hearts as ripples in a stream. Well, brother, here's the only way that you can be redeemed.
Ø Are you searching for love in the wrong places? In the pursuit of love and deep satisfaction have you broken the heart of God and those who love you? Do you know the “rules of love?” God so loved you that Jesus died to make a way for all of us to know and experience His unconditional love. When we repent of sin and invite Christ to be our Savior and Lord, we learn how to love ourselves and others with His kind of love.
Ø “Well brother, here’s the only way that you can be redeemed.” We must CROSS OVER THE BRIDGE JESUS CHRIST. As believers in Jesus, we know that Jesus is the ONLY way to be redeemed, to be purchased and freed from slavery to sin. Redemption happens through repentance, and by allowing the blood of Jesus to cleanse us and then we will be able to MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY GOD.
If you have built a boat to take you to the greener side and if the boat is built of ev'ry lie you ever lied, you'll never reach the Promised Land of love,I guarantee'Cause lies cannot hold water and you'll sink into the sea.
Ø In your pursuit of deep satisfying love, have you tried to build your own boat to get you there? Was your boat built on lies and manipulation to get you to what you believe is a “greener side.” If you try to get there any other way but God’s way you will never arrive at the PROMISED LAND OF LOVE. You will drown in the waters of despair and hopelessness, I GUARANTEE,
I know it isn't easy to resist temptation's call, but think of how your broken heart will hurt you when you fall.'Some day you will find that you are hopelessly in love and she'll belong to someone else as sure as stars above.
Ø God knows it is not easy, but He makes it possible for us to RESIST TEMPATION’S CALL.
Ø Think and consider the seriousness of your decisions to find love your way. Don’t let the enemy of your soul, break your heart and the heart of those you love and cause you to fall. Don’t waste your life by pursuing love in the wrong places. If you don’t let God love you into a relationship with Him then you will never find the kind of love that meets your deepest need for love.
Cross over the bridge. Cross over the bridge. Change your reckless way of livin', Cross over the bridge. Leave your fickle past behind you and true romance will find you. Brother, cross over the bridge. Cross over the bridge
Ø If you haven’t found true love in Christ, then it is time change your mind and repent and leave your reckless way of living. Please don’t continue living a confused and vacillating life, Cross over the Bridge called JESUS!
Ø The Holy Spirit is encouraging us to CROSS OVER THE BRIDGE (JESUS) AND CONNECT WITH A LOVING GOD WHO WILL GIVE YOU LOVE, PEACE AND JOY BEYOND MEASURE. The Holy Spirit also wants to help us to connect better with each other. WILL YOU YIELD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND LET HIM DO THAT?
To learn more go to my web site: www.drdonphillips.com
