7-29-2023 Deliverance or Destruction

                Destruction                        or                Deliverance        
Isaiah 42:1-25

I’m becoming more and more amazed as to how the Old Testament reflects the conditions of the world today and how much Father has been longsuffering with us.  I’m reminded of Jesus’ words “Woe unto you, Chorazin and Bethsaida, for had they seen the works done in you and Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes (Matt. 11:21).  Where does this put us today?  How do we compare with the Israel of 2000 years ago?  Now, I’m anxious to read the next twenty-four chapters because Father keeps showing how much Jesus is also spoken of in Isaiah.

In Isaiah chapter forty-two, verses one through seven, it sure looks like to me that Isaiah is describing the ministry placed upon Jesus:  Father speaks of one in whom His Spirit resides, He will bring a new covenant to the people and a light to the Gentiles, as well as heal the sick and free the captives (from sin), etc. 

Compare this passage with Jesus’ statement that his blood is the new covenant which is shed for many (Mark 14:24).  Jesus quotes from Isaiah when He says that Father his put His spirit into Him and He shall show judgment to the Gentiles in Mathew 12:18.  In his opening comments, Paul in his letter to the Colossians cites that since he heard of their faith in Christ Jesus he has prayed for them (Col. 3: 3 & 9) because they had been delivered from the power of darkness (prison of sin) through the blood of Jesus (Col. 1:1-14).  What about us?

In our passage from Isaiah, Father then makes a statement “I will not give my glory to another nor my praise to a graven image (v8)”!  God is a jealous God (Exod. 20:4-6).  

How can we praise God/Jesus as Lord and Savior and then turn around and pray to some idol made with man’s hands which has eyes that don’t see and ears that don’t hear (Matt. 13:14).  Jesus declares that the people of His time have become just like those idols (Matt. 13:15).  But the eyes and ears of those who were following Jesus were opened (Matt. 13:16).  Isn’t it a good thing that the world has learned from those early followers of Jesus?  Or has it?  Father always has our best interests at heart (Prov. 3:11) so whatever He tells is for our edification and we should do as He directs (1 Thess. 5:13-23, read the whole passage).

Note, in our chapter, verse nine “Behold, the former things shall pass away and I declare new things.  And, I’m telling you about them before they come to pass.  Father tells us that there are no other gods besides Him (Isa. 44:6, Rom. 12:1-2)  He accents this by telling us that He directed even the paths of Cyrus (a pagan), the king of Persia by opening doors for Cyrus’ conquests and in so doing Father declares (again) that there are no others gods other than Himself (Isa 45:1-7). So why would Father then accept us giving our devotion to anything but Himself?

 

 

We are to sing a new song and sing His praises all over the earth (v10-12).  Even as the angels and those in heaven do in God’s presence (Rev. 7:9-12).

The Lord shall go forth and stir up jealousy like a man of war, He will cry and roar and prevail against His enemies (v13).  Father reminds us that vengeance is His (Rom. 12:19) and His wrath can be expressed here in this world (Gen. 19:23-28) or assuredly in eternity for those cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 13-15, 20:10).

Father says that He has held back for a long time, but He also says that He will cry out as a woman giving birth (a very loud shriek) and suddenly come upon His enemies (v13-14 -  in a time in the future).  Don’t be in error, God did destroy some of His enemies as He did in the Old Testament, but in the end, all His enemies will be ‘finalized’ in the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev. 20:11-15).

I will lay waste to the mountains and dry up the herbs, I will turn rivers into dry land and dry up the pools of water.  I will lead the blind by means which they have not known and I will make the darkness become a light before them.  I will do all this and not forsake them (v 15-16).  Look at the miracles Father cites!

Those who have trusted in graven images and called those statues gods shall turn back (v17 – turn away from false gods and come back to God).

You who are deaf, listen to what I am saying and you who are blind look and see (v18).  Who is blind, but my servant and who is deaf as my messengers whom I sent (v19)?  They see things but they really don’t observe what they see and they listen, but they don’t really hear (v20).  Sounds, to me, like the scribes and Pharisees whom Jesus called whited sepulchers because they showed themselves to be religious when they were full of hypocrisy (Matt. 23:27-28).  Sound a bit like anything you have seen or heard?

