Podcasts about my servant

April 25, 2025 - Equipped 2025 - Day 2 - 1:30PM Session   Bud leads a bible study reflecting on Isaiah. As an inspired profit of God, Isaiah would be aware of coming savior and the potential eternal punishment for those who have rejected God.   Isaiah 40-45 - God's People Are Comforted 40 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. 2 “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the Lord's hand Double for all her sins.” 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth; 5 The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” 6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” 9 O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 10 Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. 11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young. 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, Measured heaven with a span And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales And the hills in a balance? 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him? 14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed Him the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing. 16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering. 17 All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless. 18 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him? 19 The workman molds an image, The goldsmith overspreads it with gold, And the silversmith casts silver chains. 20 Whoever is too impoverished for such a contribution Chooses a tree that will not rot; He seeks for himself a skillful workman To prepare a carved image that will not totter. 21 Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 22 It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. 23 He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. 24 Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. 25 “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing. 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, And speak, O Israel: “My way is hidden from the Lord, And my just claim is passed over by my God”? 28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on 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. Israel Assured of God's Help 41 “Keep silence before Me, O coastlands, And let the people renew their strength! Let them come near, then let them speak; Let us come near together for judgment. 2 “Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet? Who gave the nations before him, And made him rule over kings? Who gave them as the dust to his sword, As driven stubble to his bow? 3 Who pursued them, and passed safely By the way that he had not gone with his feet? 4 Who has performed and done it, Calling the generations from the beginning? ‘I, the Lord, am the first; And with the last I am He.' ” 5 The coastlands saw it and feared, The ends of the earth were afraid; They drew near and came. 6 Everyone helped his neighbor, And said to his brother, “Be of good courage!” 7 So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith; He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil, Saying, “It is ready for the soldering”; Then he fastened it with pegs, That it might not totter. 8 “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. 9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its farthest regions, And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and have not cast you away: 10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' 11 “Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. 12 You shall seek them and not find them— Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. 13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.' 14 “Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the Lord And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. 15 “Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, And make the hills like chaff. 16 You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, And the whirlwind shall scatter them; You shall rejoice in the Lord, And glory in the Holy One of Israel. 17 “The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. 18 I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water. 19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, The myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine And the box tree together, 20 That they may see and know, And consider and understand together, That the hand of the Lord has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it. The Futility of Idols 21 “Present your case,” says the Lord. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob. 22 “Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come. 23 Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together. 24 Indeed you are nothing, And your work is nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination. 25 “I have raised up one from the north, And he shall come; From the rising of the sun he shall call on My name; And he shall come against princes as though mortar, As the potter treads clay. 26 Who has declared from the beginning, that we may know? And former times, that we may say, ‘He is righteous'? Surely there is no one who shows, Surely there is no one who declares, Surely there is no one who hears your words. 27 The first time I said to Zion, ‘Look, there they are!' And I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings. 28 For I looked, and there was no man; I looked among them, but there was no counselor, Who, when I asked of them, could answer a word. 29 Indeed they are all worthless; Their works are nothing; Their molded images are wind and confusion. The Servant of the Lord 42 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.” 5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. 8 I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare; Before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Praise to the Lord 10 Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise from the ends of the earth, You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, You coastlands and you inhabitants of them! 11 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, Let them shout from the top of the mountains. 12 Let them give glory to the Lord, And declare His praise in the coastlands. 13 The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies. Promise of the Lord's Help 14 “I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I will pant and gasp at once. 15 I will lay waste the mountains and hills, And dry up all their vegetation; I will make the rivers coastlands, And I will dry up the pools. 16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, They shall be greatly ashamed, Who trust in carved images, Who say to the molded images, ‘You are our gods.' 18 “Hear, you deaf; And look, you blind, that you may see. 19 Who is blind but My servant, Or deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is perfect, And blind as the Lord's servant? 20 Seeing many things, but you do not observe; Opening the ears, but he does not hear.” Israel's Obstinate Disobedience 21 The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness' sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable. 22 But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, “Restore!” 23 Who among you will give ear to this? Who will listen and hear for the time to come? 24 Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, Nor were they obedient to His law. 25 Therefore He has poured on him the fury of His anger And the strength of battle; It has set him on fire all around, Yet he did not know; And it burned him, Yet he did not take it to heart. The Redeemer of Israel 43 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. 5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!' And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” 8 Bring out the blind people who have eyes, And the deaf who have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, And let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this, And show us former things? Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified; Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.” 10 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior. 12 I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the Lord, “that I am God. 13 Indeed before the day was, I am He; And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand; I work, and who will reverse it?” 14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “For your sake I will send to Babylon, And bring them all down as fugitives— The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships. 15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.” 16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters, 17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick): 18 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. 21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise. Pleading with Unfaithful Israel 22 “But you have not called upon Me, O Jacob; And you have been weary of Me, O Israel. 23 You have not brought Me the sheep for your burnt offerings, Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not caused you to serve with grain offerings, Nor wearied you with incense. 24 You have bought Me no sweet cane with money, Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices; But you have burdened Me with your sins, You have wearied Me with your iniquities. 25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. 26 Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted. 27 Your first father sinned, And your mediators have transgressed against Me. 28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; I will give Jacob to the curse, And Israel to reproaches. God's Blessing on Israel 44 “Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant, And Israel whom I have chosen. 2 Thus says the Lord who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you: ‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; 4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.' 5 One will say, ‘I am the Lord's'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord's,' And name himself by the name of Israel. There Is No Other God 6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God. 7 And who can proclaim as I do? Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me, Since I appointed the ancient people. And the things that are coming and shall come, Let them show these to them. 8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.' ” Idolatry Is Foolishness 9 Those who make an image, all of them are useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. 10 Who would form a god or mold an image That profits him nothing? 11 Surely all his companions would be ashamed; And the workmen, they are mere men. Let them all be gathered together, Let them stand up; Yet they shall fear, They shall be ashamed together. 12 The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; He drinks no water and is faint. 13 The craftsman stretches out his rule, He marks one out with chalk; He fashions it with a plane, He marks it out with the compass, And makes it like the figure of a man, According to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. 14 He cuts down cedars for himself, And takes the cypress and the oak; He secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. 15 Then it shall be for a man to burn, For he will take some of it and warm himself; Yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; Indeed he makes a god and worships it; He makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. 16 He burns half of it in the fire; With this half he eats meat; He roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire.” 17 And the rest of it he makes into a god, His carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, Prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god!” 18 They do not know nor understand; For He has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, And their hearts, so that they cannot understand. 19 And no one considers in his heart, Nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned half of it in the fire, Yes, I have also baked bread on its coals; I have roasted meat and eaten it; And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?” 20 He feeds on ashes; A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?” Israel Is Not Forgotten 21 “Remember these, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! 22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” 23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel. Judah Will Be Restored 24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; 25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; 26 Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,' To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,' And I will raise up her waste places; 27 Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers'; 28 Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.” ' Cyrus, God's Instrument 45 “Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held— To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: 2 ‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. 3 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. 4 For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; 7 I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.' 8 “Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it. 9 “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands'? 10 Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?' Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?' ” 11 Thus says the Lord, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me. 12 I have made the earth, And created man on it. I—My hands—stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward,” Says the Lord of hosts. The Lord, the Only Savior 14 Thus says the Lord: “The labor of Egypt and merchandise of Cush And of the Sabeans, men of stature, Shall come over to you, and they shall be yours; They shall walk behind you, They shall come over in chains; And they shall bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying, ‘Surely God is in you, And there is no other; There is no other God.' ” 15 Truly You are God, who hide Yourself, O God of Israel, the Savior! 16 They shall be ashamed And also disgraced, all of them; They shall go in confusion together, Who are makers of idols. 17 But Israel shall be saved by the Lord With an everlasting salvation; You shall not be ashamed or disgraced Forever and ever. 18 For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. 19 I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in vain'; I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. 20 “Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save. 21 Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. 22 “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath. 24 He shall say, ‘Surely in the Lord I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him. 25 In the Lord all the descendants of Israel Shall be justified, and shall glory.' ”   Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrvkBVo1Cd4 Duration 35:38

April 25, 2025 - Equipped 2025 - Day 2 - 3:30PM Session   Rick addresses the ability of Isaiah to predict events in the future to significant detail while being a significant number of years (700) before the events would come to pass.   Isaiah 48-53 - Israel Refined for God's Glory 48 “Hear this, O house of Jacob, Who are called by the name of Israel, And have come forth from the wellsprings of Judah; Who swear by the name of the Lord, And make mention of the God of Israel, But not in truth or in righteousness; 2 For they call themselves after the holy city, And lean on the God of Israel; The Lord of hosts is His name: 3 “I have declared the former things from the beginning; They went forth from My mouth, and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. 4 Because I knew that you were obstinate, And your neck was an iron sinew, And your brow bronze, 5 Even from the beginning I have declared it to you; Before it came to pass I proclaimed it to you, Lest you should say, ‘My idol has done them, And my carved image and my molded image Have commanded them.' 6 “You have heard; See all this. And will you not declare it? I have made you hear new things from this time, Even hidden things, and you did not know them. 7 They are created now and not from the beginning; And before this day you have not heard them, Lest you should say, ‘Of course I knew them.' 8 Surely you did not hear, Surely you did not know; Surely from long ago your ear was not opened. For I knew that you would deal very treacherously, And were called a transgressor from the womb. 9 “For My name's sake I will defer My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off. 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another. God's Ancient Plan to Redeem Israel 12 “Listen to Me, O Jacob, And Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last. 13 Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together. 14 “All of you, assemble yourselves, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? The Lord loves him; He shall do His pleasure on Babylon, And His arm shall be against the Chaldeans. 15 I, even I, have spoken; Yes, I have called him, I have brought him, and his way will prosper. 16 “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord God and His Spirit Have sent Me.” 17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go. 18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, And your righteousness like the waves of the sea. 19 Your descendants also would have been like the sand, And the offspring of your body like the grains of sand; His name would not have been cut off Nor destroyed from before Me.” 20 Go forth from Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! With a voice of singing, Declare, proclaim this, Utter it to the end of the earth; Say, “The Lord has redeemed His servant Jacob!” 21 And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out. 22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.” The Servant, the Light to the Gentiles 49 “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name. 2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.” 3 “And He said to me, ‘You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified.' 4 Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, And my work with my God.' ” 5 “And now the Lord says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, And My God shall be My strength), 6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' ” 7 Thus says the Lord, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, To Him whom man despises, To Him whom the nation abhors, To the Servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, Because of the Lord who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel; And He has chosen You.” 8 Thus says the Lord: “In an acceptable time I have heard You, And in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You As a covenant to the people, To restore the earth, To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; 9 That You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,' To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.' “They shall feed along the roads, And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights. 10 They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them. 11 I will make each of My mountains a road, And My highways shall be elevated. 12 Surely these shall come from afar; Look! Those from the north and the west, And these from the land of Sinim.” 13 Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people, And will have mercy on His afflicted. God Will Remember Zion 14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.” 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. 16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. 17 Your sons shall make haste; Your destroyers and those who laid you waste Shall go away from you. 18 Lift up your eyes, look around and see; All these gather together and come to you. As I live,” says the Lord, “You shall surely clothe yourselves with them all as an ornament, And bind them on you as a bride does. 19 “For your waste and desolate places, And the land of your destruction, Will even now be too small for the inhabitants; And those who swallowed you up will be far away. 20 The children you will have, After you have lost the others, Will say again in your ears, ‘The place is too small for me; Give me a place where I may dwell.' 21 Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me, Since I have lost my children and am desolate, A captive, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was, left alone; But these, where were they?' ” 22 Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, And set up My standard for the peoples; They shall bring your sons in their arms, And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders; 23 Kings shall be your foster fathers, And their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, And lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord, For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.” 24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, Or the captives of the righteous be delivered? 25 But thus says the Lord: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children. 26 I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, And they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know That I, the Lord, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” The Servant, Israel's Hope 50 Thus says the Lord: “Where is the certificate of your mother's divorce, Whom I have put away? Or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you? For your iniquities you have sold yourselves, And for your transgressions your mother has been put away. 2 Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; Their fish stink because there is no water, And die of thirst. 3 I clothe the heavens with blackness, And I make sackcloth their covering.” 4 “The Lord God has given Me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. 5 The Lord God has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away. 6 I gave My back to those who struck Me, And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting. 7 “For the Lord God will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed. 8 He is near who justifies Me; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me. 9 Surely the Lord God will help Me; Who is he who will condemn Me? Indeed they will all grow old like a garment; The moth will eat them up. 10 “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord And rely upon his God. 11 Look, all you who kindle a fire, Who encircle yourselves with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled— This you shall have from My hand: You shall lie down in torment. The Lord Comforts Zion 51 “Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. 2 Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.” 3 For the Lord will comfort Zion, He will comfort all her waste places; He will make her wilderness like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in it, Thanksgiving and the voice of melody. 4 “Listen to Me, My people; And give ear to Me, O My nation: For law will proceed from Me, And I will make My justice rest As a light of the peoples. 5 My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait upon Me, And on My arm they will trust. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished. 7 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults. 8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, And the worm will eat them like wool; But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation from generation to generation.” 9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord! Awake as in the ancient days, In the generations of old. Are You not the arm that cut Rahab apart, And wounded the serpent? 10 Are You not the One who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; That made the depths of the sea a road For the redeemed to cross over? 11 So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 12 “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid Of a man who will die, And of the son of a man who will be made like grass? 13 And you forget the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth; You have feared continually every day Because of the fury of the oppressor, When he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor? 14 The captive exile hastens, that he may be loosed, That he should not die in the pit, And that his bread should not fail. 15 But I am the Lord your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared— The Lord of hosts is His name. 16 And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.' ” God's Fury Removed 17 Awake, awake! Stand up, O Jerusalem, You who have drunk at the hand of the Lord The cup of His fury; You have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling, And drained it out. 18 There is no one to guide her Among all the sons she has brought forth; Nor is there any who takes her by the hand Among all the sons she has brought up. 19 These two things have come to you; Who will be sorry for you?— Desolation and destruction, famine and sword— By whom will I comfort you? 20 Your sons have fainted, They lie at the head of all the streets, Like an antelope in a net; They are full of the fury of the Lord, The rebuke of your God. 21 Therefore please hear this, you afflicted, And drunk but not with wine. 22 Thus says your Lord, The Lord and your God, Who pleads the cause of His people: “See, I have taken out of your hand The cup of trembling, The dregs of the cup of My fury; You shall no longer drink it. 23 But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, Who have said to you, ‘Lie down, that we may walk over you.' And you have laid your body like the ground, And as the street, for those who walk over.” God Redeems Jerusalem 52 Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean Shall no longer come to you. 2 Shake yourself from the dust, arise; Sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion! 3 For thus says the Lord: “You have sold yourselves for nothing, And you shall be redeemed without money.” 4 For thus says the Lord God: “My people went down at first Into Egypt to dwell there; Then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. 5 Now therefore, what have I here,” says the Lord, “That My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them Make them wail,” says the Lord, “And My name is blasphemed continually every day. 6 Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I am He who speaks: ‘Behold, it is I.' ” 7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8 Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the Lord brings back Zion. 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem! For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has made bare His holy arm In the eyes of all the nations; And all the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of our God. 11 Depart! Depart! Go out from there, Touch no unclean thing; Go out from the midst of her, Be clean, You who bear the vessels of the Lord. 12 For you shall not go out with haste, Nor go by flight; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard. The Sin-Bearing Servant 13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. 14 Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; 15 So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider. The Sin-Bearing Messiah 53 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. 9 And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.   Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnGl00h-CJo   Duration 37:06

Behold! My Servant... I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people... Taught at Calvary Chapel Ukiah on March 30, 2025. [44 minutes]

Hebrews 7:20-21 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever'”); The author of Hebrews magnifies Jesus' authority by again contrasting how each was appointed. God's appointment of the Levitical priests did not come with an oath, meaning God could terminate their service. His word did not prevent Him from replacing them. However, in contrast, because Jesus was appointed a priest with an oath, we should have great confidence to trust in Jesus. Since God swore Him into office and won't change His mind, Jesus serves with authority forever. No one loves perfectly. We are all weak and sometimes overcome with natural, selfish, demonic impulses. How can one approach God's throne with confidence to ask for grace to help when he or she has so many times turned their backs on Him and tried to do things in their own strength, or even worse, knowingly repeated sinful actions and spoke hurtful, damaging words? What makes them think God forgives their sins? How can He and be just? What kind of love can just wave a hand and turn a blind eye to such adultery and treachery? Perhaps human love can just overlook transgressions, but holy, just, righteous love cannot. The love of righteousness demands that sins must be punished, atoned for, and justice served. The very foundation of His throne is righteousness and justice, but lovingkindness and truth go before Him. (Ps. 89:14). It is for this reason that God swore when He appointed Jesus to be a priest forever. He could intercede for the transgressors. Listen to Isaiah's revelation of the Messiah, God's appointed high priest. Isaiah 53:10-12 But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt coffering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge [knowledge of what? Their iniquities] the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors. Consider the hope this fosters in the hearts of those who trust in Jesus and draw near to Him when they sin and need mercy and when they need grace to love. They can rest in the reality that Almighty God, their heavenly Father, cannot deny Jesus when He intercedes for them. Not only does He intercede for them, asking for God to be merciful, but He also advocates for them. He stands beside them to comfort them and give them grace to love with Him. This is the reality of living to love with Jesus. We live and love based on the authority of God's word (His oath) regarding His Son, our high priest, our Savior, and constant, gentle companion.

Why Christians Support Israel 4 Reasons I would support Israel even if I wasn't a Christian: First, after the horrors of the holocaust and Adolph Hitler's genocide of 6 million plus Jews, the civilized world agreed that Jews should finally have their own home country to live in after centuries of persecution. Second, it makes the most sense for that homeland to be right where Israel is. They have a historical claim on that land going back to 1405 B.C. Third, Israel has become one of the world's best democracies. It is the best place in the Middle East to be anything but a follower of Sharia Law. Fourth, Israeli citizens and other Jews have made momentous contributions to the world. “The problem is that one side has supported a two-state solution – I'm talking about Israel. The other side never did and still doesn't. One side uses terrorism to achieve its goals – the other side retaliates against terrorism. One side is accused of genocide but doesn't do it; the other side would actually love to do it. People keep saying Israel has the right to defend itself, but when Israel does, they object to it.” - Bill Mahar Biblical reasons to support Israel: First, our Christian faith is rooted in God's dealings with Israel. Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” - Genesis 12:1-3 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God. - Genesis 17:8 Being the nation to bring the Law and the Messiah into the world is not just the greatest blessing for the nation that was chosen, but also the greatest burden any nation has ever had to bear. And now the LORD says. Who formed Me from the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and My God shall be My strength). Indeed He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.” - Isaiah 49:5-6 But some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree. Do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are remember IT IS NOT YOU WHO SUPPORT THE ROOT, BUT THE ROOT THAT SUPPORTS YOU. - Romans 11:17-18 As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers, For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. - Romans 11:28-29 Second, there are prophecies related to Israel being fulfilled, and that are yet to be fulfilled. Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lays desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes. YET FOR ALL THAT, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to utterly destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I AM the LORD. - Lev. 26:42-45 Third, it really is a timeless principle that God will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel.

