Podcast appearances and mentions of israel isaiah

Pastor Ken Biggs | AM Mar 30th, 2025 | God's Judgment on Israel (Isaiah cont'd)

Pastor Ken Biggs | AM Mar 23rd, 2025 | The Judgment on Israel (Isaiah cont'd)

Pastor Ken Biggs | AM Mar 16th, 2025 | The Redemption of Israel (Isaiah cont'd)

Thoughts on the readings for January 31st (Exodus 3, 4;  Psalms 56, 57; Romans 9) In Exodus 3 Moses had brought his flock to the edge of the desert, Mount Sinai - known as Jebul Miss (the Mt of Moses to the Arabs. Here he saw in  the distance an amazing sight - an acacia bush burning brightly, but remaining unconsumed (a symbol of God's providential preservation of His people, Israel - Isaiah 43 verse 1-3,  54 verses 17). Baffled by the scene, Moses turned aside to investigate and, as he neared the bush, was commanded by the angel to remove his shoes; for he was on holy ground. Notice the angel (as Stephen tells us in Acts 7verses 30) is called God; since he was acting for God. Stephen says in Acts 7 verses 31-34 that God was in that location making it holy. God had seen the affliction of His people and was (verse 8) come down to deliver them - alluding to Joseph's last words (Genesis 50 verse 24).  Moses, who had been described as "mighty in words and deeds" (Acts 7 verses 22); was now told by the LORD to represent Him to Pharaoh. Moses answered God and said that He had chosen the wrong person. Moses persisted in refusing despite Yahweh making it clear that He had made no mistake. Moses you must bring them to this mountain to worship Me. Still Moses resists with the words, "who will I say has sent me". The divine name of Yahweh is now explained to Moses. In verse 14 he is told "Ehyeh" (meaning "I will be") has sent Moses. The name is expanded and developed in verses 15-16 - Yahweh Elohim of the fathers - He who will become mighty ones through the Promised seed. We are told a number of things about the Hebrew understanding of the 4 letter name (called the Tetragrammaton; YHWH: the 4 lettered name) - 1) that although the meaning is essentially referring to the future; it is indeterminate in Hebrew having all 3 tenses covered {"I was"; "I am"; and, "I will be"} i - WHO I CHOSE; WHO I AM; and , WHO w WILL BE - principally used in chapter 6 of God's future intentions. Revelation 1:8 makes it clear that each of these meanings are to be accepted. 2) that to understand what the name means is essential for salvation (Hebrews 11:6) - that God exists (present tense), and; that He becomes a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (future tense). We must live and act out of these beliefs.  They tell us that the LORD is developing a faithful family of His choosing; who will in their lives and actions show to the world their Father and His ways (Psalm 105 verses 1-11). The chief east exemplar being His incomparable Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (John 17 verses 1-4, 12-26). Verses 17-22 tells Moses that Egypt must be forced to allow God's people to triumphantly exit Egypt. The Egyptians will be plundered as pay for their Sovereign's people. Chapter 4 tells of the angel giving Moses 3 powerful supporting signs to convince the resistant Hebrews to believe God and His prophet and representative, Moses. The sign of the staff that would turn into a snake; the sign of the hand that would become leprous before being healed; the sign of waters of the Nile (Egypt's life blood) becoming blood (itself the symbol of life) turning to blood and bringing death. Still Moses poses excuses to Yahweh as to why someone else should be God's spokesman. In anger his Sovereign tells Moses not to give any more excuses - you will have Aaron, your brother, to support you. Aaron will become your mouthpiece and your prophet. Moses returned to Egypt with his wife and sons. And the message for Pharaoh, "Israel is My firstborn son; let My son go to serve Me; or I will slay your firstborn son". The challenge from the God of Israel was to issued to the gods of Egypt, of whom Pharaoh was their incarnation. In the inn the angel sought to slay Moses because Moses, despite being sent as the leader of the circumcised (covenanted) people, had neglected to circumcise his own son, Gershom. What an unforgettable lesson to Moses and to ourselves. Although God can and does use us; He relies on no individual for His plan to proceed (with the exception of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ). Psalm 56 is Miktam of David telling of his plea to the Almighty for help, when he was hopelessly lost in Achish's prison in Gath. It also calls upon all hearers to praise God for His capacity and willingness to save. God vindicated David's trust and delivered him. Yahweh would recompense the Psalmist's foes; and for these reasons God would be extolled by David and all mthe ladies prighteous. In confidence the Psalmist tells of offering thanksgiving offerings in the glorious icoming Kingdom Age. Psalm 57 is likewise a Miktam of David's and shares the background of the 56th psalm. It is a plea for mercy and the image of a defenceless, trembling bird find a place of refuge beneath the protective wings of the Almighty. Our Lord Jesus the same metaphor in describing his desire to protect his people, Israel (see Matthew 23 verses 37-39). God's purpose for the psalmist would be fulfilled and his foes put to shame. David, like Daniel later, felt as if he was in a lions' den. This possibly is a description of the desperate 600 men who had gathered themselves together with David, during his exile. His Sovereign would, nonetheless, turn them into a band of courageous, faithful warriors. David then described his pursuers, in Saul and his army, as having spread a net in which they themselves would be ensnared. Because of his trust in the LORD, David remained steadfast, immovable. The psalmist would praise his God for His steadfast faithfulness and loving kindness. Yahweh will be exalted and His glory fill the earth. In Romans 9 Paul explains his frustration at his nation's failure to grasp the glory God was offering his people. The Apostle shows from Scripture that this failure was foretold and follows a persist pattern of behaviour demonstrated by Israel. Nonetheless the Almighty's sovereign selection would stand upon the principles of the Divine grace and mercy, not because of any effort or merit on the part of any individual within the Chosen People. The Scriptures stand true and the restoration of the former people of God's choosing would be by His actions through which anyone to be saved could on one basis alone - by faith in the foundation stone the Father set in Zion (Isaiah 28 verse 16) His beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christa delphian video .org

Genesis 34 records an incident which is extremely instructive for us. Dinah, Jacob's daughter, went out to see the daughters of the land; the result of which is she is defiled by a Hivite, named Shechem. She is trapped into a marriage out of covenant with the LORD. Her brothers deceive the Hivites and insist that every male Hivite in the town be circumcised, as a condition for allowing the marriage to occur. Impressed by the wealth of Jacob's family the Hivites readily accepted the terms, as like all the Canaanites they were covetous. Then Simeon and Levi slay all the males, when they are sore from their circumcision. The sons take all the Hivite women as plunder for themselves; together with the material wealth of the Hivites. Jacob is so frightened by the treachery of his sons (and in chapter 49 cursed both Simeon and Levi – verses 5-7 read and contemplate) and is fearful that the entire Canaanite community would be so enraged by the event that they would avenge the evil by destroying Jacob's entire family. Chapter 35 tells of the Almighty's charge to Jacob to return to Bethel, to build an altar; and to begin afresh. It was Jacob's Sovereign's assurance that as He is the God of Bethel the promise of protection will never fail. Jacob took his journey in renewed faith. When we fail we must never become so discouraged that we in despair abandon God. We can be certain that no matter how bad things may seem our Creator will never abandon His children (slowly read aloud Hebrews 13 verses 4 and 5. Carefully contemplate the lesson). Jacob's GOD put the Canaanites in dread of Jacob; so that they avoided him lest they share the fate of the Hivites. There was a condition put on God's support for Jacob – put away from among you all the foreign gods. The same terms apply to us when we seek our LORD after sinning – utterly forsake the sin in humble penitence (1 John 1verses 8-10). The altar was built at the site of Jacob's dream; and the town of Luz (meaning “ruination”) finally became Bethel (the house of God). Verse 8 tells of the death of Rebekah's aged wet nurse, who was buried beneath the oak; that became named (the oak of weeping – Allon-Bacuth). The old ways were over. And so the Almighty reappeared to Jacob, confirming the name change to Israel and reiterating the promise (verses 9-12). Jacob's response is to set up, as a pillar the stone – to anoint, or Christ it, by pouring oil over it – offer a drink offering and rename the site Bethel. Verses 16-29 records the deaths of – firstly Rachel; and lastly Isaac; as well as their burials. Isaac was buried by both his sons, Esau and Jacob and rests with the family of faith in the cave of Machpelah (meaning “folded”). All those resting there will rise again and inherit the Promised Land, when Christ returns to the earth. Rachel, on the other hand, is wrapped in mystery. She had heavy travail and died giving birth to her second son. In desperation she named him Son of my sorrows (Ben-oni). She had not quite reached Bethlehem-Ephratah (meaning “the house of bread and fruitfulness” – how ironic for the barren wife, who died in childbirth). Jacob renamed his son Benjamin (“the son of the right hand”). As well as actually happening the event was a parable about Jesus Christ, who in his suffering for sins (not his own) and dying was “a man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53 verses 3-5). But having suffered his Father elevated him to His own right hand (Acts 2verses 22-36 read and consider). And Rachel's barrenness followed by fruitfulness was also symbolic of a restored Israel (Isaiah 54:1-8 consider). If we were in doubt as to Rachel's divine esteem we should read Ruth 4 verses 11-12. She too will receive the loving kindness of her God. cont... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-january-20th-genesis-34-35-psalm-37-matthew-22/

Genesis 34 records an incident which is extremely instructive for us. Dinah, Jacob's daughter, went out to see the daughters of the land; the result of which is she is defiled by a Hivite, named Shechem. She is trapped into a marriage out of covenant with the LORD. Her brothers deceive the Hivites and insist that every male Hivite in the town be circumcised, as a condition for allowing the marriage to occur. Impressed by the wealth of Jacob's family the Hivites readily accepted the terms, as like all the Canaanites they were covetous. Then Simeon and Levi slay all the males, when they are sore from their circumcision. The sons take all the Hivite women as plunder for themselves; together with the material wealth of the Hivites. Jacob is so frightened by the treachery of his sons (and in chapter 49 cursed both Simeon and Levi – verses 5-7 read and contemplate) and is fearful that the entire Canaanite community would be so enraged by the event that they would avenge the evil by destroying Jacob's entire family. Chapter 35 tells of the Almighty's charge to Jacob to return to Bethel, to build an altar; and to begin afresh. It was Jacob's Sovereign's assurance that as He is the God of Bethel the promise of protection will never fail. Jacob took his journey in renewed faith. When we fail we must never become so discouraged that we in despair abandon God. We can be certain that no matter how bad things may seem our Creator will never abandon His children (slowly read aloud Hebrews 13 verses 4 and 5. Carefully contemplate the lesson). Jacob's GOD put the Canaanites in dread of Jacob; so that they avoided him lest they share the fate of the Hivites. There was a condition put on God's support for Jacob – put away from among you all the foreign gods. The same terms apply to us when we seek our LORD after sinning – utterly forsake the sin in humble penitence (1 John 1verses 8-10). The altar was built at the site of Jacob's dream; and the town of Luz (meaning “ruination”) finally became Bethel (the house of God). Verse 8 tells of the death of Rebekah's aged wet nurse, who was buried beneath the oak; that became named (the oak of weeping – Allon-Bacuth). The old ways were over. And so the Almighty reappeared to Jacob, confirming the name change to Israel and reiterating the promise (verses 9-12). Jacob's response is to set up, as a pillar the stone – to anoint, or Christ it, by pouring oil over it – offer a drink offering and rename the site Bethel. Verses 16-29 records the deaths of – firstly Rachel; and lastly Isaac; as well as their burials. Isaac was buried by both his sons, Esau and Jacob and rests with the family of faith in the cave of Machpelah (meaning “folded”). All those resting there will rise again and inherit the Promised Land, when Christ returns to the earth. Rachel, on the other hand, is wrapped in mystery. She had heavy travail and died giving birth to her second son. In desperation she named him Son of my sorrows (Ben-oni). She had not quite reached Bethlehem-Ephratah (meaning “the house of bread and fruitfulness” – how ironic for the barren wife, who died in childbirth). Jacob renamed his son Benjamin (“the son of the right hand”). As well as actually happening the event was a parable about Jesus Christ, who in his suffering for sins (not his own) and dying was “a man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53 verses 3-5). But having suffered his Father elevated him to His own right hand (Acts 2verses 22-36 read and consider). And Rachel's barrenness followed by fruitfulness was also symbolic of a restored Israel (Isaiah 54:1-8 consider). If we were in doubt as to Rachel's divine esteem we should read Ruth 4 verses 11-12. She too will receive the loving kindness of her God. Psalm 37 states undeniably and in unmistakable terms that the reward of the righteous is on earth, and not in heaven. Let's start by reading aloud Psalm 115:15-16. We also have been persuaded as we have read what God promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – an eternal inheritance on the earth (Romans 4:13). Note that we too when we are baptised, after believing the truth, become joint heirs to the same promises (Matthew 8 verses 10-12, Galatians 3 verses 25-29; Hebrews 11 verses 39-40). Now notice how frequently the Psalm makes that point – read each of these before resuming the reading of the commentary v9, v11 (Land = eretz, used of the Promised Land v22, v25, and v34). The Psalm commences with a warning against being envious of the wicked. They seemingly prosper now, but contemplate their end. Total annihilation – verse 20 they will disappear as quickly as smoke. Jesus endorsed the Psalm's message. After reading verses 9-11 turn to and read Matthew 5:5. The poetry and the symbols are majestic as the Psalm reiterates the powerful theme again and again. And so the righteous are exhorted by David to exercise patience until the time comes when the upright will be recompensed. The path of the righteous is strewn with trials; but the end result is peace (compare Isaiah 26 verses 19). In Matthew 22 we have the parable of the wedding feast of the Kingdom, to which we all have been invited through the Gospel. Our Omnipotent King has provided the only garment needed for admission; the sin covering raiment of His ever glorious and pre-eminent Son. Then follow four questions, each one of which provided incontrovertible proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Promised Messiah; the first three asked of our Lord Jesus by each class of his foes; and the last of himself to them, proving himself to be the divine son of David (after the flesh), but God's Son of the Father's right hand, as attested by Psalm 110. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org

