Isaiah 59:19b: When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.
If you check the Hebrew dictionary for this word ‘flood’ in Isaiah 59:19, you’ll realize that we are not talking about the enemy’s flood that try to destroy us, but instead it’s God’s flood that sweeps away the enemy and his works.
The word ‘flood’ in this verse is ‘nahar’ in Hebrew. It means ‘great waters, God’s running waters.’ It can also mean ‘prosperity, sparkle, cheerful.’ So when the enemy tries to come in, attack us, or swarm us, like a ‘nahar’, like a flood, God will lift up a standard against him, putting to flight and chase away the enemy.
Who is this ‘enemy’? He is our ‘adversary’, satan and his works of darkness. Let us cross refer to Psalm 90:5 and Isaiah 28:2 about God’s flood that sweeps away the enemy and his works. Psalm 90:5 says, ‘You (God) carry them (enemy) away like a flood.’ Isaiah 28:2 says, ‘Behold, the Lord has a mighty and strong one, like a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, like a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Who will bring them down to the earth with His hand.’ Wow! It means when the enemy tries to swarm and overpower us, the Spirit of the Lord shall raise a standard against it, like a great flood of mighty waters.
The power of the Holy Spirit has come on the church since the day Acts 1:8 came to pass, when ‘we shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon us.’ And the Spirit of God will lift up a standard against the enemy and its works. The word ‘standard’ here means ‘banner’. Our God is the Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord our banner, our victory (Exodus 17:15). Praise the Lord! When we raise a ‘banner’, it is a sign of victory and triumph.
So, friends, if the ‘adversary’ tries to attack you, or swarm you, be it in your personal life, in your church, or in your land, know this: the Lord will lift up a ‘banner’ against it. The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit has already been given to the church. Begin to commune with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14), pray in the spirit, take authority in the spiritual realm, and we will triumph, putting to flight, chasing away the enemy by the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the living God! In fact, God has been raising up many intercessors at the spiritual forefront in this end-time. God is raising us up for such a time as this, friends. And God promises that ‘no weapon formed against us shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against us in judgment, God shall condemn. This is our heritage as the servants of the Lord, and our righteousness is from the Lord (Isaiah 54:17). Amen.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
The one who trusts God will never be dismayed!
Isaiah 28:16b: Whoever believes will not act hastily.
It reads ‘the one who trusts will never be dismayed’ in New International Version. It means whoever believes and trusts in God will not panic (when faced with a challenge in life), be anxious, or make hasty decisions.
When we place our trust in Him, He'll give us knowledge and understanding in handling a matter or situation. Who will be taught knowledge and understanding? The Bible says God will give understanding to those who trust in Him, those who are humble, and not those who are proud or 'drunkards' (Isaiah 28:1).
So beloved, whatever situation or problem you may be facing now, place your trust in Him. He's your answer, and He always has the answer.
When we place our trust in Him, He’ll also reveal His guidance to us- precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little (Isaiah 28:10). We’ll always be in the right timing and season, doing the right thing at the right time. We’ll not be behind time, or ahead of the right timing. We’ll not be hasty in doing something.
God will surely show us the right thing to do. So beloved, allow ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 28:23). The Bible says He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance (Isaiah 28:29).
The way He reveals to us is progressive, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. He can reveal what’s best for us in many ways- in dreams, visions, prophecies, still small voice, inner witness, etc. The word ‘precept’ means ‘guidance’. In Hebrew, the word ‘precept’ is ‘tsav’. It means ‘commandment, or injunction (court order)’. So, God does command or order us, and we are to obey. There’ll be good results. God’s ways are always the best for you.
Let's do a little bit of bible-study here. There are two kinds of persons, two big contrasts, you can find in Isaiah 28:
Isaiah 28:7 talks about a person influenced by the spirit (small letter 's'), i.e. alcohol.
