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The coming days are going to be some of the most riveting and yet dangerous for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Kingdom of heaven suffereth VIOLENCE and the violent take it by force. The enemy has unleashed some of the most powerful spirits against those who name the name of Christ, but the HOLY GHOST in us who believe is GREATER than he that is in the world. To endure to the end, we must understand that "warfare has been declared" by the enemy, but MERCY has been decided by our Heavenly Father. In these last days, we must rest in the Lord's MERCY which endures forever and is from everlasting to everlasting. Mercy always triumphs over judgment and love covers a multitude of sins. In this beautiful promise from God through Isaiah to Israel, we see the Lord warning Judah of the coming Babylonian captivity while promising them He will never forget them even though "warfare" is coming; soon their warfare, or slavery, will soon end and her iniquity be pardoned. Many in the Body of Christ are what we term "wounded healers," meaning they are people who though they have been wounded by the scars of life and warfare battle have received mercy and authority in the area of their wounds to make war on the devil and those the enemy has taken captive. In bringing deliverance, we are bringing the MERCY of God to those bound with alcohol, drugs and oppression in these last days. Warfare has been declared, but MERCY has been decided!
By Chris McDonald
Originally Written in September 2007 - Revised for 2010
TEXT: Isaiah 40:1-3
Later that afternoon I got home and found out our business site had been experiencing severe technical issues with the server it was on to the point we could not even get into the site to maintenance it or download it to the computer. I contacted the owner of the company who is graciously hosting the site for us to discuss this with her. She is also one of my dearest friends in the entire world and someone I talk to daily and pray with whenever the Lord leads us to do so. The frustration of trying to determine what was wrong was getting to both of us it seemed as even the technicians over her server could not figure out what was up with our site. I told her I'd get back with her in a few days if they did and we'd go from there. Tuesday night as I was coming home from a photo shoot (our tent making profession is photography and websites) I was troubled in my spirit over the entire ordeal with our business site and just began to pray and ask God for help. As I began to pray in the car I began to hear the voice of the Holy Ghost begin to speak deeply into my heart about my friend's company, which incidentally is named "Gabriel Hosting," not the site. The words were clear and concise but very prophetic in nature and having received these words in the past, even though not on a regular basis, I began to try and remember what was being said. When I got home the words just became stronger and more clear as I sat to write her an email to share with her what I felt the Lord was speaking to my heart for her; what I shared with her is what I want to share with you before I write this journal.
I was coming home tonight from a photo shoot and the
Lord started speaking to me in the car about YOU and Gabriel Hosting. These
words just got stronger in my spirit as I sat down. I have not even read your
other email but here is what I feel the Lord saying:
August 5, 2007
Chris, My friend told me the next day that at the same time I had received this prophetic word for her, she was working on our site! We got the technical issues fixed the next morning but more importantly the Lord used two prophetic words - one for me and one for her - to grant MERCY to a situation where warfare had been declared. Warfare, child of God, has been declared over you and your household, over your circumstances, over your finances, over your spouse, over your children, over your job, over your business, over your heart, over your soul, over your mind, over your physical body, over your LIFE - but MERCY, MERCY, MERCY, MERCY, MERCY, MERCY has been decided! Oh, Glory to God. Those words from the Lord given to me last Tuesday night have been ringing in my spirit man and heart for days now and I can't stop them from ringing! That is why I felt led to write this journal and title it just that - "warfare has been declared, but mercy has been decided." I know there is someone reading this journal right now that is involved in the deepest of warfare. You are discouraged, fighting it seems a losing battle against the powers of darkness. Hear the man of God behind these written words today in the name of Jesus - MERCY has been decided over you! Some of you have lost loved ones who are bound by illicit sexual lust, demonic strongholds of fear, unbelief, drugs, alcohol, hatred, and greed, and the more you seem to pray, the worse they seem to get. That is the warfare that has been declared over them but MERCY has been decided because of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ! MERCY, MERCY, MERCY - can you hear the HOLY GHOST speaking those words to you today child of God?
There is a pastor right now reading this and you sir are in the fight of your life in the church you pastor. I see you right now in the Spirit and you are crying, weeping and have had thoughts this week of suicide even the pain and hurt has been that bad. The Spirit of God says to you warrior of God, the Lord grant thee "MERCY," and "COMFORT," and your warfare has ended and been accomplished and your iniquity has been pardoned. WALK, man of God, in the mercies of God and by those same mercies, BESEECH those under you to present themselves to Me, saith the Lord, a LIVING sacrifice, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is their reasonable service. MAN OF GOD, MERCY has been decided even though warfare has been declared.