Thoughts on the readings for January 18th (Genesis 31, Psalm 35, Matthew 20). In Genesis 31 Jacob feels the antagonism towards him from Laban's sons. So he determines to return home. Jacob plans to do so secretly so that he might protect his family from Laban's hostility. Jacob tells his wives that their father is a dishonest man, who has shown no love for his family. He is, says Jacob, a materialistic covetous selfish man. Without God's providence, Jacob claims, our situation would be hopeless. However the God of Bethel has been faithful to His promise made to Jacob. So let us return to the Land of our LORD. Rachel decided to steal her father's idols, which were likely ancient title deeds. Laban gathered his forces and pursued Jacob. Seven days are spent in hot pursuit of his family. The Almighty warns Laban to take care in his dealings with his son-in-law. Upon overtaking Jacob's troop Laban speaks roughly to his son-in-law; but recounts the angelic warning and says he'll respect this. He expresses anger at the theft of his household gods. Jacob says if you find anyone in possession of these they will be put to death. Rachel uses a ruse of claiming to have menstrual problems and is not able to get to her feet, from off the camel's saddle. The gods were hidden beneath Rachel among the stuff that the camel was carrying. Laban's unsuccessful search was followed by a truce between Jacob and Laban. But not before Jacob vents his disappointment with everything that Laban had done in his harsh dealings with his son-in-law. We note Jacob's reluctance to use the same covenantal terms that Laban had invoked. It is a promise to not go past the altar of witness to harm one another. The term Mizpah,used by Jacob, means “the watchtower” and is of great significance throughout the Bible. Psalm 35 is penned by David to extol the greatness of his Sovereign. Yahweh was his defence and his salvation. The Psalmist was confident that his foes would be put to flight, like the chaff before the wind. They hated David without a cause and had laid a net to ensnare his feet. His enemies would be ensnared in their own net. The Almighty had risen in defence of the poor and needy. David was constantly subjected to their malicious gossip. David, in verse 17, invoked the LORD's loving kindness as his protection. He praises his Helper in verse 18. In verses 19-21 David outlined the evil, deceitful and corrupt behaviour of his enemies. Yahweh had seen it and would repay the evil and vindicate the Psalmist. The LORD's righteousness cannot allow this wrong to persist. When God arose in judgment the upright rise up and respond with praise. The Psalm was written by David in praise of the Almighty and to promote the same approach to worship among all those of devout heart. This Psalm reminds us that God will intervene on behalf of His children because He says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”. Matthew's 20th chapter starts with the parable of the labourers in the vineyard, naturally representing Israel- Isaiah 5; Psalm 80:8-19. The parable is memorable because of its failure to represent sound financial practice. This device deliberately tells us that access to the kingdom is on the basis of grace and not merit. The underlying principle of the parable is that God does not reward us because of the works we have done. We are saved by the mercy and grace of the Almighty. His grace – ie His unmerited favour – is given to those who trust that He will give what He has promised, even if, “We haven't done a full day's work”. Then follows in verses 17-19 Jesus telling the Apostles for a third time of his approaching and imminent demise. Then Salome, the mother of James and John (two of the three foremost Apostles), seeks for them the greatest positions of honour in Messiah's kingdom. All the lessons on humility leading to this point seem to have been forgotten. The section concludes with the healing of two blind men, who became followers of the Master. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org

