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The scriptures remind us that God will cause both righteousness and praise to spring forth before all nations (Isaiah 61:11). It is a promise the Lord has made and our prayer even as we move into a new year is that the Lord will fulfill His promises in us. This new year must be our year of springing forth. The springing forth of righteousness and praise will begin right here where are located and it will then spread to all nations. The Word of God in Act 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” It is time for us to witness to the Lord but before we go to all the nations, we must start right here in our own Jerusalem.
What does it mean to spring forth? Springing forth is about leaping out, rushing out, or to arise with vigor. In essence, this year is our year to arise and do what this scripture says, i.e., it is time for us to rise and be a witness to the Lord. It is time for us to be part of the righteousness and praise that will rise in all people in such a way that it will be a witness to all the nations. The Lord has prepared us for a time like this and it is time for us to take our place in His plans for us. Every virtue, every knowledge, every wisdom that the Lord Himself has sown in us will spring forth to achieve the purpose for which the Lord had planted all these attributes in us.
For the righteousness of God to spring forth from us, we must lay aside our old ways of doing things and embrace God’s way. God’s way is commitment. God’s way is putting Him first. God’s way is about love for Him and for His people. God’s way is living a righteous life. We cannot bring the sheep in unless the love for the sheep fills our hearts. The old us must go and make room for the new us. “Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert” – Isaiah 43;19. It is time for us to make room in our lives for the great and wonderful things the Lord wants to do with us. Not only has He prepared us Himself, His promise is that He will also make a way.
We are a people who love God, who love His people, and who are being transformed daily to serve Him. We have been prepared to become disciples of Christ so we can yield to His command for us to go and make disciples of the world. We have been prepared for a time like this. The Word of God says, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” The Lord Himself has chosen and anointed us for this task. Not only shall we spring forth to declare His Word so that righteousness and praise will fill the earth, every aspect of our lives that will enable us to do the work He has called us to do will also spring forth. He will make a way for us. Our blessings shall spring forth. Our healings shall spring forth. Our breakthroughs shall spring forth.
The only thing the Lord asks of us is to seek first His righteousness. For good things to spring forth for us, God requires that we serve Him in righteousness. The Word of God says, “Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard” – Isaiah 58:8. In short, He has set us apart for this task and He will make it possible for us to accomplish. Our righteousness must however lead the way for us.
So, my brothers and sisters, let us arise and spring forth to do the work of God in this new year. His promise for us is that when our righteousness goes before us, His glory shall follow us. I pray that you will spring forth to do God’s work in this year, and every blessing He has in stock for you will also spring forth in Jesus’ blessed name.
January 01, 2023 – Pastor Simbo Odunaiya
