Anglican Daily Fountain 20th December 2023 (Devotional Today)

TOPIC: OPEN THE DOORS

TEXT: Isaiah 45:1-14(KJV)
45:1. Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;
45:2. I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
45:3. And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.
45:4. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
45:5. I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

45:6. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.
45:7. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
45:8. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
45:9. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?
45:10. Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

45:11. Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
45:12. I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.
45:13. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the LORD of hosts.
45:14. Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.

Anglican Daily Fountain 20th December 2023 STUDY:

One of the things that is very clear in Scripture concerning those who know the Lord, is what He is saying concerning ‘Cyrus’ (v. 1). You might as well put your name there. He wants us to subdue the nations before Him. This is not necessarily through the physical sword, but by the word of God as we witness to His salvation plans.

Are you engaged in this? He wants ‘Cyrus’ to loose the armour of kings and to open before him the double doors (v.1). The doors of sin have closed many out of God’s embrace. God wants us, by love and the sharing of the good news, to open this gate so that sinners might receive His forgiveness and be saved. Will you get more actively involved?

Paul’s passion and drive in this direction is attestable. He saw it as a task that must be done, and he did much to take the gospel to places where Christ had not been mentioned. I visited one of the CAPRO mission fields sometime ago and I was touched by the sacrifices of the missionaries that were living in that ‘bush’ just for the sake of the gospel. What are you doing to open the doors of salvation for the people today? Do you not know that Satan does not freely open the gate for his prisoners?Rise up today!

PRAYER: Lord, make me a useful instrument of Your rescue mission.

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