The Son Unveiled in Me Galatians 1:10-17 by William Klock As I was digging around in our crawlspace this week, I found my 1970s Tupperware lunchbox full of my old Star Wars action figures.  Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan and Darth Vader have these neat little light sabres hidden in their arms that slide out when it's time for them to duel.  At one point I had Luke's X-wing fighter and I was remembering putting him in the cockpit and flying around the house, looking for the Death Star's thermal exhaust port.  Luke might have been in the cockpit, but I was going to destroy the Death Star and save the galaxy.  As the week went on I was thinking about our text from Galatians 1and particularly Paul's background.  I started wondering what sort of games and role-playing young Paul would have engaged in?  Who were his heroes?  Based on what he tells us about himself and from what we know of First Century Judaism and of the Pharisees, it isn't too hard to imagine Paul playing with his brothers or his neighbourhood friends and taking on the part of, say, Phinehas, Aaron's grandson.  When the men of Israel were enticed into sexual sin and idolatry by the pagan women of Peor, Phinehas, in an act of holy zeal, ran the ringleader through with a spear, pinning him to the ground along with his Midianite paramour.  Or maybe Elijah.  Even though it seemed that everyone in Israel had turned to pagan idols, Elijah dared to confront the prophets of Baal.  On them mountain top, Elijah taunted them and made fun of their god, then—again with holy zeal—called down fire from heaven.  Or Mattathias, the zealous priest who sparked the Maccabean Revolt.  Antiochus Epiphanes offered him the title “Friend of the King” if he would offer a sacrifice to the Greek gods.  Matthias refuse, but another priest offered to make the sacrifice in his place.  Matthias slaughtered that people-pleasing priest on the altar and called on everyone who was zealous for torah and the covenant to join him. These were the heroes of the Pharisees and all the other faithful in Israel in the days of Paul.  In light of that, it's ironic that the people in Galatia have accused him of being a “people pleaser”, because that's exactly what Paul—in his old days—would have called any Jews who weren't as zealous as him in keeping torah.  Of course, it's the false teachers in Galatia who are being the real people pleasers, but Paul won't say that until the end of the letter. So let's start where we left off last Sunday, with verse 10 of Galatians 1.  Paul has written some pretty scathing words to the Galatians.  He's outlined the essentials of his gospel and he's pronounced a curse on anyone who teaches anything else.  And now he writes: Well now, does that sound as though I'm trying to make up to people—or to God?  Or that I'm trying to curry favour with people?  If I were still pleasing people, I wouldn't be a slave of the Messiah.   It's a safe bet that when you hear someone warning about false gospels and pronouncing curses on those who teach such things, you're not dealing with a people pleaser.  Paul makes that clear.  And then he turns the accusation back on them.  “If I were still pleasing people,” he writes.  As much as Paul the Pharisee had devoted his life to going after the people pleasers who compromised torah in order to curry the favour of the gentiles, well now, from the perspective of life in Jesus and the Spirit, that old life of his turns out—ironically—to have been a life of people pleasing.  He was a slave to them even though it didn't seem that way at the time, but now he's a slave to the Messiah and his only interest is in faithfully proclaiming his message and pleasing the God who sent him. But Paul needs to explain himself a good bit more, so he does something that he doesn't do very often: he tells them—and us—about himself.  Whenever Paul does tell one of these before and after stories, it's always to end with Jesus.  He does this in Philippians 3 to make the point that for the sake of Jesus and the gospel he's given up his privileges.  What he says here comes to a climax later in Chapter 2 as he passionately declares that “I am crucified with the Messiah” so that “I through the law died to the law” because “the Son of God loved me and gave himself for me.”  In the end, none of this is about Paul.  It's about Jesus and the only reason Paul writes any of this is to defend against the charge that his gospel is of human origin and, therefore, in some way deficient.  So he begins in verses 11 and 12: You see, Brothers, let me make it clear to you: the gospel announced by me is not a mere human invention.  I did not receive it from a human being, not was I taught it; it came through an unveiling of Jesus the Messiah.   Literally, “I would have you know, Brothers”.  This is important.  Paul first defended his apostleship.  He was commissioned directly by Jesus himself and he speaks for Jesus and no one else.  Now he defends his gospel.  It's not something he cooked up himself, nor is it something he got second-hand from others. This is worth spending a little time parsing out.  The gospel that you and I know and preach came to us from others.  It was passed down from our parents and grandparents, from our Sunday school teachers and pastors, maybe from a preacher we watched on TV or a book we read.  But somehow all of us here are believers in Jesus the Messiah because someone else proclaimed the good news about him to us and now we—I hope—proclaim it to others.  Even if we first encountered the gospel through the pages of scripture, it came from some other person.  Maybe from Matthew or John or even Paul, but from someone.  Part of the work of the Spirit has been to see that this gospel has been preserved and passed down from one person to the next faithfully.  Even if you or I get it wrong, the Spirit-inspired scriptures are there to set it right again.  But Paul's point is that he didn't get the gospel from another human being.  If he'd got his gospel from someone else—even from Peter or James—it's always possible he got something confused or wrong in the transmission.  If he'd got it from another human, then it's possible their accusation could stick.  So Paul stresses: “I didn't get it from anyone else.  It wasn't taught to me by anyone else.  The gospel came to me directly through an unveiling—he uses that word apocalypse, the same one John uses to describe his “revelation” of Jesus—the gospel came to Paul through an unveiling of Jesus the Messiah.  In other words, Jesus, who was raised from the dead and now enthroned in heaven, suddenly and unexpectedly became visible to Paul.  God's future was revealed to Paul in the present and it changed everything, because Paul now can't help but see everything in light of this Jesus whom he knew to be crucified and now knows with absolute certainty, has risen from the dead.  Brothers and Sisters, the reality that Jesus rose from the dead changes everything.  It changed everything for Paul.  It should change everything for us.  It's the lens through which we should see everything. Paul surely must have told the Galatians the story of his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus.  They already knew the details so he doesn't recount them all here.  It's that they've forgotten why that day was so important to Paul, so in the next five verses he explains why that event was so important.  He writes in verse 13: You've heard the way I behaved when I was still within “Judaism”.  I persecuted the church of God violently and ravaged it.  I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age and people.  I was extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.   Paul's giving them a before and after portrait of himself.  This is the “before”.  Think of Paul when Stephen was stoned to death for proclaiming the good news about Jesus.  He held people's coats so they could throw stones.  A few years later he sought out authorisation from the Jewish officials so that he could actually hunt down these Christians and bring them in for “justice”.  Paul wasn't fooling around.  It helps us understand why and it helps us understand what Saul of Tarsus was all about if we understand what he means here by “Judaism”.  To us “Judaism” means a religion the same way we think of “Christianity” or “Islam” or Buddhism” as religions.  But in the First Century no one thought that way.  Paul certainly didn't think of “Judaism” over against “Christianity”.  Paul uses this uncommon word Judaismos that seems to have been coined by the author of 2 Maccabees.  It doesn't just refer to a set of beliefs and practises in the sense that modern people think about a “religion”.  Instead, it describes the Judeans who were loyal to Jewish faith and practise, who actively promoted and advocated these traditional ways of Jewish life, and who actively defended it against the Pagans and, especially, defended it against those Jews who would compromise it for the sake of the pagans—people pleasers. As he says, he was “zealous” for those ancestral traditions.  He was out to purify the Jewish people: to fend off pagan influences, to get his fellow Jews to take a stand for the covenant, and to bring compromisers and people-pleasers to heel.  Paul had grown up with these values.  His heroes were the men of the past who were also zealous for the Lord and for his law.  There are various writings from that time period that give us a sense of how Paul would have thought.  One of the best is the opening chapters of 1 Maccabees, where we read about Mattathias and his rebellion against the Greek king Antiochus Epiphanes.  As I said before, Mattathias was a priest, and when the Greeks tried to entice him to offer a sacrifice to their gods, he refused.  When another of his fellow priests agreed to offer the sacrifice, Mattathias had had enough.  He killed that priest right there on the altar, along with the Greek official.  His rebellion went up not just against their pagan Greek rulers, but against any of their fellow Jews who were compromising the ancestral traditions in order to get along with the pagans.  Mattathias' speech meant to rouse his fellow Jews to action, focuses on the long line of Jewish heroes who were loyal to the Lord's covenant, from Abraham right down to what was the present day.  Mattathias emphasised especially Phinehas and Elijah.  The later rabbis did the same.  Phinehas had run a spear right through the compromising Zimri and his pagan paramour.  Elijah taunted the prophets of Baal before he slaughtered them and called on the people of Israel to purge pagan influence from the land.  The Maccabees called on that same tradition about two centuries before Jesus, when they went up against the Greeks and against their own people who would compromise with the pagans.  This is what Paul is talking about when he says he was zealous for the ancestral traditions.  I ran around the backyard with Luke Skywalker in his X-wing to destroy the Death Star.  If Paul had grown up with action figures, he'd have had a Phinehas with “real spear action” and an Elijah playset where he could build an altar and call down fire from heaven on the prophets of Baal.  He might have had a little Mattathias, a sword in one hand to take on the Greeks and a knife in the other to circumcise the Jewish people pleasers.  This is the zealous background that drove him to persecute the church.  Paul knew that Jesus had claimed to be the Messiah.  He knew that Jesus had been crucified.  And he didn't believe the tales for one second that Jesus had been raised from the dead.  As far as he was concerned, Jesus was dead and that meant he couldn't be the Messiah and all these Jews claiming to follow a dead Messiah, well, they were going to undermine the faith and practise of God's people. It's also worth noting how Paul refers to the “church of God”.  It's literally “assembly of God”.  Paul likes to use this phrase to distinguish the church from the Jews and from the Greeks.  He borrows it from the Greek version of the Old Testament, which talks about Israel as the “assembly of Israel”, “assembly of the Lord”, or “assembly of God”.  And Paul's point in using it to refer to the church is that now this multiethnic body of Jews and gentiles—now it is the assembly of God.  And not just the local assemblies, but it makes the point that they're all part of this bigger thing, this bigger assembly. So Paul looks back to his past life and reminds the Galatians who he was.  He was zealous for the traditions of his ancestors.  Not just that, but he was no novice.  He was a diaspora Jew, but he wasn't like some others who knew just enough of the ancestral customs to get by.  He was steeped in it all and he was utterly devoted to it—again, to the point that he actually sought out permission from the Jewish officials to hunt down Christians in Damascus.  And, of course, that's when everything changed for Paul. He goes on in verses 15-17: But when God, who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, was pleased to unveil his son in me, so that I might announce the good news about him among the nations—immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood.  Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me.  No, I went away to Arabia, and afterward returned to Damascus.   This is another point in Paul's story where we have to be careful.  As modern people we read this and we think about it in terms of Paul “converting” from Judaism to Christianity.  Again, that's a very modern understanding of “religion” that didn't exist in Paul's day.  Paul never stopped being zealous for the God of Abraham, for the law and the prophets, and the promises of God.  He was a faithful Jew and as a faithful Jew he longed for the coming of the Messiah.  He prayed for the coming of the Messiah, for the Lord to come and rescue his people and set the world to rights.  It's just that when it came to Jesus—well—the idea of a crucified Messiah was blasphemous.  That's why he hated Christians and persecuted them.  But then the risen Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and it changed everything.  Because suddenly Paul knew that all the stories about Jesus having been raised from the dead were true.  He'd been wrong.  The impossible had happened.  The Jews and the Romans had killed Jesus, they—just as Paul had been doing—ruled him a false Messiah, but then God raised him from the dead and, in doing that, God vindicated his son.  That meant that Jesus really was the Messiah.  The God of Israel proved it.  And for Paul this meant that all the stories he'd grown up with, all the promises of God he'd longed to see fulfilled, all of it, all of them were fulfilled in Jesus. Again, Paul uses that word “unveiled” again.  This same God who had set him apart in his mother's womb, this same God who had called Paul by his grace—think of that as Paul personalizing what Jews thought of themselves as a people chosen and called by God's grace to be his people—this same God of Israel had now unveiled his son. And as Paul writes this, if you know the Hebrew scriptures, it's really obvious that he's telling his story in a way that will make people think of the old prophets, especially Jeremiah and Isaiah.  Jeremiah wrote about the Lord knowing him and calling him before he was even formed in his mother's womb.  And when Isaiah writes about the servant—the one who in some places embodies Israel and in other places stands over against the people of Israel—Isaiah writes about the Lord forming him in the womb—calling him and naming him, giving him his prophetic vocation—before he's even born.  I think Paul calls back to the calling of Jeremiah and to Isaiah's servant, because when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus he gave him just this sort of divine calling…like the servant, the Lord “formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him”.  And as the Lord said to Jeremiah, “I appoint you a prophet to the nations” and to Isaiah, “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” So these people in Galatia are claiming that Paul has forsaken the faith and traditions of his people, but what Paul is saying in response is that, one, it was Jesus himself who called him to this work and, two, that he has in no way forsaken the faith and traditions of his people.  To the contrary, he knows those traditions well and in light of this revelation that Jesus really is Israel's Messiah, then this good news isn't just for Israel…it's for everyone.  They think that Paul, in going to the gentiles—or maybe better in the way he's going to the gentiles—they see him as a people pleaser who is disloyal to the faith and Paul's saying that, no, it's just the opposite.  His message to the gentiles is the fulfilment of that faith—the fulfilment of Israel's calling and of the law and the prophets.  Paul had thought that being zealous for the law meant opposing Jesus, when in fact, in light of Jesus having risen from the dead, being zealous for the law means being zealous for Jesus and even taking this good news to the gentiles. This transformation in Paul and in his thinking points to another thing we might miss—or, in some cases, that's obscured by some translations—but Paul says that God unveiled his son in me.  We might expect him to say to me, but that's not how he puts it.  It's in me and I think Paul chose his words—as always—very carefully.  It's not just that God commissioned Paul to proclaim the good news about Jesus to the nations, as if it was just about what he said.  It is that, but I think Paul's key point here is that Paul himself has become a sort of embodiment of the gospel.  This Pharisee who was zealous for God, but in such a way that it made him zealous in his hatred for the gentiles and any Jews who might compromise with them, this Pharisee has been so transformed by the unveiling of God's son in Jesus, that his zeal for God has been turned upside-down—or maybe we should say, right-side-up—and now that zeal is taking him to the nations with that good news. Now, it took Paul a good while to work this out.  Meeting the risen Jesus forced him into a massive paradigm shift in his thinking and even his identity.  He had questions.  Big questions.  But he stresses he didn't go to “flesh and blood” to ask his questions or to get help sorting it all out.  Again, people were accusing him of having a human-made gospel and Paul reiterates that it not only came directly from Jesus, but even in sorting it all out for himself, he went to the Lord, not to other people.  Specifically, he says, he didn't go up to Jerusalem.  That's what most people probably would have expected him to do.  That's what I would have done, if I were in Paul's shoes.  That's where Peter and James were.  They were the chief apostles and the leaders of the church.  They'd been wrestling with all this good news stuff for a while already.  They were the ones who had spent years with Jesus himself.  They had the answers. But instead, Paul says he went to Arabia—in First Century geography, that meant Mount Sinai.  Why did Paul do that?  Because, again, he knew the prophets.  This time Paul echoes the story of Elijah.  If you're a First Century man of zeal, it makes sense to follow in the footsteps of Elijah—one of the greatest heroes of zeal. Think of the story of Elijah.  After the events on Mount Carmel and Elijah's slaughter of the prophets of Baal, King Ahab was angry.  Elijah was forced to run and hide, so he ran to Mount Sinai.  It made sense.  That was the place where the Lord had made his promises to Israel.  So Elijah went there.  He was tired.  He was depressed.  Despite all the Lord had done through him, Elijah was done.  He'd lost hope.  He went there to tell God as much.  He'd done everything he was supposed to do and—he thought—he'd failed.  He declares to the Lord, “I have been very zealous for the Lord of Hosts.”  (Notice how much that sounds like Paul.)  But the Lord wouldn't let go of Elijah.  He wouldn't accept his resignation.  Instead, he sent him to the wilderness of Damascus (again, sound familiar?) and there Elijah would be given the task to anoint a new king and a new prophet. So Saul of Tarsus, zealous for the Lord, on his way to Damascus, is met by the risen Jesus.  It was the most natural thing in the world, for Paul, to go from there to Mount Sinai, to take his zeal to the Lord, and to wrestle with the God of Abraham—to work it out until it all made sense again in light of Jesus the Messiah.  And from Mount Sinai, Paul says, the Lord sent him back to Damascus (just like Elijah) to announce the new king: Jesus the Messiah. So Paul's point is that after he met Jesus, he didn't go to Jerusalem—as his enemies seem to think he did.  He didn't go to work this all out with the original apostles.  He went, as Bishop Wright puts it so well, “he went off to do business with God, and he came to do business for God.”  And this business was to announce to the whole world that this Jesus, who was crucified and risen, Israel's Messiah, is the world's true Lord.  Paul includes these echoes of the old prophets to show how rather than being a betrayer of Israel, he's actually smack in the middle of God's Israel-shaped promises.  In calling back to Elijah, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, he's making the point that if anyone is being disloyal to the God of Israel or to the covenant—well—it's definitely not him.  The real betrayers are those who reject God's calling of Paul and his commission to take the good news of Jesus to the nations. That's as far as I'll go today.  There's a bit more to Paul's introduction and his telling of his own story, but we'll look at that next week.  So what does this mean for us?  Brothers and Sisters, notice again how everything for Paul is about Jesus the Messiah and how Jesus's resurrection from the dead is the lens through which he sees everything.  It ought to be the same way for us.  We need to be clear about what the gospel is and then we need to live in that gospel, live in this story with Jesus as its centre.  The gospel is the good news that this Jesus who was crucified has been raised from the dead and that he's the world's true Lord.  His death for sins has won the victory over sin and death and inaugurated God's new creation.  Brothers and Sisters, that's the story, that's the reality we need to live with and to live in.  Consider how it reshaped Paul.  He was zealous for the Lord, he was zealous for the covenant, he was zealous for the scriptures—for all the right things, but in the wrong way.  Meeting the risen Messiah didn't mean throwing it all away; it meant refocusing that zeal through a different lens—through Jesus.  For others—I'm thinking of those who came from a zealously pagan background—inhabiting the gospel was different in that it meant throwing everything away.  Or maybe it meant seeing the world, seeing life, seeing others through the new lens of Jesus rather than the lens of the old pagan gods or their old sinful ways of life or through the corrupt systems of the present evil age.  Inhabiting the gospel and reorienting ourselves and our lives around Jesus isn't an easy thing to do.  Even Paul had to go to Sinai for three years to wrestle with the reality of the risen Jesus.  But however hard it is and however long it may take, Brothers and Sisters, it's essential that we do this—we personally and we the church.  Part of being gospel people—of being slaves of the Messiah, as Paul puts it—means taking every thought captive to Jesus the Messiah and filtering it through this gospel lens.  Every thought, every value, every priority, every act, every bit of our zeal and turning it over and turning it inside-out, deciding whether we keep it or throw it away or rethink it in light of the good news about Jesus the Messiah. Let's pray: Heavenly Father, as you've unveiled your Son in Paul, you have also unveiled him in each of us.  We pray now for the grace to be faithful to this gospel calling and this gospel life—that your Son, Jesus, would truly be unveiled to everyone around us by the gospel work you are working in us by the power of your Spirit.  Keep Jesus, his cross, and his resurrection always before us, keep our eyes focused on him, and by your Spirit, help us to truly live in your good news.  Through Jesus we pray.  Amen.

We can play our part in seeing God do amazing things in our lives and the lives of others, by activating our faith. By definition, a miracle is a divine operation that happens outside of the laws of nature; it cannot be explained upon any natural basis. Amazingly, Jesus taught His disciples that God would do whatever we ask if we have faith, so faith is key to seeing miracles (Matthew 21:22). Even a little faith is powerful (Matthew 17:20).  In our convenience culture, there is a danger that we try to reduce the miraculous to a convenient formula. Faith is not an impersonal force, not a principle or a method. As we see from examples in the Bible, faith rests on the person of Jesus Christ. Our faith needs to be activated. Different times in the gospel we read Jesus saying ‘your faith has healed you' (Matthew 9:22 ESV; Mark 5:34 ESV; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42).    The word used in the original language of the New Testament to describe healing is ‘Sozo'. It means “to preserve, rescue, save from death, or keep alive.” Sometimes, ‘Sozo' refers to spiritual salvation, resulting from a person's faith. For example, when a repentant prostitute washed Jesus' feet with her tears, He told her: “Your faith has saved you” (Luke 7:50). When Jesus said to certain people, “Your faith has made you well,” He was saying that their faith (their confidence in Him) caused God to bring their restoration. The power of Christ brought about the cure, but His power was applied in connection with their faith.   So, the value of one's faith does not come from the one who expresses it but from the one on whom it depends (Mark 10:52, Mark 11:22). In the case of a paralysed man at the pool of Bethesda where multitudes gathered to be healed (John 5:1-11). Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be made well. But he really didn't really understand the question. He thought the only way to be healed was to get into the pool at the right moment, but he couldn't do that. Jesus healed him anyway! This confused and needy man was healed by God's grace. He had no faith in Jesus at the time; he didn't even know it was Jesus who had healed him until later (John 5:12–13). That is how Jesus dealt with the sick in many cases. He separated their physical problems from their spiritual needs. Everyone whom Jesus willed to be healed was healed. Sometimes Jesus emphasised the faith they had, other times, in His great mercy, He healed those who had no faith and later drew them to Himself. So, what did Jesus mean when He told people, “Your faith has made you well”?   1. Faith in the authority of Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13) 2. Have faith to call on the name of Jesus (Mark 10:46-52; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:4-5; Mark 10:48; Exodus 15:26) 3. Faith to reach out to Jesus (Mark 5:24-34)  Apply    1. Faith in the authority of Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). The story of the centurion whose servant was healed by Jesus appears both in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This centurion recognised that Jesus had authority and power in an area that he himself did not, that is physical healing. His own power and authority, great as it was, could not make his servant well again. His great faith on its own could not change the situation either. He needed the person and authority of Jesus. He activated his faith by finding Jesus and submitting to His authority. He had no doubt that sickness itself is under the authority of Jesus to command. Amazingly, Jesus would have willingly gone to the centurion's house out of compassion but responded according to his great faith instead. If you think of faith as a currency, it can only make a difference when you take it out of your purse or wallet! Similarly, when you activate your faith in God and allow yourself to believe in Him, the possibilities are endless. This means you act and talk like you have faith, you make decisions based on it, and you're not ashamed of it just like this centurion. The lesson here is that God alone is the miracle worker. So, come to Him, submitting to His authority in every area, just like this centurion. If you ask Him to work out His plans in your life as He sees fit, without pre-conditions, you will see miracles. Ask yourself: is it possible that you are limiting the size of your miracle because you have not put your faith in the authority of Jesus in your life? Make that decision, give Him first place to work as He sees fit without fear.   2. Have faith to call on the name of Jesus. In the story of Jesus's encounter with blind Bartimaeus, Jesus was leaving the city of Jerico with a large crowd following Him (Mark 10:46-52). Bartimaeus activated his faith by calling on the name of Jesus. He most likely knew who Jesus was through the scriptures that were read publicly, and by the many miraculous things Jesus was doing all around him. He called Jesus ‘Son of David', which showed that he believed Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah, the King sent as the Saviour of the world, starting with Israel (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:4-5). Knowing who Jesus was and hearing about the miracles He was doing, Bartimaeus could hardly contain himself! Even in the face of discouragement Bartimaeus would not be silenced (Mark 10:48). This kind of faith caused Jesus to stop. He Jesus responded to the faith Bartimaeus had in His name, His reputation and person. Being blind, he had never seen Jesus, but that did not stop him believing Jesus. The same is true today. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. One of the names of God is ‘Jehovah Rapha' which means ‘The Lord who heals'. There's healing in His name (Exodus 15:26). Cry out to Jesus for mercy in your need and like Bartimaeus you will be saved, healed and delivered.   3. Faith to reach out to Jesus (Mark 5:24-34). In this final example, a woman's faith moved her to reach out and touch the garment of Jesus so she could be healed. This example illustrates powerfully that genuine faith relies on the person of Jesus. There were many who touched Jesus in that crowd, but only one had reached out to touch Him because of her faith in Him. Having to explain her bleeding in a crowded place would have been a great embarrassment to her, but she had faith in the divinity of Jesus, and in the compassion of Jesus. For her, Jesus was not just a good man, He is ‘Emmanuel', God with us in our pain, in our suffering. Her faith led her to believe that just taking hold of His garment would be sufficient for her healing. It is not the healing ministers that heal, it is not the longest, loudest prayer, it is Jesus and only Jesus who heals. If you reach out to Him now, He will answer you as He has promised. It is time like never before to activate our faith in the authority of Jesus, in the name Jesus, and to reach out to touch Jesus in our lives. Refuse to be held back by limitations and the discouragement of others. Go after God! If you draw near to God, He promises that He will draw near to you. 

