(a chapter from my book, Facing Change)
The vision of the LORD is to create the year of the LORD’s Favor. [Isaiah 61 NIV, Isaiah 58:6-8 NIV] In fact, the Year of the LORD’s Favor has already been created and set in place since the advent of the birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son, Son of God. On the balance, we have seen ever-increasing prosperity in the nations of the world. We have become more materially progressive. The counter-balance is that, as we have become more materially progressive, we have drawn away from God, the Lord who provides everything that we needed and need. This drawing away from God causes the reversal of our prosperity and the reversal of our justice. Thus, there is an unnatural tension when we try to resist the flow of popular culture and remain faithful to God, the Creator of the Universe, who is always Faithful and True and whose unfailing love will never fail us.
Isaiah 61 was proclaimed by the Lord Jesus Christ at His first coming and is proclaimed again and again as a prophetic Word in preparation for His second coming, or so we think. But the Lord Jesus Christ’s second coming has been achieved at the resurrection. This is the Word of the LORD. It is done! It is finished! At the same time, there is a past, a present, and a future.
In the age of globalization, we observe the massive movement of humanity across nations, with many people seeking better lives, jobs, opportunities, and education. Many nations have become multicultural. Multiculturalism is OK. Idolatry is not OK in God’s eyes. Sharing our prosperity with other people is OK. However, idolatry and apostasy will inevitably lead to the reversal of our prosperity and justice, the reversal of all the good things God provides. [Exodus 22:21 NLT, Exodus 23:9 NLT]
When there was drought in the land, God gave the rain to water the crops. When drought is in our hearts, God gives living water to water our souls. God, and only God, can give us life where once there was death. [Romans 4:17 NIV] This is the same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead. We are expecting the advent of the second coming of Christ. “When is the second coming of Christ?” asked Abba Father. The Lord’s answer before was When Christ was raised from the dead. Lord, I pray that You will confirm this in Your Word. [Daniel 9:24-27 NLT]. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
In Christ, God is the provider of everything that we will need and everything good in life. He provides the things that make the grain grow. When the grain grows, the farmer has the seed for the next season, and the hungry have bread to eat. The LORD says that when the crops bear fruit, the fruit is helpful for two purposes: 1) providing the seeds for the next season and the future, and 2) providing food for the present and the hungry. The Word of God is likened to the seed that God plants. He sends it out, and it always produces fruit. The Word will accomplish everything that the LORD wants it to perform. The Word will prosper everywhere the LORD sends it. Isaiah 55:12-13 NLT speaks of the fruits of the LORD sending out His Word. The people will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grow, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honour to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.
We are to borrow these good examples from God and the farmer.
Every day is a brand new day that the LORD gives to us. [Psalm 118:24 NLT] Let us rejoice and be glad in it. It is a blank slate for us to write our stories. We have to sow the seeds in the present to harvest fruits for the future. And the harvest is to provide seed for the next season and the future and something to eat for the present. If we sow the good seeds of righteousness and justice, we will reap a harvest of righteousness and justice. If we sow the terrible seeds of unrighteousness and injustice, we will reap a harvest of unrighteousness and injustice. Righteousness begets righteousness. Unrighteousness begets unrighteousness.
The prophetic Word for this chapter is [Isaiah 55:10-13 NLT].
The LORD is ready to repopulate our cities and rebuild our ruins. What is now wasteland will be turned into the Garden of Eden. [Ezekiel 36:33-38 NLT]
Choose life, the life that the Lord Jesus Christ provides by being a born-again Christian, born of the Spirit of God. [Romans 1:17 NLT]
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Thank You, Abba Father, Lord Jesus Christ.
A Sign of the Times
I saw it with my own eyes
I saw the injustice and the pain
Who would have believed
That it happened to me?
The crazy world out there
Global markets in turmoil
Would you believe that
90 percent of humanity chose this?
I heard a rumor
From a long time ago
From the mouth
Of the Creator Himself
He told me:
To right the wrong
To loose the chains of injustice
To get rid of exploitation in the workplace
He told me:
The meek shall inherit the Earth
The pure shall see God
The peacemakers shall be called the sons of God
Bible References: [Isaiah 58:6-9 MSG, Matthew 5:5-9 NIV]
May the grace and peace of Abba Father the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Thank You, Abba Father, Lord Jesus Christ.
In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Word Sabre, scribe for Abba Father, LORD GOD, Lord Most High, Lord Jesus Christ.