Isaiah 7:9 - The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all. The last part of that verse is often repeated by Christians but do we really understand what God meant?
The Lord gave that word to Ahaz, a one-time king of the Kingdom of Judah who also happened to be the father of King Hezekiah. This prophetic word was part of a larger message from God when the people of Judah were gathered behind the wall of Jerusalem because their nation was under attack. Two armies lay in wait beyond the city's gates - the Aramites and Judah's brother nation, the Kingdom of Israel.
Isaiah was sent to King Ahaz to tell him that the enemies at the gate would not overcome the city. He called their kings "smoldering firewood" and assured Ahaz there was no reason to fear them (Isaiah 7:4). And then, He had His prophet utter Isaiah 7:9. That verse was the condition on which God's promise hinged - if Ahaz didn't fear those kings and their armies, then the threatened destruction of Jerusalem and its people would not occur.
Often when people speak of Isaiah 7:9 they ignore the fact that it was a clause in a larger message to God's people. And because of this, many Christians are unaware that God's promises hinge on them not fearing the Goliath standing in their path. They are ignorant of Joshua and Caleb's announcement at Kadesh Barnea, the pronouncement that so pleased God that they were the only two men who survived God's culling of everyone in the wilderness who'd doubted Him. They were the only two of their generation to enter the Promised Land. Numbers 14:8-9 - If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
Christians are called to only fear God and nothing else. When we allow a spirit of fear to get the best of us, we signal to God that we might need more time to become familiar with His faithfulness before He can release the land of milk and honey to us. If not, we'll enter and the devil will use tactics to scare us into relinquishing what we received. And in such an instance, the blessings meant for God's people could end up under the control of God's enemy.
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.
Look at that sentence. It is just a bunch of words until you realize the weight each carries for your journey into the promises of God. That verse is just a catchy Christian saying until you realize it is God's order to you and I to fix our faces like flint despite the attacks and oppression we face. Those words won't mean anything to us until we see that our faith is a platform we must prayerfully climb onto and not descend from until we have complete victory. If not, we will not stand at all.
And that is what happened in the time of King Ahaz. He feared the enemy and they eventually defeated him, killing 120000 warriors in one day and carting women, children and the aged as captives. That shall not be your portion IJMN, Amen. The Lord will help us take a Jairus stance as our Savior walks us to the miracle that is already on the way.
See you at Noon EST for fellowship.
FINAL MESSAGE
For those of us who will spend time watching the Presidential Election Debate tonight, please keep something in mind.
We need to pray for God's will to be done. Not ours.
Friday's P&P message speaks to this issue, but I just saw that the debate is tonight so I want to encourage those of us who say we believe in and serve a Mighty God to let that Mighty God lead.
Please be careful how you use your mouth and thoughts to speak or think about either candidate and their parties. Do not be tempted to sin against God in your freedom to express yourself. Remember that we have learned about how to discuss leaders, how to talk about other people (and how not to).
Lots of people will say lots of things. May the Lord place a guard upon our mouths and may we guard our hearts, IJMN, Amen.
God bless you!
My eyes on you I wanna reach out over you
Know you're feeling hollow
Hide in my shadow
Hear love calling, waiting to hold you
I'll cover your hurting
Cover your hurting
And I don't care if you don't feel brand-new
I'm here to fill a void in you, fill a void
No matter what you go through
I am still God
No matter what you go through
Falling deeper
Be still, be still, be still
I am still God
Be still, be still, be still
I am still God
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for another opportunity to gather in Your name and in Your presence. Hallowed be Your name. Thank You for bringing us together from different countries so we could worship You and stand in the gap for people.
Lord, as we go our separate ways, please remember us for our obedience in giving You due praise as well as praying for others. Meet each person who participated at their point of need. Wipe away their own tears and answer their personal petitions with speed and power whereby it is clear it could only have been You!
Thank You in advance for being the Prayer-Answering God. Thank You for being the Steadfast God. Thank You for being He who loves us all completely. The God who has promised to protect us as we stand firm in faith. The God who holds us up even when our faith isn't where we want it to be. Thank You, dear God.
IJN, Amen.
I'd like to encourage us all to read the Don't Break Faith With God series. Had to read it this morning and it was very helpful.
I also went back and read The Lesson In Repeated Patterns.
May the Lord bless you, no matter what you are going through.
LAST 10 MINUTES
If you read today's message then let me encourage you to (re)read the Don't Break Faith With God series. It will be a great refresher, especially if you are facing any giants in this season.
Now, let us declare the following over ourselves as children of God who have been empowered to bind and loosen here on earth as in heaven through the word of God, this Spirit and of course the name of the Savior -
By the grace of the living God, the I AM that I AM, we will stand firm in our faith and not be destroyed. We will not fall.
By the grace of our Heavenly Father, we shall not fear the smoldering firewood that is nothing but ask but pretends to have power when it doesn't.
And by the grace of our Almighty God, we will witness the marvelous miracles He will perform for our sake.
