Turning Around
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| Beyond changing our situations, God is interested in changing us |
There, he dealt with the heads of the household, the scribe, the elders of the priests and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz.
For too long, we have been dependent on external solutions. These include events, programs, personalities, talents, resources, organizations or leaders whom we constantly look up to.
We then wonder why, despite the fact that so much doctrine has been received, we find ourselves often unable to complete the birthing process for things that have been received in the spirit.
Through salvation, we have been delivered from spiritual barrenness. However it is still possible for the delicate process that follows conception to be interrupted.
The result is that vital fruit is miscarried because the conducive environment required for spiritual incubation has been neglected. It is one thing to be able to conceive. It is quite another to be able to carry the fruit over into delivery.
We then wonder why, despite the fact that so much doctrine has been received, we find ourselves often unable to complete the birthing process for things that have been received in the spirit.
Through salvation, we have been delivered from spiritual barrenness. However it is still possible for the delicate process that follows conception to be interrupted.
The result is that vital fruit is miscarried because the conducive environment required for spiritual incubation has been neglected. It is one thing to be able to conceive. It is quite another to be able to carry the fruit over into delivery.
Breeding Ground for Change
When Mary enquired of the angel concerning the birth of her child, it was because she needed an explanation of how this was to occur seeing that as yet she knew no man. The response that she received was that the Holy Ghost would come upon her and the power of the Highest would overshadow her (Luke 1:35).
This applies also to our present situation. The deep things of God do not come about by human effort, strategy or machinery. There has to be a genuine work of the Spirit who alone can take what is impossible and turn it around.
In the natural, birthing is characterized by contractions which are indicative that something new is about to be brought into the world. The same applies in the spirit when we speak of travailing prayer.
Paul explained that we do not know how to pray as we ought but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). Note that the expression used here is that of someone giving birth to something. It is not shout, or call, or mutter, or sing - it is groan. From this chapter, we see that creation is groaning, the Spirit groans and we too are groaning inwardly.
This applies also to our present situation. The deep things of God do not come about by human effort, strategy or machinery. There has to be a genuine work of the Spirit who alone can take what is impossible and turn it around.
In the natural, birthing is characterized by contractions which are indicative that something new is about to be brought into the world. The same applies in the spirit when we speak of travailing prayer.
Paul explained that we do not know how to pray as we ought but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). Note that the expression used here is that of someone giving birth to something. It is not shout, or call, or mutter, or sing - it is groan. From this chapter, we see that creation is groaning, the Spirit groans and we too are groaning inwardly.
Our lives are meant to be yielded in prayer for the birthing of what God desires upon the earth. And as with Mary, it is not by our own resources, power or might that we achieve the realities of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, experience the supernatural, attain our destiny and fulfill our calling. It is by His Spirit that we conceive and it is by His Spirit that we deliver.
However, by often devoting most of our attention on the maintaining of schedules and programs, the busyness and cares of daily life, success in earthly relationships,pursuit of human solutions, we miss out on the perfect environment which alone can foster the breeding of that which has been implanted in our spirit. The presence of God Himself.
However, by often devoting most of our attention on the maintaining of schedules and programs, the busyness and cares of daily life, success in earthly relationships,pursuit of human solutions, we miss out on the perfect environment which alone can foster the breeding of that which has been implanted in our spirit. The presence of God Himself.
Faith and Patience
This time round, Hezekiah learnt his lesson. He no longer conferred with flesh and blood, nor did he follow some religious tradition or practice. He entered straight into the breeding ground of his destiny. As an individual, he stripped himself of his own human ways and external crutches in order to make that vital connection with the presence. This is what the challenge of the day demanded.
Discouragement leading to spiritual abortion comes when we have a wrong impression of the situations we are facing. We may quickly find out that we have been focused in a manner that magnified our natural existence over our spiritual lives. We must understand that beyond changing our situations, God is interested in changing us!
This is a period where we are being tested and tried to see whether we qualify to maintain what we were destined to deliver to our generation. The faith that brought about conception needs now to be combined with patience as we seek the presence of the One whose Spirit alone can complete the birthing process within us.
Even though the apostles had received a very clear promise from Christ that they would receive power after the Holy Ghost had come upon them, they were still required to tarry in prayer in the upper room until what was promised to them became reality. The prophetic word needed to incubate in the atmosphere of prayer until the time of birthing.
Even though the apostles had received a very clear promise from Christ that they would receive power after the Holy Ghost had come upon them, they were still required to tarry in prayer in the upper room until what was promised to them became reality. The prophetic word needed to incubate in the atmosphere of prayer until the time of birthing.
A Time of Fruitfulness
Hezekiah restored the correct priority and position of God in relation to himself and in relation to the present situation.
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: “O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, O Lord, and hear: open Your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the Living God.
“Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands- wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the world may know that You are the Lord, You alone.”
Then the Isaiah son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word the Lord has spoken concerning him:
“...Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice, and lifted your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel...
Because your rage against Me and your tumult has come to My ears, therefore I will put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came.” (Isaiah 37: 14-23, 29)
Finally the correct arrangement was in place and the supernatural was now about be released. Something new had been born. This was a new dawn and a fresh cycle of fruitfulness was about to be set in motion.
Seasons of prayer times must be sufficient for us to fully yield to the Spirit of God and pray effectively until there is an inward release. Hezekiah not only had his prayer answered, and the third part of the prophecy fulfilled (see verses 36-38), but with this delivery, the nation entered into a season of abundance.
This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, and the second year what springs from the same; also in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. (Isaiah 37:30)
