Isaiah 23

Abba Father, thank you for this is the day that You have made and we shall be glad and rejoice in it. Thank you for a new year, thank you for Your presence in our lives and right now we ask that may Your presence go into all the parts of the world especially in the dark places that need Your light right now in the name of Jesus. We speak peace over our communities and nations in the name of Jesus. We glorify Your holy name Abba and thank you for sending Your One and Only beloved Son Jesus Christ, who died for the sins of the world so that we could have eternal life. We come in agreement and say worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the holy Lamb of God, AMEN.

Today's post is based on Isaiah chapter 23. Herein, we see the Word of the LORD coming against the people of Tyre and Isaiah 23:8-9 NKJV reads,

8."Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traders are the honorable of the earth?

9.The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth."

When we look at the above chapter, it is similar to the prophecies shared by Isaiah where the LORD would bring judgment on all who put their trust in the material things of the world other than God.

In my previous post, I shared the reality that God is not against His people having money but He is against money and the possessions of the world having your heart. In this case, material things having your heart, means they are the center of your attention. The main thing about all of this is God does not want your heart to desire something that the enemy will eventually use against you through schemes and temptations especially when it becomes an idol in your life.

James 1:13-15 NKJV tells us, "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth. to sin; and sin when it is full grown, brings forth death." The LORD in these verses exposes the devices of the enemy whereby he starts off with tempting one with a desire that will eventually cause them to sin and in turn cause loss and destruction in their lives.

It is important to note that it is not only wealth and honor that have the ability to draw a person's heart away from God. A career, work and people as well can be used by the enemy as a temptation to draw one further from God's presence. During Jesus' earthly mnistry, God gave Him all the power, influence, resources and wealth that He required to complete His work here on earth. Jesus was fully God while at the same time fully man and yet we know Jesus even though He was in the world and had access to the things of the world, nothing in the world had Him. This means He kept His heart and attention focussed on doing the will of the Father and the eternal rewards of heaven. Before His crucifixion on the cross, He told his disciples in John 14:30 NKJV "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me."

Today, Jesus reminds us that whoever accepts Him as Lord and Saviour of their lives will receive the same power and ability to live in this world but with hearts that are attuned to heaven's reward of serving and doing the Father's will. God knew that none of us are able able to live in this world and conquer the temptations of the enemy in our strength so He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus Christ is the bridge between you and God to bring you into a renewed relationship with God giving you eternal life. This new relationship with God also empowers you to live a fruitful life here on earth that is aligned to God's will and purpose for your life.

If this sounds like you; please say this prayer with me; I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

I'll end with this Word found in 1 John 4:4 (NKJV)

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."

AMEN, thank you LORD.