PROMISE FOR THE YEAR 2014(SHARE IT WITH UR NEAR AND DEAR ONES) But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O, Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel; ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire you shall not be burned. Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. Isaiah 43: 2 (1-4) For the children of God, 2014 is going to be a ‘Year of Grace’. The Lord promises that the waters and fire will not overpower them. I WATERS Waters indicate ‘Hurdles’, things that stand against a person. The resolution behind the promise is that the Lord will be with us ‘Whenever’ and ‘Wherever’ we go. King David went through many situations which were similar to passing through waters and in those times, he sang the following as psalms. Save me O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. Psalm 69:1 …then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters would have gone over our soul. Psalm 124: 4, 5 You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; But you brought us out to rich fulfillment (rich abundance). Psalm 66: 12 We read about the journey of the Israelites out of Egypt in Exodus Ch. 14. When they came to the Red Sea and the Jordan river, they feared that they would die. But God made them to pass through the waters on dry ground. God says – ‘You will cross-over because God’s presence is with you. When God says, ‘I am with you’, it indicates His nearness and companionship. Hence we will not drown. We will come to a place of abundance. II FIRE Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. I Peter 4:12 When you go through fiery situations, the fire will try you. Strange things may happen but do not be perplexed. Two things happen when you go through a fiery trial. a. Steadiness: A fiery trial will give you the steadiness and the confidence that you need to have for the rest of your life. During the times of trials and tribulations, you will receive special help from the Holy Spirit and Signs and Wonders. b. Safety: The presence of God will protect you in times of trials and tribulations. The following verses that speak of such fiery situations and what they will do to us. I Corinthians 3:13-15 … and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. I Peter 4: 12, 13 Fiery trial will try you. Psalm 66:10 For you O God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined. Zachariah 13:9 I will bring the one-third through the fire. Will refine them as silver is refined and test them as gold is tested. Malachi 3: 2, 3 Who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launders soap. Waters and fire cannot overpower us because of the promise God gives – I am the Lord your God. Our Lord God is ‘Jehovah’ He is powerful and He is the Holy one of Israel. His name is pure. Three things we need to know about God’s presence with us. i.Lord ‘In’ us Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and he with me. Revelation 3:20 This refers to the ‘Salvation’ experience. To those who are saved, the Lord says, ‘You are mine; I am your God’. Isaiah 43:1. The Lord being in us is the result of faith. Through that ‘faith’ the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea (Exodus 14:29, Hebrews 11:29). As we read in Hebrews 11:32-38, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets conquered by faith - They subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises and stopped the mouth of lions. ii.Lord ‘With’ us As we read in Daniel 3:17, 18, 25-27, when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace, God walked with them in the midst of the fire as the fourth person. When we are zealous for Him, He will be with us. His presence with His people is seen as we read in the following verses - Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31: 6-8, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:5, II Timothy 4:22, Psalm 23:4. iii.Lord ‘upon’ us Prophet Isaiah says, ‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me. Because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor….... (Isaiah 61:1-3) III RIVERS Rivers represent nightmares and the plans of satan. In Psalm 91: 3-5, we read that we will not be afraid of the terror by night. Though satan may try to make the rivers to overflow our lives, we have a mightier river of the Holy Spirit. We read of His power in Psalm 46: 4-7. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the most high. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved. He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Finally, In Isaiah 43: 4, God assures us of His love towards us. Love of God promotes us He says that we are precious in His sight; Hence we are honoured. God is one who appreciates greatly. Because of His appreciation, His people are promoted. Even in Psalm 91: 15, we read – He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble ; I will deliver him and honour him. Love of God protects us The Lord has been the protector of His children in critical situations. In His love He protected Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He will protect us too this year beause of His love for us. May the Lord bless you all this year, according to His great and faithful promise! Amen! samueljabez.org/messages/monthly-messages
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 09:00:27 +0000
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