July 17, 2015

 

 

Let me share a quick but funny story before we begin. Some weeks back I shared with you the changes that have been taking place in our son, Joshua. The overcoming of temper outbursts and anger has been an ongoing struggle. A couple weeks or so ago, he became angry with his kids over some relatively insignificant issue and blew up at them. The scared reaction on their faces brought him to reality with a start and he dropped to his knees.

 

He said to the children, "Kids, Daddy has a problem with a wicked spirit, and that wicked spirit wants me to throw temper fits and be angry when there is no need."

 

Turning to Jasmine (she turns 7 in August) and Elijah (who just turned 6), he said, "Will you lay hands on me and command that evil spirit to get out of me?"

 

Very promptly, Jasmine and Elijah jumped to their feet, went over and laid hands on their dad's head and Jasmine said (with Elijah echoing), "You bad spirit, you come out of our daddy right now in Jesus' name and leave him alone. You get out of here!" (Incidentally, all four of Josh & Michelle's kids are bold in their prayers!)

 

In that moment, the kitchen cabinet doors flew open with a bang, and pots and pans came flying out, scattering on the kitchen floor. It was startling, but amusing, to say the least, and it was a visible demonstration for all of them of the authority we have over the Enemy. Even children, who act in faith, believing that the Word of God has authority to work through them, work signs and wonders! We were really blessed when Josh called and shared what took place. And the resulting changes in him are showing! Praise God!

 

Some weeks (months?) back, Kim Potter asked me if I could do an expanded translation of Psalm 51:12. It kind of got lost in the shuffle, but when I began to read it in Hebrew this past week, I was struck at just how much that cry of David’s heart actually plays into this particular study and area of sharing.

In order to see this in its proper context, understand that David was crying out in repentance to the Lord for his sin of adultery. He prefaces this by saying the following.

 

Take a look:

 

Psalm 51:11: Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Now he says,

 

Psalm 51:12: Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.

 

The phrases used in this statement in Hebrew really clarifies what David was asking for.

Take me back to the beginning when your light generated that same transforming and creative light which transformed me with your character, bringing liberty, deliverance and prosperity; sustain and lift me back up with your magnanimous and princely Spirit. (Psalm 51:12, RAC Translation & Amplification)

That takes us back to something David had written earlier, most likely when he was on the run for his life from Saul.

 

Psalm 27:1: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 

The phraseology used in the first part of this verse is nearly identical to that of Psalm 51:12, and close to that of Psalm 34. The light of His presence eliminates fear and terror. It brings peace and joy. It prepares the way for intimate communication in the realm of the Spirit — a kind of two-way transference back and forth that needs no words, rather inputting and imparting His Word into our being!

 

We’ve kind of run down some rabbit trails, and I want to get back to Isaiah’s prophecy.

That prophecy could not have been any more applicable today. If ever there was a time when spiritual darkness and incredible ignorance of God’s plan and destiny was more in evidence, in all my research of past history, I cannot think of a time when “substitute Christs” (antichrists) more manifested their ignorance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

That said, let’s review Isaiah’s prophecy.

 

Isaiah 60:1-7: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

 

And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

 

Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

 

The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.

 

All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

 

This is going to get a bit windy, but let’s take this step-by-step and amplify this prophecy out of the Hebrew.

 

Stand up! Accomplish, confirm and decree the dawn, the break of day — that moment when light overwhelms the darkness! That light has been introduced to the world and reached maturity in you and the splendor, the weight, the glory and honor of the Lord now irradiates you!

 

See and consider the misery, the destruction, the sorrow, the wickedness, the ignorance and death that will cover the earth, and the impenetrable gloom the people: but God Himself will manifest on you irradiating and exposing His light, His life, His character and makeup; and His splendor, His weight, His glory and His honor will be visible and discerned as inhabiting you.

 

That will cause the masses, the heathen, the nations of the world to be drawn and come, desiring to be conversant with that brightness, that revelation of the Lord that is in and upon you; and kings, royalty, heads of state and leaders of every kind will come, desiring to receive the light of the revelation now coming forth from you.

