“Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;

foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;” vs5

God speaks with authority because He controls the future. He is not passive, waiting on things to happen, or in any way uninvolved. He is not looking through a crystal ball, helpless, and unable to intervene. He is active and directs all things by the word of His power. “Let there be light,” was His determination to intervene in the world. Gen 1:3, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”

In due time, He speaks light and life to all whom He has chosen. He brings us to the feet of Christ, and then we serve the church. We become ambassadors, and we sacrifice for God: it is absolute power in His hands.

Secondly, we shall be known as those who speak the truth.

“But you shall be called the priests of the LORD;

they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;” vs6

As the nations are converted to Christ, men, by supernatural power and influence, will know that we are God’s messengers and speak as God’s oracles [1 Pet 4:10]. We shall deliver the message hot off the presses with the Holy Spirit’s influence. We shall speak in the boldness and authority of the truth, having lives that harmonize with our message, speaking from conviction and faith.

This is a wonderful thing that God does INSIDE us, when He makes us sincere ministers, and it can’t be stopped. It is a process of growth, but the time comes when a man is delivered from lies! He’s set free by the Spirit and goes from a messenger of Satan to the gospel. Horrible liars and blasphemers, like Paul, are converted. Men who served themselves and feared others, like Nicodemus, are transformed into bold disciples. We are delivered from the bondage of self-serving hypocrisy: we are made to stand.

Thirdly, everlasting joy is the fruit of the gospel! vs7

"Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;

instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;

therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;

they shall have everlasting joy.”

We rejoice with joy unspeakable, full of glory, as we ponder Christ. Our hearts receive things that can’t be seen, like election and eternal security, redemption through His blood and hope. We receive the joy and peace that comes from believing through the power of the Holy Spirit, who’s a supernatural comforter. We receive satisfaction.

Yet, there’s a greater and eternal joy that is coming - an uninterrupted joy that can’t be disturbed… a joy not in faith but in sight, when we’ve put off these vile bodies to sin no more… and what joy that will be. Phil 3:21, "He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself. "

Imagine the first entrance to heaven, when you know that you’ve made it, and you’ll never be cast out. There is no more pain, sorrow, or fear. You are beholding the face of God, and you are welcomed. Oh, the first moments of bliss are more than we can conceive, but they will be followed by endless moments no less grand. Heaven will not be a place of boredom or thinking fondly upon the past. No, we’ll be endlessly happy without regret or sorrow. We’ll never look back and say, “It was better back then.”