Isaiah 28:11-12 talks about a person influenced by the Spirit (capital letter ‘S’), the Holy Spirit.
The first kind is like a person influenced by alcohol, a drunkard, who ‘errs in vision, stumbles in judgment’. It means ‘stumbling in making decisions’. In other words, ‘making bad decisions’.
On the other hand, the other kind is a person influenced and led by the Holy Spirit, who prays in the Spirit (with stammering lips, in another tongue), and has ‘rest’ and ‘refreshing’ (Isaiah 28:12).
See, my friend, there’s no striving and toiling when we are open to Him, when we let ourselves flow with Him, and be led by the Holy Spirit. There’s rest and refreshing, not frustration, panic, and anxiety. Your life will have rest, yet more fruitful. You'll be living in His flow, His perfect will, fulfilling your God-given destiny. You'll also live in the right timing and season. So when it’s plowing time, you’ll plow. When it’s sowing time, you’ll sow (Isaiah 28:24-25). You’ll not plow when it’s a season to sow, or vice versa.
When you place your trust in Him, and are led by Him, you’ll be in the right place at the right time. So beloved, listen and hear His revelation for you everyday, day by day, moment by moment. God will lead you to make the right decisions, taking the right steps in life. That's what a Christian life is. We learn to rest in Him. Our fruitfulness in whatever we do comes not from striving or toiling in anxiety, and 'hitting' nowhere, but it's from our resting in Jesus and His finished works on the cross, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us the way.
My friend, God loves you so much that He wouldn't just create you and then leave you 'in the cold'. He's here to save you, and not just that, He's also always ready to lead you, teach you, and guide you.
It reads ‘the one who trusts will never be dismayed’ in New International Version. It means whoever believes and trusts in God will not panic (when faced with a challenge in life), be anxious, or make hasty decisions.
When we place our trust in Him, He'll give us knowledge and understanding in handling a matter or situation. Who will be taught knowledge and understanding? The Bible says God will give understanding to those who trust in Him, those who are humble, and not those who are proud or 'drunkards' (Isaiah 28:1).
So beloved, whatever situation or problem you may be facing now, place your trust in Him. He's your answer, and He always has the answer.
When we place our trust in Him, He’ll also reveal His guidance to us- precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little (Isaiah 28:10). We’ll always be in the right timing and season, doing the right thing at the right time. We’ll not be behind time, or ahead of the right timing. We’ll not be hasty in doing something.
God will surely show us the right thing to do. So beloved, allow ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 28:23). The Bible says He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance (Isaiah 28:29).
The way He reveals to us is progressive, precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little. He can reveal what’s best for us in many ways- in dreams, visions, prophecies, still small voice, inner witness, etc. The word ‘precept’ means ‘guidance’. In Hebrew, the word ‘precept’ is ‘tsav’. It means ‘commandment, or injunction (court order)’. So, God does command or order us, and we are to obey. There’ll be good results. God’s ways are always the best for you.
Let's do a little bit of bible-study here. There are two kinds of persons, two big contrasts, you can find in Isaiah 28:
Isaiah 28:7 talks about a person influenced by the spirit (small letter 's'), i.e. alcohol.
Isaiah 28:11-12 talks about a person influenced by the Spirit (capital letter ‘S’), the Holy Spirit.
The first kind is like a person influenced by alcohol, a drunkard, who ‘errs in vision, stumbles in judgment’. It means ‘stumbling in making decisions’. In other words, ‘making bad decisions’.
On the other hand, the other kind is a person influenced and led by the Holy Spirit, who prays in the Spirit (with stammering lips, in another tongue), and has ‘rest’ and ‘refreshing’ (Isaiah 28:12).
See, my friend, there’s no striving and toiling when we are open to Him, when we let ourselves flow with Him, and be led by the Holy Spirit. There’s rest and refreshing, not frustration, panic, and anxiety. Your life will have rest, yet more fruitful. You'll be living in His flow, His perfect will, fulfilling your God-given destiny. You'll also live in the right timing and season. So when it’s plowing time, you’ll plow. When it’s sowing time, you’ll sow (Isaiah 28:24-25). You’ll not plow when it’s a season to sow, or vice versa.
