Today’s Reading:
Isaiah 41:10-16 (15-16)
“Fear thou not; for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. 11) Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. 12) You shall seek them, and shalt not find them – Those who contended with you, Those who war against you shall be as nothing, As a none existent thing. 13) For I the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’. 14) ‘Fear not, you worm Jacob, |You men of Israel! I will help you, says the LORD, And your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15) Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; you shall thresh the mountains, and beat them small, And make the hills like chaff. 16) You shall winnow (fan) them, the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them: You shall rejoice in the LORD, And glory in the Holy One of Israel.” (Isa. 41:10-16 NKJV)
Jacob another name used for Israel in the Bible, was derived when Jacob wrestled with God at Peniel (Gen. 32:22-32). As descendants of Abraham, Israel has a special status with God, but they have been defiled. They have deviated from the original plan God had for them. Because of God’s anger, and punishment, they complained against God’s neglect and being abandoned. God is now reassuring them that He had not given up on them. Believers like the Israelites are the works of the hand of a merciful, compassionate God. Whether the enemy likes it or not, God’s purpose for our lives will be fulfilled. God’s election of His people still stands (Ex. 19:1-6).
As people called by the name of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, our allegiance must only be to Jesus Christ. And so, we do not have reasons to be afraid, because God is our hope, our helper, our refuge, our fortress, our defence, our defender, our Stronghold. Christ is the light of our salvation, He is our Shepherd, and the lifter up of our head. His words stand sure and secure (vv. 10, 13, 14), and whether we like to hear this or not, His sovereignty controls the nations of the world. Israel who is the lineage of the Messiah was supposed to have been developed as a hope of Christ, who is God’s ultimate Servant. As believers, our status in Christ has made us to be particularly important in the plan of God. We are supposed to be God’s instrument of divine revelation, and witness. Like Israel, we are weak vessels; but God will make us into threshing sledge, an instrument in his hands to pulverise mountains - our present challenges, and difficulties (vv. 15-16). When we consider the strong power of God’s declaration to his people – “ I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth, … (v. 15). Here is a call to prayer of intercession for nations and community of faith, to stand in the gap, this is linked to the mercy of God for deliverance of His people. For us to be made into a threshing sledge, we must be addicted to all manner of prayers. We must always be on our knees praying and interceding for perishing souls, for the salvation of souls (Heb.2:15; 2Tim. 4:18).
We are called to intercede for the nations and the Church of God; and we shall see and experience the move of the power of God in the universe. When we intercede, we must be able to patiently yield to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. “You will winnow them, the wind shall carry them away and the whirlwind shall scatter them, You shall rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel” (v. 16). We must also believe that God is working out His gracious purposes in the nations of the world. Then we watch how God will drastically use us to change the cause of history in the nations, and in the community of faith.
Intercession is very vital to God reshaping, re-writing the history of individuals, families, of nations and His Church. He has done this before, and he will continue to do this until the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, with glory (Ps. 2:8-9; Isa. 64:1-3).
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Father, thank you for Our Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for the victory won on the Cross on our behalf, in Jesus name.
Thank you, Lord for making me an instrument in his hands to pulverise mountains - our present challenges, and difficulties, in Jesus name.
Father, let your mercy overflow in our lives; forgive our sins and those of our ancestors, especially those sins linked to evil powers, in Jesus name.
Father, dismantle every man-made programme in the body of Christ and set up your own programme; let Your kingdom come, in Jesus name.
We bind all principalities and powers in the air, operating over and within our nations, in Jesus name.
We bind all wickedness in high places and evil thrones in the air, operating over and within our nations, in Jesus name
We bind all evil dominions, and strongmen/strong women operating over and within our nations in Jesus name.
Let there be divine intervention in situations of our nations, in Jesus name.
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