 

[Forget the past! Stop focusing on what was, and what you have seen in the past!] Pay attention now to what is taking place around you. See? They are all gathering around and assembling before you! They are coming to you! Do you see them? Your sons, your grandsons, your great-grandsons — all those whom you have nourished in the past — are coming from remote and distant places; your daughters, granddaughters and great-granddaughters are returning to receive the impartation of faith and trust [so there will be a permanence of that revelatory character they see in you.] Isaiah 60:1-4, RAC Translation & Amplification)

 

When that takes place, you will see and be utterly astounded at the overflow of joy that will flood all of you; your heart, your soul, your understanding will be awestricken, and your mental restrictions — (your religious boxes) — will be broken; [the scope of your understanding will be greatly enlarged] because the masses and wealth of many peoples will suddenly turn to your favor (those who have opposed you will be overturned, and the attitudes of those who’ve doubted who you really are (and your integrity in God) will utterly change as they are converted; the wealth, the power, and the efficient might of the nations will turn to you, resorting to you as their strength.

 

Companies of laborers with their burden-bearers will cover [your needs]; the young, burdened with contention and gloom will come; they of the Covenant will bring you their gold and their sweet-smelling incense; all of these will come together, publicly giving thanks and singing the praises and adoration of the Lord.

 

All those flocks who have been in darkness and gloom will gather and assemble around you; [at the same time] those who are strong and abound with fruit will attend to your needs, ministering to every aspect of your life: with joy and pleasure will they come to offer sacrifices (of praise), and I will embellish, vaunt and beautify the family — MY family — whom I shall honor with majesty. (Isaiah 60:5-7, RAC Translation and Amplification)

 

If ever there was a picture of “You are the Light of the World”, Isaiah prophesies it in no uncertain terms!

 

This is NOT a suggestion! This is NOT a kind of passive, “You really need to do this.”

Isaiah’s prophecy begins with a command: Stand up! Accomplish! Confirm! Decree the light! Decree the revelation (of the Lord)!

Thus, Jesus caps His instruction with, [As representatives of the New Jerusalem] you are like that City which is elevated on a high hill or mountain and cannot be hidden from view. (You have been made and destined to be visible to this world.) (Matthew 5:14, RAC Translation and Amplification)

 

And He continues His command and mandate to us:

Let that light (My light) which is in you, therefore, radiate brilliantly in front of all men and women so that the value of your relationship with and in Me — manifested in the works, the signs and wonders — is demonstrated. That, in turn, will cause Father in Heaven to receive glory and honor and praise!(Matthew 5:16, RAC Translation and Amplification)

 

We’re not here for ourselves. Jesus didn’t come as THE Light of the World, and then say to us, “You are now that same light that is in me to the world” — just because He wanted us to be cheered up or feel good.

 

Go back to Creation for a minute. Consider our original purpose:

 

Genesis 1:26-28: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

We were created to have dominion over the earth — literally over every living thing (other than mankind) upon the face of the earth.

 

We were created in the image and likeness of the Lord God Himself. Once again, I remind you that it was Jesus Who spoke the fateful words of Creation.  It was He who created us in the first place.

 

Hebrews 1:1-3: God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

 

Revelation 4:10-11: The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

We were created for Him!

 

We were created to become His family.

 

We were created to be the very extension of His persona, His character, His makeup, His personality — His onoma !

 

We were created to bring pleasure and delight to the Lord Jesus Christ. We accomplish that by permitting Him to work all that He needs to work in our character, our nature, our makeup, our personalities such that we become sensitive to His very heartbeat. That heartbeat contains all the revelation necessary to transform not only us, but the world around us.

 

Let’s get down to brass tacks: the light of the world is the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The light of the world is the revelation Who He is, what He did for us, and what His destiny is for the human race — or more specifically, what His destiny is for those who become One in and with Him!

 

The light of the world is the revelation of Creation. It is the revelation of the divine purpose manifested when Father, Son and Holy Spirit joined in total agreement and said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

The light of the world is the revelation of WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST, and WHO HE IS IN US!

 

I remind those of you in need of ministry that our Healing Prayer Call takes place on Mondays at 7:00 PM Eastern (4:00 PM Pacific). Once again, the number to call for healing is (805) 399-1000. Then enter the access code: 124763#.

 

At the same time, in case you are missing out on real fellowship in an environment of Ekklesia, our Sunday worship gatherings are available by conference call – usually at about 10:45AM Pacific. That conference number is (559) 726-1300, and the access code is 308640#. We hope to make these gatherings available by Skype or Talk Fusion before long.

Blessings on you!