Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
As I read these words never have I been more aware of the need for Gods people to rise and hear the trumpet of His call. And cut their ground wires to the things that would so easily steal and destroy their joy. Yet as I contemplate this in the lives of those around me I have to look at what this means in me personally.... as well. Rereading the first verse I am left with such a quivering within..."The spirit of the Lord God is upon us." In a day when most have a spirit of greed and a Dead Sea faith it is very sobering to think of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the purpose God has in mind for that.
Reminding me again of the value of my life as only being expressed in the words of Col.3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. 2) Set your affections on the things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.
I can think of nothing more important then the opening of prison doors and yet how easily do I sit back and wait for others. Not expecting that the power of one begins in me.... I had an interruption to this kind of thinking recently.... that has profoundly changed my life. Upon returning home recently I had a message from someone so totally overwhelmed by the bitterness of their circumstances. When I returned the call I was unable to do anything but leave a message. (For in ourselves we can do nothing but in Christ we lack nothing)
When I did reach her the next day, my friend said the peace that filled her from hearing the words the Lord gave me caused her to enter into His much needed rest.
What an analogy to the words of John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me." "Therefore let us labor to enter into His rest. Bringing to light that we are indeed a many membered body. And just as there are natural parts we have many spiritual parts that the Lord desires to use. In concluding my journey I was led to pray the words of Psalm 51with renewed fervor...and thus entered into my own place of rest as well.
Rev.3:19 He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
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LAST HORIZON: BY JOANNE CAIN