THE DELIVERANCE IS COMING

ISAIAH CHAPTER 32



The Lord told Isaiah to tell the people that a righteous king was coming! And an honest prince would rule under him. He would shelter Israel from the storm and the wind. He would refresh her as a river in the desert. Then everyone would be looking for God, and those who could hear would listen to his voice.



In that day, ungodly fools would not be heroes, and wealthy cheaters would not be respected. Everyone would recognize ungodly fools for what they were; spreading lies about the Lord and depriving the hungry of food and not giving water to those who thirst. Those who are good will be generous to others and be blessed for what they do.



Women who lie around in lazy ease should listen to the Lord. He would tell them of their reward. In a little more than a year, the careless ones will suddenly begin to care. For the fruit crop will fail and the harvest not take place. Then these women of ease would throw off their unconcern, strip off their pretty clothes and wear sackcloth in grief. Their land would be overgrown with thorns and briers and joyful homes and happy cities will be gone. The palace and city would be deserted. Herds of donkeys and goats will graze the hills where the watchtowers stand. Until at last the Spirit is poured down from Heaven. Then the wilderness will once again become a lush and fertile forest. Justice will rule and quiet and confidence will fill the land.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Women were not the only ones singled out. God was warning them to not sit by in complacency while the enemy approached.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? God acts from above to change people's conditions on earth. Only when his spirit is among us can we achieve true peace. This makes us think of the end times when the Kingdom of God is established for all eternity. Does that concept sound too big for you to grasp? You are not alone. Perhaps it might help to think on a smaller scale like the fact that God's Spirit is already in us. Lying there, growing bigger and waiting to bring us peace and confidence. It will blossom and be an outpouring of great dimension. I like that concept, don't you?

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Pray for Gabe. Pray for Logan during her difficult pregnancy.
Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer and for her sister Wanda’s soul which went to heaven.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Gary Summers, my friend from church, who has cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.