Election      Election derives from the Greek verb eklegō (ἐκλέγω) which, according to BDAG, means “to make a choice in accordance with significant preference, select someone or something for oneself.”[1] According to Norman Geisler, “The word election (or elect) occurs fourteen times in the New Testament. An elect person is a chosen one; election (or elect) is used of Israel (Rom 9:11; 11:28), of angels (1 Tim 5:21), and of believers. In relation to believers, election is the decision of God from all eternity whereby He chose those who would be saved.”[2] Geisler further states, “The words chosen and chose are used numerous times. The terms are employed of Christ (Luke 23:35; 1 Pet 1:20; 2:4, 6), of a disciple (Acts 1:2, 24; 10:41; 22:14; John 15:10), and even of Judas (John 6:70; 13:18), who was chosen to be an apostle. Soteriologically, a chosen one is a person elected to salvation by God.”[3]      Election is that free choice of God from eternity past in which He chose to save and bless some (Eph 1:4-5). The elect are the ones chosen. God elects groups (Luke 6:13-16; John 6:70) and individuals (1 Ch 28:5; Acts 9:15). Election is to salvation (Acts 13:48; Eph 1:4-6; 2 Th 2:13), spiritual blessing (Eph 1:3), holy and righteous living (Col 3:12; 1 Pet 2:9), and service for the Lord (Jer 1:4-5; Gal 1:15-16; cf. Acts 9:15). In election, God is sovereign and people are free. Both are true. This is why Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). Here we observe the coalescence of God's sovereignty and positive human volition as the Father gives and people come of their own choice.[4] We observe something similar in Acts where Luke wrote, “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). Here we observe Gentiles who were appointed to eternal life, and that they personally exercised their volition and believed in the Lord for salvation.[5] Robert B. Thieme Jr., states: "[Election is] the recognition by God, before the foundation of the world, of those who would believe in Christ; the sovereign act of God in eternity past to choose, to set apart, certain members of the human race for privilege, based on His knowledge of every person's freewill decisions in time. While God is sovereign, having the right to do with His creatures as He pleases, never has He hindered or tampered with human free will. He did not choose some to be saved and others to be condemned. Instead, in eternity past, God first chose to accomplish the work of man's salvation through the Son. Then, He looked down the corridors of time and elected for salvation everyone He knew would believe in Jesus Christ (Eph 1:4). God elected believers in the sense that He knew ahead of time that their free will would choose for Christ….Moreover, God did not elect anyone to hell: unbelievers are condemned to eternally reside in hell only because they have used their volition toward unbelief (John 3:18)."[6] Predestined by God      When writing to the Christians at Ephesus, Paul said, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Eph 1:4-5). The word predestined translates the Greek word proorizō (προορίζω), which means, to “decide upon beforehand,  predetermine.”[7] Harold Hoehner defines the word similarly as, “to determine beforehand, mark out beforehand, predestine.”[8] Geisler notes, “Just as God predetermined from all eternity that Christ would die for our sins (Acts 2:23), He also predestined who would be saved. As Paul says, ‘Those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son' (Rom 8:29).”[9] According to Paul Enns, “Even though election and predestination are clearly taught in Scripture, man is still held accountable for his choices. Scripture never suggests that man is lost because he is not elect or has not been predestined; the emphasis of Scripture is that man is lost because he refuses to believe the gospel.”[10]      Predestination refers to what God purposes for us. The Bible reveals that God has predestined us to adoption as His children (Eph 1:5), to our ultimate conformity to Christ (Rom 8:29–30), and to the blessings of our future inheritance (Eph 1:11). Warren Wiersbe states, “This word, as it is used in the Bible, refers primarily to what God does for saved people. Nowhere in the Bible are we taught that people are predestined to hell, because this word refers only to God's people. Election seems to refer to people, while predestination refers to purposes.”[11] According to Robert B. Thieme Jr., predestination refers to “God's predetermined, sovereign provisioning of every believer for the purpose of executing His plan, purpose, and will in time (Eph 1:4-6, 11).”[12] Thieme further states: "In eternity past God decreed, or established with certainty, the believer's destiny for time and eternity. However, the divine act of predestination is never to be confused with the ideas of kismet [the idea of fate] or any other human-viewpoint system of fatalism. God did not negate free will or force anyone into a course of action. Rather, He only decreed and provisioned what He knew would actually happen. He predestined believers based on His eternal knowledge that they would, by their own free will, accept Jesus Christ as Savior. Long before human history began, sovereign God determined that every Church Age believer would be united with the resurrected Jesus Christ, the King of kings. Those who believe are predestined as heirs of God and joint heirs with the Son of God—sharing the eternal destiny of Jesus Christ Himself (Eph 1:5). Furthermore, God predestined believers with everything necessary to fulfill His plan in time. No Christian is dependent upon human energy, personality, or human effort, because God established a grace way of life and furnished the divine means of execution (2 Tim 1:9). Every believer in this age has equal opportunity to either accept or reject God's predestined provision. Regardless of personal failure or success in time, all believers are predestined to be completely “conformed to the image of His Son” in resurrection bodies in heaven (Rom 8:29)."[13] Foreknowledge      Peter wrote of God's elect as those “who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Pet 1:1-2). Here, the word foreknowledge translates the Greek noun prognōsis (πρόγνωσις), which means “to know beforehand, know in advance”[14] Foreknowledge simply means that omniscient God, from eternity past, knew in advance all that would happen in time and space, and He knew the actions of every person and whether they would be saved or not. Jesus communicated His foreknowledge when He said to His disciples, ‘“There are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him” (John 6:64). God also knew His own actions in time and space, either to direct, permit, or overrule human or angelic decisions, and to judge everyone fairly for their actions. According to Norman Geisler: "Being omniscient, God also eternally foreknew those who would be saved: “Those God foreknew he also predestined” (Rom 8:29). Indeed, they were “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” (1 Pet 1:2). Since His foreknowledge is infallible (He is omniscient), whatever God foreknows will indeed come to pass. Hence, His foreknowledge of who would be saved assures that they will be."[15]      In his letter to the Romans, Paul wrote, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom 8:29). The word “foreknew” translates the Greek verb proginōskō (προγινώσκω) which, according to BDAG, means “to know beforehand or in advance, have foreknowledge.”[16] Here, the word connotes God's knowing people in an intimate sense and not merely what they will do. This speaks to the richness of the relationship God has with each individual. Though we exist in time and space and live our lives in a chronological manner with one experience sequentially following the next, God exists in the eternal realm, beyond time and space, in the eternal now. This means that God is present at all times and places in human history simultaneously. Scripture speaks of what God foreknew from eternity past as it relates to the choices of His elect, but His foreknowledge is not detached or impersonal; rather, it is intimately connected to the formation of His family and the execution of His purposes in the world (see Jer 1:4-5). Prevenient Grace      Prevenient grace refers to the grace of God that precedes and prepares a person's heart and will for salvation. The term “prevenient” means “preceding” or “coming before.” According to Geisler, “Prevenient means ‘before,' and prevenient grace refers to God's unmerited work in the human heart prior to salvation, which directs people to this end through Christ…This grace is also seen in the fact that ‘the goodness of God leads you to repentance' (Rom 2:4). Thus, prevenient grace is God's grace exerted on our behalf even before He bestows salvation on us.”[17]      Because God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4), and is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9), He works in a preparatory manner to convince the fallen human heart to welcome Christ (2 Tim 1:9). Jesus spoke of the role of the Holy Spirit in the dispensation of the church age, saying, “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me” (John 16:8-9). According to Geisler, “The act of convicting, then, is that by which God persuades a person that he is a sinner and, thus, is in need of the Savior.”[18] This prevenient work of God is necessary because of the sinfulness of mankind. It is not considered to be salvific in itself but rather a preparatory grace that allows individuals to cooperate with God's saving work in Christ. In this perspective, salvation is seen as a cooperative process where individuals have the ability to accept or reject God's offer of grace. Christians are Elect in Christ      From eternity past, God intended for His grand plan of salvation for all humanity to be achieved through His Son. Scripture reveals “the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14), and “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10), and He is “the Lamb who has been slain” from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8). Jesus is the Father's Chosen One. God said, “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen One in whom My soul delights” (Isa 42:1). And He said of Jesus, “This is My Son, My Chosen One” (Luke 9:35). And Peter describes Jesus as “chosen and precious in the sight of God” (1 Pet 2:4). Jesus was chosen by God before the foundation of the world to be the Savior of all mankind, and Christians are elect because we are in Christ. Geisler states: "Christ is eternal, and the universal church was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4); hence, in the mind of God, the church of God is eternal. Further, Christ is the elect of God (Matt 3:16–17), and we are elect in Him; not only is Christ the elect One, but in the New Testament those “in Christ,” the church, the members of His body, were elect in Him before time began."[19]      Scripture reveals that Christians “are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Pet 1:1-2), that Christ “was foreknown before the foundation of the world” (1 Pet 1:20), was “chosen and precious” in His sight (1 Pet 2:4), and that God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4). The prepositional phrase “in Him” (ἐν αὐτῷ) speaks to our election and union with Christ (Eph 1:4). According to L. B. Smedes, “This strongly suggests that God elects people for salvation in the same decision that He elected Christ as their Savior.”[20] Because Jesus is God's Chosen One, it is asserted that we, God's elect, were chosen at the same time as Christ, and He “saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity” (2 Tim 1:9). When we believed in Jesus as our Savior, God placed us into union with Christ, for “by His doing you are in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 1:30). Paul wrote, “I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen [eklektos], so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory” (2 Tim 2:10).      The prepositional phrase, “in Christ” (ἐν Χριστῷ), emphasizes the idea of believers being in union with Christ. This union is not merely a metaphorical expression but signifies a profound spiritual reality. The Apostle Paul frequently uses this expression to convey the intimate and transformative relationship that believers have with Christ (Rom 8:1; 12:5; 1 Cor 1:2, 30; Gal 3:28; Eph 1:3-4; Phil 1:1; Col 1:2; 2 Tim 1:9; 2:10). Being “in Christ” signifies that believers are, in a real spiritual sense, united with Him. This identification includes sharing in His death, burial, and resurrection, for we have been “crucified with Christ” (Gal 2:20), and “we died with Christ” (Rom 6:8), were “buried with Him” (Rom 6:4), and “have been raised up with Christ” (Col 3:1). In a real way, we were with Him on the cross, in the grave, and at His resurrection. In the eyes of God, His experience has become our experience. This identification with Jesus is real, even though we were not physically alive at the time of His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, or ascension into heaven. Furthermore, “In Him we have…forgiveness of our trespasses” (Eph 1:7), “have been sanctified in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 1:2), have “eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23), and are told there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1). This kind of identification in and with another is true in other instances. For example, it was said of Rebekah, “Two nations are in your womb” (Gen 25:23), even before Israel was called into being as a nation. Similarly, the writer of Hebrews speaks of Levi who “paid tithes” (Heb 7:9), and this while “he was still in the loins of his father” Abraham (Heb 7:10). This means that Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek, even before he existed, as he was in the loins of his father, Abraham.[21]      Furthermore, being “in Christ” reflects a believer's new position before God. It signifies that, through faith in Christ, believers are accepted and justified before God. Their sins are forgiven (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7), and they are seen through the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21; Phil 3:9). The phrase also emphasizes that believers participate in the benefits of Christ's redemptive work. This includes reconciliation with God (Rom 5:10), adoption as children (Gal 4:5; Eph 1:5), the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16), and the status of being a new creation in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Believers are seen as co-heirs with Christ, sharing in the inheritance of eternal life (Eph 1:3-14; Rom 8:17). This positional truth is foundational to the concept of salvation by grace through faith. While being “in Christ” has personal implications, it also has a corporate dimension. It speaks to the collective identity of the Church as the body of Christ, with believers being interconnected and sharing a common life “in Christ.” Robert B. Thieme Jr., states: "Through the baptism of the Spirit at salvation, every believer of this age is removed from his position in Adam and secured in his position “in Christ” (1 Cor 15:22; Eph 2:5–6; cf. Gal 3:27). The believer, no longer spiritually dead, is made a “new creature” with a totally unprecedented relationship with God (2 Cor 5:17a). The “old things” that once kept him alienated from God have passed away; phenomenal “new things” have come by virtue of his position in Christ (2 Cor 5:17b). The believer shares Christ's eternal life (1 John 5:11–12), His righteousness (2 Cor 5:21), His election (Eph 1:3–4), His destiny (Eph 1:5), His sonship (John 1:12; Gal 3:26; 1 John 3:1–2), His heirship (Rom 8:16–17), His sanctification (1 Cor 1:2, 30), His kingdom (2 Pet 1:11), His priesthood (Heb 10:10–14), and His royalty (2 Tim 2:11–12). This new position can never be forfeited."[22]      In summary, the prepositional phrase “in Christ” encapsulates profound theological truths about the believer's union with Christ, identification with His redemptive work, a new positional standing before God, and the communal identity of the Church as the body of Christ. It serves as a key concept in understanding the richness of Christian salvation and the transformative impact of faith in Jesus Christ. Dr. Steven R. Cook   [1] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 305. [2] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2004), 220–221. [3] Ibid., 221. [4] Other passages that emphasize God's sovereign choice: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44), and “no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father” (John 6:65). Paul wrote, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will” (Eph 1:4-5). And to Christians living in Thessalonica, Paul wrote, “We should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Th 2:13). [5] Romans 9:1-18 is often cited when discussing election to salvation; however, when one looks at the context of Roman 9, it does not pertain to salvation, but to God's selection of the progenitors of the nation of Israel. In a similar way, God sovereignly selected Nebuchadnezzar to be the king over Babylon (Dan 2:37-38; 5:18), and Cyrus as king over Persia (Ezra 1:2). In fact, God's sovereignty is supreme when it comes to selecting all human rulers, for “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings” (Dan 2:21), and “the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Dan 4:17). At times, He even raises up young foolish kings to discipline His people, as He told Isaiah the prophet, “I will make mere lads their princes, and capricious children will rule over them” (Isa 3:4). [6] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. “Election”, Thieme's Bible Doctrine Dictionary, (Houston, TX., R. B. Thieme, Jr., Bible Ministries, 2022), 81. [7] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 873. [8] Harold W. Hoehner, Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 193. [9] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation, 221. [10] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1989), 329. [11] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 11. [12] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. “Predestination”, Thieme's Bible Doctrine Dictionary, 203. [13] Ibid., 203-204 [14] Moisés Silva, ed., New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 138. [15] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation, 221. [16] William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 866. [17] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Three: Sin, Salvation, 222. [18] Ibid., 222. [19] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Four: Church, Last Things, 50–51. [20] L. B. Smedes, “Grace,” ed. Geoffrey W Bromiley, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1979–1988), 551. [21] These two analogies with Rebekah and Levi help convey the idea of a connection or representation that transcends mere physical existence. In the case of Rebekah, the passage refers to the statement, “Two nations are in your womb” (Gen 25:23), highlighting that this declaration occurred before Israel was called into being as a nation. This serves as an example of a connection that existed before the actual historical formation of the nation. Likewise, the reference to Levi paying tithes while still in the loins of his father, Abraham (Heb 7:9-10), is another analogy used to illustrate a connection that goes beyond the immediate physical existence of the individual. It suggests a representation or identification that precedes the individual's own existence. [22] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. “Position in Christ”, Thieme's Bible Doctrine Dictionary, 200.

Good Friday Service - Nick Hansen - March 29th, 2024 - Easter Means Emptied What is Good Friday all about? The day to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. What is Easter Sunday all about? The day to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Is the specific date or name of the holiday very important? Not particularly, we actually spend time “in remembrance” of Jesus every week. But it's nice to have some extra time off and special gatherings! Jesus Sacrifice on the Cross Rom 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom 5:7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. Num 15:1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Num 15:2 "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, `When you enter the land where you are to live, which I am giving you, Num 15:3 then make an offering by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a special vow, or as a freewill offering or in your appointed times, to make a soothing aroma to the LORD, from the herd or from the flock. Num 15:4 `The one who presents his offering shall present to the LORD a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil, Num 15:5 and you shall prepare wine for the drink offering, one-fourth of a hin, with the burnt offering or for the sacrifice, for each lamb. Psa 22:1 For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. Psa 22:2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Psa 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people. Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. Isa 53:3 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isa 53:11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Isa 53:12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors. Luk 22:19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Luk 22:20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Today's encouragement comes from this very popular verse. My guess is that most of you have heard this verse since you were children. John wanted his readers to know of God's character and faithfulness when we agree with Him that we have sinned. Let me remind you of what John wrote in verse 7. “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” For God to send His Son to die for our sins on the cross is a declaration by God that we all have sin. Obviously, if mankind didn't have sin, then certainly Jesus would not have had to come to die for them. Therefore one thing living in the light of the truth means is that I agree with God that I have sinned. Confession of sin is to agree with God about what He sees in us. He knows all things about us, much more than we know about us. That however isn't a bad or discouraging thing, it is a wonderfully encouraging truth because God is love. Because God is love and light, His light by its very nature exposes sin and darkness, and then destroys it. That's exactly what God did at the cross. He demonstrated His faithfulness and righteousness in Christ by taking upon Himself all the sins which He sees of His people. The blood of Jesus which was shed for them, the life of the Son, powerfully cleanses them of every unrighteousness in their lives because He forgives them. Who is God being faithful to when He forgives those who confess their sins? He is being faithful to His word and His Son. Here is the promise made to Jesus. Isaiah 53:10 But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. Isaiah 53:11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors. John didn't encourage us to ask forgiveness when we sin so God will forgive. Rather, He encouraged us to agree with God that the death of Christ was necessary. Jesus died for sins because God is faithful and righteous to forgive and promised to cleanse us of them. This means that He doesn't look at us and see our sins when we confess them. He looks at us and sees the righteousness of His Son! So when we become aware of our sins, let us be quick to agree that this is why we need Jesus, and it is why God sent His Son. Then may we receive the forgiveness and cleansing of our sins with great joy and gratitude.

