SHINING SPLENDOUR: PREREQUISITES

Then your LIGHT shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard – Isaiah 58:8 (NKJV)

Welcome to September, our Month of SHINING SPLENDOUR. This month, our Father’s Loving Heart is beaming and releasing LIGHT, LIGHT, and LIGHT! This month, we will walk in the LIGHT of LIFE (Jh.8:12). In His Light we will see light (Ps.36:9). God’s prophetic Word for us is that OUR LIGHT shall break forth like the morning! This is however a conditioned prophecy; it is the outcome of fulfilling the set of conditions stated in Isaiah 58: 2–7. These are the prerequisites for entering into the Sphere of Shining Splendour!

1. Come with a HUMBLE HEART that acknowledges your transgressions and repents from sins (v.1): “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:” (Ps.66:18). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jh.1:8-9).

2. SEEK the LORD DAILY (v.2a): “Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry to You DAILY” (Ps.86:3). Wisdom says: “Blessed is the man that hears Me, watching DAILY at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors” (Pro.8:34). Seek the LORD DAILY in WORSHIP, in PRAYERS and in the WORD.

3. DELIGHT to know God’s ways and delight in approaching Him (v.2b): Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of you heart.” The blessed person is one who delights in and meditates in the Word of the LORD day and night (Ps.1:2). Remember this: 2016 is our Year of Divine Delight! Delight in the LORD, and He will be delighted in you.

4. OFFER ACCEPTBLE SACRIFICES: Fasting and all of our spiritual sacrifices and services must be offered acceptably to the LORD. God weighs human motives. What are your underlying motives for praying, fasting, worship, giving or offering any form of service in the Kingdom? Isaiah 58:3-4 describe the wrong kinds and wrong motives for fasting. It is a FAKE FAST that tries to impress God. Fasting is futile when it is combined with pleasure-seeking, exploitation, strive, conflict, and cruelty. Verses 5-7 and 9-10 describe God’s desired and acceptable attitudes in fasting, namely: humility, remorse and repentance, showing forgiveness, liberating the oppressed, caring for the needy, showing kindness to the vulnerable, avoiding false accusation, and uplifting, positive communication.

Are you willing and ready to fulfil these conditions? God’s grace is available and sufficient to enable you. The Realms of Shining Splendour are awaiting you.