In Isaiah 3:1-2 God is warning his people that judgment is coming to the land and one of the things He said is that He was about to remove the prophets and the judges. God starts by saying that He will take away the stock and the store as well as the whole supply of bread and water in verse 1. It's hard to imagine that we could ever face such difficult times in our country but I imagine it was just as hard for Jerusalem and Judah to believe, in fact, with them as well it wasn’t a message that they wanted to hear either but it didn’t stop it from coming.
I want to look at taking away the Judge for just a moment before we move onto the Prophet. The Judge is a symbol for justice, which is very hard to find in our modern culture. We have turned away from Gods law unto the rule of man and sadly for the most part we have let this happen. As the foundational beliefs of our country have been stripped away by liberal humanistic judges and lawmakers vowed to take us into a godless nation, the church has slept. Could this be the reason for the successes of the enemy? I think so. But what I want you to consider, have the Godly Judges been taken from the land already? I think it's worth thinking about and praying over, could we be this close to judgment? I think the case can be made, look at Isaiah 1:2-4 and Isaiah 2:5-8 do you see anything that resembles our culture? Let's look at another, Isaiah 3:13-15 another comparison that rings true. We have devastated the vineyard and plundered the poor. Idolatry is rampant in our land and we are blind to it even in our own house. Our land is full of gold and silver and it has replaced the fear of the Lord in our life, there truly is no end to our treasure. Could this be why the judges have been removed that will rule with justice?
Let's move on to the Prophets, where have they gone? Where are the men of God that speak truth without compromise or the fear of consequence? Where are the men with faces set like flint to the cause of Christ? They are gone and have been replaced by humanistic people pleasers without any fear of God. Today we have the most educated well-equipped preachers that we have ever had in history and the greatest lack of truth and faith than ever before. I ask again where are the Prophets of God that fear God? I know that God has a remnant that has not bowed their knee. I believe that we must rise and join together setting aside any motives other than the cause of Christ. As for myself I must confess that I have failed to do my part and have taken several trips around Mt Sinai that I didn’t need to take. The distractions of this world are overwhelming but not an excuse for being sidetracked from the purpose of God.
We must identify the faults within our self and ask for forgiveness from the Lord and healing so we can fight the good fight without fear. A lot of what holds me back is the release of all that I am or all that I could ever hope for to Jesus, sounds silly but I still struggle. I have had a lot of shortcomings and failures along my journey and if not careful they can keep me from pressing forward. This must be put behind and left there to advance in the Kingdom. We are already in this season of judgment and must understand this is not a future event but a present reality! Look at Isaiah 3;4-5 the Word says I will make youths their leaders and the unstable will govern them. Can you see this reflected in our country’s leadership, it's already here and still we sleep. Don’t get me wrong this is not political, I know the only answer for this land is Jesus but for Him to manifest His bride must get clean. I believe that God will give us signs in current events to warn us where we are in time and they are shouting at us now to repent and stand for Christ.
Again I ask where are the Prophets who are willing to risk all to gain Christ? Many are comfortable and afraid to rock the boat, but I believe that God is about to awaken us to repent! Look at Isaiah 1:16-18 as the Lord shouts to us Wash yourselves, cleanse yourselves, remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop sowing evil, learn to do what is good. Seek justice, correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
It's time for us to wash ourselves and cleanse ourselves, I’m asking God to tear out everything in me that is not godly. I’m at the point that I would rather die than go on living half-halfheartedly. I'm doing inventory of my life with the Holy spirit to find every evil deed so I can put it out of my life once and for all. I cannot go another minute without the power and peace of God ruling my life. This has caused me to dig deep into my heart to the place that only God and I can go and although very painful it’s also refreshing. We must learn to do good in all things all the time! I am reading the Sermon on the Mount everyday and comparing my life to what Jesus said to do and after 10 straight days I’m undone and desperately lacking. The brokenness is overwhelming but still is bringing me peace. Jesus meant those things He said in the Sermon on the Mount and expects us to live them, no more excuses!
Seek justice! This causes you to go against the grain and causes very hard reaction from the enemy. Injustice is all around us friends and as a matter of fact we have grown accustomed to it, in fact it is the norm. When you see justice you will find a fight.