There is a single mother and you've made it to this point in the message. Your heart is broken because they are coming to foreclose on the house this week unless you receive a financial miracle. You have shed many a tear woman of God and fear has gripped your heart in the midst of this warfare over your home and your son's lives. The man of God speaks to you woman of God this hour and declares, "MERCY has been decided," even though warfare has been declared by the enemy. You will not lose your house and your boys will both be called into the ministry to preach the gospel. Hear what the Spirit of God saith to you, woman of God. MERCY MERCY MERCY, is being released to your situation sister in the Lord. MERCY MERCY MERCY is being echoed through the halls of heaven and is now being released upon you in this very self-same hour you read these words. In the name of Jesus!
Neighbor, I feel the unction of the HOLY GHOST all over me right now as I write these words. It's hard to see the screen to be frank for the tears, but I'm just letting the Holy Ghost do the writing right now. There are some of you involved in the worst of divorce battles. The enemy has come in and sought to destroy our homes and children. Warfare has been declared over you child of God, but MERCY has been decided. MERCY has been decided. Hear the man of God speak to you this day and say, "for the Lord God has given unto you the WORDS of reconciliation and you will now speak to your spouse this word and the marriage will be reconciled. For what the enemy has sought to tear down, I, the Spirit of God am come to build up and reestablish in the power and the mercy of My strength and Might." MERCY, MERCY, MERCY has been decided! Warfare has been declared but MERCY has been decreed. MERCY has been proclaimed. I hear the Spirit proclaiming as a loud trumpet in my spirit - MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY over our warfare child of God. Mercy over our warfare pastor. Mercy over our warfare apostle. Mercy over your warfare dad. Mercy over your warfare mom. Mercy over your warfare teacher. Mercy over your warfare evangelist. Mercy over your warfare prophet. Mercy over your warfare child of the living God. GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU than HE that is in the world! GREATER is the Lord's MERCY than the warfare that has been declared and Satan's judgment that has been decreed. The WORD OF THE LORD says MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY MERCY TRIUMPHS over judgment. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
1 John 4:4 Why does the Psalmist desire the judgment of God? Because his judgment brings mercy, a "refuge for the oppressed." For the oppressors, His judgment is bad news, but for the oppressed it is good news!
Ps 76:8: - From heaven you pronounced
judgment, and the land feared and was quiet - when you, O God, rose up to judge,
to save all the afflicted of the land.
Ps 96:12:
Ps 94:2 - Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve.
What is God's answer to the injustice in your life today? "Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve." What is God's answer to the injustice in Moscow, in Washington, in Jerusalem, in any areas of the world where injustice and warfare is going on? "Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve." "O God, rise up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land." The afflicted are not corrupt politicians who make themselves out to be Christians but inside are ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing and full of the devil; the afflicted are those who TRULY KNOW GOD and are called by His name through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What is God's answer to all the injustice under heaven? As Yeshua the Messiah says, in John 12:31, "Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out." Somebody needs to get this. I'm having a hard time writing this but I feel electricity in my fingers right now as the HOLY GHOST is preaching through these words. JESUS SAID NOW, not tomorrow, not next year, not when you die, but NOW, is the prince of this world DRIVEN OUT. Because of what Christ did at the Cross neighbor, Satan has been defeated. Warfare has been accomplished and mercy has been decreed and decided.
John 12:31 God's judgment is necessary and merciful. Some of you need to get that. Mercy and justice uphold His kingdom!
Psalms 85:10 -Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
As a Messianic Rabbi puts it, "without law enforcement, thugs and hooligans would wreak havoc; because God's judgments encourage morality - without boundaries & consequences, children would grow wild; God's judgments show that God really cares - without justice, who could believe in a God of Torah? Because it allows him to show mercy - for what is mercy if there is no judgment? And he delights to show mercy even at the moment of judgment. When God judged Egypt, he was again and again offering mercy to Egypt. And many responded respond to his offer, for Ex 12:38 records that many other people, a mixed multitude, went up to them."