Penal Substitution      Penal substitution is the idea that Jesus bore the penalty for our sins on the cross. He was judged in our place and bore the wrath of God that rightfully belongs to us. The record of Scripture is that “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed” (Isa 53:5), and “the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him” (Isa 53:6), for “by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities” (Isa 53:11), and “the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering” (Isa 53:10a). Jesus is presented in the NT as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). We're also told that God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf” (2 Cor 5:21), and that “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us” (Gal 3:13), and that “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Pet 2:24). In this way, the sins of all humanity were imputed to Christ while He was on the cross, suffering as our substitute. And we must always remember that the sacrifice of Christ was purely voluntary, as He said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11), and “No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative” (John 10:18). And Jesus has “been offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb 9:28), and “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust” (1 Pet 3:18).      Louis Berkhof states, “The Bible certainly teaches that the sufferings and death of Christ were vicarious, and vicarious in the strict sense of the word that He took the place of sinners, and that their guilt was imputed, and their punishment transferred, to Him.”[1] And Charles Ryrie adds, “Only the substitutionary death of Christ can provide that which God's justice demands and thereby become the basis for the gift of eternal life to those who believe.”[2] And according to Lewis Chafer, “The doctrine of satisfaction embodies the conception of Christ's death, that it was a penal substitution which had the objective purpose of providing a just and righteous ground for God to remit the sins of those for whom Christ died.”[3] John Walvoord agrees, saying: "This point of view, variously described as vicarious or penal, holds that the atonement is objectively directed toward God and the satisfaction of His holy character and demands upon the sinner. It is vicarious in the sense that Christ is the Substitute who bears the punishment rightly due sinners, their guilt being imputed to Him in such a way that He representatively bore their punishment. This is in keeping with the general idea of sacrifices in the Old Testament and is explicitly taught in the New Testament (see John 1:29; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 2:24)."[4] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. states: "The punishment incurred by Adam when he sinned—spiritual death—is passed down to the entire human race. Everyone is born under this penalty of sin, hopelessly in debt to God. The debt has been paid by the perfect humanity of Christ, whose substitutionary spiritual death on the cross “canceled out the certificate of debt” (Col 2:14). Man now stands free to accept Jesus Christ and receive the gift of an eternal relationship with God."[5]      What's unique about Jesus is that He is both our High Priest as well as the sacrifice for our sins. In the OT, priests would offer animals to die as the sacrifice, but Jesus offered “Himself as a guilt offering” (Isa 53:10) in order to take away sins. The writer to the Hebrews states, “Christ appeared as a high priest” (Heb 9:11), and this in order “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb 9:26), and this was a once-for-all sacrifice, as He “offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” (Heb 10:12).      Sin is the breaking of God's law, for “Everyone who commits sin also breaks the law; sin is the breaking of law” (1 John 3:4 CSB). The penalty for breaking God's law is death, for “the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). Jesus took our sins upon Himself and “bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Pet 2:24), and He “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). And He died for the sins of everyone, for “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). Though Christ died for everyone, the benefits of the cross are applied only to those who believe, and “everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43; Eph 1:7). Additionally, we receive “the gift of righteousness” (Rom 5:17), and “eternal life” (John 10:28). At the moment of faith in Christ, we are “justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom 3:24).   Propitiation      Jesus' death on the cross was a satisfactory sacrifice to God which completely paid the price for our sin. We owed a debt to God that we could never pay, and Jesus paid that debt in full when He died on the cross and bore the punishment that rightfully belonged to us. In Romans, Paul states that we “are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith (Rom 3:24-25a ESV). Here, Paul used the Greek word hilasterion (ἱλαστήριον)—translated propitiation—to show that Jesus' shed blood completely satisfied God's righteous demands toward our sin, with the result that there is nothing more for the sinner to pay to God. Jesus paid our sin-debt in full. The Apostle John tells us “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:2; cf., 4:10). Jesus' death on the cross forever satisfied God's righteous demands toward the sins of everyone for all time! God has “canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:14). Regarding Christ's death, J. Dwight Pentecost states: "You can be adjusted to God's standard, because God made Christ to become sin for us. The One who knew no sin, the One in whose lips had never been found guile, took upon Himself our sin in order that He might bear our sins to the cross and offer Himself as an acceptable substitute to God for us—on our behalf, in our place. And when Jesus Christ identified Himself with sinners and went to the cross on their behalf and in their place, He was making possible the doctrine of reconciliation. He was making it possible for God to conform the world to Himself, to adjust the world to His standard so that sinners in the world might find salvation because “Jesus paid it all.” You can be adjusted to God, to God's standard, through Christ, by His death, by His cross, by His blood, and by His identification with sinners."[6] John Walvoord adds: "The work of Christ in salvation has still another major aspect of what is called in the Bible “propitiation,” “the sacrifice of atonement,” or satisfying God's righteous demands or judgment upon a sinner. Illustrations of this can be found in Romans 3:25 and 1 John 2:2; 4:10. The idea of propitiation is that God as a righteous God must demand punishment for those who sin against Him. Christ in His death on the cross provided propitiation, atonement, or satisfaction of that claim, so that God is fully satisfied now in saving a person who does not deserve to be saved."[7] Robert Lightner states: "The death of Christ satisfied the righteous demands of God the Father. Because of sin His holiness had been offended, and only a sinless sacrifice could meet His righteous demands. Jesus Christ the Righteous One provided in Himself the perfect sacrifice. Paul set forth Christ as the propitiation for the remission of sins (Rom 3:25). Because of the blood He shed Christ provided in Himself the appointed place where a holy God could meet sinful man. Christ is now our place of meeting—our mercy seat (cf. 1 John 2:2; 4:10). The need for propitiation stems from the sin of man and the holiness of God. It is man who needs to be reinstated or reconciled with God. God's holiness and righteous demands remain unchanged. Since there must be a basis upon which God may receive sinners, satisfaction must be made for sin: propitiation provided just such a basis through the death of Christ."[8] Paul Enns states: "Propitiation means that the death of Christ fully satisfied all the righteous demands of God toward the sinner. Because God is holy and righteous He cannot overlook sin; through the work of Jesus Christ God is fully satisfied that His righteous standard has been met. Through union with Christ the believer can now be accepted by God and be spared from the wrath of God."[9]      There are several concepts at work in the doctrine of propitiation. First, God is holy which means He is completely set apart from sin and cannot look on wickedness with favor. The Scripture states, “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You cannot look on wickedness with favor” (Hab 1:13), and “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Because all mankind is marked by sin, we are all in danger of the fires of hell, unless we turn to Christ as our Savior. Second, God made a way for His righteousness to be satisfied, and this through the cross of Christ. As Christians, we “are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith” (Rom 3:24-25a ESV). And John tells us “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:2a; cf., 4:10). God is forever satisfied with the death of Christ. Third, the wrath of God is removed because Jesus was judged in our place and bore the punishment that rightfully belongs to us. Paul wrote, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Rom 5:8-9). Dr. Steven R. Cook     ___ [1] Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 376. [2] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology, 357. [3] Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, vol. 3, 143. [4] John F. Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord, 157. [5] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. “Barrier”, Thieme's Bible Doctrine Dictionary, 22. [6] J. Dwight Pentecost, Things Which Become Sound Doctrine, 89. [7] John F. Walvoord, What We Believe (Galaxie Software, 2007), 76. [8] Robert P. Lightner, Handbook of Evangelical Theology, 195. [9] Paul P. Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 325.

Morning Worship Sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference Isaiah 52:13-15 The Sin Bearing Servant 13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;  He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. 14 Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; 15 So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.

Matthew 12:1-21   At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. 2 Now when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath!” 3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions— 4 how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? 5 Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? 6 But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.7 But if you had known what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 9 Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might bring charges against Him. 11 But He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable then is a person than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”13 Then He *said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other.14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as tohow they might destroy Him. 15 But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, 16 and warned them not to tell who He was. 17 This happened so that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled: 18 “Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul delights; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel, nor cry out; Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bent reed He will not break off, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish, Until He leads justice to victory. 21 And in His name the Gentiles will hope.”     BIBLE READING GUIDE - FREE EBOOK - Get the free eBook, Bible in Life, to help you learn how to read and apply the Bible well: https://www.listenerscommentary.com     GIVE -  The Listener's Commentary is a listener supported Bible teaching ministry made possible by the generosity of people like you. Thank you! Give here:  https://www.listenerscommentary.com/give     STUDY HUB - Want more than the audio? Join the study hub to access articles, maps, charts, pictures, and links to other resources to help you study the Bible for yourself. https://www.listenerscommentary.com/members-sign-up   MORE TEACHING - For more resources and Bible teaching from John visit https://www.johnwhittaker.net  

Isaiah 49 1 Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me. 2 He has made My mouth like a sharp sword, In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me; And He has also made Me a select arrow, He has hidden Me in His quiver. 3 He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory.” 4 But I said, “I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the Lord, And My reward with My God.” 5 And now says the Lord, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel might be gathered to Him (For I am honored in the sight of the Lord, And My God is My strength), 6 He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, To the despised One, To the One abhorred by the nation, To the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, Princes will also bow down, Because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.” 8 Thus says the Lord, “In a favorable time I have answered You, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritages; 9 Saying to those who are bound, ‘Go forth,' To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.' Along the roads they will feed, And their pasture will be on all bare heights. 10 “They will not hunger or thirst, Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; For He who has compassion on them will lead them And will guide them to springs of water. 11 “I will make all My mountains a road, And My highways will be raised up. 12 “Behold, these will come from afar; And lo, these will come from the north and from the west, And these from the land of Sinim.” 13 Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted. 14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And the Lord has forgotten me.” 15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. 16 “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. 17 “Your builders hurry; Your destroyers and devastators Will depart from you. 18 “Lift up your eyes and look around; All of them gather together, they come to you. As I live,” declares the Lord, “You will surely put on all of them as jewels and bind them on as a bride. 19 “For your waste and desolate places and your destroyed land— Surely now you will be too cramped for the inhabitants, And those who swallowed you will be far away. 20 “The children of whom you were bereaved will yet say in your ears, ‘The place is too cramped for me; Make room for me that I may live here.' 21 “Then you will say in your heart, ‘Who has begotten these for me, Since I have been bereaved of my children And am barren, an exile and a wanderer? And who has reared these? Behold, I was left alone; From where did these come?'” 22 Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will lift up My hand to the nations And set up My standard to the peoples; And they will bring your sons in their bosom, And your daughters will be carried on their shoulders. 23 “Kings will be your guardians, And their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth And lick the dust of your feet; And you will know that I am the Lord; Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame... --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maranatha-ministries/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/maranatha-ministries/support

Behold, My Servant.” Those provocative words begin some of the most powerful and moving poetic expressions of grace found anywhere in the Old Testament. The Servant Songs of Isaiah prophesy the highly anticipated ministry of a mysterious figure known as the Servant of Yahweh who would fulfill the greatest divine mission the world will ever see.Isaiah's Great Light will lead you through a study of Isaiah's songs, written from the heart of a pastor desiring to help you see and experience the grace and kindness of God witnessed consistently throughout the ages.Get the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Isaiahs-Great-Light-Salvation-Servant/dp/193495280XConnect with Kyle Swanson:X: https://twitter.com/KyleJSwansonInsta: https://www.instagram.com/kylejswanson/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-b-a-r-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Behold, My Servant.” Those provocative words begin some of the most powerful and moving poetic expressions of grace found anywhere in the Old Testament. The Servant Songs of Isaiah prophesy the highly anticipated ministry of a mysterious figure known as the Servant of Yahweh who would fulfill the greatest divine mission the world will ever see. Isaiah's Great Light will lead you through a study of Isaiah's songs, written from the heart of a pastor desiring to help you see and experience the grace and kindness of God witnessed consistently throughout the ages. . This book ... will help you to capture the central thrust of these prophecies and show you the biblical roots of God's unfolding plan of salvation. Kyle Swanson has done an excellent job in helping to survey these breathtaking accounts of the Lord's Servant and to see them in their intended expression. I believe you will be greatly blessed in reading these pages as Kyle brings clarity to the study and application of Isaiah's glorious message. Dr. Steven J Lawson Dallas, TX Founder and President of OnePassion Ministries   Buy the book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Isaiahs-Great-Light-Salvation-Servant/dp/193495280X/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=sBy5T&content-id=amzn1.sym.444ba109-cdf8-4a96-9f01-f73a5ebc80ca%3Aamzn1.symc.adba8a53-36db-43df-a081-77d28e1b71e6&pf_rd_p=444ba109-cdf8-4a96-9f01-f73a5ebc80ca&pf_rd_r=F3DZNY0BADP7M1PS76EZ&pd_rd_wg=syFD0&pd_rd_r=d5e237a0-fa72-4d31-a227-a948601c4706&ref_=pd_gw_ci_mcx_mr_hp_atf_m   Follow Kyle on twitter https://twitter.com/KyleJSwanson Follow Kyle on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kyle.swanson.54 The sermon series here https://redeemeraz.org/sermons?sapurl=LytkdnF4L2xiL21zLytrNDIyamRoP2JyYW5kaW5nPXRydWUmZW1iZWQ9dHJ1ZSZyZWNlbnRSb3V0ZT1hcHAud2ViLWFwcC5saWJyYXJ5Lmxpc3QmcmVjZW50Um91dGVTbHVnPSUyQjR6emZnajk=   Please let us know in the comments where in the world you are tuned in from and make sure to give this video a like and subscribe to our channel to help promote sound Bible content on YouTube. Please consider becoming a supporter of Exposit The Word. Your one-time gift or regular monthly giving will help us reach more people with the Gospel and to help us equip people with sound bible teaching via online media and the production of physical Gospel tracts. https://exposittheword.com/support-us/

Sunday December 10, 2023 All things are new in Christ. People, universe. Something the world had never seen before. Isa 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I... for full notes: https://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=2921

The Names of GodMessiah - The Anointed OneJesus is more than a man, he is the Messiah. Yet at the same time he is very much a man, just like you and me. Imagine what it was like for each person who encountered Jesus in the flesh, the anointed Son of God standing before them.Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; 
My chosen one in whom My soul delights.
 I have put My Spirit upon Him;
 He will bring forth justice to the nations.- Isaiah 42:1 NASB 1995The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”- John 4:25-26 NASB 1995Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.- John 20:30-31 NASB 1995We also read from Luke 4:16-21 and John 11:25-26.May you know Jesus as Messiah, the anointed son of God. May you receive His anointing and walk in the fullness of all He has for you today!Become a PatronCultivate Connection has reached listeners in 157 countries, averaging 1,100 downloads a week. Help us reach even more by sharing Cultivate Connection with others.If you are one of the many who have been blessed by Cultivate Connection, become a monthly patron. As a patron, your generosity helps us create, host, and promote experiences that help others grow their relationship with God. Learn more on our website at CultivateConnection.com

Today, Senator Jim DeMint and Dr. Chaps consider the epic battle we fight as Christians. Senator DeMint discusses his new book, "Satan's Dare." If God asked Satan to consider you, would you pass the "dare?" 'Jim DeMint has fought tirelessly for freedom, prosperity, and traditional American values against the Washington swamp for over two decades. Today, he leads and trains a new generation of conservative warriors as Chairman of the Conservative Partnership Institute. DeMint represented South Carolina in the U.S. House (1999–2005) and U.S. Senate (2005–2013). Known for policy innovation, he authored leading conservative reforms in health care, education, taxes, and entitlements. DeMint garnered national acclaim from conservatives for leading efforts to ban congressional earmarks, the source of billions of dollars of wasteful spending for decades, which had led to corruption and widespread abuse. He also successfully led the fight to stop the McCain-Kennedy amnesty bill in 2007. DeMint is also the founder of the Senate Conservatives Fund, which played a major role in the election of many of the Senate's leading conservatives, like Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Tom Cotton. Get free alerts at http://PrayInJesusName.org © 2023, Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt, PhD. Airs on NRB TV, Direct TV Ch.378, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, GoogleTV, Smart TV, iTunes and www.PrayInJesusName.org

Morning Worship Sermon with Rev. Bud Hance Scripture reference Luke 10:1-2 The Seventy Sent Out 1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the hardest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Isaiah 49:6 6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'

Sermon, "Behold, My Servant" by Barry Heasley from the Lewiston Church of Christ on September 17, 2023.

