My husband did a word of exhoration this week on being a gap stander according to Ezekiel 22:30, where it says, I looked for a man to stand in the gap on behalf of a nation, a people. His exhortation was for us to stand in the gap and repair the breach, rebuild the wall, call them home.

As I was praying this morning I heard in the spirit the words, “RETURN NOW” they were loud, they were in command tone. It was an atmospheric announcement to those who have walked away, strayed away, stepped away from what was once valuable to them.

Immediately after hearing the call to “return now” I heard the Holy Spirit say to those who would be on the receiving end of their return, “NO SHAME, NO CONDEMNATION, NO CONVERSATION, ONLY CELEBRATION!” Again it was in a command tone to those who be receiving those who are returning. Then as I was pondering these words, the Lord brought me to the story in Luke 15.

“He returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”

Friends, some are hearing “return now” and they will be coming back, but others are needing to hear, “no shame, no condemnation, no conversation.” These people need to be able to come home to a celebration of their return, not a conversation about why they left.

In a self-help world, this sounds unhealthy, but in the kingdom of God, this is how healing happens for all. No shame, no condemnation, no conversation, only celebration. Prepare the place for a party, for the Lord has sent out the message, “return now!” Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org