Scriptures:
Isaiah 40:1-5
Psalm 126:1-6
As we read in the scriptures, Isaiah was prophesying to a people who were in a backslidden state. They knew that they were the apple of God’s eye through the covenant that Abraham had with God. Abraham obeyed God and God counted him as righteous. Because of Abraham, the people of Israel were blessed.
We can read in the Word of God that Israel is the only nation with the testimony of the Red Sea Experience, the Wilderness and Supernatural Provision, the Jericho Wall, etc. Through all these trials, the Israelites knew that God was with them. God wanted them to continue to obey so that they could continually reap His blessings.
God told them to stay away from the people who didn’t obey Him. He told them not to fellowship light with darkness. He told them not to fellowship righteousness with unrighteousness. He didn’t want them to fellowship the world and the church.
God is still saying that to us today: Be careful whom you hook up with. It’s not that everybody you fellowship is bad, but they are not good for you. They are not good for you because God is taking you to a place and they aren’t a part of it. God wants many today to snip, snip, and cut off relationships.
As a matter of fact God told me to tell you to kill them. I don’t mean with a gun or knife. I mean cut off the relationship. Many of these relationships are more powerful than God in your life and God wants you to kill it. God wants to turn around some situations in your life. If you don’t instead of you killing it, it will kill you.
If you are going to a new place in God, some of you will have to die to "self". You need to get rid of the emotions, family hinderances, etc. that take you away or distract you from the things of God.
Did you know that anything dead can’t hurt or have an effect on you? Many things are draining you and you let them drain you. You need to come to the place where you can’t hurt or manipulate the situation. You need to become a "dead man walking".
If you don’t kill the things in the way of you going to your next place in God, you will end up habitating with you (or mingling with it).
The Israelites ended up marrying the inhabitants of the land. God told them not to mingle with them or mix with them. I have a warning for single women - don’t be so desperate and marry the first man that comes into your life especially if they don’t have a relationship with God! The Israelites failed miserably by marrying outside of God’s will for their lives. God had to end up bringing them to a place of correction which was necessary. We need to be glad that God corrects us.
Let me give you an example. You can’t come to prayer service once or only when you want to and expect to see a turn around. God will bring correction to your life. Many situations in your life require that you press in and come to prayer before the throne room of God and it takes sacrifice and time.
You need to say out loud, "I need God. I need God like an alcoholic needs a drink; a drug addict needs a fix; I need God!"
God will send you correction but He sends you a warning first.
God raised up Isaiah to be His mouthpiece. He told him not to worry about the feasts and sacrifices; however, their heart was far from it.
Many in church today do the same thing. We come to church but we have no church in us.
Isaiah is not like the prophets in today’s times. The prophets today always tell you that you are going to be so blessed even though you are disobedient. Isaiah told the Israelites the truth not that they were blessed. We need prophets today who will be the mouthpiece of God and tell the TRUTH!
Isaiah was a true prophet and said what God said. The first 39 books of Isaiah say to the people to get yourself in order. These books tell of a God of judgement. He is a God who does whatever He wants.
By chapter 40, there is a SHIFT. Because of this shift, some theologians say that someone else wrote the remaining chapters. But that is just like God. When you see transition, God is sending a SHIFT in your life. You can’t remain the same old person.
God is saying to you today that you are a SHIFTing place. I want you to turn around one time and praise God for your SHIFT.
In the shifting place, there is no more judgement. The Word of God says, "your warfare is ended.” The battle is over.
During this shifting period, it also means that your iniquity is pardoned – you have been forgiven. God has casted our sins into the sea of forgetfulness. People will remember your sins, but the blood washes away my sins.
God told Isaiah to tell the Israelites that she has received "double trouble for your sins". Many of you are reaping the harvest from sin that you have sown. But tell the devil that you have already seen the double trouble. No matter how much trouble you are in, the blessings will be double.
If you don’t believe it, ask Job. He lost everything he had but got back double for his trouble. Whatever you have lost, it’s coming back to you.
Read Isaiah 40:3 – when a prince came through town, a crier would yell “prepare ye the way” to prepare the way for the prince.
What does it mean "a highway for God"? Let me explain. When God led Israel, He did it with a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. A highway is for people to take the fastest route not stay in the desert. God knows how to take care of you.
Go to verse 4 – every valley exalted – all dry places exalted (money, self-esteem, anointing, etc.)
This tells us that God is getting ready to lift you.
Continue to verse 4 – every mountain made low – the high places are coming down; things out of your reach (promotions, etc.)
When it said "Said", this scripture was telling you that God is gong to put it where you can get to your blessing.
There is a shift taking place in your life. Don’t look at the hard places; know that God is trasitioning you to better things and a new place in him.
I promise you that the SHIFTing may be uncomfortable, but God will pay you "double for your trouble"!
