Subscription Lists

We are reading in Isaiah Chapter 43 and we come to verse 5 – where God repeats – Do not be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring you and gather you. We need to hear that again and again – that is why He repeats it so often. Do not be afraid. I am with you – I am doing this, because I love you.

We are created and shaped and fashioned by God – we need not fear – He has redeemed us and called us to be His by name. At a time when there is much fear and anxiety and worry around – this is indeed an encouraging and comforting and reassuring word.

Verse 8 – Lead out those who have eyes. but are blind. I do not know how to do that – but we are called to do it – to lead and open eyes and ears – God wants His chosen people back in the land – and back in Jerusalem. Perhaps, part of the answer is in verses 10,11 – the importance of witnesses – the significance of my servant – who is chosen – so that you may know and believe and understand. These are strong words. The prophetic word of the prophets is coming true – and much of that same prophetic word has still to come true.

Verse 12 – We read of what God does for us, and He does all of that through Jesus. I have revealed and saved – I am not someone foreign. We do not serve an unknown foreign god – we serve the living God – the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah goes on to remind the people of what God did in the past – redeeming them out of Egypt, when they were trapped as slaves. I heard your cries. I saw you suffering, and I gave you Moses, and I made a way through the Red Sea for you – a path through the mighty waters. Look, you have been through deep waters before. I will be with you again. When the Egyptian chariots chased you, I dealt with them – verse 17 – snuffing them out.

Those who seek to touch the people of God – He can snuff out. Those whose faith in God is weak, like a smouldering wick, He fans into flame.

These Egyptians were destroyed by the same waters through which you passed safely. Isaiah tells the people not to dwell on the past, because I'm doing a new thing. In one sense there are to forget the former things, in the sense that these were ‘the good old days’, and God will never act like that again.

Verse 19 – Do you not see what I am doing – I am making away in the desert. God can make it dry where there was a sea and He can supply cool clear refreshing water where it is a dry barren wilderness. I am providing streams in the wasteland

God operates on the basis of need. Refresh and renew means to bring something back to its former condition. It can be in the desert seasons when we call upon God to intervene in our affairs. Have we not found that to be so very true?

We are seeing images of the barren desert wastelands in these days, but those who know the way through the barren territory make it – and who will drink from these refreshing streams and rivers – as He pours water on thirsty souls.

Many do not want God to do new things, but He pours out the Holy Spirit and some say “No, I am not interested in that” – but He still does it.

God pours out the Holy Spirit and the picture we are given here is of wild animals seeing the freshwater – verses 20,21 . They go along and drink, but the refreshing renewing water was given for the people. The water was given to satisfy My people – those whom I have chosen – so that they may be renewed and proclaim My praise. Our God is in the business of transformation – TearFund has helped so many communities regarding ‘transformation’.

In Chapter 44 Isaiah tells them again – many of these important truths are repeated because we need to have these things drummed into us – verses 1,6 .

God wants to bless his people so that people will be fruitful – like a green lush oasis in the middle of a wilderness.

This is what this hour should be where as an Oasis we get the spiritual colour back into our cheeks – a time for taking in nourishing refreshment – then you will say – I belong to the Lord – I belong to Jesus – I am Christ's – I am drinking of the Holy Spirit – given to us by Jesus. He provides this refreshing – and he is renewing and strengthening me.

Isaiah is looking forward to that day when Jesus Christ is born and comes into our world – and gives birth to the Church – the Church of Jesus Christ.

“Hear our praying, merciful God – hear us as we pray for the Church – especially where she needs renewal and refreshing. Where men and women open their hearts and minds and beings to You fill these vessels with the Holy Spirit – let there be overflowing, as happened in the book of Acts. Deal with those who do not want You to do a fresh work – a new thing – deal with that sin – intervene and transform – we pray in Jesus’ name.” Amen.

"Inspiration For You" from Randy Mitchell

The Blessings of the Christmas Drumsticks