Wednesday 21 December 2016

Make His Paths Straight

Scripture: Isaiah 45 v 2: "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron." 

Luke 3 v 4 - 6: "As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God."

One of the fundamental facts we can never escape is that we were born in sin.  We may look so cute and innocent as babies but before we are much older our sinful nature will appear, some worse than others, but corrupt and desperately in need of a Saviour.

Without Jesus going before us these barriers of sin, sickness and death are impossible to clear out of our way. He sees beforehand the obstacles in our path and asks us to walk in His footsteps to avoid landmines. If we neglect His help, we will stray into dangerous territory and find ourselves in lots of problems.

In this world we can be deceived by those who lurk in crooked places to trip us and catch us in their schemes. Jesus can make a straight path of honesty and truth to teach sinners to know there is a better way.  When we are safely in His Kingdom and our sins are cleansed by His Blood, we delight to do His will and live a victorious life.

Not many people in the world understand Christian victory as most times it looks like defeat.  The sacrifice of Jesus looked like total defeat, except it brought about total victory over the downfall of the human race.  His death conquered sin, His Blood is God's atomic power over it.

The gates of brass that block us spiritually from growing in grace through faith, Jesus will break them into pieces when we pray to get past them. We may have ignorantly backed ourselves into these problems. So ask that every blockage we have erected be shattered.  These would include rebellion against God's Word; exalting man's philosophy over Biblical wisdom; every lie that comes forth out of our mouths.

The bars of iron speak of imprisonment, captivity and bondage. When we are freed from sin we have leverage to pray for Jesus to burst these bars asunder. He will reveal the hidden layers of ancestral curses and set us free.  Sin traps us in lifestyles we have to make huge issues out of to force others to accept us like addicts, witches, Satanists, homosexuals, abortionists, cults, murderers, corrupt politicians, terrorists etc.

Jesus is the mighty conqueror of this world and the Creator of every being. Nothing is too hard for Him to do. He reveals to those who pray the things that need shattering and removing and raises up those who have struggled and fills them with joy. The only true freedom is freedom from sin, and its terrible guilt and penalties.  Jesus always causes us to triumph over everything and causes us to walk in love and peace beside the still waters.

Prayer: Father God, help me to be free of crooked places, brass gates and iron bars that block me from the full power of Your Spirit being manifested in me. Fill me with love peace and joy today and always.  I promise to obey Your Word and walk in Your ways. In Jesus' name.  Amen.