We can play our part in seeing God do amazing things in our lives and the lives of others, by activating our faith. By definition, a miracle is a divine operation that happens outside of the laws of nature; it cannot be explained upon any natural basis. Amazingly, Jesus taught His disciples that God would do whatever we ask if we have faith, so faith is key to seeing miracles (Matthew 21:22). Even a little faith is powerful (Matthew 17:20).  In our convenience culture, there is a danger that we try to reduce the miraculous to a convenient formula. Faith is not an impersonal force, not a principle or a method. As we see from examples in the Bible, faith rests on the person of Jesus Christ. Our faith needs to be activated. Different times in the gospel we read Jesus saying ‘your faith has healed you' (Matthew 9:22 ESV; Mark 5:34 ESV; Luke 17:19; Luke 18:42).    The word used in the original language of the New Testament to describe healing is ‘Sozo'. It means “to preserve, rescue, save from death, or keep alive.” Sometimes, ‘Sozo' refers to spiritual salvation, resulting from a person's faith. For example, when a repentant prostitute washed Jesus' feet with her tears, He told her: “Your faith has saved you” (Luke 7:50). When Jesus said to certain people, “Your faith has made you well,” He was saying that their faith (their confidence in Him) caused God to bring their restoration. The power of Christ brought about the cure, but His power was applied in connection with their faith.   So, the value of one's faith does not come from the one who expresses it but from the one on whom it depends (Mark 10:52, Mark 11:22). In the case of a paralysed man at the pool of Bethesda where multitudes gathered to be healed (John 5:1-11). Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be made well. But he really didn't really understand the question. He thought the only way to be healed was to get into the pool at the right moment, but he couldn't do that. Jesus healed him anyway! This confused and needy man was healed by God's grace. He had no faith in Jesus at the time; he didn't even know it was Jesus who had healed him until later (John 5:12–13). That is how Jesus dealt with the sick in many cases. He separated their physical problems from their spiritual needs. Everyone whom Jesus willed to be healed was healed. Sometimes Jesus emphasised the faith they had, other times, in His great mercy, He healed those who had no faith and later drew them to Himself. So, what did Jesus mean when He told people, “Your faith has made you well”?   1. Faith in the authority of Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13) 2. Have faith to call on the name of Jesus (Mark 10:46-52; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:4-5; Mark 10:48; Exodus 15:26) 3. Faith to reach out to Jesus (Mark 5:24-34)  Apply    1. Faith in the authority of Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). The story of the centurion whose servant was healed by Jesus appears both in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. This centurion recognised that Jesus had authority and power in an area that he himself did not, that is physical healing. His own power and authority, great as it was, could not make his servant well again. His great faith on its own could not change the situation either. He needed the person and authority of Jesus. He activated his faith by finding Jesus and submitting to His authority. He had no doubt that sickness itself is under the authority of Jesus to command. Amazingly, Jesus would have willingly gone to the centurion's house out of compassion but responded according to his great faith instead. If you think of faith as a currency, it can only make a difference when you take it out of your purse or wallet! Similarly, when you activate your faith in God and allow yourself to believe in Him, the possibilities are endless. This means you act and talk like you have faith, you make decisions based on it, and you're not ashamed of it just like this centurion. The lesson here is that God alone is the miracle worker. So, come to Him, submitting to His authority in every area, just like this centurion. If you ask Him to work out His plans in your life as He sees fit, without pre-conditions, you will see miracles. Ask yourself: is it possible that you are limiting the size of your miracle because you have not put your faith in the authority of Jesus in your life? Make that decision, give Him first place to work as He sees fit without fear.   2. Have faith to call on the name of Jesus. In the story of Jesus's encounter with blind Bartimaeus, Jesus was leaving the city of Jerico with a large crowd following Him (Mark 10:46-52). Bartimaeus activated his faith by calling on the name of Jesus. He most likely knew who Jesus was through the scriptures that were read publicly, and by the many miraculous things Jesus was doing all around him. He called Jesus ‘Son of David', which showed that he believed Jesus to be the long-awaited Messiah, the King sent as the Saviour of the world, starting with Israel (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:4-5). Knowing who Jesus was and hearing about the miracles He was doing, Bartimaeus could hardly contain himself! Even in the face of discouragement Bartimaeus would not be silenced (Mark 10:48). This kind of faith caused Jesus to stop. He Jesus responded to the faith Bartimaeus had in His name, His reputation and person. Being blind, he had never seen Jesus, but that did not stop him believing Jesus. The same is true today. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. One of the names of God is ‘Jehovah Rapha' which means ‘The Lord who heals'. There's healing in His name (Exodus 15:26). Cry out to Jesus for mercy in your need and like Bartimaeus you will be saved, healed and delivered.   3. Faith to reach out to Jesus (Mark 5:24-34). In this final example, a woman's faith moved her to reach out and touch the garment of Jesus so she could be healed. This example illustrates powerfully that genuine faith relies on the person of Jesus. There were many who touched Jesus in that crowd, but only one had reached out to touch Him because of her faith in Him. Having to explain her bleeding in a crowded place would have been a great embarrassment to her, but she had faith in the divinity of Jesus, and in the compassion of Jesus. For her, Jesus was not just a good man, He is ‘Emmanuel', God with us in our pain, in our suffering. Her faith led her to believe that just taking hold of His garment would be sufficient for her healing. It is not the healing ministers that heal, it is not the longest, loudest prayer, it is Jesus and only Jesus who heals. If you reach out to Him now, He will answer you as He has promised. It is time like never before to activate our faith in the authority of Jesus, in the name Jesus, and to reach out to touch Jesus in our lives. Refuse to be held back by limitations and the discouragement of others. Go after God! If you draw near to God, He promises that He will draw near to you. 

Yet even now, be free from your captivity! Leave Babylon and the Babylonians. Sing out this message! Shout it to the ends of the earth! The Lord has redeemed his servants, the people of Israel (Isaiah 48:20). Thank you, Abba!

"For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save Jerusalem and show my glory to Israel" (Isaiah 46:13). Glory to God!

For it is the day of the Lord's revenge, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel (Isaiah 34:8). We are chosen!

What makes the difference between the fate of sinful Babylon and sinful Israel-- Isaiah 47-48 prepares us for the first serial reading in public worship on the Lord's Day. In these thirty-seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that for the sake of His Name and praise, which the Lord has invested in them, the Lord delivers Israel.

The destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17:1): In 732 BC, the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III conquered Damascus, fulfilling this prophecy.The fall of Samaria (Isaiah 17:3): The Assyrian king Sargon II captured the city of Samaria in 722 BC, leading to the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel.The desolation of the land (Isaiah 17:9): The Assyrian invasions left the region desolate, as the prophecy foretold.The fading of the glory of Jacob (Isaiah 17:4): The northern kingdom of Israel lost its power and influence after its fall to the Assyrians.The judgment on the nations (Isaiah 17:12-14): The prophecy speaks of the nations being driven like chaff by a storm, which can be seen as a metaphor for the rise and fall of empires throughout history.The destruction of Babylon (Isaiah 13:19-22): Babylon was conquered by the Medes and Persians in 539 BC, fulfilling this prophecy.The fall of Tyre (Isaiah 23:1): The city of Tyre was besieged and destroyed by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.The desolation of Tyre (Isaiah 23:9): After Alexander's conquest, Tyre was left in ruins and never regained its former glory.The scattering of the inhabitants of Tyre (Isaiah 23:15): The people of Tyre were dispersed throughout the world, as the prophecy predicted.The judgment on Egypt (Isaiah 19:1-15): Egypt experienced numerous invasions and changes of rulers throughout history, fulfilling this prophecy.The civil strife in Egypt (Isaiah 19:2): Egypt has experienced internal conflicts and political instability throughout its history.The drying up of the Nile (Isaiah 19:5-6): Although not a literal fulfillment, the Nile River has faced challenges due to pollution and water management issues, causing it to become less life-sustaining.The destruction of the idols of Egypt (Isaiah 19:1): Many of Egypt's ancient idols and temples were destroyed or abandoned over time.The judgment on Cush (Isaiah 18:1-7): The region of Cush, or ancient Ethiopia, has experienced numerous conflicts and changes of rulers throughout history.The judgment on the Philistines (Isaiah 14:29-32): The Philistines were conquered and their cities destroyed by the Babylonians in the 6th century BC.The judgment on Moab (Isaiah 15-16): Moab was conquered by the Babylonians and later by the Persians, fulfilling this prophecy.The judgment on Damascus (Isaiah 17:1): In addition to the Assyrian conquest, Damascus has been conquered and destroyed multiple times throughout history.The judgment on the nations (Isaiah 21:1-10): The prophecy speaks of the fall of various nations, which can be seen as a metaphor for the rise and fall of empires throughout history.The restoration of Israel (Isaiah 19:23-25): Although not fully realized, there have been instances of cooperation and peace between Israel, Egypt, and Assyria (modern-day Iraq) throughout history.

Prophecy - Israel - Eternal Endurance of Israel Isaiah 66:22 Jeremiah 31:35-37 Romans 11:1 Romans 11: 25-26 Dr. Mitchell presents the several scriptures on the eternal endurance of the nation of Israel. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unchanging-word/message

The Lord gave me a prophetic dream about Israel. He said Isaiah 11:11 is happening now, also don't miss the last 15 minutes, Apostle Liberty releases an important announcement.

Guest speaker, Roy Schwarcz, teaches on the Names of Yeshua from Isaiah 9.

Guest speaker, Roy Schwarcz, teaches on the Names of Yeshua from Isaiah 9.

Guest speaker, Roy Schwarcz, teaches on the Names of Yeshua from Isaiah 9.

Guest speaker, Roy Schwarcz, teaches on the Names of Yeshua from Isaiah 9.

A new MP3 sermon from Treasuring Christ Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: The Future Salvation of Israel (Isaiah 12) Subtitle: The Spiritual State of Israel Speaker: Boyd Johnson Broadcaster: Treasuring Christ Church Event: Sunday Service Date: 12/10/2023 Bible: Isaiah 12 Length: 45 min.

