Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward (Isaiah 52:9-12).
How does this scripture relate to us?
Jerusalem is a type of the Church, so this message, in this day, is a message to the Church. There are plenty of waste places in the Church but this is a remedy for them, this promise is the beginning of living and moving in the power of the Holy Spirit. We call this revival but in the last days it will be our lifestyle until Jesus comes in the rapture, its starting now;
‘Comforted’ (Hebrew nâḥam) means repentance, bringing us back into comfort with God. God is bringing a great spirit of repentance upon the Church, the forerunner of revival. Repentance will see the Church redeemed from its apostasy, it’s lack of faith in the promises of God and will be turned from it’s form of godliness denying the power of God into a Church that will be like the Church of the Apostles – that turned the world upside down;
The arm is a figure of power and authority. God has revealed, and is revealing, just how powerful He is. We are beginning to see again mighty signs and wonders: spirits, minds and bodies healed, God is moving in power and it will increase – God will overflow us – it will be a worldwide revival!;
So we must give up all that binds us to earth, that seeks to hinder us from entering in to what God has provided for us – a close walk with God, union, oneness, with Him;
We must be holy; ‘Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect’. We can only come into that holiness allowing the Holy Spirit to take complete control, it is God’s righteousness not ours;
The vessels of the Lord – those vessels used in service and worship – the treasure that God has given us is in earthen vessels that all the glory may go to God. We have been transformed the presence and power of God;
Peace will go with us, not panic. The peace of God is beyond our understanding. Isaiah 26:3 – ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee’. I feel a great responsibility for the ministry God has given me and I used to get quite concerned if I had nothing to give before I went to the meeting. But the Lord showed me that was unbelief. Years ago He had told me that I should open my mouth and He would fill it with His words, so why should I fear? Just do what God says – He will do it in His power.
The Lord will go before us. Hallelujah! The Lord went before the Children of Israel and led them where they should go. The cloud or column of fire was a warning to all who confronted Israel, God’s reputation went before them. We have the same God protecting us from the alien forces of evil that try and bar our path, but I want to tell you that when satan comes in and tries to overwhelm us God raises His battle standard and all the hosts of heaven are pitched against him in full battle array;
The Hebrew word translated ‘rereward’ is ‘asap’ – God is our asap, our as quick as you can. God’s asap is now and suddenly! He is the God of the present. I often tell of something God showed me about prayer because it is important we understand just how powerful the prayers of the born again believer are. ‘The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much’ (James 5:16b) – women too! I was praying one morning and the ground started to shake under my knees. My reaction was to look out of the window and see what the problem was. Then the Lord showed me a city in complete darkness and as I prayed flashes of light illuminated areas of the darkness and the ground shook. He then spoke to me and told me that it was the power of the missiles of prayer that were raining down light into the kingdom of darkness and strongholds were being destroyed. Not just my prayer – your prayer too. Pray in faith believing.
The word ‘asap’ actually can mean two things: to gather together, a partner; or a rearguard. Both are relevant in our relationship with God. So God is not only before us He has our back, He is our rearguard and our partner, keeping us from ambush so we can keep our attention on what is before. If God has our back, we can confidently go forward.
God IS and we must believe that He IS and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). He is not a ‘has been’, nor is He a will be, in as much as God is able and willing to meet your need right now. Jesus told us that whatever we ask in His name God will give us (John 14:13; 15:16; 16:23; Mark 11:24; Matthew 21:22). How many more times do we need it confirming?
What Christ came to fulfil has been fulfilled in its entirety and it is eternal, with nothing left to chance or left undone. His is a complete and perfect work for us.