tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23589213737460786152024-03-04T05:43:05.470-05:00Bible StudyJust FYI- Footnotes in bible studies may come from any of the following: Life Application Study Bible, NLT, Tyndale House Publishers; Dake's Annotated Reference Bible, Finis Jennings Dake, Dake Bible Sales, Inc.; we also occasionally use a Strong's Concordance, and Vine's Expository Dictionary for Greek and Hebrew referencing.
For further study or reference check these out: www.biblegateway.com or biblos.comCharity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-75891352903523404842012-09-16T21:10:00.000-04:002012-09-16T21:13:55.351-04:00Isaiah Chapter 10:20-34<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 10:20-34</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 20</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “In that day the remnant left in
Israel, the survivors in the house of Jacob, will no longer depend on
allies who seek to destroy them. But they will faithfully trust the
Lord, the Holy One of Israel.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In what day? In the day that God
strikes down Assyria. Assyria will serve its purpose and will receive
its punishment. In the day that God consumes Assyria's glory and the
people that survive are so few in number that a child could count
them. (v. 12-19)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In the day when the enemy is defeated
and Israel's punishment for her sin is complete... then the remnant
that is left in Israel, will learn to depend on God. They will have
run after strong nations long enough. They will have been taken
advantage of enough times. They will finally look to the Lord to save
them.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- You know... I have a cousin who is
living a crazy life right now. She's living life the way she thinks
it's fun to live it. She's chasing after all the typical things in
this world that are thought to bring pleasure or happiness.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Her story reminds me of Israel's
relationship with God.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- A month or two ago, my mom sat her
down and had a very hard talk with her about where her life was
going. She was basically warned that if she didn't stop, God was
going to punish her, because her actions are those of one who spits
in the face of God in contempt.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- She was repentant for a week or
two... and then went right back to what she had been doing before...
with a vengeance.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Recently, she's started to become
very ill. The doctors aren't sure what's wrong and the medication
that should be helping... isn't. If she continues her downward
descent... I believe that she will very soon find herself on the
verge of death... But regardless of all this... she's still wanting
to live life her own way. Still determined that nobody's going to
tell her what to do. No matter the cost.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel lived their national life much
the same way. Prophets would come with a warning for them to turn
from their sin. The people would act contrite for a few days, months,
maybe even years... maybe even start to make an outward change... but
before you know it... they're wallowing in their sin again...
sometimes deeper than before. Sometimes with a renewed intent TO
sin.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Punishment would come. The people
would repent... and sometimes for a few generations, they would live
righteously before God... But then, you would yet again find the
springing up of sin in the life of a nation.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We are now at a point in Israel's
ongoing cycle that God says “Enough!” His anger has burned long
enough. They have been given enough chances. It is time for
disciplinary action. It is time to end the wishy washy heart cycle of
the nation. God brings His righteous judgment down on them, leaving
only a faithful remnant to survive. Much like the flood of Noah's
day, the wickedness of the hardened heart is done away with.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God sees into the heart and knows
that they have no intention of ever allowing Him to soften their
hearts. But the remnant! Those left whose hearts are willing!</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 1:28-2:16</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 21-26</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “A remnant will return, yes, the
remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. But though the people
of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant
of them will return. The Lord has rightly decided to destroy His
people. Yes, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, has already
decided to destroy the entire land.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- My mind automatically goes to the
founding of Israel as a nation in 1948.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I found this article online and I
really want to include it. There's some pretty heavy stuff here, but
WOW what stuff. :)
</em></span><a href="http://www.1260-1290-days-bible-prophecy.org/bible_prophecy-Israel-nation-1260-years-2x.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.1260-1290-days-bible-prophecy.org/bible_prophecy-Israel-nation-1260-years-2x.htm</em></span></a></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- A few points to check out on this...
just as a side note- Ezekiel 36-40 talks about the restoration of
Israel.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God brought the people back to the
nation. And He not only brought them back... He brought them back
exactly when He said He would... down to the hour.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- footnote- “Those who remained
faithful to God despite the horrors of the invasion are called the
remnant. The key to being a part of the remnant was faith. Being a
descendant of Abraham, living in the Promised Land, having trusted
God at one time—none of these were good enough. Are you relying on
your Christian heritage, your participation in church, or a past
experience to qualify you for belonging to God's family? The key to
being a true Christian is faith in the mighty God.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- So to precursor this event...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “So this is what the Lord, the Lord
of Heaven's Armies, says: “O my people in Zion, do not be afraid of
the Assyrians when they oppress you with rod and club as the
Egyptians did long ago. In a little while my anger against you will
end, and then my anger will rise up to destroy them.” The Lord of
Heaven's Armies will lash them with His whip, as He did when Gideon
triumphed over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb, or when the Lord's
staff was raised to drown the Egyptian army in the sea.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Timothy 5:24-25</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In other words, in speaking to the
faithful, do not be afraid when the oppressors come... for although
judgment must fall on the nation, there WILL be a restoration...
there WILL be a renewal of the heart... God WILL remain faithful to
His promises.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Many places in the New Testament
speak about not giving up in times of tribulation or persecution.
Rather, we are told to rejoice that we are being persecuted for the
sake of the name of Christ.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel was being punished for their
disobedience... and this brings the question, “well what about the
faithful? If they were faithful, why were they being punished along
with all the rest?”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I think sometimes persecution comes
as a way of testing. Sometimes it may not be a punishment so much as
other people's response to who we are in Christ. Sometimes, we just
happen to get grouped in with the people or groups around us. For
instance, ALL of the Israelites ended up in bondage in Egypt. Not
just the unfaithful... In war, all are impacted... not just soldiers.
And unfortunately, we are all in a battle... a spiritual one, but a
battle nonetheless.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Thessalonians 2:3-7 says this: “We
proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and
faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.
And God will use this persecution to show His justice and to make you
worthy of His Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In His justice He
will pay back those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for
you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus
appears from heaven...”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Luke 8:4-18</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Judges 2:16-3:11</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Ezekiel 21:1-17</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- James 1:2-8 says: “...When troubles
come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know
that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will
be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our
generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for
asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God
alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as
unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are
unstable in everything they do.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our lives are a journey to perfection
in Christ. Perfection is never reached until we come into our
heavenly bodies in a sinless state after death. The more like Christ
we become however, the more perfect we are. (Still imperfect... but
better than we were...) Christ sometimes uses testing to perfect us.
Consider it as the sculptor shaving off the rough edges of the
masterpiece. Testing or Trials into our lives a way of getting rid of
the things that bind us to this world or to sin.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 27-34</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- When the Lord avenges His people and
ends their time of punishment, it will be a complete salvation.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- “In that day the Lord will end the
bondage of His people. He will break the yoke of slavery and lift it
from their shoulders. Look, the Assyrians are now at Aiath. They are
passing through Migron and are storing their equipment at Micmash.
They are crossing the pass and are camping at Geba. Fear strikes the
town of Ramah. All the people of Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, are
running for their lives.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Basically this passage is telling the
people that the Assyrians are drawing ever closer. The cities
mentioned are on the path to Jerusalem. They're getting closer and
closer. Geba is the city on the other side of the mountain pass. They
had made it past the natural boundary and defense system. They were
going to be coming to the main city quickly.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I find it a little odd that the city
that they're going for, and the city that's running is the city of
Saul. The first thing that God is taking out of Israel's life is the
starting point of their dependance upon man instead of on God as King
and Leader.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Scream in terror, you people of
Gallim! Shout out a warning to Laishah. Oh, poor Anathoth! There go
the people of Madmenah, all fleeing. The citizens of Gebim are trying
to hide. The enemy stops at Nob for the rest of that day. He shakes
his fist at beautiful Mount Zion, the mountain of Jerusalem.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- No place to hide... They are all
running from the wrath of God... and the enemy who's chasing them
down... stops to take a break. They're not worried about catching
them. They know they are the superior force. Indeed... he stops to
shake his fist at Jerusalem, the city of God. He is threatening the
people of God and in my mind, he's going after them with a vengeance.
To shake your fist at something generally denotes anger... I don't
see him leaving many survivors with that attitude.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So here's Israel. The enemy is
bearing down upon them quickly. The end is near. Where is their help?
Where is their God? Has He forsaken them in this time of danger and
distress? Will He not rescue them out of the hand of the enemy?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “But look! The Lord, the Lord of
Heaven's Armies, will chop down the mighty tree of Assyria with great
power! He will cut down the proud. That lofty tree will be brought
down. He will cut down the forest trees with an ax. Lebanon will fall
to the Mighty One.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Lebanon was known for its mighty
trees. They were strong cedars. They were used for a little bit of
everything.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As strong as Assyria is... or thinks
it is... God will cut down the tree. And not just one... It says
“trees”. The whole forest is going down.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “Assyria would be like a
tree cut down at the height of its power, never to rise again...”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And indeed they were...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Kings 19 includes the story of the
Assyrian invasion. Because king Hezekiah went to God first with the
issue of the Assyrian attack, God Himself went out to the Assyrian
camp and killed 185,000 soldiers. When the rest of the Assyrians woke
up the next morning, it was to find the dead bodies of their comrades
strewn about them. They broke camp and went home.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If you read through the story in II
Kings, I see Hezekiah calling out to God the first time he hears of
the oncoming Assyrians. Then when the Assyrian king sends word and
says “Don't let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with
promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria.
You know perfectly well what the kings of Assyria have done wherever
they have gone. They have completely destroyed everyone who stood in
their way! Why should you be any different? Have the gods of other
nations rescued them?...”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Instead of getting scared and running
away, or giving up... Hezekiah goes to the Temple to lay out the
message before the Lord. “O Lord, God of Israel, You are enthroned
between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of
the earth. You alone created the heavens and the earth. Bend down, O
Lord, and listen! Open your eyes, O Lord, and see! Listen to
Sennacherib's words of defiance against the living God. It is true,
Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these nations. And
they have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire and burned
them. But of course the Assyrians could destroy them! They were not
gods at all—only idols of wood and stone shaped by human hands.
Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power; then all the kingdoms
of the earth will know that You alone, O Lord, are God.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Hezekiah didn't go to God and whine
and complain. He went and sought the character of God. He recognized
the lies beneath Sennacherib's challenge. True, the other gods might
not have protected the other nations... but they weren't THE ALMIGHTY
GOD! They were just man made images with no ability to help the
people who bowed down before them. Hezekiah knew the character and
power of HIS God. The TRUE God. He knew if God chose to do so, that
He would save the nation, because God's character is always faithful.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Had Hezekiah's response been one of
fear, or one of apathy, or defeat... I don't think God would have
responded in the same way. He might have allowed the Assyrians to
attack and conquer. However, because Hezekiah turned to God in an
impossible looking circumstance, despite how things looked on the
outside, God was faithful and came through completely.</em></span>
</div>
</div>
Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-90337851971123345402012-07-08T23:05:00.000-04:002012-07-08T23:16:12.090-04:00Isaiah Chapter 10:12-19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 10:12-19</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 12</em></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “After the Lord has used the king
of Assyria to accomplish His purposes on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
He will turn against the king of Assyria and punish Him—for He is
proud and arrogant.”</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I thought a lot about this verse. In
some ways it seems a little cold of God to use the king of Assyria
for His own purposes and then turn around and destroy them for their
actions...</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However... that wasn't really God's
motive or intention.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I found a commentary that I think
made a good point.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “In this verse we see -</em></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>(1) That God will accomplish all the purposes of which he designs
to make wicked people the instruments. "Their" schemes
shall be successful just so far as they may contribute to "his"
plans, and no further.
</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>(2) When that is done, they are completely in "his"
power, and under his control. He can stay their goings when he
pleases, and subdue them to his will.
</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>(3) The fact that they have been made to further the plans of God,
and to execute his designs, will not free them from deserved
punishment. They meant not so; and they will be dealt with according
to "their" intentions, and not according to God's design to
overrule them. "Their" plans were wicked; and if God brings
good out of them, it is contrary to "their" intention; and
hence, they are not to be screened from punishment because he brings
good out of their plans, contrary to their designs.
</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>(4) Wicked people "are in fact"
often thus punished. Nothing is more common on earth; and all the
woes of hell will be an illustration of the principle. Out of all
evil God shall educe good; and even from the punishment of the damned
themselves, he will take occasion to illustrate his own perfections,
and, in that display of his just character, promote the happiness of
holy beings.” (from “Barnes Notes on the Bible”)</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, God may have used Assyria for
the discipline of Israel, but it wasn't just because He had it out
for Assyria.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we read the story of Jonah, we
see Jonah being sent directly to the capital of Assyria. Precisely so
the Word of God could be given to the people to bring about their
repentance. And it did! And for about 40 years or so, the nation was
a God-fearing nation. However, eventually... they followed the
example of Israel and left God for idols and other things.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God didn't stop there. Isaiah is not
the only prophet to speak of Assyria. He's not the only one who
prophesied that if they didn't turn their hearts back to God that
they would be destroyed. To the contrary, for over a century prophets
spoke of the destruction of Assyria. Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah,
Nahum, and Zephaniah all mention something about the fall of Assyria.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Do you think word didn't travel? I
mean some of these prophets were crazy! They did all kinds of
things... you think word didn't get back to the Assyrians that the
crazy prophets in Israel and Judah were prophesying their demise?</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- How many times did God send somebody
to them to plead for their repentance... that we DON'T know about?
Jonah went. They repented. Apparently their hearts weren't too hard
then. So what changed? What changed in their world to make them
unresponsive to the call of God?</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Verse 12 here says that God is
punishing the king of Assyria because of his pride and arrogance.</em></span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Proverbs 16:18; 29:23</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Obadiah 1:2-16</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 10</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Kings 19:20-34</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 13-14</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “He boasts, “By my own powerful
arm I have done this. With my own shrewd wisdom I planned it. I have
broken down the defenses of nations and carried off their treasures.
I have knocked down their kinds like a bull. I have robbed their
nests of riches and gathered up kingdoms as a farmer gathers eggs. No
one can even flap a wing against me or utter a peep of protest.”</em></span></div>
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The king of Assyria... and the people
of Assyria, turned away from God. They decided they were better off
on their own. They were stronger than God.</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Jeremiah, God said this about the
people of Judah, and I think it relates well. “Listen, you foolish
and senseless people, with eyes that do not see and ears that do not
hear. Have you no respect for me? Why don't you tremble in my
presence? I, the Lord, define the ocean's sandy shoreline as an
everlasting boundary that the waters cannot cross. The waves may toss
and roar, but they can never pass the boundaries I set. But my people
have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned away and
abandoned me. They do not say from the heart, 'Let us live in awe of
the Lord our God, for He gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring
us of a harvest when the time is right.' Your wickedness has deprived
you of these wonderful blessings. Your sin has robbed you of all
these good things.” (5:21-25)</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 14; 74</em></span></div>
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The people were still living as if
God didn't have any power in their lives. They were living as if THEY
were the powerful ones. And to that... God said “Should I not
punish them for this?... Should I not avenge myself against such a
nation?” (Jeremiah 5:28)</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Assyria, HAD BEEN, a repentant
nation... but now, God will judge them for their hardened hearts. He
will use their evil hearts and their own ambition to fulfill His own
plans for disciplining His people.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- You know that scripture that says
that “God causes everything to work together for the good of those
who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”
(Romans 8:28)</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- All things or everything... means the
bad things too. One of the commentaries on verse 12 said that “God
designs to correct His people for their hypocrisy, and bring them
nearer to Him.” (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary)</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God was doing this for the ultimate
good of His people. Without the punishment, they would continue to
grow farther and farther from Him.
</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So God used an evil thing...
Assyria's ambition and pride... to punish His people for their
disobedience, in order to bring them closer to Him.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Proverbs 8:13</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Leviticus 26:14-46</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 15-19</em></span></div>
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “But can the ax boast greater power
than the person who uses it? Is the saw greater than the person who
saws? Can a rod strike unless a hand moves it? Can a wooden cane walk
by itself?”</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What is the creation without the
Creator? We were created for a purpose... and we, the created... are
not greater than the Creator who commands us.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Job, chapters 38-41, God
challenges Job by listing out all the things that He has done in
creation or in nature... and basically says “Who are you compared
to me?”</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, the great thing about this... is
that we, through Christ, have access to God's power. That's not to
say that we control God... but we have His power moving in and
through us at all times if we have faith in Christ.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But Assyria was looking to their own
power. They were boasting of the little power they had in comparison
to God's... and feeling pretty good about it!</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of
Heaven's Armies, will send a plague among Assyria's proud troops, and
a flaming fire will consume its glory. The Lord, the Light of Israel,
will be a fire; the Holy One will be a flame. He will devour the
thorns and briers with fire, burning up the enemy in a single night.
The Lord will consume Assyria's glory like a fire consumes a forest
in a fruitful land; it will waste away like sick people in a plague.
Of all that glorious forest, only a few trees will survive—so few
that a child could count them!”</em></span></div>
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And why is He doing all this? Because
they were prideful and boasting in their own power and significance.
</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Who are we compared to God? We have
no right to boast in our own achievements and accomplishments. For
all we have comes from Him. Even Assyria, living as evilly as they
were... their power was given to them from God.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I want to add here the story of
Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 3, we see the three Hebrews thrown into the
furnace. When they walk out unscathed, the king makes this
exclamation. “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meschach, and
Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue His servants who trusted in
Him. They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather
than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make
this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or
language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meschach, and
Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be
turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue
like this!”</em></span></div>
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He promoted the three to higher
positions. He then sent out a message to “the people of every race
and nation and language throughout the world.” Doesn't say just his
country, or nation. But rather, the WORLD. This experience with God
made an impact in this man's heart.</em></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The message said this: “I want you
all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God
has performed for me. How great are His signs, how powerful His
wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all
generations.”</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Here is this pagan king... worshiping
the One True God... as the God that He is.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But in the verses following, we see a
dream. Daniel gives the interpretation of the dream to the king. And
it's not pretty... but at the end, Daniel pleads with the king to
please stop sinning and do what is right. Because otherwise, his
reign of prosperity is over.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God was warning the king... and
asking for a heart change. He had been impacted by what he had seen
and experienced... but he hadn't done anything with it other than
look it. He hadn't allowed it to change him.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The king however... did not do as he
was warned.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- A year later (yep, God gave him a
WHOLE year to turn from his sin.) He was walking along his roof,
looking over his city. And he got prideful. “Look at this great
city of Babylon! By my own mighty power I have built this beautiful
city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.”</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And while he was still speaking...
God spoke. He removed Nebuchadnezzar from the throne. He basically
lost his mind and went to live in the fields with the cows. Eating
grass and living like an animal.</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- For seven years, he lived insane and
outside of society. After the time had passed, God brought his mind
back to him. And the first thing he did? He praised and worshiped
God. “His rule is everlasting, and His kingdom is eternal. All the
people of the earth are nothing compared to Him. He does as He
pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth.
No one can stop Him or say to Him, 'What do You mean by doing these
things?'”</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And he ended his section by saying
this: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King
of heaven. All His acts are just and true, and He is able to humble
the proud.”</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- After all that, here stands the king
in humility, worshiping God because ALL His acts are just and true...
even making the KING live in the wild as an animal for 7 years...
Even that... was a just act. Why? Because this was the way that God
chose to bring the king to his knees. His pride was in the way. He
couldn't get over himself. He had no room for God in his life. So God
humbled him, so that God could have relationship with the man. So
that his life would be more full than he could have ever imagined.
Even being king of a massive nation...</em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In repentance... came restoration. </em></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God simply wants honor where honor is
due. When we step up and take His place on the throne... it doesn't
sit so well with Him. We, the unworthy, are taking the place of the
More Than Worthy... and claiming to be better fit for it than
Himself!</em></span></div>
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 73</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 13:15-27</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Mark 7:14-23</em></span></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-69711550314930223462012-06-16T23:52:00.002-04:002012-06-16T23:52:37.262-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 10:1-11
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-4</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “What sorrow awaits the unjust
judges and those who issue unfair laws. They deprive the poor of
justice and deny the rights of the needy among my people. They prey
on widows and take advantage of orphans. What will you do when I
punish you, when I send disaster upon you from a distant land? To
whom will you turn for help? Where will your treasures be safe? You
will stumble along as prisoners or lie among the dead. But even then
the Lord's anger will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to
strike.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- These verses are a continuation of
the previous chapter.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- The wickedness of the people started
with the leaders. Some of those leaders were the judges... the guys
who made the laws and executed their judgment according to the law.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- These judges had become a corrupt
faction. They were solely concerned with themselves. They were going
so far as to condemn the widows and orphans, those who were most in
need of help, to extreme poverty.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Exodus 22:22-24, the people had
been given an edict about widows and orphans: “You must not exploit
a widow or an orphan. If you exploit them in any way and they cry out
to me, then I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will blaze
against you, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives will
be widows and your children fatherless.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- From the beginning of the law, the
people had been given very specific directions about widows and
orphans... I mean... the fact that God said He'd kill them if they
exploited the weaker members of society... that's pretty cut and
dried...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Timothy 5:1-16</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- James 1:19-27</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Proverbs 23:10-11</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These judges had ceased to care for
their fellow man. They were using their position to take advantage of
other people.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We are all in positions that allow us
to help or harm the people around us, whether we are judges or
bosses, or teachers, or parents, or garbage men.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, not all of us may come into
contact with specifically widows and orphans, but we do come into
contact with broken people. People who... whether materially,
emotionally, or spiritually... NEED something from us. They need our
support, our help, our comfort... our faith.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What happens when we turn away from
them? Or use their pain or weakness to our advantage? Oh maybe we
don't steal their money, maybe we don't take their possessions...
but... maybe we use them when WE need emotional support... and then
in turn... refuse to give honest support when they need it.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- I have a friend with whom I had that
kind of relationship. Any time something was going wrong in our
lives, we would run to the other for support... and totally drain
them dry... And as soon as we felt secure enough in ourselves to move
on or at least live life without breaking down... we would stop
talking to each other, or at least stop being true friends... we'd
fight, we'd argue, we'd verbally beat up on each other... tear each
other apart... and then when we needed that emotional support... we'd
be right back there... draining them dry... but never really forming
a relationship out of it. It was more like having an acquaintance
that you occasionally poured your heart out to about specific
situations... but never REALLY got to know them. We knew the hard
parts of the others' life... but we didn't know the rest.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When I realized one day that I didn't
even know if they had siblings... or how many they had... that was a
turning point in my way of thinking... I didn't know basic details of
their life... but I knew all their relationship issues... How messed
up is that? Usually that's the LAST thing you talk about...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Using someone like that, just hurts
both parties. It makes you both vulnerable, without the security of
having anything to fall back on. And it creates anger instead of
compassion.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So again... you may not be taking
material things from those around you... it might be something
emotional.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Any time you take advantage of
someone else, you are going against God's command to “love your
neighbor as yourself.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 13:8-10</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- James 2:1-13</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These judges were doing the same
thing... they weren't loving their neighbor... they were looking at
the things their neighbor had and trying to figure out how to get it
away from him. They were taking bribes... convicting the innocent and
freeing the guilty. They were only making judgments according to what
THEY themselves would get out of the verdict.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Do we judge people like that? You
bet.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- How about cliches in school...
remember those? Oh yeah... the preppy kids, the cheerleaders, the
jocks, the nerds, the music/theater geeks... not much has changed
over the last 50 years... oh sure, they have some new titles... emo,
goth, skater... cliches are still cliches.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- How about using someone to gain entry
into the cliche? Using them to gain popularity... and then leaving
them along the roadside... ever been there?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We do the same thing in our
workplaces... you know you do... there's cliches there, just like
there was in middle school... You have the workaholics, the slackers,
the brown-nosers, and the ones that will do ANYTHING to get ahead...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- How do you treat the people around
you? Do you use them for a purpose and then leave them to sort out
the pieces of their wrecked and broken life? Do you leave them
wondering “what just happened?” Do you find yourself looking for
ways to gain something for yourself... no matter the cost to others?
Does your heart harden when you think about the pain in eyes of
another because of YOUR actions?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What kind of consequences will there
be for your actions? Considering that God was ready to kill these
people off because of their abuse of others...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 17:5-13</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Habakkuk 2:4-20</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Ezekiel 22</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- I Peter 3:8-12</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- II Peter 2</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 5-11</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “What sorrow awaits Assyria, the
rod of my anger. I use it as a club to express my anger. I am sending
Assyria against a godless nation, against a people with whom I am
angry. Assyria will plunder them, trampling them like dirt beneath
its feet. But the king of Assyria will not understand that he is my
tool; his mind does not work that way. His plan is simply to destroy,
to cut down nation after nation. He will say, 'Each of my princes
will soon be a king. We destroyed Calno just as we did Carchemish.
Hamath fell before us as Arpad did. And we destroyed Samaria just as
we did Damascus. Yes, we have finished off many a kingdom whose gods
were greater than those in Jerusalem and Samaria. So we will defeat
Jerusalem and her gods, just as we destroyed Samaria with hers.'”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- (Before we get into this... I just
have to say... these verses SCREAM arrogance and pride...)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Assyria was one of the many nations
that fought against Israel. It was an incredibly strong nation...
that at one point... actually repented and followed God.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Do you remember the story of Jonah?
Well... Nineveh... was the capitol of Assyria. God sent Jonah to the
capitol to preach repentance. The city did indeed repent and God
prospered them. Later, they started to turn back to their old sinful
ways. God's prophets often prophesied the destruction of Assyria if
they did not repent... but Assyria turned their hearts away.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, here, this nation was used
of God. Eventually, because of their sin, they were going to be
destroyed... but God can use many things... even vessels that don't
know they're being used of God...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Because of their sin, Assyria had
started to devour their neighboring nations... they had become power
hungry. They were destructive... and many of their nation's practices
are said to have been nothing short of barbaric. They were cocky.
They thought that nothing could be higher than they.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Isaiah here says that they were
talking about how weak the gods were. All these places had their own
gods that they worshiped. The gods were reflected in the people of
the nation. So if the nation was strong... so were the gods... So
here stands Assyria, thinking that they are the best thing since
sliced bread... thinking that their gods... are most DEFINITELY the
strongest right now... and they're getting ready to go up against the
ALMIGHT GOD!? Oh boy...
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- God knew their hearts. They weren't
listening to Him anymore. They had turned away. And they had set
their sights on defeating Israel. And while God could have stopped
them... Israel was deserving of their punishment. The consequences
for sin eventually find you out... no matter what you do...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- So God didn't stop Assyria. He
allowed them to take Israel captive. Eventually, tough love is the
only option. When God blessed Israel... and they still turned away...
time and time again... obviously... blessings weren't working. They
were using God... but not loving Him.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And while God allowed Assyria to
conquer Israel... their actions did not go unpunished. They
themselves were later destroyed... to a massive extent. Nineveh never
rose again... you can barely tell there was ever anything on the site
at all... There are mounds of dirt... but no foundations of
anything... The people were scattered... and the nation completely
crumbled. Leaving no trace of its existence behind...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Whereas Israel has risen from the
ashes... because they eventually repented... and God still honors His
covenant. Assyria, on the other hand, threw away the only chance they
had... all because of their pride and arrogance.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- II Thessalonians 1:3-10</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Ezekiel 34</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Hebrews 12:5-13</em></span></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-86107916670117080042012-06-10T16:45:00.000-04:002012-06-10T16:45:34.032-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 9:8-21<br />
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 8-10<br />
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The Lord has spoken out against
Jacob; His judgment has fallen upon Israel. And the people of Israel
and Samaria, who spoke with such pride and arrogance, will soon know
it. They said, “We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with
finished stone, and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with
cedars.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The people of Israel were putting
themselves and their own wisdom above that of God. The cities that
had been ruined because of their sin, they were going to rebuild...
better than before... better than when God was with them. The
sycamore-fig trees that had been cut down and destroyed... were going
to be replaced with cedar trees.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I was reading through some
commentaries (</em></span><a href="http://bible.cc/isaiah/9-10.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://bible.cc/isaiah/9-10.htm</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>)
on this verse. Basically, it was talking about the history of the
bricks and trees.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The bricks were made of clay and
straw, and eventually, being exposed to constant sun, they would just
crumble and deteriorate. So the buildings had to be frequently fixed
and/or replaced.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Finished stone on the other hand
would last longer. And would probably look nicer...
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The sycamore-fig trees were
incredibly intriguing to me. They are a short tree that sounds like
it's a little bushy. The wood is a kind of spongy. The Egyptians used
the wood for the mummy coffins because of it's antiseptic properties.
The fruit (get this... :) grows in bunches like grapes straight off
of the TRUNK. Not the branches... the TRUNK.
(</em></span><a href="http://topicalbible.org/s/sycamore.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://topicalbible.org/s/sycamore.htm</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>)
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These trees were not looked upon as
valuable, but they were very useful. David appointed a special person
over the head of all the care of the sycamore-fig trees just as he
did over the olive trees.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Sycamore trees also have HUGE root
systems. It sends out roots in every direction and DEEP. When Jesus
in Luke 17:6 that if you had faith you could tell the mulberry or
sycamore (depending on your translation) to be uprooted and moved to
the sea... it was not an easy feat.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These trees were planted along side
of the roads. Their leaves were huge and offered great places for
shade and rest.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The cedar trees on the other hand, were
nice smelling, strong, and a wood that was straight. No knots in it.
It was a wood that was held to be very precious. They were used in
the building of the temple. In I Kings 10:27 it says that Solomon
made the cedar trees to be as numerous as the Sycamore-fig trees. So
apparently it was a sign of wealth or prestige of some sort. (The
cedar is often used to portray Christianity in that it is strong and
durable etc. However, unless it's being used to explain the second
covenant... I don't think that's what it was in this particular
passage. Here I think it is simply being looked upon as being a
valuable wood.) (</em></span><a href="http://topicalbible.org/c/cedar.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://topicalbible.org/c/cedar.htm</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>)
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- okay now... what has this got to do
with anything else?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We talk about Christ being the
cornerstone of our faith. The building that was built on Christ,
wasn't good enough for the people of Israel. This could also be
related back to the two covenants. The first covenant was made to
lead to the next one. It was built to give the outline so that when
Christ came to fulfill the covenant and put into action the second
one... it would be time to replace the bricks so to speak. However,
Israel wasn't waiting for that. They weren't satisfied with waiting
on the promise. They wanted their better house NOW.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, the sycamore tree really got me
going... If we look at the fruit as Christ, then things get REALLY
interesting.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This was a tree that was used and
useful... but not looked at as anything valuable necessarily.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Isaiah 53 says this “My servant
grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, like a root
in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His
appearance, nothing to attract us to Him. He was despised and
rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned
our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised and we did
not care. Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows
that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment
from God, a punishment for His own sins. But He was pierced for our
rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have
strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the
Lord laid on Him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated
harshly, yet He never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the
slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not
open His mouth....” (vs. 2-7)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jesus as the Sycamore tree...
unloved. Used, abused, but not counted as valuable.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Now, I said we were going to look at
Jesus as the fruit... Before the Sycamore fruit could be picked, it
had to be pierced with a sharp object or fingernail 3 or 4 days
before picking. Otherwise, it wouldn't be edible.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, also looking at the roots of the
tree... deep strong roots, and the fact that the fruit grew directly
from the trunk of this tree...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is our foundation. His roots run
deep. He is our shelter.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ is God's Son. He grew directly
out from the trunk of the tree. He was a direct descendant. There was
no branch in between them.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In order for Christ's sacrifice to be
finalized so that it would be for the good of all men, he had to die.
