There is a price to pay for the warriors who are marching in front of the army. If God tells you something different from that to which people are accustomed you may have to march alone for a while. But hey! That's how advances are made in the Kingdom.

The Lord asked, "Who will go for us?"

Isaiah answered, "Here am I. Send me."

Isn't that lovely? So inspiring and challenging.

Did you ever notice the following verses? They aren't often emphasized.

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (Isaiah 6:9,10)

How would you like to be right out of Bible school and presented with this uplifting commission? It was negative to say the least!

Tradition says that Isaiah was sawn in half for his negative preaching. Yet we know him today as the Prince of the Prophets.

If you hear the Lord you may be given an unpopular message—unpopular in your day, that is.

People, we need to get back to God. We are marching in the steps of the patriarchs and prophets. Our brothers and sisters were eaten by lions in the Roman amphitheaters. We need to hear what God is saying today. It may be the opposite of the popular viewpoint and result in grief for us. But there always is Jesus to comfort us.

These are remarkable times and they call for remarkable moves of the Spirit. The Spirit is ready to use us, particularly the younger people. But we must turn away from the preconceived ideas of the "old prophets" and seek the Lord until we strike fire.

The Gospel of the Kingdom is to be preached for a witness. This is somewhat different from the idea of preaching the Gospel to gain members. The witness of the future will bless the righteous but be a torment to the worldly and the wicked. Are we prepared to be unpopular? To stand against all?

Last night we heard from a young preacher whom God is using in an outstanding way, and is responsible for a very large congregation. Sitting next to me was a pastor who has labored for years with a handful of people. He looked kind of down. I said to him, "God is not measuring you by the seeming lack of success you are experiencing. God measures His servants by their faithfulness."

There is only one Judge of success.

When we accomplish something by our vigor and talent the glory is ours. When we finally are brought down to the place where we can do nothing of ourselves, then whatever is accomplished is clearly performed by the Lord and the glory is His alone.

The worth of a church or a movement cannot possibly be measured by the number of its adherents. If quantity is the sign of quality the Catholic Church is ahead of us all.

The worth of a church or a movement can be measured only by the growth of Christ in the membership. It is only the growth of Christ in us that is of eternal value, that is, in fact, the Kingdom. Hell is threatened and the Kingdom of God draws near when Christ is being formed in the believers.

When Christ is formed in us the glory will always be that of God. He will not give His glory to another.

Ask the Lord if all this is true and what you are supposed to do about it. That's what I'm doing.