Treasuring Christ Church - Athens, GA. Pastor Boyd Johnson

“Why Stand With Israel Today?” – “We are tied to the Jewish people.” – Through Abraham all the nations were formed. * Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." - God has never departed from Israel: * Isaiah 54:8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer. - We are all Jews by faith: * Romans 2:28-29 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Biblical truths expounded upon to encourage believers to be salt and light in their communities, in their workplace, and in the world, shining forth the gospel of Jesus Christ and being witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

Biblical truths expounded upon to encourage believers to be salt and light in their communities, in their workplace, and in the world, shining forth the gospel of Jesus Christ and being witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

Isaiah is a challenging book to study and even more challenging to understand. Many people avoid it because of its length, its prophetic language or its difficulty to understand without historical knowledge. These are certainly challenges, but Isaiah is too important a book NOT to read. Yes, it can be challenging, long and difficult to grasp in context, but this study will take you through that and help guide you on your way to becoming familiar with some of the most important prophecies in the Bible. This study will cover the first half of Isaiah. Because there is no cohesive narrative within Isaiah; it is a collection of prophetic words to various nations at different times; we are breaking it up in half to make it easier to digest. In this study, we will look at Isaiah chapters 1-33. From this study, you will gain the necessary historical background, insights into what has been fulfilled and what has not and all that you need to keep reading and know God's Word through the Prophet Isaiah. -----------LINKS----------Support 10WB on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/10weekbibleThe 10 Week Bible - http://www.10WeekBible.comTwitter: @DarrenHibbs - https://twitter.com/DarrenHibbsSign up for my newsletter - http://www.darrenhibbs.comGet a copy of the 10 Week Bible Study today - https://www.amazon.com/Darren-Hibbs/e/B00B4I47CE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=sl2&tag=darrenhcom0a-20&linkId=401f3d79974c70929517936977e32df9My other YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChUU0XHSHuhSyN8qk-7efYgSupport the show

In this episode we discuss the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18. Jesus speaks this parable in context to the discussion of the sudden and apocalyptic coming of the messianic kingdom in Luke 17:20-37. As has been common throughout Jewish liturgical history, this parable is spoken to encourage faith and prayer for the coming of the Messiah and the day of the Lord. Show notes The apocalyptic context of the parable - Luke 17:20-37 (5:32) Allegory: the widow and the judge - Lamentations 1:1; Isaiah 54:4 (13:02) The “elect” in its covenantal context - Isaiah 65:9-22; 1 Enoch 1:8-9 (18:14) The delay and losing heart (22:18) Similar language in Second Temple literature - Sirach 35:14–25; 36:1-29 (28:35) Liturgy and the redemption of Israel - Isaiah 62:1-7; Amidah; Didache 10:5-6 (35:56) Modern approaches to the parable (47:35)

This chapter deals with the destruction of Israel, to the point that only a remnant remains. But those who destroy and scatter her shall be destroyed. For Shawn White's show notes, go here.

Pastor Mike Colaw teaches on the prophet Isaiah, "No more tears."

More Woes on Israel Isaiah 5:18-21 Wednesday (5-10-23) Bible Study

The Jewish people returned to Israel with a heart of stone, but God is beginning to remove it. Hear Eliel's miraculous story of how Jesus gave him a new heart and a new life. And join millions praying for 21 days for Israel's salvation! TreeofLifeIsrael.orgGod is opening up the eyes of His people Israel more than any time in the last 2,000 years. Find out more about our online and street evangelism and our pro-life work in Israel here!Support the show

Praying for Israel - Isaiah 62 Fast | Carlos Sarmiento | 4 16 23 by Remnant Christian Center

Restoration: 724. arukah healing of a wound, restoration, healing, restoration of Israel Isaiah 58:8 restoration of walls of temple 2 Chronicles 24:13, of walls of Jerusalem (compare Fi above) Nehemiah 4:1 600 apokathístēmi (from 570 /apistía, "separated from" and 2525 /kathístēmi, "have a definite standing") – properly, restore back to original standing, i.e. that existed before a fall; re-establish, returning back to the (ultimate) ideal; (figuratively) restore back to full freedom (the liberty of the original standing); to enjoy again, i.e. what was taken away by a destructive or life-dominating power. 600/apokathistēmi ("reestablish") emphasizes separation from the former, negative influence to enjoy what is forward (the restoration). 2675 katartízō (from 2596 /katá, "according to, down," intensifying artizō, "to adjust," which is derived from 739 /ártios, "properly adjusted") – properly, exactly fit (adjust) to be in good working order, i.e. adjusted exactly "down" to fully function. ethically, to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be: τινα (1 Peter 5:10 (see above)); Galatians 6:1 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/anthony-wilson/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/anthony-wilson/support

In this episode we will look at the NT passages which demonstrate OT prophecy as being fulfilled with respect to the Gentiles having access to God.  This access is through the blood of Christ to be able to become partakers of the Holy Spirit of God.  The promise of salvation now being fulfilled as it is offered to the Gentiles.  We will also see a similar patter of God's behavior towards Israel just as in the OT.  Sadly even though Israel had the promises, because they wouldn't humble themselves; God ended up destroyed many of the people.  The same thing happened again when Christ came.  He spoke to them in parables specifically so they would NOT understand, NOT repent and NOT be healed.  This is recorded in Mathew ch 13.  The same prophecy of judgement upon Israel Isaiah spoke is repeated by Christ to Israel.  Paul also repeats some of the same prophecy's of judgement.  God knowing this beforehand, extends the offer of salvation to the Gentiles.  Part 4C will look at the NT passages from Mathew through the book of Acts.  Part 4D will cover the book of Romans to the end of the NT.Passages covered:  Mathew 4:12-17, 10:5-7, 12:15-21, 13:10-16, 28:19-20;  Mark 11:15-17;  Luke 2:30-32, 24:44-49;  Acts 9:15, 10:12-19, 10:34-11:1, 11:16-18, 13:46-47, 14:16-17, 27, 15:7-19, 18:5-6, 26:16-23, 28:23-28

Rev. Brian Carpenter

In Isaiah 61 the prophet announced the good news of God's restoration for the people of Israel:Isaiah 61:1-2  The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;Jesus taught that He was the promised Messiah. Jesus Christ began this sermon by reading from the writings of Isaiah concerning the future mission of the Anointed One:Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”Seven centuries after the prophecy of Isaiah, Jesus Christ began His public ministry in the synagogue of Nazareth by opening up the scroll of Isaiah and applying this passage to Himself. AT the end of the reading he said “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing,”After his reading those to whom He was speaking attempted to rationalize His message as they rejected Him and "thrust him out of the city." (Luke 4:28.) Jesus had anticipated their rejection and had taught them that even though there were many among them who had afflictions, few would accept Him and be healed. (See Luke 4:22-27.)The brokenheartedJesus concluded the sermon in Nazareth identifying Himself as the anointed Servant-King who would announce “the good news” of salvation and bind up the brokenhearted.The “brokenhearted” are people who are weakened, crushed, or destroyed in spirit. The term describes those who feel spiritually bankrupted, needy, and helpless. They desire God's help, comfort, and salvation.The verb translated “bind up” in the original language means “to inspire with confidence, give hope and courage to, to encourage, to bandage, to dress by covering, wrapping, or binding.”The focus of the message of good news is spiritual restoration and healing. As a physician would “bind up” or bandage a wounded arm, so the Messiah would bandage a wounded spirit.How does Jesus bind up the brokenhearted?1 Peter 2:24, NLT “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed”Jesus Christ knows our troubles, temptations, and sorrows.  He experienced them throughout His life and His death on the cross.Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds Get full access to My Evening Devotional at myeveningdevotional.substack.com/subscribe

“I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:3). The Beatitudes “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came […] The post Jesus Offers Eternal Life…the Kingdom of Heaven…Treasures…Hidden Riches…Amen! appeared first on Wonder & Reality.

This week on Study Isaiah, Dr. Paul Wegner and host Tyler Sanders get into the Song of the Vineyard, the Song of Thanksgiving and the woe oracles - that means they are jumping back-and-forth through the text! Why are they talking about Isaiah 5 and 12 and skipping 6-11 this week? Because 5-12 is a palistrophe—a big one! In case you have forgotten, a palistrophe is a literary structure that relates parallel lines, phrases or thoughts in reverse order to highlight a central idea. So, the Song of the Vineyard in chapter 5 and the Song of Thanksgiving in chapter 12 are related, parallel ideas and they are located on opposite sides of the structure—the beginning and end. In between these two songs is the central thought of this passage—we'll get to that idea in a later episode—as well as a series of oracles that fit inside the palistrophe.Palistrophe Structure of Isaiah 5-12A. Song of the Vineyard (Is 5:1-7)B. Six Woe Oracles (Is 5:8-23)C. Uplifted Hands Oracle (Is 5:24-30)Isaianic Memoir (Is 6:1-9:7)C1. Four Uplifted Hand Oracles (Is 9:8-10:4)B1. Woe Oracle (Is 10:5-11:16)A1. Song of Thanksgiving (Is 12:1-6)

This week on Study Isaiah, Dr. Paul Wegner and host Tyler Sanders walk through Isaiah 2-4. The people of Israel continue to disobey and God continues to call them to obey. The disobedience of Israel brings severe punishment, but the refining discipline leads to a hopeful future.

Israel and Judah were exiled from the land, so that the land could observe its Sabbaths -2 Chronicles 36-15-21-.--King Zedekiah was eventually captured by Nebuchadnezzar. The last sight he had before having his eyes put out was to see his two sons slaughtered -2 Kings 25-7-. So came to an end the glorious reign of the sons of David. --Yet, the prophet Isaiah had foretold that out of this seemingly dead stump of Jesse -David's father-, a green shoot would spring forth -Isaiah 11-1-. This branch from David's chopped-down tree would rule all nations and cause them to submit to the God of Israel -Isaiah 2-1-4- 11-1-9-. Then, not only Israel, but all nations, would enjoy the great Sabbath-year Jubilee -Isaiah 61-1-4-. The Levitical Jubilee as but a dim foreshadowing of this -Leviticus 25-. --The Lord Jesus began proclaiming that great gospel Jubilee in his 30th year in the synagogue of Nazareth -Luke 4-16- 21-. At the time of his second coming, he will bring his great work to consummation, and we will live in the new Eden -Isaiah 11-, the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells -2 Peter 3-13-. --In the book of Daniel, the exile of the Jews in the Babylonian captivity and their return to the land of Judah under the Persians is the backdrop of the drama of a greater captivity and a greater deliverance. Through a series of visions, God proceeds to unfold his plan for his people. The 70 years of exile would come to an end with the fall of Babylon, but the true liberation of Israel and the restoration of the fallen house of David would take, not 70 years, but 70 times seven -Daniel 9-.

Israel and Judah were exiled from the land, so that the land could observe its Sabbaths -2 Chronicles 36-15-21-.----King Zedekiah was eventually captured by Nebuchadnezzar. The last sight he had before having his eyes put out was to see his two sons slaughtered -2 Kings 25-7-. So came to an end the glorious reign of the sons of David.----Yet, the prophet Isaiah had foretold that out of this seemingly dead stump of Jesse -David's father-, a green shoot would spring forth -Isaiah 11-1-. This branch from David's chopped-down tree would rule all nations and cause them to submit to the God of Israel -Isaiah 2-1-4- 11-1-9-. Then, not only Israel, but all nations, would enjoy the great Sabbath-year Jubilee -Isaiah 61-1-4-. The Levitical Jubilee as but a dim foreshadowing of this -Leviticus 25-.----The Lord Jesus began proclaiming that great gospel Jubilee in his 30th year in the synagogue of Nazareth -Luke 4-16- 21-. At the time of his second coming, he will bring his great work to consummation, and we will live in the new Eden -Isaiah 11-, the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells -2 Peter 3-13-.----In the book of Daniel, the exile of the Jews in the Babylonian captivity and their return to the land of Judah under the Persians is the backdrop of the drama of a greater captivity and a greater deliverance. Through a series of visions, God proceeds to unfold his plan for his people. The 70 years of exile would come to an end with the fall of Babylon, but the true liberation of Israel and the restoration of the fallen house of David would take, not 70 years, but 70 times seven -Daniel 9-.

“Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel…” (Isaiah 48) Part 3 of 3

“Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel…” (Isaiah 48) Part 2 of 3

“Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel…” (Isaiah 48) Part 1 of 3

King of Israel, the power of the LORD God is found in history for instance with his dealings with Egypt and Pharoah. Also, with calling Cyrus whom the pagan king did not know. All of it reveals the many faceted powers of the Lord God and his righteousness among the nations of men which meet in opposition to the will of the LORD which is to be completed despite men and nations.  In these end of days, pompous nations, leaders, and the people themselves stand up proudly to defy this God. Yet shall they be ashamed.   Go https://linktr.ee/warnradio more info.   The King of Israel, Jehovah is overall agencies and powers. On earth, in the earth, beneath the earth and all things bow before him. The focus of the Lord is upon Israel here. The object is the servant of the Lord, #Jacob or #Israel and the #omnipotence of the #Lord to bring his servant out of bondage. In the process we find the truth of that which is and that which is not. Man, verses God, truth, and error, along with those who claim to have other gods and defy #Jehovah. These verses reveal to us, even with the #Newcovenant the working and might of the Lord. It can teach us the might, #grace, and #promise of this #greatGod.  #KingofIsrael   To get the Books from the Watchman Dana G Smith go to his website/ http://www.DanaGlennSmith.com

Isaiah 62:4-5 No longer will they call you Deserted,     or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah,     and your land Beulah; for the Lord will take delight in you,     and your land will be married. As a young man marries a young woman,     so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,     so will your God rejoice over you. Follow Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus! Facebook fan page Instagram: @drbatsheva Book: Sex Points www.DrBatSheva.com Follow Rabbi Linzer! Rabbi Linzer's other podcasts YCT Facebook community Instagram: @YCTorah www.YCTorah.org Have a question for Rabbi Linzer and Bat Sheva Marcus? Click to submit yours! Moderated by Sara Rozner Lawrence. Produced by Billy Procida.

https://warn-usa.com/jacobs-israel-isaiahs-prophetic-book-pt126/ Jacobs Israel closes chapter forty-three in Isaiah's #Prophetic book. We continue with the troubles of Judah and their sins. Overall #Isaiah has thoroughly covered not only Judah but many #prophecies and details of the #Jewishnation. The #sovereignty of #Jehovah and the #covenant he had with Israel, here both #Israel the #northerntribes and #Judah the southern tribe had met the #judgmentofGod because of their #sins. Yet it is the #LordGod who would blot out the transgression of Judah for "mine own sake" it reads. Was #Judah #unjustly #punished? Did they really sin so bad? #JacobsIsrael More info Go https://linktr.ee/warnradio more info To get the Books from the Watchman Dana G Smith go to his website http://www.DanaGlennSmith.com/shop Direct personal episode urls: Warn-Usa.com https://warn-usa.com #Blogtalk http://tobtr.com/12078068 #Anchor https://anchor.fm/wibr-visions #Spreaker https://www.spreaker.com/episode/49192850 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wibr-visions/support

