HASTENING HIS COMING
(week 01/14)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Once again, we wish all our readers a healthy, wealthy, Christ-filled, destiny fulfilling New Year!
2013 was prophetically declared to be a year of rest and recompense and indeed we have experienced God’s rest and recompense to a degree but not in its fulness as expected.
Why?
We the church are responsible for hastening or delaying the coming of the Lord in us in His perfection and fulness, so 2014 is to be the year of hastening the coming of the fulness of God’s rest and recompense.
2Peter 3:11-12 NIV: Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives (12) as you look forward to the day of God and SPEED its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
This day of His coming will also be a day of vengeance as prophesied in
Isaiah 61:1-7 NIV: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, (2) to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, (3) and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (4) They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. (5) Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. (6) And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. (7) Instead of their shame my people will receive a DOUBLE portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a DOUBLE portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
Observe that this day of vengeance will also be a year of comfort or recompense to those who mourn in Zion. A time of rebuilding the church, a time of great prosperity and a time of inheriting a double portion as a recompense or reward for those who have been mourning in Zion.
Against whom will God be taking vengeance?
The rebellious church of the house of Saul who are not mourning but are at ease in Zion!
Amos 6:1 AMP: WOE TO those who are at ease in Zion and to those on the mountain of Samaria who are careless and feel secure, the notable men of the chief [because chosen by God] of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! [Luke 6:24, 25.]
Amos 6:4-6 AMP: Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock and the calves out of the midst of the stall, (5) Who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and invent for themselves instruments of music like David’s, [I Chron. 23:5.] (6) Who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved and sick at heart over the affliction and ruin of Joseph (Israel)! [Gen. 49:22, 23.]
Wicked politicians called hypocrites in Job.34.20-30; and strange children in
Psalms 144:7-15 KJV: Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; (8) Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. (9) I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. (10) It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. (11) Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: (12) That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: (13) That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: (14) That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. (15) Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
It is crucial that we hasten the coming of the Lord now because the days are evil (Eph.5:16) and so all creation is IN PAIN WAITING for the manifestation of the sons of God:
Romans 8:19-22 AMP: For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship]. (20) For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it–[yet] with the hope [Eccl. 1:2.] (21) That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children. (22) We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now. [Jer. 12:4, 11.]
We hasten the coming of the Lord by actively waiting (Gal. 5:5-6) for His coming by diligently, watching and praying (Lk. 21:36, Rom. 12:12) using the blood (Heb. 13:20-21), the Word (1 Jn. 2:5) and the power of the Holy Spirit (Jude. 1:20) following or imitating the Lord Jesus as Elisha followed Elijah to inherit the double portion.
Revelation 14:4 KJV: These are they, which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
As we follow the Lord in this way, we like Elisha saw Elijah taken up in a chariot of fire (2 Kgs.2:1-15), will see Him by revelation exalted at God’s right hand on the throne and we seated with Him (Eph. 2:6) so cause our sonship to come into physical manifestation fulfilling:
1 John 3:2 KJV: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; FOR we shall see him as he is.
Hebrews 10:35-37 AMP: Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. (36) For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. (37) For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.
