It’s Dark But A New Day Is Dawning! 22nd January
'Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.'
Isaiah 60:1-3
The immediate context of these verses is that after a dark period of judgement, exile and captivity of the Israelites, the prophet Isaiah foresaw a new day of restoration and blessing - They would come out of captivity. They would no longer be at the mercy of circumstances and oppressors. They would know God’s presence and power in a way that they had never before experienced or never could imagine.
There is a broader application however for the church of Christ. Isaiah’s vision is a vision of what God will do in the chosen people of God (comprised of all who accept Christ as Messiah), both in time and at the end of time.
What God is saying:
1. Your Light Has Come
The contrast between the state of the world and the state of the church will become ever more clear.
In Exodus 10:22-23 we read how a plague of darkness covered all Egypt.
Certainly today there is a great moral and spiritual darkness.
The Bible speak of people walking in darkness (Isaiah 9:2), men who love darkness (John 3:19), darkerned hearts (Romans 1:21), and understanding (Ephesians 4:18).
T S Elliot spoke of “An age, which advances progressively backwards.”
Victorian secularists expected the 20th Century to be a new age of enlightenment but turned into a century of some of the darkest episodes in the whole of history.
Two horrific world wars, the proliferation and use of atomic bombs, recurring genocide and devastating famines have shown what dark deeds humanity is capable of. 6 million Jews in the Holocaust, 60 to 100 million Russians dead through the murderous regime of Stalin.
Today we live in a world of international terrorism, racism, ethnic cleansing, urban and domestic violence, economic injustice and family break-up.
This is dark world in which we live, but for the Christian, the picture is very different…your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
Christ has come
Isaiah 9:6 - a child is born, for to us a son is given.
John 3:19 - light HAS come.
1 Peter 2:9 - God calls people out of darkness.
Isaiah 9:1 - no more gloom for those who are in distress.
Psalm 27:1 - the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
No matter what the circumstances are, we can know the Lord Himself illuminating our lives.
The Holy Spirit has come
The Lord asked the Father to send the Comforter to us to illuminate us and be alongside us. When the day of Pentecost came and the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, their lives were lit up with love, joy and confidence.
No experience, robbed them of their joy and heavenly perspective.
The greatest need of the church is not new structures, strategies and striving to be relevant, but the Holy Spirit. When you know the Holy Spirit you are different and the world will see the difference.
A New Day of Glory has come
There are periods in the history of the church, usually when things at their most dark in the world, when the glory of the Lord is increasingly manifest.
In this church we need to recognise that the glory of the Lord is bringing in a new day of blessing and He intends that His glory will increasingly appears over us.
Don’t just wait and pray for a new day. Recognise that it is already here.
2. Your Future is Bright
You will affect nations
God’s heart is for the world-all people of all races in all nations. Already we are touching nations: Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso and South Africa.
You will attract rulers
When God works, people of influence and power are always drawn to what is taking place. In Colombia, President Uribe attends one of the cells of International Charismatic Church (MCI).
God’s rule attracts people of rule
You will see great growth with many spiritual sons and daughters from far and wide.
God gives growth. He causes the very least to see great growth.
Open your eyes to the possibilities. See what God is already doing.
You will be prospered financially
Isaiah 60:5-11
God is not strapped for cash. When He is at work you will see favour and provision.
You will overcome your enemies
Isaiah 60:12-14
Don’t be discouraged or lose focus because of people who are against you. Leave them for God to sort out. You’ll be amazed how he turns the tables.
You will be honoured
Isaiah 60:15-16
You will know God is with you
Isaiah 60:16
You will recognise the authority that you carry.
You will come to a new place of peace and healing
Isaiah 60:18-20
God is going to bring a new stability and tranquillity to your life.
You will possess your inheritance
Isaiah 60:21
Believe to see all that God has promised you.
You will see God work quickly
Isaiah 60:22
God is speeding things up. When it’s harvest time He moves quickly.
3. You Must Arise and Shine
'Arise, shine.’ The call here is to forsake passivity and rise up in your destiny. You have to get up from where you are and get hold of what God has for you and what He wants to do through you.
He’s saying ‘OK I am ready, now team up with me.’ You don’t have to stay in the darkness. You don’t have to be a captive to anything. It’s a new day for you, for your family and the church.
Don’t sit by thinking about it. Get up and embrace it.
Rise Up!
Rise up from you fear. Rise up from your failure. Rise up from your shame. Rise up from your family history. Rise up from your oppression. Rise up from your sorrow. Rise up and take your healing. Rise up and receive the blessing God has for you.
Draw near to Christ
You can draw near to Christ with a simple prayer of repentance – “God be merciful to me, I have ignored you and your ways, God come into my life and shine your light on me.”
Jesus Christ alone is the light of the world. He is YOUR greatest friend – YOUR hope and YOUR future!
