Volume 14 - Issue 1 - January 2010
 

FAVOUR AGAIN IN 2010
By Bishop Gary S. Brooks

Psa 102:13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

FAVOUR AGAIN IN 2010. This is a word that has filled our hearts with joy here at ROLC. I am now honoured to share this with you. However, I must first give the clarification that this word is directed toward Zion and Zion only.

So then what is Zion? Well let's first say what Zion is not. It is not natural. It is not a geographical location in Israel. It is no more the historical city of Jerusalem. It is not the Jewish Temple. Neither is it any longer the Jewish people. However, Zion is still the Lord's chosen. So let's now look together to discover what Zion is.

Psa 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

Psa 132:14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

The Lord has chosen Zion for ever as His dwelling and resting place, having desired Zion, and Zion only, for His habitation. The Lord has chosen one new man, in Christ Jesus, made up of those who in their past were either a natural Jew or a Gentile.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Now in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew or Gentile but only one new man called Christ. Together we are living stones being built upon the foundation of the scriptures Old Covenant Prophets and the preaching of the 12 Apostles of the Lamb with Jesus Christ Himself as the Chief Corner Stone. Now in Christ Jesus we are the habitation of God through the Spirit. We are Zion!

Zion is defined "as a permanent capital" and "a mountain of Jerusalem". The definition of the word "Zion" in the Hebrew language is translated "in the sense of conspicuousness", as something being very obvious to the eye or mind. Also it reveals Zion as being "a monumental or guiding pillar".

1 Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

His church, that which Jesus Christ is building, is the pillar and ground of the truth! She is conspicuous, for a city set upon the mountain of Zion cannot be hid. His church is monumental and is His guiding pillar of truth and capital city of the whole earth.

Heb 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Psa 48:1 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

Psa 48:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Psa 132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

Psa 132:14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

Psa 132:15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.

Psa 132:16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

Psa 132:17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.

Zion is of the Spirit and is Spiritual, not natural.

ZION IS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN JESUS CHRIST, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING JESUS CHRIST, THE JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH, THE MOUNTAIN OF HIS HOLINESS, THE HABITATION OF GOD THROUGH THE SPIRIT, HIS RESTING PLACE FOR EVER, THE LAMP OF HIS ANOINTED ONE, THE PLACE OF HIS PRIESTHOOD, THE PLACE OF THE ABUNDANT BLESSING OF HIS PROVISION, HIS GUIDING PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH, AND THE PERMANENT CAPITAL OF THE WHOLE EARTH.

Let me interject here once again that this word is directed to Zion and Zion only. It is written in the old testament scriptures, for our learning, that the Jews of were carried away captive into Babylon for 70 years for their disobedience to God. They were asked by their captors to sing the songs of Zion but they could not sing the Lord's songs while being captive in a strange place. In the new testament book of Revelation we see the phrase "mystery Babylon". Mystery Babylon is the place where many of the Lord's people are are now being held in a religious bondage, having believed "the lie". The word "Babylon' means "religious confusion". This place is to where the Lord directs His voice saying, "Come out from among her my people and do not be partaker of her sins", for mystery Babylon is the stronghold of all the religions of this world. Mystery Babylon is this world's system which was founded upon the religious lies of that old serpent (called the devil and Satan) by which mankind was deceived from the beginning. Through that the devil (the god of this world's system) has blinded the minds of them which believe not the truth lest the glorious light of the gospel of Christ should shine unto them.

There is a relevant quote from the 1999 movie The Matrix in which the character Morpheus says to Neo, "The Matrix is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth". So it is with the religious lie of the devil. The lie is the world that was pulled over our eyes to blind us from the truth that is in Christ.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

The truth is the Lord has already created a new heaven and an new earth. The new heaven is the new heavenly Jerusalem (Jerusalem a rejoicing), and the new earth is the new creation man in Christ (her people a joy).

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Apostle John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem and He that sat upon the throne said to him, "It is done". She is created already and is now the bride of her Husband Jesus Christ. So once again let me say, we are Zion. His church is the Zion which the Lord loves and favours.

