A Spiritual Formula

Overcoming Defeat

Journey Into The Promised Land

Isaiah 58:6–14 (CSB)

⁶Isn’t this the fast I choose:

To break the chains of wickedness,

to untie the ropes of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free,

and to tear off every yoke?

⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

to bring the poor and homeless into your house,

to clothe the naked when you see him,

and not to ignore your own flesh and blood?^,

⁸Then your light will appear like the dawn,

and your recovery will come quickly.

Your righteousness will go before you,

and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard.

⁹At that time, when you call, the Lord will answer;

when you cry out, he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you get rid of the yoke among you,

the finger-pointing and malicious speaking,

¹⁰and if you offer yourself to the hungry,

and satisfy the afflicted one,

then your light will shine in the darkness,

and your night will be like noonday.

¹¹The Lord will always lead you,

satisfy you in a parched land,

and strengthen your bones.

You will be like a watered garden

and like a spring whose water never runs dry.

¹²Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins;

you will restore the foundations laid long ago;

you will be called the repairer of broken walls,

the restorer of streets where people live.

¹³“If you keep from desecrating the Sabbath,

from doing whatever you want on my holy day;

if you call the Sabbath a delight,

and the holy day of the Lord honorable;

if you honor it, not going your own ways,

seeking your own pleasure, or talking business;^,

¹⁴then you will delight in the Lord,

and I will make you ride over the heights of the land,

and let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob.”

For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Jehoshaphat was so filled with fear that he called a fast. What do you think would happen to our nation right now if every pastor and denominational leader in America would be so filled with fear concerning the future that they would stand before their congregations next Sunday and tell the people, “Whether you realize it or not we are fighting right now in a life and death struggle and there is only one way that we are going to survive, remain a free nation, and avoid a holocaust and sudden destruction and that is if we all immediately begin to fast and pray that God shall deliver us.” Can you imagine what would happen?

I don’t think that you can. I know I can’t. I can’t begin to fathom the repentance and the sweeping move of the Holy Spirit that would begin to cleanse, purge, and purify our government and religious institutions.

The Scripture declares, “Jehoshaphat feared” (2 Chronicles 20:3), and when he feared he set himself to seek the face of God. Fear acted as a spur to stir him to seek the Lord. Many people in the world would never be living for God today if there had not been a circumstance which came into their lives which caused fear and drove them to the place of prayer. This fear was the spark to setting their spiritual life in order.

Most people reading this devotional guide will fall into one of two general classifications:

One: You are currently having a crisis in your life and you know the fear that I am talking about.

Two: You do not have a current crisis in your life, but you are dissatisfied. You know that you lack victory and power to live for God. Deep down in your heart you also know that these deficiencies are due to compromise in various areas of your life which you know are not pleasing to God.

Whichever category you are in, during the next few days we are going to meditate on seven steps to personal victory — a spiritual formula that will be a weapon in your hands to bring you deliverance for body, soul, and spirit.

Make this declaration:

I will prepare my mind, in the Name of Jesus, to receive a breakthrough to enable my spirit to comprehend this revelation of truth from Your Word.

*Adapted from MCWE email – Journey Into The Promised Land by Morris Cerullo

A Spiritual Formula – 7/5

Overcoming Defeat

Journey Into The Promised Land