"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord ... '"
Isaiah 40:3
‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth;
‘The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’"
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’” Read Isaiah 40:3-11
Ambassador Directives
Dear Saints who pray, let us consider the privilege of being born in this season of God’s history. What an awesome gift God has given to us to be on assignment for His Kingdom—to make preparations for the return of the Lord and the greatest revival earth has ever known.
Think of past revivals in different places. I like to read about the revival in New York in 1858-59. The churches were united to pray. God moved in miraculous ways. I like to read about the Azusa Street Revival of 1906 in Los Angeles. God did the impossible.
But, dear Saints, it’s now time to go beyond reading and into experiencing the miraculous, for “the end shall be better than the beginning.” Just like the explosive and spectacular end to our 4th of July fireworks celebrations, God has plans for a glorious time for His Church.
Imagine putting all the revivals ever known together in every nation all at the same time! WOW!!!
The above scripture, Isaiah 40:3-11, is what God used to start Prayer with Purpose in 2011. We are on assignment to prepare the way for revival, along with many, many others who are called to the same work. We are a chosen generation of people, (1 Peter 2:9-10) who were in previous days not a people, but now are God’s people, a holy nation, separated for the glory. Our citizenship is not only of the United States, but more importantly, our citizenship is from Heaven. Philippians 3:20
This is where our directives for our Christian walk come from.
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.” John 15:16-17
Chosen, Appointed, and Anointed
In previous lessons we studied about our Lord, who is the Apostle, the Anointed Sent One. Jesus was sent with a mission. Even though His physical location has now changed, He is presently Director and Head of His Body: The Church. His Holy Spirit is residing within you to personally lead you in a successful mission. That’s His part. Your part is to hear and obey.
As Jesus was sent, we are also sent. Each of us are partakers of the Heavenly Calling. Each of us has been assigned a ministry to fulfill. Whether our assignment is in public view or not, every assignment is vitally important and has its roots hidden in this goal:
To reconcile the world to their Savior. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19.
As each of us matures and does our work in faith and love, we are expanding The Church in strength. Jesus Himself is at work within you and me to form The Glorious Church … the last generation of Believers who will harvest the nations for God’s glorious purpose.
Father has waited for this season: the “fullness of the Gentiles,” before He will bring that grand harvest in. Read Romans 11:25 and James 5:7-8.
Mordecai said to Esther, “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
The Hope of His Calling…Ephesians 1:18
We have a definite purpose for living. Focus on that and world circumstances will not cause you fear. It has never been more important to put that calling in the forefront of our lives. That calling should be first among our daily tasks now because the time is short and Kingdom responsibilities are jumping ahead of us in preeminence.
“Lord, what would you have me do today to fulfill my calling? Help me to know and hear more clearly your direction throughout this day and the days ahead. Thank you for the Holy Spirit within me. I yield to Him. He has been given to me to help me fulfill my assignment. In Jesus name, I receive this.”
Dear ones, some assignments have been hidden and protected specifically for the end-times. Remember the joy of opening an unexpected gift at Christmas? Some of your gifts may surprise even you in the days ahead!
“THIS DAY THIS SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED IN YOUR EARS!”
What an amazing statement Jesus declared. He had the custom of going to the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day. We can assume there were many times He did this.
Ah, but one day was different—very different!
One day when He stood up to read He was handed the book of Isaiah. As He read the scriptures, He declared who He was—the Anointed One; Messiah—and what was His assignment. See Luke 4:16-21. Jesus was quoting from Isaiah Chapter 61.
Saints, Jesus’ anointing (Acts 10:38) is the same anointing that should be flowing through His Church by the power of His Holy Spirit that is within each of us. Why? Because Jesus is the Head of the Body, His Church, and He said we are one. John 17
The mighty Mississippi River, which flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, is still the same body of water at the end as it is at the beginning … one river.
“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you…” 1 John 2:27
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” 1 John 2:20
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” John 14:12
THE GLORIOUS CHURCH:
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
“To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
“And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the foreigner shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
“But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, they shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory you shall boast.”
Isaiah 61:1-4
Hearing and Obeying
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. and he touched my mouth with it, and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.’”
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ “Then I said,” ‘Here am I! Send me.’"
“And He said, Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed. Then I said…
‘Lord, how long?’ “And He answered:” ‘Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate …’”
Isaiah 6:6-11
Hearts that are hard toward the Lord, not willing to repent, will have the outcome of a hardened heart; whole cities are held captive to humanism and degradation. But that is subject to change! At the end, multitudes “shall call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.” Romans 10:28
“A VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS: PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD…” See Luke 3:3-6 & 16-17.
Who said this and why?
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LIFE APPLICATION
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7
Holy Brethren, run your race! Imagine the fruit of all our races coming together in one mighty river as we hear and obey!
P. S. The book which contains the information of the 1858-1859 revival is:
“Narratives of Remarkable Conversions and Revival Incidents,” by William C. Conant. It is available on Amazon. Google Books also has it for a free download, either for your computer or e-reader.
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PRAYER:
For the love of God and the love of:
The Church—The Lost—Elected Leaders