Psa 102:13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Let me first draw your attention in this verse to the phrase "set time". This is defined as "an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or due season', but it implies, "an assembly convened for a definite purpose".

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Zion has an appointment with God. She is to assemble together throughout the earth in Christ as His church with a definite purpose, that all things both in heaven and in earth may be summed up in Him. The purpose simply put is that each and every one of us would find our existence in Christ, all of our life, our ambitions and desires, our reason to be alive, is all about Him. If we were to add up every part of our life, then the sum of it would be "it is the image and glory of God", for Christ is the Alpha and Omega (our Pattern). Christ is the First and the Last (our Person). Christ is the Beginning and the End (our Purpose). The life of Christ in us is the beginning of our purpose and His glory is our end purpose. His Presence is what we feel, but His glory is what we see. His glory is that which is seen of Him, it is Christ being exhibited and explained by our lives!

I also want to say this that "yea, the set time, is come". Now the word "come" means, "come, brought forth or brought to pass, x doubtless again". What this means to us is that the "set time" is not a a moment in time but rather that it already has come and therefore continues to come to us again and again. This set time was written into the Psalms "for the generation to come", and that is Zion, the generation of the people created in Christ.

Psa 102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

We are the chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purposed people that should show forth what is praiseworthy of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvellous light!

Psa 102:13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

Now let us look at the first part of this verse of prophetic promise. The word "arise" means, "to rise up again and again to help". Because the set time is come therefore the Lord will arise again and again to help Zion in His purpose for her. And in all of His arising He will do so out of His mercy and from His heart of mercy. The basis of the word "mercy" means, "to fondle; to handle tenderly and lovingly. This gives us the understanding and a picture of one who would take a newborn baby into their arms and handle the child tenderly and lovingly. This is the picture of the Lord's mercy toward Zion.

OK. A few more definitions and then we will conclude with the prophetic flow that the Lord gave me for 2010. Now someone might say at this point "This is a lot of definitions". You're right. However, though definitions do not give us a prophetic word, they can enhance the word of God so that we may have a better understanding of what He is saying. If we consider our calling, brethren, that there are not many wise that are chosen, then many of us just might need some help with word definitions. And He has chosen us, "the foolish things" to confound the wisdom of the wise of this world that Christ might be glorified in this also.

Anyways, the word "favour" means, "to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, to bestow favour" and "to be moved to favour by petition, to find favour".

Webster's dictionary defines favour like this:

1. a friendly regard shown towards another (especially by a superior).

2. approved of consideration or attention.

3. popularity; the quality or the state of being popular (adapted to or indicative of the understanding or taste of a people or the majority of all people.

"FAVOUR AGAIN IN 2010"

Now I had heard that prophetic utterance from the Spirit in the last week of December 2009 and prior to New Year's Eve. However, we did not have a "church meeting" on New Year's Eve but rather we gathered together for food, fellowship, movies and a games night. I kept the word in my heart and did not speak about it until January 3rd, 2010 in our Sunday morning church meeting.

Those words I heard while in prayer and immediately following that the Lord said, "I favour Zion". Then I was led by the Spirit to Psalms 102:13.

Psa 102:13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

From that verse I spoke the word to our church family. In fact Psalms 102:13-22 was our text. Please read it when you have an opportunity.

So I have said all of that to say this, "This is what all those in Zion may expect". The Lord will continually arise again and again to help us and He will handle us tenderly and lovingly with compassionate love, for the set time is now and He favours Zion. So because He favours Zion therefore we may expect favour with God and with men. However, His favour will only bear its fruit according to His own purpose, and, after the counsel of His own will. His church may therefore expect favour, for the Lord shall make her to become popular by His approval upon her and therefore she shall become worthy of consideration and attention by those who are called of God to assemble together with them in this set time and purpose in Christ. His church may also expect favour with executives, with area businesses, and with officials in area governments. We may also expect Divine favour in our individual lives, in our health, and in our family relationships. We may expect favour with God and with men in our finances, in our jobs, in our businesses, in school and in our educational pursuits. "FAVOUR AGAIN IN 2010".

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.