2022: The Awakening
From Compassion to Passion
"Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down!
that the mountains might shake at Your presence."
Isaiah 64:1
that the mountains might shake at Your presence."
Isaiah 64:1
As we view into the coming year, what do you see? I believe that question will be vital for us to continue asking the Lord as we enter what may be some tumultuous times and the year ahead. The signs are all around us. From the perils of COVID 19 to the political disruptions and upheavals in Afghanistan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Armenia, to natural disasters such as "atmospheric rivers" in North America, the tests and shakings are all around us. How does God want us to respond? What is He calling us to do?
Recently, I have been reviewing Jesus’ journey into Jerusalem for the last time. Luke records how He wept over it saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-42). What was the heartbeat behind the tears? The more I pondered, the more I sensed His compassion for a world gone astray. Jesus wept for a world that could not see or hear the answers and provision of God right before their eyes.
As I pondered this sense of compassion, I began to see Jesus’ anger at seeing the temple filled with money-changers in a new light. Declaring, “My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves,” erupted from a heart of compassion to strike the very source of what kept His people blind. His actions that day released a compassion driven passion for seeing righteousness restored. Jesus walked in His God given authority to make a point to restore righteousness and justice.
What followed? The people were “very attentive to hear Him” (Luke 19:48). “Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them” (Matthew 21:14). People listened, and supernatural healing was released.
The COVID situation plaguing every nation is a sign of a move of God in the other side. We are on a crest of a new compassion driven passion movement to see righteousness restored. The grassroots of the nations are rising up to stand for righteousness. Following this outpouring of compassion will be healing. As Malachi 4:2 prophecies, “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” This compassion will erupt in ways we do not expect. Pressing into it will release fresh revelation, tears and travail for breakthrough desperately needed in this hour. Just as Jesus wept over the condition of Jerusalem for it could not see or hear, so compassion will unlock our hearts and will open our eyes and ears for what concerns God. Compassion fueled action will follow and it will be a disrupter to the darkness that wants to engulf us. The awakening is underway.
A recent encounter accentuated this sense. We were in the midst of recording for IHOP's Global Upper Room New Year's mobilization. During the recording, I felt or heard (not sure which) a "Crack"—a distinct shift. Then a palpable outpouring of His Spirit came upon us with an overwhelming sense of His compassion. I began to weep and turned to others in the group to find others weeping. The "God drop" was undeniable as the Presence of God came in, engulfing us all. We dropped what we were going to do, then began to call for compassion as a focus.
We didn't know it then but found out later from the sound guys that a 6.4 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands at the same time. Their cell phones began issuing the alert during the recording.
Through this incident, the bookends of the 24 hr call to worship for New Year's met. Since then, I believe compassion will be key to unlock 2022. Given the 6.4 earthquake and impartation of compassion, the Lord has drawn our attention to Isaiah 64. It carries a message for the times we are now in. The heart cry behind its opening verse “Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down!” speaks to a compassion driven passion for circumstances that are beyond our control and a world in desperate need.
GET READY FOR THE ENCOUNTER!
For those seeking the Lord, it will come. Look at what compassion unlocks:
Compassion is the gateway for a God who Delivers:
If you find yourself suddenly stirred, be encouraged. Press into it! Let the tears come and the travail move you. As nations shake, and mountains tremble (economies, governments, etc.), get ready, compassion will hold the key to His provision.
On the wall,
Sue Rowe
Recently, I have been reviewing Jesus’ journey into Jerusalem for the last time. Luke records how He wept over it saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-42). What was the heartbeat behind the tears? The more I pondered, the more I sensed His compassion for a world gone astray. Jesus wept for a world that could not see or hear the answers and provision of God right before their eyes.
As I pondered this sense of compassion, I began to see Jesus’ anger at seeing the temple filled with money-changers in a new light. Declaring, “My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves,” erupted from a heart of compassion to strike the very source of what kept His people blind. His actions that day released a compassion driven passion for seeing righteousness restored. Jesus walked in His God given authority to make a point to restore righteousness and justice.
What followed? The people were “very attentive to hear Him” (Luke 19:48). “Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them” (Matthew 21:14). People listened, and supernatural healing was released.
The COVID situation plaguing every nation is a sign of a move of God in the other side. We are on a crest of a new compassion driven passion movement to see righteousness restored. The grassroots of the nations are rising up to stand for righteousness. Following this outpouring of compassion will be healing. As Malachi 4:2 prophecies, “The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” This compassion will erupt in ways we do not expect. Pressing into it will release fresh revelation, tears and travail for breakthrough desperately needed in this hour. Just as Jesus wept over the condition of Jerusalem for it could not see or hear, so compassion will unlock our hearts and will open our eyes and ears for what concerns God. Compassion fueled action will follow and it will be a disrupter to the darkness that wants to engulf us. The awakening is underway.
A recent encounter accentuated this sense. We were in the midst of recording for IHOP's Global Upper Room New Year's mobilization. During the recording, I felt or heard (not sure which) a "Crack"—a distinct shift. Then a palpable outpouring of His Spirit came upon us with an overwhelming sense of His compassion. I began to weep and turned to others in the group to find others weeping. The "God drop" was undeniable as the Presence of God came in, engulfing us all. We dropped what we were going to do, then began to call for compassion as a focus.
We didn't know it then but found out later from the sound guys that a 6.4 earthquake struck the Solomon Islands at the same time. Their cell phones began issuing the alert during the recording.
Through this incident, the bookends of the 24 hr call to worship for New Year's met. Since then, I believe compassion will be key to unlock 2022. Given the 6.4 earthquake and impartation of compassion, the Lord has drawn our attention to Isaiah 64. It carries a message for the times we are now in. The heart cry behind its opening verse “Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down!” speaks to a compassion driven passion for circumstances that are beyond our control and a world in desperate need.
GET READY FOR THE ENCOUNTER!
For those seeking the Lord, it will come. Look at what compassion unlocks:
Compassion is the gateway for a God who Delivers:
- The discovery of Moses Exodus 2:6: And when she opened it, she saw the child, and behold, the baby wept. So she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.”
- Deliverance of Israel out of captivity Deut 30:3 That the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you.
- Deliverance from sin and separation from God Judges 32:36 For the Lord will judge His people and have compassion on His servants, when He see that their power is gone.
- 1 Kings 8:50 and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them (From Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple).
- Life:
- 1 Samuel 23:21 And Saul said, Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me.
- 2 Kings 13:22 And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But the LORD was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.
- Luke 7:3-14 Widow of Nain: When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
- 1 Samuel 23:21 And Saul said, Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me.
- Forgiveness ( Also Mic 7:18-19)
- Psalm 78:38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them.
- Psalm 145:14 The Lord is full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy
- Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
- Luke 23:34 “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”
- Restoration
- Jeremiah 12:15 Then it shall be, after I have plucked them out, that I will return and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his heritage and to his land.
- Healing
- Matthew 9:35-36 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
- Reconciliation
- Mt. 18:33 Parable of the Unforgiving Servant: Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
- Luke 15:20 Parable of the Prodigal Son: And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
If you find yourself suddenly stirred, be encouraged. Press into it! Let the tears come and the travail move you. As nations shake, and mountains tremble (economies, governments, etc.), get ready, compassion will hold the key to His provision.
On the wall,
Sue Rowe