The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake and He will magnify the law, making it honorable (v21).  God will honor that (those) who abide in Him (abide in His love, John 15:9-12).

Yet His people have robbed and spoiled and they are all trapped in what they have done.  They all are trapped in holes and in prisons.  They are prey which no one shall deliver and they are spoiled and no one shall say ‘restore’ (v22).

Listen to what Isaiah says to the people of His time about what they do.  They have stolen from some and set traps for others and in so doing they don’t even realize that they are imprisoned by the evil which prompts them to do so!  They dig a pit and fall into it themselves (Psalm 7:15). Sound familiar to anyone? 

Who of you will hear this?  And who will understand, for the time is yet to come (v23).

Isaiah has been speaking of things (attitudes) yet to happen down the road – even until today!  Look around and see for yourselves!

Who let Jacob become a spoil and Israel to be robbed?  Wasn’t it the Lord, against whom these people have sinned?  Why?  Because they would not walk in His ways nor obey His law (v24).

Who “let” Jacob become a spoil?  The earth is the Lord’s and all that’s in it.  The world is His and all that lives in it.  He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the floods.  Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord.  Who shall stand in His Holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart.  He who has not lifted his soul up to vanity nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation (Psalm 24:1-5).

  Satan could not come against Job without God’s permission (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-6).  And those who are in the Lord’s sheepfold (saved) enjoy the same protection, yet we know that Father does chastise those whom He loves (Heb. 12:6-8) and, as long as we abide in God’s love, whatever comes upon us is to shape us and mold us into a better person.  We are the clay and the Lord is the potter (Isa. 45:9-11, Jer. 18:1-4).              

Therefore God has poured out upon them (who defy Him) the fury of His anger and the strength of battle and set a fire all around.  Yet he did not recognize what was happening and did not set all this into his heart (v25).

So, when man turns away from God is when God releases His fury.  Read the Old Testament.  Every time Israel turned from God, they were conquered by a foreign power and removed from the promised land.  Then, like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), each time they repented and came back to God, God blessed them again as many returned to Jerusalem.  Lesson, even when we ‘mess up’  and we truly repent that of which we have been guilty, Father will forgive us and set those sins behind His back (Isa. 38:17), so they can slide into the sea of forgetfulness (Micah 7:19).

In this one chapter from the book of Isaiah, we see why Father wreaks havoc upon His people.  A little more reading of the bible helps us t understand that, as children of the living God, He will take the necessary measures to get  His people back on the right track and start loving Him again.  He loves us.  God is love (1 John 4:16)!  Jesus desires that we abide in His love as He abides in the Father (John 15:9) so Father, Son and we (us) might all be one (John17:20-23).

As a whole, the bible shows us how God deals with us – reprimand or blessing.  We stray, God calls us ) with whatever it takes to get our attention).  We return and Father blesses us.  In the end, which do we choose?  Destruction?  Or deliverance?

Amen 

7-15-2023 Cleaning up the Mess

Think.  In God's house, we the people are the kids!

Isaiah 29:1-24

Isaiah refers to Ariel which is Jerusalem (Strong’s H740) and he speaks against Jerusalem and the armies that come against it.  

Sorrow will come upon the city as their enemies fortify around it and besiege it.  He says that Jerusalem will lift up their prayers in vain like shallow, hollow echoes.  Their enemies will come upon them in great numbers, like a sandstorm.  And God shall visit Jerusalem as a thunderstorm, a great tempest, a devouring flame of fie. 

Speaking of the past, Father, over many years, has sent many nations to reprimand Israel.  But, in prophesying, Isaiah says that those nations who came against Israel shall suffer.  They’ll be like a hungry man who dreams that he is eating but actually takes in no nourishment so when he wakes up his soul shall still be empty. He shall dream of drinking water and when he wakes, because he actually has taken in no water, his soul shall be thirsty and he will still be faint.  In other words, victory over Israel will not satisfy their enemies.  Because they had no respect for the fact that Israel has been God’s chosen (Deut. 7:6-11), they will eventually face God’s wrath – not that they conquered Israel but because they hand only contempt for God’s people. 