Correct the oppressor! This also comes with a price, in fact, many of us will be jailed for the truth and not in the distant future but now. Are we willing? Can we correct all the oppression around us? The Lord instructs us too and we must act without fear of retribution.
Defend the rights of the fatherless and plead the widow’s cause! This should be second nature to us but sadly we have also neglected the importance that Jesus puts on this subject. We do a lot of work in these areas already but not what the Lord expects. I repent of all the works that I have done that are self-directed instead of God ordained and ask the Lord to direct my paths.
I believe that we are in the days of judgment, they have come upon us while we slept just as our Lord said they would but it is not to late to awake and become the spotless bride.
Isaiah 1:19 gives us the promise that if we are willing and obedient we will eat the good things of the land.
I’ve been willing and not obedient as well as obedient and not willing nether will bring about the favor of God, we must be both. Are you willing and obedient? If not are you ready to be? I ask you to pray and seek the Lord for your answers and I would also like to hear from you guys, as I believe that we must unite the fight. I want to connect to others in this land and abroad that are willing to forsake all to live for Christ. The harvest is truly white but the laborers are few.
I also would like to ask for anyone that I have wronged in anyway to let me know. I don’t want spot nor blemish left unclean. I will close with this, Isaiah 1:18 Come let us discuss this says the Lord, though your sins are scarlet they will be white as snow: though they are red as crimson they will be as wool.
Isaiah 1:20 But if you refuse and rebel you will be devoured by the sword
Friends there is no other way than Jesus!
In Him alone I stand,
Darren Smith
comment by Keith Edwards:
This couldn't be more of a serious word for us as the bride of Christ. In 2009 I wrote a blog word about the shaking that would take place in the stock market, Kings and leaders who lead us, and influenial people of this world. One thing that was written in this blog about the shaking was that "Many will cry tears upon the mighty dollar but that's as far as those tears will go. But some will cry tears that are real and repent. We see the mighty dollar taking place of family values, ethical leadership, and even the church. This is 2011 and God is going to increase the shaking for the next move of God. I believe that we can see some purity in congress and whitehouse in 2012 if we will humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and seek His face for our nation. It's all in God's hand and it's up to us as the church to pray for the next president and congress. Let the rich pure words of Darren so penetrate our hearts today to repent and let Christ clean us and make us more like Him to be a spotless bride for the next move of God.
by Darren Smith and Keith Edwards
Friday, January 28, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Time To Bind Together January 23 Weekly Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
Acts 2:42-47
42And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A Pastor said one day that the church would be alright if it were not for people. This sounds kind of humorous, but the way we act sometimes, including some ministers, we would think that the church is all about me and not we. Someone said one time, "To live above with those we love will be full of glory, but to live below with those we know we'll, that's another story." God never attended for us to be that Lone Ranger type christian who sits in there 8X8 closet and that is the only fellowship that they have. For so many years I spent more time by myself just in my own little world studying. There is definitely nothing wrong with this when done in balance. We need that quality time in our prayer closet. The secret to a successful life of a believer is the success of there secret life in the prayer closet. This will build character and cause the anointing of God to increase in our lives. But we need the fellowship of other believers in the church. This is how God builds. God builds in three ways. He builds by revelation, relationally, and by generation. All throughout the bible God was looking after His holy seed for the coming messiah. After Christ came He was a seed for all of humanity through all ages, and that seed was by generation. God also builds by revelation. Jesus asked His disciples one day, "Who do men say that I am?" Some said this and some said that, but Peter spoke and said with power and revelation, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God!" This was by revelation of who Jesus was as God the Son. The third way God builds is very important for us as believers. He builds relationally. There is such a power in cell groups, prayer meetings, and bible studies branched from the home church itself. I can remember back two years ago when we had a prayer meeting, worship music, and bible study in the basement of a minister friend of mine. God move miraculously. There were some healed, delivered, and set free by the power of God. The minister's wife prayed for a young girl who had breast cancer. The young girl's mom come running in to her office crying. She said I know you believe in miracles, and I'm pleading with you to pray with us. Will you? She said yes let's pray. She laid her hands on her and the mom took her young daughter to the doctor and they couldn't find a trace of that cancer. Many other things happened there. I can remember just leading worship and lifting Jesus up. You see, when you lift Jesus up together in unity, things will happen. So many Christians get caught up in lifting miracles and other things up instead of lifting Christ Jesus up. We need each other. I want to encourage you today to get connected and plugged in to your home church like never before. Yes it's going to make your flesh go crazy. One revelation that helps when I feel the pressure of connecting to believers in a more powerful way is realizing that it's the enemy that don't want you to get connected. He knows the power in it. Don't try and fight the body of Christ when this happens. This is how the enemy works. The devil hates relationships and always will. Will you say with me today, "I am a part of the body of Christ, and I will get connected like never before with bible studies, corporate worship, and other ways in the church." I want to encourage this day to re-focus on how God builds.