“I have declared from the beginning the former things [which happened in times past to Israel]; they went forth from My mouth and I made them known; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass [says the Lord]” (Isa. 48:3 AMPC).
The promises that go forth from His mouth, He performs suddenly. The word of the Lord that came to Joseph in a dream as a young man suddenly came to pass many years later. In one day, everything changed.
Tried and Tested on Account of the Word
“He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold as a servant … His feet they hurt with fetters; he was laid in chains of iron and his soul entered into the iron, until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true, until the Word of the Lord tried and tested him” (Psalm 105:17-19 AMPC).
The sufferings Joseph went through were, in fact, on account of the Word. The Word tried and tested him.
Your prophetic words can sometimes send you into a season of testing and trial; in fact, it may even seem like you are going in the opposite direction of the promise. We can even feel imprisoned to the process of the Word of the Lord over our lives.
Notice this scripture says that his soul even went into the iron, “until…” When we walk through those seasons of testing and trial because of the prophetic word that is spoken out of the mouth of the Lord over our lives, our souls do come under duress. The weight of the process of preparation for those “sent ahead” to pioneer and prepare the way of the Lord is quite significant. But praise God this scripture says that there is an “until” moment. There is the fulfillment at the end of the purifying and testing; the weighing and measuring.
God speaks and sends His word “ahead,” just like He said in Isaiah 48:3. When God speaks that word, it begins to prepare us for what is to come.
The borders and tent pegs of our hearts need to be expanded to receive the future. But also, when we yield to that spoken word, the future begins to work in our lives.
Those Sent Ahead Carry the Future
Joseph was propelled into the future. He was sent ahead. He wasn’t yet ready to govern in that future space and found himself on the end of injustice…in a prison.
When God sends us “ahead,” we are pioneering that which is to come. You may be carrying the blueprint of something that has not been done before, or that there is no grid for. Or you may be one called to restore the ancient paths. The ancient way has been so lost to this generation that it has been deemed as a “new thing,” but in actual fact, it’s a restoration of that which is in the right order of God, the ancient way—“Yah’s way” [Yahweh].
Even though it’s ancient, it is still “pioneering,” because the present isn’t a correct representation of the blueprint of God’s heart for His people. So to restore His way, crooked paths need to be made straight, rough places smooth, mountains leveled and valleys lifted.
When we carry the future, we live in the tension of a contrary place—the present. Carrying the future is no easy feat. The blueprint of the future is what you are pregnant with and is more real than the reality of what you are still surrounded by. Again, if you are a carrier of Yahweh’s ancient way, you will experience the tension and rebellion (to His way) that is out of alignment in the present. This causes the soul duress.
Those who carry the future often feel disdain and contempt from those who are wrapped up in a present that is out of alignment to “Yah’s way.”
Being sent “ahead” doesn’t always look glamorous and comfortable. In fact, most of the time, pioneering is treacherous, dangerous and very costly. Persecution, injustice, betrayal, warfare and despair can be at every turn.
Some may look at you in your prison of promise and deem you as a failure, but in heaven’s view, you are being set up to govern. Fret not about those who scorn and mock you; they need you to be positioned there in that prison, for they will benefit when your season shifts and you take your governmental seat.
Oh, how man’s opinion and view is futile and misconstrued, being balanced and measured against a corruptible realm. Heaven’s perspective of success is very different to the vain conclusions of this earth.
The Josephs Are Stepping Into Their Suddenly
Sometimes in order to reach our destination to govern and bring justice, we must walk and travel for lengthy seasons on paths of injustice, just like Joseph. Like Joseph, we can find ourselves in unfavorable situations; however, we are being positioned to convene court at the gates of governance and bring justice to a generation.
The Josephs are stepping into their “until” moment. suddenly, the shackles will come off; the stench of the prison clothes will be remembered no more.
Let the weak say, “I am strong!” and let the poor say, “I am rich!” May the tables now turn and may the Josephs come forth and sit at the gates of justice.
Motivated by an intense love for the body of Christ, Anita Alexander’s passion and compassion is to see the church forsake religion and tradition, awaken to the Father’s love, and arise and walk in the overcoming identity as sons and daughters of the Kingdom. Anita and her husband Dr. Sasha Alexander travel nationally and internationally ministering in revival fire that brings resurrection life, healing and awakening to the body of Christ. Together, their passion is to impart, raise up and release a generation of sons and daughters who manifest the glorious victory of the finished work of the Cross. They are co-founders and senior ministers of Revival Flame Ministries, Golden City Church and Kingdom Academy School of the Spirit Ministry Training School in Gold Coast, Australia.
James Lasher 
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