But Israel will cry.  They will act as drunk though not with wine and they shall stagger but not because of strong drink.

God has dulled Israel’s senses.  He has given them a spirit of sleep so they don’t see so well.  He has closed the eyes of their prophets, rulers and seers whose words would be like trying to read from a closed book. (Gotta open the book to read it!  lol)  and it would be like asking someone to read a book though he cannot read.  For God says that though the people speak of me and honor me with their lips their hearts and respect for Me are far from me and they lean on their own understanding, not Mine.   

Israel has strayed from God for many ‘silly’ reasons and the result is a religion, not a faith. Therefore God says the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the wisdom of their intelligent men will be hid.  The people will think that they are safe and that the evil works they do are hidden and no one (or God) will never see or know. (God knows our heart - Prov. 21:2, Mark 2:8, Rev. 2:23, as well as what we do).

It’s like the potter’s clay.  Does it make it true when the vessel the potter has made denies that it was the potter who made it!  Or yet, if we imagine something in our minds, will what we imagined tell us we don’t know what we were doing?  Therefore we couldn’t have imagined it???

The people of Israel has leaned on their own understanding and then think God won’t notice it.  We haven’t done that – have we?

Then Isaiah compares Israel with Lebanon.  Not the country, but a mountain range in Palestine (H3844, H382 the heart).  He also refers to when later, Israel will change their heart, and once again become fruitful and its fruit-laden fields will be compared to a large forest.  In that day the blind eyes shall be opened to clearly see through the darkness.  The meek shall increase their joy in the Lord and the poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

All the terrible things will come to nothing and those who work iniquity will be cut off.  Israel will (eventually) see the light! (Israel’s ‘homecoming’?)

Therefore the Lord who redeemed Abraham, said that the house of Jacob shall not be ashamed and the color will return to their pale faces.  Isaiah prophecies Israel coming back into God’s grace.

But when Israel sees the works the Lord has done in their midst, they will sanctify, the Holy One of Jacob (Jesus) and shall once again fear (respect) the Lord.  Those who have erred will come to into understanding and those who have murmured will learn sound doctrine.  That is, after all is said and done, God’s people will return to Him and be satisfied and once again live in obedience in His Word! 

Has any of this sounded familiar to anyone?

Of course, no part of today’s church has strayed from God’ Word.  Right?  None of today’s church has decided God hasn’t known what He’s talking about, right?  Maybe, Jesus didn’t really say “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15)?  Oh, He was just talking about keeping only the ones we agree with, right?  Did Jesus really say that we should love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:30-31).  We’ve been told that if someone offends us to get revenge – quickly, right?  Or should we remember something about turning the other cheek (Matt. 5:38-45)?  Forgiving (Matt. 6:14-15)?  And, as God has reconciled us to Himself, making us a new creature in Jesus Christ, we should also reconcile relationships with those around us ((2 Corinth. 5:17-21).

Isaiah has reminded Israel that God has ‘abandoned’ them because they have rejected Him and set His wisdom and guidance aside so they could do their own thing.   Yet God still gives them hope and promise that things will turn around.  Turning from old ways an determining not to do them again is far better than ‘just’ saying “I’m sorry” (1 Sam. 15:22, Rom 12:1-2).

Again, what does the prophet say?  Eyes will be opened to see clearly and peace and joy will come back into the people’s heart.  Proper knowledge and understanding will crop back in and we can live in the true joy of the Lord.  Now, I’m talking about us, today, and not just Israel!

Look at the world today.  Look at the church today.  How much of what Isaiah says would apply to today’s thinking?  None?  Some?  Or we still waiting for eyes to be opened and, as with Paul, waiting for the scales to fall from our eyes (Acts 9:8-18)?  How obedient is the church to God’s Word and Will, much less the world.  The church is supposed to ‘know’ while the world has yet to learn!

