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LIVING IN THE REALM OF MANIFESTATIONS

Isaiah 58

All of us should desire to see the manifestations of the Lord and the Lord desires to show himself to us as personally as individuals and collectively as a body of believers in his Son. What we've experienced of the Lord in these few months together is really only the beginning of what he desires to do here.

Knowing this to be true, as the shepherd of this work, I cannot become content with the victories of the past and I cannot become complacent and comfortable with the level that we have attained to.

I desire to see the more. God has more. We need more. And we will see the more of God as long as we continue to commit our way to his way.

I want to read a chapter in Isaiah that I've been meditating on in preparation for today. Isaiah 58. It's a chapter that talks about living in the realm where God continually manifests himself in the midst of his people.

READ ISAIAH 58

I. THE FIRST THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME HAS TO DO WITH MOTIVES. (Verses 1-5)

According to the word of the Lord, the Israelites were seeking God but their motives in seeking God were out of line.

The Isralites were like a lot of people in the church world today who look for the blessings held in the hand of God but fail to seek the face of God. Their motives were selfish and their ambitions were self-centered.

I want to be careful. I want us to be careful. We need to be careful. We need to be careful that in all our seeking for blesssings, in all our seeking for the manifestations of God in this place and in our lives, that we don't become like the Israelites and allow our hearts to become calloused until we use the people around us as rungs on a ladder to climb to higher levels of social status. That's what the Israelites were doing.

Our motives for doing what we do must remain pure and God centered or we'll find ourselves living as modern day charismatic pharisees thinking we're above others and we need to remember that the ground is level at the foot of the Cross. There are no "big I's" and "little you's" in the kingdom of God.

Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-14. These two pray-ers tell the whole story. Let's look at that together.

As we continue laying the foundation for the work of this ministry, and as we observe the responses of people who have gone out from among us and of those who are being given the opportunity to share in the mighty blessings that are in store as God manifests himself in this place and in our lives, it is seriously in our best interest to acquire and maintain the same kind of attitude displayed by the tax collector lest we find our own selves and this ministry in the same condition of jeopardy portrayed in the life of the pharisee.

Why do we do what we do? Is it to exalt ourselves or to exalt the work of our hands.....even if the work of our hands is a good work? Or is it to exalt the Name, the Word and the Will of the Lord?

WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT THE LORD WEIGHS OUR MOTIVES AND HIS RESPONSE TO US WILL BE DETERMINED BY WHAT HE SEES IN OUR HEARTS.

II. THE SECOND THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME HAS TO DO WITH MINISTRY. (Verses 6-7)

Israel was so backslidden spiritually and so consumed by their ambitions to seek after their own prosperity that they had forgotten what ministry really was.

I know this may be challenging but since God felt that it was important enough to remind Israel of then I feel it is important enough to deal with here and I don't want anyone to misunderstand what's being communicated.

Listen to this. God desires that we prosper. In fact, without the prosperity of God the church would have never made it these last twenty centuries. But prosperity is not and cannot be our primary objective. Ministry is our primary objective.

And what ministry are we to be ingaged in as followers of God?

These two verses are so plain and clear that we have to shut our eyes and plug our ears to miss what the Lord is saying.

We are to be engaged in the ministry of.....

1) loosing the bonds of wickedness. 2) undoing heavy burdens. 3) setting the oppressed free. 4) breaking every yoke. 5) sharing our bread with the hungry. 6) bringing the homeless into our homes. 7) clothing those who need clothes. And 8) keeping our hearts from growing hard and calloused.

This is ministry that's real. This is the ministry that God himself ordained that we engage ourselves in. God calls this kind of ministry the "fast that he has chosen." This is the kind of ministry that God looks upon with pleasure in his heart and, according to this chapter in Isaiah, this is the kind of ministry God loves to reward.

What did Jesus teach about giving to meet the needs of others? Look with me at what Jesus said in Luke 6:30-38.

God's idea about ministry doesn't include promoting products. God's idea about ministry doesn't even include promoting a move of God. God's idea about ministry is about walking in mercy and being merciful toward those who need to see and experience the love of God that's borne in our hearts by the Spirit of God.

III. THE THIRD THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD. (Verses 8-14)

God promised Israel that if they would get their motives right and do ministry the right way that he would move in their midst, manifest himself in outwardly miraculous ways and lead them in the heritage of Jacob.

Well, now that was for Israel. Yes it was. And it is for us too.

Look what Galatians 3:26-29 says.

What God promised to Abraham, his son Isaac and his son Jacob is also promised to each of us as believers individually and to the church as a corporate whole.

I don't know about you but I want the more of God. I want to see God in the light that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob saw him. I want to experience the fullness of God's blessings on my life and on this ministry.

I want to see the manifestations of God. What manifestations am I talking about?

1) I want to see Manifestations of Presence. I want to see the restoration of the Shekinah Glory of God where the Presence is not only felt but visibly and physically seen.

2) I want to see Manifestations of Power. I want to see the Power of God. Power to convict. Power to change. Power to save. Power to heal. Power to deliver.

3) I want to see Manifestations of Peace. I want to see this place and all of us so filled with the peace that passes all understanding that we are emotionally and spiritually sustained in spite of whatever adversities and trials come our way.

4) I want to see Manifestations of Provision. I want to see the miracles of provision that Jehovah Jirah is known for. Flour barrels that stay full. Oil containers that never run dry. Loaves and fishes that are multiplied to feed the hungry. Resources in abundance overflow to do the kind of ministry that God calls ministry and calls us to.

Why do I want to see them?

Because they exalt the Lord in such a way that nobody can steal his thunder. Because this body needs to see them. Because Hoxie needs to see them. Because this entire region needs to see them. Because this ministry will not be built without them. And because Isaiah 58 tells me that God desires to manifest himself to us in this way.

There is a progressive pattern in Isaiah 58.

It begins by addressing our motives for seeking God and for doing what we are doing.

It goes on to address what God calls ministry that's real ministry.

It concludes with the promise that if we will get our hearts right and do the work of ministry that nobody wants us to do that God will move mightily in our midst.

I'm going to conclude with some very basic and fundamental questions.

What are you following God for? Is it to get the blessings of God or to be a blessing from God to others?

How much of God do you want? A little fire assurance against the flames? A few warm fuzzies from the friendly side of the Holy Spirit? Or to be totally consumed by the purpose and plan of God for your life and your part in this ministry?

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