The following takes place between 17 July and 23 July, 2009

This week let’s take a further walk down memory lane: In reflecting on our time of listening prayer from the ISMNZ 2006 conference, the third highlight God revealed to us was this:

GOD HAS GIVEN US A FORETASTE OF THE FUTURE

ISM is experiencing a Foretaste of the Future: “a great multitude… from every nation, tribe, people and language… crying in a loud voice, ‘salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’.”

Current Reality: Many people (foreigners) will come to seek to Lord and entreat Him… ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one believer and say, “let us go with you, because we have heard God is with you!” (Zech 8:20)

God has prepared a work for us (Eph 2:8-10); and we are instruments of His grace (Deut 10:18); we can reach the nations He has brought us through what God has called us to be, finding those “10” from each country who are taking firm hold. They will be the future shepherds and field workers.

Look at the photo above. Over the years God has drawn young believers from several nations to be a part of our ministry internships. Young men and women who were keen to grow in the knowledge of Christ and be further established and equipped for their future. This photo represents so many nations! And it is only a tiny fraction of the picture God has given to each one of us. Continue to reflect on those lives God has brought into your own life as you continue to reach the nations from your doorstep, impacting lives for eternity.

Reflect on these Scriptures the Lord gave us during our listening prayer time:

Revelation 7:9-10 "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

Zechariah 8:20-23 "This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come, and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, 'Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.' And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him." This is what the Lord Almighty says: "In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'"

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 "The LORD your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and takes no bribes. He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. You, too, must show love to foreigners…

Isaiah 61:2-5 "He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the LORD's favour has come, and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities long ago destroyed. They will revive them, though they have been empty for many generations. Foreigners will be your servants. They will feed your flocks and plow your fields and tend your vineyards.