8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. 12. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Isaiah 55:8-12
Where do we start? Obviously with running to Father God and asking Him for His thoughts and His ways in our life. That God would reveal them to us and give us understanding as to how to carry them out.
He is likening His word, His will, given directly to us as rain and snow from heaven that will produce life in our lives; if we allow Him to sow His will into our hearts and let take root.
For years we have been taught about the many wonderful promises found in the Bible. We have seen men and women of God attain those promises. Yet, when others stepped out on those same promises they failed to manifest in their lives. Why was that?
Though there are many promises in the Word of God, which are made available to us all. It is necessary to go to God the Father and ask Him first, what we should stand on concerning our situation. Our lives are uniquely different. What may work for one individual may not work or even apply to another based on their hearts and the circumstances of their lives.
Let me give an example. Years ago when I was a new christian I read in the Bible "by Jesus' stripes we are healed". I knew it was a promise in the Word. I read other scriptures stating that God wanted us to be healthy and whole. So armed with this knowledge I began praying for everyone I could, to be healed. I would go to the hospital and pray for people. God's presence would be there; then...the people died. What...? Yes they died. Of course, not everyone. But the ones in critical condition in the hospital. That's when I sought the Lord as to what I was doing wrong. I know I was believing. I had faith for God to heal these people. Why? Isn't God obligated to do it, it is in His word isn't it? Yes and No.
God began to tell me that I never asked His will for each individual in each situation. I had made a broad assumption. I didn't know what was in the hearts of the people; whether, they really wanted to live or die. God began to teach me to ask His will on an individual bases. Lord, How do you want me pray for Susan? How do you want me to pray for Mary? That's when my prayers began to start working.
We must go to the Father and ask Him for a proceeding word. A living word A word that comes directly from Him to us. Yes, God does talk to His people. He's always talking to us. We just aren't always listening.
2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1John 4:2-3
I don't want to be deceived. How do I know it's God talking? 1 John tells us. "Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." Ask who Jesus is. God is not offended, Jesus is not offended, the Holy Spirit is not offended, and angel sent by God will not be offended and also a person sent by God will not be offended when you ask. God told us to ask. That's your check.
OK, now you are pressing in to hear a word from the Lord concerning your situation. How do you know it's from God and not you? You will know. Don't second guess yourself. It will line up with scripture. The word however can be unique to your circumstances, so don't be surprised if you can't find it chapter and verse. A word from the Lord will give you strength and hope in hard times. It will anchor your mind in a time of chaos. Most often it will be completely opposite of your circumstances.
Let's refer back to our original scripture.
11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11
This word, the word you sought the Lord for concerning His will. This is the word that will not return void. This is the word that, if you allow God to sow it into your heart will produce. This is the word that will come to pass, if....you don't faint. Let me encourage you. A true word from the Lord comes with God's grace to stand upon it and receive the promise in the face of opposition.
12. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55:12
With a true, living word from the Lord comes joy and peace. You can't make that happen. It's supernatural. It's God's rain and snow on the seed of His word. It will produce.
Another important thing. If God tells you to do something. Do it. Do it immediately. To delay means to delay the answer to your prayer.
You now have a word from the Lord. You have His grace. Your feeling good...then the enemy throws some smoke right up in your face. It could be a bad report. A bill collector on the phone. An image of the tow truck coming. What do you do? God just gave you a word from Him. War with it! What do you mean by that? Take that word, write it down. Hold it up in the air and tell the devil to shut his mouth! This is what God says concerning my situation. The devil tries to put the image of what he wants on the screen of your mind. Now what. Shut it down! Again, use the word. Say, "That is not God's will for my life, this is what the Lord says concerning me!"
Here's an example. I'm driving down a busy highway. Suddenly a vision of me getting into a car accident flashes across my mind. What do I do? Rebuke it! That is not a premonition. That is satan's plan. I know God wants me healthy and whole. So I literally would tell satan...WRONG. That's not God's plan for me, now GO! Then what? Then nothing. Why? Cause I'm not getting into an accident. Because I rebuked it and didn't receive it, I didn't.
What if that was a warning? Nope. If we are spending the time before the Father, we will only be going where He sends us. He is not going to send us into an acccident. That also comes with knowing the will of the Father for our lives.
4. (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6. And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Cor 10:4-
Anything. Let me say it again, ANYTHING that does not line up with God's will for our life has to go! It requires us to stand in our authority and enforce it. Pulling our thoughts into alignment with God's thoughts. What is disobedience to God? Anything contrary to God's will, plan and purpose for our life.
One more important aspect of standing on a word from the Lord. Our MOUTH.
1. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Psalm 39:1
4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. Proverbs 15:4
Again, we must line up what is coming out of our mouth with what the Lord has told us. We must continually rehearse the word of the Lord. Does that mean we ignore our circumstances? No. But we recognize that God has empowered us to overcome them as we stand on the Living word He gave us.
We must press in to God to receive the word directly from Him. He can use people if we aren't able to hear Him, however when we receive a would direct and you know that you know that you know you heard from God. It makes it easier to stand. When someone else gives you the word, it's not quite the same.
I pray that this helps in this season where things have seemed to have gone haywire in so many peoples lives. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have to be our anchor. Our eyes must be fixed upon Him, not our circumstances. What ever we look at most is what becomes big. We must be looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. He must be bigger than our circumstances.
Written by: Cherie Sheridan
10/14/2009
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