     It is in the understanding of the suffering and death of Christ that the sinner appreciates God's great love and the price that was paid for our salvation. Christ suffered in our place, bearing the penalty that rightfully belongs to us. Scripture tells us that “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18a). Perhaps no section of Scripture in the Old Testament bears greater testimony to this truth than Isaiah 52:13 through 53:12, in which the prophet reveals the Messiah as the Suffering Servant. Isaiah 53 is mentioned several times in the New Testament as specifically referring to Christ (Matt 8:17; John 12:38; Acts 8:30-35; Rom 10:16; 1 Pet 2:22-25), so that there is no mistake in the minds of the New Testament writers that the passage points to Jesus. According to John Stott, “The New Testament writers quote eight specific verses as having been fulfilled in Jesus…eight verses out of the chapter's twelve are all quite specifically referred to Jesus.”[1] And Arnold Fruchtenbaum notes: "It was Isaiah the Prophet who first provided the hope that the day would come when the burden will be lifted. In Isaiah 53, God declared that the Suffering Servant, the Messiah, would be the sacrifice for sin…The point of Isaiah 53 is basically this: The animal sacrifices under the Mosaic Law were intended to be of temporary duration, a temporary measure only. God's intent was for there to be one final blood sacrifice, and that would be the sacrifice of the Messiah Himself."[2]      In Isaiah 53:10 we observe the Father's judgment on Christ for our sin, and Christ's willingness to be judged in our place. Isaiah wrote, “But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand” (Isa 53:10). It was the Father's will for the Son to go to the cross to die for sinners, but we must also realize that Christ willingly went to His death and bore the Father's wrath in our place. It is simultaneously true that God sent and Christ went. Jesus was not forced upon the cross, but willingly, in love, surrendered His life and died in our place. Jesus said, “I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:15), and “no one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative” (John 10:18). Paul wrote, “Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph 5:2), and “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Eph 5:25), and “the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Gal 2:20). The writer to the Hebrews tells us that Christ “offered up Himself” (Heb 7:27), and “offered Himself without blemish to God” (Heb 9:14).      As a result of Jesus bearing the sin of many, Isaiah wrote, “He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand” (Isa 53:10b). When Isaiah said, “He will see His offspring”, it meant that Christ's death would bear the fruit of spiritual offspring as people turn to Him as Savior and are born again (cf. John 3:3; 1 Pet 1:3, 23). Fruchtenbaum notes, “The Servant's seed would be those who benefit from His death by spiritual rebirth. The moment they accept for themselves His substitutionary death for their sins, they are born again spiritually by the Holy Spirit. By this spiritual rebirth, they become the Servant's seed.”[3] And the phrase, “He will prolong His days” refers to Jesus' bodily resurrection, never to die again. And the phrase, “the good pleasure of the LORD” most likely speaks of heaven's wealth that will be known to those whom Christ will justify and who will share in His riches and heavenly estate (John 14:1-3; 1 Pet 1:3-4).      Though Jesus suffered greatly on the cross, His death was infinitely purposeful, as it satisfied the Father's demands toward our sin, and also justified the many who would trust in Christ as Savior. Isaiah wrote, “As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities” (Isa 53:11). Here is a picture of substitutionary atonement, as the Suffering Servant will “justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities” (Isa 53:11b). Peter also reveals the doctrine of substitution when he states, “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). It is important to grasp that Christ bore our sin, but this did not make Him a sinner in conduct. On the other hand, we are declared righteous in God's sight because of the righteousness of Christ imputed to us at the moment of salvation, but this does not make us righteous in conduct. God gives us “the gift of righteousness” (Rom 5:17) at the moment we trust Christ as our Savior. This is what Paul meant when he stated, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor 5:21). Paul understood the doctrine of substitution, that Christ died in the place of sinners and that sinners are declared righteous because of the work of Christ credited to their account. This explains Paul's desire to “be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Phil 3:9). Concerning Isaiah 53:11, Edward Young states: "When the servant bears the iniquities of the many and has been punished for the guilt of these iniquities, the act of bearing the iniquities in itself has not changed the character of those whose iniquities are borne. When the iniquities are borne, i.e. when the guilt those iniquities involved has been punished, the servant may declare that the many stand in right relationship with God. Their iniquities will no longer be able to rise up and accuse them, for the guilt of those iniquities has been punished. Thus, they are justified. They are declared to be righteous, for they have received the righteousness of the servant and they are received and accepted by God Himself. Of them God says that they no longer have iniquities, but they do have the righteousness of the servant. This can only be a forensic justification."[4]      If we had stood at the trials of Jesus, seen His beatings, seen His crucifixion and sat at the foot of the cross, surely we would have wept at the injustice and brutal cruelty of it all. However, the Scripture reveals that it was the will of God that Christ go to the cross and die for sinners (Acts 2:23; 4:28), that His death would be an atoning sacrifice that satisfied every righteous demand of the Father (Rom 3:25; 1 John 2:2). In the willing death of Christ, we have the Father's righteousness displayed toward our sin as well as His love toward us, the sinner, whom He seeks to save.      There is a purpose to the suffering of Christ. He suffered that we might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. His substitutionary death propitiated the Father's righteous demand for justice concerning our sin and now we can come to God with the empty hands of faith and receive the free gift of eternal life and be clothed in perfect righteousness. This was accomplished while we were helpless, ungodly, sinners and enemies of God (Rom 5:6-10). God graciously acted toward us to reconcile us to Himself, and this was accomplished through the suffering of Christ.   [1] John R. W. Stott, The Cross of Christ (Downers Grove, Ill. Intervarsity Press, 1986), 145. [2] Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, Messianic Christology: A Study of Old Testament Prophecy Concerning the First Coming of the Messiah (Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 1998), 130. [3] Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Book of Isaiah: Exposition from a Messianic Jewish Perspective (San Antonio, TX. Ariel Ministries, 2021), 577-578. [4] Edward Young, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40–66, vol. 3 (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1972), 358.

Following the Sabbath debate, Matthew presents an interlude to the opposition and rejection of Jesus. He reminds his readers in Matthew 12:15-21 that Jesus is the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. This particular pericope can be summarized in three words — “Behold, My Servant!” Matthew uses Biblical prophecy to present the Servant's charge, commission, and character.

Romans 9:24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  25 ¶ As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." 26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God." 27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. 28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth."     GOD'S ACTIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH HIS REVELATION (24-29)      1. Not of Jews only, as foretold by Hosea (24-26)24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?God's plan always was for Gentiles to be saved.Isa 11:10 "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." Isa 42:1 "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. Isa 42:6 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, Isa 49:6 Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'" Isa 60:3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.Ro 3:29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.25 As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved."Hosea chapter 2 and you will see it in verse 23.  In the middle of the verse, Then I will say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they shall say, 'You are my God!'""  Now that's essentially what Paul refers to.  It is a paraphrase.  It is not a direct quote, it's a paraphrase.  He alludes to this particular text.  But I want you to see the meaning of it by going back to chapter 1.  Hosea was a prophet, a very wonderful man, a very loving man, a very forgiving man, a very gracious man.  Verse 2 says, "The Lord said to Hosea, go take unto thee a wife of harlotry, children of harlotry for the land hath committed great harlotry departing from the Lord."Now we don't know whether she was a harlot when he married her but she became one.  And Hosea sort of lived out a parable as his wife was a harlot to him, so Israel was a harlot to her husband, God. And his life is a living parable of the relation between God and Israel.  "So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, conceived, bore him a son, called his name Jezreel."  You know what Jezreel means?  Scattered, means scattered.  She had another child, verse 6, call her name Lo-ruhamah, means not pitied, I have no pity for that child.  Had another child, verse 9, boy, Lo-ammi, not my people, for you are not My people and I will not be your God.These represented God's abandonment of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the Assyrian Captivity and Exile (Hosea 1:2–9).[1] So here is Hosea, he marries a woman, she becomes a prostitute. She gives him three kids, one named "scattered," the other named "not pitied," and the other named "not My people."  Now what do tho

John 19:18 “There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.” Listen to the prophecy fulfilled in John's explanation of the crucifixion. There are none of the gory details, just a few important things to know about Jesus's death so His readers might believe that Jesus is the Messiah of whom the prophet Isaiah wrote in 53:10-12 “But the Lord (that's God, the Father) was pleased to crush Him (that's Jesus the Son), putting Him to grief; if He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; by His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the booty with the strong; because He poured out Himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors.” This is John's point in testifying that Jesus was crucified with two other men, two other transgressors. We learn from Luke's account that they were criminals. From an earthly perspective, Jesus' death looked like the deserved death of the other men who had broken Roman laws. But it was not as it appeared. Love is willing to be misunderstood, suffer unjustly, and be shamed, despised, and rejected among men in order to please the Father. It seems that followers of Jesus have more reasons today to expect the same treatment. Do not be shocked when true Christians are considered criminals by the world and by religious people. Let's notice Isaiah's comment, “because He poured out Himself to death.” Let us live to love with Jesus with the understanding that our Father is not only pleased when we pour ourselves out in death to self in order to love with Jesus, but that we will be rewarded with Him as well. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.” (Isaiah 12)   This short chapter follows on the heels of our devotion yesterday from Isaiah 11.  Death must come first.  It always comes first.  Before there is Easter, there is Good Friday.  But in God's story: new life always follows death.  And so it is here: after death and exile comes new life and the songs of the redeemed.  Isaiah 11 describes the reality that will come as new life is born from the stump of Jessee, Isaiah 12 describes the response of the redeemed to the new life they've been given. Anger turns to comfort.  Fear turns to trust.  Weakness becomes strength in the Lord.  The thirsty drink afresh from the well of salvation.  Once again God's people are reminded that their God is among them and that he is the one who gives the things that really matter in our lives, the things that we cannot get for ourselves. How hard it is to see hope in the pit of despair.  How hard it is to find comfort in the throes of fear.  Who can sing a song of joy in the dark valley of death?  And yet it seems that it is always in just these places—when we are spent, exhausted, deflated, discouraged, at the end of our strength, faith, and hope—that we discover that the only thing that we truly need is the thing that we've had all along: our God.  He meets us there in the dark valleys of our lives, reminding us that he is “among us.”  And not only that, but that he is also still saving us, still giving us new life, new purpose, new callings to step into where we might live the resurrection life of his salvation more fully for the sake of the world. And that is why we sing.  We sing because he has done great and glorious things for us.  We sing because his name needs to be shouted out and shouted up—exalted to the highest place where it belongs.  We sing because all the world needs to hear—not just our apologetics and our teachings, but our songs of salvation!  They need to hear a good word of great joy that is for all the people, a word worth heralding out with the angels of Bethlehem.  It is not always the “believing” bits that catch people's wonder and draws them near—it is more often the “beholding” bits where we are caught up short in wonder and awe—where we are unable to articulate anything of response but a shout and a song.  It's moments like this: Behold, the virgin shall be with child… (Mt. 1:23) Behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove… (Mt. 3:16) Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen… (Mt. 12:18) Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mt. 26:45) And on the day of resurrection: “Behold, Jesus met them, saying, ‘Rejoice!'” (Mt. 28:9 – all from NKJV) Rejoice indeed.  What is the song of salvation that you've been given to sing?  

What Is This Person Like?   If you don't see the Holy Spirit as a person, you'll never develop a personal relationship with Him.   “God, the Father” “God, the Son” “God, the Holy Spirit”   HOW DO YOU DEFINE A PERSON   A person is a being with a soul   “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! Matthew 12:18 NKJV   He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Matthew 26:38 NLT   Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:38 NKJV   A person's soul is made up of three components: mind, will, and emotions. 1. The Mind of the Holy Spirit “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT   When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13 NLT   “the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything” John 14:26 NLT   Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:27 NKJV   2.  The Will of the Holy Spirit   Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.  Acts 16:6 God's General Will   God's Specific Will   Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20 NLT       And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Romans 8:17 NLT   We come to know the general will of God by His Word, while we come to know the specific will of God by His Voice.   When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.  John16:13 NLT   No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,' God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:16-17 NLT   3. The Holy Spirit's Emotions   But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 NLT   And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30 NLT   Grief is deep sadness you feel at the loss of intimacy with someone.   So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. And “don't sin by letting anger control you.” Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:25-32 NLT   Sin does not grieve the Holy Spirit because He is a killjoy and doesn't want you to have fun.  Sin grieves the Holy Spirit because it hurts people and He loves people.   Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” Acts 8:22-23 NKJV   Bitterness will poison you emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically.  Sin is an event; iniquity is a lifestyle. Sin is an act; iniquity is a habit.   INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHOW YOU   Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalms 139:23-24 NLT   INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHANGE YOU   Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.  Psalms 51:10 NLT    INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FILL YOU   Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 NLT    Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NLT

Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12The Sin-Bearing Servant13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.14 Just as many were astonished at you,So His visage was marred more than any man,And His form more than the sons of men;15 So shall He sprinkle many nations.Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;For what had not been told them they shall see,And what they had not heard they shall consider.53 Who has believed our report?And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,And as a root out of dry ground.He has no form or comeliness;And when we see Him,There is no beauty that we should desire Him.3 He is despised and rejected by men,A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.4 Surely He has borne our griefsAnd carried our sorrows;Yet we esteemed Him stricken,Smitten by God, and afflicted.5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,And by His stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray;We have turned, every one, to his own way;And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,Yet He opened not His mouth;He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,So He opened not His mouth.8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,And who will declare His generation?For He was cut off from the land of the living;For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.9 And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death,Because He had done no violence,Nor was any deceit in His mouth.10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;He has put Him to grief.When You make His soul an offering for sin,He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,For He shall bear their iniquities.12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,Because He poured out His soul unto death,And He was numbered with the transgressors,And He bore the sin of many,And made intercession for the transgressors.The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Is 52:13–53:12.

Isaiah 42 - Behold! My Servant! - Patrick FarrellFile Size: 54796 kbFile Type: mp3Download File [...]

Behold, My Servant. An eye and ear opening message concerning the Holy Spirit's usage of the word -Behold- in the Holy Scriptures.

Behold, My Servant. An eye and ear opening message concerning the Holy Spirit's usage of the word -Behold- in the Holy Scriptures.

Glory be to God! **

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold,My Elect One in whom My soul delights!I have put My Spirit upon Him;He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street.3 A bruised reed He will not break,And smoking flax He will not quench;He will bring forth justice for truth.4 He will not fail nor be discouraged,Till He has established justice in the earth;And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”5 Thus says God the Lord,Who created the heavens and stretched them out,Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,Who gives breath to the people on it,And spirit to those who walk on it:6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness,And will hold Your hand;I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,As a light to the Gentiles,7 To open blind eyes,To bring out prisoners from the prison,Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.8 I am the Lord, that is My name;And My glory I will not give to another,Nor My praise to carved images.9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,And new things I declare;Before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Zechariah 3 6 Thenthe Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, Then … You have been renovated. Admonished … This is important. 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here. Thus says the Lord - Authority. If … there is a lot of ifs in our lives walk in My ways… A purpose, Be a part of God's Kingdom, work, Renovates our life to walk in His ways keep His commands. Take charge of my courts – don't just wait for things to happen. Seek first the Kingdom of God. It's time to show the love of God. Walk Among – who do you want to walk among? Go … the great commission. 8 ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. Hear … wonderous sign of Christ. The BRANCH… Isaiah 53 9 For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,' Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. Behold the stone … Chief corner stone. Seven eyes …– God is all seeing, all knowing. 10 In that day,' says the Lord of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his vine and under his fig tree.' ” In that day …Jesus is coming back Everyone will invite his neighbor … Plan A Matthew 25 - God gave talents…a gift from God to be used for God's glory Day of Accountability – I was afraid. 1st part of Zechariah - Who we are in Jesus Christ. 2nd part of Zechariah - The walk we have in Jesus Christ Last part of Zechariah – God says Go. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/biblebulldog/message

