GOSPEL CORNER: THE GOD WHO SUMMONS HORSES AND CHARIOTS AND ARMIES—THEY LIE DOWN AND THEN CAN’T GET UP; THEY’RE SNUFFED OUT LIKE SO MANY CANDLES: “FORGET ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENED; DON’T KEEP GOING OVER OLD HISTORY. BE ALERT, BE PRESENT. I’M ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING BRAND-NEW.”ISAIAH 43:17–19, MSG

25/11/23

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—they lie down and then can’t get up; they’re snuffed out like so many candles: “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.”
Isaiah 43:17–19, MSG

WOW!
In today’s Scripture, God reminded the Israelites who were held captive in Babylon that He opened a way through the Red Sea in the exodus, that He called forth the mighty armies of Pharaoh and drowned them in the waters. “But forget about all of that. It’s nothing compared to what I’m about to do when I bring you out of captivity.” This brand-new thing was going to be far greater than anything they’d seen in the past.

We all can look back and see when God parted Red Seas for us. He’s opened doors that shouldn’t have opened, had us in the right place at the right time to meet someone special, turned our health around. We’re grateful. We know it was the hand of God. But God is saying, “You haven’t seen anything yet. Forget about all that and get ready for something awesome, something that you haven’t seen, something that propels you to a new level.” When you see this new thing, you’re going to stand in amazement and say, “Wow, look what the Lord has done!”

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the countless blessings You have brought me and how Your hand has been upon my life in so many ways. Thank You that I can get my hopes up and know that You have something bigger and better than I’ve expected. I stand in awe of Your goodness to me and can only say, ‘wow.’ In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

SECTION TWO

Psalm 103:20 tells us that angels heed “the voice of His word” (boldface mine). Who gives voice to God’s Word? YOU do.

Every time you quote Scriptures out loud, you are giving voice to His Word, and angels will respond. When you say, “Father, I thank You that no evil shall befall me today, nor shall any plague or disease come near my dwelling,” angels harken to the voice of the Word of God being spoken. Angels cannot read your mind—so speak forth His Word!

Hebrews 1:14 says that God’s angels are “all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation” (boldface mine). Notice that it doesn’t say “minister to” but “minister for” those who will inherit salvation (that refers to children of God—you and me).

That’s an important distinction—”minister for” means that they are waiting for our instructions. We need to speak to activate them. They are waiting to respond to our words; they will not automatically look into every need that we have.

You activate angels when you declare, “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.” Trigger your heavenly army when you proclaim, “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.”

Our Lord Jesus Himself demonstrated the importance of speaking aloud God’s Word in the wilderness when three times He said, “It is written” and quoted God’s Word. I don’t know about you, but I intend to speak forth God’s Word!