Micah brings to our attention one of the most glorious of all Old Testament prophecies. He prophesied of a people who would follow the Lord to new pasture. “I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep . . . in the midst of their fold” (Micah 2:12).
Micah saw a people of God being released, a people whose hearts beat as one, a people so led by the Spirit they would be called outcasts by the apostate church. "In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; and I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even forever” (Micah 4:6-7).
Who makes up this holy remnant?
Not the proud, the self-centered ministries, the polished, applauded stars. No!
These are a tested people who have been in the fires of trial. They include the unknowns, the outcasts, those who are considered lame in comparison to the high and mighty established church, and those who raise their voices against corruption in God's house.
God says, "I will put them together!" All human efforts to bring God's servants together is in vain. God must do it and the one thing that brings this remnant together, causing them to see eye to eye, is a repentant heart in union with Christ.
Jerome, one of the early church fathers and a Bible scholar, describes them as "those children of God who are repentant and who rise above worldly things and aspire to heaven."
This is a heavenly-minded people, weary of lightness and compromise, a people who yearn for holiness in God's house.
Even now there is a holy remnant leaping forth from among men. Every man and woman of God whose heart is broken over the sin and corruption in God's house can sense this leap of the Spirit!
There is a coming out, a breaking out just ahead!
~David Wilkerson~
You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. John 19:11
Nothing that is not part of God’s will is allowed to come into the life of someone who trusts and obeys Him.
This truth should be enough to make our life one of ceaseless thanksgiving and joy,because God’s will is the most hopeful, pleasant,and glorious thing in the world. It is the continuous working of His omnipotent power for our benefit, with nothing to prevent it, if we remain surrendered and believing.
Someone who was passing through the deep water of affliction
wrote a friend: Isn’t it glorious to know that no matter how unjust something may be, even when it seems to have come from Satan himself, by the time it reaches us it is God’s will for us and will ultimately work to our good?
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28). Think of what Christ said even as He was betrayed: “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11).
We live fascinating lives if we are living in the center of God’s
will. All the attacks that Satan hurls at us through the sins of
others are not only powerless to harm us but are transformed
into blessings along the way.
~Hannah Whitall Smith~
We are not at liberty to pray randomly for whatever our selfish minds conceive nor are we permitted to come into His presence and vent our silly notions and mindless ramblings. If God signed all our petitions without discretion, He would end up giving away His glory.
There is a law of prayer, a law meant to weed out self-centered prayers, while at the same time making it possible for honest seekers to ask in confidence. In other words, we can pray for whatever we will, as long as it is His will.
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" (1 John 5:14).
The disciples were not praying according to God's will when they prayed with vindictiveness. They petitioned God thusly, Do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? But He turned and rebuked them, and said, You do not know what manner of spirit you are of (Luke9:54-55)
Job, in his sorrow, begged God to take his life away. What if God had answered his prayer? Such praying was contrary to the will of God. The Word warns, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God” Ecclesiastes 5:2.
Daniel prayed the right way. First, he went to the Scriptures and searched out the mind of God. Then, after receiving clear direction, and sure of God's will, he ran to God's throne with a mighty assurance. “And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer” (Daniel 9:3).
We know too much about what we want and too little about what God wants. Our prayers are aborted when they are not according to His will.
~David Wilkerson~
