Foundations for Christian Mission, Student Workbook, SW04

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F O U N D A T I O N S F O R C H R I S T I A N M I S S I O N

Let God Arise! (continued)

(Gen. 32.24-32). Like Jehoshaphat, we have no strength against the rulers of this present darkness and spiritual forces gathered to destroy America’s inner cities, nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on the Lord (2 Chron. 20.12). We are convinced that one day God will give the cities of this world to his Son (including America’s inner cities!), which are merely one significant part of the inheritance the Father has been pleased to give to the Risen Lord (Ps. 2.8). Knowing that our Lord Jesus must reign until all of his enemies are placed under his feet (1 Cor. 15.24-28), we will neither doubt his intentions nor be impatient in the timing of his answers. God will respond to us, in his own time and in his own way. As we leave our gathering to scatter again in our particular circles of influence and relationship, we acknowledge our dependence on him whether our prayer session has been a half-hour, an entire morning, or full days and weeks of fasting and prayer, we know that the promise of the Lord is sure: Isa. 55.6-11 (ESV) - “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; [7] let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. [10] ”For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

Truly, the Word of the Lord cannot return back to him either fruitless or empty. The purposes of our God, this great God, shall stand (Isa.40.8)!