Romans 9:24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  25 ¶ As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." 26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God." 27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. 28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth."     GOD'S ACTIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH HIS REVELATION (24-29) Not of Jews only, as foretold by Hosea (24-26) 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? God's plan always was for Gentiles to be saved. Isa 11:10 "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious."  Isa 42:1 "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.  Isa 42:6 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,  Isa 49:6 Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'"  Isa 60:3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. Ro 3:29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, 30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 25 As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." Hosea chapter 2 and you will see it in verse 23.  In the middle of the verse, Then I will say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they shall say, 'You are my God!'""  Now that's essentially what Paul refers to.  It is a paraphrase.  It is not a direct quote, it's a paraphrase.  He alludes to this particular text.  But I want you to see the meaning of it by going back to chapter 1.  Hosea was a prophet, a very wonderful man, a very loving man, a very forgiving man, a very gracious man.  Verse 2 says, "The Lord said to Hosea, go take unto thee a wife of harlotry, children of harlotry for the land hath committed great harlotry departing from the Lord." Now we don't know whether she was a harlot when he married her but she became one.  And Hosea sort of lived out a parable as his wife was a harlot to him, so Israel was a harlot to her husband, God. And his life is a living parable of the relation between God and Israel.  "So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, conceived, bore him a son, called his name Jezreel."  You know what Jezreel means?  Scattered, means scattered.  She had another child, verse 6, call her name Lo-ruhamah, means not pitied, I have no pity for that child.  Had another child, verse 9, boy, Lo-ammi, not my people, for you are not My people and I will not be your God. These represented God's abandonment of the Northern Kingdom of Israel to the Assyrian Captivity and Exile (Hosea 1:2–9).[1]  So here is Hosea, he marries a woman, she becomes a prostitute. She gives him three kids, one named "scattered," the other named "not pitied," and the other named "not My people."  Now what do those names have reference to?  God's attitude toward adulterous Israel.  The children of adulterous Israel are scattered and not pitied and not the people of God.  That's what it's saying.  They are not any longer My people.  They're not My people.  So Israel was not God's people.  The relationship was severed, even in the time of Hosea.  And Hosea 2:23 just simply points that out.  They're not My people, not My beloved.  In Hosea 2 God is going to bring them back.  There's a beautiful picture beginning in verse Ho 2:14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her. Ho 2:19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD.    Hosea says this, Israel is going to become not the people of God but some day brought back to being the people of God. That's what it's saying. Obviously The prophet was referring to the rejection by Israel of God.  And then the judgment that came on them and the restoration.  And he lived to see that.  He lived to see that northern kingdom conquered by the Assyrians, devastated by the Assyrians.  The people of Israel became, in a very real sense, not the people of God. What does that mean?  God took His hands off and they were scattered, weren't they?  And there was no more pity for them. Ho 2:2 "Bring charges against your mother, bring charges; For she is not My wife, nor am I her Husband! Jer 3:8 "Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. 2Ki 17:6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria, and placed them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. 2Ki 17:18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them from His sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah alone. Eze 23:9 "Therefore I have delivered her Into the hand of her lovers, Into the hand of the Assyrians, For whom she lusted. Now when you read in verse 25 of Romans 9, "I will call them My people who were not My people and call her beloved who was not beloved," you know what he's talking about, don't you?  He's talking about Israel.  There's no other way to explain it.  He has to be talking about Israel because that's who Hosea is talking about. Now when you read in verse 25 of Romans 9, "I will call them My people who were not My people and call her beloved who was not beloved," He's talking about Israel.  There's no other way to explain it.  He has to be talking about Israel because that's who Hosea is talking about. Isa 2:4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. Jer 23:6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jer 31:33 "But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 "No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." Jer 30:3 'For behold, the days are coming,' says the LORD, 'that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,' says the LORD. 'And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.'" Jer 30:10 'Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,' says the LORD, 'Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid. Isa 41:13; 43:5; 44:2; Jer 3:18; 46:27-28  11 For I am with you,' says the LORD, 'to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.' This important because what it means is that the prophets of old saw that Israel would enter into unbelief.  So listen, when Hosea wrote, that had an immediate historical fulfillment, didn't it?  As the people were severed from God, and carried off into captivity from which eventually God brought back the southern kingdom and a remnant of the northern kingdom.  So the prophecy was historically fulfilled in the restoration after the Babylonian captivity.  But that was only the first and historical fulfillment.  There was yet a future prophetic perspective.  And Paul here identifies it with the unbelief of the Jews during the time of Christ.  He says, "Look, we are not surprised now when we see Jewish unbelief and we see them separating themselves from God and we see them denying the gospel. We are not surprised now when they enter into unbelief and sever themselves from God.  Because Hosea said that that's the kind of people they were.  And Hosea saw it in the immediate sense and the Spirit of God saw in the very words He gave to Hosea the future sense."  So the Holy Spirit applies through Paul what Hosea saw historically to the time of Christ.  And the Israel of Christ is also a prostitute, also a harlot who has abandoned God and forsaken God.  And the truth was in 70 A.D. what happened to them?  Scattered, not pitied and not My people. The whole historical scene took place again at the devastation of Jerusalem when the Jews were scattered.  And have they suffered?  Have they suffered?  It's as if God does not pity them, isn't it?  They're not His people for this period of time. And so when we read the passage in Hosea then, we say yes, God anticipated the unbelief of Israel both in Hosea's time and here the Holy Spirit tells us even in the time of the apostle Paul, the time of Christ. So the unbelief of Israel doesn't violate God's plan, it does what? It fits it.  It's a tremendous thing.  It fits God's plan.  Israel is not now the people of God. They are a not pitied people.  They are a scattered people. No it's not permanent, look back at verse 25 again and see what it says.  "I will call them My people who were not My people and her beloved who was not beloved."  It even refers to the time of restoration, doesn't it?  It even refers to the time when they'll be called back.  Israel is not now the people of God but they will be.  Look at chapter 11 verse 1.  "I say then, hath God cast away His people?"  I mean, is this permanent?  "God forbid."  Verse 2: "God hath not cast away His people."  Look at verse 26 in the same chapter.  "And so all Israel shall be (What?) saved."  And verse 27 says, "For this is My covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins."  In other words, those who are not now a people will become a people.  Those who are not now beloved will become beloved.  But the point of the text is just to show you that for the time we are not surprised at the unbelief of Israel.  We saw it historically.  And that historical unbelief became prophetic of the unbelief that exists since the time of Christ until their belief comes during the time of the tribulation prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  So we're in the time when Israel fulfills the prophecy of Hosea.  They are a scattered, not pitied, not My people. Now Peter refers to this same idea, this same concept in 1 Peter 2:10.  He refers to it indirectly and identifies it with the church.  And that's kind of an interesting thing.  I don't think he directly quotes Hosea, in my opinion.  I think he alludes to the same concept only in this case it's the church.  Now listen to what I say.  Because we also were a scattered, unpitied people who were not the people of God when we were saved, right?  That's right.  So Peter applies the same principle to us, for Gentiles outside the covenant are a scattered, unpitied people without a relationship to God. How can Peter take something clearly referring to Israel and apply it to the church?"  Very simple, are you ready for this?  When Israel becomes scattered, unpitied and has no relationship to God, they're just like the Gentiles, right?  They're just like the Gentiles, no difference.  Jew and Gentile in unbelief are equally not God's people, are equally not pitied by God in a special covenantal way, are equally scattered and unsaved.  And so Peter sees the general truth of the state of Israel as a general truth also true of the Gentiles.    So, Hosea directly applies the prophecy historically in his time.  Paul directly applies the prophecy in his time.  And Peter indirectly associates the concept with the identification of the church as a no people become the people of God.   26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God." Now just notice in verse 25 that there's a beautiful set of terminologies, "My people, My people, My beloved," and the end of verse 26, "sons of the living God."  Beautiful terms.  The Lord's going to bring those people back.  Now Paul while he's in Hosea comes to another verse and quotes it in verse 26, "It shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, ye are not My people, there shall they be called the sons of the living God."  Now he got that out of chapter 1 verse 9 of Hosea where it says, "Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea which cannot be measured nor numbered, it will come to pass in the place where it was said to them, You are not My people, it shall be said to them, You are the sons of the living God."             It's kind of interesting because he simply paraphrases Hosea 2:23 but he does a direct quote of Hosea 1:9.  It's almost verbatim quote. And again this text affirms the same thing.  Look at verse 26 of Romans 9 "It will come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them, You are not My people."  Where was that place?  Where was it said to them, "You're not My people?"  Every place, they were scattered.  "In that place it will be said to them, You are the sons of the living God."  In other words, you who were scattered will be re-gathered, Hosea 1:9 says.  And that happened historically.  After the captivities God gathered His people back from the lands of the Gentiles. They were re-gathered to be called again the sons of the living God.  And that, by the way, is a title that stands in opposition to sons of idols, sons of dead gods, sons of no gods, sons of dumb gods that can't talk and deaf gods that can't hear and blind gods that can't see.  We are sons of the living God. It's such a great phrase, isn't it?  Not some dumb idol.             So please note that the use of Hosea's prophecies is not particularly to emphasize Israel's restoration, though that appears in the prophecies that He'll call them back to be His people, His beloved sons of the living God.  The particular point in using the prophecies is to show that a future restoration of Israel demands a falling of Israel, right?  You don't have to restore what hasn't been lost.  And the point is that Paul is saying we're not shocked by Israel's unbelief, quite the contrary.  We expected it because God promised their restoration from that unbelief.  So when you look at the gospel being presented and you ask yourself the question as I have been asked by Jewish people, if your gospel is true, why didn't the Jews believe it?  I say it was planned in the prophecy...in the plan of God that the Jews would have to be restored from unbelief so we're not surprised they've entered into unbelief from which they'll be restored.             Have they gone into that unbelief and become a scattered, not pitied people without a relationship to God except for a few?  Is that true?  Then if we've seen that come to pass, what else must we see come to pass?  Their restoration.  And I fear that many Bible students are willing to see Israel enter into the prophesied unbelief but refuse to let Israel be restored.  And you can't pick prophecy apart like that.             But only a remnant of Israel, as foretold by Isaiah (27-29) 27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. Then Paul chooses another prophet, Isaiah, verse 27.  And the similarity between Hosea 1:9 and 10 where his mind has been and this particular quote out of Isaiah no doubt link together, probably he was thinking, meditating on the Hosea passage and it triggered his thought directed by the Spirit to Isaiah.  So in verse 27 he quotes Isaiah 10:22 and 23, right in that section.  "Isaiah also cried out,” very strong word, krazō, to cry out, even sometimes to scream, “concerning Israel, though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea," now that's exactly what it said also in Hosea 1:9 so that's why I think in his mind he linked those two.  It says, "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea (A remnant shall be saved.  What's a remnant.  You ever buy a remnant?  It's not the whole thing, is it?  It's a piece, it's a small piece.  Isaiah prophesied in Judah under Uzziah, began about 760 B.C., prophesied for about 48 years and he cried out to the people, he cried out to them that though you number as the sands of the sea, though there are many Jews, only a small piece will be saved, only a small group will be saved, only a remnant will be saved. So, Isaiah saw the unbelief of Israel, too.  He saw that not all Jews were going to be saved.  Now I think Isaiah again, like Hosea, historically was looking at a very near fulfillment.  Isaiah was looking at the near conquest, looking at the captivity, looking at the enemy who was going to come historically and haul the people away.  He was looking at something that was imminent on the historical calendar.  But what the Holy Spirit had in mind was not only that but something future as well.  For out of all of the Jews in the time of Christ, only a few believed.  And out of all the Jews since the time of Christ, only a few believe, just as it was in the time of Isaiah.             So the events of Jewish history observed by Hosea and observed by Isaiah are pictures, prophetic pictures of the events about the time of Jesus Christ and the presenting of the gospel and the age in which we live when the Jews have also rejected God and been severed from Him, scattered.  There were only a few, by the way, who were saved out of the Assyrian conquest, just a few.  And they sort of typify the few who are saved in this age.  28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the LORD will make a short work upon the earth." verse 28 goes from Isaiah 10:22 to 23, the same passage, "For the Lord will execute His Word upon the earth thoroughly and quickly."  God's going to judge Israel and it's going to be thorough judgment and it's going to be a fast judgment, fast, complete.  Isaiah promised that a fast judgment was coming on Israel, a thorough judgment was coming on Israel and very few would escape that judgment.  Romans 9:28 probably refers to God's work of judgment during the Tribulation, when the nation of Israel will be persecuted and judged, and only a small remnant left to enter into the kingdom when Jesus Christ returns to earth. But the application for today is clear: only a remnant of Jews is believing; and they, together with the Gentiles, are the “called of God” (Rom. 9:24)[1] Amos has a most fascinating picture of this, Amos 3:11. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "An adversary shall be all around the land; He shall sap your strength from you, And your palaces shall be plundered." 12 Thus says the LORD: "As a shepherd takes from the mouth of a lion Two legs or a piece of an ear, So shall the children of Israel be taken out Who dwell in Samaria-In the corner of a bed and on the edge of a couch!             when a shepherd is out with his sheep, if a lion came and got a sheep, the shepherd would run and try to get the lion to release whatever was in his mouth because he had to give it to the man that owned the sheep for whom he worked so the man would know he hadn't been stealing the sheep.  If he comes back in and says, "Hey, I lost two sheep," and the guy says, "How did you lose them?"  "A lion ate them."  He says, "Prove it."  And the guy reaches in his little bag and pulls out a leg, he's going to say you proved it, and shows the teeth marks.  And the demonstration of what Amos is saying is that Israel is in the mouth of a lion and when God reaches He's going to get just a little bit that's left, snatching it out of the jaws of destruction.  Small number of Jews were to escape the great Assyrian conquest, and that's exactly what happened. The rest entered into the judgment of their unbelief and their rejection of God. And so it will be prophetically in the time of Christ that only a small group will be rescued while the vast number of Jews will enter into the judgment of God on them that reject Him.             Paul's point is that Israel's rejection of the gospel is no violation of God's plan.  It was predicted.  It was predicted by Hosea, predicted by Isaiah and even dramatized historically.  So is the plan interrupted?  No.  The plan is Fulfilled, just on schedule. Now he's not done with Isaiah, he wants to quote Isaiah one more time in verse 29. This is where this section wraps up. Follow it.  " Isaiah said only a remnant.  He changes remnant to seed, means the same thing, a remnant, a small group, seed, a small thing, just a little bit             29 And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the LORD of Sabaoth had left us a seed, We would have become like Sodom, And we would have been made like Gomorrah The objective of this reference, like the former reference from Isaiah, is to demonstrate that God planned it all.  And He planned that not all Israel would be saved, not all Israel would be exempt from judgment. The Jews of antiquity face tremendous judgment.  And the Jews at the time of Christ face tremendous judgment because the Jews of antiquity rejected God, the Jews of the time of Christ rejected God. The parallels are obvious. And the only reason any of us is saved, the only reason any of us is saved, look at verse 29, is because the Lord of Sabaoth left us a remnant. The Lord of Sabaoth left us a small seed.             Why is He called the Lord of Sabaoth?  That means hosts, marvelous contrast.  Isaiah 1:9, Lord of hosts means Lord of everything.  The hosts are the angels, the stars, the heavenly bodies, the planets, Lord of...Lord of the much, Lord of the many.  And he says by contrast, "The Lord of the much and the Lord of the many and the Lord of the hosts has chosen a seed."  And if it hadn't been that, all of us would have ended up like what?  Sodom and Gomorrah.  How did they end up?  In judgment, judgment so severe that to this day we can't find out where those cities even were.  We don't have any idea where they were. They were literally buried in utter devastation, never to be recovered or discovered, utterly destroyed.  They became a byword for complete destruction.  We would all be destroyed if it weren't that God, the God of everything, had chosen a small seed.             So he draws from Hosea and he draws from Isaiah Old Testament proof that God in the plan planned that not all Israel would be saved.  The Jews would enter into a time of great unbelief, be scattered, not pitied, and not the people of God.  And out of it there would be a small remnant.  And so, when you look at the time of Christ and you say, "Well, if this is the true gospel, why did all the Jews reject?"  You can say because that's the way the prophets said it was to be, that was the plan.  And the only reason any believe is because the Lord of Sabaoth chose to leave a seed.  And again would you please note?  Paul makes his point using Scripture. Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32 Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.  hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

Behold, My Servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. – Isaiah 52:13

Behold, My Servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted. – Isaiah 52:13

Moses, My Servant, is Dead - Dr. Wayne Sehmish

My Servant brings us into the midst of the servants of the Lord. Here we find the issue involves Cyrus and his call to destroy Babylon and release Judah from Captivity. Yet the description herein fit the Messiah which was to come and now is fulfilled in Yeshua, Jesus Christ. The Messiach to come, My Servant says the Lord, "in whom my soul delighteth." Above all this there is a servant of God [Cyrus for deliverance from Babylon] but [Jesus, Yeshua prophetically is addressed here in the future], His elect, who will appear in humility and without pretension, but who shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth; and the isles of the Gentiles shall receive His law. It is also cast here into the mix against the backdrop of Judah from where Yeshua springs from. The hope and promises are all fed through Judah who is now in captivity, but Cyrus will come as Gods anointed to bring the Jews out of captivity and back into the land. 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 MyServant, JerusalemsGoodTidings, KingofJacob, IdentityRevelation, IWillHelp, IHaveChosen, AbrahamicSeed, IhaveChosen, RenewedStrength, CounselofJehovah, BeholdtheNations, EternalWordDelivers, #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

