Tent of Joy Perth Prayer 7th anniversary 22/6/16
https://www.facebook.com/Perth-Prayer-319659381407140/
Scriptural Framework
Seven
What comes after “7” represents a significant change of focus and perspective in the Bible e.g. after the 7 day creation we have the story in Eden; after the 7 times encirclement of the walls of Jericho and their collapse we have the entry into the Promised Land, “Pentecost” means fifty, i.e. 7×7+1, which brings a revelation of the glory of the ascended Christ whose name is numerically 888 (beyond all earthly perfections). Today the Lord is speaking of a change of perspective from looking at earthly things to seeing heavenly things.
A Biblical Framework
Isa 54:2-3 is a foundational text for Perth Prayer, “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.” David Sibley (PP facilitator) sees this text as prophetic of the spreading of prayer meetings through all the churches in the CBD. This passage however needs to be set in the wider context of Isa 54:1 then 53:10-11 with its focus on Jesus. ““Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labour! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord…. when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days…Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see lightand be satisfied…”. The context makes it plain that the expanding tent of Isa 54 is to accommodate an increasing number of children; this gives great joy to the Lord. The tent is populated through the labours of the servant of God in Isa 53. The expression “seeing light” stands for the joy and happiness of the servant after his anguished labours. The joy of the Servant of the Lord is in his having children (“offspring”). I have long marvelled at why women will risk life and limb to have children; e.g. my own mother was told by doctors not have other kids after the birth of my sister, at risk of death…then I came along, intentionally. These verses hold a spiritual key to a natural marvel.
The power that fills the ever expanding tent of Isa 54:1-2 with children is the sufferings of Christ and his subsequent resurrection joy. “now is my soul troubled…for the joy that was set before him…in bringing many sons to glory…he endured the cross…” (John 12:27; Heb 2:10; 12:2). In his own experience Christ embodies for us the ultimate truth of what women are willing to go through in childbirth, “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:21-22). When he felt forsakenness on the cross Jesus’ travail/birth pangs were filled with seeming unfruitfulness but all his sorrow was totally transformed by the fertility of resurrection joy.
Prophetic Application
When in Gal 4:26-27 Paul applies Isa 53:1 to the Church’s situation today he places everything in a heavenly perspective; “But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labour! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.””. Looking up to the heavenly Jerusalem the apostle sees a vast multitude being spiritually birthed into a heavenly dwelling/tent of joy with people drawn from all the nations of the earth (Ps 87; Rev 5:9-10). This inspired him with the fruit of resurrection joy empowering him in his task to evangelise the nations even as he shared in the ongoing travail of Christ; “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” (Gal 4:19). This powerful joy is offered to us in the labours of the Lord today.
These passages also open up a greatly overlooked dimension of Christian unity. In Jesus’ prayer for our unity in John 17 there is great stress on God as our one Father (vv.1, 5, 11, 21, 24, 25). But the interconnection between Isa 54 and Gal 4 teaches us that with “the Jerusalem above as our mother” (Gal 4:26) Christians have the same spiritual Father and mother. The visible Church here below is not our mother, and we should not depend upon it for ultimate maternal care, for if we do disunity will result. Instead we must turn to the presence of Christ above and the happy children of God in the heavenly tent for our final encouragement and witness.
Conclusion
The focus of our faith needs to be on the heavenly tent of joy centred on the person of Jesus where all peoples of the world are already gathered in unity, praise and joy. The satisfaction of Christ surrounded by the children of God swallows up all our sense of dissatisfaction in our very incomplete earthly attempts to do his will (Heb 2:12-13). Empowered by the heavenly presence we join in the apostolic ministry convinced that a yield of increasing fruitfulness will come to the glory of God. ““It is finished”” (John 19:30). Participation in the tent of joy brings an incredible sense of rest and completion. PTL.