Who Are You Following?
October 4th, 2007 | Michael Q. Pink
“Thus says the LORD to his anointed… I will go before you…” (Isa 45:1-2) Examine the powerful promise given to Cyrus in Isaiah 45:1-3. What you may not know is that this prophetic word given through Isaiah announced the release of the children of Israel from Babylonian captivity by the intervention of Cyrus who not only had not yet been born, nor named, but the children of Israel had not yet been taken captive. In fact, this prophetic word was released around 712 B.C. and Cyrus didn’t begin his reign until 550 B.C. some 162 years later! (I wonder if Isaiah’s generation thought him to be a false prophet? But I digress.)
2 Corinthians 1:21 says, “Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God” From this passage, I believe it is safe to say that those who are in Christ are anointed. The promise to Cyrus and to all of us in Christ is that He will go before us. This implies two things to me. First of all, that where He leads us, needs and requires Him going before us or we will never get to where He intends. Secondly, it implies that He is leading and thus He makes a way for us only as we follow Him. If we are about our own business and not mindful of being about the Father’s business, we need not expect Him to go before us to accomplish our agenda, regardless of how noble.
Whom God anoints, God leads. The question is: are you following in his wake? Is God going before you? You will know for sure because He will make a way for you. There may well be resistance and warfare. In fact, you can expect that, but God will go before you in the thing He has prepared for you to do. I suggest you get behind Him and follow hard after Him. (To be continued…)
Digg This Share This
October 4th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Thank you for the last two posts. Our prayer team is about to embark on some street ministry. Your words and His certainly confirm and give us much hope for victory as we avail ourselves to Him to bring others out from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light. Thanks again, JJ
October 4th, 2007 at 9:26 am
This is great! Can’t wait for the next part.
October 4th, 2007 at 9:31 am
When we receive resistance and warfare we need to endure.
The Need for Endurance
Does God mean, then, for your business to flourish only when they are in the limelight of attention and glory? Does he want dynamic businesses only when they have the limelight of wide attention? The answer is clearly, NO. What then is needed? The answer is: Endurance.
Absolutely indispensable in the ongoing life of a business is the power to keep going month after month, year after year, even decade after decade in the path of obedience. And for many of us that will mean long-haul endurance in a particular ministry/business in spite of emotional and relational and spiritual and financial obstacles, even when the encouragements of the limelight and the attention and the glory and the admiration are gone, and we feel like the joys of life are passing us by.
What does he require of you in your business? He requires endurance. And where does endurance come from? It comes from hope. “I give thanks to God . . . for your work of faith and labor and endurance of hope.”
Without the endurance of hope, the work of faith and the labor of love will prove to be no real work of God but only the love of the limelight. We do not live in a generation that puts a high premium on endurance in relationships or jobs or in ministry. And we are very much children of our age. If we follow Scripture here, we will be swimming against the tide. So be it! This is a call for the endurance of the saints! (Revelation 13:10; 14:12.)
October 4th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Amen my brother! I sometimes must remember this…I do lose focus…
I have friends I will send this one to that need to see this as well.
Thanks and God Bless!
October 4th, 2007 at 10:03 am
Deut. 31:8 “The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Heb13:5
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Thanks Michael Pink! I too am waiting to read the second half. The above scriptures were brought back to my mind as I read the Isaish 45 passage. These scriptures brought me through much refining years ago! Several weeks ago I quit my job to pursue my business. I quit a difficult job as I heard HIM say “It is finished,” knowing full well a time of stretching is ahead. I also remember singing, “God will make a way, where there seems to be no way..HE works in ways we cannot see…” I will continue to walk, not by my own sight, but by being attentive to HIS still, small voice.
October 4th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Michael, I’ve been reading your emails for over a year. You have a lot on the ball.
Are you a member of some Christian organization or are you independent?
May God continue to Bless — Don Muir
October 4th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
I am quite intrigued by this word. The timing is incredible. I am VERY much in this moment, and I am continually amazed by The LORD’s awesomeness in the way HE does all things…that is as I see and recognize it. Keep on keepin on in The Ministry and know that “it” matters.
Sincerely,
Tina
October 4th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Great word Michael. God will give us a name or a resource in which to direct our move to the next level, do we recognise it as a lead or do we question it and go for counsel on it to get a second opinion. Your word speaks thousands to me when you wake in the morning and the first thought you have is a potential lead act upon it. For this is faith this is allowing God to shape the sphere that we operate in. Awesome!!
October 4th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Don… Thanks for the kudo’s! I am involved with a number of Christian organizations in that I regularly speak at some of them and I am a member of my local church. I am not a member of any particular Christian organization however.
October 7th, 2007 at 4:39 am
I am sastified about your message .Me who I was descouraged about
my situation.And I understand that God by Christ is the way and life.
Who are you following comes to me in moment very important while
i am in the spritual combat.God bless you beacause you put enjoy in
me.- Thanks
October 7th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I really like your articles. I wish the font was bigger and easier to read.