He was pierced in the side and laid in a tomb... for 3 DAYS. Without
His death and resurrection, we would have no hope. The fruit of all
His labors would have been in vain without His death.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel was tossing aside this tree of
provision... their protection... for one that looked nicer and was
held in higher esteem.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Do we do the same thing? Do we toss
God aside for something better looking? Something more valuable? All
these things are temporary! And yet... we still find ourselves
looking at those temporary things and thinking of them more highly
than the things of God...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- How many times do we get caught up in
our search or desire for something more? Like... money, or power, or
love, or well... anything? Maybe we want a better house, or a better
car. Maybe we simply just want something we can't have. Or don't have
the resources to have right now.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Are we throwing away our place of
refuge (eternal) in order to gain more material (temporary) things?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Proverbs 16:18</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Samuel 2:3; 15:22-23
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 11-21</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “But the Lord will bring Rezin's
enemies against Israel and stir up all their foes. The Syrians from
the east and the Philistines from the west will bare their fangs and
devour Israel.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In chapter 7 we first heard about
King Rezin of Syria. Not much was said. Rezin joined forces with
Israel to go up against Judah and failed. They laid siege to the
city, but couldn't defeat King Ahaz of Judah.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So now, apparently, Rezin's enemies,
the Syrians and the Philistines were going to attack his new allies,
Israel. (and I know Rezin was supposed to be the king of Syria and
then it says his enemies were the Syrians... I'm not sure why.
Sometimes it says that Rezin was king of Aram... so I don't know if
there were two factions of Syria at this point, or what the deal
was... sorry if that's confusing.)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So now, because Israel made a pact
with Rezin, now they were going to be in the hot seat so to speak.
They had joined forces to make themselves stronger... and in the
process... they made some enemies...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “But even then the Lord's anger
will not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike. For after
all this punishment, the people will still not repent. They will not
seek the Lord of Heaven's Armies. Therefore, in a single day the Lord
will destroy both the head and the tail, the noble palm branch and
the lowly reed. The leaders of Israel are the head, and the lying
prophets are the tail.”
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even though the enemy nations were
getting ready to attack... and would indeed attack... it wasn't
enough. God wanted them removed from the land. He wanted them gone.
They were polluting the land with their idol worship and their sins.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ezekiel 5:5-6:14</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “For the leaders of the people have
misled them. They have led them down the path of destruction. That is
why the Lord takes no pleasure in the young men and shows no mercy
even to the widows and orphans. For they are all wicked hypocrites,
and they all speak foolishness. But even then the Lord's anger will
not be satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Because these people were all evil...
God would punish them all. Even the widows and orphans were
hypocrites. So even though their status in life normally would have
caused their to be pity felt on their behalf... now, because they are
all lying hypocrites, God will strike. His anger WILL be satisfied.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 94</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ezekiel 22:23-31</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “This wickedness is like a brush
fire. It burns not only briers and thorns but also sets the forests
ablaze. Its burning sends up clouds of smoke. The land will be
blackened by the fury of the Lord of Heaven's Armies.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The wickedness had spread so far and
so vast that the only way to get rid of it was to also send judgment
far and vast.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Widespread wickedness calls for
widespread judgment.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, this place would blaze, not with
the fire of wickedness, but with the purging fire of judgment and
God's holy wrath.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Proverbs 12:1-3</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 1:18-2:16</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The land will be blackened by the
fury of the Lord of Heaven's Armies. The people will be fuel for the
fire, and no one will spare even his own brother. They will attack
their neighbor on the right but will still be hungry. They will
devour their neighbor on the left but will not be satisfied. In the
end they will even eat their own children.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hosea 10:13-15</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 4; 5; 6</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When Israel and Judah fell... both
times, both separately, they fell after a very long siege. 2 or 3
years apiece. I can imagine how high tensions ran at those times.
Even before that... When God is absent... morals are absent. When
morals are absent... there is no reason to want to do the right
thing. Therefore, if you see something you want, take it. If you see
something that makes you angry, act the way you feel... There's no
guidelines if God is not present in a life. That life can choose to
do whatever they want... and without God guiding their hearts...
there's no reason to do good.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Can you imagine the chaos? I can.
Because it would be the way it is today. Random robberies over petty
things. Murders over little meaningless arguments. Selfish acts built
on selfish feelings and extreme emotions.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even to take things from your
children or yourself... Some translations read that they would eat
their own children, some read that they would eat their own arm. The
idea is that they are willing to devour anything in their path if
they think it will profit themselves. Even their own body.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- How about drugs? Alcohol abuse? The
damage that is done to your own body just for a few moments of
pleasure? A few moments that make you forget about life? Or a way to
rebel against what others tell you is bad? That's a sin against your
own body. It's a destroying of yourself... for what? *sigh* Not much
of anything...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- (Also... perhaps because of the
siege, quite literally people could have eaten their children...
there are some references to such things... although I'm not sure if
the time line lines up. There's references to women eating their
children in a time of great drought. So I may be getting them a
little confused and muddled together, but the Lamentations verse
below also talks about women eating their children during a siege.)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Lamentations 4</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- One of the commentaries I was reading
on these verses made the comment that “sin carries this (God's
wrath) within itself as its own self-punishment.”
(</em></span><a href="http://bible.cc/isaiah/9-18.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://bible.cc/isaiah/9-18.htm</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Manasseh will feed on Ephraim,
Ephraim will feed on Manasseh, and both will devour Judah. But even
then the Lord's anger will not be satisfied. His first is still
poised to strike.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Manasseh and Ephraim were the sons of
Joseph... two tribes from one... As close as brothers. The brother
tribes would fight against and devour each other... only joining
together for one common enemy... another brother...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And even still... God's hand will
still be poised to strike.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As I sit and write this... my heart
is heavy. Right now, someone very near and dear to me is throwing
their life away... *sigh* Our prayer has become that God would do
whatever it takes to bring her back.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The harsh truth of her situation, and
the situation with Israel and Judah... is that God WILL do whatever
it takes to bring His people back into holy communion with Him. And
if that means showing a little tough love... then that's what He'll
do. Sometimes love... is shown simply through discipline.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The judgment that came upon Judah and
Israel came because God had tried everything else to win their
hearts... and nothing worked. So the last available option... was
punishment. And hopefully through their punishment and discipline for
their sin... the people will again turn to the God who gave His all
for them.</em></span>
</div>
</div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-61834396871258409462012-05-28T21:20:00.001-04:002012-05-28T21:20:22.352-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 9:6-7</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 6-7</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “For a child is born to us, a son
is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He
will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will
rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David
for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's
Armies will make this happen!”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>A SON IS BORN</em></span></b><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- These two verses are a Messianic
prophesy looking towards the coming of Christ.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In the first part, the HOW is given.
He will be born as a son. This was of course confirmed in the birth
of Jesus to Mary.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When Gabriel appeared to Mary in Luke
chapter 1, he tells her that she is favored of God and that God is
with her. “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will
name Him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of
the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor
David. And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never
end!”</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: cyan;">
<b>DAVID</b></span></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Notice that yet again the throne of
David is mentioned...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This is important because God
promised David that his descendants would be on the throne of Israel
forever.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In II Samuel 7:8-16 when David
decides that he wants to build a permanent temple for the house of
God, this is what the prophet Nathan tells David.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “This is what the Lord of Heaven's
Armies has declared: I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and
selected you to be the leader of my people Israel. I have been with
you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies
before your eyes. Now I will make your name as famous as anyone who
has ever lived on the earth! And I will provide a homeland for my
people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never
be disturbed. Evil nations won't oppress them as they've done in the
past, starting from the time I appointed judges to rule my people
Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Furthermore,
the Lord declares that He will make a house for you—a dynasty of
kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will
raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make
His kingdom strong. He is the one who will build a house—a
temple—for my Name. And I will secure His royal throne forever. I
will be His Father, and He will be my Son. If He sins, I will correct
and discipline Him with the rod, like any father would do. But my
favor will not be taken from Him as I took it from Saul, whom I
removed from your sight. Your house and your kingdom will continue
before Me for all time, and your throne will be secure forever.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Both Mary and Joseph were direct
descendants of David. So even looking at his earthly father figure,
Jesus was still a part of the tribe of Judah and descendant of David.
(Matthew 1 and Luke 3)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Revelation 11:15, the seventh
angel blows a trumpet and voices start shouting “The world has now
become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign
forever and ever.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ, a descendant of David... will
rule on the throne forever.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: cyan;">
<b>GOVERNMENT</b></span></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- A few of the
commentaries that I've been reading on this say that there was an
insignia of sorts worn on the shoulder of rulers of the time period.
So, “the government will rest on His shoulder” could be that.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Or it is thought
that He would uphold the government... as in He would maintain them.
They would therefore rest on His shoulders as you would carry a
burden or support something.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, a couple of
things in either direction...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In I Corinthians
15:24-28 says this: “After that the end will come, when He will
turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler
and authority and power. For Christ must reign until He humbles all
His enemies beneath His feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is
death. For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under His
authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under His
authority,” that does not include God Himself, who gave Christ His
authority.) Then, when all things are under His authority, the Son
will put Himself under God's authority, so that God, who gave His Son
authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything
everywhere.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Colossians 2:10
says “So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who
is the head over every ruler and authority.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God gave Christ
authority over all things... He rules over all. And don't let the
God/Christ separation in the Corinthians verse confuse you... because
Christ said in John 10:30 “The Father and I are one.” (The
trinity at work. 3 persons in one unity working always together.
Never at odds with one another and always One being.)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So Christ as
ruler over all things, supports all under-authorities. Even the
seemingly (or literally) really bad ones...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Everyone must
submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God,
and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So
anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has
instituted, and they will be punished.” (Romans 13:1-2)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even though they
may think that they took rule from somebody else, or that they worked
their way to the top... God has put them in that position.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even the Pharaoh
who wouldn't let the people go from Egypt... Romans 9:17 says that
God told him that He had appointed him for “the very purpose of
displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the
earth.” (Exodus 9:16)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So all earthly
authority and rule belongs to Christ.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Peter 2:13-17</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>CHURCH</em></span></b></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- With that also
comes church government.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Now He is far
above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not
only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all
things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all
things for the benefit of the Church. And the church is His body; it
is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere
with Himself.” (Ephesians 1:21-23)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “...We will
speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like
Christ, who is the Head of His body, the church. He makes the whole
body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work,
it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and
growing and full of love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Colossians
1:15-20</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ is our
head. He rules over the rest of us. He directs us, He leads us, He
commands us. We are the followers.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Indeed, He not
only rules over us, we gain our entire existence from Him. “But we
know that there is only one God, the Father, Who created everything,
and we live for Him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ,
through whom God make everything and through whom we have been given
life.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Acts 17:24-28</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So not only does
earthly authority belong to Christ, so does Spiritual authority.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Matthew 28:18-20</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>COUNSELOR</em></span></b></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When I was
searching for other places that mentioned Christ as “Counselor,”
I found something rather interesting.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In John 15:26,
Jesus says “But I will send you an Advocate—the Spirit of Truth.
He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The word
“Advocate” can be translated as: “comforter, encourager, or
counselor”.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Wow... And
that's not the only place that calls the Holy Spirit the Counselor.
It's mentioned just before that in chapter 14 as well. It says that
the Holy Spirit would come to teach us everything we need to know and
would remind us of the Words of Christ.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God Himself
comes to us to counsel us. To give us wisdom in situations. To speak
His Word to us when we need it. That's so AWESOME!</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>MIGHTY GOD</em></span></b></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What can we say
about the Almighty God?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- How many
miracles did Jesus do? How many acts of wonder did God do in the Old
Testament?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Water turned to
wine, healings, casting out of demons, the separation of waters so
dry land could be seen, the plagues, creation itself!</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Read through Job
chapters 38-41. Job and his friends have been discussing why all
these things have happened to Job. His world has been turned upside
down. He's lost EVERYTHING. And here they sit... trying to come up
with an answer as to why these things have happened. And God answers
Job.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He basically
says “Who are you!? What right have you, a man, to question ME!?
Look at all the things I have done! Were you there when I formed
creation out of nothing? Do you know all the little details about all
the animals in the world? Can you make it rain? Do you know where the
snow is stored?...” And God just keeps going. Expounding on all the
things that He knows and has done. (It's an awesomely worded couple
of chapters...)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The Lord is
King! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty
and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
Your throne, O Lord, has stood from time immemorial. You Yourself are
from the everlasting past. The floods have risen up, O Lord. The
floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their
pounding waves. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—the Lord above is mightier
than these! Your royal laws cannot be changed. Your reign, O Lord, is
holy forever and ever.” (Psalm 93)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our God is
mighty above all others. He reigns and has authority above all
earthly and all spiritual things. He is stronger than all.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: cyan;">
<b>EVERLASTING</b></span></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- We already
talked a little about Christ having rule over all things for all
eternity. Now we look at the Father side of things.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- As a Father, God
is compassionate towards us. He loves us immensely.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “See how very
much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is
what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize
that we are God's children because they don't know Him. Dear friends,
we are already God's children, but He has not yet shown us what we
will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like
Him, for we will see Him as He really is.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I'm still
reading on and A.W. Tozer book... and the other day I got to a
chapter on God's love for us. Tozer likes to use proofs... so...
because of one thing, a second must be true. He's been talking about
the infinity of God. How there is no end and no beginning to God and
therefore, when God shows us an attribute of Himself... like Love, or
Faithfulness, then that attribute, because it is of God, is also
never ending...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- “From God's
other known attributes we may learn much about His love. We can know,
for instance, that because God is self-existent, His love had no
beginning; because He is eternal, His love can have no end; because
He is infinite, it has no limit; because He is holy, it is the
quintessence of all spotless purity; bottomless, shoreless sea before
which we kneel in joyful silence and from which the loftiest
eloquence retreats confused and abashed.” (The Knowledge of the
Holy- A.W. Tozer)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isn't that
amazing? God's not just our Father, He's our Father forever. And He
LOVES US! With a Father's love... but not just love like we know it.
An infinite, never-ending, love that is not at all based on who we
are or what we've done... it is rather because of Who HE is and what
HE'S done. Therefore, His love will never change towards us. No
matter what we do, no matter how far we fall from Him... He will
always love us. And long to do good for us!</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>PRINCE OF PEACE</em></span></b></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Peace. Such an
elusive thing in today's world...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Philippians
4:6-7 says: “Don't worry about anything; instead pray about
everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has
done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we
can understand, His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you
live in Christ Jesus.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God's peace...
that passes all understanding... peace in the middle of chaos...
peace when you don't think peace is possible.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The last few
years, every year they've told me that my job won't exist for the
next year. Every year, there's been a job for me... the SAME job.
They said it was impossible. That the position wouldn't be there the
second year. That they were definitely going to cut it. But every
year... God's kept my job for me.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The first
year... not gonna lie... I was a little worried. But I just kept
thinking... “okay God... if this is what you want me to keep doing,
You're gonna have to open a door somewhere...”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The second
year... I was less worried... had a few other paths I could take.
Wasn't really worried about this particular position. But it was more
because I had a backup plan than because I was really trusting God
wholly.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- By the third
year that they were yet again telling me that my job wasn't going to
be there... I literally laughed in my principal's face when he told
me they were going to cut me the next year. I said something like
“Look Don, my God is bigger than the board office... and if He
still wants me to be here next year, then I'll still be here... and
there's not a thing they can do about it.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- And you know
what? I'm still here! Lol</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- They are finally
moving me to a new school next year... but it's okay. It's time for a
move and God's very much in the move. And I'm not going to be out of
a job in any way shape or form. In fact, I'm going to be at one
school instead of two and only about 15 minutes from my house! It's
BETTER!</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- No matter what
kind of worry comes... God's in control. And we have to learn to
trust that.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- In John 14:27,
Jesus said this: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and
heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't
be troubled or afraid.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- A gift! Jesus
left us a gift of peace. Free. No strings attached.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Peace doesn't
mean that storms won't come... it just means that you have an anchor
to hold you steady when the storms DO come.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>CONCLUSION</em></span></b><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So, because God
is everlasting... so is His ruling, His authority, His love, and His
peace. It will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice for
all eternity.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- His “passionate
commitment” will make this happen. Because God is committed to
these things... fairness, justice, love, peace... they will come to
pass. What God has promised, He will accomplish.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isn't it
WONDERFUL to know that we serve a God we can TRUST!</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “I will never
fail you. I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5)</em></span></div>
</div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-64061290619060721402012-05-20T18:44:00.000-04:002012-05-20T18:44:04.558-04:00Isaiah Chapter 9:1-5<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 9:1-5</em></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Nevertheless, that time of
darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and
Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when
Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between
the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Zebulun and Naphtali were places of
commerce. Zebulun was placed in the middle of the northern tribes
with river access to the Mediterranean Sea. Naphtali was right beside
the Sea of Galilee with river access to the Jordan River. These two
tribes were places of business and trade.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However... these two tribes did not
follow God's plan. When they moved in to take over the land, they
were supposed to get rid of all the people living there... but
instead, Zebulun and Naphtali left them there. Oh sure, they made
them slaves... but they didn't get rid of them. They didn't put sin
out of the nation.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Joshua 19:10-16; 32-39</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Judges 1:30; 33</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Zebulun and Naphtali were also the
first tribes to be led away into captivity.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Kings 15:27-31</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So when Isaiah speaks about the lands
of Zebulun and Naphtali being humbled, I think that's what he's
referring to. They became a great people... and God would now humble
them.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- In II Chronicles 30, Hezekiah, king
of Judah, sent out a message to all the tribes, from the northern and
southern kingdoms, calling them all to come and worship at the
rededicated Temple.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- But it says this: “The runners went
from town to town throughout Ephraim and Manasseh and as far as the
territory of Zebulun. But most of the people just laughed at the
runners and made fun of them. However, some people from Asher,
Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and went to Jerusalem.”
(vs. 10-11)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Then later in verses 15-20 it talks
about the people not purifying themselves before Passover as the law
required... again... it's those same tribes from the north...
However, partly, that was because they were so out of practice... The
northern tribes hadn't made a practice of worshiping God in the way
He dictated in quite some time by this point.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- But again... a reason for humbling...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- So where is YOUR heart? When you hear
a sermon about the character of God, or the requirements of this
walk... do you laugh it off? Call it old-fashioned? Do you take God
seriously in what He asks of you?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And when it comes to purifying
yourself to be ready for a time of worship... are you willing to let
God do some heart-cleaning? Or do you ignore that direction?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- If God asks of us a clean heart...
He's the only one who can clean it up... so do you let Him? Or do you
try and clean it yourself? Or assume that the condition that you're
in is good enough for now?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- What is your attitude towards God?
When He asks you to get rid of sin in your life... do you do it with
all your might? Or do you kinda work around it and let it stay there.
“I have it all under control.” Well that's what the tribes of
Zebulun and Naphtali thought too... “We'll make them all slaves...
that'll be good enough.” But they still maintained influence... and
Zebulun and Naphtali fell to the worship of idols...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These tribes got caught up in
themselves. They forgot about Who God was... They were looking to
themselves for all that they needed... and consequently, they needed
to be humbled. So they were the first who were taken out of their
inherited land... the land of promise... the land of hope... into
captivity.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- BUT! God never breaks a promise.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Galilee of the Gentiles. It was
called as such because of the number of Gentiles who lived in that
area. And this place of Gentiles... this place of pagans... was where
God chose to send His Son.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This land that was the first to be
humbled, the first to feel the judgment of God... would also be the
first to hear the Gospel proclaimed. The first to hear from the very
lips of God that He still loved this people and that He was willing
to redeem them from their sins. The very glory of God would fill this
land...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I'm looking at a map in the back of
my bible that has all the places of the ministry of Jesus on it...
most of them are miracles or places of sermons. In the area that
would be Zebulun and Naphtali... there are 9 major places... These
include:</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>1. Cana, the city of the first miracle,
turning the water into wine.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
2. The feeding of the multitudes</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
3. The city of Capernaum... where a
little bit of everything happened. The Sermon on the Mount, the
healing of Peter's mother-in-law, the raising of Jairus's daughter,
the healing of the servant of the Roman officer, a couple incidents
of casting out demons, the twelve disciples are sent out to minister,
and many more.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
4. The quieting of the storm on the Sea
of Galilee</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
5. Nazareth, Jesus' childhood home.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
6. The town of Nain where the widow's
son was raised from the dead.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
7. The cleansing of the leper</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
8. The resurrected Jesus appeared to
the disciples.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
These are all major events in Christ's
ministry. Things that we remember as being important. I think it's...
neat that the first miracle was in the area... as well as the coming
of Christ to the disciples after He was raised from the dead... the
beginning and ending of Christ's earthly ministry took place in this
land. If that doesn't speak of glory filling the place, I don't know
what will... :)
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Matthew 4:12-17</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 2-5</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep
darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people
rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder. For
you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden
from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor's rod, just as you
did when you destroyed the army of Midian. The boots of the warrior
and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be
fuel for the fire.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now this prophecy in general is
pretty obvious. Those who walk in darkness will see a great light.
The great light being Christ or the gospel.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- John 1 says “In the beginning the
Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He
existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through
Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life
to everything that was created, and His life brought light to
everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can
never extinguish it.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- John 12:35-36</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jesus came as a light to the world.
In John 8:12, He said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow
me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the
light that leads to life.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- In a place of darkness... in a place
of saturated sin, Christ came as a light to disperse the darkness. If
we follow Christ, then we too will become children of light.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Corinthians 4:6-7 says: “For
God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made
this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that
is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining
in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing
this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from
God, not from ourselves.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our own hearts will be filled with
the light of Christ. Through our acceptance of His dwelling within
our hearts, His light will shine out to the world around us. Then
they too will have the chance to let God shine His light in their
hearts...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ephesians 5:1-20</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- So what is this light? Well it's the
gospel truth. It's salvation that comes through the blood covering of
Christ on our sins. It's redemption. It's God coming to dwell in a
living sanctuary.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But what happens if we reject the
light? What happens if we turn away and decide instead to remain in
our natural-born dark state?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- “If you trust Me, you are trusting
not only Me, but also God who sent Me. For when you see Me, you are
seeing the One who sent Me. I have come as a light to shine in this
dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer
remain in the dark. I will not judge those who hear Me but don't obey
me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. But all
who reject Me and My message will be judged on the day of judgment by
the truth I have spoken. I don't speak on My own authority. The
Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it.
And I know His commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the
Father tells Me to say.” (John 12:44-50)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- They will be judged based on the
truth that was preached to them. If it is rejected... well...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: cyan;">
- footnote- “The purpose of Jesus'
first mission on earth was not to judge people, but to show them the
way to find salvation and eternal life. When He comes again, one of
His main purposes will be to judge people for how they lived on
earth. Christ's words that we would not<span style="font-style: normal;">
accept and obey will condemn us. On the day of judgment, those who
accepted Jesus and lived His way will be raised to eternal life (I
Corinthians 15:51-57; I Thessalonians 4:15-18; Revelation 21:1-7),
and those who rejected Jesus and lived any way they pleased will face
eternal punishment (Revelation 20:11-15). Decide now which side
you'll be on, for the consequences of your decision last forever.”</span></span></em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah said that the Light coming to
the world would enlarge the nation of Israel. How?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Well my first thought is the sending
of the gospel to the Gentiles. I think it's kind of... odd that the
first place Jesus went was Galilee... the place known as the place of
the Gentiles. Yeah there were Jews living there... but... there were
a lot of Gentiles too. He didn't go to Jerusalem first. He didn't go
to all the synagogues first. He went to a wedding... and He preached
in the streets...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Christ came to preach to the Jews
yes... and there's a place in Matthew 15 when a Gentile woman came to
Jesus asking for help, He says “I was sent only to help God's lost
sheep—the people of Israel.” He was sent first and foremost to
the people who had had the closest communion with Him over time.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But the gospel was also sent out with
the disciples and apostles to the Gentiles. Paul many times called
himself a minister or preacher of the gospel who was sent to the
Gentiles.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Through the grafting in of the
Gentiles, the nation of Israel would be enlarged.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Galatians 3:5-9 speaks of the adding
of the Gentiles to the nation of Israel as being the plan from the
time of Abraham. God told Abraham that ALL nations would be blessed
by him.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The slavery to sin would be lifted
from not only the Jewish nation, but also from the shoulders of the
Gentiles. ALL nations would be saved through faith.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 81</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- I also find it funny that the defeat
of Midian is mentioned amongst the section on the light coming to
free the world from darkness.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- This incident is found in Judges
chapters 6-8. It is the story of Gideon. If you don't know the story
of Gideon, it goes a little something like this.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The Israelites are being oppressed by
the Midianites. An angel appears to Gideon and tells him that he will
free the people from the oppressors. Gideon of course protests
because he is weak, and his tribe is weak... how will he fight
against such a powerful adversary?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But he finally rallies the troops
together and prepares to go up to battle. And God tells him he has
too many soldiers... WHAT? How can you have TOO MANY soldiers? Isn't
more better?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So God narrows down the ranks... to
300 men.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Gideon had a good plan... follow
God's plan no matter how scary it looked...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- So Gideon and his 300 men all get a
ram's horn and a clay jar with a light in it. At Gideon's signal, the
men all busted their jars so the light shone forth and blew on their
horns. The Midianites panicked... and started killing each other.
Those who survived fled for their lives.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Just as God defeated the Midianites
with... light. :) So He will defeat the darkness of this world with
light.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Lastly, verse 5 talks about the boots
of the warrior and the bloodstained uniforms being fuel for the fire.
They will no longer be needed. The blood on our hands will be purged
clean. We will be given a new uniform... new armor.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The boots that have taken our feet
into dark places will be replaced with the shoes of the preparation
of the gospel of peace. Instead of walking into war and destruction,
we will have peace that passes all understanding... Even if we're
walking in darkness... we are now clothed with light... So we should
live like it.
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Paul said in Romans 13: “The night
is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove
your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of
right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives
for all to see. Don't participate in the darkness of wild parties and
drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in
quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don't let yourself think about ways to
indulge your evil desires.” (verses 12-14)</em></span></div>
</div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-22328236403861225382012-05-15T07:24:00.002-04:002012-05-15T07:24:50.441-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 8:17-22
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 17</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “I will wait for the Lord, who has
turned away from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my hope in
Him.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When I read the first part of this
verse (cause in my bible, it's split across two pages) I immediately
thought about the verse in Isaiah 40:28-31 that says “Have you not
known? have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the
Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there
is no searching of His understanding.<b> </b>He gives power to the
faint; and to them that have no might He increases strength. Even the
youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly
fall:<b> </b>But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (KJV)
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When I looked at this verse in my NLT
version, instead of saying “they that wait” it says “those who
trust”. So I looked at a few different versions online. “Wait”
is also translated as “trust” and “hope”. One versions says
“those who wait with hope”.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This isn't just a sit around wait.
“Oh I suppose I'll have to wait on God... see what He decides to
do.” A friend of mine once asked me if I was just waiting... or if
I was ACTIVELY waiting on God. And at the time... I didn't really
understand the question... but now it makes sense.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Just because we're waiting on God to
move, or waiting on something from God... doesn't mean we just sit
back and wait. We still have to DO something.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- My family are hunters. We pretty much
live off the land and so hunting comes as a part of that. If any of
you are anti-hunting, I apologize... it's just a way of life where I
live...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Anyway, when we go hunting, we pray
that God would bring through what we need as meat for the year. As we
sit and wait on the animal to come through within range... we don't
just sit and wait... If you just sit and do nothing else... you'll
fall asleep, or you'll start making noise without realizing it...
Waiting when you are hunting means being aware of your surroundings
at all times. When you hear footsteps, is it a man? Is it a deer? Or
is it just a squirrel playing in the leaves? When you see shadows
change, is it just the wind in the leaves of the trees? Or is it an
actual something moving through the brush?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If you stop watching, you can miss
it. Animals are cunning... and quiet. They move through the woods
nearly silently sometimes. Especially if it's been snowing or raining
and the leaves are wet.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Waiting on God is kind of like that.
You can't stop watching and listening just because you're waiting.