The Time of the End I was shown that a terrible condition of things exists in our world. The angel of mercy is folding her wings, ready to depart. Already the Lord's restraining power is being withdrawn from the earth, and Satan is seeking to stir up the various elements in the religious world, leading men to place themselves under the training of the great deceiver, who work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in the children of disobedience. Already the inhabitants of the earth are marshaling under the leading of the prince of darkness, and this is but the beginning of the end. The law of God is made void. We see and hear of confusion and perplexity, want and famine, earthquakes and floods; terrible outrages will be committed by men; passion, not reason, bears sway. The wrath of God is upon the inhabitants of the world, who are fast becoming as corrupt as were the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Already fire and flood are destroying thousands of lives and the property that has been selfishly accumulated by the oppression of the poor. The Lord is soon to cut short His work and put an end to sin. Oh, that the scenes which have come before me of the iniquities practiced in these last days, might make a deep impression on the minds of God's professing people. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man shall be revealed. The Lord is removing His restrictions from the earth, and soon there will be death and destruction, increasing crime, and cruel, evil working against the rich who have exalted themselves against the poor. Those who are without God's protection will find no safety in any place or position. Human agents are being trained and are using their inventive power to put in operation the most powerful machinery to wound and to kill. -50- Instead of our enlarging and erecting additional buildings in Battle Creek or other places where our institutions are already established, there should be a limiting of the wants. Let the means and the workers be scattered to represent the truth and give the warning message in “regions beyond.” Help in Time of Trouble When the children of Israel were journeying through the wilderness, the Lord protected them from venomous serpents; but the time came when, because of Israel's transgression, impenitence, and stubbornness, the Lord removed His restraining power from these reptiles, and many of the people were bitten and died. Then it was that the brazen serpent was uplifted, that all who repented and looked to it in faith might live. In the time of confusion and trouble before us, a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation, the uplifted Saviour will be presented to the people in all lands, that all who look to Him in faith may live. A Failure to Honor God In view of the terrible crisis before us what are those doing who profess to believe the truth? I was called by my Guide, who said, “Follow Me,” and I was shown things among our people that were not in accordance with their faith. There seemed to be a bicycle craze. Money was spent to gratify an enthusiasm in this direction that might better, far better, have been invested in building houses of worship where they are greatly needed. There were presented before me some very strange things in Battle Creek. A bewitching influence seemed to be passing as a wave over our people there, and I saw that this would be followed by other temptations. Satan works with intensity of purpose to induce our people to invest their time and money in gratifying supposed wants. This is a species of idolatry. The example will be followed, and while hundreds are starving for bread, while famine and pestilence are seen and felt, because God cannot, according to His own name's glory, protect those who are working contrary to His will, shall those who profess to love and serve God act as did the people in the days of Noah, following the imagination of their hearts? -51- While you have been gratifying your inclination in the appropriation of money—God's money—for which you must give an account, missionary work has been hindered and bound about for want of means and workers to plant the banner of truth in places where the people have never heard the message of warning. Will God say to those who are selfishly pleasing their own imagination and gratifying their own desires: “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord”? Matthew 25:23. My brethren and sisters in Battle Creek, what kind of witness are you bearing to an unbelieving world? I have been shown that the Lord does not look upon your course with favor, for your practice contradicts your profession. You are not doers of the words of Christ. -52- I was told by my Guide: “Look ye, and behold the idolatry of My people, to whom I have been speaking, rising up early, and presenting to them their dangers. I looked that they should bring forth fruit.” There were some who were striving for the mastery, each trying to excel the other in the swift running of their bicycles. There was a spirit of strife and contention among them as to which should be the greatest. The spirit was similar to that manifested in the baseball games on the college ground. Said my Guide: “These things are an offense to God. Both near and afar off souls are perishing for the bread of life and the water of salvation.” When Satan is defeated in one line, he will be all ready with other schemes and plans which will appear attractive and needful, and which will absorb money and thought, and encourage selfishness, so that he can overcome those who are so easily led into a false and selfish indulgence. The question arises: What burden do these persons carry for the advancement of the work of God? Wherein do they realize the importance of the work for this time? Christ said to His disciples: “Ye are the light of the world.... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16. Is this investment of means and this spinning of bicycles through the streets of Battle Creek giving evidence of the genuineness of your faith in the last solemn warning to be given to human beings standing on the very verge of the eternal world? My brethren and sisters in America, I make my appeal to you. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7. The lives of many are too delicate and dainty. They know nothing of bearing hardship as good soldiers of Christ. They are hindrances to the work of soul saving. They have many wants; everything must be convenient and easy, to suit their taste. They will not do anything themselves, and those who would do something they hinder by their suppositions and imaginary wants, and their love of idols. They think themselves Christians, but they do not know what practical Christian life signifies. What does it mean to be a Christian? It means to be Christlike. -53- When the Lord sees His people restricting their imaginary wants and practicing self-denial, not in a mournful, regretful spirit, as Lot's wife left Sodom, but joyfully, for Christ's sake, and because it is the right thing to do, the work will go forward with power. Let nothing, however dear, however loved, absorb your mind and affections, diverting you from the study of God's word or from earnest prayer. Watch unto prayer. Live your own requests. Co-operate with God by working in harmony with Him. Expel from the soul-temple everything that assumes the form of an idol. Now is God's time, and His time is your time. Fight the good fight of faith, refusing to think or to talk unbelief. The world is to hear the last warning message. Chapter 9—Our Duty to the World Granville, N. S. W., 1894. There should be a decided change in the spirit and character of the work in the places where men and women have received increased light. What are they doing to warn those who do not understand that the Lord is soon coming? “Behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:21. Who, I ask, is carrying a burden for the souls that are perishing out of Christ? Who will go forth without the camp, bearing the reproach? Who will leave pleasant homes and dear ties of relationship, and carry the precious light of truth to far-off lands? Every day, every moment, comes to those to whom have been entrusted the light of truth, weighted with the terrible significance that men and women in every land are preparing themselves for weal or for woe, fixing their destiny for eternity. -54- God has made amazing sacrifices for human beings. He has expended mighty energy to reclaim man from transgression and sin to loyalty and obedience, but I have been shown that He does nothing without the co-operation of human agencies. Every endowment of grace and power and efficiency has been liberally provided. The strongest motives have been presented to arouse and keep alive in the human heart the missionary spirit, that efforts of divine and human agencies may be combined. But what have our people done in regard to moving out of Battle Creek, to carry the light to regions where the standard has never yet been planted? Did not the Lord at the recent Conference open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing? What use have you made of the gift of God? He has supplied you with the motive force of action, that with patience and hope and untiring vigilance you might set forth Christ and Him crucified, calling men to repent of their sins, sounding the note of warning that Christ is soon to come with power and great glory. If the members of the Battle Creek church do not arouse now and go to work in missionary fields, they will fall back into deathlike slumber. How did the Holy Spirit work upon your hearts? ...Were you not inspired to exercise the talents God has given you, that every man and woman and youth should employ them to set forth the truth for this time, making personal efforts, going into the cities where the truth has never been proclaimed, and lifting up the standard? -55- Have not your energies been quickened by the blessing that God has bestowed upon you? Has not the truth been more deeply impressed upon your soul? Can you not see more clearly its relative importance to those who are perishing out of Christ? Since the manifest revealing of God's blessing, are you witnessing for Christ more distinctly and decidedly than ever before? The Holy Spirit has brought decidedly to your minds the important, vital truths for this time. Is this knowledge to be bound up in a napkin and hidden in the earth? No, no. It is to be put out to the exchangers. As man uses his talents, however small, with faithfulness, the Holy Spirit takes the things of God, and presents them anew to the mind. Through His Spirit God makes His word a vivifying power. It is quick and powerful, exerting a strong influence upon minds, not because of the learning or intelligence of the human agent, but because divine power is working with the human power. And it is to the divine power that all praise is to be given. Shall the selfishness and the ease of those who have earthly comforts and attractive homes allure us? Shall we cease as moral agencies to use our powers to the saving of souls? Shall our voices be indistinct? Then God will put His curse upon us who have had so great light, and inscribe upon the walls of our homes: “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” 2 Timothy 3:4. He will put a tongue in the stones, and they will speak; but God commands of you in Battle Creek to go forth. How to Gain Success Resolve, not in your own strength, but in the strength and grace given of God, that you will consecrate to Him now, just now, every power, every ability. You will then follow Jesus because He bids you, and you will not ask where, or what reward will be given. It will be well with you as you obey the word: “Follow Me.” Your part is to lead others to the light by judicious, faithful efforts. Under the guardianship of the divine Leader, will to do, resolve to act, without a moment's hesitation. -56- When you die to self, when you surrender to God, to do His work, to let the light that He has given you shine forth in good works, you will not labor alone. God's grace stands forth to co-operate with every effort to enlighten the ignorant and those who do not know that the end of all things is at hand. But God will not do your work. Light may shine in abundance, but the grace given will convert your soul only as it arouses you to co-operate with divine agencies. You are called upon to put on the Christian armor and enter the Lord's service as active soldiers. Divine power is to co-operate with human effort to break the spell of worldly enchantment that the enemy has cast upon souls. Again I call for the help that we ought to have had, the means that we must have, if anything is accomplished in this country. Let your hearts be drawn out in love for perishing souls. Obey the impulse given by High Heaven. Grieve not the Holy Spirit by delay. Resist not God's methods of recovering souls from the thralldom of sin. To every man, according to his several ability, is given his work. Do your best, and God will accept your efforts. Chapter 10—Missionary Work at Home and Abroad Granville, N. S. W., July 24, 1895 God's field is the world. Jesus said to His disciples: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Acts 1:8; Luke 24:47. Peter said to the believers: “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” Acts 2:39. -57- God declares: “I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Hosea 2:23. “And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6. God has poured out richly of His Holy Spirit upon the believers in Battle Creek. What use have you made of these blessings? Have you done as did the men upon whom the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost? Then “they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” Acts 8:4. Has this fruit been seen in Battle Creek? Have the church been taught of God to know their duty, and to reflect the light which they have received? An Illustration of the Work We Are to Do “When the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.” Verse 14. The Spirit of God was waiting to enlighten souls and convert them to the truth. Notice how much effort was put forth for just one man, an Ethiopian. “The angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. -58- “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.... “Then Philip ...began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. “And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.” Acts 8:26-40. In the experience of Philip and the Ethiopian is presented the work to which the Lord calls His people. The Ethiopian represents a large class who need missionaries like Philip, missionaries who will hear the voice of God and go where He sends them. There are those in the world who are reading the Scriptures, but who cannot understand their import. The men and women who have a knowledge of God are needed to explain the word to these souls. Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8 pp. 49-58

Monday, 20 December 2021   The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. Acts 3:13   Peter now explains the source of the healing power that brought the beggar to full health of his legs. He had just noted that it was not by their own power or godliness that he was made to walk. Rather, his words will point to the power of God in Christ, beginning with, “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”   By introducing the patriarchs, Peter is clearly identifying the accomplishment of the miracle with the same God who had been faithfully followed by the fathers of the “men of Israel” whom he began to address in the previous verse. There has been an unbroken line of His power being displayed in this line, and Peter acknowledges that it continues at their present time. Having noted these three patriarchs by name, he next says that he is “the God of our fathers.”   The selection of this line was carefully recorded each step of the way. Abraham was called, he was directed by the Lord to follow a certain course of life, he was given promises and the covenant of faith was made with him. He was given the sign of circumcision. He was tested and the surety of the promise was restated because of his faithfulness.   From him, the line was carefully detailed to continue through Isaac, the son of promise. And from Isaac, the line continued through Jacob, who is Israel. The same God who had directed the course of events of their lives, and who had carefully detailed the continued course of events through the specified chosen line, is the same God who “glorified His Servant Jesus.”   By noting the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Peter is carefully ensuring that he is proclaiming the works and power as belonging to that same God. He is not introducing a new god, nor is he introducing an aberrant way of worshipping this same God. Rather, as he continues, he will clearly demonstrate that “His Servant Jesus” is the fulfillment of the Scriptures.   As yet, Peter has not called their God by His name Lord (YHVH). Rather, he has only used the term “God” and affixed His identity to the patriarchs. What will be implied in his continued words is that the Lord their God is, in fact, the Lord Jesus. For now, however, he is acknowledging that Jesus is the One Scripture testifies to.   In this verse, some translations say “Son” or “Child” here instead of “Servant.” The word can be translated either way, but Peter is clearly identifying Christ in His role as the “Servant of the Lord” who was prophesied of in their Scriptures. More specifically, he is surely tying Him to the “Servant” of Isaiah 52/53 –   “Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.” Isaiah 52:13   That this is what is on Peter's mind is to be inferred beginning with the next words which say, “whom you delivered up and denied.”   “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3   The rejection of the Servant is prophesied in these words. Peter is calling them to mind and telling the people before Him that it is they who fulfilled this prophecy. There is no need to directly cite the words as they would have been familiar to all of the people before him. They would be able to clearly tie the prophecy together with the event, if they were mentally willing to do so. Peter then adds salt into the wound of the event by saying, “in the presence of Pilate.”   Not only did they reject the Servant of the God of their fathers who was glorified by Him, but they had done it in the presence of a Gentile ruler. They called out for a guilty sentence upon the One who was clearly innocent in God's eyes, but who was also clearly innocent in the eyes of this Gentile placed over them. Peter avows this poignantly by saying, “when he was determined to let Him go.”   The words of Pilate would have rushed back into the mind of any of the people who had been present at the time –   Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!” 6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “You take Him an  d crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” 8 Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, 9 and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?” 11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” John 19:4-12   Pilate clearly saw the innocence of the Man, and he attempted to have him released several times. But more, the account shows that Pilate was aware that Jesus was more than just another “Man.” He may not have understood the truth of who Jesus was, but he understood that God's hand was certainly upon Him and thus it made the contrast to the angry calls of the Jews all the more striking.   This is clearly seen in the structure of Peter's words. As Vincent's Word Studies notes –   “He is ἐκείνου [ekeinou], the pronoun of more definite and emphatic reference, the latter, Pilate, ‘in order to make the contrast felt between what Pilate judged and what they did.' This is further emphasized in the next verse.”   Peter is setting the actions of Israel against the decision of Pilate, bringing the guilt of their conduct squarely back on them. And this is before even acknowledging that it is Christ Jesus who is the One who healed the man. That will not be specifically stated until verse 3:16. Peter is applying lashes upon the people before telling them of the healing balm that can bring restoration to their souls. For now, he is simply acknowledging that they bear guilt for the sin which they committed.   Life application: Peter's words reveal an effective way of reaching some people with the gospel. Some people already know that they are guilty of sin. They wear it on their shoulders for all the world to see, and they are scared of the day they have to meet their Maker. For these, the simple gospel that tells them Christ died for their sins is all they need to hear. When presented to them, the wonderful words of release flow over them like a flood of cool water while in a dry and barren land.   Others, however, feel just fine with themselves. They may compare themselves to others, as if God grades on a bell curve. “Well, I'm a lot better than most people. God understands my faults. All is good.” They have no idea that “others” are not a valid standard, but rather absolute perfection is.   For such people, they need to be presented with their (many) imperfections in light of the absolute perfection of the Lord. “You have done this in the presence of God, even a criminal can know that. Why can't you see this?” Eventually, when the sin is presented as an infinite crime against God, the person will then realize how terrible his state before God actually is. From that understanding, a presentation of the gospel will bring peace to the now-troubled soul.   Each person must be evaluated to understand what is going on in his or her mind. Once that is done, the proper approach to evangelizing is then to be pursued. Peter knew the guilt of the people before him, but because a miracle had been done in their presence, they sure thought that they were right with God. “We are Israel, and God is doing great things among us!”   To avoid any such notion that God approved of them because of what had been done, Peter gave them the bad news first. Let us use this tool when necessary.   Lord God, help us to be effective at telling others about Your wonderful workings in Christ on our behalf. Each person is an individual, and so help us to carefully understand what he needs to know in order to be saved. From there, may we then present it in a way that will be effective in his life. To Your glory we pray. Amen.

Your King is Coming! Zechariah 3:1-10 (NIV) – [1] Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. [2] The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” [3] Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. [4] The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” [5] Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by. [6] The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua: [7] “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.’ [8] “Listen, O high priest Joshua and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. [9] See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,” says the LORD Almighty, “and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day. [10] In that day each of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and fig tree,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” Joshua and his priestly companions were symbolic of things to come. In their official priestly cleansing from sin they prefigured the future cleansing of the nation Israel. This future cleansing was linked with the coming of the Sin-Remover who was given three messianic titles - My Servant, the Branch, and the Stone. (Bible Knowledge Commentary) 1. Jesus is the Servant. Matthew 20:24-28 (NIV) – [24] When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. [25] Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. [26] Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 2. Jesus is the Branch. Servant and Branch are both titles for the Messiah. As servant, the Messiah obeys God’s will by becoming a sin-offering so that many might be made righteous. The Branch is a metaphor for kingship that identifies the Messiah as David’s descendant. (NLT Study Bible Notes) Isaiah 11:1, 6 (NIV) – [1] A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit… [6] The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. Jeremiah 33:15-16 (NIV) – [15] “‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. [16] In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.’” 3. Jesus is the Stone. 1 Peter 2:6-8 (NIV) – [6] For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” [7] Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,” [8] and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” At His first advent, Jesus was a stumbling stone to Israel who rejected Him, but He became the foundation stone for the church. At His second advent, He will smite the kingdoms of the world and establish His glorious kingdom. The seven “eyes” on the stone probably speak of our Lord’s omniscience. (Wiersbe Bible Commentary) Upon one stone shall be seven eyes—namely, the watchful “eyes” of Jehovah’s care ever fixed “upon” it. The eye is the symbol of Providence: “seven,” of perfection. (Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown) Zechariah 4:10 (NIV) – [10] “Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. (These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)” Revelation 5:6 (NIV) – [6] Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. The “inscription” engraved on the stone remains unexplained, but many of the early church fathers and interpreters ever since have taken the engraving as a preview of Messiah’s wounds. (Thomas Constable’s Notes on the Bible) Isaiah 53:4-5 (NIV) – Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. [5] But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. 4. Jesus is the Savior. The removal of Israel’s sin in a single day alludes to the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. It foreshadows Christ’s crucifixion, when the Lamb of God would take away the sin of the world. (NLT Study Bible Notes) John 1:29 (NIV) – [29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” That day is shorthand for “the day of the Lord,” the day of God’s intervention in history when God will judge the wicked, deliver the righteous, and restore creation. (NLT Study Bible Notes) Micah 4:3-4 (NIV) – [3] He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. [4] Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. Zechariah 3:10 (MSG) – [10] “At that time, everyone will get along with one another, with friendly visits across the fence, friendly visits on one another’s porches.” “In that day,” the Lord promised, the Israelites will all “invite” their (Gentile) neighbors to join them in enjoying their peace and prosperity. Israel would enjoy peace and security as never before, even under the reign of Solomon. Then God will lift the curse that He imposed on the creation at the Fall, and there will be agricultural prosperity—as well as spiritual prosperity. Paradise lost will become paradise regained. (Thomas Constable's Notes on the Bible)

Hear of My Servant, the Righteous Branch, in the -Gospel reported by Zehariah.

Matthew 12:15-21 Jesus just gets done preaching on the sabbath and then he tries to get away, many follow him, he heals them, and then he warns them to not make him knows to fulfill prophecyThis is beginning to show the turning of the story towards crucifixion. Jesus knew what was going to happen- so he was telling his followers to cover for him. We, as Christian people are going through the hardest time I have seen in my lifeA time where our faith is being tested more than any other time in the past 30 yearsThe fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah towards Jesus is a promise fulfilled that gave those earliest disciples hope, and it should give us hope as well. ”Till He sends forth justice to victory” God chose Jesus- God chose you for Victory V18 Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!It was God's design and plan that he would choose Jesus, send Jesus, be Jesus, redeem the world. “Till He sends forth justice to victory;”This has been God's plan since the beginning of time- “let us make man in our own image” Part of making sense of this world is the understanding that God is working out his planPsalm 33:11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.Jesus is the plan- God sent his son (himself) to redeem the world- this should give you hopeRomans 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.In due time! People went 700 years without hearing from God- and here he is! God chose himWhat does it mean to youIf God chose Jesus, and is running the show- then God chose you! And that means VICTORYYou've heard the “before I formed you in the womb I knew you” and “the plans I have for you”And that's true! It may not be what you expect it to be or what you want it to be- but he chose you! And that should give you a measure of hope in this hopeless world to know he chose you!Ephesians 1:4-5 READ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, That means- before the earth was created- God knew that you would exist- that he would call you and you would live for him- You're not just some cog in massive wheel- God KNOWS you1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, - Man- I hold on to that- I'm SPECIAL- The God of the universe chose ME- I don't think I'm better than anyone- but I sure am glad whose I am- I am HIS- He owns me and I LOVE ITI have sat in situations- thought- ‘how did I end up here' Because he CHOSE ME FOR VICTORYJohn 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; Romans 8:29 John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you Deuteronomy 7:6 SAYS a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.Are you reflecting on that? Are you letting that minister to you? Because its TRUE- VICTORY Jesus had the spirit of God- you have the spirit of God for Victory “I will put My Spirit upon Him” is the promise of Isaiah and the fulfillment found in “this is my son in whom I am well pleased' and ‘ the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove' John 1:32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.The Trinity- Father, Son, Holy Spirit are 3 in 1. They are the Godhead and work in concertJesus worked through the power of the Holy Spirit while he was on this Earth. How it worked. But Jesus didn't expect that we would walk through life through our own power- no wayWe needed and need the Holy Spirit to be able to walk on this earth We NEED YOU HOLY SPIRITGalatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”When we cry out to God in faith, we receive the spirit of adoption and his SPIRIT to help usRom 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 1 Cor 3:16 Says the Spirit of God dwells in you1 Corinthians 6:19 Says ...

Matthew 12:15-21 Jesus just gets done preaching on the sabbath and then he tries to get away, many follow him, he heals them, and then he warns them to not make him knows to fulfill prophecyThis is beginning to show the turning of the story towards crucifixion. Jesus knew what was going to happen- so he was telling his followers to cover for him. We, as Christian people are going through the hardest time I have seen in my lifeA time where our faith is being tested more than any other time in the past 30 yearsThe fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah towards Jesus is a promise fulfilled that gave those earliest disciples hope, and it should give us hope as well. ”Till He sends forth justice to victory” God chose Jesus- God chose you for Victory V18 Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!It was God's design and plan that he would choose Jesus, send Jesus, be Jesus, redeem the world. “Till He sends forth justice to victory;”This has been God's plan since the beginning of time- “let us make man in our own image” Part of making sense of this world is the understanding that God is working out his planPsalm 33:11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.Jesus is the plan- God sent his son (himself) to redeem the world- this should give you hopeRomans 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.In due time! People went 700 years without hearing from God- and here he is! God chose himWhat does it mean to youIf God chose Jesus, and is running the show- then God chose you! And that means VICTORYYou've heard the “before I formed you in the womb I knew you” and “the plans I have for you”And that's true! It may not be what you expect it to be or what you want it to be- but he chose you! And that should give you a measure of hope in this hopeless world to know he chose you!Ephesians 1:4-5 READ just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, That means- before the earth was created- God knew that you would exist- that he would call you and you would live for him- You're not just some cog in massive wheel- God KNOWS you1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, - Man- I hold on to that- I'm SPECIAL- The God of the universe chose ME- I don't think I'm better than anyone- but I sure am glad whose I am- I am HIS- He owns me and I LOVE ITI have sat in situations- thought- ‘how did I end up here' Because he CHOSE ME FOR VICTORYJohn 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; Romans 8:29 John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you Deuteronomy 7:6 SAYS a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.Are you reflecting on that? Are you letting that minister to you? Because its TRUE- VICTORY Jesus had the spirit of God- you have the spirit of God for Victory “I will put My Spirit upon Him” is the promise of Isaiah and the fulfillment found in “this is my son in whom I am well pleased' and ‘ the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove' John 1:32 And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.The Trinity- Father, Son, Holy Spirit are 3 in 1. They are the Godhead and work in concertJesus worked through the power of the Holy Spirit while he was on this Earth. How it worked. But Jesus didn't expect that we would walk through life through our own power- no wayWe needed and need the Holy Spirit to be able to walk on this earth We NEED YOU HOLY SPIRITGalatians 4:6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”When we cry out to God in faith, we receive the spirit of adoption and his SPIRIT to help usRom 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 1 Cor 3:16 Says the Spirit of God dwells in you1 Corinthians 6:19 Says ...

