The Lord says:
"In a time of many chaos and upheavals that are coming in this world, keep your focus on Me and My Word. When many are having a sense of hopelessness, set your eyes on My ultimate victory for you. Stay true to Me and My Word. Stay pure and innocent in Me. Do not allow yourself to be conformed to the ways of this world. Do not allow yourself to be swallowed up and contaminated by the ways of this fallen world."
For many things in this world nowadays, the right has become wrong, and the wrong has become right. The world has indeed gone upside down. Many people are in a state of confusion. They cannot differentiate and discern what is right and what is wrong, what is of God and what is not of God.
The word 'chaos' means 'disorder, disarray, confusion, mayhem'. Many societies in this world are in a disorderly and confused state nowadays. They do not know who to trust anymore. They cannot trust politicians. They cannot trust policy-makers. And many people in this world are in a state of disarray and disorientation. They get tossed easily to and fro by many different opinions and worldviews.
The word 'upheavals' means 'violent, sudden change, disruption in something'. This can happen in the spiritual realm or in the physical realm, whether geographically, politically, economically, or geopolitically. There will be many chaos, both in the spiritual realm and physical realm this year. Geographically speaking, there will be shakings and earthquakes in various places. Politically speaking, there will be widespread unrest in many parts of the world. What more, with many key elections coming in different parts of the world this year. It will be a dog fight. Wars and rumors of war will also increase as well.
But as for you, beloved, fear not! Because the Lord has promised you a year of resounding victory, if you walk with Him and look to Him! Your part is to stay pure and innocent before the Lord. Stay true to Him and His Word. And of course, always set your mind on the ultimate victory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I'm going to share with you what is this ultimate victory, as written in the book of Isaiah chapter 66. The book of Isaiah is like a mini-Bible. There are 66 chapters in Isaiah, just as there are 66 books in the Bible. So, Isaiah chapter 66 is the last chapter in Isaiah. Why is this so important? Because it gives us a clear picture of what will happen at the very end of this age. In other words, the ultimate victory that is coming!
Therefore beloved of God, in a world when many people have a sense of hopelessness, you are different! Because you have this ultimate hope and assured victory, as promised in the Word of God!
Before we go to Isaiah chapter 66, let's begin with Romans 12:2 (NKJV) first. This verse says, 'And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.'
The word 'conform' here is 'suschematizo' in Greek. It means 'to pattern oneself to something'. Here, Paul wrote that we are not to pattern after the ways of this fallen world or the systems of this fallen world. In other words, we are not to agree and be contaminated by the ways of this fallen world. Instead, we allow God to transform how we see things, according to how He sees. Not how man sees, but how God sees. How? By allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. This is what it means here in this verse.
Another interesting word in this verse is 'prove'. It is 'dokimazo' in Greek. It can mean 'to allow something to happen'. It means as the Holy Spirit renews your mind, you are in effect allowing (or 'dokimazo') what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God to happen in your life!
The next question is, how can you be transformed and renewed? The answer is in one verse before that. In Romans 12:1 (NKJV), Paul wrote, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.'
See the word 'holy' here? It means as you surrender your life to the Lord in worship, let the fire of the Holy Spirit burn away all your impurities and sins. That's how you stay pure and holy before the Lord. And that's how you present yourself to the Lord afresh and anew, as you start off this year 2024!
We can now go straight to Isaiah 66:1-2. Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," Says the Lord. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."
Here, the Lord puts things back into proper perspective for His people. He is telling us that He is enthroned in heaven. He is the King of heaven, and the earth is His footstool. You know what that means? He is in full command and He is sovereign over the earth. That's what it means by 'the earth is His footstool.'
Many of us want to serve God. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, every believer should serve God in one way or another, wherever they are, and whatever their vocation may be. But many of us also want to only serve Him in our way. We want to build something for God. We want to build, build, and build. But is that what God really wants? Does He really need us to build something for Him? Did the Lord say so? Of course, if the Lord says so, do it. Be obedient to His instruction. But if the Lord doesn't say so, and if the Lord doesn't give you a blueprint, and if you try to build by your own strength and ability, the Lord is not impressed. So, He is bringing us back to the right perspective. What He actually wants from us is simple: A poor and a contrite spirit, and to tremble at His word. As simple as that.
Let's go to the definitions of these words 'poor', 'contrite', and 'tremble'.
The word 'poor' here is 'awni' in Hebrew. It can mean 'lowly, humble, in need'. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, because God gives grace to the humble, and He resists the proud. When we are so full of ourselves, when we see there's no need for God, God will then leave us on our own. But when you acknowledge that you need Him, and in fact, you need Him all the more in this time of chaos, He will be right here for you. He will lead you. He will guide you. He will bring you through all these. He will cover you. He will protect you. He will defend you.
The word 'contrite' here is 'nakeh' in Hebrew. It can mean 'broken, smitten, afflicted'. There is a spiritual meaning to this word 'contrite' here. He is a good God. He definitely doesn't want us to suffer, be smitten, and be afflicted. Instead, this word 'contrite' in the context here means He wants us to be aware that we are by nature sinners, and there's no way we can stand upright (righteous) before God with our own ability. In other words, we need Him. We are not to be like Job who's self-righteous. Not until he repented from his self-righteousness did God restore him and bless him.
The word 'tremble' here is 'karad' in Hebrew. It simply means 'reverential fear, or reverence'. Simply put, a deep respect for the Word of God, honoring the Word of God, and heeding the Word of God.
For those who are humble and contrite, and for those who tremble at God's words, He has promised us Isaiah 66:12-13. For thus says the Lord: "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream. Then you shall feed; On her sides shall you be carried, and be dandled on her knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem."
When Jesus the Messiah returns in glory and triumph, this is going to happen. There will be peace upon Jerusalem. There will be a gentle, powerful, yet refreshing river flowing from the throne of God. There will be no more chaos and commotion. Right now, you know it, you definitely don't see this yet. In fact, there's war. But there will come a time this prophecy will come to pass in Jerusalem. Not just in Jerusalem, but this river of God also flows to every other part of the world!
Further, this is how God describes it: 'As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.' What does this statement mean? It means even though God is all-powerful and mighty in power, He is also showing to us how tenderhearted and loving He is to us. You see, no one can comfort a child the way a mother does. A mother knows a child best. Because the child comes out from her womb.
So beloved of God, no matter what situation you may be in at the moment, the Lord is here and the Lord is promising you He is here to comfort you. He is here to restore you, if there's any area in your life that has been broken. He is here to heal you, if there's any area in your life that has been unwell. Receive this assurance from the Lord by faith.
In John 15:4-5, Jesus says: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
The word 'abide' here is 'meno' in Greek. It can mean 'attach, remain, stay, continue, dwell, endure, be present, wait on'.
As you wait on the Lord, as you hope in the Lord, as you abide in Him, and as you attach yourself to Him like a branch to the vine, there's an open heaven above you right now. Receive His glory and anointing by faith. Receive His supernatural strength by faith. Receive His supernatural provision by faith. Receive His supernatural health and protection by faith. Receive His grace and favor by faith. Receive His love, joy and peace that comes from heaven. Receive all that you ever need right here on earth. Yes, heaven on earth! Receive all the above for the year 2024! And whatever happens around you this year, as for you and your house, you'll be sure to walk in triumph and victory. Amen!
Happy New Year!