You can't fall asleep... nor can you take for granted that what
you're waiting for is suddenly going to appear or jump right in your
line of view. It's not always going to walk up to you shouting it's
arrival or presence. If I've learned nothing else in my life... I've
learned that God most of the time seems to want to move quietly in my
life... Maybe He's not like that with everybody... but hardly ever
has God in effect yelled at me... most of the time... He just gives
quiet nudges in the right direction...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Even when waiting, we have to seek
after God. He could have a hundred other things for us to do or
experience before it's time for the thing that we see as the goal. We
have to put our HOPE in Christ and TRUST that God is still in control
and still has a plan.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The statement that follows “I will
wait for the Lord...” is a little... hard to take in.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah says that he will wait on the
Lord, “who has turned away from the descendants of Jacob. I will
put my hope in Him.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Isaiah's part of the descendants! Has
God also turned away from him? And why would you put your hope and
trust in waiting on a God who... has turned away from your people?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Because Isaiah understood the
character of God.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- If you look back at chapter 5 where
God was speaking about His vineyard, He says things like, “I will
sing for the one I love.” or “what more could I have done for my
vineyard that I have not already done?” In chapter 1 we read
“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as
snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as
wool.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Isaiah understood Grace and Mercy.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="" name="hotword181"></a><a href="" name="hotword171"></a><a href="" name="hotword161"></a><a href="" name="hotword151"></a><a href="" name="hotword141"></a><a href="" name="hotword131"></a><a href="" name="hotword121"></a><a href="" name="hotword111"></a><a href="" name="hotword101"></a><a href="" name="hotword91"></a><a href="" name="hotword81"></a><a href="" name="hotword71"></a><a href="" name="hotword61"></a><a href="" name="hotword51"></a><a href="" name="hotword41"></a><a href="" name="hotword31"></a><a href="" name="hotword21"></a><a href="" name="hotword110"></a><a href="" name="hotword22"></a><a href="" name="hotword241"></a><a href="" name="hotword231"></a><a href="" name="hotword201"></a><a href="" name="hotword191"></a><a href="" name="hotword182"></a><a href="" name="hotword172"></a><a href="" name="hotword162"></a><a href="" name="hotword152"></a><a href="" name="hotword142"></a><a href="" name="hotword132"></a><a href="" name="hotword122"></a><a href="" name="hotword112"></a><a href="" name="hotword102"></a><a href="" name="hotword92"></a><a href="" name="hotword82"></a><a href="" name="hotword72"></a><a href="" name="hotword62"></a><a href="" name="hotword52"></a><a href="" name="hotword42"></a><a href="" name="hotword32"></a><a href="" name="hotword27"></a><a href="" name="hotword113"></a><a href="" name="hotword28"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Mercy is defined by dictionary.com as “(1) compassionate or
kindly forbearance shown toward an offender,
an enemy,
or other
person in one's power; compassion, pity, or benevolence
and (3) the
discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate
punishment, especially to send to prison rather than invoke the death
penalty.”</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="" name="hotword93"></a><a href="" name="hotword83"></a><a href="" name="hotword73"></a><a href="" name="hotword63"></a><a href="" name="hotword58"></a><a href="" name="hotword410"></a><a href="" name="hotword310"></a><a href="" name="hotword210"></a><a href="" name="hotword114"></a><a href="" name="hotword59"></a><a href="" name="hotword261"></a><a href="" name="hotword251"></a><a href="" name="hotword242"></a><a href="" name="hotword232"></a><a href="" name="hotword202"></a><a href="" name="hotword192"></a><a href="" name="hotword183"></a><a href="" name="hotword173"></a><a href="" name="hotword163"></a><a href="" name="hotword153"></a><a href="" name="hotword143"></a><a href="" name="hotword133"></a><a href="" name="hotword123"></a><a href="" name="hotword431"></a><a href="" name="hotword401"></a><a href="" name="hotword391"></a><a href="" name="hotword381"></a><a href="" name="hotword371"></a><a href="" name="hotword361"></a><a href="" name="hotword351"></a><a href="" name="hotword341"></a><a href="" name="hotword331"></a><a href="" name="hotword551"></a><a href="" name="hotword541"></a><a href="" name="hotword531"></a><a href="" name="hotword501"></a><a href="" name="hotword491"></a><a href="" name="hotword481"></a><a href="" name="hotword471"></a><a href="" name="hotword461"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Grace is defined by World English Dictionary
(dictionary.com) under Christianity as “a. the free and unmerited
favour of God shown towards man b. the divine assistance and power
given to man in spiritual rebirth and sanctification c. the condition
of being favoured or sanctified by God d. an unmerited gift, favour,
etc, granted by God.”</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Even when we
don't deserve it... at ALL... God still loves us. He still wants the
best for us. Even though He COULD punish us... even though our sin
deserves death... He doesn't judge us on our sin... He judges us on
our acceptance of the gift of freedom through the sacrifice of His
Son. Christ paid our debt. All of it. In full. We are judged on
whether or not we accepted that gift and acted upon it accordingly.</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even though God
turned away from His people because of their persistent sin... He
didn't stop loving them. And in the midst of promising to bring down
judgment on them for their idolatry, He is also promising
restoration, freedom from sin, and new beginnings.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- THIS is the God
that Isaiah was clinging to. The God who loves us in spite of
ourselves. He was clinging to the promise of restoration and renewal.
Now... a short side note... some of these prophets who spoke to the
people never saw what they were talking about... I mean think about
Abraham. The promise was that his descendants would be numbered with
the stars... He definitely wasn't going to see that...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah
prophesied the coming of Christ... which came like 700 years later.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- So many times
these men and women had to take God at His word for things that were
SO far in the future...</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Waiting for
something from God means that... sometimes it may be something that
our children are still waiting on after we are long gone...</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- How long did
Israel wait in captivity in Egypt praying for a deliverer? There were
generations of people who died without ever seeing their deliverance.
But they never stopped asking God for it. Hebrews 6:12 has a part in
it that talks about those who will “inherit God's promises because
of their faith and endurance.” If they inherited them, they didn't
get them directly... and you only inherit after a death... so...
those who received the promise first-hand didn't get to see it... on
the earth anyway... </em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When Isaiah
said that he would wait on the Lord... who had turned His face away
from His people... Isaiah KNEW that restoration was coming. God was
still in control of all things. He hadn't changed. So... should we
change our view of God just because our circumstances look a little
rough? Just because it looks like God has abandoned us... do we
abandon Him? Knowing that He promised to never leave us? Do we take
Him at His word and trust His honor?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- God keeps His
promises... Deuteronomy 7:9 says: “Understand, therefore, that the
Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps His
covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love
on those who love Him and obey His commands.”</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- What we have to
understand is that God never changes. If He promised something...
He'll do it. He doesn't lie.</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Our pastor last
week mentioned “blind faith”. In our small group meeting on
Wednesday we were talking about that, and one of the guys said that
he doesn't really think “blind faith” is a good way to put it...
because we're not just closing our eyes and walking into
nothingness... We're looking at Who we know God to be, looking at our
past experiences with God, maybe the past experiences of others...
and we see the character of God... We can trust in the character of
God... whether or not we see the whole picture becomes irrelevant...
We need to see the big picture... and the big picture is that Christ
died on the cross to pay for our sin-debt. We are bought and paid
for, redeemed creatures. If we accept it, we have eternal life in
heaven with Him. This life... is just part of a process to get there.
Obedience is key... and we have to follow Christ... But this life...
is just a small spec in the large scheme of things. It goes back to
actively waiting... actively seeking... we are walking forward into
what God wants of us... but not without at least some idea of what He
wants from us. If He asks us to step out... He at least has given
some direction as to what we are to be stepping into... even if we
don't know ALL the details...</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
vs. 18</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- “I and the
children the Lord has given me serve as signs and warning to Israel
from the Lord of Heaven's Armies who dwells in His Temple on Mount
Zion.”</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Isaiah named
his children as God directed... which is what Hosea did as well...
and so the kids were given names that were messages... like at the
beginning of the chapter when his son was named “Swift to plunder
and quick to carry away.”</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Most of the
prophets were asked to do some pretty crazy things. Isaiah was asked
to strip off and walk around naked and barefoot for 3 years as a sign
to the people. Ezekiel was asked to cook his food using human dung
for fuel... which was something that made him ceremonially unclean...</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- All the things
that God asked the prophets to do were signs and warnings. He was
speaking to His people all the time... even though they refused to
listen. There were physical, visible signs given as warnings to the
people... God of Grace and Mercy calling His people back home... God
never stops calling after His people... He won't force them to come
back... but... He places as many things in your path that He can to
make you change your mind...</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
vs. 19-22</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- “Someone may
say to you, “Let's ask the mediums and those who consult the
spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will
tell us what to do.” But shouldn't people ask God for guidance?
Should the living seek guidance from the dead?”</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So this is
talking about seances etc. Witches or mediums or psychics who commune
with the dead. But if you're looking to them for advice or wisdom...
why should you not instead seek after God? The dead have no more
wisdom than they had when alive... God on the other hand is full of
wisdom...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “The
people would consult mediums and psychics, seeking answers from dead
people instead of consulting the living God. God alone knows the
future, and only He is eternal. We can trust God to guide us.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Leviticus
20:6-7 says: “I will also turn against those who commit spiritual
prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who
consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the
community.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Spiritual
prostitution. Ouch... That puts a whole new spin on it. How many
times did God through the prophets talk about His people prostituting
themselves with idols or with practices from other nations? They are
leaving their first love... their only TRUE love... and running after
other things that won't fulfill them.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is all we
need! He is our everything! He has the answers! Sure... He doesn't
give you the answer you want all the time... but neither does chasing
after something that has no eternal value! At least with God you know
that there's an answer coming!</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- So what should
we do?</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- “Look to
God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict His word are
completely in the dark. They will go from one place to another, weary
and hungry. And because they are hungry, they will rage and curse
their king and their God. They will look up to heaven and down at the
earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and
dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.”</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Follow God's
Word. If it doesn't line up with what God says... it's not God saying
it...</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- People who
contradict God's word are not in tune with God.</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>- Paul went a
little further in I Timothy 4 and said this: “Now the Holy Spirit
tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the
true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that
come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their
consciences are dead.” and in I Timothy 6:
“Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the
wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote
a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and
lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble
over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in
jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions.”</em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- False teachings
run rampant in our world... our job is to sift through them, lay them
out side by side with the Word of God and see if they line up. If
they don't... well... ignore them, don't listen to them, pass them
off, get rid of them... If they do, well... then learn from them,
take them to heart. If they seem kind of gray... look at the
character of God and other things He's said... do they all make sense
together? And be cautious... sometimes false teachings can sound
awfully close to truth... and be just enough wrong to be... well...
WRONG.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Eventually
these false teachers will get their desserts... They will look
everywhere... but gain nothing but trouble and anguish and dark
despair... and eventually... they will be thrown out into the outer
darkness...</em></span> </span></div>
</div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-34296259215704526292012-05-06T18:48:00.001-04:002012-05-06T18:48:28.594-04:00Isaiah Chapter 8:14-16<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 8:14-16</em></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
vs. 14</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- “... But to Israel and Judah He
will be a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them
fall. And for the people of Jerusalem He will be a trap and a snare.
Many will stumble and fall, never to rise again. They will be snared
and captured.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Romans 9 talks about Israel's
selection as the chosen people and subsequently about God accepting
the Gentiles into His family because of Israel's unbelief and
rejection of Christ.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- “What does all this mean? Even
though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God's standards, they
were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place.
But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by
keeping the law, never succeeded. Why not? Because they were trying
to get right with God by keeping the law instead of trusting in Him.
They stumbled over the great rock in their path. God warned them of
this in the Scriptures when He said, “I am placing a stone in
Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But
anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” (vs. 30-33)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And in I Peter 2, we again see the
cornerstone used as an illustration.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- “You are coming to Christ, who is
the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people,
but He was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones
that God is building into His spiritual temple. What's more, you are
His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer
spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am
placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and
anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who
trust Him recognize the honor God has given Him. But for those who
reject Him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become
the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people
stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they
do not obey God's Word, and so they meet the fate that was planned
for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You
are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a
result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you
out of the darkness into His wonderful light. “Once you had no
identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no
mercy; now you have received God's mercy.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- A cornerstone is the first stone that
is set in a building. It's not used so much today... but at the
time... it was the only way to build a foundation. It is the stone
that the rest of the building is measured from. The lines of the
walls are determined by the cut of the cornerstone. The building's...
plumb lines are tested by that cornerstone. If the builder goes by
the cornerstone and the cornerstone is cut to the correct dimensions,
then the building will be perfectly plumb.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ is the cornerstone of our
faith. He is the basis for everything we believe.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- The cornerstone was a part of the
foundation. The first stone set. Christ came first. Before the law.
Before the prophets. Before the religious leaders got their hands
involved in things. Christ was first.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Everything that came after God...
pointed back to, or referred back to the cornerstone. Anything that
came up, had to be in line with the cornerstone.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- The priests had started to do their
own thing. The religious crowd had started building their own
building. They weren't referring back to the cornerstone so much. Oh,
maybe at a glance. Maybe sighting out the lines from a distance...
but not really measuring for sure. Not digging in to make sure they
were in line.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- They weren't obeying the word of God.
They were SORT of following... they were trying to color inside the
lines of a color by number... but with their own color choices. Their
picture... wasn't coming out quite right.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So when Christ came and told them
they were wrong in how they were going about their religion... Oh
boy... You bet they stumbled.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Matthew 21 we have kind of a...
funny/odd story. Jesus gives the Pharisees this parable about a man
who had two sons. He tells the oldest to go out and work in the
vineyard. The son says “Nope, not gonna go.” So then he tells the
youngest son to go. The son says “sure dad, get right on that.”
But then the first son changes his mind and goes to work, but the
youngest son, does not. So Jesus asks the Pharisees which of the sons
did what their father asked of them.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The Pharisees of course are like
“OOOO! The oldest son!”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And Jesus just turns around and
BLINDSIDES them...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax
collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before
you do. For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to
live, but you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and
prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to
believe him and repent of your sins.” (vs. 31-32)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ouch... They had the right answer!
They knew how to respond! But that wasn't good enough. It didn't
matter that they had all the answers... their hearts hadn't repented
yet. They were still depending on their own building skills... and
not looking at the cornerstone.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We can sometimes have all the right
answers... lol I call them Sunday School answers... where the answer
to the question most of the time is God/Jesus.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Who created the earth?” God.
“Who is God's Son?” Jesus. “How are we saved from sin?”
Jesus. “Who should we call on when we need help?” God.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But those answers don't mean anything
to our hearts! We're not applying them to our heart's condition. We
might know what to say... what we're SUPPOSED to believe... but we're
not allowing it to do a heart-work.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jesus' problem with the Pharisees was
that they had refused to repent of their sins. They had heard Truth,
heard the Word... and refused to allow it to do anything for them.
The prostitutes and tax collectors had repented... but the religious
crowd... had not.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- I was talking to my dad about this...
and I wonder how many of these guys heard... made the connection or
understood what John the Baptist or Jesus was talking about... and
because of pride, or because it wasn't exactly the way they had
things planned in their minds... decided to ignore it.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The Israelites had the Messiah
pictured as this conquering King, coming to free them from all
oppressors. Riding in with an army and taking them out like Moses
delivered them generations before.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ... wasn't what they were
expecting.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- My brother when he was little sneaked
and saw his Christmas present. I think he saw the UPS guy deliver it
if I remember right. Well... mom decided that she was going to wrap
that thing up differently... so she took it out of the box, put other
little things in the box... and hid the thing that was supposed to be
in the box.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Well... Christmas came, and Noah was
all excited... he got the box... He was just sure he knew EXACTLY
what he was getting. Tore the paper off, tore into the box... only to
find... well... not what he was expecting. He was DEVASTATED! Oh the
agony! He was still a little miffed at mom and dad... even after they
finally did confess and give him the actual gift...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- The Pharisees were living out a
Christmas morning disappointment. God wasn't following their idea of
what His plan was for His people. They got what they were praying
for... but... it wasn't in the right box...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And speaking of boxes... they had so
placed God in a box... and probably taught in that box SO much...
that when something came that was so obviously outside of their
box... they rejected it.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So I just have to wonder how many of
them GOT it... and then ignored it... How many of them saw the
picture... and just... couldn't accept what they saw?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And so what about us? Do the commands
of God make us hesitant to follow Him? Or do we look at His laws and
say that they're too hard? Do we take what God asks of us and say
“oh surely God wouldn't require THAT.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Just as the young rich ruler walked
away when God asked him to surrender a part of his life for God... so
do we sometimes walk away from what God asks of us... (Mark 10:17-31)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 16</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Preserve the teaching of God:
entrust His instructions to those who follow me.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This verse speaks a little of passing
the Word on from generation to generation. In this time, there
weren't a lot of people who could read. Mostly the priests were given
the duty of writing the Word and making sure the people knew and
understood it. Boys were trained in like a bible school until they
hit about age 12, but then they were supposed to join their father in
his trade.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In my mind, this means that, other
than making the trek to the temple every so often, or talking over
God things with family (which may or may not have happened on a
regular basis) many of these people were living on Sunday School
stories. Things that could almost be perceived as legends. History of
the nation.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But mostly, it was probably passed
down from parent to child. I don't know how the synagogues and places
of worship worked as far as each town... I don't know how the priests
served the outlying areas.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And even if it had been set up in the
time of Moses... I wonder how much of it had changed or gone “out
of date” by the time Isaiah came along. I mean... during the time
of Josiah, the priests FOUND the book of the law in the Temple...
seemingly at random. “Oh look what I found! Who knew!?” I mean,
it hadn't been in active use for so long that it was like a new
discovery for the priests themselves...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So... I just wonder how much this
verse speaks to that parent-child relationship... and how much it
speaks to the religious leaders.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Above all else, God's Word reigns
True. If we can't follow that... what is there to follow?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Proverbs 30:5-6 says: “Every word
of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for
protection. Do not add to His words, or He may rebuke you and expose
you as a liar.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When God says something, He expects
you to follow the path He's laid out for you...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Deuteronomy is a book that kind of...
reviews the law. It goes over all the commands that have been given
to the people during their journey through the wilderness. When each
command is given, it is preceded or followed by an example of a time
in Israel's history when they DIDN'T follow the command... or an
example is given of a time when God proved Himself to them in the
past.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- One such place is in Deuteronomy
11:16-25, which says this: “But be careful. Don't let your heart be
deceived so that you turn away from the Lord and serve and worship
other gods. If you do, the Lord's anger will burn against you. He
will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail
to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land
the Lord is giving you. So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these
words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead
as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you
are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed
and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your
house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the
earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore
to give your ancestors. Be careful to obey all these commands I am
giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in His ways and
holding tightly to Him. Then the Lord will drive out all the nations
ahead of you, though they are much greater and stronger than you, and
you will take over their land. Wherever you set foot, that land will
be yours. Your frontiers will stretch from the wilderness in the
south to Lebanon in the north, and from the Euphrates River in the
east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to
stand against you, for the Lord your God will cause the people to
fear and dread you, as He promised, wherever you go in the whole
land.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God's commands were given with
promises attached. IF they were followed and obeyed, then the people
would prosper. Basically... IF you follow and teach your children to
follow... then not only you will be blessed, but also your children.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Wouldn't you want that for your kids?
Your descendants?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- I also like this section because it
says “Show love to the Lord your God by walking in His ways and
holding tightly to Him.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- We owe such a debt of gratitude to
Christ. How do we repay Him? How can we ever thank Him enough? By
walking in His ways and clinging to Him and not this world.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- And this doesn't mean just doing it
for ourselves... Oh no...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em>
- Commit yourselves with your whole
heart to these words of mine. Tie them on your hands, wear them on
your forehead. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when
you're home and when you're on the road. Talk about them when you're
getting ready for bed, and when you're waking up. Write them on your
houses and on your gates. LET GOD FILL YOUR HEART WITH TRUTH
CONTINUALLY. </em></span></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Brings a whole new meaning to “eat,
drink, and sleep it” lol</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Whatever you do with your life...
whether it's daily home life, or work life. Whether it's inside your
home, or outside... everything should be full of the word. Teaching
it to anyone and everyone around you. Doesn't mean be pushy about
it... just means that your life and heart are so full of it, that it
can't help but pour out. God and His Word are so present in your
life, that your life becomes centered around God.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Man... Isaiah was living in a time
when this wasn't happening. How much was his heart breaking for his
people? For his own generation and the generations to come?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What about our world? Are we
preserving the teachings of God today? Oh boy... how many false
teachings are out there today? How many religions preach many ways to
get to heaven. Or preach that “good deeds” will get you into
heaven. Or preach that there is no hell. Or that God's a loving
enough God that He wouldn't punish anybody for wrong doings?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Truth is a rare commodity in this
world. Partly because the end times are coming... if not already
here.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Amos said that “The time is surely
coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on
the land—not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of
the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border
to border searching for the Word of the Lord, but they will not find
it. Beautiful girls and strong young men will grow faint in that day,
thirsting for the Lord's Word.” (8:11-13)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We have a responsibility... because
we have been entrusted with the Word... to go out and teach TRUTH.
BIBLICAL Truth. Based on the Word, not on something you think or
something somebody told you once... but TRUTH that you search out in
the Word for yourself.</em></span>
</div>
</div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-86137390136538598122012-04-29T15:00:00.003-04:002012-04-29T15:00:49.779-04:00Isaiah Chapter 8 (part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 8:11-14
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 11-14
</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The Lord has given me a strong
warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, “Don't call
everything a conspiracy, like they do. And don't live in dread of
what frightens them. Make the Lord of Heaven's Armies holy in your
life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make
you tremble. He will keep you safe.”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Oh boy... So coming at a time when
in the US, our elections are coming up... this really speaks to me.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Politics always breeds conspiracy
theories. TV always shows the crazy conspiracy theorists who wear tin
foil on their heads and swear the aliens are coming at any moment to
destroy the earth...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In our country right now...
honestly... we have a lot to fear. Our president is in the middle of
basically trying to change our entire constitution. The things that
our country was founded upon... he's trying to take out of the law
books.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- (To read further on some of these
actions... here are a few articles.)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Late in 2011, Obama signed an act
that will allow the detention of anyone... including citizens, for as
long as necessary, and for no justified cause.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>-
(</em></span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/with-reservations-obama-signs-act-to-allow-detention-of-citizens/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/with-reservations-obama-signs-act-to-allow-detention-of-citizens/</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The bill:
</em></span><a href="http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.1867"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.1867</em></span></span></a></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- There was also policy up for vote in
congress this week... it was applying the child labor laws to farms.
Basically it was going to do away with 4-H and FFA (agricultural kids
programs) and said that no child under the age of 18 would allowed to
in any way shape or form work on their own family's farm. So... we're
not even going to be allowed to teach our children how to work on the
land... we can't grow up the next generation to know how to take care
of themselves... I mean, what kid at 18 is suddenly going to find in
themselves a huge desire to learn how to care for animals etc.?</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Happily, due to public outrage
against the policy, it was withdrawn. However, here's a link anyway
if you would like to read.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Proposal:
</em></span><a href="http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/WHD20111250.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/WHD20111250.htm</em></span></a></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Dept. of Labor press release from
this weekend:
</em></span><a href="http://www.dol.gov/whd/media/press/whdpressVB3.asp?pressdoc=national/20120426.xml"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.dol.gov/whd/media/press/whdpressVB3.asp?pressdoc=national/20120426.xml</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Article:
</em></span><a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/25/rural-kids-parents-angry-about-labor-dept-rule-banning-farm-chores/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://dailycaller.com/2012/04/25/rural-kids-parents-angry-about-labor-dept-rule-banning-farm-chores/</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now here's the kicker... our
president has like 20 something court cases pending to verify his
eligibility to even hold the office... A few cases have already been
tried... and failed... I have included the transcripts below... The
first one... Obama and his attorney's refused to even show up for the
hearing... which... normally would mean contempt of court and prison
time... however... somehow... he got out of that one...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>-
</em></span><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/79854233/Georgia-Welden-v-Obama-Certified-Transcript-1-26-12-Hearing-tfb"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.scribd.com/doc/79854233/Georgia-Welden-v-Obama-Certified-Transcript-1-26-12-Hearing-tfb</em></span></a></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- (same day, second case)
</em></span><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/79854466/Georgia-Swensson-Powell-v-Obama-Certified-Transcript-1-26-12-Hearing-tfb"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.scribd.com/doc/79854466/Georgia-Swensson-Powell-v-Obama-Certified-Transcript-1-26-12-Hearing-tfb</em></span></a><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- (also same day, third case)
</em></span><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/79854011/Georgia-Farrar-et-al-v-Obama-Certified-Transcript-1-26-12-Hearing-tfb"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.scribd.com/doc/79854011/Georgia-Farrar-et-al-v-Obama-Certified-Transcript-1-26-12-Hearing-tfb</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
(and this one... is the kicker...)</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- The GA court cases in article form:
</em></span><a href="http://thecritical-post.com/blog/2012/02/docket-number-osah-secstate-ce-1215136-60-malihi-georgias-obama-eligibility-court-case-about-being-on-georgias-election-ballot-entered-into-the-official-court-hearing-record-26-january-201/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://thecritical-post.com/blog/2012/02/docket-number-osah-secstate-ce-1215136-60-malihi-georgias-obama-eligibility-court-case-about-being-on-georgias-election-ballot-entered-into-the-official-court-hearing-record-26-january-201/</em></span></a><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- and a bit from the New Jersey case:
</em></span><a href="http://www.teapartytribune.com/2012/04/13/obama-lawyer-admits-forgery-but-disregards-image-as-indication-of-obamas-ineligibility-damage-control/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.teapartytribune.com/2012/04/13/obama-lawyer-admits-forgery-but-disregards-image-as-indication-of-obamas-ineligibility-damage-control/</em></span></a></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
-
</em></span><a href="http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/obama-nj-eligibility-court-case-update-april-11-2012-judge-masin-rules-in-obamas-favor-mario-apuzzo-files-exception-whitehouse-gov-image-irrelevant/"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/obama-nj-eligibility-court-case-update-april-11-2012-judge-masin-rules-in-obamas-favor-mario-apuzzo-files-exception-whitehouse-gov-image-irrelevant/</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- And yet this man... is leading our
nation... hmmm...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- For me this week, reading about all
this stuff... and knowing that it's basically being swept under the
rug... (no major news network is really hitting on this hard AT
ALL...) Knowing that elections are coming up and this guy is probably
going to make it to the presidency... again...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- There's reason to fear if you forget
who is in control...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Ugly truths that people want to keep
secret come out of closets for all to see. God said He sees all the
secret thoughts of our hearts... So even if no one else knows... God
knows...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So reading this passage this week...
I was just struck by how nuts this all is...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I was thinking about the church as a
whole... living in a world that is not so receptive to the gospel.
And I was thinking about all the things that the rumor mill spits out
about things that are happening, or going to happen...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- What it ultimately boils down to is
this... God's on the throne. He's always been on the throne, and He's
not going anywhere. He's in charge... even when it seems like there's
no way He can be.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Last week I was reading a little in
Daniel...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Chapter 7 talks about the 4 beasts
that Daniel saw in a vision.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- “Then I wanted to know the true
meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and
so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron
teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet.....
As I watched, this horn was waging war against God's holy people and
was defeating them, until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and
judged in favor of His holy people..... This fourth beast is the
fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different
from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and
rushing everything in its path. Its ten horns are ten kings who will
rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the
other ten, who will subdue three of them. He will defy the Most High
and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change
their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his
control for a time, times, and half a time.. But then the court will
pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely
destroyed. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the
kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most
High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and
obey Him.” (vs. 19-27)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Sounds pretty rough right? In chapter
8 it talks about the small horn even attacking the heavenly army and
throwing some of the heavenly beings to the earth. He challenges the
Commander of heaven's army by canceling the daily sacrifices and by
destroying the Temple.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And yet... in all of this... God's
still in control. The devouring of a whole world... the trampling of
God's people... the oppression of God's people... Changing everything
about the way we worship our God....</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God's still in control.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Jesus in Mark 13 gave an answer
that... definitely says that this walk is not easy... it's no
picnic...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Don't let anyone mislead you, for
many will come in my Name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will
deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but
don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't
follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the
world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth
pains, with more to come. When these things begin to happen, watch
out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the
synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because
you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them
about Me. For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.
But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance
about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it
is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. A brother will
betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and
children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be
killed. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But
the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (vs. 5-13)</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- Jesus didn't say it would be easy...
but He said He would never leave us nor forsake us...</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Isaiah 44:6-8, God says: “I am
the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let
him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have
done since ancient times when I established a people and explained
its future. Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my
purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other
God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!”</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So God in Isaiah 8 says don't worry
about it! You're worrying about earthly things... when you should be
worried about heavenly things.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I read a story about a song a few
weeks ago... The guys wrote it for a friend who had a habit of
randomly locking himself in his house for months at a time and
darkening all the windows with pillows and blankets etc. so that he
literally lived in complete darkness for a while.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Fear can be a crippling thing... it
can make us not want to go anywhere... or do anything.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
- My mom at one point in her life let
fear take over her life. She was scared to death to leave the house
to go anywhere by herself. She avoided going to events if everybody
wasn't going with her. When she started substitute teaching, she said
she literally had to get down and pray every morning for the strength
to leave the house.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Peter 2:19 says that we are slaves
“to whatever controls you.”</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we sit around thinking about all
the bad things that COULD happen... or all the things that the
government COULD do... then we are putting fear on the throne ahead
of God. We are allowing something other than God to direct the paths
of our lives.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But Isaiah says that only God should
make us tremble (with holy fear). Only God should be the one we fear.
For He will keep us safe. Without His protection... we are lost...