Exodus 12:38
It's certainly true that people tend to respond more to God's offer of mercy in times of trouble. How many of us have cried out to God when we were in trouble and found His mercy? Before the Lord Jesus comes back to Earth in person to judge the earth, the earth's coming time of travail and tribulation will bring much trouble to the proud, but many, many will cry out to God for mercy and will be saved.
Romans 10:10-13
Acts 2:20-22
Exodus 34:6-7
And the Spirit of God is speaking to you reading this
journal today, "Warfare, judgment has been declared, but mercy has been
decided." MERCY, MERCY MERCY has been decreed and decided! Isaiah's Comfort To Israel
Isaiah 40:1
I have to end this journal before I even really have gotten started but I want to deal with our text briefly before I close. The same God speaking to us today spoke 750 years before Christ to the nation of Israel and Judah through Isaiah and said, "Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people," assuring the exiles that would be later banished to Babylon because of sin that prophetically He will not forget or lose sight of them. The Assyrian struggle is over. The prophet has now accepted into the depths of his spirit God's announcement that the true spoiler, "the Rod of His anger and the staff of His indignation," is not Assyria, but the coming Babylon. The "spoiler" is a reference to the coming Antichrist who will persecute Israel during the Great Tribulation and plunge the world into a time of unprecedented bloodshed Jesus said there would never be a time like it in the past, present or one like it in the future. Isaiah accepts the sentence that his people are to go into captivity. Into this future of his nation, he throws himself without a faith, a fervor, and a power of realization, which are all his own. All sounds and voices of the present are hushed and move him no more. The prophet sees a nation soon to be in bondage once more and from the inner depths of his soul he cries, "COMFORT, COMFORT," my people, saith YOUR God." Notice he said, "YOUR GOD," Israel.
I want you to hear this writer and hear him as you've never heard him before. Our nation of America teeters right now on oblivion. The land is vomiting up from within because of the stink of our sin and rebellion against God. Homosexuality, abortion, corruption, dishonesty, greed, malice, hatred, and the like are ripping this once proud nation in two. This current Presidential administration is shoveling our nation closer to communism and socialism unlike any administration in the last 50 years. At the same time instead of the church being a prophetic voice warning the nation what is coming we have gotten into bed with the world's system and no longer see the sentence that God has passed on this land. In addition, many in the church world who call themselves Christian embrace the leader of this nation as one from God and applauds him as their "messiah" simply because of the color of his skin. Neighbor, no offense, you better stop worshiping a man because of the color of his skin and be more concerned with the color of his heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I heard a sermon not too long ago that alluded to the fact Sodom's sin got so bad that it "came up before the Lord" and literally "cried" out to Him into the heavens, and as a result God had to move in justice and mercy to ensure what was going on in Sodom and Gomorrah would not corrupt the whole earth. I wander today how close America's sin is to "coming up" before Him? I wander how close we are to captivity yet the voices of "comfort," we hear today are not the same as Isaiah's plea that was laced with sadness based on his knowledge Judah would soon be slaves to Babylon? Sin brings slavery friend. Hear what I say to you.
Mister, you may think you can live foot loose, fancy free, sleep with this woman, sleep with that woman, drink your high ball liquor, smoke your cigarettes, do your drugs and just go on in life without consequence but by feeling this way you're a fool for thinking that. Young lady, your virtue is not something that is the punch line of a joke but something so precious that gold cannot buy it back once it's gone. You may think I can dress like a harlot and give my body to men for money and it won't affect me in an adverse way. You're a FOOL for thinking that. (Psalms 14:1) Sin brings bondage. Sin brings captivity. Sin brings judgment if it's not repented of. Mister, if you think for one second you can take a quick peek at a porn sight then turn it off five seconds later and it not affect you, you're a fool for thinking such!
Sin brought affliction to Israel of old and it will bring affliction to us today. True prophets declare "comfort," just as Isaiah but they also declare and warn the nation of the consequences of sin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! False prophets declare the "comfort," but they refuse to warn the nation of the consequences of sin! Isaiah encouraged Israel with the terms, "your God," and My people," meaning irrespective of their sin and coming captivity, they will be restored and restored they were. There is also the spirit and the power of the Promise, a restoration not yet come, which speaks of the coming Kingdom Age, but which most surely will come under Messiah when He returns. "COMFORT, COMFORT," my People, saith YOUR God." I feel the heartbeat of the HOLY GHOST on those words as I write them. Those words are not just for Israel of old but for some of you reading this journal tonight. Sin has brought severe captivity. You're bound by alcohol and drugs and can't quit like Kathy Herrick of Macon, Georgia. Some 13 years a binge drinker, she said she would start at 10 AM in the morning and just start drinking till dusk. Some days she would be so drunk she would not know her name or where she was at. Then one night at 10:30 P.M. she's watching a local prophet from our region here in East Tennessee who makes an offer to pray for those who will write his ministry and in turn send them a free bottle of oil. Kathy in a mocking, mimicking spirit and attitude orders it (it's free for the asking) and when she gets it, anoints herself with it.