Jacobs Israel  is at the forefront of the end of the chapter. We have covered the episode of Judah from the first point put forth by Isaiah. While they violated Gods covenant, Gods enduring justice and mercy will shine through. Here the Prophet tells the nation to put for their arguments in your own defense. Knowing that there is no unjust crime, but would show their sins as proven. In addition, it would show Gods own forgiveness and mercy to bring them back into right standing with him after the seventy years are finished.    Go https://linktr.ee/warnradio more info.    Jacobs Israel closes chapter forty-three in Isaiah's #Prophetic book. We continue with the troubles of Judah and their sins. Overall #Isaiah has thoroughly covered not only Judah but many #prophecies and details of the #Jewishnation. The #sovereignty of #Jehovah and the #covenant he had with Israel, here both #Israel the #northerntribes and #Judah the southern tribe had met the #judgmentofGod because of their #sins. Yet it is the #LordGod who would blot out the transgression of Judah for "mine own sake" it reads.  Was #Judah #unjustly #punished? Did they really sin so bad?  #JacobsIsrael To get the Books from the Watchman Dana G Smith go to his website/ http://www.DanaGlennSmith.com

Creator of Israel is #Jehovah who proved to be specially Israel's God by delivering them. The prophets foretold what God would do. They warned Judah, as did they give warnings to Israel [northern tribes]. But after so many years in captivity in Babylon, the nation's saw that #Israel had been removed almost to the last portion of Hebrews in the Land. Yet they did see #Judah restored, Babylon brought down, the temple restored, and #Jerusalem rebuilt. Judah was in the land, in their city, and had their temple. #God the #Lord proved his strength and honor, in all #holiness and #righteousness by fulfilling #prophecy and bringing it to pass in spite of the nations of men. #CreatorofIsrael More info Go https://linktr.ee/warnradio more info To get the Books from the Watchman Dana G Smith go to his website http://www.DanaGlennSmith.com/shop #CreatorofIsrael, #MyWitnesses, #IhaveChosen, #RenewedStrength, #CounselofJehovah, #BeholdtheNations, #FeartheLord, #Grace, #Time, #Trouble, #Warnradio, #Isaiah, #Watchman-declares, #Judgment, #Christian-Faith, #Messianic, #JesusChrist, #Yeshua, #Prophecies , #Christian-teaching, --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/wibr-visions/support

Creator of Israel finds us in Isaiah's Prophetic Book at Chapter forty-three. Here the nations have witnessed the fall of Judah, the second of the houses of Israel to do so. The Israel of today was restored in 1948 and today plays an integral part in world stage events. Their sciences and technology at all levels are among the top in the nations of men. Yet as before, this tiny nation has many enemies. But as the Apostle Paul reminds, God has not forsaken Israel; see Romans chapter Eleven.    Go https://linktr.ee/warnradio more info.   Creator of Israel is #Jehovah who proved to be specially Israel's God by delivering them. The prophets foretold what God would do. They warned Judah, as did they give warnings to Israel [northern tribes]. But after so many years in captivity in Babylon, the nation's saw that #Israel had been removed almost to the last portion of Hebrews in the Land. Yet they did see #Judah restored, Babylon brought down, the temple restored, and #Jerusalem rebuilt. Judah was in the land, in their city, and had their temple. #God the #Lord proved his strength and honor, in all #holiness and #righteousness by fulfilling #prophecy and bringing it to pass in spite of the nations of men. #CreatorofIsrael   To get the Books from the Watchman Dana G Smith go to his website/ http://www.DanaGlennSmith.com

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:3). “The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant” (Psalm 25:14). […] The post The Mystery…Salvation…The Glory of the Lord…Jesus is God! Amen! appeared first on Wonder & Reality.

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:3). “The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant” (Psalm 25:14). […] The post The Answer: the Presence of Jesus…the Glory of God…the Mystery….Amen! appeared first on Wonder & Reality.

A preview of some upcoming messages is below. “I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:3). “The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And […] The post The Mystery of God…Intro…Jesus is Alive! He is God! Amen appeared first on Wonder & Reality.

Isaiah 44:21-45:7 - Remember This: God Sends a Deliverer for Israel150 Years in Advance, By Name, and He's a GentileNotes: https://www.theunsafebible.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Remember-This-Notes.pdfPastor Ken BrownSupport the show (https://pushpay.com/g/theunsafebible)

Midweek - The Book of Isaiah - 036 - The Holy One of Israel - Isaiah 41

Isaiah 35 - The Future for IsraelThe Future for the WorldNotes: https://www.theunsafebible.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/The-Future-for-Israel-Notes.pdfPastor Ken BrownSupport the show (https://pushpay.com/g/theunsafebible)

Farming is difficult in areas that lack freshwater. To help solve this problem, The Seawater Greenhouse Company has created something new—“cooling houses” in Somaliland, Africa, and other countries with similar climates. Cooling houses use solar pumps to drizzle saltwater over walls made of corrugated cardboard. As the water moves down each panel, it leaves its salt behind. Much of the remaining fresh water evaporates inside the structure, which becomes a humid place where fruit and vegetable crops can flourish. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised to do a “new thing” as He provided “streams in the wasteland” for ancient Israel (Isaiah 43:19). This new thing contrasted with the old thing He had done to rescue His people from the Egyptian army. Remember the Red Sea account? God wanted His people to recall the past but not let it overshadow His current involvement in their lives (v. 18). He said, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness” (v. 19). While looking to the past can bolster our faith in God’s provision, living in the past can blind us to all the fresh work of God’s Spirit today. We can ask God to show us how He’s currently moving—helping, remaking, and sustaining His people. May this awareness prompt us to partner with Him to meet the needs of others, both near and far.

Join us as Isaiah continues our midweek study through the book of Joshua

The context of Isaiah's prophecy of the Prince of Peace takes us back to the trials of God's people under the Midianites. --There was no rejoicing over the harvest, and those rejoicing over the spoils were the Midianites and Amalekites, not Israel -Isaiah 9-3- Judges 6-2-5, 11-.--All that changed when God raised up Gideon, a most unlikely deliverer, constantly in need of signs and confirmations. Yet it was through this weak and frail man, God brought Israel to rejoice again in prosperity -Isaiah 9-3-5-- Judges 8-23-26-.--So it is that the tiny babe, born in Bethlehem, weak and helpless in his humanity, is at the same time, the mighty God. He is the one who will bring peace -Isaiah 9-6-.

Sitting in a dark room, even the flame from the smallest candle can invade. No wonder Isaiah describes the impact of Christ on our dark world as a "great light." Inspired by We The Kingdom's song "Light of the World" I explore what we can learn about Jesus as the Light of the world. Come along for the journey as we sit in a large chunk of Scripture and then explore the theme of "light" this week. In this episode, I discuss: Taking a B.I.T.E. out of Scripture - our Bible Interaction Tool Exercises this week are: Studying a theme Reading in context Reading larger chunks of Scripture Making observations of the text Making a list Consulting an outside resource Considering the historical context The 30 Day Music Challenge - ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE HERE Using Christmas lights to remind us that Christ is the "Light of the world" Studying the context of John 1:1-18 because of verse 9 - John 1:9 Observing the details in the text "Light" is repeated 7 times "Word" is introduced and repeated four times "He/Him" is repeated 18 times Using an outside resource to deepen my understanding of why John used the Greek word "logos" to describe Jesus - GotQuestions.org Article Listing out the times John talks about Jesus being "the Word" and what we learn about Him Jesus is eternal Jesus was with God before coming to earth Jesus is God Jesus is Creator Jesus is the giver of life Jesus became human The theme of light pointing to Christ throughout Scripture Creation of the first light - Genesis 1:3-4; with the Jesus connection in 2 Corinthians 4:6 God is the source of Israel's light - Exodus 13:21-22 God is the source of our individual light - Psalm 27:1 and Psalm 18:28 God's Word is our source of light - Psalm 119:105 and Psalm 119:130 Jesus is the greatest light of all - John 1:4-5 Jesus declares himself the "light of the world" - John 8:12 The prophet Isaiah speaks of the future glory of a restored Israel - Isaiah 60:1-3 Jesus is the lamp for all eternity in the New Jerusalem - Revelation 21:22-27 How we, too, are to shine with the light of Christ - Matthew 5:14-16 I know you may feel like the darkness is overtaking you but cling fast to the hope of the truth that the darkness will not overcome the light.     Additional Resources Lyrics and chords - WorshipTogether.com Performance and story behind the song "Light of the World" by We The Kingdom - YouTube Video What do John 1:1,14 mean when they declare that Jesus is the Word of God? - GotQuestions.org Article The meaning of the candles in the Messianic Jewish Candle Lighting Ceremony - Yeshua Ha'Mashiach Ministries Article Weekly Challenge Dive into John 1. Read all about Jesus the Word and the light of the world. Make observations. Make lists. Go on a scavenger hunt throughout the Bible to see references to light and ponder their connection to God's revelation of His Son as the Light of the World.    

