“REVIVAL GLOW”

How many times growing up did you hear your mother said “rise and shine”! growing up?  Trying desperately to get you out of bed and off to school, she would repeat that phrase until you got up.  Well, it’s time to “Rise and Shine” for the Lord.

From the Amplified Version, Isaiah 60:1 says, “Arise, (from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you – rise to a new life)!  Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

I’ve heard leaders say we are in a new season.  We are not in a new season.  We are in a new era!  We have moved into something totally new.  We haven’t been this way before.  Therefore, we have to move out of the old ways and old mindsets and pick up a brand new set of orders.

In this new era, you must arise, as the scripture says, from the depression and prostration, in other words,( laying down and giving up), and rise up, up, up out of this despair and discouragement and be radiant with the glory of the Lord.  You can no longer afford to let circumstances dictate how you feel or how you function.  You must rise to a new life!  The weighty matters of life and the kingdom are upon us.  We cannot be apathetic and lethargic.  There must be a rising up and a rising up now.  Now, says the Lord.  There isn’t time to linger and wait around until you think you can.  You can now and now is the time.  Rise to new heights in the Lord.  Rise up out of negative patterns and learn to walk in the newness of life.

It’s also time to shine.  No excuses.  Let me give you a good example.

When the Babylonians took Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah captive, they were required to learn the literature and language of the Chaldeans.  They were godly young Hebrew men suddenly stuck in a foreign land with a foreign language surrounded by idol worship and ungodly men most of whom were soothsayers.  Surrounded by the occult and idolatry, they could have become depressed, totally discouraged, and resistant to do as they were told.

Instead here’s what the scriptures say in Daniel 1:17-20, 

“As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all kinds of visions and dreams.

Now at the end of time, which the king had set for bringing (all the young men in), the chief of the eunuchs brought them before Nebuchadnezzar.

And the king conversed with them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they were assigned to stand before the king.

And in all matters of wisdom and understanding concerning which the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the learned magicians and enchanters who were in his whole realm.”

Here was an opportunity for these young men to become depressed, critical, whiny, angry, rebellious, you name it.  But that is not what happened.  Because they had a great fear of the Lord (a great and awesome reverence for their God), they displayed such excellence and were radiant ambassadors for the kingdom of God.

Note what the scripture says of them; NONE WERE FOUND LIKE THEM.  They were found TEN TIMES BETTER THAN ALL THE MAGICIANS AND ENCHANTERS.

Do you think they were able to rise and shine in a very overwhelming environment?  The obvious answer is yes.  So the bottom line is that we have no excuse but to rise and shine.

We know that a great harvest of souls is upon us.  But the church needs revived.  Could we possibly be one who could carry that revival glow?  I say yes.

So I hear the Lord say:

Rise and shine.  It’s not for you.  It’s for others who need to catch the glow.  Be like the Hebrew boys.  Rise up in your difficult circumstances and be of an excellent spirit.  You represent Me.  Let it be said of you, none were found like you.  My glory has risen upon you.  Carry that well.  The dark hallways, the dark board room, the dark workspace, the dark home environment, need the light, the glory of the Lord to shine in and upon them.  You’re it.  You must.  No turning back.  Release yourself to Me and let Me help you glow.

I AM waiting for you!  They are waiting for you!!