Make preparation for the journey
There are ten things that God wants us to know in order for Him to prepare us for our journey and ultimate destination. These are found in Isaiah 55.
1. There is a call.
Isaiah 55:1 - “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
The Bible tells us that we are all called and no one is excluded from God’s plan of salvation. When we hear the call and come to Him, our past is forgotten and forgiven and we only have a future.
2. Lay down your works
Isaiah 55:2 - Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
It is not necessary for us to work for our salvation. We need to stop working so hard to promote ourselves and to try and make things work out. We should allow God to work things out for us.
Too many Christians work for their salvation but will never be able to work to be good.
We should allow the anointing to fill us and to transform our weaknesses into His strength.
3. We need to listen
Isaiah 55:3 - Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you - The sure mercies of David.
We hear many things but we should be careful before we react. There are many voices out there and some of us pick up the wrong messages. The one that listens with the Spirit is the one who has the best hearing.
4. God is preparing a new breed of leaders
Isaiah 55:4 - Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, a leader and commander for the people.
God has brought you this far because He is preparing you for your tomorrow. There is a unique anointing on your life and God is preparing you for things that have never been done by anyone else before.
5. You are called for nations
Isaiah 55:5 - Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the Lord your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you."
God has called us for big things and is preparing us to preach to nations.
6. Seek and call
Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.
At what point of any journey do people normally give up? It is when they are just about to receive the prize. Many can already see the finish line, but fall down before they cross over.
The church is there already. That is where we are. We are almost at the finish line but we see many Christians give up and turn from God. This is the time to call on God for renewed strength.
7. God's ways are different
Isaiah 55:8 - 9 - “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
What are we thinking? We should ask ourselves “What would Jesus think about this?” or “What are His thoughts on this matter?” We should align our thinking with God’s ways of thinking.
The Angel of the Lord was standing and watching Gideon as he worked. Both had two opposite thoughts on the matter. Gideon thought he was a nobody, with no future, and in bondage to his enemies. The Lord thought Gideon was a mighty man of valor.
Our thoughts can keep us captive, but God thinks we are overcomers. What do you think?
8. Supernatural provision
Isaiah 55:10 - “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater.”
The moment the Israelites crossed the Jordan, they no longer had to rely on the manna, but enjoyed the abundance of blessings in the Promised Land.
Our blessings are not going to fall from heaven, but God is going to transfer the wealth of the world under our control. Are you ready for it?
9. The working of God's Word
Isaiah 55:11 - So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
The Word of God is a promise of His provision and blessings. God will never ever go back on His Word.
For example, if God has promised us healing in His Word, He will not go back on His Word. His Word accomplishes what it promises.
Every promise in the Word is a promise of possession and an abundant life here on earth during our lifetime.
10. God is going to give you a new experience
Isaiah 55:12 - “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.”
We need to have a new experience and should experience something different to sadness, lack, and failure.
God wants us to experience His love, mercy, and blessings. For some of us this is a new experience that we are longing for which will result in joy and peace.
Hebrews 11:13 - These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