But with Him... all things are possible.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So even if we end up in persecution,
or tribulation, or prison, or whatever else could happen... we can't
sit around and worry about what they're going to do to us. In the
Mark verses it said that we would be arrested so that we would have a
platform to speak to our captors. Which is what Paul did... time
after time.</em></span></div>
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>
</em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So even if we're experiencing pain
galore... whether it is physical or emotional... God is still on the
throne... and He's not going anywhere. Call upon He who holds the
past, present and future... and worry not about the barbs of the
enemy.</em></span></div>
</div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-54458793867157819512012-04-22T18:05:00.000-04:002012-04-22T18:05:59.432-04:00Isaiah Chapter 8:1-10<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 8:1-10</em></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-2</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then the Lord said to me, “Make a large signboard and clearly write this name on it: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.” I asked Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah, both known as honest men, to witness my doing this.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Okay... couple of things. Maher-shalal-hash-baz (man what a word...) means “Swift to plunder and quick to carry away”.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And Isaiah asked for witnesses to corroborate what he was doing. In Jewish tradition “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” (II Corinthians 13:1)</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - If there was a question about anything that was done, then there needed to be two witnesses present to testify either on your behalf, or against you. Without at least two witnesses, the allegations would be thrown out.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - This is where surrounding yourself with godly people is a good thing... if there's any question about your character, or your actions... there should be somebody standing by who can vouch for you. Otherwise... you end up with people who maybe just want to see you fall... to see how you're going to react when your character is attacked... Or who just want your name to be less-than-spotless...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I had a friend who, every time we'd hang out or anything, he'd try and get me to cuss, or drink, or... any number of random things... and at one point he told me that his goal was to see me do something I knew I wasn't supposed to... Great friend right?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I had class with a guy... I think in high school... it's been a while, but he said his goal was to see me get angry... he wanted to know what I'd do when I got mad. So every day... he'd try and push buttons... just to see what would happen...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we're not careful about who we put around us... and we still try to take a stand for something... then that's the kind of characters we're going to end up with... As opposed to Isaiah.... putting men who were “known to be honest” around him.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 15:15-21</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - III John 1:11</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Deuteronomy 18:9-14</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Ephesians 4:11-5:20</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 3-4</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then I slept with my wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said, Call him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. For before this child is old enough to say “papa” or “mama,” the king of Assyria will carry away both the abundance of Damascus and the riches of Samaria.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What a name for the poor kid to be saddled with...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - OK, now we have two prophecies involving newborn children and their names. The last chapter we had, Immanuel was prophesied as a sign that deliverance was coming. This chapter, Isaiah's child is prophesied as a sign that destruction is coming... “Swiftly plundered and quickly carried away.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Judah is still refusing to turn away from their idols and their sin, to God. So... destruction is on its way. He's given them every chance He could. He even gave an evil king an obvious sign that there would be deliverance, and then brought deliverance! And even though they cannot deny His presence... cannot deny His existence... They still choose to turn away.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When our hearts become hardened against the things of God... He can't speak to them anymore. The more He speaks, the more we turn away... And when we get to the place where we absolutely refuse to hear the voice of God...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Well, okay... let me give you this example.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - We found out this week that our state education department has decided to put into policy a new discipline edict. It is based around the premise that positive reinforcement is the only way to go. We will not be allowed to “take” anything from students. For example, recess. Students can earn things, like reward trips, or play days, but we can't do anything that is a negative reaction to a behavior.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Okay, well that's all well and good... however... as you can see in this article (</em></span><a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/mother-says-6-year-1422908.html"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.ajc.com/news/mother-says-6-year-1422908.html</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>) sometimes... positive reinforcement isn't a move you can make... This is a story about a 6 year old who was taken out of school in handcuffs in Florida. She was basically pitching a fit and going off the wall... and they couldn't restrain her. So for her safety and the safety of the people around her... they finally put her in handcuffs cause she refused to settle down enough to be allowed back into the regular population. Her mother is pitching a fit... and honestly... it's ridiculous. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When the kids are going off the wall and become a danger to themselves or to others... as we have seen and heard many times before... there comes a time to take drastic measures. When you are not allowed to discipline... things get out of hand. Had there been a discipline system in place that would have allowed the school to restrain this child... I don't think there would have been a problem... however... we as teachers are told many times not to touch a child no matter what because of the impending doom of lawsuits by parents... Even if the child is a danger to another kid... we're told not to touch them if at all possible.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In my own state we've had elementary students removed from the school grounds in handcuffs due to violent outbreaks. And it shouldn't be that way... There's no reason that a child, who is supposed to be learning from their elders... who's supposed to be under our authority... should be running all over us... </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In my opinion... in general... kids are becoming less and less well-behaved... and more and more difficult to control in any way... and I think that can be correlated to the lack of allowed discipline on the teacher's part... as well as the want of discipline within the home.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - I had an education professor who once said that we needed to discuss things with kids and let them decide on their punishment and basically talk them out of being bad... except that we had just went over I think the Piaget theory that said that the reasoning ability of a child did not fully develop until around age 10 or so. Up until that point, they're not really capable of successful reasoning on moral issues. So... why are we TALKING to and REASONING with the screaming 3 year old????</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Positive reinforcement only goes so far... eventually... you gotta have strong discipline. Especially with kids. Because kids aren't dumb... they learn REAL fast what they can get away with... they learn what buttons to push and what cards to play to ALMOST get in big trouble... They hang on the outskirts of going too far... they might even tip toe across the line every now and again... but they figure out really fast how to get out of actually needing to apologize... and mean it... crocodile tears...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God loves positive reinforcement. He loves to reward us for doing good. He loves to give good gifts to His children. When Israel and Judah were turning away, He still tried to bless them. Still tried to make them see that He loved them... Tried to prove that He was able to do anything for them... if they would only turn back to Him....</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Matthew 7:9-11</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Luke 11:11-13</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Instead... they pushed too far. They kept trying to push the boundaries...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God sees the heart... and what He saw in the hearts of His people... was wicked and dark. He could no longer speak to them. They had stopped their ears and turned their thoughts to other things. It was time for them to stop taking sucker punches at God. He'd been taken advantage of and abused enough. It was time for them to receive their just desserts.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And yet He still sent warnings. He still tried to change their minds and hearts... Isaiah posted this huge, public sign so all could see it...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Where are you in your walk? Have you allowed your heart to grow hard towards the things of God? Are you taking God for granted? Do you abuse the Grace and Mercy of God? What kind of warning signs has God placed in your life? Are you paying attention? Or choosing to ignore them when they come?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, He devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from Him.” (II Samuel 14:14) </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 5-8</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then the Lord spoke to me again and said, “My care for the people of Judah is like the gently flowing waters of Shilaoh, but they have rejected it. They are rejoicing over what will happen to King Rezin and King Pekah. Therefore, the Lord will overwhelm them with a mighty flood from the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria and all his glory. This flood will overflow all its channels and sweep into Judah until it is chin deep. It will spread its wings, submerging your land from one end to the other, O Immanuel.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - okay... bear with me... A little history on Shiloh. Man there's a lot here...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Okay... In Joshua 18, the setting of the Tabernacle was moved from Gilgal, to Shiloh. It was situated in the land of Ephraim and was kind of central for the people.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Ephraim, at this point in Israel's history, was the strongest of the tribes. Ephraim was the youngest son of Joseph. One place it says that Ephraim had 10 thousands of men, and his brother tribe, Manasseh, had only thousands.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If you remember, Jacob switched hands and blessed Ephraim above his elder brother Manasseh. (Genesis 48)</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Shiloh was a place of worship. It was known as a place of rest. So... the city that is for peace and rest... have turned away.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ephraim is sometimes used in place of Israel. Because it was a focal point for Israel. And remember that Shiloh was in Ephraim. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Hosea 13, God says this: “When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the people shook with fear, for that tribe was important in Israel. But the people of Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal and thus sealed their destruction. Now they continue to sin by making silver idols, images shaped skillfully with human hands. “Sacrifice to these,” they cry, “and kiss the calf idols!” Therefore, they will disappear like the morning mist, like dew in the morning sun, like chaff blown by the wind, like smoke from a chimney.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - and in Hosea 5, “The leaders of Judah have become like thieves. So I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall. The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment because they are determined to worship idols. I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool. I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Once a place of worship... now a place of sin... When Jeroboam first set up the gold calves so the people wouldn't go to Judah to worship, (I Kings 12) he set one up in Bethel... which wasn't that far from Shiloh. By then the temple was in Jerusalem and Shiloh was destroyed (it is assumed that Shiloh was destroyed by the Philistines following their capture of the ark of the covenant- I Samuel 4 and 5) So Bethel and Dan became the new places of worship.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Oh... and by the way... Jeroboam was of the tribe of Ephraim (I Kings 11:26)</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So... In Shiloh... a place of rest... a place of peace... A place where God's house had been built in the middle of the nation so that anybody at any time could come to seek His presence... A place where God could actively show His people that He cared for them... This is the place... in which they chose to reject Him.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “.... But they kept testing and rebelling against God Most High. They did not obey His laws. They turned back and were as faithless as their parents. They were as undependable as a crooked bow. They angered God by building shrines to other gods; they made Him jealous with their idols. When God heard them, He was very angry, and He completely rejected Israel. Then He abandoned His dwelling at Shiloh, the Tabernacle where He had lived among the people. He allowed the Ark of His might to be captured; He surrendered His glory into enemy hands. He gave His people over to be butchered by the sword, because He was so angry with His own people—His special possession. Their young men were killed by fire; their young women died before singing their wedding songs. Their priests were slaughtered, and their widows could not mourn their deaths.” (Psalm 78)</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Since they had rejected His healing waters... He will now flood them out. They will be washed in the water of destruction instead of cleansed in the water of holiness. They will be submerged just as in the first flood... to rid the nation of sin. To drown out that which holds them back from communion with God.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 5-8 (Second Take) </em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now... looking at Israel's history... indeed... that is exactly what happened... however... I want to also look at the Messianic side of this portion...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In Genesis 49, Jacob is blessing his sons before he dies. For Judah, he says this: “Judah, your brothers will praise you. You will grasp your enemies by the neck. All your relatives will bow before you. Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “until the coming of the one to whom it belongs” in the Hebrew reads “until Shiloh comes”.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Christ, the Messiah is referred to as “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah”. Here, He is referred to as Shiloh. The God of peace and rest... hmm... sounds good huh? :)</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Now looking back at Psalm 78 again. This is Israel's history in a nutshell... all the times that they rebelled against God... and God took them back. Now... “He abandoned His dwelling at Shiloh, the Tabernacle where He had lived among the people.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - The old covenant... replaced with a new one...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “He allowed the Ark of His might to be captured...”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Oh God! Christ came of His own free will! He delivered Himself up and “surrendered His glory into enemy hands.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep...”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ rose from the dead! Did He not!? Is He not alive still!?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “He routed His enemies and sent them to eternal shame.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In Revelation 1:18, Christ says “I am the living One. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Did He not conquer death! And Satan!</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Revelation 12 speaks about the battle between the angels and the dragon. “And they have defeated him by the Blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In John 1 the first little bit very much sums this up... As you read... replace “The Word” with “Jesus”... see how that reads to you. :) </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.... He came into the very world He created, but the world didn't recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God....”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we believe... we will be saved... maybe not from pain... maybe not from agony... in this life anyway... but definitely from the second death... the everlasting, spiritual death.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But to those who have rejected Christ as Lord and King... destruction will come. Judgment comes to all men... and God is a just judge.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “And I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- ALL were judged... not just the bad ones... not just the good ones... ALL. And there's no escaping...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Mark 8:31</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Luke 17:20-37</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Matthew 21:33-44</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 9-10</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These verses to me... are those who have rejected Christ.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Huddle together, you nations, and be terrified. Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, but you will be crushed! Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless. Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed. For God is with us!”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- No matter how big the enemy looks... no matter if we die in the process of trying... GOD IS WITH US!!!! It is not us who should fear... but rather they... for THEY have no hope... all of their efforts are in vain... for even if they win every earthly battle... they have lost the eternal one. They have lost their souls...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The enemy has many plans to thwart God... but none of them will succeed... In Daniel 8 when it's talking about the antichrist coming... verse 12 says “The army of heaven was restrained from responding to this rebellion.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God might even hold back His anger from the enemy... but only to give them another chance to change... just as He held His anger back from Israel, time and time again...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But eventually... we read in verse 15, “He will even take on the Prince of princes in battle, but he will be broken, though not by human power.” Eventually... God's gonna take care of business. Maybe not in the way we expect Him to... cause... God generally never does things the way we think He should... but He WILL win in the end...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 6</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - I Peter 2:4-10; 4:12-19</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - John 12:44-50</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Job 34:10-37:24</em></span></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-90708306787423217362012-04-15T20:14:00.000-04:002012-04-15T20:14:13.898-04:00Isaiah Chapter 7:10-25<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 7:10-25</em></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 10-12</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God loves to reveal Himself to willing hearts. Here's Ahaz... an evil king. A man who is NOT seeking after God's heart... and yet God still longs to show Ahaz Who He is. So He gives Ahaz the opportunity to prove Him. “This is your chance! I'll do whatever you want me to do! And in doing so, I will prove myself to your heart!”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Instead of following God's direction... or even instead of accepting God's challenge... Ahaz refuses.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “No, I will not test the Lord like that.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, I understand not wanting to test God... in fact we are told in Matthew 4 and in Deuteronomy 6; “You must not test the Lord your God.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So, I can understand Ahaz NOT wanting to test God... for all he knew, the prophet was trying to get the king struck down...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - However, in Malachi 3:10, we have an example of God asking His people to put Him to the test. “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God wants us to see His worth, His truth, His righteousness, His faithfulness. Sometimes in order to prove Himself to us, He will ask us to test Him with something... and that means trusting that He'll come through for us.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ahaz was given that opportunity. God said, “This is what I'll do... Let me prove myself to you! Test me! Ask me anything you want and I'll answer you!”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And Ahaz... refuses. Why? Well... maybe out of fear of it being a trick... on God's part or on the prophets part...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Or maybe... Ahaz, who'd spent his life growing up under the tutelage of a Godly grandfather and father... KNEW truth... and KNEW that God would indeed prove Himself... But then... He wouldn't have ANY excuse for chasing after his idols and his evil ways. He would have maybe felt compelled to follow God... or maybe felt like he now owed God something of himself. So... he didn't want God to prove Himself... because it would give him a conscience concerning his sin...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - John 6:22-40</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 13-16</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn't it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the Lord Himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us'). By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “Virgin is translated from a Hebrew word used for an unmarried woman who is old enough to be married, one who is sexually mature.....It is more likely that this prophecy had a double fulfillment.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> (1) A young woman from the house of Ahaz who was not married would marry and have a son. Before three years had passed (one year for pregnancy and two for the child to be old enough to talk), the two invading kings would be destroyed.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> (2) Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah 7:14 to show a further fulfillment of this prophecy in that a virgin named Mary conceived and bore a son, Immanuel, the Christ.”</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ahaz refused to ask for a sign... so God decided to give him a sign anyway.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Poor Isaiah... he sounds so frustrated here. His patience with this king is just about exhausted. He's trying his hardest to make him see the light... and Ahaz just keeps shutting his eyes or blocking him out. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Sometimes we meet people in our lives like that. They don't want to know Truth. They don't want to be faced with their need for a savior. They want to live their lives as they please. They don't want to have someone prick their consciences.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So here stands Isaiah... trying to do what God has asked him to do... and getting the door slammed in his face time after time.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we meet with situations like this... where God has asked us to speak to someone, or do something... and our goal is constantly set back because of circumstances... we cannot lose heart. We cannot give up. Even when the road gets rocky... we have to keep pressing on. If God asks us to go, He'll prepare us for the way...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- My pastor used to talk about the relentless love of God. God never stops loving people. He never stops pursuing their hearts. so... neither should we.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- My grandparents have a funny story about how they started dating... My grandfather decided that this was the woman for him. So he went to her house to pick her up. And she hid on the back porch roof so that the family could tell him she wasn't in the house...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- A couple of times she did this... she was determined that she was NOT going to go out with this man. Well... he was just as determined that she WAS going to go out with him. So one night, he finally parked his car along the road and sneaked up to the house. She was inside the house watering plants. He sneaked up to the window and then popped up when she got close to him and said “well, you're home... So can I take you out tonight?” She screamed and threw her water pot straight up in the air... lol</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But you know what? They've been married for over 50 years... persistence paid off...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is like that. He sees our hearts... and He wants us for His own. He wants us to love Him. So He goes after us. Time and time again.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Since we are the body of Christ... sometimes that means that WE have to go after people for God. Time and time again, we have to go speak the love of Christ to them. Even when they turn us away.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Dad reminded us of a story about my pastor the other night... He was going to talk to this old guy all the time. He was bed fast... and pretty ill. He was extremely bitter against God. Didn't want anything to do with Him.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So Doug would go and talk to him about things... and always brought it back around to his need for God.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So this one day, his daughter popped in to say “Dad, you have a visitor”. And he said “It's not that damn preacher again is it?” And Doug popped his head around the corner and said “Yep, it's that damn preacher...” and pulled up a chair and started talking with him again.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Because Doug was persistent in his love for this man... He eventually did give his heart to God before he died. Doug didn't walk away when the guy asked him to. He didn't give up after one time of getting told that he wasn't interested in God. He didn't stop after the guy told him off. He knew this was where God wanted him... and that's EXACTLY where he went. And God worked in that man's heart.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Just because people lash out at us about our faith... doesn't mean we should stop trying. We just keep loving on them until they can't stand it anymore... they're eventually gonna want what we have. We make our love apparent by spending time, by showing concern, and by speaking truth when it's needed.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We don't have to compromise our beliefs in order to do this. For example, I used to go to lunch or dinner with a friend of mine all the time who was not saved. I never went to the bar with him... never went to a party... we spent time on neutral ground together... I didn't have to compromise my beliefs, and he didn't feel threatened by being in a place where he wasn't in control. He wasn't going to set foot in a church... but restaurants were ok. And they were places that we could sit down and talk without pressure.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - I have friends who know where I stand who will invite me when they're going to a movie or something, or out to lunch, but they know I won't go to a party with alcohol... so they won't invite me to those kinds of things... but they still seek my company for other things.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Being in the world... but not part of it. Doesn't necessarily mean that we have to go TO the bar, or TO the brothel, or TO the drug dealer's residence to witness... just means we have to seek out people to love in God's way.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I had friends in college who said they were going to the bar so they could witness... they were going to go where the sinners were... except that... they weren't strong enough in their faith to do that... and they themselves fell into alcoholism etc. Make sure it's a God thing when you walk into a place like that to witness... If God CALLS you to go there... you'll be fine... but if He doesn't... it'll be incredibly hard not to fall.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Luke 11:5-13</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Sorry for the ramble... moving on...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So the sign is that a virgin will conceive and bear a son. Now, if this indeed was a son in the house of Ahaz at the time... then Ahaz got to see first hand, the hand of God moving in his life. Because the nation of Israel and the nation of Syria, during the reign of Ahaz, was taken over by Assyria.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ahaz grew fearful of these nations... and he called on Assyria to come to his rescue... Instead of turning to God... he turned to an enemy nations. Well Assyria did their job. They conquered both nations... and then they came to Judah and attacked Judah. Ahaz took valuables from the Temple and gave them to the king of Assyria as a tribute payment so that he wouldn't destroy them.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Instead of turning to God in this time of trouble... Ahaz... set up a pagan alters in every corner of Jerusalem and shut the doors of the Temple so that no one could worship there.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Even after God proved Himself... Ahaz... walked away... and led the nation away with him.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Chronicles 28</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, looking at the prophecy fulfilled in Christ. This was indeed one of MANY prophecies that Christ fulfilled in his coming as He did.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Matthew 1:23</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 17-20</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then the Lord will bring things on you, your nation, and your family unlike anything since Israel broke away from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria upon you! In that day the Lord will whistle for the army of southern Egypt and for the army of Assyria. They will swarm around you like flies and bees. They will come in vast hordes and settle in the fertile areas and also in the desolate valleys, caves, and thorny places. In that day the Lord will hire a “razor” from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—and use it to shave off everything: your land, your crops, and your people.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- OK so in II Chronicles 28, Ahaz is king and Assyria has to be paid off.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- During Hezekiah's reign in chapter 32, Assyria yet again invades Judah. God sent angels to destroy Assyria because Hezekiah had worked a religious reform in the nation of Judah and he himself was a godly king. However... Babylon (who eventually took over Assyria) sent ambassadors to Judah to visit with Hezekiah. He was proud of his accomplishments... and showed them EVERYTHING that Judah owned.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So we move on to Manasseh's reign in chapter 33. He was an evil king. Assyria came and captured Manasseh, put a ring through his nose and led him off to captivity. However Manasseh humbled himself before God, and before he died, God brought him back to Judah to be king.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Josiah, chapters 34 and 35. Josiah was a godly king. He made huge religious reforms amongst the people. He found the law and reestablished it among the people. He got rid of all the idols in the land. However... Josiah heard that the king of Egypt was in the land... he went out to do battle with him... but the king of Egypt was on his way to do something else... and God told the king of Egypt to hurry. He asked Josiah not to interfere with him. But Josiah went up against him anyway and was killed in battle... </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jehoahaz. Chapter 36. He was king a total of 3 months... Then the king of Egypt took over and demanded that they pay tribute. (Remember Isaiah said that Egypt would come?) </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So Jehoiakim, brother of Jehoahaz, was placed in charge by the Egyptians. He was another evil king. He reigned for 11 years... and then Babylon moved in and captured the land and the king.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- His son Jehoiachin was king for a little while... also an evil king... and then Zedekiah... also evil... He tried to rebel against Babylon... that didn't go so well for him...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - and finally... The Babylonians moved in and killed them all. They even chased them into the temple. “They had no pity on the people, killing both young men and young women, the old and the infirm.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - And then Babylon burned the temple...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - It took a few years... but eventually... Assyria, as part of Babylon... did indeed take Judah captive... and did indeed destroy Jerusalem.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - God kept giving them opportunities to turn back... and they kept refusing. As a nation... they hardened their hearts and walked away from God... so... destruction came to them.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - The enemy came like a plague and took everything... the land, the crops, and the people... everything was killed or burned. Anything of value was destroyed. “The land finally enjoyed its Sabbath rest, lying desolate until the seventy years were fulfilled, just as the prophet had said.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So for 70 years... nothing grew. There was no one to tend the fields.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 29:8-23<br />
- Leviticus 26</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> vs. 21-25</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “In that day a farmer will be fortunate to have a cow and two sheep or goats left. Nevertheless, there will be enough milk for everyone because so few people will be left in the land. They will eat their fill of yogurt and honey. In that day the lush vineyards, now worth 1,000 pieces of silver, will become patches of briers and thorns. The entire land will become a vast expanse of briers and thorns, a hunting ground overrun by wildlife. Not one will go to the fertile hillsides where the gardens once grew, for briers and thorns will cover them. Cattle, sheep, and goats will graze there.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Remember that this promised land was called “the land of milk and honey?” God was still going to sustain the people left here... He was still going to give them their fill of milk and honey... but the land itself... was unusable. It grew wild...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God keeps His promises... whether they are promises of provision... or promises of destruction... God never goes back on His promises. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Psalm 73; 81</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - II Corinthians 1:17-22</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hebrews 6:16-20</em></span><br />
</div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-67768820350618653132012-04-08T18:22:00.000-04:002012-04-08T18:22:17.355-04:00Isaiah Chapter 7:1-9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 7:1-9</em></span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-2</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This is a story from the time of King Ahaz.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. However, they were unable to carry out their plan. The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel against us!” So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jotham was the son of Uzziah. Both Uzziah and Jotham had this problem... They themselves followed God... but they didn't get rid of the shrines and idols in Judah. As leaders, they may have led by example... but they didn't bring the sin of the people into question. They let them do as they pleased.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we look at the king and nation relationship as a parent and child relationship... These kings... spoiled their children and let them do whatever they wanted... no questions asked. Every once in a while, they might have tried to reason with the people... or gave some kind of “Now, you really shouldn't do that” kind of statement... but... for the most part... they lived their lives and let the people run wild. They were more focused on themselves and their own well-being than they were the spiritual... “lostness” of the people.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - We can take a lesson from this in many aspects of our lives... not only towards children if you are a parent, but as a friend, or as a co-worker, or as family, or as church family... There sometimes comes a time in life when you have to confront the sin not only in your own life, but in the lives of those around you. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now this isn't to say that you go to everybody you know and start nit-picking at their lives... “Take the log out of your own eye” ring a bell?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Luke 6:39-42</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, blatant, open sin, cannot be allowed to grow in a life that claims the name of Christ.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - I don't watch much reality TV... but every once in a while I see this show advertised called “Intervention.” Basically, family and friends are getting together to have an intervention with someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. They all sit down and explain that this addiction is detrimental to their health and to these relationships, and that a change needs to happen...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In my mind... that's what needs to happen in our relationships sometimes. It might not be a whole group setting... but sometimes, people don't see what kind of effects their lifestyle is having on other people.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Granted... a conversation like this is not an easy one... you might lose the relationship for a while over it... but I guarantee it's a necessary conversation when it comes to a Christian insisting on persisting in their sin.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I John 5 starts by explaining who a Christian is. Someone who believes that Jesus is the Christ. Someone who loves God and his children. Someone who obeys God's commandments... so on and so forth...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Then in verse 16, he says 'If you see a Christian brother or sister sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that they world around us is under the control of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and He has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Now, give me a second to explain all this...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - What is the sin unto death? What is so terrible as to be unforgivable?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Go with me to Matthew 12. The Pharisees have been keeping tabs on Jesus. They heard that He cast a demon out of a man. Their response to this was to say “No wonder He can cast out demons. He gets His power from Satan, the prince of demons.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jesus then replied by saying, well... if I am empowered by Satan, then Satan is fighting against himself... so his kingdom is in a civil war. A kingdom divided cannot stand, so that doesn't really make any sense... Only someone stronger and greater than Satan can bind him up and plunder his house...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Then Jesus says: “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Matthew 12:22-37</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Mark 3:20-30</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Barnes Notes on the Bible on the Matthew verses reads thusly: “In this place, and in Mark 3:28-30, Jesus states the awful nature of the sin of which they had been guilty. That sin was the sin against the Holy Spirit. It consisted in charging him with being in league with the devil, or accusing him of working his miracles, not by the "spirit" or "power" of God, but by the aid of the prince of the devils. It was therefore a direct insult, abuse, or evil speaking against the Holy Spirit - the spirit by which Jesus worked his miracles. That this was what he intended by this sin, at that time, is clear from Mark 3:30, "because they said he had an unclean spirit." All other sins - all speaking against the Saviour himself - might be remitted. But this sin was clearly against the Holy One; it was alleging that the highest displays of God's mercy and power were the work of the devil; and it argued, therefore, the deepest depravity of mind. The sin of which he speaks is therefore clearly stated. It was accusing him of working miracles by the aid of the devil, thus dishonoring the Holy Spirit.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So this sin unto death is that in which we attribute the works and power of the Holy Spirit... to Satan.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote: “Christians sometimes wonder if they have committed this sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Christians need not worry because this sin is attributing to the devil the work of the Holy Spirit. It reveals a heart attitude of unbelief and unrepentance. Deliberate, ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy because it is rejecting God Himself. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy, but ironically they were the guilty ones when they looked Jesus in the face and accused Him of being possessed by Satan.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So, as Christians. When we see a brother or sister who is sinning... we are first to pray for them. Then to speak to them. If praying that they are convicted and that they see their need for a life change works... then there is no need to speak openly... However, if they persist after a time of praying, or seem to be under conviction, but not heeding the hints from God... then it is time to speak. But in Matthew 18:15-18, we have the rest...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won't accept the church's decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth, will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In some translations “forbidden” is read as “bound”.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So, to make the full circle...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - If the kings Uzziah and Jotham had done what they were supposed to do... then righteousness would have abounded... The people's hearts would have been affected and their own lives would have reflected the change. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As it was... Ahaz came along... who was a very evil king. The apathy of his father and grandfather led to him being a completely evil king. He sacrificed his son to an idol. He wasn't just worshiping an idol... he was involved in human sacrifices...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The story of Ahaz can be found in II Kings 16 and II Chronicles 28.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Last chapter, God told Isaiah to say to the people to listen but not understand, to watch, but learn nothing. That their hearts would be hardened and their ears would be shut. That they would not understand with their hearts or turn to God for healing.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - The people were getting to the point that the only way that God was going to get through to them, was through trials and tribulations. “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland.” When things get rough... we HAVE to turn to God. It's our only choice. We either turn to God... or... perish. Judah was to the point... that God was going to have to present them with that choice. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 3-9</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub and go out to meet King Ahaz. You will find him at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed. Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn't need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah. Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying, “We will attack Judah and capture it for ourselves. Then we will install the son of Tabeel as Judah's king.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “Shear-jashub means “a remnant will return.” God told Isaiah to give his son this name as a reminder of his plan for mercy. From the beginning of God's judgment He planned to restore a remnant of his people. Shear-jashub was a reminder to the people of God's faithfulness to them.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Again, in the last chapter, the last verse talks about the stump being cut down and yet becoming a seed for the tree to regrow.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even though God was bringing judgment down upon His people... a remnant would remain and survive. And they would indeed grow again into the tree that He had intended them to be.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - And even though Ahaz was an evil, wicked king... God still was trying to speak to him. He sent Isaiah to the king to encourage him. To show him that God was still in control.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Maybe God was yet again trying to prove His love through kindness and gentleness. Even though they were turning against Him... still He was going to try to win them back over.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So God said this to Ahaz. Personally... I find this incredibly encouraging to look at from the perspective of possibly being ready to be attacked...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “This invasion will never happen; it will never take place; for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus, and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin. As for Israel, within sixty-five years it will be crushed and completely destroyed. Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria, and Samaria is not stronger than its king Pekah son of Remaliah. Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What I get from this is simply that God is in control. A country is no stronger than its king... and God is stronger than all men... God is still in control.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - And furthermore, the prophecy that before 65 years were up, Israel would be destroyed... well... about 15 or 20 years after this event... Israel was indeed destroyed and taken captive by Assyria.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, God also gave Ahaz a warning. That unless his faith was firm, God couldn't make him stand against his enemies... His faith had to be placed in God in order for there to be victory.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - That's a good statement for us in general. God will make us victorious... but our faith must stay strong... This is not to say that bad things won't happen... just that we will be able to get through them because God is with us.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In Romans 12:3, It says to “Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - And in Luke 17:5 the apostles asked Jesus how they could increase their faith. Jesus said 'If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea, and it would obey you!'” (Matthew 17:20 says that the mountain could be moved and that nothing would be impossible.)</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - What I get from all this is something along the lines of the parable of the talents. God has given each of us a measure of faith... now what we do with it... is up to us. God can put circumstances in our lives that act as faith builders. He can put people in our lives that demand growth of our faith. He can show us how much He deserves our faith by all the good things He gives to us... but ultimately... it's up to us what we do with our faith. Do we allow our circumstances to grow our faith? Or do we let them smother it out and end up with nothing?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - With faith... nothing is impossible... Without faith... things look pretty hopeless...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> <br />
