Beauty From Ashes

2/5/2002

Men and women who truly are saved, who belong to Jesus... “Seek first the Kingdom,” period. They are not impressed with or swayed by the promise of job promotions, ego, financial “security,” climate, fleshly relations, or anything other than serving God’s Purposes in their generation. They cherish His Life amongst His People that “the gates of Hell cannot prevail against.” It is their heart. It is their passion. It is the purpose of their Second Birth—to be intertwined in heart, soul, mind, and strength with Him and His Body. They are dead to the first birth, or they could never have truly had a Second Birth. They choose to make no decisions and hold no affections “after the flesh.” They will not “move” or decide anything based on the things “mere men” pursue.

In the world, men and women court instincts and appetites of the flesh. They travel in their hearts far and wide... in search of “a promising future.” Young and old, worldly men and women allow their journeys to be fueled by dreams of triumphing over a foe or of advancing a cause... or of finding a great love... or of the hope of fortunes easily made. These things are at the root and foundation of carnal, first-birth life. A “mere man” dreams of becoming a hero. In Father’s House, there is no such position.

Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isa.53:1-6).

The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away (Isa.50:4-5).

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion—to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD that He may be glorified.

And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations (Isa.61:1-4).

But you shall be named the priests of the LORD, they shall call you the servants of our God (Isa.61:6).

ji, h