The Lord spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:18, “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” This is the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who is the cornerstone and the foundation of the church.

We, His church, are the recipients of the divine grace of God, the creator of heaven and earth and Lord of Hosts. As we put our trust in the Lord, who prepares us for His salvation and sustains us, we shall walk by faith in Him, against all powers of darkness. This salvation is from the love of God, our Heavenly Father; which comes to us through Jesus Christ, the Son; by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the Word the Lord spoke to me in my prayer through Isaiah 12:1–6, a hymn of praise which was used during the times of the Jewish church, when Israel was redeemed from Egypt.

Isaiah 12:1-2 begins: “And in that day you shall say, O Jehovah, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, turn away Your anger, and You shall comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also has become my salvation”. Following their reconciliation to our merciful God, the people gave thanks to Him for His divine wrath which they had experienced. They declared that God was their strength and salvation. By faith, they were redeemed and delivered from fear.

Verse 3 continues: “And with joy you shall draw water out of the wells of salvation”. The believers rejoiced as they were comforted by the fullness of His grace and mercy. They were strengthened and encouraged by the prophetic promise from God who is the fountain of all blessings and the author of salvation.

In Verse 4, the people of God encouraged each other to praise Him, to bear witness of His goodness and glory, to share the good news of His redemption and salvation; and to preach His Word to unbelievers. Furthermore, they made a prophetic declaration in this song of praise to lift up the name of the One who is above all names, for who, having fulfilled the will of the Father, suffered and died. He is, according to the promise of the Father, exalted, by raising him from the dead, by receiving him into heaven, by placing him at his right hand, by giving him all power in heaven and in earth, and by causing angels, authorities, principalities, and powers, to be subject to him; all which is to be proclaimed, to the honour of His name. This is none other than the one and only begotten son of our Heavenly Father, our glorious Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! Hallelujah!

Verse 4 of the song reads: “And in that day you shall say, Praise Jehovah! Call on His name; declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted” and concludes in verses 5 – 6: “Sing to Jehovah; for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O dweller of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst”. Here, the believers expressed their joy and continued to encourage one another to praise and worship God; to seek to glorify Him and to draw others to Him.

Family of God, let us not allow any difference of opinions about the times and seasons or denominational theology divide our hearts. Let us praise and worship our Lord in unity and declare the works of His redemption and glory in our lives.

Let us stand in the gap and proclaim His name above the names of all powers and continue to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, as we share the good news and preach the gospel according to the counsel of His will. In Psalm 34:17-18, the Bible promises: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all troubles. The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

God will faithfully bring about what He has promised. Isaiah 46:11 reads: “What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.” In times of uncertainty and when the wrath of God is poured out, let us stand on the promises of the Lord, remain faithful and obedient, giving Him thanks, praises, glory and honour. Hearing God’s Word increases our faith for as Romans 10:17 says: “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ”. Amen!