Isaiah 61 - An Encouraging Now Word for the Forerunners
ISAIAH 61 - A Now Word for the Forerunners
You've probably read Isaiah 61 a hundred times before (as have I), but I feel the Lord highlighting it in a whole new way at this moment. Particularly, for the "forerunners" - those who are being positioned as members of God's Army to go out into the world in this time and proclaim truth, call out mixture and show people the way to freedom. If that is you, I hope this encourages, strengthens and empowers you for this time! 💜🔥
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon you. He has ANOINTED you to bring good news to the poor. (vs.1) - Remember that the Holy Spirit of God is on you and in you and you have been chosen and anointed for this very time TO bring good news to those that are lost and trapped in darkness.
You have been commissioned and are being sent to:
comfort the brokenhearted (vs. 1) - bring healing
proclaim captives will be released and prisoners will be freed (vs. 1) - lead people to true freedom in Christ
tell people that the time of the Lord's favor has come (vs. 2) - the Lord is separating His people again from the world and returning them to a place of blessing and covenant)
and WITH it, the day of God's anger against their enemies (vs. 2) - God is bringing JUSTICE right NOW as He simultaneously blesses those who are in covenant with Him and brings judgment (in LOVE) to those who are not.
He is giving you a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning and festive praise instead of despair. (vs. 3) - You have come through the fire of refining and testing and have been purified and made righteous. It is now time for you to RISE from the ashes and be blessed as His face shines on you!
In your righteousness, you are like a great oak that the Lord has PLANTED for His own glory. (vs. 3) - The wilderness and refining fire you have been through was for a PURPOSE. Your roots run DEEP now with the Lord so you can withstand this next season. The Lord has planted you for a time such as this, so your words, your gifts and your very life will bring Him glory!
You will rebuild ancient ruins, repair cities that were destroyed long ago and revive them. (vs. 4) - The forerunners are coming out now, many from being hidden away, to go into the Church and repair and revive their brothers and sisters in Christ. Those who have fallen away, are trapped in mixture or in deception. They will rebuild the Temple of the Lord - the spiritual Temple and bring revival!
Foreigners will be your servants and you will feed on the treasures of the nations and boast in their riches. (vs. 5 & 6) - The Lord is transferring wealth in this time from the world to His people. He is using the very people and things of the world to raise His people up and make a distinction between them and the world!
Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor and a double portion of prosperity in your land. (vs. 7) The Lord will faithfully reward His people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. (vs. 8) Everyone will realize they are a people the Lord has blessed. - The Lord is making a SEPARATION between His people and the world in this hour. He is rewarding His people who have remained faithful to them and they WILL receive a double portion. Not only because it it belongs to them out of the COVENANT promise of God, but also to demonstrate to the watching world that the Lord is who He says He is.
Be overwhelmed with joy in the Lord! He has dressed you in the clothing of salvation and draped you in the robe of righteousness. You are like a bride with her jewels! (vs. 10) - Even though the world may appear darker than ever, it is time for the Bride to shine! Light shines brightest in the darkness! Be joyful! And shine the light by walking in the salvation and righteousness He has blessed you with. You ARE the Bride of Christ and your light will bring others back to Him!
The Sovereign Lord will show His justice to the nations of the world and His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere. (vs. 11) - This is my favorite part. 💜 Yes, the Lord is showing His justice to the world right now. But, He is also bringing up His "seeds" of righteousness from all over the world! The forerunners, those He has prepared and equipped for this time and "hidden" all over the world are now "springing up" like a beautiful garden everywhere for His glory and beauty to be seen through them! Hallelujah!
I also felt led to include one passage from Isaiah 62:10-12:
Go out through the gates!
Prepare the highway for my people to return!
Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders;
Raise a flag for all the nations to see.
The Lord has sent this message to every land:
"Tell the people of Israel, 'Look, your Savior is coming. See, he brings His reward with Him as He comes.'"
They will be called the Holy People and the people redeemed by the Lord.
We... the "forerunners"... those of us who have gone out ahead and are now being sent in to bring God's judgment and love upon His Church have prepared the way for them to come back to Him. We have gone ahead and braved the storms and rocky terrain so we could smooth out the road for those who are coming behind us. Now, it's time for us to "raise the flag" like the flag bearers in battle to help the wounded and lost soldiers to find their way back to the leader of the army - their Heavenly Father. It is time for us to be who we are fully in Christ and shout the news as we make the way for His arrival!
It's time. Be blessed. Be joyful. Shine! Spread the news! And walk fully in the anointing and calling the Lord has placed on you.
You were created for such a time as this! 💜🔥🙌