Jesus says ask, in His name, and He will do it (John 14:14).  The Holy Ghost will lead us into all truth (John 16:13-15) and God will give us understanding (2 Tim. 2:7).  So who do we listen to?  Man or God? 

God’s appeal to church is to get back on the right track and live in His commandment to “Love” both God and our fellow man (Matt. 22:36-40).  And in so doing, we might even be amazed that even the world might turn around.

Amen 

7-1-2023    Foundations

Natural foundation                     Spiritual foundation

July, the seventh month of the year.  What does 7 represent?   Resurrection; Spiritual completeness; and (in us) Father’s (or Spiritual) perfection.  That is moving into a new life or completing something in which Father has been guiding us.

I prepared this for Bible at church to be presented on 7/2, the 2nd day of the month so what does 2 represent?  Union; Witnessing or division.  For us, this means a deeper union in our relationship with God so we can be better witnesses for His love.  But 2 could also mean division, or the lacking of a third party.  Jesus asks that we be one with Him as He is one with Father so we all can be one (John 17:11).  But didn’t I say ‘third party?  Oh Father, Son and us, right?  Not quite.  The trinity is three.  The number 3 is Divine completeness that is being full or perfect in the Father.  Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one.  It doesn’t get any more complete or perfect than that.  As Jesus said He wants us to be one with Him (and the Godhead).  However two (depending on context) could mean what is left by slipping away (a separation) from the relationship we already have with Father (whoa! That’s is not our goal!).

Paul talks with the Romans about not living in the flesh anymore but living ‘in the Spirit’.  Therefore the body (of sin) is dead because the Spirit (of righteousness) lives within us (Rom. 8:9-17).  Ergo the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Ghost) lives within us making it possible to be one in Christ therefore one in the Father.  Jesus says that if you love Me keep my commandments (John 14:15) so as we love Jesus, we merge into completeness with the totality of God.  So our union becomes Father, Holy Ghost and ‘Son/us’ (because we are in Christ).

Okay so what does this have to do with ‘foundations’?  The fact that we have let Jesus into our heart, cleansing us from all our unrighteousness, our iniquity, our sin, we have not just the hope, but the promise of eternal fellowship with the Creator of all things!  And this is (or should be) what drives us forward in our walk with the Lord, knowing that our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 13:8, Rev. 20:12-15).  Yet, this is not the foundation but the impetus, which gives us the reason and the ability on which our foundation is built. 

There are two foundations to be considered.  The foundation of one’s personal relationship

with Father and the foundation of establishing the body of Christ Jesus (a church or fellowship). 

Jesus is the foundation of our faith and Jesus spent 3 ½ years training (especially) His apostles to lay the foundation for the body.  After all, aren’t the twelve apostles of the lamb the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem, the church (Rev. 21:14)?  Doesn’t Jesus say that the wise man builds his house on a foundation of rock and not sand (Matt. 7:24-27)?  We don’t need a ‘squishy’ base on which our foundation might collapse under pressure, but our foundation should be built on solid rock so it will stand.  Yes?  And Jesus is that rock!  He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6).  

Our personal foundation is not the time when we receive Jesus into our heart as Savior, but the true beginning of the building of our foundation is when we acknowledge Jesus as ‘Lord of our life’!  We can thank Jesus for ‘saving’ us, then curl up and hide in a hole the rest of our lives.  Or, we can follow the example our Lord gives us and start implementing, what He shows us, into our own lives, laying our foundation, then building upon it.  In other words when we start yielding ourselves over to Jesus.  Believe!  Faith without woks is dead (James 2:14-18).  The devils know that God IS and tremble (James 2:19).  We know that God is and grow in Christ Jesus!  Yes?

Believing is good, but now that we’ve professed Jesus, we need to learn and start living the life to which He has called us.   Making that decision becomes our personal foundation!  We need to know who God is, who we are and what our relationship should be and grow into it.