When she places the oil on her head, the power of God hits her, causes her to start weeping and trembling under the power of God as the HOLY GHOST comes and declares, "MERCY" over her warfare and captivity! She is set free from the powers of darkness and last time I spoke with her just a few nights ago as of the day of this writing she had a smile on her face and has not touched a drink in over 18 months now. Neighbor, no rehab center can do that. No 12-step program can do that! No humanistic self-help new age guru's moronic principles can do that. No "secret" formula can do that. The "champion" in man cannot do that. The only champion IN MAN is the HOLY GHOST who is in reality the presence of JESUS inside, the HOPE OF GLORY. HE is the champion over the powers of darkness!! And Because we are heirs and joint heirs with him we celebrate that victory but it's HIS VICTORY not man's!!!!!! We must embrace what He's done at the cross by faith to embrace that victory! Man's pitiful efforts will never set him free from the darkness within. Only the power of the blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the HOLY GHOST can do that. "Comfort," comfort, saith the Lord.
Speak Comfortable to Jerusalem, and Cry unto Her
Isaiah 40:2
While I'm not a big fan of comparing translations, I feel led to show you how this verse is worded in ones other than the King James Version:
The Holy Spirit through Isaiah commands His servants, the PROPHETS, to declare and comfort Judah with the assurance that her "warfare," or slavery, would have an end. There is warfare in the spirit realm and there is warfare such as Isaiah speaks of here that resulted in Judah's captivity in Babylon. The word "comfort," comes from the Hebrew word "nacham," and means "to have pity or compassion; to be sorrowful in a good way; to console, avenge, or comfort. The general purpose of The prophecies speak as if Israel were already near the end of the Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 41:1-3,25; Isaiah 44:26-45:4,13), Jerusalem already in ruins (Isaiah 44:26-28), and the people about to be restored to their own land. The word "Comfort" is used in other places in Isaiah: 1.Comfort ye, comfort ye My people (Isaiah 40:1) 2.Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her (Isaiah 40:2) 3.The Lord has comforted His people (Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 52:19 4.The Lord will comfort Zion (Isaiah 51:3) 5.He will comfort her waste places. 6.I am He that comforted you (Isaiah 51:12) 7.By whom will I comfort you? (Isaiah 51:12) 8.Restore comforts unto him (Isaiah 57:18) 9.To comfort all that mourn (Isaiah 61:2) 10.So will I comfort you (Isaiah 66:13) 11.You will be comforted in Jerusalem (Isaiah 66:13; cp. Isaiah 12:1)
There are
three things the Holy Spirit through Isaiah cried to Jerusalem: 1. Her
warfare is accomplished.
Her Warfare Though Decreed, Has Been Accomplished
Isaiah 40:2b - ....that her warfare is accomplished..
This passage means that Israel's slavery as a result of her warfare is coming to an end. One translation above says, "announce to it that its time of hard labor is over and its wrongs have been paid for." Some of you reading this journal need to hear those words today from the Holy Spirit. You've carried guilt and condemnation over past wrongs for so long you've lost all hope things can ever change and your bondages ever broken. You've been in a time of "hard labor" of reaping bitter consequences, yet somehow you've found your way to this journal. I'm here to tell you today first of all, the devil is a liar and the father of it. Secondly, your warfare yes has been decreed by the enemy but MERCY has been decided saith the Lord. Spiritual warfare neighbor, is not cowboys and Indians where we shoot our guns over the bow and the devil shoots his arrows. Neighbor, this is not spiritual tidily winks or playing with monopoly money when it comes to men's souls. Spiritual warfare is about the eternal souls of men and where we spend eternity - either heaven or hell. That's why hearing a word from God that says "mercy has been decided" over your warfare is so important to hear and grasp!