When you place your trust in Him, and are led by Him, you’ll be in the right place at the right time. So beloved, listen and hear His revelation for you everyday, day by day, moment by moment. God will lead you to make the right decisions, taking the right steps in life. That's what a Christian life is. We learn to rest in Him. Our fruitfulness in whatever we do comes not from striving or toiling in anxiety, and 'hitting' nowhere, but it's from our resting in Jesus and His finished works on the cross, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us the way.
My friend, God loves you so much that He wouldn't just create you and then leave you 'in the cold'. He's here to save you, and not just that, He's also always ready to lead you, teach you, and guide you.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you...
Psalm 23:6a: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…
Psalm 23 begins with God as our Shepherd. When we follow Him, we have nothing lacking (Psalm 23:1). Jesus Himself said He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep (John 10:11). He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for us. He died for us on the cross so that we may have life, an abundant life (John 10:10). He has done it for you and me. His body was broken to take away our curse and make us whole, and His blood was shed to take away our sins. When we believe and follow Him, He promises us that we will surely have goodness and mercy following us.
The word ‘surely’ here in Hebrew is ‘ak’. It means ‘certainly’. It’s 100%. It’s for sure! This is God’s promise for you, that if you believe, receive, and follow Him, ‘surely’ goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. ‘All the days’ means ‘all the days.’ In Hebrew, the original language of this psalm, ‘all’ is ‘kol’. It means ‘whole, every.’ So when God promises us ‘all the days of your life’, it means ‘every day, in our entire, whole life’. So, surely, goodness and mercy shall follow you every day, in your entire, whole life. Praise the Lord!
What is this ‘goodness’ David, the writer of Psalm 23, talked about? ‘Goodness’ in this verse is ‘towb’ in Hebrew. It means ‘a life filled with good things, bountiful goodness, beauty, favor.’ It also means ‘prosperity or wealth.’ Wow! How about ‘mercy’? ‘Mercy’ is ‘khehsed’ in Hebrew. It carries the meaning God having ‘loving kindness, pity, favor’ for us.
Beloved, believe and receive your promise today. Confess what is already yours, “In Christ, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!”
Psalm 23 begins with God as our Shepherd. When we follow Him, we have nothing lacking (Psalm 23:1). Jesus Himself said He is our Shepherd, and we are His sheep (John 10:11). He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for us. He died for us on the cross so that we may have life, an abundant life (John 10:10). He has done it for you and me. His body was broken to take away our curse and make us whole, and His blood was shed to take away our sins. When we believe and follow Him, He promises us that we will surely have goodness and mercy following us.
The word ‘surely’ here in Hebrew is ‘ak’. It means ‘certainly’. It’s 100%. It’s for sure! This is God’s promise for you, that if you believe, receive, and follow Him, ‘surely’ goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. ‘All the days’ means ‘all the days.’ In Hebrew, the original language of this psalm, ‘all’ is ‘kol’. It means ‘whole, every.’ So when God promises us ‘all the days of your life’, it means ‘every day, in our entire, whole life’. So, surely, goodness and mercy shall follow you every day, in your entire, whole life. Praise the Lord!
What is this ‘goodness’ David, the writer of Psalm 23, talked about? ‘Goodness’ in this verse is ‘towb’ in Hebrew. It means ‘a life filled with good things, bountiful goodness, beauty, favor.’ It also means ‘prosperity or wealth.’ Wow! How about ‘mercy’? ‘Mercy’ is ‘khehsed’ in Hebrew. It carries the meaning God having ‘loving kindness, pity, favor’ for us.
Beloved, believe and receive your promise today. Confess what is already yours, “In Christ, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!”
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