Many times in the Old Testament, when the people of Israel violate their covenant with God by deliberately serving foreign gods, they would always end up being conquered and oppressed by their enemies.  When things got unbearable and intolerable, they acknowledged their sinfulness, penitently cried out to God and turned their hearts back to Him.  Because the Lord our God is rich in mercy and abounding in love, He faithfully responded by raising up and sending someone to them in whom the Spirit of the Lord would come upon and bring deliverance to His people.

” …  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (Deuteronomy 7:14)

God’s nature is abundant and that reality can never be separated from Him.  All things were made BY HIM and FOR HIM.  Therefore, we all have been set apart for His use, but what makes us different from each other in the way He calls us to be is if and when we respond to His call, “Be holy for I Am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:16)

Holiness never defined by the ways of the world … how we are to dress, accessorize, speak or what have you in a certain way.  Holiness isn’t supposed to be ruled by the thoughts and ways of mankind that is contrary to His Word.  Instead, we are to be in alignment to who the Lord our God called us to be, and in so doing, with the help of the Holy Spirit Who reveals to us how deeply and dearly loved we are by our Heavenly Father and willingly gave His only Begotten Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we position ourselves to be restored, redeemed and empowered to live holy lives, not by our own might nor by our own power, but by the Spirit of God. Apart from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing.

The transformation of our very beings to reflect and bear the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ, comes in submitting to Him and His Word, the only way to resist the enemy’s schemes (James 4:7).   Our righteous and holy ways are expected to be the result of our obedience to His Word because of love.  It is not obedience to be loved by Him, but because He first loved us and we experientially savored His goodness and faithfulness, we love Him back expressed by our obedience to Him.  Our faith in His love for us is what fuels us to be metamorphosed.  It is a life that is changed from the inside-out. It is a life as new creations in Christ.  

“Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to GOD’S MARVELOUS MERCIES?  To surrender yourselves to God to be His sacred, living sacrifices.  And live in holiness, experiencing ALL THAT DELIGHTS HIS HEART.  For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed BY THE HOLY SPIRIT through a total reformation of how you think.  This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.” (Romans 12:1-2 TPT)

We may think like  …  “oh well, I’m not ready to give up anything that I like and enjoy to do”, especially those that we know are defying to His Word … hmmmm … but don’t worry, the Lord our God will never violate our will.  Alternatively, He shows Himself personally strong to each one of us, allowing us to taste and see His goodness that will make His invitation to walk with Him irresistible.

I believe those who have been through this way can well relate.  And now, we can surely and assuredly say, “Thank You, Jesus, for pursuing me, never giving up on manifesting Your goodness before my very eyes until the satisfaction of my heart was filled to overflow.”

But those who have not yet given your all and all to Jesus and are still on this “seeking Him” season, fear not, worry not, for when your heart is ripe and the ground of your heart becomes fertile by the cultivation of His awesome wonders shown to you, there will be no other way but to believe and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life.

You see, at the triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem, people who heard of His coming took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, crying out, “Hosanna!  Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord! The King of Israel!  (John 12:12-13)

The meaning of the word “Hosanna” is Save us!, Deliver us!, Save now!  Even at that point in time, people knew they needed a Savior for a changed life.  They have witnessed how Jesus healed all who were sick, opened the eyes of the blind, delivered all who were oppressed by the enemy and raised Lazarus from the dead. 

Not only then, but how much more now, with this world that we are living in which causes our hearts to tremble and fear by the chaos, famines, wars, etc etc?  I believe it’s also our time to recognize our deficiency and our in dire need of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who came to save us. 

Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that IN ME you may have [perfect] peace and  confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]”   (John 16:33 AMP)

Jesus Who is the Word made flesh is saying that the only way to rise above what’s going on around us is to be IN HIM and HIM in us in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit Who abides in us FOREVER.

He said “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you.”  (John 14:16 AMPC)

The abiding presence of God in our lives is like the home that we live in and the room that we are in.  It is the place of safety and security.  It is the place where we are so welcomed, loved, cared for, helped, counseled, strengthened, provided and protected.  It is the place where we can explore and experience His grace, mercy and truth, an abode where we can be without pretense.  It is a place where we cannot remain ourselves, but be transformed and become who He created us to be, from strength to strength, from faith to faith, from glory to glory.

His Word is near us, in our hearts and in our minds, and as we heed the voice of our Good Shepherd Jesus, we are assured to live not in a roller coaster way of living, but in the unforced rhythm of His grace that empowers us to live in victory by faith, regardless of what we see.

“The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:8-9 ESV)

Adam and Eve lived a complete and full life before the fall.  They were created according to the image and likeness of God, just as God intended man to be.  But, when the enemy came, instead of them looking and living clothed in God’s glory, having everything provided for, they were lured to focus on one tree in the midst of countless ones.  He made them feel inferior of not partaking of that one tree which he deceivedly told them will make them “like God”.  In truth, they were already made according to His image and likeness even before the foundation of the world.  See the deception???    

But, “God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” (John 3:16 AMPC)

You and I are saved by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to become like Him.  It is the full circle restoration of being in the presence of God, talking and walking with Him in the cool of the day, just as the time in the Garden of Eden.  He made us become His sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ, that as He is, so are we in the world.  “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19)

So, what are we to do? 

Jesus said, If you love Me, feed my people.

Be a feeder designed by God.

Love what I love.

Love who I love.

Care what I care about.

Live what I live for.

You are my disciples, then disciple.

You are healed, then heal.

“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Matthew 25:40)

The antidote to poverty is the gospel of Jesus Christ that people will hear and know that they are who God says they are.  They do not lack in Christ!  They are not deficient in Christ!  They are complete in Christ!  God is their portion and inheritance!

The cure of the deficiency of this world is the sufficiency of Christ.

The greatest food we could give is the gospel, the Bread of Life.

The greatest clothing we could give is the gospel where we are clothed in His glory and righteousness.

Therefore, when we have a tug in our hearts to pray for someone, whether  we know them or not, PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!   You see, when one cries out and calls upon the Name of the Lord, he or she will be saved.  At times, the Lord may reveal Himself directly to the person,  but most of the time, He will whisper into our hearts their names or reveal to us the faces of those in need of prayer.

Just as the Holy Spirit shows Himself strong to us to do exploits and fulfill His plans and purposes through us, He desires to do the same for all mankind.  He is looking for consecrated men and women living holy lives for His use whom He can empower with His Holy Spirit. 

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Be strong and of good courage, for you and I are being set up to soar like eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint, for we are strong in Him and in the power of His might.

“This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Save now, I pray, O Lord;
O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity.
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.”  (Psalm 118:24-26)