Her Iniquity is Pardoned (MERCY has been decided)
Isaiah 40:2c....that her iniquity is pardoned: for
she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. Finally, the Holy Spirit says "her iniquity is pardoned, for she hath received of the Lord's hand 'double' for all her sins." This speaks of the coming Babylonian captivity, and even the pardon which is YET to be given, which will take place ultimately in the coming Kingdom Age, and which shall most surely be given. The "double" has reference to a practice in ancient Israel, where in the event of a bankruptcy, all the debts of an individual were posted on a scroll, with the individual's name at the top, and positioned in a place of prominence for all to see, most of the time at the city gate. That is what sin will do to you friend - it'll bankrupt you, it will enslave you and it will embarrass and humiliate you! At times a very wealthy benefactor, whether local or distant, after surveying the indebtedness of the bankrupt individual, would take the scroll, double it, and write his name on the double-overed face in essence meaning that the wealth benefactor was then standing good for all the indebtedness of the bankrupt individual, and the creditors would come to him, not the individual, for payment. Furthermore, since the scroll was not doubled over, the embarrassment of the indebtedness could no longer be seen. The benefactor could do this, because what was an overwhelming amount of debt the bankrupt party had to pay, because of his great wealth, was mere pennies and insignificant to him.
Listen to me neighbor as I close today. Two thousand years ago, bankrupt humanity stood ashamed and chagrined; its many sins and failures were obvious for all to see. They had had to declare spiritual bankruptcy and there was absolutely no way for the indebtedness to be paid. But "God so loved the world that He gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting life." (John 3:16) Jesus Christ took the list that contained our innumerable sins, folded it "double," and signed His Own Name with his Precious Blood. For all who will believe, the debt is now paid and PAID IN FULL; the debtor is no longer debtor but can now because of Christ can go free from his warfare and slavery. Israel did not accept His Promise when he came the first time; consequently their sins have been paraded before the entirety of world ever since. Israel sits in a dangerous place today with enemies all around and no where to turn. Sadly, she will turn to the coming Antichrist who is about to break forth on the world's scene very soon and accept him as a false messiah who will plunge her and the rest of the world into Great Tribulation. Yet one day, she will recognize the TRUE MESSIAH, the One who paid for Her sins, as well as the sins of the whole world with His own Precious blood; when He comes the second time, they will then receive HIM. He will then take the list of all her sins, "double it over," hiding them forever, and write His Name, so to speak, in Blood on the cover, which says, "Paid in full." Such is for Israel of old and today, and such my friend is for all today, including YOU reading this journal. Warfare has been decreed, but MERCY has been decided!
You say, "I don't know if He'll forgive me for what I've done." Neighbor, He's already forgiven you for what you've done, you just have to walk up and receive the check and cash it by repentance and faith! The double has been declared over those who have placed their faith in Him!
I pray this journal has encouraged you today. It's a bit unlike any in the past we've written to be honest but we feel the Holy Ghost all over it and we know someone's heart is being touched right now.
Pray with me please, "Heavenly Father, I pray for those dear saints reading this journal right now involved in the fight for their spiritual lives. I know there are many who can relate to the term "warfare" for it is what they are experiencing right now at the hands of Satan the tempter. But just as sore as the enemy would try and tempt, let the words of the HOLY GHOST ring just as loud and sore - MERCY has been decided. As Israel of old received pardon for her sins and received of the Lord's hand "double" let us today repent of our sins before You Lord, humble ourselves and receive this same mercy by faith. We pray for our nation and ask You to move once more in the land through revival and in judgment Lord, remember mercy. Remember mercy. Remember mercy Lord, for Your name's sake and Your people's sake today. Remember mercy Lord over our nation. Forgive us for the abortion, the homosexuality, the greed, the unbelief, the stagnation among those who call themselves Christians and claim they know You, FORGIVE YOUR CHURCH LORD for blaspheming Your name by seeking to align ourselves with false gods and false religion in seeking to appease sinners instead of warning the sinners of their condition without Christ. Forgive us Lord, we plead the blood of Jesus Lord, We plead the BLOOD OF JESUS, the payment of the DOUBLE of our sins. Lord, we are BANKRUPT without YOU. We are Bankrupt without YOU! Help us Lord, In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen and Amen.
If one of these prophetic words written in this journal is for you, please email us and let us know - spiritjournals@gmail.com God bless, keep the faith and remember, though warfare has been decreed, mercy has been decided! In Jesus Name! Amen!
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