It's the day after elections in the U.S.A. and there is the usual mix of volcanic views and emotions spewing forth from one end of the country to the other. Now, more than ever before, people need true HOPE to hang onto, not just false or empty political promises for it, but something with substance, something that is guaranteed, something that is unshakeable in these shaky times.
There's a song called Heaven on Earth that I've been listening to all week and can best sum up what I believe God is calling His people to focus on.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.
His anointing is empowering
The Kingdom of the Lord is within me.
He's calling me to the heavenlies -
To Be seated in heavenly places -
Just like Heaven, just like Heaven on Earth.
Marching in the spirit of unity
To our community, show His ability.
The will of the Lord for His children
Is to demonstrate, perpetuate.
Something's moving! Something's changing!
See His glory! Feels like Heaven on Earth!
Lightning and thunder! Miracles and wonders!
The sound of many waters! Heaven on Earth!
Heaven is calling for you to come higher!
To see everything from a new point of view.
To be seated with Jesus in Heavenly places
From His perspective everything is made new.
I really get the sense today that God wants to encourage and comfort His people with the LIGHT of His Words of TRUTH, HOPE and FAITH. Here are some verses that are running through my mind today.
Jesus said in John 14:1, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me!" He goes on to say in 12-18, and 26-27: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father...If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— The Spirit of TRUTH, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." "The Helper, The Holy Spirit, will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus exhorts His diciples “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Isaiah 60:1-2, "Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness all peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you."
Psalm 121 - A Song of Ascents.
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]—From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore."
Hebrews 11:1 defines Faith in the light of HOPE. "Faith is the assurance, the confirmation, of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith is perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Romans 5:1-5 defines Hope in the Light of FAITH.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Early this morning I was reminded of this little hymn:
Because HE LIVES, I can face tomorrow!
Because HE LIVES, all fear is gone!
Because I know WHO holds my future!
And Life is worth the living, just because HE LIVES!!!!
Let HOPE, FAITH, and the LIGHT of God rise up in us, His Called Ones, knowing that HE is working out everything for our good!
Romans 8:24-28,31 -
"For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise, The Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of The Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
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