Enter the Rest
“Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”, and, “This is the place of repose”- but they would not listen. So then, the word of the Lord to them will become: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule; a little here, a little there- so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured.” (Isaiah 28:11-13)
This is a strong word coming against “priests and prophets” (vs. 7), the religious leaders who were called to carry God’s glory in such a way that Israel would walk in her destiny as the people of God. Instead, they turned from the Presence of God to the performance of religion, from God’s Word of Love to embrace a system of rule upon rule. They turned what should be a place of justice, strength, peace, and liberty; into a place of bondage.
I believe we can understand all this. Our nation long ago abandoned the foundations upon which we first began to build. We were called to be a light to the world; but, have instead become a reproach. We have preached freedom, but live as slaves. We have become so filled with ego, vanity, pride that we are like how Israel and her religious leaders are described. We “stagger from wine and reel from beer…all the tables are covered with vomit and there is not a spot without filth.”
One look at the major spheres of influence–religion, media, arts, government, family, business, education–and we can see we are in real moral, ethical, physical, spiritual trouble. It seems that every sphere of influence is covered with filth. BUT, there is hope.
We are about to see change. There is a wind blowing; a fresh wind of justice and strength; of healing, deliverance, and love. And, I am seeing it in the above passage, in a single word: “rest”.
The Lord says, “I know your deeds. That you say you are the land of the free and home of the brave; but, live in bondage and fear. That you love to preach My Word and say you worship and trust in Me; but,your hearts are far from Me.”
“And, you have fallen into great darkness. You have been snared and captured, bound and shackled. You turned from Me to build a house of deceit and lies, not one of truth. A house of lust, not one of honor and purity. A house of greed, not one of grace. A house of violence, not one of peace. Now, you have fallen backward into your own filth with no one to help you up. And, you are crying out to Me for help.”
“I hear your cries,” says the Lord. “And, I AM coming to you. I AM coming to you by the Spirit of Humility and Purity. And, your hearts are being stirred up. Your hearts are turning in repentance as you lift your cries to Me. And, My Spirit is moving within you bringing the fresh wind of humility and fresh fire of purity.”
“For, I will have a Bride that is pure, a people that are humble before Me.”
“Therefore, Come to Me. Enter My Rest and you will find Grace and Mercy, Justice and Love. If you will do this, My Children, I will place upon you My authority and power to meet the challenges ahead.”
“For, I AM bringing change to this land. I AM going to turn this land through the Spirit of Repentance and bring her back to her true foundations. I AM about to astound this nation with wonder upon wonder, and the wisdom of the wise will vanish before the outpouring of My Glory. Because you are crying out to Me, I shall do this. And, you shall be My Glory upon the land”
The Lord says, “The days ahead will be ones of great signs, wonders, and miracles; but, also ones of great challenge. They go hand in hand. You must be strong in the Fear of the Lord in these coming days. But, first you MUST ENTER MY REST. Your strength is found ONLY in My Rest, in My Presence. In the Rest is the Rescue. And the Rescue brings Release. Freedom from every chain, every shackle, every snare. This Freedom, this Release brings the Revelation of My Sons upon the land. Therefore, ENTER MY REST. And, watch what I will do in you, for you, and through you.”