Again, Jesus has asked us to love Him and as we do, keep His commandments. 

So what are His commandments?  To love Father above all else and then to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:34-39, Mark 12:30-31).  Just what does this mean?  Set nothing else before God (Exod. 20:3); don’t make any type of handmade images which to bow down before (Exod. 20:4-5); don’t take His name in vain (that is use His name  loosely or in disrespect - Exod. 20:7); remember the Sabbath, all God asks is that we devote one day to Him (Exod. 20:8-11, yet Paul suggests that we have a continual (daily) attitude of prayer (1 Thess. 5:17); now, moving to our neighbor, we honor mom and dad (the promise of long life), then don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie and don’t desire anything of our neighbor’s (Exod. 20:12-17). 

Along with praying, Paul added to his list to the Thessalonians, respect those who have authority over us,  encourage our brothers, support the weak, be patient with all men,  as Jesus said repay evil with good (Matt 5:38-40), have a joyful heart (Isn’t knowing Jesus our reason for joy?),  give without expecting repayment, thank God for all that He does for us, don’t refuse the Spirit to operate within us (that is quench), don’t despise God’s Word being spoken over our lives (prophecy) , prove all things (God’s love is our standard), don’t do anything that might even connect us with evil (1 Thess. 5:12-22).  God knows our heart (Prov. 21:2) and our intents (Heb. 4:12).  As children of the light we should also not close our eyes to the world’s doings but be vigilant and watch, putting on the armor of God (Ep. 6:10-18), keep our cool and edify one another (1 Thess. 5:5-11).  Father will keep us and sanctify us until He calls us home.  He is faithful to do this (1Thess. 5:23-24).  As we grow in the Lord, He will show us all what He expects of us. 

This list should give us an idea of how to not just build our foundation, but to continue growing stronger in the Lord.  And remember that whatever we do is not just in actions, but from our whole heart, in the love which Father has given us.  Not only should we do these things (and more) but desire to do these things with all our heart (Col. 3:23-24).  Paul reminded the Romans not to conform to the things of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind to prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God for our lives (Rom. 12:2).  As we keep His commandments, Father will bless us (Deut. 11:26-28 – and when we don’t, curse).

Now, for a fledgling church to succeed, the leadership in that fellowship needs to have a solid foundation in Christ Jesus so as to be able to guide those who come into the fellowship after them, helping them to attain that solid foundation. 

Evangelists bring souls into the body of Christ but then somebody has to teach them God’s principles.  Specifically, this is not the evangelist’s job.  An apostle should be laying the basics (foundation) of our faith in our heart then the teachers help us to learn the word deeper and then the pastors help us to apply those principles into our own lives so we can walk closer with the Lord.  Prophets should be a continuing word of encouragement as they speak what Father has in store for us.

When a fellowship begins from scratch, who should be the one laying the groundwork? 

Peter, James and John (sons of Zebedee, thunder), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddeus, Simon (the Canaanite) and Judas Iscariot (the turncoat) were the first apostles called by Jesus to whom He gave power to heal the sick and cast out devils (Mark 3:14-19).  Now don’t forget that after Jesus’ ascension, the eleven (apostles) asked God who should replace Judas.  The lot fell upon Matthias (Acts 1:21-26), bringing the apostle’s number back to twelve. 

God chose Paul to be the apostle for the Gentiles (Acts 9:1-20, v15, Rom. 11:13, Eph. 3:1-12, v 1).  Paul declares to the Romans that God’s Word goes to the Jews first, then the Gentiles (Rom. 1:16, Rom. 2:9-12).  Ergo, by implication, the focus of the original twelve apostles of the lamb was for the Jews while Paul’s focus was towards the Gentiles.  However, we do see examples of both ministering beyond their focus:  Peter ministered to the centurion, Cornelius and his family (Acts 10:1-48) and Paul first went into the synagogues (Acts 9:20), preaching to the Jews before going to the Gentiles (Acts 18:4-6).

Because Luke was a travelling companion of Paul, we get a detailed account of how Paul ministered to the people as an apostle. And, of course we have Paul’s letters to help us with a better understanding.

