The Joy of the Redeemed

2009
Thursday, 31 December
04:59:36

Reading Isaiah 35
Joy of the Redeemed

The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendour of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendour of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts,"Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance;with divine retribution he will come to save you." Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs.In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Lord: I say to you the desert and the parched land is this country. The country is at present in depression it has lost its way. The so called, leaders of men, have been beguiled by greed, and fallen into the pit. But I am bringing a new wave of understanding and hope. The land will once again be filled with joy and gladness, but it will not be brought about by political systems, or by the work of men. The wilderness and the parched places will once again be watered from heaven, and will bloom, as a well cared for garden. You, and all the nation will see and hear, great rejoicing in the streets and market places. A great shout of joy will resound through the land, as the spirit of the Lord Almighty waters the parched ground. The Glory of the Lord will be so clear to see, that even the ungodly will see and be afraid.

Be there for those who need a helping hand, for many who are on spiritual crutches will reach out for support, many who are afraid and in despair, will cry out to you for help. Point all men and women to Jesus. Take their hands steady their knees, guide them to the pathway that I have made in the desert. Say to those who are fearful; "The Lord your God comes to save you." Then, their eyes will be opened and their ears unstopped, their hearts will leap for joy. Their blindness, deafness and lameness will be no more, and they will climb onto the way, they will soar into the heavens on wings like the wings of eagles, and the earth shall be filled with the sound of their joy and they sing and worship.

In the places that once harboured the jackals and wolves of society, streams of Life will break forth and fountains of Living Water will be there for all to drink. A new harvest will spring forth, strong and fruitful. And a way will be there, for those who are being saved. It will be a way that only the saved may walk. It will take them through the dark places that once held a terror for them, but it will no longer be dark for the Light of the World will be with them as they journey, banishing all shadow and gloom. No one who wishes harm, and no one who caries hate in their hearts, will journey on this way, for no evil can find the way, only the redeemed, those washed in the precious blood of the lamb. They will sing and shout for joy as they journey, and there shall be dancing and clapping of hands. Gladness and joy will overtake them all, casting out all fear, darkness, sorrow and sighing. And they shall return singing to the near presence of the Lord.

The time has come, this word, which I gave to the prophet Isaiah, is being fulfilled in your land, in these days. Keep your focus on Jesus, and your eyes shall see it and your heart shall be glad.