Bible Transcript: "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘If you will walk in My ways, And if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, And likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk Among these who stand here. ‘Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, You and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. For behold, the stone That I have laid before Joshua: Upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,' Says the Lord of hosts, ‘And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day,' says the Lord of hosts, ‘Everyone will invite his neighbor Under his vine and under his fig tree.'” Zechariah 3:1‭-‬10 NKJV

Introduction 1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking…

Matthew 12:15-32 New King James Version: Behold, My Servant 15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. 16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.” A House Divided Cannot Stand 22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. The Unpardonable Sin 31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

The Master theme of the BiblePart 5 – the personality of the Lamb Recap – the lamb – master theme A rescuer would come – Genesis 3:15 A lamb required – Genesis – 4 A lamb provided – Genesis 22 A lamb is slain – Exodus 12 A lamb (goat) for atonement (of sin) – Leviticus 16 A lamb - a Person – Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 A lamb for sin – Genesis 4 A lamb for an individual – Genesis 22 A lamb for a family – Exodus 12 A lamb* for a nation – Leviticus 16 A lamb for the many – Isaiah 53 Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 – The Lamb – “HE” Previously – Lamb referred to animal, now Lamb is a person – “he” One of best known passages in OT "Every Christian ought to be able to repeat it by heart" —Luther Spurgeon called it "the Bible in miniature, the Gospel at its essence" Keil & Delitzch – looks as if it was written beneath the cross @ Calvary Isaiah 53 has been called the fifth gospel Book of Isaiah – Biblical parallels Sixty-six chapters – two distinct sections: Chapters 1-39 – God's judgement of southern kingdom – Judah Chapters 40-66 – grace and salvation comes through Messiah Bible has sixty-six books: Thirty-nine OT – emphasis on God's judgment & character Twenty-seven NT – emphasis on salvation and grace Servant Songs: Isaiah 42, 49, 50, 53 Isaiah 53 – in the New Testament Eighty-five times in NT: All 4 Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, 1Timothy, Titus, Hebrews, 1Peter, 1John, Revelation Pinnacle of Messianic prophecy in OT Six Points: He's a Sovereign Servant (52:13) He's a Suffering Servant (52:14; 53:4-5, 7, 10, 12) He's a Sinless Servant (53:9) He's a Silent Servant (53:7) He's a Substitutionary Servant (53:4-8, 10, 12) He's a Saving Servant (52:15; 53:11) Isa 52:13 NKJV Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Jesus Christ came as Servant of God the Father "I always do those things that please Him" (John 8:29) “I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me”. John 6:38 “I did not come to be served but to serve and to give my life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 Behold – “look, pay attention” Isa 52:14 NLT Many were amazed when they saw him—beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. Jesus Christ came as Servant to suffer for us Suffered rejection Suffered under Pontius Pilate – scourged, beaten, ridiculed “behold the man!” Stricken, Smitten by God and afflicted (53:4) Wounded, bruised (53:5) Oppressed, afflicted, led as a lamb to slaughter (53:7) “it pleased the Lord to bruise Him” (53:10) Bearing His own cross (John 19:17) Isa 53:9 NLT He had done no wrong, and He never deceived anyone. But He was buried like a criminal; He was put in a rich man's grave. Sinless yet died with the wicked (between 2 criminals) Poor while on earth – buried in Joseph of A's grave (53:9) No violence, no deceit, committed no sin John 8:46 – which of you can …accuse me of sin? Luke 23:4 – I find no fault in this Man – P. Pilate Philippians 2 – in very nature, God Why is it important? Isa 53:7 NKJV He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. Suffering people not usually silent Sheep silent when sheared or slaughtered Matthew 26:63 – but Jesus kept silent Prophecy written in past tense (700 BC) Has borne (vs. 4) Was wounded (vs. 5) A substitutionary servant (53:4-8, 10, 12) Answers life's most important question: Where will I live? What will I study? Where will I work? Who will I marry? How many children? Finances, health Will Covid ever end? How can a person be right with God? How can an unrighteous person be made right with a righteous God? How can a sinner be saved and escape eternal hell and enjoy eternal heaven? You can – because a Servant became your Substitute!

In this second of a two-part episode of Help Me Teach the Bible, Nancy talked to Liam Goligher, senior minister at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, where he has been preaching through the book of Isaiah. Part 2 of this conversation covers Isaiah 40–66. In it, Goligher discusses:key terms in Isaiah, including “Behold!,” “The Holy One of Israel,” “Mount Zion,” and “My Servant”the prophecies not yet fulfilledreading Isaiah 53 in the context of the bookglory revealedthe hope of justice being doneRecommended audio resources:The Gospel According to Isaiah, a sermon series by Liam GoligherRecommended print resources:Isaiah: God Saves Sinnersby Ray OrtlundIsaiah: A 12-Week Study by Drew HunterThe Message of Isaiah by Barry WebbTeaching Isaiahby David JackmanProphecy of Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary by Alec Motyer

There are four purposes to the podcast teaching series on the Torah.  There are two studies, this one on the book of Exodus and a second on the book of Genesis.  The four purposes can be found at this link – click here for the four purposes of this study A major purpose is to listen to THE VERY WORDS OF GOD when Jesus said … "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”(Joh 5:39)   Jesus said this between 24-30 A.D. and in those days there was no New Testament.  So, those first disciples, like the 120 who were on the Mt. of Olives the day Jesus ascended to the Father, all they had was the Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament (nothing “old” about it), and this is what they used to change the world; they used the Old Testament to proclaim the Gospel, the Kingdom of the Lord, the crucifixion and resurrection of Messiah, they used it to testify about Jesus, who He is and why He came.  Just read what Stephen said before he was murdered in Acts 7 - all his scripture references are from the Hebrew scriptures.  Therefore, if this is the case, we should “see” Jesus in the Old Testament.  In those days 24-30 A.D. the primary books of the Hebrew scriptures were the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers , and Deuteronomy.  And we ask ourselves the question again and again, how did they “see” Jesus, how did they hear the Torah that testifies of Him?  That is one of the main purposes of this podcast Bible study series.  In this lesson focusing on Exod. 4:17-23 we read that Israel is God’s son, His first born son.  This is so amazing.  For us this reminds us of another son of God, His ONLY begotten son, Yeshua, our Lord, Jesus.  How are Israel and Yeshua connected?  It is almost as if you can’t take Israel out of Jesus and you can’t take Jesus out of Israel.  They are intimately connected.  Just consider a few verses in Isaiah that talk about Israel. God’s servant that also clearly mean Messiah, Jesus, God’s servant.   Isa_41:8  "But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend, Isa_44:1  "But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen: Isa_44:21  "Remember these things, O Jacob, And Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant, O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me. Isa_45:4  "For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me. Isa_49:3  He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory." And then we come to Isaiah 53 and we read about the ONE who has the following characteristics … He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. (Isa 53:3-6) Is this “servant” of the Lord? Is this Israel?  But wait a minute.  Let’s study Isaiah 53 very closely and we find … But the LORD was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. (Isa 53:10-11) The servant of the Lord is Israel.  The Bible says it.  But, the servant of the Lord is the ONE in Isaiah 53 who is Jesus.  How can Jesus be the servant when the servant is Israel?  How can the servant be Israel when the servant is this suffering one, Jesus?  How can Israel be God’s first born son when God’s ONLY begotten son is Jesus?  It seems that you can’t take Jesus out of Israel nor Israel out of Jesus.  Come and join us. Be like one of those disciples in 24-30 A.D. who lived by obeying John 8:31-32 and studied Torah to see that all scripture testifies of Jesus.  In this lesson we will again see how the Torah testifies of Yeshua HaMasiach, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the Christ in these dramatic events of the Exodus. Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background  

In considering the 9th “my servant” found in the scripture, Brother Tim looks at the days of the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem by Zerubabbel. My Servant the Builder

Wednesday March 24,2021 4. The Ability of the Coming Ruler God says to us, "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen One in whom My soul delights." One of the great abilities of our one Lord is His ability to be a Servant. He would completely depend... for full notes: https://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=2404

Doing the UnthinkableReview of Lesson #10 of the 1st Quarter of 2021The full Sabbath School Lesson can be found here: https://ssnet.org/lessons/21a/less10m.html The focus for this quarter is on the book of Isaiah, and its messages to God's people.Throughout this lesson study quarter, we will occasionally be referencing the “The Key Principles of Effective Bible Study”. You might also be interested in the fact that we have done a separate series of podcasts on these principles which can be found here. We pray that these resources will be very helpful to you in your Bible StudiesIf you have any questions or comments, please send them to: BibleQuestions@ASBzone.comLastly, we recommend that you check out https://TrueWisdom.buzzsprout.com for additional Bible Study podcasts, covering many different Bible topics, and done in a slightly different format from the podcasts on this channel.Support the show (https://BibleStudy.ASBzone.com)

Series ISAIAH with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A. 9.TO SERVE AND TO SAVE In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps. Memory Text: Isaiah 42:1 - Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. Content: 9.1 Servant Nation 9.2 Unnamed Individual Servant 9.3 Persian “Messiah” 9.4 Hope In Advance 9.5 A Feeling And Suffering Servant 9.6 Summary We would like to thank the artist Maximilian Jantscher for his permission to use his paintings for the series ISAIAH. Contact: Email: artgallery3000@gmx.at Website: akm777.at My God bless you today and always.

Series ISAIAH with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A. 9,TO SERVE AND TO SAVE In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps. Memory Text: Isaiah 42:1 - Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 9.6 Summary The prediction about the coming Messiah show the magnificent God. He knows what will happen before it happens. We would like to thank the artist Maximilian Jantscher for his permission to use his paintings for the series ISAIAH. Contact: Email: artgallery3000@gmx.at Website: akm777.at My God bless you today and always.

Series ISAIAH with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A. 9,TO SERVE AND TO SAVE In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps. Memory Text: Isaiah 42:1 - Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 9.5 A Feeling And Suffering Servant These details about the life of Jesus are revealed centuries in advance. We would like to thank the artist Maximilian Jantscher for his permission to use his paintings for the series ISAIAH. Contact: Email: artgallery3000@gmx.at Website: akm777.at My God bless you today and always.

Series ISAIAH with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A. 9,TO SERVE AND TO SAVE In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps. Memory Text: Isaiah 42:1 - Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 9.4 Hope In Advance It was great what happened after the defeat of the Babylonians against the Persians. God had told it centuries beforehand. We would like to thank the artist Maximilian Jantscher for his permission to use his paintings for the series ISAIAH. Contact: Email: artgallery3000@gmx.at Website: akm777.at My God bless you today and always.

Sabbath School panel discussion and insight by 3ABN pastors and teachers. This podcast episode follows 2021 quarter 1, lesson 9 of the adult Bible study guide book. This quarter's book topic is “Isaiah” and this week's Sabbath School lesson is titled “To Serve and to Save”. Join us every week for a fresh and relevant study of the word of God. Reading: Isaiah 41, Isa. 42:1–7, Isa. 44:26​–45:6, Isa. 49:1–12. Memory Text: “ ‘Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles’ ” (Isaiah 42:1, NKJV). (February 20–February 26)Sunday (John Lomacang) - “Servant Nation”Monday (Jill Morikone) - “Unnamed Individual Servant”Tuesday (Ryan Day) - “Persian "Messiah"Wednesday (John Dinzey) - “Hope in Advance”Thursday (Shelley Quinn) - “A Feeling and Suffering Servant”

Series ISAIAH with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A. 9,TO SERVE AND TO SAVE In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps. Memory Text: Isaiah 42:1 - Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 9.3 Persian “Messiah” This prediction about the Persian king Cyrus is more than a miracle. We would like to thank the artist Maximilian Jantscher for his permission to use his paintings for the series ISAIAH. Contact: Email: artgallery3000@gmx.at Website: akm777.at My God bless you today and always.

Series ISAIAH with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A. 9,TO SERVE AND TO SAVE In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps. Memory Text: Isaiah 42:1 - Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles 9.2 Unnamed Individual Servant Even 700 years before the birth of Jesus His career was written down in detail by the prophet Isaiah. We would like to thank the artist Maximilian Jantscher for his permission to use his paintings for the series ISAIAH. Contact: Email: artgallery3000@gmx.at Website: akm777.at My God bless you today and always.

To Serve and to SaveReview of Lesson #9 of the 1st Quarter of 2021The full Sabbath School Lesson can be found here: https://ssnet.org/lessons/21a/less09m.htmlThe focus for this quarter is on the book of Isaiah, and its messages to God's people.Throughout this lesson study quarter, we will occasionally be referencing the “The Key Principles of Effective Bible Study”. You might also be interested in the fact that we have done a separate series of podcasts on these principles which can be found here. We pray that these resources will be very helpful to you in your Bible StudiesIf you have any questions or comments, please send them to: BibleQuestions@ASBzone.comLastly, we recommend that you check out https://TrueWisdom.buzzsprout.com for additional Bible Study podcasts, covering many different Bible topics, and done in a slightly different format from the podcasts on this channel.Support the show (https://BibleStudy.ASBzone.com)

Read for This Week’s Study: Isaiah 41, Isa. 42:1–7, Isa.44:26–45:6, Isa. 49:1–12.Memory Text: “ ‘Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My ElectOne in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; Hewill bring forth justice to the Gentiles’ ” (Isaiah 42:1, NKJV).Many feel that it would be a great privilege to visit the scenes ofChrist’s life on earth, to walk where He trod, to look upon thelake beside which He loved to teach, and the hills and valleyson which His eyes so often rested. But we need not go to Nazareth, toCapernaum, or to Bethany, in order to walk in the steps of Jesus. Weshall find His footprints beside the sickbed, in the hovels of poverty,in the crowded alleys of the great city, and in every place where thereare human hearts in need of consolation. In doing as Jesus did whenon earth, we shall walk in His steps.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire ofAges, p. 640.Isaiah spoke of a Servant of the Lord with a similar mission ofmercy: “a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick hewill not quench; . . . to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out theprisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness”(Isa. 42:3, 7, NRSV).Let’s take a look at this Servant. Who is He, and what does Heaccomplish?

Series ISAIAH with Pastor Kurt Piesslinger, M.A. 9,TO SERVE AND TO SAVE In doing as Jesus did when on earth, we shall walk in His steps. Memory Text: Isaiah 42:1 - Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles 9.1 Servant Nation Whoever trusts in God and works according to His advice will be a blessing for his neighbours. We would like to thank the artist Maximilian Jantscher for his permission to use his paintings for the series ISAIAH. Contact: Email: artgallery3000@gmx.at Website: akm777.at My God bless you today and always.

KEEP DANCING Series: All For Jesus February 7, 2021 AM Elwyn Johnston Matthew 12:17 – 21 Verse of the Week: “And His name will be the hope of all the world.” Matthew 12:21 1. Servant of God “Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen” Matthew 12:18 “Servant” – a servant or attendant, specifically for a king Depend on their masters “31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” Matthew 6:31 – 33 Obey their masters “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work.” John 4:34 2. Savior for the world “He will not quarrel, nor cry out” Matthew 12:19 ”quarrel” - hassling or loudly arguing “cry out” - to shout or scream excitedly. Jesus is the Savior of/for the world, but we are His representative to the world. “You are the salt of the earth….You are the light of the world” Matthew 5:13 & 14 “A bent reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish” Matthew 12:20 “in His name the Gentiles will hope.” Matthew 12:21 “I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will proclaim” Matthew 12:18 The Spirit… encourages empowers

In this video lesson 2 we focus on Gen. 1:21.  What did God create; great sea creatures or were they whales or big fish or, as found in one Jewish translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (a.k.a. the Old Testament) were they were crocodiles?  Our translators had difficulty with this verse since in Hebrew the actual meaning is great sea monsters!  This sounds like a children's story rather than God's word.  So, our translators may have decided it had to make sense for us today in the 21st century.  I mean guys, I haven't see any sea monsters lately.  But, for the Hebrews, they had lived in Egypt and lived with man-made visions of the gods.  One god is a ram another is a jackal and another a falcon.  And God is taking them to Canaan, the "Promised Land," where the Canaanites also had gods that were clearly figments of man's imagination.  So, the phrase in Gen. 1:21 of great sea monsters might mean something to the Hebrews.  Perhaps God is teaching them something that relates only to what the Hebrews faced 3400 years ago.  Perhaps He is using a pagan god or a pagan mythological beast to teach His people.  God knows there are no sea monsters.  But the pagans did!  Perhaps even the Hebrews fell victim to such beliefs.  He needs to prepare His people for entering Canaan and be ready to bring the "Gospel of the Kingdom" to the Canaanites and later the world and to help the Canaanites to understand "there ain't no sea monsters" and to grasp truth and who is God. For Israel this was their mission as we see in ...He says, "It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant (in Jesus' day it was understood that Israel was the servant) To raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation (Jesus' name in Hebrew means salvation) may reach to the end of the earth."  (Isa 49:6)Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - click here for the teacher's background 

Bible Readings: Isaiah 51, 52 Sermon Outline: Isaiah 52:13–15 (NKJV) 13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. 14 Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; 15 So… The post 21/06/2020 – Evening Service: Introducing the 4th Servan Song appeared first on Maroubra Presbyterian Church.