It's amazing how on the one hand, we head into Christmas wanting it to be full of peace and rest – yet so often, there's turmoil … what's going on.   The Mother of All Wars I don't know what your December generally looks like, but for a lot of people it's rush, rush, rush, getting things done at work, its presents, its parties, it's getting ready to have a bit of a break, its anticipation and for some people its despair. And into that special time that we call Christmas - no matter where we live, it seems to be a special time. December tends to be a month of preoccupation with other things, with something, and so often we get to Christmas and we're exhausted and the whole Christmas experience can be empty and hallow. Sometimes it doesn't live up to the expectation – to all the hype. "Why did I do that?" Have you ever felt that? You go into Christmas and you look back on that busy month that we've just been through and you think, "my goodness!", there's this turmoil where there should be peace; there's an unrest. Sometimes you can feel so far away from the "peace and the goodwill to all men" thing, that's supposed to be happening at Christmas time. Because peace is what Christmas is all about. Christmas, as we are going to see over the next few weeks on the programme, is God's declaration of peace with us. Peace from what? Peace from all the turmoil; peace from all the war; peace from the mother of all wars because until and unless we come to know Jesus Christ, there's a war happening between us and God. Maybe your have never thought of it that way but at Christmas we celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace. Everybody's life has a sense of turmoil sometimes and our lives can feel like a war zone. We need peace so over these coming four weeks – this week and the next three weeks on the programme "Christianityworks", we are going to be working our way through a teaching series that I've called, "Peace beyond all understanding". Today we are going to start and say, “Well, peace from what?” We need to look at this war between God and humanity. Not God's initiative but our initiative – our rebellion. If you have a Bible, I'd ask you to grab it and open it up to the Old Testament, to the Book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel is, in a sense, a strange book. It's a book of God's judgement against His people. The situation is that Israel, they did the whole, "get out of Egypt, go through the Red Sea, forty years in the desert with Moses then they made it into the Promised Land and they had some judges overseeing the Nation of Israel and then they had three Kings and then the Nation of Israel split in two. Israel, the ten tribes to the north, Judah and Benjamin the two tribes to the south in Jerusalem and it all went down hill from there." Centuries went on and God's people rebelled against Him, even though He had a covenant with them; even though He promised them this land that He'd given them; the land of the Canaanites, and yet they still rebelled against Him. So God's judgement fell on Judah and Benjamin and Israel and they were exiled – the temple was destroyed. It was about five eighty six, five eighty seven BC. The temple was destroyed, Jerusalem was raised to the ground, many, many were killed and those that were left were exiled as slaves in Babylon. And the Book of Ezekiel was written just a few years into that exile. It is written to the exiles to explain God's judgement. You can imagine! Israel was saying, “Hang on, aren't we God's people? Didn't we have the temple? Wasn't God present in the temple? And all of a sudden now we have been defeated by the Babylonians. The temple is destroyed, there's no more sacrifice, how do we get our sin forgiven? Where's our God? Is Babylon stronger and more mighty than our God?” And so the Book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel was one of God's prophets who was called to explain God's judgement to His people - to those that were left, to those who lived. And so we are going to go to chapter 5, beginning at verse 5 and just have a bit of a read. The first twenty-four chapters of the Book of Ezekiel are God's judgement against His chosen people. We're going to read just a small part of that. This is what the Lord God says: This is Jerusalem, I've set her in the centre of the nations with countries all around her. But she has rebelled against my ordinances and my statutes, becoming more wicked than the nations and the countries all around her, rejecting my ordinances and not following my statutes. Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you are more turbulent than all the nations around you and you have not followed my statutes or kept my ordinances, but you have acted according to the ordinances of the nations that are all around you, therefore thus, says the Lord your God: “I myself am coming against you. I will execute judgements among you in the sight of all the nations and because of all your abominations, I will do to you what I have never yet done and the like of which I will never do again. Surely parents will eat their children in your midst and surely children will eat their parents and I will execute judgments on you and any of you who survive I will scatter to every wind. Therefore, as I live, says the Lord God: “Surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will cut you down. My eye will not spare and I will have no pity. One third of you shall die of pestilence or be consumed by famine among you. One third shall fall by the sword around you and one third I will scatter to every wind and will unsheathe the sword after them. My anger shall spend itself and I will vent my fury on them and satisfy myself and they shall know that I, the Lord God, have spoken in my jealousy when I spend my fury on them.” Well, doesn't sound like a message leading into Christmas does it? But we need to understand what's going on here before we can really understand Christmas. We like to ignore some Scriptures but this is about a God who is angry with His people. If we want to understand our own turmoil – that sense that something is not quite right – we need to understand the war between us and God that was occasioned by our own rebellion. Dad, God, Father, is a Dad of love but like every other father, sometimes enough is enough and sometimes rebellion leads to punishment – that's God – that's as much God as the loving, gentle, Father God. And when we rebel we break His wonderful plan – the plan of God, “I will be your God and you will be my people.” And as you read through these judgments in the first twenty-four chapters of Ezekiel, God doesn't hold back His punishment. He punishes His people to get this rebellion sorted out and until we get our rebellion sorted out, we are at war with God and our lives are going to be in turmoil. You might say, “But, me, how? I'm not that bad a person.” We are going to answer that question next.   Gallery of Horrors We are looking at how God's anger is kindled against His people when they rebel against Him. Ezekiel, the whole book – or much of the book is about God's judgment against the people of Israel because for centuries they worshipped other gods; for centuries they did things that God said don't do and Ezekiel is a prophet that speaks God's punishment and judgment to God's chosen people. And the key accusation against them is: "you haven't followed my statutes or kept my ordinances but you have actually acted on the ordinances of nations that are all around you so instead of looking like my people, you just look like the rest of the world." Ain't that the truth? Isn't that so easy to do? You start off believing in God – wonderful, passionate – and little by little we compromise. The light dims, the salt looses its flavour and it ends up, so we don't look any different to any one else! Maybe we are keeping up appearances, but on the inside, in our hearts, our thoughts, are a gallery of horrors. We think no one sees and yet we wonder why there's turmoil. God's people rebel against God, there's going to be war and there's going to be turmoil and there's not going to be peace. It's interesting! If you have your Bible open at Ezekiel chapter 5, flick on a couple of pages, just to chapter 8 verse 12. Ezekiel here is talking judgment on the elders, the leaders of Israel. Have a listen: Then God said to me: “Man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of images, for they say: “The Lord doesn't see us, the Lord has for forsaken us.” God said to me: “You will see still greater abominations that they are committing. The room of images! Isn't that a wonderful picture? The innermost part, the part of us that we think no one sees. Imagine being in a large are gallery, where the lights are dim, you have a sense of paintings hanging up on the wall, but we can't quite see what those paintings are until someone turns on the light. Until God shines His light on our room of images and we look around and discover we're in a gallery of horrors. A picture of us snarling at someone, of us scheming, of hatred, of dishonesty, of sexual immorality – a gallery we would never want anyone else to see, but in that dark place, God sees and He calls those things "sin". They are our rebellion against God. God has the most wonderful plan for us – “I will be your God and you will be my people,” God is a God of such great blessing, yet we like Israel, rebel against Him. We go our own ways; we think that no one notices and we wonder why there's turmoil, why there's no peace and on top of that, we kid ourselves. While all this is going on in Israel and more, there were actually false prophets wandering around saying: “No, that's alright, everything's ok!” Have a look in chapter 13 verse 10 of Ezekiel: Because in truth these false prophets have misled God's people, saying, "peace", when there was no peace, and because when the people build the wall, these prophets smear whitewash on it. We can think, "well, I can look ok on the outside, I can cover myself with whitewash and nobody will know." Adultery? No problem! Divorce your wife or your husband because it's no longer convenient? That's just a lifestyle choice. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die. There are no consequences. No one will notice but God does and He tolerates it to a point, but ultimately there is judgment because sin is sin, rebellion is rebellion. And not only does it ruin our life right here and right now, it robs us of eternal life, and you know there's not a thing we can do about our sin. Look at the history of Israel. Look at the prophets that God sent to Israel – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zachariah, Malachi. He sent so many prophets and what was the message that each of the prophets gave to God's people? You have forsaken your God. Either come back or God will execute His judgment on you. And they did come back for a while but they kept drifting away again. The name "Israel" means "struggles with God", just like us; they couldn't do anything about it. What's the answer, what's the solution?   The Scene is Set When we're talking about the fact that when we rebel against God, we've declared war on God, and we all have – we all fall short of the glory of God – we've all sinned, we've all rebelled. And there's a thing about wars, have you noticed, they seem to go on and on and on and on? Look at Northern Ireland, look at the Middle East – it's been going on for thousands of years. Terrorism and the war on terror, each side does something and escalates against the other side and let me ask you, where will that end – with a dirty bomb – with a nuclear attack in the middle of a city? And the response of the west, how many villages can it bomb? God doesn't want to have a war with us, but when we rebel against Him; when we turn our backs on His love, on His goodness, we have declared war against our God. And the cry of God down through the ages hasn't been, "make war", the cry of God to you and me, here and now, is, "I want to be your God, will you be my people?" It's in our nature to rebel. One of the first words a child ever learns is "no". Remember the kids how they go through "terrible twos" and it's all about them rebelling. God is a wonderful Dad, just open the window, stick your head out and look at creation – look at the magnificent planet and universe that He has created for you and for me. Then He puts us right in the middle of that, He wants to bless us and we rebel. Adam and Eve did it, Israel did it, you and I have done it. That's the key problem of humanity. And God comes along and puts a stake in the sand and puts a flag on it and says, “Enough is enough! I'm going to declare peace, I'm going to send my Son, Jesus Christ,” and that's what we celebrate at Christmas. That's what we are going to look at over the next few weeks on the programme. But today, today as I was preparing for this programme and praying, I just felt God calling me to speak a warning into your life. Our rebellion, our sin is an act of war against God. We can try and whitewash ourselves on the outside, but God sees straight through that and to tell you the truth, as we look in the mirror we can see straight through that. My prayer for you right now, is that you would ask God to shine His light into your gallery of horrors, just as I have with mine and say, “Lord, let me see myself clearly. I just lay my heart open before you, Lord God and ask you to shine your light into my gallery; into my room of images. Father, show me the ones that you would remove. Show me where I have a root of bitterness; show me where I have dishonesty; show me, Father God, where I have sinned. Shine the light of your Son into my life and make me whole.” You know the old story that, before an alcoholic can have his or her alcoholism treated, first and foremost, they have to admit that they are an alcoholic, and for some people, sadly, that never happens and the drink destroys them. The same is true with other forms of sin – bitterness, un-forgiveness, hatred, dishonesty, sexual immorality ... the list goes on. Everybody struggles with something and sometimes we just want to hang onto that garbage and hang onto that rubbish and pretend like it doesn't matter. It does, because God is a holy God and in His eyes, which see all things, from whom nothing is hidden, He knows our sin and He sees our sin and the cry of His heart is to be our God and for us to be His people and the only way that we can do that is by accepting Jesus Christ. I don't just mean with our heads, I mean with our lives, in our hearts, in our souls, in our spirits, at every level, saying: “Lord God, I lay my life down before you and I accept Jesus as my Lord. I believe that He came to this planet just for me, to make me whole. Not just to bring forgiveness but to make me whole." It hurts sometimes to admit our sin. It hurts to confront our sin. It's so easy to blame someone else; it's so easy to blame the hurts from the past. You know, I didn't have a good father, so I'm insecure so now I'll be difficult to my wife and family or to my husband and family. Are we going to live like that? Are we going to blame other people? Or are we going to go to God and say: “God, you know something, I've just looked at what you have written here in Ezekiel, I see what you have preserved for me down through the centuries to read and God, I know you are a holy God. I know God that you love me but you detest my sin." Are we going to place our faith in Jesus by confronting and admitting our sin before God and are we going to let Him take it away? You know, it hurts to let go sometimes, but will you do that anyway? Will you hear His cry today? I will be your God and you will be my people. God has a plan for our lives, for your life and for my life and it is a peace beyond all understanding, in Christ Jesus. That's the peace that we are going to explore over the next few weeks. But today we have to admit our rebellion and confront our sin and open it up before God and say: “God, I'm not going to try and whitewash any more. Christmas is coming, I'm about to celebrate when you sent your Son Jesus onto this planet for me and leading up to that time. Lord, I want to get my heart so right with you. I know that it may take some time, Lord, to sort things out but I'm going to lay them at your feet anyway. I want your peace, your peace Father God, which surpasses all understanding and I know that there is only one way to achieve that peace. There is only one path, there is only one door; there is only one gate and that is your Son, Jesus Christ.” Are we are going to get real with God? I really pray that today you have been convicted by the Holy Spirit of anything that is holding you back from the most wonderful relationship with your God. Anything that's holding you back from tasting for yourself, day after day, from now through all eternity, the peace of God that comes only from Jesus Christ – a peace that passes all understanding.

This is the message from our Thursday evening service on 12/3/2020 titled "The Restoration of Israel" on Isaiah 48 with Pastor Jeff Gill.

This is the first Sunday of Advent, and the first Sunday in our preaching series from Isaiah, Your Kingdom Com. Today we are in Isa 1:1-6, "The Holy One of Israel".

                                      Isaiah/Part Two:                              “Leadership Perfection”                                          Isaiah 11:1-16 We left off  with the Ax falling on Assyria: Isaiah  10:33-34The Ax also fell on Israel: Isaiah 6:13       Five Characteristics of the Perfect Leader:1.         He is Led by the SpiritThe Messiah like David will be empowered by the Holy Spirit: 1 Samuel 16:13The words counsel and might appear as strategy and military strength: Isaiah 36:5; Isaiah 9:6 The current King had unhealthy fear:  Isaiah 7:2 This is healthy fear: Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is about behavior: John 8:29We need to bring back healthy fear: Romans 14:10 2.         He Dispenses JusticeHe knows the heart of man: John 2:24-25He will not take advantage of those without influence, like the rulers of Isaiah's day: Isaiah 3:14-15His word becomes a weapon: Hebrews 4:12  3.         He Provides Peace & UnityIt is a picture of the whole creation put back into joint: Romans  8:19-21In the Messiah's day death will be conquered: 1 Corinthians 15:55 4.         He Rally's the Faithful (Banner) He raised the banner for destruction: Isaiah 5:26 Here, for Salvation: John 12:32Four quarters: equal to the ends of the earth: Matthew  24:30-31 The war may be a spiritual not a physical: Ephesians  6:10-12 5.         He Makes a Way for His PeopleGod makes a way for us to come to him: John 3:16 Support the show (https://paypal.me/pwp398?locale.x=en_US)

