Death, Burial, and Resurrection

Some tremendous things began happening when we returned from Texas at the end of February and have continued to happen. Coming back from Texas we felt so much that change had started. Something is beginning to take place that is bringing change everywhere. We have experienced it in our lives. Open Heavens Ministries has experienced it and there is change taking place all over.

It doesn’t always feel good during change. In fact, usually you don’t. I was blessed by our service Wednesday night because when I came in, I could feel change in the air, good things were taking place. I felt in my heart such a tremendous love for you and regardless of how you think you feel you’re doing well. Things are happening. God is blessing and He is moving in ways that are very important right now.

So we had that feeling of change and every once in a while I would say to Rebecca, “Well, we’re not through the change yet. This is a transition. It is still going on.” Things are happening and how long will this change continue? This will not be the last change, but it has been one of the biggest I have ever experienced. It has been a tremendous change. Whenever real change takes place, God begins to move on the scene and come forth in a new way within His people. There is a shaking that goes on because our earthen nature is opposed to the Lord and it is opposed to change. So, consequently there is a shaking that takes place in our earthen nature. It’s that earthquake that the Scriptures talk about, but it is a good thing.

Let’s look in Isaiah 41, because whenever these kinds of changes take place the enemy always tries to minister a fear. Where does this fear come from? It comes from our human nature. It feels the change that is taking place and it is not a good change for our earthen nature. It is a good change for the Lord and for us. Remember in Matthew when Jesus was born? It said Herod and all Jerusalem were troubled (Matthew 2:3). Our earthen nature wants to be important, wants to be king, but when it realizes that the true king is coming forth and it is losing its place it doesn’t like it. But as it happens we become a new people better than we ever have been. So the Lord ministers this word to us at such a time.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God….

Have you ever had that feeling of “God, where are you?” Do not fear, He says. Every once in a while He has to remind us: “I am with you. Don’t be dismayed; I’m your God.”

Isaiah 41:10 …I will strengthen you; yea, I will help you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.

See? The Lord has just given us a word, “I will bring you right on through. I’m going to strengthen you and help you. I am your God. Don’t be fearful. I’ll uphold you with My right hand, the right hand of My righteousness.” Now this is a good verse to underline or display it to remember it occasionally that God is with you. If there were ever a people that need to know that, it is those who are making progress in the Lord because you do not progress in God without walking through some difficult circumstances. It is at those times that you need to hear God say, “I am with you.”

Isaiah 42:5-6 Thus says God the Lord, He that created the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which comes out of it; He that gives breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein.
6 I the Lord have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light to the Gentiles.

This last verse is a reference to Luke 2:32 when Mary and Joseph were bringing the baby Jesus into the temple. Simeon took the baby in his arms and said He would be given as a light unto the Gentiles.

Isaiah 42:7 To open the blind eyes…

This was fulfilled in Christ, but it is also fulfilled in the Body of Christ. It will be fulfilled through His people. To open the blind eyes… not just natural blindness but spiritual blindness, people who are blind and can’t see the things of the Lord.

Isaiah 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison…

It is an amazing thing that many people do not understand or realize when they are in prison.

Isaiah 42:7-9 …and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
8 I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images.
9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

The former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare. Do you remember where it says in Psalms 119:5, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”? God gives a revelation of the way in the distance, but He brings that special lamp right to our feet so we know what the next step is. The former things are come to pass. New things cannot take place until there is the removal of the old.

It struck me when we sang the chorus during worship and it said, “Displacing the visions of yesterday.” It hit me strongly that is exactly what is happening. Then my mind went back to Texas. What happened? We got rid of the old. We sold our house. As long as our house sat there in our name there was a contact that needed to be broken and something new established. The same thing is happening here. Open Heavens Ministries is disappearing; it is gone. As far as I’m concerned it is very gone and it is coming forth in something new. It is not the same as it has been. The Lord will move through it in a different way. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song…. Isaiah 42:9-10a. It may be the same choruses, but they are going to be new songs. There is a new worship coming forth in a people who realize that the former things have passed and all things are becoming new. So they sing unto the Lord a new song.

Isaiah 42:10-11 Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, you that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
11 Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice.

Have you felt like a wilderness? Lift up your voice!

Isaiah 43:18 Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

This has always been a difficult thing because we remember, and sometimes remembering is not good. It is an amazing quality that the Lord has. When He forgives us for a particular sin or thing, He doesn’t remember it anymore. The knowledge of it is gone. It is not there; He does not remember it and He looks upon us in a new way. But we have the problem of forgiving and remembering what was done, which is not good. Lord, help us to be like You so that we don’t remember the things that have been put under Your blood.

Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. That means a new relationship. Rebecca is new; I can’t relate to her in the way I used to and vice versa. You are new. I can’t relate to you like I used to; I have to relate to the new you. Open Heavens Ministries is not the same anymore. The old Open Heavens Ministries is gone. Now there is a new Open Heavens Ministries, and I have to relate to it differently from what I have in the past. Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Don’t even consider them.

Listen to what Paul says in Philippians.

Philippians 3:7-8 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

He is saying, “There is something better and I am not going to consider the old. I’m not going to remember the past.”

Philippians 3:9-10a And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him.

The religious world knows Jesus the Nazarene, but for the most part they don’t really know the Lord of Glory. When He died on the cross of crucifixion, was buried, and arose, He arose as the Lord of Glory. The old had passed away and He had become all new, but people still want to relate to the old – Jesus, the Nazarene. They want Him to come back as Jesus, the Nazarene, but He is the Lord of Glory.

Philippians 3:10-14 That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Can you do that? Can you forget the things that are behind, the past, what you have known? What seemed to you yesterday to be a reality and realize today that yesterday is gone, you are not the same; you are a new person today and you are not going to consider the old and forget it? That is what Paul is saying here.

So through Isaiah the Lord is saying: Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing. Can you trust the Lord in that? He says, “I will do a new thing.” When is it going to happen? Now! Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? Are you aware of it? Are you aware of this change that is taking place right now? I will even make a way in the wilderness… the wilderness that we have been in – that is where the way is, the way of righteousness … and rivers in the desert. Lord, I have been a desert long enough. Now bring forth the rivers. This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise. Isaiah 43:18-19,21.

I feel like this is what the Lord is speaking to our hearts this morning. It is brand new. I know we have all been going through it and I think that is also true for everyone who receives The Trumpet and is on the weekly mailing list. There is change taking place and old things are passing away. That period of time where the old passes usually is not good feelings. It’s mourning, and you feel like there is something dying within you because you want to hold onto those old things and cling to them. Lord, help us to turn loose the old and not to cling to it. Death, burial, and resurrection is always the course of true change. Amen.

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