Hebrews 7:1-10 (Jesus, The King of righteousness and King of Peace) Heb 7:2b - by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Ps 85:9-10 - 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land. 10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. **1. Why is it so difficult to practice justice?** a. We see justice from our point of view. Judges 21:25 25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. b. Our standards keep changing In order to be sure about anything something has to be immutable, unchanging. Isa 40:8 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. c. We lack knowledge. Job 38:2-5 2 "Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 3 "Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me! 4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, 5 Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? Job 40:1-2 1 Then the Lord said to Job, 2 "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it." God not only knows all things but knows us intimately Ps 139:2-4 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. d. We are sinful and we see through sinful eyes. (darkened in understanding) Rom 3:10-12 10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." Isa 42:1-4 1 Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. 2 "He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. 3 "A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. 4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law." 1 Peter 3:18 18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 1 Cor 1:22-24 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness. 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Peter 3:8-9 8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Back together again! In our second service back from the lock down, Pastor Andrew message is "A Bruised Reed" Enjoy as we continue to return back to some assembance of normal! Matthew 12:18-21  18 Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles. 19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory; 21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.

Bible Readings: Isaiah 42:1 – 13, Matthew 12:1 – 21 Sermon Outline: Isaiah 42:1–4 (NKJV) 1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice,… The post 03/05/2020 – Evening Service: The Servant of the LORD appeared first on Maroubra Presbyterian Church.

Speaker or Performer: Pastor Grover Cleveland Scripture Passage(s): Isaiah 52:13-15 Date of Delivery: April 10, 2020 Isaiah 52:13-1513Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently;He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high.14Just as many were astonished at you,So His visage was marred more than any man,And His form more than the sons of men;15So shall He sprinkle many nations.Kings shall shut their mouths at Him;For what had not been told them they shall see,And what they had not heard they shall consider.

“Zechariah sermon 5: My Servant, the Branch” by Jacques Isaac Gabizon. Released: 2020. Genre: Vocal. The post Zechariah sermon 5: My Servant, the Branch appeared first on Beth Ariel Congregation.

Thursday January 30, 2020 The second Servant Song in Isaiah is in Isa 49:1-6. Isa 49:1 Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me. Isa 49:2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword [near]; In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me, And He has also made Me a select arrow [far]; He has hidden Me in His quiver [only revealed at the proper time]. Isa 49:3 And He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory." Isa 49:4 But I said, "I have toiled in... for full notes: http://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=2176

Wednesday January 29, 2020 The second Servant Song in Isaiah is in Isa 49:1-6. Isa 49:1 Listen to Me, O islands, And pay attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called Me from the womb; From the body of My mother He named Me. Isa 49:2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword [near]; In the shadow of His hand He has concealed Me, And He has also made Me a select arrow [far]; He has hidden Me in His quiver [only revealed at the proper time]. Isa 49:3 And He said to Me, "You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My... for full notes: http://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=2175

Thursday January 23, 2020 Isa 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold [grasp]; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. Isa 42:2 "He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. Isa 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Isa 42:4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His... for full notes: http://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=2172

Wednesday January 22, 2020 "My first anxiety has been to be true to the Word of God, allowing it to say what it has to say and not asking it to say what I might want it to say." John Stott, The Cross of Christ. Isa 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold [grasp]; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. Isa 42:2 "He will not cry out... for full notes: http://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=2171

Tuesday January 21, 2020 Isa 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold [grasp]; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. Isa 42:2 "He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. Isa 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Isa 42:4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law." The... for full notes: http://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=2170

Thursday January 16, 2020 Idols: 1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. In Isa 41 God asks us to behold the idols in the world and behold the idol worshippers, and then God says to us, behold My Servant. God means for us to take a really good look at them. When Paul writes: "In evil be babes," he means in experience. We are to be wise, not having experience with evil, but recognizing it and knowing what it can lead to. What do idols do for people? They only take and take and give nothing but grief in return. "See them," says God, "and now see My Servant in whom My soul... for full notes: http://www.cgtruth.org/index.php?proc=msg&sf=vw&tid=2168

Listen: Isaiah 42:1-9 “Behold, My Servant… a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.” View a complete list of sermons from Isaiah. Or visit the Big … Continue reading →

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Yet He warned them not to make Him known, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:“Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen,My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased!I will put My Spirit upon Him,And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.He will not quarrel nor cry out,Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.A bruised reed He will not break,And smoking flax He will not quench,Till He sends forth justice to victory;And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

Justice to the Nations is bringing the gospel to bear on the morning headlines. "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations" - Isaiah 42.1

Chaplain Don Moldstad was preacher for this service. Isaiah 42:1-3: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.”

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 370 - The King of Love, My Shepherd is: vv. 1-4 - Isaiah 42:1-3: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.” - Devotion - Prayer - Hymn 370 - The King of Love, My Shepherd is: vv. 5 & 6 - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Dennis Marzolf (Organist)

Prof. Tom Rank was preacher for this service. Isaiah 42: 1-4: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

Order of Service: - Prelude - Hymn 46 - Sing Praise To the God of Israel - Isaiah 42: 1-4: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.” - Devotion - The Lord's Prayer (p. 105) - Hymn 588 - Lord, Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing - Blessing - Postlude Service Participants: Prof. Tom Rank (Preacher), Laura Matzke (Organist)

My Servant

God Will Not Break a Bruised Reed'So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”'Genesis 3:14-15 This “enmity” placed between man and serpent sets us at odds with one another. This is literal, in the sense that man and serpents typically don’t occupy the same space - we tend to want to eradicate them from where we are. But there is also the Messianic element to this, it is a prophecy of Jesus who would one day defeat evil once and for all.When Jesus was at the whipping post, being mercilessly beaten, in a sense it was satan “bruising His heel.” The injury was temporary. When Jesus rose from the dead, it dealt a blow to satan’s head. Death and sin was forever defeated!What is a bruise? It is a physical sign of past pain. Sometimes you might get a bruise and not remember how it happened, but generally you do remember exactly what you did that earned you that mark. Satan has “bruised” every single man throughout all of history with temptation and our lives bear the signs of our injury because we have to constantly deal with the consequences of our past mistakes.Our bruises, however, are also constant reminders of how much we need Jesus in our lives to heal us and to restore us. God began to reveal the mystery of His plan of salvation through Jesus to the prophet Isaiah.'“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.'Isaiah 42:1-3 What is a reed? It’s a hollow-centered plant, sort of like a huge grass. It could be used for various purposes, but it was very weak. A bruised reed is an even more weakened form of an already weak plant. Human beings are innately weak - we are susceptible to sickness, failure, fatigue, death. And, as we have already established, we are all bruised. But Jesus will not break a bruised reed. The devil will bruise us, but, through the power of God, we will bruise him back! And then God will heal our bruises and restore our strength.Flax was a plant that would be used to make linen, after being soaked, separated and dried out. Flax was also used for wicks in oil lamps. If you’ve ever used an oil lamp, you know that the wick will not smoke unless you allow it to run out of oil. We are called to be the light of the world, but we cannot produce any light by our own merit. It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that gives us the ability to shine the light of the gospel! At times, though, we are just out of oil, we are spent, and we don’t have any fight left in us. But God will fill us back up with oil - if we are smoking and burning out, that’s evidence that the fire is still lit within us. God will refill the oil, blow on us with His breath and use His Spirit to reignite our flame!God restores us, no matter how bruised we become. We are all prodigal sons who God gladly welcomes home. The world may treat us, sometimes, like the prodigal son’s brother and wish to break us when we’re bruised, but God never will. The Holy Spirit restores, heals, forgives.'And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”'Luke 22:31-34 The important part in this set of verses is when Jesus says “when you fail…” Jesus already knew Peter would fail Him. Jesus doesn’t leave it there, though, “...and when you return to me… strengthen your brethren.” God was not going to give up on Peter because of his denial, He already had plans for him the moment it was over! He had plans to restore Peter and give him an even greater anointing!

Isaiah 42:1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. The first few verses of Isaiah 42 is a servant song. Isaiah prophecies the coming of Jesus, the Servant of God. “Behold My Servant” is God speaking. Jesus pleases God. God delights in him. He fulfills God’s plan. He establishes God’s universal kingdom of justice and righteousness. v 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. Jesus did not seize power by violence, by screaming for attention, by assaulting the crowds with fiery speeches and political propaganda. He came in gentleness, caring for the sick and speaking God’s truth plainly. v 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. Are you a bruised reed? Are you damaged, hurting, weak? Jesus came for you. And he will not break you, but nurse you in your pain and grief. Mend you. Heal you. Are you a candle smoking about to go out, guttering, flickering out, discouraged, sad, losing hope, losing faith? Is this you? Look to Jesus. He has medicine for those losing hope and faith, the discouraged, the depressed. He will not extinguish your flame, but give you new fire and bring you back to a glow again. He gives faith and encouragement. He loves bruised reeds and smoking candles. v 7 To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house. Do you sit in the darkness of the prison house of your own heart and your own sin? Do you sit in the darkness of the prison house of this evil world of death and violence, injustice and terror? Do you sit in the darkness of the prison house of your own pain and sorrow? Only Jesus can bring out prisoners from the prison of this evil age, this world of sorrow. He has ransomed us, he made the payment of his body and blood. On the day that he returns to us, he will lead us out into the light.

Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soup delights I have put My broth upon Him; He will bring forth warm feelings to the tummies. Amen. Then the news about Him spread throughout Allston. So they brought to Him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from burns from fingers of rust. And He healed them. Amen. And the eye of the innocent watches for the dawn, thinking, 'No politically correct eye can see me,' and covers his head with black face. Amen. I do not want you to be participants with demons or the non chosen. You cannot drink the cup of soup and the cup of demons too. So It Has Been Said, And So It Shall Be done. - Miles & Kenny 48:1.

In the fourth of Zechariah's eight visions we see the following prophetic words about Jesus:For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch.  For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua:  Upon the stone are seven eyes.Behold, I will engrave its inscription.I think I've got the part about the Branch and the stone and the seven eyes.  But what inscription is engraved on the stone?The answer to this question will alter your view of Jesus... forever.  The following is a study on Zechariah 3:1-10.

Isaiah 52:13-53:5 13 Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. 14 Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; 15 So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider. 53:1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. April 13th, 2014 Isaiah 52:13-53:5 Your Savior – Part I Outline for the Servant Song in Isaiah 52:13-53:12 52:13-15 Summary of & introduction to Isaiah 53 53:1-2 Jesus’ life and ministry 53:3-8 Jesus’ death 53:9 Jesus’ burial 53:10-12 Jesus’ resurrection Lesson 1: (Part I) Your Savior is also your ________  ____________ (Part II) and ______  ____ the Lord (Isa 30:30, 40:10, 44:3, 51:9, 52:10, 15, 53:1; Lev 16:14-15, 19; Heb 10:4 cf. 1 John 3:5; John 12:37; Rom 10:16). Lesson 2: (Part I) Your Savior had ____________ beginnings (Part II) and __________ (Isa 53:2; Phil 2:7-8). Lesson 3: (Part I) Your Savior knew __________________ (Part II) and ______________ (Part III) and carries ________  ______ (Isa 53:3-4; John 1:10-11; Heb 4:15, 5:8; Matt 8:16-17, 9:36, 14:14). Lesson 4: (Part I) Your Savior took your __________ (Part II) to give you __________ (Part III) and ______________ (Isa 53:4-5; Deut 27:26; Rom 5:1, 10; Col 1:20; Eph 2:14; 1 Pet 2:24).

Sunday February 2ndMatthew 3 (Baptism)We actually don't know very much about Jesus' childhood years. Luke chapter 2 tells us about Jesus being dedicated, and then says in verse 40 “ The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.”Luke also includes the story of Jesus in the temple at 12 years old, teaching the elders of Israel. He ends that story by saying in verse 52 “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”That's about all we have, and Matthew certainly doesn't add anything – he jumps directly from Jesus as an infant to Jesus as a 30 year old man, about to be baptized by His second-cousin John the Baptist.Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”The call to repentance would be issued by both John the Baptist and Jesus. In Matthew 4:17 we will see this:From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”So what exactly is repentance? It's not just sorrow for our sins but a definite decision to change, to turn away from our sins and turn toward a life of obedience. The call to “Repent” was similar the Old Testament call to the Nation of Israel to “return” to faithfulness to their covenant with God. Repenting doesn't mean punishing yourself, being depressed, or feeling remorse. As we will see in chapter 27 verse 3, even Judas was sorrowful and distressed about what he had done – “Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders” - but he didn't repent.Besides calling the people to repent, John the Baptist also introduces the concept of kingdom of heaven, which will be the central theme of Jesus' teaching. The kingdom of heaven, or the reign of God, is what the Old Testament prophets had anticipated. John the Baptist and Jesus were proclaiming that the time of waiting was over and the King had come.From the very beginning, God had wanted the people of Israel to seek HIM as their king, but in 1st Samuel 8:4-7 the people of Israel reject God as their king by asking for an earthly king instead.Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; 5 and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing was   displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.”In some ways the call to repentance is simply a call to allow God to return to His rightful place in our lives. That's why we not only call Jesus our savior, we call him our LORD!Then Matthew ties the appearance of John the Baptist into a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy: 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said,“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,‘Make ready the way of the Lord,Make His paths straight!'”This is a quotation of Isaiah 40:3A voice is calling,“Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness;Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.So let's look at this interesting character, John the Baptist.4 Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Sounds a bit eccentric, doesn't he?5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?I love John's lack of political correctness! He sees snakes and he CALLS them snakes!The term “the wrath to come” refers to the Old Testament promise of the coming of the Lord in judgment.Psalm 96:13 says “the Lord…He is coming,For He is coming to judge the earth.He will judge the world in righteousnessAnd the peoples in His faithfulness.Malachi 3:2 says “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap.So what's John's warning for those who want to escape judgment? He goes right back to repentance.8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.John says that not only is the kingdom of God at hand, so is His judgment. In that sense, John was correct, but what he didn't know was that Jesus' wasn't there tobring judgment, He was there to TAKE the judgment for sins upon Himself!John then reminds the people that He's only a warm-up act for the Messiah:11 “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”John points out that water baptism serves a purpose. That's why we continue to baptize people today. But there is also a Holy Spirit baptism that releases God's power and His fire in our lives!13 Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him.14 But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”John didn't feel right to baptizing Jesus because he recognized that Jesus had no sins to repent for. But Jesus says that, in order for “all righteousness” to be fulfilled, He had to be identified with the people as the bearer of their sins.2 Corinthians 5:21 says that “(God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus' death on the cross would be His true “baptism”! In Luke 12:50 Jesus says “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!”Then he permitted Him. 16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”The appearance of the Holy Spirit and the testimony of the Father from heaven confirm Jesus' identity in fulfillment of these two scriptures:Isaiah 42:1“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;My chosen one in whom My soul delights.I have put My Spirit upon Him;He will bring forth justice to the nations.Psalm 2:7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,Today I have begotten You.The Holy Spirit's appearance in the form of a dove reminds us the original creation in Genesis 1:2 “The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” That original creation was ruined by sin, but this reappearance of the Spirit hovering over Jesus points to the beginning of the new creation.That's why 2 Corinthians 5:17 says“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”And that's what we're proclaiming as we celebrate these baptisms this morning

We are going into the new year. I am going to remind you of the Scripture: Matt 12:18 "Here is My Servant whom I have chosen... " He is speaking about God who became a man. He is speaking about Jesus. Who is Jesus unto you? Many are deceived. Many people think, even Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches, that Jesus is a lesser God. They say God the Father is God Almighty, Jesus is the Son and the Holy Spirit is a spirit. Jesus is the name of the person who walked the earth, who left being God behind in heaven and walked this earth. But He has ascended again into heaven, in His position again as God Almighty. You need to know that: the Father is God Almighty, Jesus is God Almighty, the Holy Spirit is God Almighty. www.emmanuel-tabernacle.co.za

The Ethiopian eunuch has a lot to tell us about personal evangelism. But be careful; our age is not one of transition and the object of our message may be sorely lacking in information unlike the Ethiopian eunuch. What did he already know that is absent or distorted in our culture? What is the advantage that comes from the experience of failure in our efforts? Can we relax in our efforts to evangelize because we know who is ultimately responsible for bringing in the crop? Where are we responsible to be vigilant when we evangelize? Our challenge is, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to illuminate the truth surrounding “My Servant” as central in God’s message to the unbelieving world and to focus on Isaiah’s description in its uniqueness to Christ.

Peter and John's healing of the lame man electrified the inhabitants of Jerusalem. An enormous crowd quickly gathered on the Temple mount, and Peter began to explain the significance of what happened. In this message, he again offers the kingdom to Israel. But first he begins by focusing on who Jesus is. He describes him as "My Servant" and "the Holy One," two terms loaded with Old Testament baggage. This lesson begins to explore this rich terminology.

The book of Joshua starts off at a real high point in Israel’s history. Yes, it is sad that Moses is dead, but at least there is a successor who will finish the job. However, we find that this is not the case. Joshua is old, and he has not dispossessed all the nations as […] The post Joshua, My Servant, is Old (Joshua 13:1-7) appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

The author of Hebrews tells us that Abraham was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. If Abraham is looking for this city then what is the purpose of Canaan? If Canaan was not the full realization of the promise land then what is its purpose? What is […] The post Moses, My Servant, is Dead appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

Behold, My Servant!

The Cross Throughout the Scriptures - Part 17 24. TLJC Willingly Offers Himself. Joh 10 The cross is the door by which the sheep must enter. The lambs sacrificed by the Jewish priests in the temple did not know what was about to happen to them. Act 2:23 this {Man}, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put {Him} to death. Act 2:24 And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Heb 9:14 “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” 25. The Corn of Wheat Which Falls into the Ground. Joh 12 In the deepest depths of His soul was the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb's sacrifice to put away the sin of the world. Rev 5:9 “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; Heb 12:2 - the joy set before Him which allowed Him to endure the cross, despising the shame, Isa 53:11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see {it} and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. He is the great Atlas carrying the world upon His shoulders. 1Ti 4:10 He is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Only by the blotting out of sin and guilt, through the cross, could victory be accomplished. 26. Gethsemane's Garden. Exo 3:5 “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” Christians have gone to the stake singing, and our Lord is greater than them all. The martyrs of the early church have embraced death without a shadow of fear, rejoicing over this privilege, and He is greater than them. Joh 13:27 “What you do, do quickly.” Joh 17:1 These things Jesus spoke; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee,” Mar 14:34 “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” Mar 14:35 And He went a little beyond {them,} and fell to the ground, and {began} to pray that if it were possible, the hour might pass Him by. Mar 14:36 And He was saying, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for Thee; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what Thou wilt.” Gal 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load. Heb 5:7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Heb 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Mat 26:45 Then He came to the disciples, and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.” Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries 2002