IJMN we have so prayed, Amen.
Glory be to You, Heavenly Father. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. Not just upon myself, but upon my friends.
Lord, I use this opportunity to lift them up to You, knowing that You want the best for them and have them at the top of Your mind.
Lord, I decree that each and every of the enemy's plans for my friends are destroyed by the power and fire of the Lord God Almighty. I call on You, who foils the devices of the crafty, to ensure that where my friends are concerned, the enemy will be greatly disappointed.
Father, I pray that Your purpose and plan for my friends will be fulfilled to the fullest. For Your word states that Your plans will not be thwarted. I pray that my friends will walk on the path of righteousness and grow in the knowledge of You. Cover them, God, in Your grace and mercy, IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for sis @FFJ that you continue to increase her in supernatural wisdom, favour, knowledge and understanding. I pray that you continue to bless her and her loved ones. I rosy that you continue to perfect every aspect of her life IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I commit my siblings to you. I pray that you continue to work through them. I pray that you continue to renew, strengthen and prune them for your glory. I just really pray that you help them to continually seek you above everything else IJMN Amen
From JIR - Please Lord look over all widows and orphans. Please turn their mourning and sorrow into joy and gladness. Please bless them with the strength and courage to keep pushing through and bless them with the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Please touch their hearts Lord to turn to You and rely on You for strength and guidance. IJMN. Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people that are ill and recovering. I pray that they experience your mighty healing power. Just as the woman with the issue of blood knew she would be healed by the hem of your garment. I pray you strengthen their faith as they wait on you for their healing. I pray that your healing power permeates every inch of their bodies. I pray that you coordinate the eyes and hands of surgeons to carry out successful surgeries IjMN Amen
Father, we thank you for the recent testimony about Auntie B that sis @Jesus Is Real shared with us.
God we use this opportunity to again glorify Your Name. Thank You for the good news tied to Auntie B and we know what You have started, You will complete.
We pray for her healing and the transformation of her body. Your word in Jeremiah 30:17 states, But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.'
Thus, we pray for the complete restoration of her health and that all wounds are healed. Take all the glory, Jehovah Rapha, IJMN Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray that you take charge of election seasons in countries. I pray that you avert anu impending violence or rigging that may want to destabilize these activities. I pray that you protect citizens as they exercise their rights IjMN. I pray that you help them choose the right leader to move them forward IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray that you help us improve our hearts and minds. Help us to be consistent with your word in Philippians 4:8. Help us to meditate on your word when our minds are troubled. Help us to radically trust even when we can't see a way out. Thank you Mighty Father IjMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for couples waiting on the fruit of the womb. I pray that you turn their waiting to fruitfulness. As they wait, I pray that you teach them and help them to depend on you and radically trust you no matter the reports. I pray that you break every cycles of failed IVFs, miscarriages and difficult adoption processes. IjMN Amen
Father, I thank You for Your word states that even the lawful captive shall be set free because of Your power, Your might, Your word and Your Spirit.
And so, Lord, I stand on Your word and declare that the strongmen holding souls captive on LSA are shredded for Your glory. I speak the name Jesus into every place they are gathered. I bind them in the name of the Savior Jesus and decree that their chains are broken and their captives are set free.
Every strongman of fear, lack, spiritual deafness and blindness, antichrist, lies, deception, gossip, slander, libel, rape, death, sexual perversion and immorality, suicide, intrusive thoughts, distractions, witchcraft, New Age practices, occult, demonism, devil worship, anxiety, self cursing, blasphemy, coarse language, thieving, and all others are broken. They fall and brash because the presence of my God is here. Like Dagon, they stand no more.
And God, as these souls experience liberty, I pray that they encounter Christ, believe and receive the Holy Spirit. That they be filled thoroughly so that those they were set free from cannot return with seven more evil spirits.
IJMN, I thank You for Your victory, Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people across the world that don't know you or are still reluctant to experience you. I pray Lord that you open up their hearts and mind to see how much you love them and how much you want the best for them. Help them adjust as they come to know of your power and might. I pray that you surround them with wonderful believers, churches, fellowships and communities that will help them grow in their walk with you. I pray even in times of uncertainty, they will continue to experience you and walk steadfast with you IjMN Amen
From JIR - I pray for those looking for shelter and their next meal to be blessed with libations and shelter. I pray that You Lord lead them to a safe place so that their needs can be tended to. I pray that You watch over them Lord and they take You as their refuge. I pray that You give them the strength and courage they need to keep going and You provide them with opportunities to heal and get them back on their feet. IJMN. Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I thank you for today's word on standing firm in our faith. I pray that you help us to continually walk by Faith and not by sight. I pray you help us to wait on you and not let wordly wisdom lead us astray IJMN Amen
PRAYER TIME
Pray for others
From M22 - Thank you Heavenly Father for today. Father I pray for the spirit of patience and to understand that things can't always go my way. Help me to continually trust you even in times of uncertainty IjMN Amen