So, who should found a fledgling church?   

As we look at the example laid by the original apostles, the twelve + Paul, we see that they are the ones who go into an area first (read the book of Acts).  We read where Aquila and his wife Priscilla evangelized Apollos, but no indication they, nor Apollos, started a church (Acts 18:24-26).  It would seem that this task should fall upon the apostle’s.

Again, we might say the evangelist has to be first.  People have to get ‘saved’ before anything else can be done.  Right?  By definition, the evangelist is not responsible to lay the foundation in people’s lives nor the church.  He is not responsible teach people what the Word says nor to explain how to apply it into our lives (that’s what a shepherd does) us.  Nor is he responsible to continually encourage people in their walk in Christ Jesus.  I’m not saying the evangelist isn’t capable of doing any of these things.  I am saying his gifting is focused on bringing souls into the kingdom of God.

What about a teacher?  The teacher’s focus is helping us to know and understand the Word of God so that when we read the bible, we can understand it for ourselves and what it means to us.  After all, won’t the Holy Ghost lead us into all truth (John 16:13)?  The Holy Ghost will confirm what others have taught us.    

The pastor watches over us as a good shepherd over his sheep (John 10:11) and helps us to apply God’s Word into our lives.  The pastor ‘water’s and “feeds” the sheep.  That is he gives us guidance and direction for our lives so we can draw closer to the Lord.

And the prophet?  Again, the prophet’s focus is on bringing God’s Word to encourage or keep us on the right path.

We know that Jesus spent time teaching the people.  We know that Jesus sat down on a mountain near the Sea of Galilee and taught the people for three days.  Because He was concerned for their safety upon departure, He fed them before they left (Matt. 15:29-32).  We know Paul spent three months in Greece (Acts 20:2-3), 1 ½ years in Corinth (Acts 18:8-11), and 2 ½ years in Rome (Acts 28:16. 30).  Point is, neither Jesus nor Paul came into an area and preach for a day then leave.  So what were they doing during that time?  Following Jesus’ example – teaching the people the word of God and how to live in His love.  Knowing that Jesus first sent His apostles out (Matt. 10:1-16) and later sent out the seventy (Luke 10:1-17).  Jesus was training leadership for His church.  So we may conclude that, for the same reason, the apostle, most likely, would be the first into ‘virgin’ (new) territory. 

What would the apostle need to do in establishing a church?

Though the apostle’s primary job is to lay a foundation in lives (man or fellowship), he has to be the ‘jack of all trades!  Where there is not an evangelist, the apostle should be the one to witness (evangelize) to people.  Until someone can be trained to teach the Word of God, the apostle may need to be the teacher.  Until a pastor can be designated to take over the flock, the apostle would be best suited to shepherd (pastor) the flock into growth and that closer walk with Jesus.  And, until one who hears the Word of God and speaks it, the apostle would be the best one to encourage (prophecy to) the people.  It is also the apostle’s responsibility to ask God for guidance in finding and appointing the pastor, teacher, evangelist or prophet and even another apostle who can take over the foundation building (should God call the ‘original’ to minister to others).  Even though a church’s foundation is already lain, who is responsible to lay the foundation in the lives of new Christians who come into the fellowship?  So the apostle has to be able to recognize the gifting in people, to encourage them to follow their calling then train them to fulfill the ministry. 

Now, understand that God can use anyone to do the work of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher, but performing these duties ‘in a pinch’ doesn’t mean that person sits in the ‘office’.  Many people can sing, but only a few can truly ‘sing’, making a song come vibrantly alive.

With these ministries allotted to more than one person it enables the individual to focus on their gift therefore giving it the proper attention.

Are we getting the picture of foundation building?  The importance and need for a foundation in our own personal lives and/or a foundation in establishing and growth in a fellowship!

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion (the church), “Your God reigns!”  (Isa. 52:7).  Because our God reigns in our lives, when we hear the good news, grow and then become able to pass it on, the church grows and becomes more stable.

Amen