Monday Morning Scripture – Isaiah 7

The Sign of Immanuel

1 When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

2 Now the house of David was told, “Aram has allied itself with[1]Ephraim”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

3 Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,[2] to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.

4 Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.

5 Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying,

6 “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.”

7 Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

“‘It will not take place,
it will not happen,
8 for the head of Aram is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.
Within sixty-five years
Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.
9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all.’”

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz,

11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign,whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[3] a sign: The virgin[4] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[5] will call him Immanuel.[6]

15 He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,

16 for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.

17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.”

Assyria, Yahuah’s Instrument

18 In that day Yahuah will whistle for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.

19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes.

20 In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard also.

21 In that day, a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats.

22 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.

23 In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,[7] there will be only briers and thorns.

24 Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns.

25 As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.

Isaiah 7:1-25 (NIV)
Footnotes
[1] Isaiah 7:2 Or has set up camp in
[2] Isaiah 7:3 Shear-Jashub means a remnant will return.
[3] Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural.
[4] Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman
[5] Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they
[6] Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us.
[7] Isaiah 7:23 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms

Monday Morning Scripture – Hebrews 4

The Believer’s Rest

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.

2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word [1]they heard did not profit them, because [2]it was not united by faith in those who heard.

3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

“AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,”

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And Yahuah rested on the seventh day from all His works”;

5 and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.”

6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,

7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying [3]through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

8 For if [4]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of Yahuah.

10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as Yahuah did from His.

11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

12 For the word of Yahuah is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Yahusha the Son of Yahuah, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:1-16 (NASB1995)
Footnotes
[1] Hebrews 4:2 Lit of hearing
[2] Hebrews 4:2 Two early mss read they were…faith with those who heard
[3] Hebrews 4:7 Or in
[4] Hebrews 4:8 Gr Jesus

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Unify

.. . till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of Yahuah, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . .

Ephesians 4:13 (NKJV)

I love my children.  I have marked them.  They are mine and I am theirs.  We are symbiotic; we move together from glory to glory and from strength to strength. But there is a place of grace and envelopment that is coming where My sons and daughters will walk in perfect communion with Me:  Father, Son, and Spirit.

In the Father: you will walk in your true and authentic identity; who I created you to be before time began. Your eyes fixed upon Me.

In the Son: maturity, authority, and wisdom will operate together.  This is the place where you know your assignment and it is easy to stay on the narrow path.

In the Spirit: identity and authority are joined and knit together in the full power of My Spirit.

This is a place of full engagement and fulfilment. In this place everything is switched into gear, all pistons firing together, and with the full function and motion to pick up momentum for us to take flight together.  Where the things of earth grow small and become less worthy in your eyes – where your view and focus will be on the One who holds you and where I am bringing you up to.  

Activation: Declare and decree five-fold ministers to come together in unity for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:19 (NKJV)

.. . from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Who Are You

So many of us have no idea of who we really are or have an accurate assessment of how Yahuah sees us. We often compare ourselves to others and wish we could be like them and yet we don’t know them or their journey. We see their gifting or their ministries and long to be like them in some way, often becoming disgruntled by the slowness of growth or the revealing of our purpose. We think that working hard for the Kingdom will accelerate us into Yahuah’s given purpose, but we often are left feeling inadequate and disappointed.

But the Spirit of Yahuah asks you this question today: have you really sought Me and listened to My response? Have you asked Me what your purpose is or even what your giftings are? Have you just relied on what others see in you or have spoken over you and not asked My opinion?

I am Yahuah, Who gives to those that ask, Who is found by those who seek, and I am Yahuah Who opens the door that is knocked upon. So, ask Me My child, My beloved one, ask and listen, and I will show you what My purpose is for you.

Activation: Settle this today, Ask Yahuah what is your purpose in His Kingdom and what He has for you to do and then listen, write down what He says and make agreement with Him.

Ask, Seek, Knock

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 

8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Expectant Hope

“Yahuah, where are you?” This is the question many of you ask as you wander in the wilderness. You become more weighed down by each passing day, agonising in the wait.

My beloved, the question I ask you is, “Does a feast not require preparation?”

Do not lose heart, My child, for I am preparing a feast in your wait!
A feast requires preparation on both parts – the chef prepares the food and the guests get ready. As I prepare your feast, ask Me what you should be doing to get yourself ready. This will quench your hunger. Once the feast is laid, I will invite you to take your place at the table.

I understand waiting is hard, but there is purpose behind it. I have plans to prosper you, but releasing you prematurely will only cause harm. As such, you can trust that I will open the door when the time is right. In moments of vulnerability, shift your focus from darkness to light – instead of falling into hopelessness and despair, picture the feast that is coming! Allow your mouth to water! Declare your promises with expectant hope! The excitement of what is to come will allow the power of My Spirit to fill you with a sustaining joy, patience, and peace.

Do not lose heart and do not quit! Few seek the Kingdom, and I honour those who righteously seek it first. Your time of feasting is near! Keep your eyes fixed on things above, and you will relish in the sweet and juicy fruit that perfectly ripened in the wait.

Activation: Identify any wilderness areas in your life where you have lost hope. Ask Yahuah how you can partner with Him in the preparation. Once on track, repent for partnering with despair and choose to live in expectant hope. Picture your feast and declare it over your life! Keep knocking on the banquet door until it opens. Yahuah will honour your trust and obedience with blessings!

…..At the right time, I, Yahuah, will make it happen.

Isaiah 60:22 (NLT)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

#lionbites