- Ahaz... well... had faith in many things... but I don't know how his faith was in God... as we shall see...</em></span></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-4642302212855965612012-04-01T20:28:00.000-04:002012-04-01T20:28:09.983-04:00Isaiah Chapter 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 6</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-4</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple. Attending Him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- For history on King Uzziah, read II Chronicles 26.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - My dad did a sermon on this a couple months or so ago. So some of this may be taken from that...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Okay... The Lord is sitting on His throne, high and lifted up. He is above the rest. He is exalted in the heavens. For He is worthy of praise and adoration and His essence demands our obeisance.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - His train fills the Temple. His presence cannot be denied. He is everywhere. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary says that a flowing train was a “badge of dignity in the East.” This wasn't just a little train... this one filled the entire Temple.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - The only thing I have to relate this to is a wedding dress with a really long train... There are trains that are like a foot long... and then there are trains that flow the length of the aisle and require assistance in managing...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - God's train wasn't a little one. His dignity demands a HUGE train. Something that shows just how much honor He deserves.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary says this about the seraphim : “Above the throne stood the holy angels, called seraphim, which means burners; they burn in love to God, and zeal for his glory against sin. The seraphim showing their faces veiled, declares that they are ready to yield obedience to all God's commands, though they do not understand the secret reasons of his counsels, government, or promises. All vain-glory, ambition, ignorance, and pride, would be done away by one view of Christ in his glory.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Seraphim” literally meant to burn... they were literally on fire for God. As they circled the throne, they called out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven's Armies (or the Lord of Hosts)! The whole earth is filled with His glory!”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Now, yes, these were created beings... and yes their job may have been to circle the throne... but these created beings... could not help but cry out at the holiness of God.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Now, when dad did his sermon, he used a picture that my brother had done. It was a pencil sketch of the Mona Lisa... done entirely with doodles. So the shading etc. was all done with doodles. Every part of the picture... was made up of hundreds of other little pictures. There were animals, and food, and people... all kinds of things hidden within each other.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Dad had one of the kids come down and walk around the picture. He was to explain what he saw each time he walked past... And every time, he saw something new in the picture...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - The seraphim were the same way. As they circled the throne... they continually saw new aspects, or facets of God. As they saw God's glory revealed in the earth, they couldn't help themselves! They just had to cry out in amazement! “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is this God! Look at all that He is! Look at all that He has done! WOW!!!!!!!!”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - They just kept circling and calling out to each other in amazement and awe over all that they saw and perceived.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - They called out so much and so loudly, that the whole Temple was shaken to its foundations and was filled with smoke...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Smoke is usually perceived as the presence of God, or His Spirit...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - This just gives me such a picture of God's awesomeness and power. The Temple is shaking to its foundation and is completely filled with the presence of God. That just sounds like it would be scary to witness first hand. Can you imagine? And here stands Isaiah... what's his response?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> vs. 5-7</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “Then I said, “It's all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven's Armies.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Despair. Hopelessness. Sorrow.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - I was thinking a lot about the unclean lips thing. When the seraphim comes with the coal here in a second, He doesn't say, “now you can go speak to the people.” And I always thought it had to do with Isaiah being a prophet and speaking to the people.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But then why would he say that the rest of Israel was also of unclean lips? Could none of them speak of God?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Have you ever seen a movie where someone goes to meet the king or queen and they bow down before them and kiss their ring or their hand?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Well, in idol worship, kissing the idol was a type of worship.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In Job 31:26-28, it says: “Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship? If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In I Kings 19:18, God is talking to Elijah and He tells him that He has kept 7,000 others in Israel who haven't bowed down to Baal or kissed him.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And in Hosea 13:2-3, it says: “Now they continue to sin by making silver idols, images shaped skillfully with human hands, “Sacrifice to these,” they cry, “and kiss the calf idols!” Therefore, they will disappear like the morning mist, like dew in the morning sun, like chaff blown by the wind, like smoke from a chimney.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - One of the commentaries I was reading said that sometimes the ground was kissed as a sign of the fullness of submission.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So here stands Isaiah... and all he can think of is... “how unworthy am I! Here I stand... not even worthy to kiss the feet of this God I serve! For I have sinned!” Whether that meant that Isaiah had at one point kissed an idol... or if that means simply that he was struck with the gravity of his sin...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I am reminded of John the Baptist when he said “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much great that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of His sandals.” (Mark 1:7) </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - And the rest of the nation! Not only is Isaiah a man of unclean lips... so too is the nation of Judah!</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In II Chronicles in the story of Uzziah and his son Jotham, it remarks that although the kings were godly... the people did not follow their example and continued in their idolatry.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Have you ever felt like that before God? Unworthy. Presumptuous. Fearful. Dismayed. Hopeless.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Isaiah is standing in the throne room of God, completely surrounded by this awesome display of power and holiness... and in the presence of that holiness, Isaiah finds himself sorely lacking in his own...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - And yet... here he stands in the presence of God...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - When we fall before God and ask for forgiveness for our sins... It is freely given... but then begins a purging process. This walk is not a one time commitment... This is a day in, day out walk that requires constant resubmission.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - This is not a simple or painless process. That coal probably hurt like crazy... But it was worth it.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - When God accepts us as we are... He then asks us to become more like Him in all our ways. Yes the initial acceptance is unconditional. He will take you as you are. You don't have to fix yourself up before you come to Him... however, you do have to allow Him to work in you after that point.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Isaiah was letting God do a work in him. He saw the need in himself, and accepted the Father's work in changing something about him.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Just as we should. When you find yourself faced with your sin... and the fact that you are guilty beyond repair... That's when you too should fall on your knees before an almighty God, crying out, “Woe is me! For I am doomed! I have sinned against a holy and righteous God!” Then allow God not only to take your sin and guilt and cleanse you from it... but also to start to work a change in who you are.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 8-9</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” And He said, “Yes, go, and say to this people...” </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God starts a change in Isaiah... and the first thing He asks for... is for Isaiah to go speak to the people. A hard task in and of itself... but wait until you see what God tells Isaiah to SAY!</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Isaiah doesn't hesitate. He jumps at the chance to do something for God.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - When we have accepted this God, and we have seen our unworthiness... and still have been accepted and cleansed from our sins... we owe a debt to God. He could have let us die in our sin... He didn't have to provide a way out... but He did. And freely.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now when God asks us for something... what is our response? Do we sit and mull it over trying to think about how we can do this with as little effort as possible? Do we see if we can figure out a way to have somebody else do it and we still get the credit? Do we ask God not to make us do it? Do we try and bargain with God to see if we can do something more in our comfort zone?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Or do we step up and say, “Yes God, I will go. Send me. I will do whatever You ask of me. No matter what it is... Just lead and guide me and I will trust that You will provide me with the answers, the strength, the wisdom, that I need to fulfill the purpose You ask of me.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - That's a hard question. Sometimes God asks us to pick up and go somewhere new. Leave all we know behind. Sometimes God asks us to say hard things to people we love. Sometimes it means that we're probably going to be persecuted in some way for our words or actions.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - But it's not about us... it's about God... And it's about being obedient whenever He asks us to be.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - The purging and growing processes are not easy... but they are necessary for us to be healthy, growing, thriving Christians. If we're not growing and changing for the better... we're not letting Christ work in our lives... and if we're not letting Him do a work... we are growing stagnant, apathetic, or we are spiritually dying... None of which are great options... </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 9-13 </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So what does God ask Isaiah to tell the people?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.” Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, not hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- WHAT???? Aren't I supposed to lead them to You? Aren't I supposed to heal them? Make them better? Teach them to follow You? Why do You want to harden their hearts? Why do You not want them to turn to You for healing? Are they not Your people? Are they not Your children whom You love?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - No arguments. No holding back... just... “okay, so how long will I do this? What comes next?”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Surely there's hope here somewhere. Surely God wouldn't just leave them stranded with no hope. Surely there's more.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “And He replied, “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland; until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted. If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel's stump will be a holy seed.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - footnote- “When would the people listen? Only after they had come to the end and had nowhere to turn but to God. This would happen when the land was destroyed by invading armies and the people taken into captivity. The “tenth” refers either to those who remained in the land after the captivity or to those who returned from Babylon to rebuild the land. Each group was about a tenth of the total population. When will we listen to God? Must we, like Judah, go through calamities before we will listen to God's words? Consider what God may be telling you, and obey Him before time runs out.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The people had so hardened their hearts towards God... that He finally decided that drastic measures were in order... If they could not depend on Him in times of prosperity... or even times of a little persecution... then... they would learn to depend on Him by losing everything and having ONLY He to cling to. Nothing else would be available. He was giving them no other option.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In order to do so however, He had to harden their hearts completely. Stop up their ears so they could not hear... and allow them to get to the place that He needed them to be... secure in and dependent on themselves. And then... He would rip out their foundations. He would take everything away so that they HAD to turn to Him.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But... just as a tree leaves a stump that produces shoots after it is cut down... so would Israel become a holy seed. They would once again grow up to be a holy people. They would once again truly become His people... heart, mind, and soul.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - The means to the end... is not pretty... but the end... is very worth the struggle to get there...</em></span> </div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-81195167002420375182012-03-26T21:00:00.002-04:002012-03-26T21:03:30.212-04:00Isaiah Chapter 5 (part 4)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 5:20-30 </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 20</em></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The first thing that comes to mind with this is peer pressure and drugs... I remember getting thrown the “it's fun! We promise!” one a lot... or “what's it gonna hurt?” or something about not being cool if you didn't participate and this was how you were really going to make a mark in the world... I even had my best friend at the time to give me a key chain that said “You gotta do something to be anything.” </em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Anytime somebody comes to you and presents a bad thing as a good thing... it's generally a sign that either they're not all together right, or they have your destruction in mind. Whether out of maliciousness or just a desire to wreak havoc and then sit back and watch the fun... it's not ok.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Sometimes... it's not a person... it's not a friend... or family... or stranger... it comes in a whisper from Satan himself... reasoning with you. “Why deny yourself? What sane person denies themselves? Aren't you taught to succeed? Aren't you taught to go after what you want?” And just like in the garden... he twists God's truth... to fit his own perverted purposes. </em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we start taking wrong things... whatever they may be... no matter how small they might seem, and saying that... well... maybe they're not SO wrong... maybe they're ok to do... then we can start to see possible compromises on big things as well.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “When people see no distinction between good and evil, destruction soon follows. It is easy for people so say, “No one can decide for anyone else what is really right or wrong.” They may think getting drunk can't hurt them, extramarital sex isn't really wrong, or money doesn't control them. But when they make excuses for their actions, they break down the distinction between right and wrong. If people do not take God's Word, the Bible, as their standard, soon all moral choices become fuzzy. Without God, they are headed for a breakdown and much suffering.” </em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- There was a friend of mine who's a fairly new Christian this week who was talking to my dad about his usage of cuss words. That's usually one of the first things to come up with new Christians... they're not used to having to watch their tongue.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But even taking that small thing and saying... “well I'll be a Christian in other ways... but not this one.” or “Well I'm a Christian, but what's to say that I can't accept Christ and still live like I did yesterday?”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Satan's lies that come either directly from him, or through someone in your life... can destroy your walk with Christ. Little by little, he erodes your walk and then throws your failure in your face any chance he can get. “You call yourself a Christian? Christians don't do that!”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This verse says that sorrow will come to those who tell lies in place of the truth...</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Peter 2 talks about false teachers coming to spread lies among the church. He says that they will even deny the Master who bought them... in other words... they will even deny Christ...</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed. Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done.... These people are as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness. They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped form a lifestyle of deception. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.” (vs. 12-13, 17-21)</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Thus why sorrow will come... Jude 1 says that they will perish in their rebellion. If they die in their rebellion... there is no hope. To die in your sin is a death sentence for all eternity... you are condemning yourself to endless torment and suffering in hell.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These are teachers who knew the truth... and instead of following it... they learned to twist it for their own purposes... and they began to teach things other than the truth.... but were still trying to pass it off as truth. They rebelled against what they KNEW as truth. They are rejecting God... as God... and putting their own flesh on the throne in His place... and while they might think they are now free from the burden of living a holy life... the burden of being good all the time... they are now enslaved to their sin. Instead of being free... they are more bound than ever. And most of the time... they don't even realize it! </em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jude 1:3-23</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Peter 2</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Micah 3:1-7</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Thessalonians 2:1-12</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 21</em></span><br />
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</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah goes on with other things that will eventually bring sorrow to the doers.</em></span><br />
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</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever.”</em></span><br />
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</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 1 says this: “But God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.” (vs. 18-23)</em></span><br />
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</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When man begins to think that he is wise... that is when he finds that he is not...</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These men started to think that they could determine what God was like... maybe what He looked like... or maybe they started with the above section... maybe they started attributing qualities to God that were not His... they started to assume truths about God... that were in reality false... or they started to put what they would LIKE God to be, into His character where they didn't belong.</em></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So what will happen to these people?</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. .Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, He abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.... They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” (vs. 24-32)</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Because they rejected God, He abandoned them to their sin. He allowed them to do what they liked... because God doesn't force Himself upon us. He gives us every possible chance to turn around and do what we should... but when we don't... when we persist in our sin... when we make the conscious decision to turn away from God time after time... He will eventually let us go our own way. He will eventually let us sin as we like...</em></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- These people above... when God abandoned them to do whatever they liked... it says that they traded the truth about God for a lie. They knew the truth... and instead, they took the lie. Knowing that they were condemning themselves... they did it anyway... and then they encourage others to join in their sin with them! They invite others to rebel and join in their destruction!</em></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And it all started with a thought... a false thought... about who God is. They thought they had it all figured out. They thought they had found the answers. But in their man-wisdom... they made themselves utter fools.</em></span><br />
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</span><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I was reading “The Case for a Creator” by Lee Strobel a few weeks ago... and there was a story about a man who was either trying to prove or disprove evolution. He had all these facts to prove his theories and all this stuff that he was using to make his theory truth... except that by the time he was finished and his findings were published... he basically proved the other side of the matter. Or at least helped the other side significantly. Lol</em></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our man-wisdom... doesn't even remotely match up to God's... We can try all we want... but our wisdom is just a drop in the ocean. We are nothing in comparison to the all-knowing and all-seeing God.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Sorrow and destruction will come to those who think themselves to be more wise than the God who is the Author of Knowledge...</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Colossians 2:1-15</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- James 3:13-18; 1:2-18</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Proverbs 3:7-8</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Corinthians 3:18-20</em></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 22</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “What sorrow for those who are heroes at drinking wine and boast about all the alcohol they can hold.”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This takes us back to the idea that you are a slave to whatever you serve.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Alcoholics are slaves to alcohol. Their daily lives are determined by the drink. The phrase “heroes at drinking” brings to mind a lot of college stories... lol I remember sitting at dinner or in class or whatever and hearing all these stories about the past weekends or the plans for the coming weekend. Drinking contests were almost always a part of that.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But what good does it bring? When alcohol becomes the master... who knows what kind of direction the slave will get...</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I remember one of the guys in my music classes got drunk one night and tried to punch a hole through a brick wall... he did crack the brick... but he also messed up his hand pretty good...</em></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And of course there's always stories about the drunk driver who kills a car full of people...</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Or the alcoholic who falls asleep and lets the stove keep cooking or drops a cigarette and burns the house down around themselves.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- They bring destruction to themselves because their senses are inhibited. They're not thinking clearly... and so they do things that are harmful. Either to themselves or to people they have contact with.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And the same goes for drugs or anything else that inhibits right thinking. To drink or do drugs until you don't know who you're hurting or what you're doing... just causes pain... both to you, and to everyone around you. Your drunkenness becomes your own punishment.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 13:11-14</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Luke 21:34-36</em></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 23</em></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “They take bribes to let the wicked go free, and they punish the innocent.”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So in reading this statement... I was reminded of law enforcement.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Law enforcement officers are in place to help you. While yes they do give you speeding tickets etc., they do so as a check to your impulses and for the safety of yourself and other drivers. Their job is to protect you from yourself and others from you and vice versa.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, if these officers start taking bribes to let you off from speeding, or for domestic violence calls, or drug charges, or whatever it is... eventually, you're going to really do some damage to someone... and then... it's on their hands. It's their fault that innocent people suffer if they don't do their jobs.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Or maybe these particular officials needed to have someone to take the blame... so they took the bribe, let the guilty guy off, and had an innocent man take the punishment for the guilty one.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- James 4:17 says: “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Proverbs 17:15</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 94:20-23</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Micah 3:8-12</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- James 5:1-6</em></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 24</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Therefore, just as fire licks up stubble and dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will rot and their flowers wither. For they have rejected the law of the Lord of Heaven's Armies; they have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. That is why the Lord's anger burns against His people, and why He has raised His fist to crush them. The mountains tremble, and the corpses of His people litter the streets like garbage. But even then the Lord's anger is not satisfied. His fist is still poised to strike! He will send a signal to distant nations far away and whistle to those at the ends of the earth. They will come racing towards Jerusalem. They will not get tired or stumble. They will not stop for rest or sleep. Not a belt will be loose, not a sandal strap broken. Their arrows will be sharp and their bows ready for battle. Sparks will fly from their horses' hooves, and the wheels of their chariots will spin like a whirlwind. They will roar like lions, like the strongest of lions. Growling, they will pounce on their victims and carry them off, and no one will be there to rescue them. They will roar over their victims on that day of destruction like the roaring of the sea. If someone looks across the land, only darkness and distress will be seen; even the light will be darkened by clouds.”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Because they have rejected the Lord as God and King... their destruction will follow. Many times God held back His anger and gave them another chance to change their ways... many times did He send warnings to them... and many times did they turn away in scorn.</em></span></div><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So now destruction is their just dessert.</em></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Deuteronomy 28, God lists over the blessings that Israel will receive for their obedience... and the destruction that will come if they rebel against Him. Part of this conversation is quoted in the above verses from Isaiah. “The Lord will bring a distant nation against you from the end of the earth, and it will swoop down on you like a vulture. It is a nation whose language you do not understand, a fierce and heartless nation that shows no respect for the old and no pity for the young.” (vs. 49-50)</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Some of the things about the nation who is coming relates back to Israel's own history. Like the sandal straps not being broken. In Deuteronomy 29:5, Moses reminds the people of this: “For forty years I led you through the wilderness, yet your clothes and sandals did not wear out.”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah 40:28-31 says: “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Luke 12:35-40, Jesus is talking about being prepared for when He comes again, and He says “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let Him in the moment He arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for His return will be rewarded.... You also must be ready all the time...”</em></span></div><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Basically... the enemy that God sends after Israel will be prepared. They will be ready for anything. They will be coming with the blessings that Israel SHOULD have had... if they had listened to God. They will run and not grow weary. Their clothing will be lasting for the battle. They will have... good fortune in battle so to speak. Not necessarily because God is WITH them... but more because He is no longer protecting Israel because of their continued rebellion.</em></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Thus... Israel's rejection of God... will lead to their destruction.</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Just as our rejection of God will lead to our destruction. But ours won't be an exile to another nation... ours will be an eternal separation from communion with God...</em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Joel 2</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 4:1-6:30</em></span></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-41188296147333403532012-03-18T18:40:00.000-04:002012-03-18T18:40:20.600-04:00Isaiah Chapter 5:8-19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 5:8-19 </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 8-12 </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “What sorrow for you who buy up house after house and field after field until everyone is evicted and you live alone in the land. But I have heard the Lord of Heaven's Armies swear a solemn oath: 'Many houses will stand deserted; even beautiful mansions will be empty. Ten acres of vineyard will not produce even six gallons of wine. Ten baskets of seed will yield only one basket of grain.' What sorrow for those who get up early in the morning looking for a drink of alcohol and spend long evenings drinking wine to make themselves flaming drunk. They furnish wine and lovely music at their grand parties—lyre and harp, tambourine and flute—but they never think about the Lord or notice what He is doing.” </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “In this section (8-25) God condemns six sins:</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> 1. exploiting others</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> 2. drunkenness</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> 3. taking pride in sin</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> 4. confusing moral standards</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> 5. being conceited</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> 6. perverting justice. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> Because of these sins, God punished Israel with destruction by Assyria. A similar fate was awaiting Judah if they didn't turn from these sins.” </em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Judah was becoming greedy and selfish. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The buying up of land around them was something they weren't supposed to do to their brothers. In Leviticus 25, the law was given that if you sold land to someone else whether to a tribal member or to someone else, then the seller was to keep the right to redeem the land back later. Or in the year of jubilee (which came every 50 years) the land would revert back to the original family owners. They weren't supposed to keep it for forever. They technically weren't buying the land itself. Verse 16 says “after all, the person selling the land is actually selling you a certain number of harvests.” They were buying the right to harvest the land for the number of years until the family could redeem it, or it reverted back at the time of Jubilee. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Land laws were set up so that the land never left the possession of the tribal family or the family that the land was allotted to. Everybody got a fair portion and had the ability to care for their families. Nobody could be homeless with these laws. They provided a consistent place for each family to reside.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Leviticus 26, God said: “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land. I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land. In fact, you will chase down your enemies and slaughter them with your swords.... I will look favorably upon you, making you fertile and multiplying your people. And I will fulfill my covenant with you. You will have such a surplus of crops that you will need to clear out the old grain to make room for the new harvest! I will live among you, and I will not despise you. I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be My people.” </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This was the promise... However, Israel walked away... and although God tried many times to change their minds and get them back on the right path, they persisted in their sin. So they were taken into captivity and their cities were destroyed. They were so scattered that by the time of Jesus, the tribes of Israel had been swallowed up and they became known as the Samaritans rather than as children of Israel. They had intermarried enough that their past heritage was lost...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Judah is following that same path. They have turned away from the decrees of God and broken the covenant that they made with Him.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Hence the land will be deserted. The things that have strove to build up around them... will be taken away. All their many acres of crop land... will not produce even a tenth of what it's supposed to.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Judah has started looking to their own pleasures instead following the decrees of God. When it talks about those who get up early looking for alcohol and then spend all evening drinking... and having grand parties with great entertainment for them. Worried more about their daily pleasures than anything else... it says that they never think about the Lord or notice what He's doing.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - They have blinded themselves to God and all the things of God.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Philippians 3:18-19 says: “....there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Colossians 3 warns us that we are to look to the things of heaven and stay focused on Christ rather than on earthly things.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.... So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.” (vs. 1-10)</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As Christians, we are to avoid lifestyles that pull us away from God... or that will make us focus on earthly things as opposed to heavenly things.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Judah was long past the pulling away stage. They were entirely focused on the things of this earth. From their waking up, to their laying down again... from morning til night... totally focused on themselves.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “These people spent many hours drinking and partying, but Isaiah predicted that eventually many would die of hunger and thirst. Ironically, our pleasures—if they do not have God's blessing—may destroy us. Leaving God out of our lives allows sin to come in. Pursuing our own pleasure while ignoring or exploiting the needs of others leaves us empty and under God's anger. God wants us to enjoy life (I Timothy 6:17) but to avoid those activities that could lead us away from Him.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 1:18-2:16</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> vs. 13-17</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “So my people will go into exile far away because they do not know Me. Those who are great and honored will starve, and the common people will die of thirst. The grave is licking its lips in anticipation, opening its mouth wide. The great and the lowly and all the drunken mob will be swallowed up. Humanity will be destroyed, and people brought down; even the arrogant will lower their eyes in humiliation. But the Lord of Heaven's Armies will be exalted by His justice. The holiness of God will be displayed by His righteousness. In that day lambs will find good pastures, and fattened sheep and young goats will feed among the ruins.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Because Judah no longer knows her God... because she has walked away from the husband of her heart... He will send her away into exile.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Have you ever heard the term “gold digger”? It refers to women who seek to marry men for their money... and then usually divorce them soon after if they can get away with it... or marry old men who the woman is hoping will die soon so that she can get all of his money...the last few years there has been a lot of young girls getting pregnant by old men on social security so their children will have the social security benefits!</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Judah had become that kind of wife. She was using God for His provisions... but not really loving Him for who He was. They had ceased to know God for Himself.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hebrews 3:5-4:7</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I've been reading a book by A. W. Tozer, “The Knowledge of the Holy.” He says that “[a]mong the sins to which the human heart is prone, hardly any other is more hateful to God than idolatry, for idolatry is at bottom a libel on His character. The idolatrous heart assumes that God is other than He is—in itself a monstrous sin—and substitutes for the true God one made after its own likeness. Always this God will conform to the image of the one who created it and will be base or pure, cruel or kind, according to the moral state of the mind from which it emerges.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In their minds they had made God into something that fit their idea of the kind of god that they wanted to have... one who wouldn't discipline them... one who wouldn't care if they sinned... one that would let things slide... one who would bless them no matter what they did...one who created them and therefore accepted all their “faults.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - And in doing so, they began to ignore the voice of God and the things they KNEW to be true about God... They forgot the past... or said that God had changed...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This happens with us today as well... We change our mindset about God and in effect, change who He is to us... except that He hasn't changed... He is unchanging... everlasting...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - James 1:17 says: “He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” and Hebrews 13:8 says: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God doesn't change.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - I don't know how many times I've heard “Well... that's the God of the Old Testament... God's not like that any more...” or “God's getting older... He's getting soft in His old age.” or “God's out of date and He knows it so He's just letting us drift through because He knows He can't keep up with the times.'”God has gray areas for those special circumstances.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Seriously? I don't think so! GOD DOES NOT CHANGE! He's the SAME! So His thoughts on sin haven't changed. Just as He was going to expel Israel from the land because of their unbelief, so will He turn aside from us if we continually walk away. Just as He punished their sin, so will He punish ours. Just as their nation fell when their sin grew to huge proportions, so will our nations fall because of their sin. </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God hasn't changed... no matter how many centuries have passed...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - If we walk away and refuse to know God as Himself... His reaction to us... will be the same as it was to Israel... </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Malachi 3:6</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Samuel 15:28-29</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Numbers 23:19</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Romans 11:1-36</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Ephesians 5:1-20</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Colossians 3:1-17</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 18-19</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them with ropes made of lies, who drag wickedness behind them like a cart! They even mock God and say, 'Hurry up and do something! We want to see what you can do. Let the Holy One of Israel carry out His plan; for we want to know what it is.'” </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Dragging sin and wickedness... pulling it with you wherever you go... the burdens we carry...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But it's not just that... it's that the sin and wickedness are displayed for all to see... it's not just in their hearts... they're taking it around with them everywhere! It's infected every area of their lives...(and everyone around them ).</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So whether they are dragging them around with guilty burdens... or whether they are flaunting them for all to see with pride in their sins... they are still carrying them around... maybe the lies are covering them up... or maybe the lies are what they tell themselves... maybe they keep telling themselves that they're alright... that there's no reason to repent. Maybe it's that kind of lie... </em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - And then they have the audacity to command God?! This echoes of the moment at the cross when they asked Jesus to prove that He was the Son of God by coming down off the cross. “Prove your existence and THEN we'll believe in you. When you prove that you are powerful... when you prove that you are worth following... THEN we'll follow...” But had He not already proved Himself?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God has proved His existence a hundred times over... He has proven His love for us as His creation... and yet... we continue to throw up to God this command of “prove yourself.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - I was reading a book by Lee Stroebel last week called “A Case for a Creator.” He had a couple of quotes from different scientists that went a little like “even though I'm an atheist I have to admit the probable existence of something outside the universe as creator.”</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - In His creation, God has proclaimed His presence and His greatness.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Through Christ's sacrifice, He has proven that He will do whatever it takes to save us... because He loves us THAT much. He loved us enough to come to earth and bear all the pain and humiliation... just for us... just for our sake.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - So why the hold up? Why do we still ask God to prove Himself?</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Well partly because our human minds just can't comprehend the incomprehensible... to rationalize God is to put Him into human terms and human boxes... and He doesn't fit... so therefore, our minds just can't wrap around the idea that is God.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - and partly, I think it comes down to our rebelling human nature. We want an excuse not to follow.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - I had a friend once who told me that when God came down and sat in his living room and told him that He was real and living and wanted him to follow... then he would... but until then... he wasn't going to follow some God that wouldn't talk to him or prove his existence...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - That's not how God works... He who seeks... finds... He who doesn't seek... won't find. God doesn't reveal Himself to people who don't care to listen. If you read through the gospels, you will find that God told the Pharisees the truth... He told them exactly Who He was... but it was with His disciples that He sat down to explain the parables and His teachings... not to the Pharisees...</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Luke 8:4-18</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Mark 7:1-23; 10:1-12</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - Matthew 13:1-52; 15:1-20</em></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The gospel does go forth... and people do come to tell you about God... but God is not going to force Himself on you... and He's not going to throw His pearls before swine... He's not going to open Himself up for interpretation and explanation to someone who is just going to toss it aside as nothing. </em></span></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However... to a ready and willing heart... the seeker... will find.</em></span></div><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> - “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)</em></span> </div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-15310273158697460912012-03-11T15:33:00.002-04:002012-03-11T15:33:35.310-04:00Isaiah Chapter 5 (part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></em><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Isaiah Chapter 5:5-7 </span></em><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">vs. 5</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- “Now let me tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will tear down its hedges and let it be destroyed. I will break down its walls and let the animals trample it.”</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Last week we talked about how Israel rejected God as husbandman. They took all of His provisions for granted and eventually, they decided not to accept any of them at all. They wanted God to still be their protector, their provider, etc. But they didn't want to have to serve Him in any way in return. They wanted to “have their cake and eat it too”, so to speak. They didn't want to have to give up their fleshly pleasure seeking in order to keep God on their side. </span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- In verse 4, God said “What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done?” God did EVERYTHING for them. And they turned away from Him in scorn.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- So now, He will take away His protection. He will tear down the walls of fortification. He will tear down the hedges.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- The Targum says "and now I will declare to you what I will do to my people; I will cause my Shechinah, or Majesty, to remove from them, and they shall be for a spoil; and I will break down the house of their sanctuary, and they shall be for treading.''</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- God was removing His presence from the people of Israel because of their unbelief. </span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- A footnote on this verse in “Gills Exposition of the Entire Bible” says that the punishment was going to come “for abusing what they had received.” They were given good gifts... and they used and abused them... and then threw them aside like a child who is tired of the newest toy. They then went in search of the next new fun thing to quell their appetites for a time... They put themselves on the throne and refused to accept God's Lordship over them as a people.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- In effect, they signed their fate. By removing God's protection, they invited their destruction.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Have you ever had a garden? Small animals that get into gardens are annoying... They sometimes eat just enough of something to make it unusable. Or cows... ugh. They get in and walk all over everything. They sometimes don't even really eat much... they just get in and walk everywhere. And deer are just as bad. They walk on things and eat as much as they possibly can. </span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- One year, we had skunks in the garden. They were after the corn. Well we put electric fence up to stop them from getting in. They got into the fence and of course it shocked them and then they got mad... What they didn't tear down or eat, they sprayed. NOTHING was edible.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- What little fruit that will bear, will not be for their sustenance... they will be providing food for other nations. Even small insignificant nations will be able to have their part in the destruction and ransacking of Israel. Whether it's the trampling, the beating down of a nation of people, or whether it's the siphoning off of all their resources and abilities... Everybody will take a little part.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- II Chronicles 36:11-21</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Ezekiel 17:1-24</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">vs. 6</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- “I will make it a wild place where the vines are not pruned and the ground is not hoed, a place overgrown with briers and thorns. I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it.”</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- The ground will become overgrown. Weeds will grow up to strangle the good vines.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- If you've ever had a garden, you'll know that the weeds will literally kill the other plants. They take up space and their roots will fight for space. They will literally strangle the other plants in their conquest of the garden space. If nothing else, they will grow faster than the good plants and cover them over so that they receive less sunlight and rain. It is necessary for a gardener to keep the weeds cleared out for the health of the other plants.