RAISING THE STANDARD

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Romans 11:11-12 (NLT)

“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. 12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.

The coming of Jesus was a promise to the Jewish people. For many years God promised Israel a Messiah; for the prophets prophesied and the people waited upon the coming of the promised Messiah (Isaiah 9:6-7). As gentiles, when we talk about the Messiah we may not understand the meaning but in Israel they understood him as the Redeemer, someone who broke the yoke off their hands. Just as the other nations had their small gods and would run to them for solutions, the Israelites had one God, the Creator of heaven and earth.      

Rejected Cornerstone

Because the Messiah’s coming was a promise from God, the people waited for a long time. They probably had big imaginations about the long awaited Messiah: Some may have imagined him as one who would come with wings from heaven and land on Mt. Olive. They had big expectations about the Messiah; however, when Jesus came he came in a different way, not like one coming from heaven; for God’s plan was different. He was born to a poor family in a manger (Luke 2) and this caused some people to doubt whether He was the Son of God (Luke 20). When he grew up, He started a ministry and when he went to his own people, they rejected him and thus decided to give the offer of salvation to the Gentiles (John 1:11). Even Apostle Paul was rejected by Jews in Corinth; they opposed and resisted him, but he shook out his clothes and went to the Gentiles (Acts 18:5-7). The gospel started to be preached to the Gentiles in Rome, Greece and other parts of the world. Acts 28:28 (NIV) says;

 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

We thank God for the Grace, because the gift of Salvation which was meant for the Jews only was also extended to the Gentiles because of their disobedience. Romans 11:11 (NLT) says that; 
“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles.”

The Jews did not understand Jesus, thus rejected Him. We read this in John 1:11-13 (NKJV) that; “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We are now called his sons and daughters instead of only the Jews because they rejected him. We thank God for the Jews because had it not been for the rejection of Christ, we would not have gotten the gift of Salvation. But now we are born again and because of this we are God’s children and have the gift of Salvation

 Shaken unto His House

Whoever has confessed Christ has a prepared place in heaven (John 14:1-3) with good things, plus wealth stored over the years. Therefore be mindful that you store up for yourselves treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-20). Some Christians will however get to heaven and find nothing at all. But be reminded that whatever you give to the poor, widows, servants of God and church, you will have deposited on the heavenly account.

Every scripture and prophecy has a right season. The word of God is a lamp unto our feet and foundation of life. For His word is alive, active and sharper than any double-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12) However, we should remember that everything happens at the right appointed time. One thing God is going to do in the end times is to raise the standard of the church. The bible says in Isaiah 60:22 (AMP) that; 
“The smallest one will become a thousand (a clan), and the least one a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will quicken it in its [appointed] time.”

This happened in Egypt. God used the Egyptians to give wealth to the Jews. The same will be upon this generation. The time is now when God is going to anoint you with favor and cover you so that no evil comes near you. This is the anointing that is going to hasten the smallest and least to become mighty and great. The despised will become mighty, because the time for this scripture has come to pass. The book of Haggai 2:7-9 (NIV) God says that;

 “I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9 ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

The time for this scripture is now. This is the time when God is going to shake the entire universe and cause things to be filled in His house. Every good and beautiful thing that is desired by all nations, God will cause to come to those who love and serve Him. In this scripture God emphasizes that silver and Gold are his, because there have been people of the world making claims to these treasures. But in this generation God is going to give wealth to his people without sorrow added (Proverbs 10:22).

God is going to show this generation that the devil was clinging to the silver and gold yet they belong to Him and he possesses them. God is making it clear that this is the time when He is going to give wealth to his children. Whatever was desired by the nations, God is going to bring it to his children. The glory of this church is going to be better than the former.    

A Season of Greatness and Exaltation

In this generation few genuinely worship God and fewer people do His will. But a time has come when God is going to satisfy those who know Him and do His will. He affirms in the book of Isaiah 45:2-3 (NKJV) that;

‘I will go before you

And make the crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

3 I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the Lord,

Who call you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.”

We are now living in the days of these scriptures. Whatever the world desires is now in the church – peace, freedom, health, wealth and the truth. God is going to make your crocked places straight – level mountains before you. Those riches and hidden treasures that no one knows about, God is going to give unto His children. He will do this so that world knows that He is the Lord God who calls you by name (Isaiah 43:1). Those that were not known are going to be lifted and exalted. It is the season for the lowly to be exalted. The bible says in Luke 1:52 (NKJV) that;

“He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly”.

All these great things and much more will come to pass because, before Jesus returns, every knee will bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord. These are the days when God is going to plant wealth in His house. Even those who have always mocked the gospel will eventually confess Christ and come to church. In these last days we always ensure to have some quality time with God. Whenever you go to another level, your enemies also increase (1 Corinthians 16:9). Every new level has a new devil, so whenever you ascend to a new level, you have got to take up your spiritual armour and every plan of the devil.

What you do not imagine or even expect, is what God is going to do for His children. What is not possible for you, God will use someone else to bring it to pass. You just need to have faith in God and His word and change your perception because God can use different avenues to bless you – for His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Always set your eyes on God and on Him alone. Psalm 44:1-3 (NKJV) says;

“We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, the deeds you did in their days, in days of old: 2 You drove out the nations with Your hand, but them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. 3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them.”