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Revelation 12:13-17 Series: Just Conquer #36 # Introduction Good liturgy does more than check the boxes of what someone has said is good to do at church. It's more than well-arranged hooks to hang meat on, though it does give opportunity for content delivery. Good liturgy is like a recipe for making food that tastes good and fills you up, even though you usually don't think about all of the individual ingredients while eating dinner. Good preaching also does more than meet certain standards of public speaking with the additional concern of theological accuracy. Good preaching pleases God as God's Word is proclaimed, good preaching feeds and equips the saints, it even rebukes and corrects. Good preaching consecrates the living sacrifices as it renews the minds of believers, and it should stimulate faith in the Word which promises blessing. On an annual basis I take a break from whatever series I'm preaching through and focus on the subject of corporate worship and liturgy. Most of the time the liturgy just works on us, sometimes we attend to *how* it works on us. I don't remember the last time I got specific about why I preach the way that I do, and what I expect to come from it (interestingly enough, was probably during a message about where preaching fits in the liturgy). For sake of some of you who are new to the flock, or growing up in it, here are some of the things always dancing around my mind. I love studying the Bible. One of my favorite things to do is diagram verses. I love to see the grammatical main point and the syntactical modifiers. I enjoy reading the Bible, reading books about the Bible and commentaries on specific parts of the Bible. I am fanatic about *paragraphs*, about context, and about considering as much as possible what the original readers would have understood before taking advantage of the larger context of all 66 books, a blessing we have, but one that belongs in its place. I got to spend eight and a half years in Bible college and seminary, I have been preaching on a regular basis for over twenty years, I know that I have extra accountability as an elder and as a teacher (James 3:1), and I *still want you to see the Scripture and understand the text and learn how to read it for yourself*. I'm not abdicating my authority, I'm using my authority to get you to see that my authority is attached to the Word, and you can go straight to the Word, too. Some of you have heard me talk about my attitude on this a lot, or at least a long time ago. Some of you are newish to the flock, and that's great, and my goal is to affirm that I want you to get the Word, not get my word. It doesn't mean that you have as much time, or interest, in studying it as I am blessed to do. But we're only five hundred or so years into God's people having their own copies. What an opportunity to read it, whenever you want, *for yourself*. I am responsible to teach, and you are responsible to see if what you're being told is *biblical* (Acts 17:11). When it comes to the book of Revelation, I'm trying to show my work. I'm not offering a special decoder key to understand it. In fact, apart from a dumb amount of reading on coronavirus and capitalism and constitutions, I've been spending most of my weeks reading a variety of options and interpretations to test my perspective, verse by paragraph by seal and trumpet and woe. When we come here together, I'm not sharing my opinion, I'm telling you my *observations* of the text, for sake of interpretation and application. This is true for Revelation, and it is a pattern for whatever you're reading in the Bible. I'm convinced that the prominent challenge comes from the fact that what John describes in Revelation has not happened like John describes. We're either supposed to realize that his language expects a symbolic interpretation or his language expects a future fulfillment. I'm happy giving the benefit of the doubt that we're all on the same side trying to figure that out, and what we share is a common enemy, who is our ancient and angry foe. This foe is the dragon, the ancient serpent, the devil, Satan (Revelation 12:9). He's an adversary who deceives the world and accuses God's people. He desires their destruction, because beings who won't accept their place before God desire to mess with everything God has put in place. In Revelation 12 there are numerous parts to the battle. The dragon was swept out of heaven early, and tried to devour the male child who was prophesied to defeat him (Genesis 3:15). That didn't work, so he went back to heaven and was decisively thrown down again (Revelation 12:7). He's back to attack the woman, and this final paragraph shows not just that he's furious, but that his efforts are futile. See for yourself. # The Woman Protected (verses 13-14) Some people come to grips with a loss by moping in the corner. Others come to grips by looking for a scapegoat, for someone they can take their anger out on. **When the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to earth**, when he had been defeated and bounced by superior power, **he pursued the woman who fled into the wilderness.** We met the **woman** at the beginning of the chapter. John saw her with a crown of twelve stars, clothed with the sun and with the moon under her feet (12:1). She is a "sign" of Israel, the community that gave birth to the "male child" who would rule the nations (12:5). After the male child was born, she "fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God" (verse 6), and now we see more explicitly her escape. Initially the dragon targeted the woman to get to the Son, now he targets the woman instead of the Son. The word **pursued** often includes persecuted, as here. **And two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman in order to fly into the wilderness, to her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.** (verse 14) The dragon hunts her and God delivers her. **Given** is one of the most common words in Revelation, a divine passive, meaning that this happens by God's effort. She isn't carried by a great eagle (not Gwaihir or Landroval, this isn't _The Hobbit_), she is given **two wings**. What *are* the wings? The Historicist typically takes these as the division of the early church into the east and west. Some take the earth swallowing up the flood in the following verses as a reference to Constantine's conversion and inclusion of Christianity. More likely, the wings are a “yet undisclosed supernatural means for her deliverance” (Thomas). It reminds us of God's message to Moses in the third month after their flight from Egypt. > You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' (Exodus 19:4–6 ESV) The **wilderness** is a place out of the way, a place under the radar, a place of *refuge*. No one wants to go there unless they are trying to escape. But this is **her place**, a “place prepared by God” (verse 6). And she is **nourished**, she is *fed* and kept away from the serpent for three and a half years. A **time** is a year, **times** is two years, and **half a time** is half a year, equalling 42 months, connecting with Daniel 7:25. Think also of the great encouragement in Isaiah 40:28-31, with wings like eagles (verse 31), and various *unfulfilled* promises to Israel (Isaiah 40:27), here fulfilled. Answered in these two verses are Who? When? Where? What? It's *Israel*, during the second half of the Great Tribulation (not the entire church age), taken away (from Jerusalem), for sake of keeping her/them safe from the rage of the dragon. # The Woman Protected - Again (verses 15-16) It looks like she got away, and the serpent isn't satisfied. **The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.** I didn't realize there was a self-contained (Greek) adjective for "swept away/swallowed up by a river" (ποταμοφόρητος, *potamoforetos*). The serpent wants the adjective to describe the woman; he wants to drown her drowned. What about this **flood from his mouth**? Does the flood of water seem to be liquid, or a flood of lies? Is it H2O, or is it dry, as in, deception? There is an apparent connection with flood and falsehood (Psalm 144:7-8). Other commentators think the flood symbolizes an army. If this was the only description we had for the image, it would be easier to take it mainly in a metaphorical sense. But note how the woman is delivered. **And the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from its mouth.** It's a picture, but if the water part of the picture is of lies, then the earth part of the picture is what? In what way is the earth a symbol of intervention that keeps God's people from being overwhelmed by deception? Why not interpret the **water** as aqua/agua? Why not **the earth opened its mouth** as a crack in the surface? Why not understand it as a physical threat, with physical deliverance? The earth swallowing the water reminds us of the earth swallowing Korah and his fussy followers (Numbers 16:30-32). Either way, physical or figurative, the serpent is frustrated *again*. His devouring fury is drained. He can't win for losing. He can't get his hate on the woman like he so desperately tries to do. # The Woman's Offspring Attacked (verse 17) In this chapter the dragon was mad at the woman, desired to devour her child, was angry with the woman again, and now he targets her other offspring. **And the dragon became furious with the woman and he went off to make war with the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold on to the testimony of Jesus**. If he can't get to the woman, maybe he can hurt her by getting to her kids. Which brings up a necessary observation/interpretation question: if the woman is a community, and a *generational* community at that, who gave birth to the Messiah, including generations *after* the child ascended to heaven (since the dragon attacks her post ascension), then who are her offspring? Is there a certain generation when a generational community starts being considered separately? It's possible that the **rest of her offspring** are Gentiles. It's possible that the offspring are the sealed 144k Jews mentioned in chapter 7. Some think the woman is the “church” but the offspring are individual Christians. That he “made war with” connects the prophecy in Daniel 7:19-28, an end time persecution of Israel. If the woman is Israel (and I believe she is), and Israel is delivered in the wilderness, then these offspring are somehow *not* protected, but accessible to the dragon as a target of attack. To me, it fits to understand these offspring primarily as a reference to the sealed, but that also includes any who repent and turn to the Lamb during the Tribulation. They didn't make it to the wilderness refuge, but they do **keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus**. Most English translations include the final phrase as verse 17, though the RSV counts a verse 18, and the NASB moves it to the start of chapter 13. **And he stood on the sand of the sea**, meaning the dragon is seen positioning himself for another wave of attack, especially as he prepares to call the beast from the sea (13:1). # Conclusion Observations from this paragraph point to a future fulfillment. Application from this paragraph points to presently having no reason to be intimidated. Amidst false teaching and false accusations, amidst trouble, we are comforted that the dragon doesn't win. The dragon is a sore loser. The only thing shorter than his time is his temper. But our refuge is in God and His Son. Even if we don't get the exact same wings as the woman, we can believe the promise for those who wait on the Lord. > Even youths shall faint and be weary, > and young men shall fall exhausted; > but they who wait for the LORD shall > renew their strength; > they shall mount up with wings like eagles; > they shall run and not be weary; > they shall walk and not faint. > (Isaiah 40:30–31, ESV) --- ## Charge The same power that throws down the dragon is the power that has raised you up to walk in newness of life. The only thing you must do is believe in the immeasurable greatness of His power, and then live in it. Of course, even your faith and obedience are by His power. Praise be to His name! ## Benediction: > [May you know] what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:19–23, ESV)

Welcome to Honey In The Rock, your daily dose of inspiration and encouragement. In this episode, we shall be studying (Isaiah 31). We shall also listen to a sermon by Reverend William Marrion Branham titled, 54-1024 - "The Unpardonable Sin" I hope you find it to be a blessing.

Welcome to Honey In The Rock, your daily dose of inspiration and encouragement. In this episode, we shall be studying (Isaiah 29). We shall also listen to a sermon by Reverend William Marrion Branham titled, 65-0725E - "What Is The Attraction On The Mountain?" I hope you find it to be a blessing.

This is the message from our Thursday evening service on 7/16/2020 titled "The Restoration of Israel" on Isaiah 26 & 27 with Pastor Jeff Gill.

Midweek - The Book of Isaiah - 003 - The Mighty One of Israel - Isaiah 1:21-2:11

Session 6 (part 1) – chapter 12 Revelation 11:15 – “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” - Ch 12 – how the world became Jesus' kingdom - Ch 13 – perspective on the kingdom of the world What is a sign? - Points to the meaning of hidden things – a sign points to another reality - They reveal glory (true nature) - Heaven and earth coming together - Signs in the gospels point to the glory of Jesus - In this case – a sign in heaven points to an earthly reality TWO SIGNS – the woman (Israel) and the dragon (Satan) - Goes back to Genesis 3 – the woman & the serpent The woman - Symbol of Israel - Isaiah 7:14 - Isaiah 9:6-7 The dragon - Symbol of Satan - Angelic power behind “kingdom of the world” - Focus on devouring the child / destroying redemptive purpose The child - Messianic symbol - Protected by God - Will rule with “iron sceptre” The redemptive picture focuses on the incarnation (entering enemy territory) and ascension (defeat of enemies). The application of the work of the cross is implied. John focuses on the outcome of Jesus' work seen in the last days. Salvation from the perspective of heaven. 1. The woman fled to the desert = Israel preserved and provided for in the wilderness 2. An angelic victory in heaven, Satan hurled to earth (Isaiah 14:12, Luke 10:17-18) 3. Earthly victory expressed in the overcoming Church. They overcome by; i. The blood of the Lamb. Christians can no longer be accused (Job 1:6-12, Zechariah 3:1) ii. The word of their testimony iii. No fear in death In the last days the dragon rages against the woman (Israel) and the rest of her offspring (the Church). Questions 1. How do signs in heaven encourage readers about the earthly reality of Jesus' kingdom and rule? 2. For the Church, what is the significance of Satan being defeated and hurled to the earth? 3. How are you encouraged to live out the victory of the Lamb everyday?

Why Revivals Die By Apostle Joshua Selman Nimmak Hebrew 11:7-8 Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. John 16:23-24 Joh 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Joh 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 1 Chronicles 28:4 Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel: Isaiah 11:3 MSG Fear-of-GOD will be all his joy and delight. He won’t judge by appearances, won’t decide on the basis of hearsay. Psalm 15:1-3 GNB Psa 15:1 LORD, who may enter your Temple? Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill? Psa 15:2 Those who obey God in everything and always do what is right, whose words are true and sincere, Psa 15:3 and who do not slander others. They do no wrong to their friends nor spread rumors about their neighbors.

This message is in a series of messages covering what the Bible reveals about the Holy Spirit. In this sermon, the operation of the Holy Spirit among the nation of Israel is emphasized to recognize the work of the Spirit to come through Jesus Christ.

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1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. … This becomes clearer as we move through Isaiah: I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. (Isaiah 43:20–21) Sing, O heavens for the Lord has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and will be glorified in Israel (Isaiah 44:23). ….. But Isaiah 48:9–11 makes even clearer what it means for God to seek his own glory in creating and redeeming his people: For My name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of My praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you but not like silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake I do it, for how should My name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. (NASB)

Lectionary Texts: Genesis 1:1-2:2 [The Story of Creation] Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18, 8:6-18, 9:8-13 [The Flood] Genesis 22:1-18 [Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac] Exodus 14:10-15:1 [Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea] Isaiah 4:2-6 [God's Presence in a renewed Israel] Isaiah 55:1-11 [Salvation offered freely to all] Ezekiel 36:24-28 [A new heart and a new spirit] Ezekiel 37:1-14 [The valley of dry bones] Zephaniah 3:12-20 [The gathering of God's people] Romans 6:3-11 Matthew 28:1-10

The True Israel (Isaiah 43:25-44:6) 12/23/18 AM by First CRC South Holland

The Messiah Brings Peace Isaiah 11:1-10 What was Peace to Israel? Isaiah 11:1-2. They longed for God to remember them and send the Messiah to restore them. What was Peace to Mary? Luke 1:48-49. God remembered her and did mighty things for her. What is Peace to our Culture? Depends who is talking. Some prefer the ‘peace’ of the predator and the prey. Isaiah 11:6-9. Some long for a Messiah to be mindful of them and to restore them. What is Peace to You? Peace becomes reality when the powerful recognize the image of God in everyone and sacrifice to restore God’s image in them. From where did the Messiah’s power come? The Spirit of God. Isaiah 11:2. From where will your power come to make God’s Peace a reality? The same Spirit of God. Acts 1:8.

The Names and Titles of Jesus –  I Am the True Vine Episode 99 This series of the names and titles of Jesus will give us a more in-depth understanding of Jesus Christ our Lord. This is the eighth in the series. The following is an outline. I Am the True Vine John 15 (NIV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. • 5“ I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. "Under the crown– work was spread out a golden vine, with its branches hanging down from a great height, the largeness and the workmanship of which were an astonishing sight to the spectators" (Antiquities of the Jews, 5.5.4). 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.   ISERAL GOD’S VINE Genesis 49:22 Jacobs blessing to Joseph Isaiah 5 A love affair between God and His Vineyard the nation of Israel Isaiah 5 Something went wrong! Isaiah 27: 6 He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. Hosea 10:1 “Israel empties his vine; He brings forth fruit for himself…” 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,  and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. A Shadow THE TRUE VINE John 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. John 15 (NIV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me 5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Subscribe to the podcast: {Apple Podcasts}{Stitcher}{Google Play}{IHeartRadio}{YouTube}{Spotify}{CastBox}

Steve Swartz, "How to Pray Kingdom Prayers, Part 3: Pray for the Golden Age of Israel" (Isaiah 60:1-22) from the Isaiah series. More sermons available online at www.gbcob.org.

Fear and Loving Israel - Isaiah 43:1-7 - Daniel Gilchrist

Andy Wrasman received an email from an angry man who had encountered someone wearing a Contradict T-Shirt.  This gentlemen lets Andy know that the Messiah is prophesied to:A. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28).B. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6).C. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)D. Spread universal knowledge of the God of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "God will be King over all the world on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9). This gentlemen explains that Jesus has not met any of these Messianic prophesies.  He goes onto to state that because the Bible claims that Jesus was born of a virgin, he cannot be of the line of David from his father's side, which he claims is required in Scipture.  He also states other ways in which Jesus contradicts the Hebrew Bible.  Andy seeks help from Old Testament teacher, Conni Schramm, to address all of the objections this gentlement raises.  The email can be read in full at www.andywrasman.com.