Isaiah 60:1-3
The immediate context of these verses is that after a dark period of judgement, exile and captivity of the Israelites, the prophet Isaiah foresaw a new day of restoration and blessing - They would come out of captivity. They would no longer be at the mercy of circumstances and oppressors. They would know God’s presence and power in a way that they had never before experienced or never could imagine.
There is a broader application however for the church of Christ. Isaiah’s vision is a vision of what God will do in the chosen people of God (comprised of all who accept Christ as Messiah), both in time and at the end of time.
What God is saying:
1. Your Light Has Come
The contrast between the state of the world and the state of the church will become ever more clear.
In Exodus 10:22-23 we read how a plague of darkness covered all Egypt.
Certainly today there is a great moral and spiritual darkness.
The Bible speak of people walking in darkness (Isaiah 9:2), men who love darkness (John 3:19), darkerned hearts (Romans 1:21), and understanding (Ephesians 4:18).
T S Elliot spoke of “An age, which advances progressively backwards.”
Victorian secularists expected the 20th Century to be a new age of enlightenment but turned into a century of some of the darkest episodes in the whole of history.
Two horrific world wars, the proliferation and use of atomic bombs, recurring genocide and devastating famines have shown what dark deeds humanity is capable of. 6 million Jews in the Holocaust, 60 to 100 million Russians dead through the murderous regime of Stalin.
Today we live in a world of international terrorism, racism, ethnic cleansing, urban and domestic violence, economic injustice and family break-up.
This is dark world in which we live, but for the Christian, the picture is very different…your light has come and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
Christ has come
Isaiah 9:6 - a child is born, for to us a son is given.
John 3:19 - light HAS come.
1 Peter 2:9 - God calls people out of darkness.
Isaiah 9:1 - no more gloom for those who are in distress.
Psalm 27:1 - the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?
No matter what the circumstances are, we can know the Lord Himself illuminating our lives.
The Holy Spirit has come
The Lord asked the Father to send the Comforter to us to illuminate us and be alongside us. When the day of Pentecost came and the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, their lives were lit up with love, joy and confidence.
No experience, robbed them of their joy and heavenly perspective.
The greatest need of the church is not new structures, strategies and striving to be relevant, but the Holy Spirit. When you know the Holy Spirit you are different and the world will see the difference.
A New Day of Glory has come
There are periods in the history of the church, usually when things at their most dark in the world, when the glory of the Lord is increasingly manifest.
In this church we need to recognise that the glory of the Lord is bringing in a new day of blessing and He intends that His glory will increasingly appears over us.
Don’t just wait and pray for a new day. Recognise that it is already here.
2. Your Future is Bright
You will affect nations
God’s heart is for the world-all people of all races in all nations. Already we are touching nations: Sri Lanka, Burkina Faso and South Africa.
You will attract rulers
When God works, people of influence and power are always drawn to what is taking place. In Colombia, President Uribe attends one of the cells of International Charismatic Church (MCI).
God’s rule attracts people of rule
You will see great growth with many spiritual sons and daughters from far and wide.
God gives growth. He causes the very least to see great growth.
Open your eyes to the possibilities. See what God is already doing.
You will be prospered financially
Isaiah 60:5-11
God is not strapped for cash. When He is at work you will see favour and provision.
You will overcome your enemies
Isaiah 60:12-14
Don’t be discouraged or lose focus because of people who are against you. Leave them for God to sort out. You’ll be amazed how he turns the tables.
You will be honoured
Isaiah 60:15-16
You will know God is with you
Isaiah 60:16
You will recognise the authority that you carry.
You will come to a new place of peace and healing
Isaiah 60:18-20
God is going to bring a new stability and tranquillity to your life.
You will possess your inheritance
Isaiah 60:21
Believe to see all that God has promised you.
You will see God work quickly
Isaiah 60:22
God is speeding things up. When it’s harvest time He moves quickly.
3. You Must Arise and Shine
'Arise, shine.’ The call here is to forsake passivity and rise up in your destiny. You have to get up from where you are and get hold of what God has for you and what He wants to do through you.
He’s saying ‘OK I am ready, now team up with me.’ You don’t have to stay in the darkness. You don’t have to be a captive to anything. It’s a new day for you, for your family and the church.
Don’t sit by thinking about it. Get up and embrace it.
Rise Up!
Rise up from you fear. Rise up from your failure. Rise up from your shame. Rise up from your family history. Rise up from your oppression. Rise up from your sorrow. Rise up and take your healing. Rise up and receive the blessing God has for you.
Draw near to Christ
You can draw near to Christ with a simple prayer of repentance – “God be merciful to me, I have ignored you and your ways, God come into my life and shine your light on me.”
Jesus Christ alone is the light of the world. He is YOUR greatest friend – YOUR hope and YOUR future!
posted by WESLEY at 15:42
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