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Pruning. Pruning is the process of systematically cutting away the parts of the vine that are not bearing fruit. If the vine is allowed to branch off in any way it likes with as many tendrils as it likes, then the nutrients and sap of the vine goes towards making vines, rather than making fruit. And even if you only leave the fruit bearing vines, if you have too many of them, then your fruit will not become all that it could... it will be smaller, less juicy, and less tasty because the sap will be more spread out among the clusters of grapes.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Wow what an analogy. When Jesus uses the vine as a parable in John... He talks about pruning.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” (John 15:1-8)</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Notice... when we produce MUCH fruit, we become true disciples... well in order to produce much fruit... we're going to have to be pruned down. Which means that all of our extra non-fruit bearing parts... need to be cut off... gotten rid of... Like... oh... Lust. Covetousness. Slothfulness. Hatred. Gossip. Anger. Etc.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- To be true disciples, we're going to have to get rid of the things that bind us to our sinful lives. Hebrews says “let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.” (Hebrews 12:1)</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- The Israelites refused to allow the Husbandman to prune away their sins. So now, their sins will abound. Their vines will run wild. Their branches will grow wherever they like... without direction, without purpose, without reason. </span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Can you imagine the picture of this place?</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Vineyards always have rows of latticed vines. They grow in their place and there's enough room so that you can get between the rows to pick the fruit. There's room for the sun to shine on the lower fruit. But now... the vines are growing anywhere they please. What was a nice, neat, orderly vineyard, has become a mass of intertwined vines. And growing in, around, and through the mess of vines, are briers and thorns...The weeds and brush that have started to come up. It creates a place so dense that you can't get from one side to the other... you have to go around. What little fruit there is, can't be used, because it can't be reached. The animals may be able to get to it... but nothing else will reach it.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- The true life, the true virtue of the vine... is lost amidst the jungle of purposeless growth.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- This verse also talks about the ground not being hoed.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Now our garden, has really hard ground. We live in a place that abounds with clay dirt. When we plant our beans for example, we sow A LOT of them REALLY close together... because otherwise, they won't be able to break through the soil. Instead, the plant will start to grow... and then break off before it makes it through the surface. But there are strength in numbers and as a group, they can break through the topsoil. </span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Hoeing the ground helps break up the dirt so that the roots will grow deep and so that the water can more easily get to the roots of the plant. In addition, generally when hoeing, you hoe OUT the weeds away from the plants.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Without preparing the ground, some plants can have a really hard time growing. Their roots won't go deep enough. They won't get the water they need. Or the sun will come out hot and they will wither because of their lack of roots.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- But Israel was refusing to plow up their hard ground. In chapter 4, Jeremiah warned the people of Judah and Jerusalem to “plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns. O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord, or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.” (verses 3 and 4)</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- And now... the rain stops... “I will command the clouds to drop no rain on it.” No more provision. No more life in the land. The land will lie dead. The crops will turn to dust. The earth will cry for water, but none will come. Though they become desperate... God will not turn back to them, for in their hearts, they have rejected Him. And even though they cry out to Him... it is not out of repentant hearts... He is just a means to an end...</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- In Hosea 8 God said “Now Israel pleads with me, 'Help us, for You are our God!' But it is too late. The people of Israel have rejected what is good, and now their enemies will chase after them. The people have appointed kings without my consent, and princes without my knowledge. By making idols for themselves from their silver and gold, they have brought about their own destruction.... They have planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind. The stalks of grain wither and produce nothing to eat. And even if there is any grain, foreigners will eat it.... Israel has built many altars to take away sin, but these very altars became places for sinning! Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws don't apply to them. The people of Israel love their rituals of sacrifice, but to me their sacrifices are all meaningless. I will hold my people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them.... Israel has forgotten its Maker and built great palaces, and Judah has fortified its cities. Therefore, I will send down fire on their cities and will burn up their fortresses.”</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- In Job 35, Elihu is reminding Job of God's justice... “People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty. Yet they don't ask, 'where is God my Creator, the One who gives me songs in the night? Where is the One who makes us smarter than the animals and wiser than the birds of the sky?' And when they cry out, God does not answer because of their pride. But it is wrong to say the Almighty isn't concerned. You say you can't see Him, but He will bring justice if you will only wait.”</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- And in chapter 36, Elihu continues his defense of God's character... “If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant. But if they refuse to listen to Him, they will be killed by the sword and die from lack of understanding. For the godless are full of resentment. Even when He punishes them, they refuse to cry out to Him for help. They die when they are young, after wasting their lives in immoral living. But by means of their suffering, He rescues those who suffer. For He gets their attention through adversity.”</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Israel could have called out. But in their pride... they refused. As Elihu pointed out... if they had listened and obeyed God... then they would have been blessed... but because they rebelled... they will be punished. I love that it says that “He gets their attention through adversity.” He tried to turn their hearts and minds back to Him... but instead... they continued on their path of rebellion. So NOW that they cry out... it is too late. They have rebelled too long, they have mocked God too much. Now, God in His justice, must deal out punishment. God does not compromise His morals or His values... His justice... is unbending. </span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- However, God does not turn a deaf ear to a sincere heart... In Luke 18:7, Jesus said “So don't you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?”</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- So can we repent? Sure... God sees our hearts. He knows what our motives are. And if we truly turn to Him with repentant hearts... He will answer us. But in our pride... if we call out... but refuse to change our ways... If our hearts are still clinging to the old man... then God knows that. God knows if we are calling out just for handouts... or if we really do want to learn the trade and become an apprentice to the walk.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Amos 9:8-15</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Jeremiah 12:1-15:21</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">vs. 7</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- “The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord of Heaven's Armies. The people of Judah are His pleasant garden. He expected a crop of justice, but instead He found oppression. He expected to find righteousness, but instead He heard cries of violence.”</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- You reap what you sow right? God planted good things... and He expected good things to grow... but instead... when He went to harvest His garden... He got the opposites of what He had planted.</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Does your fruit reflect the seed? Are you tainting your fruit with your lifestyle? Or your attitude? Are you growing fruit on unpruned vines? What kind of change does God ask of your heart?</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Jeremiah 34:8-22; 6:1-30</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Isaiah 30:1-33</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Romans 7:4-6</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Matthew 3:4-12</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Mark 4:13-25</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Luke 8:4-18</span></em></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><em><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">- Ezekiel 22:1-31</span></em></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-74405224751347651142012-03-04T19:14:00.002-05:002012-03-04T19:14:32.525-05:00Isaiah Chapter 5 (part 1)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 5</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-4</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>THE VINEYARD</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Now I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a rich and fertile hill. He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah is singing about the one he loves... God...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God had a vineyard... Israel. He moved them to a rich land. Remember when they were getting ready to move into the Promised Land?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Exodus 3:8, God is speaking to Moses about going to Egypt to free the Israelites. “So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey...”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God brought His people to this fertile land... In Numbers 13, the scouts went into the land to see what it held for them. “...They cut down a branch with a single cluster of grapes so large that it took two of them to carry it on a pole between them!...” (vs. 23)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Can you imagine? Good grief! Those are some massive grapes! But... point being... the land was incredibly fertile. Great things were growing here. All the Israelites had to do was walk in and take over.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- John 15:1-17</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>PREPARATION</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “He plowed the land, cleared its stones, and planted it with the best vines....” </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God prepared the land for them. When Israel went in to conquer the land, they moved into already built cities and already plowed fields. God went before them and cleared all the oppositions from their path. Every time they prayed, they won the battle... with little to no loss of Israelite life.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- 40 years prior to Israel actually entering the land, they were brought to the place to enter in... And instead, they turned away in fear. So for 40 years, they wandered in a circle in the wilderness.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But when it came back around again, those that went up, were a new generation, with ready and willing hearts. They were the “best vines” Grown in the adversity of the desert, and brought up under the tuition of the law.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 4:3-4</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>WATCHTOWER</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “...In the middle he built a watchtower and carved a winepress in the nearby rocks. Then He waited for a harvest of sweet grapes, but the grapes that grew were bitter.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This section... really brings a lot of this home...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The watchtower could be the prophets and the kings... There to watch over God's people. Or it could be God's presence since the tabernacle was set up in the middle of the camp all the time. Or it could be looking forward to Christ.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Whatever it is... it is someone who is keeping watch over the vineyard. Someone is there to sound the alarm when danger approaches. (Which really makes me think of the prophets warning of future destruction...)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The winepress... Oh boy... The crushing and bruising of the fruit of the vineyard in order to make a new product...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This could refer to the tribulations that Israel would face... a nation being made into the kind of people God wanted.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, Isaiah 53:5 rings more true for me here.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The fruit of Israel crushed and beaten so a new covenant could be formed...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jesus has been called “the rock of our salvation.” The winepress carved into the rocks.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Rocks are foundational. Jesus was also called the cornerstone. The stone whereby the entire structure's building was dictated.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Carved into the law and the prophets. A place made in the foundations of the faith, for the creation of the new covenant.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- All this preparation for this great work... all so that there could be fruit among the lives of the Israelites.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Mark 12, Jesus speaks of the vineyard again.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head. The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, until there was only one left—his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son. 'But the tenant farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!' So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard. What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do? I'll tell you—he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others...” (vs. 1-9)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God did EVERYTHING for his vineyard...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>WHAT MORE?</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Now, you people of Jerusalem and Judah, you judge between me and my vineyard. What more could I have done for my vineyard that I have not already done? When I expected sweet grapes, why did my vineyard give me bitter grapes?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But alas, all that grew were bitter grapes. God kept waiting on something great, something wonderful to grow in the vineyard that He had literally given everything for... He had created the perfect environment. The perfect pathway to an abundant harvest. The whole process was created specifically to His purpose. But to no avail. The harvest was still bitter. Unusable for the new product.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel continually turned away from God. Continually looked to something else for their strength and help.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In the Mark verse, it says they wanted the estate for themselves. They didn't want to have someone over them... they wanted to do their own thing.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I was reading a book by A.W. Tozer this week... “The Knowledge of the Holy.” I want to share just a little part of it here.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- It was talking about how we as created beings are totally dependent upon our Creator because we owe our very existence to Him. Whereas He as an uncreated Being... owes nothing to anyone or anything.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “In this utter dependence of all things upon the creative will of God lies the possibility for both holiness and sin. One of the marks of God's image in man is his ability to exercise moral choice. The teaching of Christianity is that man chose to be independent of God and confirmed his choice by deliberately disobeying a divine command. This act violated the relationship that normally existed between God and His creature; it rejected God as the ground of existence and threw man back upon himself. Thereafter he became not a planet revolving around the central Sun, but a sun in his own right, around which everything else must revolve.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In doing so, man put himself, ABOVE God. “Sin has many manifestations but its essence is one. A moral being, created to worship before the throne of God, sits on the throne of his Selfhood and from that elevated position declares 'I AM.'”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The nation of Israel basically dethroned God and placed themselves on the throne instead. They cut themselves off from the vine. The God to which they owed everything! Even to their very existence! They threw to the wayside and instead... started to focus on Self. What THEY wanted... what THEY thought they needed. How great THEY were.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The God who had given them everything, was discarded as a child would discard a toy they have grown tired of. And God... is not to be regarded in such a light manner.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>CHRIST</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So now... what about you?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ's coming has perfectly plowed the path for you to follow. The ground is cleared of all obstacles for your salvation. Nothing to hold you back. He has provided all the nutrients and sustenance you need.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He's provided a watchtower over you. The Holy Spirit that comes to indwell in you. It is a check to your conscience and a guide for your life. That still, small voice that whispers direction to your soul.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ was crushed and bruised for YOU. He bled it all out and died so He could found the new covenant with you.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel rejected God... they killed his son... so now, the doors are opened to a new people. He will lease His vineyard to new workers... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And now... all the conditions are perfect... and He's waiting... What kind of fruit will you produce?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Will you reject the warnings from the watchtower? Will you turn away from the pruning of the husbandman? Will your fruit be unusable because you have rejected the nutrients provided for you?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What kind of fruit will your vine bear? God knows what kind of fruit we CAN become. We have a choice as to where we put down our roots. What kind of nourishment we accept from Him and how much we take from places that will destroy our growth potential. He has a place for each of us in the big scheme of things... but will we fill our piece of His puzzle?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hebrews 9:1-10:18</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 3:21-28</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Luke 13:6-9</em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-90024944384418619412012-02-26T18:43:00.000-05:002012-02-26T18:43:08.544-05:00Isaiah Chapter 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 4</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “In that day so few men will be left that seven women will fight for each man, saying, “Let us all marry you! We will provide our own food and clothing. Only let us take your name so we won't be mocked as old maids.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This is a continuation of the previous chapter. (I really should have put it in with chapter 3.) In the day that Jerusalem is humbled, and her warriors and soldiers are killed, then will there be a shortage of men. So, many women will throw themselves at one man begging to marry him.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- According to Hebrew tradition, a woman who was not married or who was childless, was considered as disgraced. Think of Hannah when she went to the temple to beg for a child. Or Sarah in her old age, still without a child. Or Rachel when she finally had a child as well as her sister. When Rachel gave birth to Joseph, she said “God has removed by disgrace.” (Genesis 30:22-24)</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In that day, following this destruction of men, the women weren't going to wait around on the perfect man... they're latching on to the first available warm body they can find. The KJV says that they will “take hold of one man.” As in... grab him and hold onto him until he responds to their request.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Exodus 21, the people were given laws regarding slaves. “If a man who has married a slave wife takes another wife for himself, he must not neglect the rights of the first wife to food, clothing, and sexual intimacy. If he fails in any of these three obligations, she may leave as a free woman without making any payments.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So the lowest of wives... the slave wife, was still to be given her basic needs. These women in Isaiah, are so desperate for a husband, that they are giving up their natural, assumed rights in order to gain the husband. They are willing to feed and clothe themselves, as long as they are free from the disgrace of being single.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- To be so desperate to be aligned with something that you're willing to give up your basic rights. Woooooooooooo! Is there ever a sermon there...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- A family friend came over last night and he was just sitting and telling stories about hanging out with his friends... and I noticed a trend... Just about every story he had about some scrape that they got themselves into started with, “Hey buddy! Let's go do _______!” “Nah, I don't know if that's a good idea...” “Oh come on! Chicken!” “So then we went and did _____________.” And generally it ended badly... lol Or at least with some truck or 4-wheeler or something having a few more dents than previously... </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So we started kinda laughing at him about his giving in so easily to peer pressure...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ah the need to belong. Now, my friend isn't so desperate to belong as apparently these women are... but the idea is the same.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We as humans have a desire to be a part of something. We have within us a longing to be given a part. Meaning within a society. We want to be praised for doing things well. We want to see a reason to be accepted. We need to feel that we are part of a living organism that is growing and moving because we are a part of it.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We have this need to be loved and accepted that just... consumes us if it's not met. We change our dress, we change our hair, we change the way we talk... We would change our very chemical make-up if it would mean that it would impress certain people in our life, or if it would mean that we would fit more of what someone else wanted in us.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- My cousin has changed her hair color... who knows how many times. She has random piercings... She went and got a tattoo a few months ago... She wears the clothes that she thinks are most in style. She even went and bought a little dog because some celebrity was carrying around a dog in her purse and she thought it was the greatest idea ever.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So this week... she got her tongue pierced... because she thought it would make her that much more cool... except that she thinks it's infected... (way to go...) and her tongue's so swollen that she's speaking with a lovely lisp on everything... it makes her sound like she's trying to imitate her 4-year-old sister. </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In order to be accepted... we will go to all kinds of lengths... even ones that are possibly detrimental to our health or life.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If the society in which we are seeking acceptance asks it of us... we will do all kinds of crazy stuff.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So what does Christ say about all this? What does this mean within a Christian society?</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Does Christ ask us to change ourselves to fit into His society?</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah 55 says: “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink—even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk—it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.... Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near. Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He didn't say “are the Jews thirsty?” or “are the rich thirsty?” or “are the good people thirsty?” He said “ANYONE.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When Christ gave the invitation to join His family, He didn't put conditions on it. You don't have to be good to come. You don't have to be pretty. You don't have to have money. You can be the lowest of the lowest scum of humanity, and Christ will welcome you in with open arms. You don't have to change anything to initially come to Him.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, once you come, He'll start to change some things.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Have you ever read “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Bronte? There's one part when Catherine and Heathcliff are kids. They are wild children. No parents around. They do whatever they like. Generally causing all kinds of mischief. So this time, they ran to the Linton's house to peek in their windows and see how the neighbors lived. They'd been running through the moors. Catherine had lost her shoes in the moor, they were most likely covered in mud etc... And then Catherine gets her ankle bit by the guard dog.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The Linton's take her in and clean her up and keep her for a month or more until her ankle is completely healed. When she comes back... that wild child is nearly gone. She comes back prim and proper. Dressed in nice clothes and concerned about how she looks. Gone is the girl who liked nothing better than to run through the swampy grass with her friend. Arrived is young lady... with combed and curled hair and shoes on her feet... </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Her environment was so different with the Linton's that she changed during her short stay with them. They were more refined. So she started to become refined herself.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God does the same thing with us. When He takes us in, He doesn't let us in the door and then go... “hmmm... okay yeah, THIS... just isn't working for me... first, you're going to bathe and put on these new clothes, don't get them dirty... ever... Next you're going to cut your hair. Then we have GOT to work on your speech... you'll never make it in this world with that grammar... and we really need to sit down and talk about proper public etiquette. Everything about you is atrocious... we have to change it... NOW.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ takes us as we are... and then lets the influence of His Spirit and the godly people around us start to work a change in our hearts. Sure, we become a new creation at the moment that we walk across that threshold and say “Yes” to all that Christ has for us... But that's a new heart... not a new body.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our outside appearance and our old habits have to gradually change. I've met new Christians who haven't yet been convicted about their language... they still slip up every now and again without thinking about it... because it's not something that God has worked out in their life yet. Or new Christians who haven't been convicted about their smoking habits, or their drinking habits...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, I've also met new Christians who were so ready for God to move, that when they got saved, they literally dropped everything... language, drinking, drugs... but then other struggles came up... just like they do with all of us.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Just because we've been at this for a while, doesn't mean we're done. We're not perfect. There's always something else in our lives that God can chisel at to make us into a creation that more resembles Him.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But being good to start with, or looking good on the outside, does absolutely nothing to sway His opinion of us when we come. Because He doesn't look at that... He looks at the heart.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In I Chronicles 28:9, David told Solomon, “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve Him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I John 2:15-3:24</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So in summation... (cause I feel like I'm going to get off topic here in a minute or two...)</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we ever feel ourselves in a place of desperation so much that we are willing to throw away all of our basic needs... including our salvation, for the sake of fitting in to the societal norms, or a certain set of people... something is wrong...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And secondly, God accepts us as we are... and then starts to show us how to make changes in our lives to make our lives a reflection of His. So we should never feel like we have to somehow manage to achieve perfection on our own in order to come to the place of initial salvation.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Thirdly, as for being so desperate to align ourselves with Christ... what are you willing to give up? All Christ asks us to give up is our bondage to another ruler... The ruler of this world... All we have to do is surrender and change our alliance. Christ will take care of the rest. Instead of asking us to give up our rights, He's asking us to come to GAIN heir ship rights with Him. To give up our slave rights... and become a citizen, free from bondage. </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Will it be an easy road? No. Not necessarily... but is it worth it? OOOOOOOOOOh yeah... </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 2</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “But in that day, the branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious; the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel. All who remain in Zion will be a holy people—those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem ad are recorded among the living. The Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains with the hot breath of fiery judgment. Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Understanding that Isaiah is oftentimes a three-fold prophesy, (for his time, for the time of Christ, and for the future post-advent.) this section has been giving me problems. So we'll see what comes out of it...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Zechariah 3:8 it says that “Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.” In 6:12-13, it says, “Tell him, “This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies says: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where He is and build the Temple of the Lord. Yes, He will build the Temple of the Lord. Then He will receive royal honor and will rule as king from His throne. He will also serve as priest from His throne, and there will be perfect harmony between His two roles.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Who else would be named a king and a priest but Christ? In no other person in the bible are those two things combined... except maybe Melchizedek. Who was said to be a type of Christ. </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So in that day... what day? The day following the humbling of Jerusalem. The day when all that they looked to for their help is taken away and only God is left to them... In THAT day, Christ will grow up to be beautiful and glorious.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This could mean the time that Christ came. The Jews were under Roman rule and oppression. They were beaten down. There was no hope. And THEN Christ comes to grow up amongst them. The fruit of the land... Christ... will be the pride and glory of all who survive in Israel.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now, when it talks about branching out to build the Temple of the Lord... He is branching out to the Gentiles to build the CHURCH. He brought the gospel and He died to save the world. He is building a CHURCH founded on His sacrifice... and it's not just for the Jews. He's branching out to the other nations as well.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Luke 4, Jesus stands up to speak in the synagogue in His home town of Nazareth. He reads a messianic prophecy from Isaiah and then says that this scripture is fulfilled today.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The people start to talk... they've been hearing all these stories about the works that Jesus has started to do in other towns... but then comes the question... “Isn't this Joseph's son?”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And Jesus... in some ways I think makes a statement that is a match to tinder... But it proves His intentions for the gentiles.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: 'Physician, heal yourself'—meaning, 'Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.' But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner—a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Wow... harsh words... But it was Israel's unbelief that led to the gospel being spread to the Gentiles.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Romans 11:28-32, it says: “Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people He loves because He chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For god's gifts and His call can never be withdrawn. Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against Him, God was merciful to you instead. Now they are rebels, and God's mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God's mercy. For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So, the gospel of Christ is going outward.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- verse 3 really bugged me. I was looking at previous times that Jerusalem had been destroyed and I stumbled upon this excerpt I think from a book... It's called “The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan” by Ellen G. White. (Who was a 7<sup>th</sup> Day Adventist writer... but I'm purely looking at the historical content... I'm not encouraging a wide-spread study of her writings... this particular article or excerpt explains a purpose... and I see nothing theologically out of place in this particular part.) </em></span><a href="http://christianbookshelf.org/white/the_great_controversy_between_christ_and_satan_/1_the_destruction_of_jerusalem.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://christianbookshelf.org/white/the_great_controversy_between_christ_and_satan_/1_the_destruction_of_jerusalem.htm</em></span></a></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- It talks about Christ coming and prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem... And how it came to pass about 40 years later...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “For nearly forty years after the doom of Jerusalem had been pronounced by Christ Himself, the Lord delayed His judgments upon the city and the nation. Wonderful was the long-suffering of God toward the rejecters of His gospel and the murderers of His Son. The parable of the unfruitful tree represented God's dealings with the Jewish nation. The command had gone forth, "Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?"(37) but divine mercy had spared it yet a little longer. There were still many among the Jews who were ignorant of the character and the work of Christ. And the children had not enjoyed the opportunities or received the light which their parents had spurned. Through the preaching of the apostles and their associates, God would cause light to shine upon them; they would be permitted to see how prophecy had been fulfilled, not only in the birth and life of Christ, but in His death and resurrection. The children were not condemned for the sins of the parents; but when, with a knowledge of all the light given to their parents, the children rejected the additional light granted to themselves, they became partakers of the parents' sins, and filled up the measure of their iniquity.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>The long-suffering of God toward Jerusalem only confirmed the Jews in their stubborn impenitence. In their hatred and cruelty toward the disciples of Jesus, they rejected the last offer of mercy. Then God withdrew His protection from them, and removed His restraining power from Satan and his angels, and the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen. Her children had spurned the grace of Christ, which would have enabled them to subdue their evil impulses, and now these became the conquerors. Satan aroused the fiercest and most debased passions of the soul. Men did not reason; they were beyond reason,—controlled by impulse and blind rage. They became satanic in their cruelty. In the family and in the nation, among the highest and the lowest classes alike, there was suspicion, envy, hatred, strife, rebellion, murder. There was no safety anywhere. Friends and kindred betrayed one another. Parents slew their children and children their parents. The rulers of the people had no power to rule themselves. Uncontrolled passions made them tyrants. The Jews had accepted false testimony to condemn the innocent Son of God. Now false accusations made their own lives uncertain. By their actions they had long been saying, "Cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us."(38) Now their desire was granted. The fear of God no longer disturbed them. Satan was at the head of the nation, and the highest civil and religious authorities were under his sway. </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>The leaders of the opposing factions at times united to plunder and torture their wretched victims, and again they fell upon each others forces, and slaughtered without mercy. Even the sanctity of the temple could not restrain their horrible ferocity. The worshipers were stricken down before the altar, and the sanctuary was polluted with the bodies of the slain. Yet in their blind and blasphemous presumption the instigators of this hellish work publicly declared that they had no fear that Jerusalem would be destroyed, for it was God's own city. To establish their power more firmly, they bribed false prophets to proclaim, even while Roman legions were besieging the temple, that the people were to wait for deliverance from God. To the last, multitudes held fast to the belief that the Most High would interpose for the defeat of their adversaries. But Israel had spurned the divine protection, and now she had no defense. Unhappy Jerusalem! rent by internal dissensions, the blood of her children slain by one another's hands crimsoning her streets, while alien armies beat down her fortifications and slew her men of war! </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>All the predictions given by Christ concerning the destruction of Jerusalem were fulfilled to the letter. The Jews experienced the truth of His words of warning, "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."(39) </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Signs and wonders appeared, foreboding disaster and doom. In the midst of the night an unnatural light shone over the temple and the altar. Upon the clouds at sunset were pictured chariots and men of war gathering for battle. The priests ministering by night in the sanctuary were terrified by mysterious sounds; the earth trembled, and a multitude of voices were heard crying, "Let us depart hence." The great eastern gate, which was so heavy that it could hardly be shut by a score of men, and which was secured by immense bars of iron fastened deep in the pavement of solid stone, opened at midnight, without visible agency.(40) </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>For seven years a man continued to go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, declaring the woes that were to come upon the city. By day and by night he chanted the wild dirge, "A voice from the east! a voice from the west! a voice from the four winds! a voice against Jerusalem and against the temple! a voice against the bridegrooms and the brides! a voice against the whole people!" This strange being was imprisoned and scourged, but no complaint escaped his lips. To insult and abuse he answered only, "Woe, woe to Jerusalem!" "woe, woe to the inhabitants thereof!" His warning cry ceased not until he was slain in the siege he had foretold. </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem. Christ had given His disciples warning, and all who believed His words watched for the promised sign. "When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies," said Jesus, "then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out."(41)”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And that's the part that got me... NOT ONE CHRISTIAN PERISHED. Which brings us to verse 3. </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 3-4</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0.2in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “All who remain in Zion will be a holy people—those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem and are recorded among the living. And the Lord will wash the filth from beautiful Zion and cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains with the hot breath of fiery judgment. THEN the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there.” </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Bloodstains... not only of the blood of battle and war and conflict amongst themselves and with other peoples... but the blood that was on their own hands... HIS. The rejection of His Son. The rejection of His sacrifice so laid out for them... He would cleanse Jerusalem of its guilt... with judgment.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now... Fire...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Fire can either be destructive... or it can purify. Depending on what you're burning.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If Christ is burning as John the Baptist spoke in Luke 3... “Someone is coming Who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with His winnowing fork. Then He will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into His barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Two kinds of fire. The Holy Spirit and fire... the purifying kind... and the never-ending fire that will burn the useless chaff up.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In the case of the destruction of Jerusalem above... the fire that came was destructive. It burned out the chaff. Those who had rejected God... were sent out of the city or killed within it. They were purged from the city that God desires as His dwelling place.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Josephus writes the following about the destruction of the temple.</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Titus (according to Josephus) intended at first to save that magnificent work of architecture, as a trophy of victory, and perhaps from some superstitious fear; and when the flames threatened to reach the Holy of Holies he forced his way through flame and smoke, over the dead and dying, to arrest the fire. </em></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=2358921373746078615#1"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>[546]</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> But the destruction was determined by a higher decree. His own soldiers, roused to madness by the stubborn resistance, and greedy of the golden treasures, could not be restrained from the work of destruction. At first the halls around the temple were set on fire. Then a firebrand was hurled through the golden gate. When the flames arose the Jews raised a hideous yell and tried to put out the fire; while others, clinging with a last convulsive grasp to their Messianic hopes, rested in the declaration of a false prophet, that God in the midst of the conflagration of the Temple would give a signal for the deliverance of his people. The legions vied with each other in feeding the flames, and made the unhappy people feel the full force of their unchained rage. Soon the whole prodigious structure was in a blaze and illuminated the skies. It was burned on the tenth of August, a.d.70, the same day of the year on which, according to tradition, the first temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. "No one," says Josephus, "can conceive a louder, more terrible shriek than arose from all sides during the burning of the temple. The shout of victory and the jubilee of the legions sounded through the wailings of the people, now surrounded with fire and sword, upon the mountain, and throughout the city. The echo from all the mountains around, even to Peraea (?), increased the deafening roar. Yet the misery itself was more terrible than this disorder. The hill on which the temple stood was seething hot, and seemed enveloped to its base in one sheet of flame. The blood was larger in quantity than the fire, and those that were slain more in number than those that slew them. The ground was nowhere visible. All was covered with corpses; over these heaps the soldiers pursued the fugitives."</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://christianbookshelf.org/schaff/history_of_the_christian_church_volume_i/section_38_the_jewish_war.htm"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://christianbookshelf.org/schaff/history_of_the_christian_church_volume_i/section_38_the_jewish_war.htm</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So whether Isaiah meant physical or figurative fire... both came down upon Jerusalem that day...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And while no Christians were killed that day, in that siege... I must remind you of the afflictions soon laid upon their shoulders under the Roman rule of such emperors as Nero... The destruction of Jerusalem was prophesied by Christ... and so was the fact that His followers would be met with persecution... which could be looked at as the fire of purification... </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In the case of our own lives, fire is used to purify. In Sunday School this morning, a lady had an analogy of these times... She was talking about times that what you put in your mind and body come out into the open. She said, if you have an orange, and you squeeze it... orange juice comes out. If you have a rotten orange... rotten juice comes out. So when the pilot comes over the intercom and says “emergency in progress, we're probably not going to make it...” That's a time of God squeezing on you... so what's going to come out?</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When those trials by fire come... are you going to burn up? Or are you going to be made stronger? In Chapter 1 we talked about the silver refiner... Are you dross? Or are you Silver? Are you letting God use His fire to purify? Or are you turning from Him because you can't stand the discomfort of the heat? </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Oh man... that's a hard question... If you choose to turn away from the heat... you'll burn up as the chaff... If you choose to face the heat and go with God... then you'll come out of the fire as a better piece of silver to work with... an easier piece to mold into a work of art...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Micah 4:6-5:1</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Luke 21:8-24</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 5-6</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now this automatically takes me back to the exodus from Egypt. “The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and He provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.” -Exodus 13:21-22</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This was a time of protection and provision that only could have come from the hand of God. Psalm 105:39-41 says, “The Lord spread a cloud above them as a covering and gave them a great fire to light the darkness. They asked for meat, and He sent them quail; He satisfied their hunger with manna—bread from heaven. He split open a rock, and water gushed out to form a river through the dry wasteland.”</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He provided all of their needs. When it talks about being covered with the cloud, I mean think about it... if indeed it was a covering... the desert is a hot place... how many elderly people and babies did they have with them? How about the animals? In my mind it makes perfect sense that they were covered with a cloud of protection... because otherwise... they would have been burnt to a crisp and suffering from heat stroke...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we take Isaiah literally... it was a protection from the heat and a hiding place from storms and rain... A physical protection from the elements. </em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This cloud was representative of the presence of God. He was VISIBLY with the children of Israel. In Numbers 9:15-23, it talks about the building of the tabernacle... It says that on the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. And the cloud or the fire, stayed right with the tabernacle. When the cloud started to move, the people would break camp and follow it. When it settled, they stopped and set up camp. Whether it meant staying in one place for a night, 3 days, a month, a year... they followed God exclusively. You think God wasn't trying to instill that lesson in His people? Man...</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now... looking at these verses. On one hand... I think about the New Jerusalem. Christ's second coming and heaven as being this protected, untouched place. Safe and filled with the Holy Spirit of God. (Since fire is typically representative of the Spirit.)