In Isaiah 51, Isaiah spoke concerning the Lord’s comfort to Zion. He spoke to the people of God who sought after righteousness, who were the seed of Abraham. “For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song” (Isaiah 51:3). God was calling for the attention of his people, as he was sending out his words for justice and light. He was ready to render judgement and justice for his people. God’s comfort to his people was that the earth would be destroyed and the wicked would be eaten up. The righteous however, would reign forever with God.

God is calling his people to arise with strength and remember how he had delivered them before. He speaks of restoring his people with joy and singing. “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass” (Isaiah 51:12). God’s people had often forgotten about his power, when they became afraid of their enemies. He had a plan to restore his people and would rescue them from destruction. God has placed his words in the mouth of his people, so that we can establish the heavens. God is restoring his people and placing the sorrow that they once experienced on their oppressors.

Planting or establishing the heavens relates to God’s kingdom and his will being done on earth, as it is in heaven. As we are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, our spheres of influence should reflect the culture of heaven. We are Ambassadors who are commissioned on earth with jurisdictional authority, to represent heaven and to advance the kingdom. We use the word of God to command things that be not as though they were (Romans 4:17). We decree a thing and it will be established and the light will shine upon our ways (Job 22:28). Since we are created in the image and likeness of God and he created the earth and humanity from words, our words have creative power. God’s words in our mouth establishes the environment where we live and influences the world.

We are entering a new season of acceleration, where things that can be shaken will be removed, and things that cannot be shaken will remain (Hebrews 12:27). Many man made systems will be destroyed, to give way for the things of God and God will use the church to bring alignment and structure. We have to stay positioned and ready to move at his command, as the church is advancing in this season. The kingdom of God has suffered many trials in the last few years and we have been weary from battle. This new season is full of momentum as a fresh wind is blowing to bring alignment. God’s kingdom, judgement and his government is being established in this season. “Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved” (Matthew 9:17).

A.P.-Y.

Against Lukewarmness

For Us or Against Us (5)

For Us or Against Us (4)

For Us or Against Us (3)

For Us or Against Us (2)

Reposted from original in March, 2021.

For us or Against Us?

Jesus said some controversial things about family and he was not immune to the challenges associated with family relationships. In Mark 3, we read how his family responded when he arrived in his home city. Prior to this, Jesus had healed the man with the withered hand, he travelled through Tyre and Sidon and crowds pressed against him and received healing. When the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out that he is the son of God. He went up to the mountain and appointed the twelve apostles and then went home to try to get away from the crowds. They could not even get a chance to eat, because the crowds came from everywhere to see him and to make contact with him. “And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind”” (Mark 3:21).

Later that day, as Jesus taught, the scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem who also followed him, accused him of being possessed by the devil. Jesus knew what they were saying and asked them how could satan cast out satan? “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand” (Mark 3:24). A house divided against itself is defenceless from outside attack. He also warned them that anyone who blasphemed against the Holy Spirit, would not be forgiven. While he was teaching, his mother and brothers came outside, to ask for him to come to see them. The crowds mentioned to Jesus that his family were there and He asked them to explain who are his mother and brothers. He looked at them, looked at the people around him and said, ‘here are my mother and my brothers! “For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother”’ (Mark 3:35).

The text does not say anymore about whether or not Jesus went out to see his family. Perhaps he said these things because they wanted to seize him earlier. Imagine his own family wanting to seize him and calling him mad, while he was doing the will of God. Either way, Jesus made references to family at other times during his ministry. “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). I don’t think his approach was one where he intended to disown his family. Nevertheless, they did not support his ministry and if given the chance, could have become a major stumbling block. His parents also didn’t understand his actions, when he went to speak to the elders in the temple at age twelve.

One would expect Mary and her children to have a greater understanding of Jesus’s purpose and ministry. An angel appeared to her before his conception and all the events surrounding his birth, should have prepared her for his life. Perhaps, even Mary could not see past Jesus as her firstborn son and his brothers perhaps thought he was a rebel or an outcast. Either way, Jesus did not allow the sentimentality of family to distract him. If his family walked in alignment with the will and purpose of God, then he would gladly embrace them. Once they failed to understand his assignment and could jeopardise his ministry, he didn’t have too much time for them. We have to learn from Jesus’s example and while we love our family and honour our parents, absolutely no one should stand in the way of our God given purpose and destiny. Being close to family is ideal, however, this may not always be the reality.

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:37).

A.P.-Y.

The Intercessors’ Mantle (2)

The Intercessors’ Mantle