Isaiah 58

Of late, fasting has been more difficult for me. I have allowed food to take too important a place in my life. I rationalize, so much has been taken away from me because of health and age issues, so I deserve some enjoyment from my emphasis on food.

Wrong thinking.

Fasting is one SURE WAY that our voice will be heard on high. We need to take advantage of this mechanism and do serious business with God about important issues that surround us.

Isaiah 57

God says He dwells (lives) with those who have a humble and contrite (someone who is crushed) spirit.

I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. [Isaiah 5:15]

This is great comfort to those who are crushed by the tragedies of life. God is clearly watching and riding every bump WITH you. He’s sitting in the seat with you, helping you navigate the road ahead. He’s MUCH better than GPS on your phone.

Isaiah 56

Church buildings come in all types .. gyms, cathedrals, metal buildings, stone edifices etc. There is no outward style or blueprint given in God’s Word for a New Testament church … because WE are the church. We are the temple of the Holy Ghost. So, we are the house of prayer for God to dwell in.

Paul says, “Pray continually, without ceasing.” Just like our cell phones are always seeking a signal, so God’s Spirit within us should maintain a connection with the heavenlies.

Walk through life praying for and about EVERYTHING.

Isaiah 54, 55

The Lord says, “Come! Every one who is thirsty, weary, hungry.” I will give you rest.

Many years ago on a Wednesday night at church, the Lord gave me a vision of Christ Jesus standing with His arms outstretched in a beckoning stance. I could never see His face … only His arms reaching out to humanity. I can still see that image. It was indelibly etched in my memory.

We are living in the days when His arms are still outstretched. There is still time for hungry, thirsty souls to come to Christ. We are His ambassadors, the ones who have been given the commission to bring others to Christ.

A good place to start … those who are searching, broken, and wounded. They NEED a Savior. We can be sensitive to those around us who fill this bill.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts (live in such a way that they KNOW you are a Christian): and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: [1 Peter 3:15]

Isaiah 53

One of the most significant and impacting chapters in the Bible focuses on Christ’s suffering and rejection. Nobody likes to aim for it, but without it (suffering), we would not have a redeeming Savior. “He was pierced FOR our transgressions,  He was crushed FOR our iniquities; … FOR the transgression of my people He was punished.”

Suffering without a redeeming purpose is senseless. Suffering for an eternal reward is necessary. Without Christ’s willingness to suffer, we’d be LOST. Because of it, we have a glorious future, and our sin is wiped away.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. [Heb. 12:11]

Isaiah 52

God declared through the prophet, “My people will know My name.”

Whose name gets blasphemed more than any other? Whose name is the traditional “go to” name when swearing or cursing? Our God’s name, of course. Ever wonder why.

Our enemy, the devil, will do anything possible to distract us from the power available in The Name.

My parents recently passed away. I am the family’s executor. When I go to the bank where they held their savings, it’s my name (their name) that gets me access to all they owned. Because we have taken the Lord’s name in the waters of baptism, we thereby inherit all that is His because His name is on us.

We know His name and need to begin exercising the authority and ownership we inherited through it. NEVER be ashamed of it.

Isaiah 50, 51

In the millennial reign and thereafter, God has appointed that HIS CHILDREN shall enjoy an eternity of joy. It shall be upon our heads like a crown. All sorrow and mourning will have been replaced by His eternal happiness.

This life presents us with occasions of sorrow and pain. Those days will be gone. Our light affliction here shall be for just a moment. Not only will /God take it away, but He gives us His grace as a down payment on the glory to come. He helps us endure and says, “Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 49

The prophet spoke of Israel’s restoration when He said, “I will not forget you! I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” [49:15b, 16a]

As close as the relationship is between a mother and her children, so the bond between God and us is much greater. After all, every human relationship simply speaks of and mirrors the heavenly relationship God designed and intended to have with us.

One of a child’s greatest fears is to be forgotten and left by their parent.

God says, “NEVER!”

Isaiah 47, 48

How much does the Peace of God matter?

Those who have no peace try to drown their anxiety with alcohol, drugs, debauchery (extreme indulgence in immoral behavior), and other trivial and often destructive pursuits. Apart from Christ, there is NO TRUE PEACE.

God’s peace means everything is made right … your sins are forgiven because Christ paid the bill. When you have a bill due, you have no peace. When you pay it, you have peace.

Sadly, the end result of movie stars, rock musicians, great athletes and billionaires who don’t know Christ is often very tragic … Steve Jobs, Marilyn Monroe, etc.

Isaiah 45, 46

What does a God do for you? Jehovah God promises to sustain us, provide for us, heal us, lead us … God can and will do ALL that is needed to navigate this life.

Thank about it this way. God has promised to supply our need. Why then do we spend so much time and energy going after what we want rather than waiting and allowing God to provide what we really need. We run the risk of wasting time and effort pursuing the thing God already has IN THE PIPELINE OF PROVISION. If we get what we want in our own efforts, we could have an Ishmael on our hands.

Wait for Isaac.