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name. We know that the enemy hates anything to do with you Lord and the fellowship of believers. We know that we need to bind together as a body of believers like never before. Help us Lord to plug in greater than ever with the body of Christ and help us pick up a stone as living stones and carry it back with the other stones of other believers if we have strayed away with our own little stone. We long to be a part of the building of the temple. Lord we also pray for our youth. We understand Lord that if you tarry the youth will be the next generation. God we lift up our youth pastor's today, and we pray protection upon this generation in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Acts 2:42-47
42And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A Pastor said one day that the church would be alright if it were not for people. This sounds kind of humorous, but the way we act sometimes, including some ministers, we would think that the church is all about me and not we. Someone said one time, "To live above with those we love will be full of glory, but to live below with those we know we'll, that's another story." God never attended for us to be that Lone Ranger type christian who sits in there 8X8 closet and that is the only fellowship that they have. For so many years I spent more time by myself just in my own little world studying. There is definitely nothing wrong with this when done in balance. We need that quality time in our prayer closet. The secret to a successful life of a believer is the success of there secret life in the prayer closet. This will build character and cause the anointing of God to increase in our lives. But we need the fellowship of other believers in the church. This is how God builds. God builds in three ways. He builds by revelation, relationally, and by generation. All throughout the bible God was looking after His holy seed for the coming messiah. After Christ came He was a seed for all of humanity through all ages, and that seed was by generation. God also builds by revelation. Jesus asked His disciples one day, "Who do men say that I am?" Some said this and some said that, but Peter spoke and said with power and revelation, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God!" This was by revelation of who Jesus was as God the Son. The third way God builds is very important for us as believers. He builds relationally. There is such a power in cell groups, prayer meetings, and bible studies branched from the home church itself. I can remember back two years ago when we had a prayer meeting, worship music, and bible study in the basement of a minister friend of mine. God move miraculously. There were some healed, delivered, and set free by the power of God. The minister's wife prayed for a young girl who had breast cancer. The young girl's mom come running in to her office crying. She said I know you believe in miracles, and I'm pleading with you to pray with us. Will you? She said yes let's pray. She laid her hands on her and the mom took her young daughter to the doctor and they couldn't find a trace of that cancer. Many other things happened there. I can remember just leading worship and lifting Jesus up. You see, when you lift Jesus up together in unity, things will happen. So many Christians get caught up in lifting miracles and other things up instead of lifting Christ Jesus up. We need each other. I want to encourage you today to get connected and plugged in to your home church like never before. Yes it's going to make your flesh go crazy. One revelation that helps when I feel the pressure of connecting to believers in a more powerful way is realizing that it's the enemy that don't want you to get connected. He knows the power in it. Don't try and fight the body of Christ when this happens. This is how the enemy works. The devil hates relationships and always will. Will you say with me today, "I am a part of the body of Christ, and I will get connected like never before with bible studies, corporate worship, and other ways in the church." I want to encourage this day to re-focus on how God builds.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name. We know that the enemy hates anything to do with you Lord and the fellowship of believers. We know that we need to bind together as a body of believers like never before. Help us Lord to plug in greater than ever with the body of Christ and help us pick up a stone as living stones and carry it back with the other stones of other believers if we have strayed away with our own little stone. We long to be a part of the building of the temple. Lord we also pray for our youth. We understand Lord that if you tarry the youth will be the next generation. God we lift up our youth pastor's today, and we pray protection upon this generation in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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