</em></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And thinking about the Spirit, I thought about us as being indwelt with the Spirit of God. God protecting us... providing for us... both physically and spiritually. The fire of God dwelling within us as a beacon to show us the way we are to go, as well as to show others the way to God. Our shelter through the storms of life, our comfort in sorrows. </em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-55321155043084283422012-02-19T20:32:00.003-05:002012-02-19T20:32:12.860-05:00Isaiah Chapter 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 3</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-3</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The Lord, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, will take away from Jerusalem and Judah everything they depend on: every bit of bread and every drop of water, all their heroes and soldiers, judges and prophets, fortune-tellers and elders, army officials and high officials, advisers, skilled craftsmen, and astrologers.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Judah had ceased to depend on God. They depended on just about everything BUT God. If they needed wisdom, they turned the astrologers, or the fortune-tellers, or their elders... If they needed help with a war or battle... well, they had many strong soldiers and military leaders... so they depended on them. They had all the food and drink they could want. There was prosperity in the land. They had no need to call upon God... because He had done His job so well in giving them everything they could ever need or want.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But now... their time of prosperity would be coming to an end. God would be taking back His rightful place as provider of all things. As head over the nation.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- You know how it talks about God being a jealous God? God is jealous after our heart's devotion. He longs for us, to long for Him.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Exodus 34:14</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- It is no coincidence that one of the first commandments was that “you shall have no other gods before Me.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He wanted it to be in the forefront of their minds... an important thing to remember...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And yet... the people had turned their minds and hearts to earthly things. They were worshiping the gifts... rather than the Giver.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So... God will take the gifts away... so that the people MUST cling... to the Giver of all things.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And this is not to say that God is an egotistical being who desires all thoughts to be centered on Him, or that anything that fills our hearts or minds outside of God is sin... But God should indeed direct our thoughts and we should allow our hearts to dwell on God...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When our life becomes centered around earthly or worldly pleasures... we have entered into a place of disobedience and have turned away from God... if only seemingly slightly at first... it is the beginning of the end so to speak.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Looking at the list of things that Judah was depending on... many of them probably started with national and/or personal pride. Skill in battle, skill in craftsmanship, great leaders, fertile gardens and plains...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- It would be easy for the thought to turn from “how great God is to us...” to “look what we've done! Look what we've accomplished! WE are great!”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- James 4:1-10 says: “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy? But He gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Keep in mind... this letter wasn't written to the Jews of old... it was written to a new church... A church founded on Christ... not on the old law... and yet they were still struggling with where the line was between following God... and chasing after the world.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Leviticus 26:1-46</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 4-7</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “I will make boys their leaders, and toddlers their rulers.” </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Judah definitely had their share of young rulers... Joash became king of Judah at age 7... Josiah became king at age 8. Definitely in that boy age range... there were also kings of 12, 16, 18... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- No longer could Judah boast in their elders... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Lamentations 2</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “People will oppress each other—man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders, and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable. In those days a man will say to his brother, “Since you have a coat, you be our leader! Take charge of this heap of ruins!” But he will reply, “No! I can't help. I don't have any extra food or clothes. Don't put me in charge!”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “This section describes what happens when a nation loses its leadership.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What leaders Judah did have... were contradictory. One would be a good king and lead the people back to God and the worship of the True God... the next would set up idols and sacrifice his own children on the altar... Some would start out good... and end up bad... or like Manasseh... start out REALLY bad and end up pretty good...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Nobody wanted to take on full responsibility... they were more concerned with their own desires and needs than the nation as a whole... Even when Joash asked the priests to repair the temple... they took the money for themselves and didn't start repairs for like 30 years...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Kings 12</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 8-11</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “For Jerusalem will stumble, and Judah will fall, because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey Him. They provoke Him to His face. The very look on their faces gives them away. They display their sin like the people of Sodom and don't even try to hide it. They are doomed! They have brought destruction upon themselves.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- They weren't ashamed of their sin. They were throwing their sin in God's face. They weren't at all repentant. They were refusing to obey God... and not on accident... it was a willing decision to turn away and walk in the path of sin.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Casting Crowns has a song called “City on the Hill.” The chorus says:</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>“One by one, they ran away</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>with their made up minds, to leave it all behind</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>And the light began to fade, in the city on the hill...” </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The song talks about the people of the city fighting amongst themselves over who was greater... or who had a greater part within the city... And in doing so... they tore themselves apart. And so instead of coming together as one body... they all turned away one by one... and the light faded...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Judah had turned away... and it was intentional. They looked at God... and they said... nope... we want to do this instead. They still occasionally called on God when things got really rough... but they didn't change their ways. Kings would work reforms... and the people would fall right back into their idol worship as soon as the king was gone... if the king himself didn't fall into it...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Just as Sodom was destroyed for its sin... so Judah would be destroyed. God doesn't let sin go on forever... especially sin that is purposely displayed in order to provoke His anger...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, God is not unjust...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Tell the godly that all will be well for them. They will enjoy the rich reward they have earned! But the wicked are doomed, for they will get exactly what they deserve.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Justice means that everyone gets exactly what they deserve... there's no sugar-coated excuses. God withheld His judgment for so long... He warned His people time and time again... but to no avail. Nothing He did worked. So now, the wicked will get their just desserts.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “The people would be proud of their sins, parading them out in the open. But sin is self-destructive. In today's world, sinful living often appears glamorous, exciting, and clever. But sin is wrong, regardless of how society perceives it, and, in the long run, sin will make us miserable and destroy us. God tries to protect us by warning us about the harm we will cause ourselves by sinning. Those who are proud of their sins will receive the punishment from God they deserve. Having rejected God's path to life, they had only one alternative—the path to destruction.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Deuteronomy 32:9-43</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 12</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Childish leaders oppress my people, and women rule over them. O my people, your leaders mislead you; they send you down the wrong road.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Childish leaders, may refer to the youth of their leaders, but it may also refer to the attitude of the leaders. They were as children. They would follow God until they saw something that their own fleshly desires made more appealing than their walk with God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Or perhaps it was that they acted like spoiled children... Jehoram killed all of his brothers as soon as he became king. He was not the greatest of kings... and in II Chronicles 21 it says that “no one was sorry when he died.” That's a terrible epitaph.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As soon as the priest who had raised him and watched over his walk died, Joash turned to idols and even killed the priest's son.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Uzziah was good... until he became prideful... He violated the priestly rules... he went in to burn incense himself instead of the priest. So God struck him with leprosy.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ahaz sacrificed his sons on the altars of gods. He took all the things out of the temple that could be useful or worth anything... then nailed the doors shut in order to prevent anyone worshiping there.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hezekiah was a great king. He followed God. He reopened the temple and purified the people. However... he got a little prideful as well... When ambassadors came from Babylon, he showed them everything... the treasure storehouses, silver, gold, spices... whatever he had. The armory, the royal treasuries. NOTHING was hidden. Because of this, Isaiah prophesied that everything would be carried off to Babylon... including some of Hezekiah's sons... who would become eunuchs who would serve in the palace of the Babylonian king. Hezekiah replied that “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.” (II Kings 20:12-19) How cold is that? Geesh...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Manasseh was another who sacrificed his sons to idols. He killed his own people. He practiced witchcraft and all kinds of stuff... but at the end of his life, after having been taken into exile, he returned and repented and worshiped God. Although he didn't destroy all the idols etc. throughout the land... the people still worshiped their idols.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Throughout Chronicles and Kings, there's a few times that it'll say something like “the prophet ______ came and spoke directly from the Lord, but the king would not listen.” A lot of our major prophets spoke during this time. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Nahum, and Micah. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Women who ruled... well there was Athaliah... Her son was king... and was killed in battle soon after taking rule. So Athaliah... wonderful woman that she was... killed all of her grandchildren so that she could become queen. Except for Joash who was a baby... his aunt sneaked him away and hid him in the temple for 6 years. Then Joash became king when he was 7.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And as for misleading... we've already touched on that... at the beginning, it was about every other king or so that was evil... by the end... there were 4 in a row... they were starting to get more and more evil. The evil kings would set up idols and shrines and lead the people away... the good kings would tear down the idols and lead the people back to God. Sometimes. Sometimes they were good kings who... encouraged the people to worship God... but did nothing to promote it... so while the king was good... the people were still worshiping their idols as usual.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So judgment will come upon the leadership of Judah... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The Lord takes His place in court and presents His case against His people! The Lord comes forward to pronounce judgment on the elders and rulers of His people: “You have ruined Israel, my vineyard. Your houses are filled with things stolen from the poor. How dare you crush my people, grinding the faces of the poor into the dust?” demands the Lord, the Lord of Heaven's Armies.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “The elders and rulers were responsible to help people, but instead they stole from the poor. Because they were unjust, Isaiah said the leaders would be the first to receive God's judgment. Leaders will be held accountable for how they lead. If you are in a position of leadership, you must lead according to God's just commands. Put the needs of others before your own. Fulfill the purpose God intended. Don't seek your own advantage. Corruption will bring God's wrath, especially if others follow your example.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Think about this... these men were entrusted with the welfare of God's people. Instead of helping God's people... they took advantage of them. They used them. They led them into sin and evil.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We have all be entrusted to an extent with the lives around us... how are we leading them? If the people had refused to worship the idols... would the kings have turned from their wickedness? Maybe not entirely... and maybe the people would have been persecuted for trying... but I think God would have honored the people and smote the king in his heart with that action.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even being in a position of servility... we can still lead with our example.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 16-26</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The Lord says, “Beautiful Zion is haughty: craning her elegant neck, flirting with her eyes, walking with dainty steps, tinkling her ankle bracelets. So the Lord will send scabs on her head; the Lord will make beautiful Zion bald.” On that day of judgment the Lord will strip away everything that makes her beautiful: ornaments, headbands, crescent necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and veils; scarves, ankle bracelets, sashes, perfumes, and charms; rings, jewels, party clothes, gowns, capes, and purses; mirrors, fine linen garments, head ornaments, and shawls.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Every adornment that Judah had would be stripped away. She had played the harlot with other gods... so... God would strip her of everything that allowed her to do so. Hair was considered a great beauty thing... I Corinthians 11 says that it is shameful for a woman to cut her hair...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Scabs and sores of the head in Levitical law, made you ceremonially unclean and in some cases, it required your head to be shaved.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Leviticus 13:29-46</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Some of the commentaries I was reading said that in some Arabic cultures, there was a kind of ankle bracelet that was tied around both ankles, so that it restricted the woman's steps to little steps. They were generally outfitted with bells or bangles to draw attention to the fact that they were wearing these things and were therefore more... ladylike I guess. (sounds like torture to me... but okay...)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So instead of being able to wear things to draw attention to all her beauty, Jerusalem would be stripped of everything pretty... and she would be left bald, and wearing burlap...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Instead of smelling of sweet perfume, she will stink. She will wear a rope for a sash, and her elegant hair will fall out. She will wear rough burlap instead of rich robes. Shame will replace her beauty. The men of the city will be killed with the sword, and her warriors will die in battle. The gates of Zion will weep and mourn. The city will be like a ravaged woman, huddled on the ground.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- There are 21 things that Isaiah lists that God will strip away from Jerusalem. 21 is the number for Divine Completion. God wasn't just going to partly punish Jerusalem and let it go. This was the time for judgment. They had walked away too many times. They had laughed at His second chances... So, God is going to completely strip Jerusalem of anything and everything that makes her think that she's above needing God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Instead of walking through town glorying in her ladyship and her beauty... She will be thrown to the ground to sit in her burlap to grieve for her much lower condition. The men of Jerusalem will be killed in battle. All of the warriors that she put so much stock in... will die.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- All that she once was... will be gone... and in its place... will be nothing but shame and reproach. All her pride... crushed into bits. Nothing left... but to cling to God and hope that His Grace and forgiveness still covers all sin and that He will still hear the cry of the one He loves.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- James 4:4-10</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Samuel 22:26-30</em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-27573215715192771122012-02-11T19:09:00.001-05:002012-02-11T19:09:06.458-05:00Isaiah Chapter 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 2</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-4: LAST DAYS</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “This is a vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord's house will be the highest of all—the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we hear the phrase “in the last days”, we generally think of the end times and the time of tribulation etc. A footnote in my bible for Acts, chapter 2, says this: “.... The “last days” include all the days between Christ's first and second comings and is another way of saying “from now on.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The last days”... are not just like the week before Christ's final coming... They are the days from the time that He came... to the time that He will come. Which means that when Peter spoke of the last days in Acts... and when we speak about them now... they are the same thing... the same time period. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This is the world's last chance. These are the last days of the earth. From the time of Christ's first coming, we have been on our last chance for salvation. We are living out the days that Christ has given us to come to a full knowledge and understanding of the Truth. It was the last days for the people Peter spoke to, and it is the last days for the people in our day and age. Last chance!</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So... in this day and age... in this time... the Lord's house should be raised up highest of all. It should be raised above all other places of worship and people should be flocking there to worship.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob's God. There He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths.” For the Lord's teaching will go out from Zion; The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- While world peace is definitely not in effect at the moment... However in Revelation, after the city of Jerusalem is made new and descends to the earth, God says: “Look, God's home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (21:3-4)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- There will eventually be total peace... but for now... we have to pray that the leaders of these nations consult God in their decisions. And that He leads and guides in their decisions concerning each other.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As to the Lord's Word going out into the earth... we are His ambassadors. We have been given the task of going out into the world and preaching the gospel.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Revelation 14:6-7, says: “And I saw another angel flying through the sky, carrying the eternal Good News to proclaim to the people who belong to this world—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. “Fear God,” he shouted. “Give glory to Him. For the time has come when He will sit as judge. Worship Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all the springs of water.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Luke 19:40, when the Pharisees told Jesus to keep the praises of the people silent, Jesus replied that “If they keep quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The gospel will go out. Whether or not we do it... whether it takes an angel to shout it from the heavens... or the rocks to cry out from the roadside... For that matter, all of creation speaks to the glory of a Creator. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Joel 3</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Micah 4:1-5</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 1:20</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 5-11: JUDGMENT</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Come descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord! For the Lord has rejected His people, the descendants of Jacob, because they have filled their land with practices from the East and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do. They have made alliances with pagans.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This is a call to salvation. Remember... the last days... are our last chance.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The Israelites as well as we... have rejected the call of the Lord. We have indeed filled our lands with idols and false worship. Our nations reek of false religion. We speak of tolerance... equality... rights... and all manner of other technical terms that allow us to soothe our consciences and ignore the guilty blood on our hands because of our own apathy to the sin around us. We fear speaking out against the social norms. We fear that we are stirring things up... or that we will be hated by our fellow men...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But meanwhile... a world of lost souls are dying an eternal death. A hopeless death... and our Lord... is rejecting our nations. We have made alliances with things not of God... we have aligned ourselves with things that are not of God... and Christ said in Matthew 12:30: “Anyone who isn't with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn't working with Me is actually working against Me.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we reject the way of Christ... we are working against Christ. But how about when we grow apathetic? When we don't want to do anything that may offend someone else? Whether they're a believer or not... Are we still working for Christ? If we're not taking steps to spread the Word... are we not then fighting against it? If we refuse to stand on our God's teachings... then do we not stand against them? </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Romans 1:18-2:16 speaks of God's anger and judgment on sin. “... because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But He will pour out His anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.” (2:5-11)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is a loving God... but He is also a righteous God. He does not compromise His standards.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we sin... sure... He gives us chances to turn back and repent. Get back on the right track so to speak. However, when we continue to persist in our sin... some kind of chastisement is going to come down on us. Whether it is consequences and hardships in this life... or in the final judgment after our deaths.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God tried to get Israel's attention with love. He would gently put His hand in the mix and try to turn them from their sin. He gave them pretty much anything and everything they needed or wanted to show them that He loved them. But they took it for granted.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The above verses from Romans have an important part in the middle... it says that God will give eternal life to those who seek after the glory, honor, and immortality that God offers. But notice that there are some action words there... We have to seek after the things of God. Not just be good. Not just try hard... but to actively seek after God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, if we live for ourselves and refuse to obey truth... then God will pour out His anger and wrath upon us.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- It was time for some tough love. Israel had persisted in their sin. They refused to obey the word of God. They were living solely for themselves. So God was getting ready to deal out some punishment.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Israel is full of silver and gold; there is no end to its treasures. Their land is full of warhorses; there is no end to its chariots. Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands. So now they will be humbled, and all will be brought low—do not forgive them. Crawl into caves in the rocks. Hide in the dust from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty. Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God had made Israel prosperous... but they refused to acknowledge God's hand in the matter. They instead looked at their own mightiness and thought that they had done it all by themselves.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If you remember the story of King Ahab... There were many times that Ahab or his wife, Jezebel, put the prophets of Baal, and Baal, above God. There were a few times that the prophet of God would come to speak to them... and they would call in their false prophets to soothe their ears...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- One such case was the end of Ahab...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In I Kings 22, Ahab was going to go to war (unnecessarily) with the king of Aram. They had been at peace for 3 years... but on a whim, Ahab decided he wanted a particular town back that was now under the rule of Aram.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He convinces the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, to go with him. Jehoshaphat asks that a prophet be called to find out what the Lord said first. So... they called 400 prophets... and they all said “Sure! Go right ahead! The victory is yours!” And in the face of all that positivity... Jehoshaphat asked whether or not there was a true prophet of God around... well then... wonder who these prophets were then... Baal perhaps?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The prophet Micaiah is brought in... from prison... where Ahab was keeping him... hmmm...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He prophesies that Israel will be defeated and Ahab will die.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ahab's response? “Didn't I tell you? He never prophesies anything but trouble for me.” Well I wonder why...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So Ahab ignored the word of God... and they went up... and they were defeated and Ahab was killed. Even though he disguised himself so no one would know he was king... they still got him.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is second to none. “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” That includes our pride. We can become our own idols in some ways... and God won't even tolerate that...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Anything that we spend more time on than God, becomes an idol. When we become consumed with chasing after something, that thing, becomes our god. Whether it's money, sex, cars, material things, success... whatever it happens to be...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “So now they will be humbled, and all will be brought low.... Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 12-17: BROUGHT LOW</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “For the Lord of Heaven's Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted. He will cut down the tall cedars of Lebanon and all the mighty oaks of Bashan. He will level all the high mountains and all the lofty hills. He will break down every high tower and every fortified wall. He will destroy all the great trading ships and every magnificent vessel. Human pride will be humbled, and human arrogance will be brought down. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The cedars and oaks were considered as very strong wood. They were used for construction. People literally worshiped idols within groves of these trees because they thought that their physical strength was a sign of spiritual strength as well. So they would build their shrines where these trees grew.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So here, Isaiah is saying that even what the people think to be strong... will be cut down.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The mountains housed many places of worship as well. High places were used for temples etc. So all of those high places... will be leveled. They will also be destroyed. What they hold as sacred... will be brought down to its proper level.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The high towers and fortified walls speak of their physical strength as a nation. All their power as a nation of warfare... gone. Just as Jericho fell to the hand of God, so would Israel's fortified cities fall to their enemies... by the same hand of God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Trade ships and magnificent vessels... Their prosperity and economy would be taken down. Their way of making money with other countries... would be gone. They would have no source of income. Their country would become poor and broken down.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And again... human pride will be humbled... and human arrogance will be brought down. ONLY GOD WILL BE EXALTED!</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 18-22: GOD EXALTED</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Idols will completely disappear. When the Lord rises to shake the earth, His enemies will crawl into holes in the ground. They will hide in caves in the rocks from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty. On that day of judgment they will abandon the gold and silver idols they made for themselves to worship. They will leave their gods to the rodents and bats, while they crawl away into caverns and hide among the jagged rocks in the cliffs. They will try to escape the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty as He rises to shake the earth. Don't put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When God is exalted, the idols will disappear. They will be abandoned to the scavengers of the earth. The people who are the enemies of God (those who have turned away from His truth... remembering that if you're not for Him... then you're against Him...) will run... and in their fear of the One True and Mighty God... they will not stop to care for or worship their idols of man-made things.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Instead, they will run in terror, hoping desperately to save their lives. They will hide wherever they can find a place. They will hide deep in the earth in caves and caverns. They will crawl through the mud and mire... nothing will be below them. Their pride will be no more. Their arrogance will not keep them from their low estate.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And yet... God will find them. They will not be able to hide... for who can hide from the all-seeing and all-knowing God?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hosea says this: “....the place of Israel's sin, will crumble. Thorns and thistles will grow up around their altars. They will beg the mountains, “Bury us!” and plead with the hills, “Fall on us!” (10:8) </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In their desperation... they will wish for death. For death... will be a release from their earthly agony... Little do they understand the agony to which they will go after dying in their sin and rebellion...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The moral of the story? Don't trust in human means. Humans are frail... they are a breath. They have no lasting substance...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Only God is everlasting. All-powerful. Mighty. He alone is to be exalted and praised. </em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-2466881863346914982012-01-28T09:29:00.000-05:002012-01-28T09:29:16.605-05:00Isaiah Chapter 1 (part 2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 1:18-31</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 18: WASHED</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “'Come now, let's settle this,' says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.'”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- White signifies purity. Scarlet is a blood-like color. So even though our hands have been stained with blood... our sin has brought us death... Christ will make them white as snow. He will cleanse us with His own blood... and make us presentable unto God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “Crimson was the color of a deep-red dye, and its deep stain was virtually impossible to remove from clothing.... The stain of sin seems equally permanent, but God can remove sin's stain from our life as He promised to do for the Israelites. We don't have to go through life permanently soiled. God's Word assures us that as we are willing and obedient, Christ will forgive and remove our most indelible stains....” </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Revelation 3, it says that those clothed in white are “worthy” to walk with God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 5:12-21 contrasts the sin of Adam, with the sacrifice of Christ.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Adam's sin brought death into the world. We are now born sinful because of original sin. That sin is with us perpetually.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- EXCEPT, that Christ came as a free gift from God so that we could be made right again in the sight of God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now instead of sin ruling in our lives... Grace can rule through Christ.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hebrews 2:14-15, says that this was the only way that we would ever be saved. “Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we accept the sacrifice of Christ, our sins are covered. We no longer have to fear death. We are not forced to be separated from God. Instead, we are welcomed into the family as spotless, pure, and holy members.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- To be under the blood, or considered as washed in the blood... God says that “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” (Hebrews 10:17).</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We are free from our sin and guilt! </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 51</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Revelation 3:4-5; 7:9-17</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 19-20: TURN BACK!</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “'If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat. But if you turn away and refuse to listen, you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies. I, the Lord, have spoken!'”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- To Israel, God proved Himself again and again as a God who was willing to forgive. He took them back time and time again. But with their continual sin, came consequences. When Israel sinned... God would at times partially withhold His protection. He would allow the enemy to conquer the Israelites, or allow the enemy to at least wreak havoc on their property and possessions.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If they would just have obeyed God... they would have had His unlimited protection... They would have had all that they needed... but instead... they continued to turn away from God's direction.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God gives us the same edict. Will we but follow, He will give us all we need... but if we continue to turn away... then we will be destroyed.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now... granted... bad things happen. Just because we follow God, does not mean that everything's going to be all rainbows and cherry blossoms...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, God never leaves us hanging. If we are faithful... if it takes an angel showing up in the desert to feed us... or a pot of oil and flour that just won't run dry... God can handle it. But sometimes, we are required to go through hard things in order to make us better people. If you watched the Youtube video I posted a couple weeks ago about God taking a chisel to our lives to get rid of things that are detrimental to our souls, you will have a pretty good picture of some of the things God likes get rid of in our lives. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As we see in the story of Job, godly people, sometimes endure terrible trials...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But God didn't leave Job. As bad as things seemed... God was still there... and Job's heart was still right. And God restored everything to Job.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But if Job had turned and cursed God... I believe he would have died a terrible death. One that was deserving of such an act.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God never leaves us... no matter what we do... but if we continually turn from Him, then eventually, He's going to let the consequences of our actions come down upon our heads. And if that means bringing us to the final judgment... still sinners... still rebelling... then so be it. His justice will not allow Him to excuse our rebellion and eternal consequences will be handed out. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- John 14:15-21</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Deuteronomy 28:1-29:1</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Kings 21:10-16</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 21-23: THE PROSTITUTE JERUSALEM</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers. Once like pure silver, you have become like worthless slag. Once so pure, you are now like watered-down wine. Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As we saw in Hosea, Israel often took on the dress of a prostitute. She would prostitute herself to the world, other nations, and other gods... for a few fleeting moments of pleasure. God would send His prophets to speak to Israel on His behalf. “Turn back to your first love!”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But Israel was stubborn. Many times she outright refused. Sometimes, she would come back only because she needed something that she knew only God could provide... and she would stay for a while... but then the thrill and call of the past life would draw her back into its arms. Yet again, she would leave her one true and faithful love... the one true husband who would never leave nor forsake her... to go running back to her fleeting pleasures.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I read a story about a silver refiner a while ago, and I would like to share it with you.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Silver is refined in fire. They melt it down and let it boil and cook. (so to speak) As it heats and cooks, the impurities rise to the surface. This is the slag. It is skimmed off and thrown away.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Someone asked the silver refiner how he knew when the silver was ready to use... he said “when I can see my reflection in it.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is making us into vessels He can use. Sometimes this means putting pressure on the vessel. Shaping, changing... putting us in some pretty hot spots. It means getting rid of those things in our lives that hold us back... that keep us from being useful.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel had stopped the purification process. They would not allow themselves to be heated up (tested) and purified. They were keeping their slag. So in essence... they turned back into slag...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Corinthians 5:6-8 says “....Don't you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old “yeast” by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.” (This is regarding a man who was living openly in sexual sin with his stepmother... and the church was allowing it to go on with no reprimand.)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our sin... even if it's a little thing... can spread and destroy us. It's like letting a little infection go untreated... before you know it, it's spread throughout the body and is killing you. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Once Israel had been considered as pure... now... they were like the slag that gets thrown away in the purification process. They were worthless. Useless. Their sin had made them so.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And it wasn't just the people of Israel. It was the leadership! The kings of Israel had led the people into sin. They were no longer godly leaders. They were selfish and sinful.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- It has been said that the subordinates reflect their superior... whether that be in the workplace, in the home, or in a nation. It's a trickle-down effect. All the sins of the leaders, are reflected in the sins of the people.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- My mom tells of a roommate in college from New York who went to a small Baptist church. One of the couples divorced, but remained in the church together. He with his much younger bride and the wife alone.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In the short span of ten years, the roommate received the heartbreaking news that her parents, the last married couple now not to be divorced, were getting a divorce. Her dad married a young girl of twenty, a year younger than his daughter!</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What just happened? God hates divorce, but Jesus said that because of the hardness of their hearts, Moses had written up the laws on divorce. Is God happy about divorce? Absolutely not. Is it unforgivable? Of course not. The blood is sufficient to cover our sins when we truly repent. But why would an entire church end in divorcing their spouses of 20+ years? One man did it, God didn't strike him down, he still went to church, still talked to his wife and children, but now he had a younger wife.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We have a saying about this, “ having your cake and eating it too .” When this kind of sin is allowed and nothing is even said about it, it spreads rapidly. And yes, even the pastor divorced. It says that we sin because we are enticed by our own lust. I think the pastor never said anything to the first man, because he himself struggled with the same sin of lust and likewise all the men in this church.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is not a kill joy because he hates divorce. He knows what it does to children, families, and each other. He wanted his body to be healthy... not carrying about a load of guilt and shame.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Mom's friend has never really forgiven her parents for their actions. It's still hard to go home... so she doesn't.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The first churches were made up of family and friends. Most small churches are still family and friends. If Satan can cause hurt and distrust in God's body, he has destroyed much of its effectiveness. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If you find yourself in a leadership position, whether larger or small... this needs to be looked at periodically.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Have you ever had to fill out a survey about your workplace? They ask questions about morale, about the work conditions, about what kind of things you see as lacking in the workplace... but most of the time... they shy away from questions about the boss...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But if you walk into a workplace for the first time... you can tell a lot about the boss, by the kind of people and personalities you see in the place.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So what kind of leader are you? How do you lead your children? Your spouse? Your church? Your co-workers? Your employees? Your friends? As a child of God, you have a responsibility to lead, no matter who's following... into righteousness and a God-centered life.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ezra 9:6-10:17</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Chronicles 36:11-21</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Daniel 9:4-19</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 24-28: CONSUMING FIRE</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says, “I will take revenge on my enemies and pay back my foes! I will raise my fist against you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities. Then I will give you good judges again and wise counselors like you used to have. Then Jerusalem will again be called the Home of Justice and the Faithful City. Zion will be restored by justice; those who repent will be revived by righteousness. But rebels and sinners will be completely destroyed, and those who desert the Lord will be consumed.” </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Matthew 12:30 Jesus said “Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When God declares His revenge on His enemies... He is speaking to those in Israel who have refused to turn from their sin. God's judgment is coming, and it's fast approaching. He will put them through the fire, He will purify their hearts... Those who repent, will be revived. They will live on. They will yet again have God's favor. But those who continue to rebel and live in their sin, will be completely destroyed.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- At the end of verse 28, it says that those who desert the Lord will be consumed. In Hebrews 12:25-29 says this: “Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! When God spoke from Mount Sinai His voice shook the earth, but now He makes another promise: 'Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.' This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If you've ever seen video footage of a wildfire... that's what I think about when I read about a consuming or devouring fire. It doesn't just burn, it disintegrates. It doesn't leave anything behind that is usable. Everything is charred beyond belief.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However, in the aftermath of a wildfire, there comes new life. In really big or old forests, this is especially true. Without the fire... the forest would start to die. The trees are tall enough and thick enough, that sometimes, even in the heaviest rains, the water doesn't reach the ground that well. All the old underbrush and ground cover is gone. All the old trees are done squeezing the sunlight out from hitting the lower vegetation. The forest can regrow new life. The ashes of the old, fertilize the new.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Without the fire... death would surely come.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God's judgment is like that. Sometimes He doesn't wait on things to slowly die off... If He leaves very present sin as an influence in the world... young faith dies. So sometimes... it calls for a fire. To destroy everything that is evil... in order for the new, young faith, to grow.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Those who desert the Lord... will most definitely be consumed in such a fire... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Deuteronomy 4:21-25</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 18</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ezekiel 22:23-31</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Job 20</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 29-31: THE OAK</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “You will be ashamed of your idol worship in groves of sacred oaks. You will blush because you worshiped in gardens dedicated to idols. You will be like a great tree with withered leaves, like a garden without water. The strongest among you will disappear like straw; their evil deeds will be the spark that sets it on fire. They and their evil works will burn up together, and no one will be able to put out the fire.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Yet again we see a reference to the fire of God destroying the evil.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel had turned from the ever-faithful God... to a strong, earthly... tree. The oak might still have been strong, might have withstood the test of time, maybe withstood some pretty harsh storms. But... it is a passing thing.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Instead of being seen as a strong thing, the life lived under the worship of idols, would become like a great withered tree... like straw set afire... Fire destroys everything. The oak may withstand the wind... but it won't withstand the fire.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “Throughout history, the oak tree has been a symbol of strength, but the people were worshiping “sacred oaks.” Ezekiel mentions that oak trees were used as places for idol worship (Ezekiel 6:13). Are you devoted to symbols of strength and power that rival God's place in your life? Does your commitment to any of your interests border on worship? Make God your first loyalty; everything else will fade in time and burn away under His scrutiny.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah 40:12-31</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 115</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Habakkuk 2:18-20</em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-22549790593893898002012-01-22T00:34:00.001-05:002012-01-22T00:34:04.487-05:00Isaiah Chapter 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Chapter 1</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-4</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “These are the visions that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. He saw these visions during the years when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the Lord says: The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master's care—but Israel doesn't know its master. My people don't recognize my care for them. Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.” </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God's children... His chosen people... rejected Him. They refused to acknowledge His voice. They wouldn't acknowledge His authority over them.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- For our youth meeting last night, part of dad's message was on the clay jars holding the lamps in the story of Gideon. The lights were in the clay pots... but in order for the light to shine out, the pots had to be broken. Now when we think of us as people being broken, we think of someone who is beaten down... discouraged... broken-hearted... ready to give up... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But dad's analogy to go with this story was one of a horse. Breaking a horse, is not seen as being a bad thing. When a horse is broken... he learns to bend to the will of the master. He learns to obey the bit in his mouth... he learns to follow the master's leading.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Without being broken, we are not useful. Until we bend our will's to the will of God... God can't use us.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel's stubbornness was making them useless. They were turning away from the rule of God... They couldn't see that in wanting to live their own lives, they were condemning themselves to a useless existence.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- A horse that refuses to be broken... may still belong to the master... but he is of no use... and the master cannot build relationship with that animal. Sure he can live a great horse's life... running among the fields... free and unhindered... but... he is without much value.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel was devaluing themselves. They were choosing to live outside the safety of the barn... God would have taken great care of them. He would have given them anything they needed... But instead, they are choosing to turn their fates over to the elements and scrounge for their sustenance elsewhere.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Because of this, they are loaded down with their guilt. They have become evil and corrupt. They had broken their covenant with God. They had ceased to follow His Word.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Oh they still followed many of the laws... but not the way God wanted them to. (this comes later in the chapter...)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Deuteronomy 32:1-47</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 3:1-6:30</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 5-8</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick. You are battered from head to foot—covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages. Your country lies in ruins, and your towns are burned. Foreigners plunder your fields before your eyes and destroy everything they see. Beautiful Jerusalem stands abandoned like a watchman's shelter in a vineyard, like a lean-to in a cucumber field after the harvest, like a helpless city under siege. If the Lord of Heaven's Armies had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Because Israel is denying God access and rule over their lives... they are also denying His protection and help. So in doing so... they are inviting punishment to come down upon them. They are rebelling... and rebellion always leads to consequences and punishments.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 44</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Teaching elementary school... I have seen this so many times lately...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Earlier in the school year... I had an incident with... “Harry”. I absolutely love this kid. He's a kid that comes from a less than great home life. I don't know all the details... but I know there's some issues there. I've been teaching at this school for 4 years now. Harry is one of my best kids. He loves music and he works hard at it. He's enthusiastic. I know he has some behavior problems... but they always happen in other classes. I've never had to write him up for anything in 4 years. I sit down and talk to him for a minute and we talk about fixing the problem... and he's fine. If it's a problem with another student, we move him away from the student and talk about controlling our anger... Harry has always responded well to this.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We started recorders this year with Harry's class. At the beginning of the unit they were told that if they played while I was giving instruction that their instrument would be taken away. After every song, they are instructed to place the instrument in their laps so we can talk about the next song and walk through any new concepts together. They get 3 chances. The third time they play during instruction, their instrument gets taken away.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The first day was a free day. If it was taken away... it was just for the remainder of class. They would get one more try the following week.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Harry got his taken away. Oh he SCREAMED! He threw a FIT! He was given... way more than his three chances and the last time... I asked him to put his recorder under his chair (for the third time) and he looked at me... and blew on his recorder. So I took it away.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He walked to the front of the class and sat down to scream and cry... I gave him a choice... he could either calm himself down and sit through the rest of class and we'd talk about giving him his recorder back next class... or he could take a trip to the principal's office... He refused to answer... just continued to scream in my face... so I finally called the office to have someone come get him.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- About the time I called the office... it was like it suddenly dawned on him... that this was bad. This was not a fixable situation at this point.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I had sat for about 5 minutes with this screaming child trying to convince him that all he had to do was get up, and go back to his seat. If he did that, then he got to start over the next week. But the situation was quickly getting completely out of hand...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The rest of the class was getting worried... because they saw his unreasonableness. They started trying to convince him to calm down. “Harry... just go sit down... you'll get the instrument back next week...”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- There was a point... while we were waiting on the office to send someone down to get him... that he looked at me... and I saw in his eyes... He WANTED to fix it. He wanted to take it back... but he didn't know how to fix the problem. He didn't know what to do except to scream out his frustrations. And his crying... in that moment... turned from anger... to contrition. But he STILL refused to move. I thought we had almost conquered the storm... when the secretary came in to pick him up... and the moment was over... he just got up and ran out of the room. *sigh*</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The hard part is... I love this kid. And to feel like... over the years we've built such a good trust and relationship... we've worked on issues together and it was like... he was trying to manipulate that relationship in order to get what he wanted... and he'd never tried that with me. He's one of my kids who... I was always surprised when other teachers would tell me that they were having terrible problems with him... because he never gave me any trouble... at least not like this... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- What I got from this whole experience was how God sometimes looks at us...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We get in these places where we just want to have our own way. We have a choice to either follow the rules... or accept a punishment... But in the case of “Harry”... sometimes... we think if we demand things of God enough times... that He'll eventually give in to us. But it doesn't work that way. God is not a parent who is easily won over with our melodramatic fits. He has standards that will not be compromised.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is asking us to get up and turn from our stubbornness... There is a way to fix our rebellion. He offers us free and open forgiveness... He offers a way out of our sin and guilt... we just have to bend to the bit. Even when it seems like we've gone past the point of repentance... God is still willing to save us. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is a God of justice. When we make decisions... consequences come. Even if God's heart breaks when He has to allow the consequences... He doesn't always shield us from them... If He did... we'd forever be demanding our right to do whatever we liked without consequences. Sometimes God will shield us from consequences... in the hope that His mercy and grace will convince us to turn from our sin... however... as we see with Israel and Judah... God only kept them from their enemies for so long.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Soon after Isaiah made this prophesy, Israel was taken into captivity by Assyria. Judah followed about 130 years or so later into captivity to Babylon. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Kings 17:5-23</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah points out all the things that are going on around Israel... the cities lying in ruins... the foreigners plundering everything in sight... they have been beaten down... and you'd THINK that they would start to look for relief... that they would start to realize that they need God to do a work in their lives... however... instead... they just continue to rebel.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Leviticus 26</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 9-17</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “If the Lord of Heaven's Armies had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Do you remember why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Genesis 18:20-21 says: “So t he Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In His conversation with Abraham, God agreed not to destroy Sodom if there could be found 10 righteous people in the city...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But they weren't there... and the cities were destroyed.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Here Isaiah compares Israel with these infamously sinful cities... This is such a HUGE insult! I mean think about it! Isaiah is calling the chosen children of God out as equal to the most sinful cities in human history.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.” Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When Abraham tried to bargain with God for Sodom... it was because his nephew, Lot, was living there. A city or nation will reflect the kind of leader it has... and there was not a righteous person found in Sodom.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The leaders of Israel were just as corrupt. They had led the people into idol worship and away from the worship of God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- One of the first things that Jeroboam did when the northern kingdom split off from Judah was to set up golden calves for the people to worship.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure form the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Acts 17, there's a story about Paul preaching in Athens... while in Athens, he saw a shrine dedicated to the unknown god. They were covering all the bases... they had all these gods to appease... but just in case there was one they didn't know about... they decided to pray to that one as well...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel was kind of doing the same thing. They were worshiping all these idols... but they wanted to smooth things over with God as well. So they continued to bring their sacrifices and observe all the festivals etc. hoping to keep Him happy without actually having to commit to anything. But that's not what God wants from His people.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Again it's like that horse that needs to be broken... we might be His people... but we have to learn to allow the Master to lead us where He wants us to go in order to be useful... And if we're not useful... well...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Revelation 3:15-16 says: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Something that is cold is refreshing. It soothes, it restores, it awakens. Something that is hot is healing. It restores and builds up.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we are neither refreshing in our walk nor healing towards others... what good are we? He goes on in that section to say that He sees all that we do and say... and that we don't realize our true need. He asks in verse 19 that we turn from our indifference.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God doesn't want apathetic followers. Nor does He want haphazard or accidental faith.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel was going through the motions. They were offering up tainted sacrifices from hearts that were bent on wickedness and sin. God was disgusted with their religion.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Have you ever met someone like that? Or been like that yourself? So caught up in what songs you sing or the liturgical order of things that you leave God out of the church equation?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I grew up in a church that just kinda had church until they felt like it was time to go home. There was no set end time...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So now... to go to a church where they watch the clock, or get upset with the pastor for going over his set half hour... it's like... seriously? You're going to limit God to a time schedule?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Sure... I don't want to sit there all day for nothing... but if God is moving and it's a message worth hearing... what's wrong with sitting a little longer?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- We can get so caught up in what is or isn't holy... or socially acceptable... that we lose sight of why we're really there.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- There's a song by Matt Redman called “Heart of Worship.” The chorus says “I'm coming back to the heart of worship and it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus. I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, when it's all about You, it's all about You, Jesus.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our worship is about Jesus. It's not about what song we're singing... or how well we sing... or if we do or don't play an instrument. It's about communication with our God. It's about letting God speak to our hearts and letting Him touch something in us.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Israel had made worship about themselves. They still observed their fast days... which were supposed to be a day of drawing near to God... except... now they were just fasting in order to look righteous. It wasn't because they wanted to... it was just a social practice.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Christ rebuked the Pharisees in Matthew 6 when He told His followers to not be “like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God doesn't care how flashy you are. He doesn't care how proper or holy you seem when you're in public places. He cares about your heart. He wants to know that your heart belongs to Him.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- A husband and wife are not going to care so much about what kind of relationship they present to the public, if their home life is a terrible one. A married couple who fight all the time, who have no respect for one another... are not going to automatically slip into being a very loving, passionate couple in public... it's not going to be natural... and it's not going to feel quite right. And someone who knows them well... will know that something is wrong.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God doesn't want our lip service. He wants our hearts and our devotion. He wants a vessel He can use to spread His light... not one that wants to run around care-free with no thought of anyone but themselves.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Wash your hands and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Allow the Lord to break you for his service and for your good.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Micah 3</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ezekiel 16:35-63</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Malachi 1:6-3:18</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 26</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 25:1-38</em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-64299598729971328142012-01-22T00:32:00.002-05:002012-01-22T00:32:57.033-05:00Isaiah Introduction<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah Introduction</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Well... I've debated over doing Isaiah for so long. I've never felt ready to tackle it... but I REALLY want to study through it. I still don't know that I can get through the whole thing or if I can really get at ALL there is in Isaiah... but I'm going to try it. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>66 chapters of prophecy. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Isaiah is considered one of the greatest prophets. He is known as one of the major prophets. He was a prophet to Judah. When Israel's kingdom was split, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin remained under one king, and the rest of Israel elected another king. This split remained for the rest of Israel's history. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>So Isaiah was a prophet (mostly) to those Southern two tribes. There are times when Isaiah prophesied to Israel, or even to the nations surrounding Israel and Judah, but for the most part, he was centered in Judah. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>So what is a prophet? A prophet was someone whom God sent to speak to a people with a specific word straight from the lips of God. When we think about prophecy, a lot of time we think of something along the lines of a fortune teller... but not always did a prophet come to tell someone their futures. Sometimes it was a rebuke, as in the case of David and Nathan after David sinned with Bathsheba. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>As we saw in the book of Jonah, sometimes a prophet was sent as a warning to a city, a nation, or a specific person. Isaiah prophesied during the time of the following kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh. His ministry spanned about 70 years. According to tradition, Manasseh had Isaiah executed by having him sawed in half. This was a terrible execution. The person was placed inside a hallow log... and then the log was sawed in half while they were in it and couldn't move. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>The thing I find most interesting in reading and studying Isaiah is that, much of his prophecy had three implications. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>1. for the people and time in which he was living.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>2. For the time of Christ and the people of that time.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>And 3. For us today. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>When God spoke through Isaiah it was in such a way that it has forever remained relevant. There is something in the way that it is written that makes it applicable. Which could not have happened by chance. </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>As Isaiah speaks God's warnings to the nations of Judah and Israel... I want to take a look at our own nations... and I want to begin to pray that God would raise up a people who are willing to stand as Isaiah stood against the sin in his nation... no matter what... so that the Word of God would go forth in truth and might. In many ways, I feel that we as a world are standing on the precipice of judgment. We cannot go on as we are much longer without God taking action against the rising amount of sin... which just seems to spread like a highly contagious disease... amongst the young and the old... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>I hope that the words of Isaiah awaken our hearts to desire repentance as an immediate necessity within our world. I hope that God will once again speak to our nations... that we will be given one more chance to come to a place of repentance... that the people of our world... will be given one more chance to be saved from the wrath of God... </em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-21522672151107385582012-01-14T16:45:00.003-05:002012-01-14T16:45:14.263-05:00Jonah Chapter 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Jonah Chapter 4</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-4: GOD'S HEART VS. OUR HEARTS</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Quick recap. Jonah made it to the city of Nineveh... most likely looking less like his normal self... He preaches repentance, and the entire city, from King to beast, repents. Begs God for forgiveness and mercy. And God postponed His destruction.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I'd rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- OK so a couple of things.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- 1. We get a picture of God as Jonah knew Him... and as we know Him. And this is the OLD TESTAMENT God... The one that's sometimes seen as being angry and unfeeling? eh... not so much... </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He is merciful and compassionate. Slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. Eager to turn away from destroying people.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- MAN! That's a GREAT picture!</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our God loves us all, sinner and saint alike. He doesn't want to see any of us destroyed. He longs to be able to turn away from destroying people. Jonah said “eager”.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Our sin leads to destruction. When we sin, there are consequences. God is also a God of truth, of justice, and of discipline.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- While God may love us and feel compassion towards us... He is also a very strong believer in tough love. God's justice does not allow Him to pass off or overlook our sin. But His love compels Him to give us a hundred chances if we need them, to repent and turn back to a righteous pathway.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So if it takes making life hard for a while... or allowing us to make decisions that are going to make life hard... well... He'll let us do that.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Exodus 34:5-7</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 89; 86; 145</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I John 4:7-5:12</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- John 3:16-21</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Nahum 1:1-15</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- 2. We get a look at Jonah's heart.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- He so hated these people so much, that he was willing to run away from the voice of God, just so he could be sure that they would be destroyed.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- That doesn't look so much like a picture of who we're supposed to be does it...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we are to be following in the footsteps of God and modeling after Him... aren't we too supposed to be merciful... compassionate... slow to anger... loving... eager to find a way to save a life?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But Jonah... was so full of himself and his own anger and bitterness... that he failed to see the opportunity to save a life... or many lives...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Sometimes God asks hard things of us. He asks us to love our enemies.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- In Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus said “You have heard the law that says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven, For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If we are to be mirror images of Christ... whew... that does NOT include running away from God to avoid dealing with problems in your own heart...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I love the part that says “If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even completely nonreligious people can be nice... or good... or kind...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So what makes you stand out? Is it your love? Your self-righteousness? Your generosity? Your sharp tongue? Your hospitality? Your close-mindedness?</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- My dad had a sermon a couple weeks ago about seeing Christ in every facet or aspect of your life. No matter if it's at your job, your home, your family, your church, your local grocery store... Christ should be evident in it all.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jonah's relationship with God was a selfish one. He wasn't ready to sacrifice his anger, or his bitterness, or his hatred, in order to become more like God. This whole thing may have been just as much for Jonah as it was for the people of Nineveh.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is always working on perfecting us. Sometimes that means putting things in our lives that forces us to look at the problems and issues within our own hearts.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we are bitter, we may encounter other people who are bitter who show us just how terrible we are treating others. Or perhaps the cause of our bitterness is apparent in someone else's life and we see the damage and injury it is causing in their family, or their church... Or maybe we are forced to see the focus of our bitterness in a different... more compassionate light... Whatever the reason may be... we are forced to reevaluate ourselves.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This is a video that the skit guys did about God chiseling away the bad things from our lives. Sometimes it's a painful process... but it's a necessary one in order to make us into reflections of Himself.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhfUzodLRvk"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhfUzodLRvk</em></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God called Jonah to go to Nineveh... maybe... just so Jonah could see his enemies in a human light... to see that they... really did need God just as much as he did. Maybe to see that there's always hope for a soul. Maybe so that God could perfect Jonah... and not lose him to his anger and bitterness.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If Jonah continued in his anger and hatred... it would have eventually pulled him away from God. He would have become so consumed by it that eventually he would have turned it on God Himself. “God, why did YOU let this happen? YOU allowed these people to kill, steal, and destroy my people, my nation. YOU allowed them to conquer us. YOU allowed them to prosper while we starved...”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When we get caught up in our sin... a lot of times we refuse to see that we have a need for change. We look at everything around us, and demand that it changes... but we don't want to look at at our own hearts...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When God puts His finger on your heart... is your first response to run from Him? To hide from what He wants from you? Jonah said he ran so that God's purpose would not be fulfilled. Oh not in so many words... but he didn't want God to forgive the people... he didn't want to be the vessel that completed that mission... so he ran...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And Jonah got so angry when God forgave the people... that he prayed that he would die. He would rather die in his anger than to see the people of Nineveh saved from their sin.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Wow... such a HARD heart.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- NO! But he was anyway... so then Jonah goes away to pout about it...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “Sometimes people wish that judgment and destruction would come upon sinful people whose wickedness seems to demand immediate punishment. But God is more merciful than we can imagine. God feels compassion for the sinners we want judged, and He devises plans to bring them to Himself. What is your attitude toward those who are especially wicked? Do you want them destroyed? Or do you wish that they could experience God's mercy and forgiveness?”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Joel 2:12-14</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Philippians 1:9-11</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hebrews 12; 3:7-19</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 1:18-2:16</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 5-10: THE LOVE OF GOD</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jonah can't stand it. He's hoping that the city will be destroyed in flaming balls of fire... or some other drastic terrible thing. So he goes up into the hillside to watch and wait. Isn't that terrible???? He so hates these people that he can't wait for their destruction. He is enjoying thinking about all the things they've done and all the ways they deserve to die. All the torturous screams they might scream and all the pain they might feel. And he wants to watch. He wants to see with his own eyes the destruction of Israel's tormentors.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Okay... so I understand Jonah's point of view... I mean these are terrible people. They've caused much pain and terror in Israel... possibly to Jonah himself or to his family... I understand that he probably wants revenge. Justice.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But I can also imagine that he's enjoying the thought of someone else's pain and suffering... and that... is not okay At all...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This is a prophet of God... and he goes up on the hill to watch people die. He's not working to save them. He brought God's message... but he didn't preach more than he had to... and he didn't stick around to make sure the message was heard and adhered to.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So what's with the plant? Jonah goes up on the hill to sit and wait... and God allows this plant to grow to shade him while he's pouting...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Maybe it was to show Jonah that God still cared about him. Even in his moment of pouting and storming off to hope for the destruction of Nineveh... God still cared about his little comforts... Maybe he was hoping that Jonah's heart would soften.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Kings 19:1-18 (a similar story) </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Then comes the lesson...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Oh boy... The plant grows for shade. Then the next morning, God tells a worm to go eat through the stem... so the plant dies. And then about the time the sun gets SCORCHING hot, the east wind starts to blow. (which is usually a strong wind... and in this case... probably a hot one.)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jonah's sitting up here, still waiting on Nineveh's destruction... but now he's MISERABLE. He's hot and he's getting sun stroke. So he starts wishing that he could just die.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Okay... first of all... just move. Go down from the hillside. Go find some water. Go home. But nope... he's still waiting to see if the city is destroyed.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- His heart is so full of his sin... that he's willing to die instead of repent of his own sin.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God is asking Jonah to take a good look at his heart and let God do some chiseling... and Jonah would prefer to die in his stubbornness...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So now, in addition to pouting and feeling angry with Nineveh and God... Jonah's wallowing in self-pity. He's sitting in the sun, roasting, and feeling like God's just picking on him. Refusing to see God at work in his or anybody else's heart.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Good grief... not even when God called him on it did Jonah look at his heart. Was it right for Jonah to be angry? Of course not! But he's so mad, that he's willing to argue with God over this.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more then 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jonah felt more compassion and sorrow over the plant... than over all the people of Nineveh.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If Jonah was really more concerned with things than with people, God even threw in that there were all these animals in the city as well!</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- 120,000 people and all their animals... and Jonah's worried about a plant...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God didn't see just their sin. He saw lost people walking in spiritual darkness who needed a savior... who needed to hear truth... who needed... God.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God sees us all as His children. Just some of us have made terrible decisions and are walking away from God. It doesn't mean that God loves us any less. In fact... His heart is so desperate for us to be rejoined to His.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God looked at Nineveh and saw a people who needed to be loved... there was a possibility that they could yet be saved. So He decided to give them one more chance... and if you remember from last week... this wasn't the only “last” chance they got. God constantly sent people to them to speak truth so that they could have the chance of coming to Him.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God looked down with pity and compassion and saw hearts that were ready to repent... so He gave them their chance. And they took it.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God loves us all with abandon. He gave up everything just to save us.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If you remember the story of Paul... when Paul was Saul... he was persecuting the church. He was killing and arresting Christians... but God gave him another chance... and look at Paul... he's the main writer of our New Testament. He's considered a great man of Spiritual depth and understanding. A man to model after... and he was a murderer...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- This is a song by JJ Heller called “What Love Really Means.”</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGUKWiw7Wk"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgGUKWiw7Wk</em></span></a><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em> </em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>If you've never heard it... it's a great picture of the God who loves us... for who we are... broken and beaten and sinners all... It doesn't matter how bad we've been or how much we've done. It doesn't matter that we have terrorized His people, or even killed His people... He still loves us enough to give us another chance.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 103</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah 63:7-66:24</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 12:9-21</em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2358921373746078615.post-32391020274612541972012-01-07T23:19:00.003-05:002012-01-07T23:19:34.986-05:00Jonah Chapter 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Jonah Chapter 3</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 1-2: SECOND CHANCES</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God of second chances...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time. “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” (2:10-2:2)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God saved Jonah's life... and then gave him another chance to do what was right.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Which is exactly what He does with us as well...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When Adam sinned... he cursed all of his descendents to enter this world as sinners... When we are brought into this world, we are born unclean. We are born with blood on our hands. Accursed people.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- But God gives us a chance at new life. Even when we walk away... He gives us another chance...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- There's a song by Stellar Kart that has a line that says: “There will always be second chances, and you'll always be on your first try.” That SO speaks about our God. The God who never gives up... And is always willing to give you another shot at things.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I mean... when Adam and Eve sinned... yeah sure, there was punishment... actions are always followed by consequences... but He didn't kill them off... and He didn't leave them without hope. He didn't just cast them out of the garden with no way to get back... He provided a way back. And not in a way that we as humans could mess it up... HE came to finish the work so that it would be a perfect sacrifice... a perfect way to get back to relationship with God. So there are no excuses. No way to say “well I'm just not good enough...” Because God, through Christ provided a way so that ALL could come... no matter what. Despite our being born into sin... despite all the mistakes we make... despite our rebellion... He can still take us back. (If we humble ourselves and come back...)</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So this is Jonah's second chance. He has run away from the voice and call of God... endured terrible things. Been taken to the end of himself... The edge of sanity. The depths of sorrow and despair... and now... God calls him again to do the work that is asked of him.</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And this time... Jonah goes...</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Corinthians 7:8-16</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Luke 24:46-49; 5:31-32</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Colossians 1:24-29</em></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 3-6: THE MISSION</em></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “This time Jonah obeyed the Lord's command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds; “Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!” The people of Nineveh believed God's message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow. When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in burlap and sat on a heap of ashes.”</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jonah obeyed... gave the message... and WOW what a response from a city that was supposedly like the worst, most evil city of it's time. They were known for cruelty. They were the scourge of land...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And yet their hearts were ready to repent of it all...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Timing is everything...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- You know... people do not accept God unless they're ready. You can't force a heart to be repentant.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I have a friend right now that... isn't ready... if we start a conversation on religion... it turns almost instantaneously into an argument... because his heart's not willing to look at God through faith. And it's not just that he's waiting on God to prove Himself... He's not looking for proof so much as he's just not willing to accept Who God is... or that God cares... because he's still a little mad at God over some things, and he's built up some walls that he's just not willing to tear down yet. </em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Nineveh... as terrible as they were... were ready to repent and come to God. So there had to be some heart preparation there somewhere...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And who's to say... that this was THE TIME to go to Nineveh. If God hadn't sent someone RIGHT THEN to the city... what's to say that they would have moved past their heart's time... and become even more hard and more terrible...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And had Jonah not gone to speak... it could have meant that he was causing the further destruction and terrorizing of his own nation and people...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- As I said before... our actions always have consequences... and this could have caused some pretty major consequences.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- When God opens doors for us to speak... we have to walk through and speak. We can't just... sit back and hope someone else does it. Sure God CAN raise up someone else... but if we all sit back and think that someone else will do it... MAN! No witnessing would ever get done!</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Timing... is God's... not ours... and if God says to speak... we had better speak... because imagine if we didn't... and that was literally the only chance that person was going to have... What if they're heart was only in that place for a moment... What if we miss the chance and send our friend, or our family member, or some complete and total stranger... to an eternity in hell... just because we were too proud, or too afraid, or too caught up in our own lives...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The people of Nineveh were definitely ready... There was no beating around the bush... they believed on God, called a fast, and put on their sorrowing clothes... no time lost. And the KING? When he heard the message... he did the same thing. BUT! He went a step further. He called the whole city to repentance. There was no question about it. From the greatest to the least... there would be repentance for what they had done.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Job 11:13-20</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Psalm 51</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Romans 5:1-11</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- John 7:6-8</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah 49:8-13</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 7-9: REPENTANCE</em></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat of drink anything at all. People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change His mind and hold back His fierce anger from destroying us.”</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Not only did the king demand repentance from the people... he demanded it from the animals... wow... that's a little harsh...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So I was reading through some commentaries to try and figure out the purpose behind the fasting of the animals... They all pretty much said the same thing, so I'm going to summarize.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The sackcloth on the animals was an Eastern tradition in times of great mourning... such as when great leaders died. It was a removal of their decorated trappings for ones more suited to solemn occasions. It also served as a visual reminder to the people of Nineveh... everywhere they looked, they saw something to remind them of their humbleness before God.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- The people were told to earnestly pray and seek God in this time... because fasting in and of itself... would not be enough... So can you imagine the noise? In times of drought, or just when animals are hungry in general, they make A LOT of noise... So can you imagine animals bawling, babies screaming, people calling out to God in their sorrow and desperation for salvation? There was nothing that you could do in that city that did not exude repentance.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- And so God did hold back His anger...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- footnote- “The pagan people of Nineveh believed Jonah's message and repented. What a miraculous effect God's words had on those evil people! Their repentance stood in stark contrast to Israel's stubbornness. The people of Israel had heard many messages from the prophets, but they had refused to repent. The people of Nineveh only needed to hear God's message once. Jesus said that at the judgment, the people of Nineveh will stand up to condemn the Israelites for their failure to repent (Matthew 12:39-41). It is not our hearing God's word that pleases Him, but our responding to it.”</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isn't that the truth? God wants us to follow. He doesn't need us to sit and read the Bible day in and day out. He doesn't need us to go feed 1,000 people a day. He doesn't need us to give up everything we own. He just wants us to be obedient. If that means doing all of the above... that's one thing... but to just do... STUFF... and never actually respond to what God wants us to do?</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- If Jonah had gone to another land, continued to spread the word of God, continued to live a pretty good life, continued to pay his tithes and give to the poor... would it have been enough? NO! Because he still wouldn't have done what God REALLY wanted him to do!</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Acts 26:20</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Proverbs 16:1-4</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- I Samuel 15:22-23</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>vs. 10: ANGER WITHHELD</em></span></b></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- “When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, He changed His mind and did not carry out the destruction He had threatened.”</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Now destruction did eventually come... but it was about 170 years later. The prophet Nahum prophesied the fall of Nineveh about 100 years after Jonah had come... But this time... the people didn't listen... and about 50 years after Nahum gave his prophesy... the city of Nineveh (the capitol of Assyria) fell... and about 3 years later... the mighty nation of Assyria completely crumbled.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Small timeline:</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>785 (approximately)- Jonah speaks to Nineveh</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>740- Isaiah prophesies that Assyria will be destroyed (more than once...) </em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>701- Jerusalem falls to Assyria</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>663- Nahum again prophesies to Nineveh</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>640- Zephaniah prophesies against Nineveh</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>612- Nineveh falls </em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>609- Assyria is conquered</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Man... every few years... God sent somebody else... with the same message. The first time, they repented, turned away from evil, and God turned away His anger... but within 100 years... Nahum said this: “And this is what the Lord says concerning the Assyrians in Nineveh: “You will have no more children to carry on your name. I will destroy all the idols in the temples of your gods. I am preparing a grave for you because you are despicable!” (1:14)</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Ouch... and double ouch...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- It's easy to fall away... it's hard to be good... easy to be bad... and sometimes... well... we fall...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However... the people of Nineveh and Assyria, hardened their hearts. They turned away from God and refused to look back. God used Assyria as judgment for the Israelites... and they may have even been obedient to God for a while... but eventually... they fell back into their old habits and traditions... back to their idols and evil things... So they were destroyed...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Looking at this... I think about my own nation... The US is terrible. We have more preachers on TV and radio than probably any other country. (granted not all of them are great... but they are there...) We have tons of churches... in every community. Christianity is part of our very foundations... and yet... we mock God. We throw Him out of our public places. We throw Him out of our schools. We don't allow the mention of His Name in public gatherings. We allow the murder of children. We watch while our leaders pass laws against God's laws.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- How many times have we had great revivals? Only to go back into our old sins? How many chances do we get? How many times will God call out to us for repentance before His judgment finally comes? Because come it will... Our repentance might turn away His judgment for a time... but eventually... judgment does come...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- So... are you praying earnestly for the salvation of your nation? Do you sorrow over the sin in your cities? Will you seek the face of God? Pray that your countrymen will repent and turn from their evil?</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- *sigh* It sounds like an impossible task... It sounds... useless to even try...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- However... Jonah was one man. An unwilling one at that... but that one man's voice, brought about the salvation of capitol city... and a king who demanded it of his subjects.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- God only needs one voice. If that one voice is obedient... other voices will follow. Maybe in 40 or 50 years... but they will follow. Will you join me in crying out to God for revival? And will you join me in praying for the salvation... of our individual nations? I know some of the readers are from other countries... I know some of you... may not be praying for revival in the US... but rather... in Germany, or the UK, or India, or Russia, or any number of other nations in the world... But will you join me in praying for your country, and mine.</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Even if only one voice... that voice will fall upon the ear of God...</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><em></em></span></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Hebrews 6:4-12</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Isaiah 30:8-18</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- II Peter 3:3-15</em></span></div><div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: cyan; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>- Jeremiah 15:1-9</em></span></div></div>Charity Shafferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04027613770642715799noreply@blogger.com0