Prophet Dick Joyce recently spoke this word, and it is definitely a timely word for the church in this season: “Just as a jeweler lays a piece of black velvet across the counter upon which to display his precious gems, so the Lord is using the darkness of world circumstances as a backdrop for the display of His glory in the church”. When I read this word I was challenged to ask, how do we see ourselves in this world as things grow darker? What is God’s plan for us when things grow dark and persecution and resistance increase? I believe our answer is revealed in this passage:
Isaiah 59:18-60:2
According to their deeds, so He will repay, wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the coastlands He will make recompense. So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun, For He will come like a rushing stream which the wind of the Lord drives. A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, declares the Lord. “As for Me, this is My covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the Lord, “from now and forever.” “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you.”
The covenant functions upon two principles: 1. His Spirit upon us 2. His words in our mouth. As we confess (say the same as) Jesus (by the anointing of the Spirit); He confesses what we speak before the Father and the holy angels in heaven! (reread last week’s fgWEEKLY). Jesus truly lives as intercessor and mediator between God (kingdom of heaven) and man (on earth). From this understanding of covenant function, the prophetic word is clear: We must Arise and Shine! Darkness WILL cover the earth, but this will be the backdrop for the display of His glory upon us!
The apostle Paul’s writes (in II Corinthians 3) that the glory of the Lord in this new covenant of the Spirit, far surpasses the glory of the old covenant. The reason being that the glory of the old covenant (upon Moses) faded; but the glory we receive in the new covenant is to remain on us (vs11). This glory remains on us because we can continually seek after and gaze upon the glory of God, and are transformed into His image, from one degree of glory to another! Hallelujah! The Glory of the Lord is to be growing with intensity upon us as we continue to seek the Lord! This is the Key: Time spent, in the Spirit, beholding Him!
II Corintians 3:15-18
But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Isaiah prophesies clearly: the enemy will fear the name of the Lord (Jesus), and the rising of His glory! And beloved, the Lord is wanting to show His glory upon you and me! But we must realize that the intense darkness is actually going to cause His glory upon us to be more evident! So, when darkness increases, even covering the earth, we must decide to arise and shine, not run and hide! Darkness is either going to intimidate us and paralyze us in fear; or cause us to rise up and take courage! Let’s respond to darkness like the early church:
Acts 4:29-31
“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Let’s not “give in” to a spirit of fear; but receive and release the anointing He has given us: an anointing of power, love, and a sound mind (II Timothy 1:7). The clouds of darkness have rolled in; that for a time such as this, we may arise and shine!
Ephesians 5:14-16
For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
There should be such a contrast between us and the darkness of this world when we allow His glory to shine in and through us. Do it in me, Lord! Thanks for sharing your heart and posting the references from the Word.
28.09.2010, 5:34 pmThanks Pat! You’re welcome. Please give my love and blessings to our friends out your way. Tell Dennis I said Hello!
28.09.2010, 4:58 pmGreat word, Rick. Have been blessed by your messages.
28.09.2010, 12:00 pm