ISAIAH 58: 14: Then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
Dear reader, I welcome you to Part 1 on this series of teachings on the theme of higher ground. I am confident that your journey to higher ground is about to begin in Jesus name. Nothing would stop you from reaching the top in Jesus name. Let me assure you that where you are today is not a true reflection of your next position and destination at the top. What you are seeing at the moment is the build-up of your evidence to support your testimony that you are going to share soon. I am convinced of the infallibility of the God we serve. He is not a man that He should lie or the son of man that He should repent (Num. 23: 19). He has spoken and He would make it true. I may not know many things but one thing that I am sure that I know is that He is faithful and would do what He has promised (Rom. 4:21).
Dearly beloved, let me assure you that your journey to higher ground that has just begun is not going to be by your strength and wisdom but by His leading. If you look at our text, the bible says “I will cause you to ride on the heights”. It is God who would cause you to accomplish this journey to higher ground. The bible tells us in I Sam. 2: 9 that by strength shall no man prevail. This tells me that your getting to higher ground has nothing to do with your present position. We are told in I Sam. 2:8 that the God we serve is the one who “raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap (garbage dump); He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honour. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; upon them He has set the world” (NIV). Can you fathom the extent of such a transformation? Can you imagine God taking someone who has gotten to the point of eating and dining from a garbage dump and to the position of eating and dining with princes? It is like God transforming a homeless to the position of becoming a regular guest of the Queen at Buckingham Palace. I am sure some of us may not have a clear understanding of what it means for one’s daily supplies and sustenance to be dependent on the rubbish thrown away by others. As the Lord lives, no one reading this piece today would experience this in Jesus name.
The bible spoke concerning David in 2 Sam. 7:8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel” (NIV). So it does not matter how seemingly impossible your situation may be, God would cause it to happen. This is why I am confident that your own journey to higher ground is not a difficult thing for God to do. This is because my bible tells me that the God, the creator of the heaven and the earth, is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). It may look impossible with man including you, but with God nothing shall be impossible. Mary in Luke 1: 34 when she was told by the angel (Luke 1: 30 -33) that she would give birth to our Lord Jesus Christ asked the angel “How will this be,” …, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered in Luke 1:35, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” This tells me that your getting to higher ground is not going to be by your power but by the power of the Most High God who is the creator of the heaven and the earth. That is why it should not be your problem to reason out how God is going to make it possible. Yours is to confess as Mary did after her initial doubt that “I am the Lord’s servant,” … “May it be to me as you have said. …” .
If you believe that God is able to take you to your higher ground, why don’t you sincerely with faith confess as Mary did and say this prayer “Lord, I am your servant, take me to my higher ground that you have promised in your word”. May it be unto you according to your faith in Jesus name. You would reach the top in Jesus name.
Shalom.
HYMN: I’M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY
Dr. Yinka Okude
Pastor-in-Charge
RCCG Jesus Sanctuary, Northampton
