Christina – Page 1366 – I'm Following Jesus

King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Sunday, July 26, 2020
Chapters: Isaiah 40-43
Message: Heirs With Christ

Hello My Friend,

As I began reading the chapters for today, these verses came to mind, [Mark 1:2-3 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.]

Of course, this is John the Baptist, and he preached Christ even before Christ preached Christ. It occurred to me as I read through the chapters for today, before Christ’s passion, God’s people were called His servants, today, they are called His children. Well, I cannot take credit for that completely, I recently heard a pastor say that and at the time it just blew past me, but today it all makes sense, [Titus 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.]

We must understand that we are at war here, the battle is God verses Satan, and here is the thing, Satan is not an all powerful being such as God, he was created by God, in fact, he was an angel. Perhaps that is why Satan went through such lengths to destroy man? After all, man is God’s most valuable creation, I mean, He sent His only begotten Son to die for us, so, we must be pretty valuable. Oh, how it must grieve God to watch so many souls end up in hell because they would not believe in Him. Out of all the people in the world, God narrowed them down to one nation that He would reveal Himself to in hopes that other nations would follow suit, and that was the children of Israel. They failed God almost instantly with their constant murmuring, lack of faith and discipline, and most of all their tendency to follow the gods of the other nations, and in fact, making up their own. God had already judged the Northern kingdom of Israel for their idol worship, Judah was not far behind as they too got caught up in it. Hezekiah prolonged God’s judgment for a little while through his faithfulness, and even though God would judge Israel, He still would pardon those whom would cry out to Him.

[Isaiah 40:2-3, 7–9,28-31 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. 9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.]

[The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,] These were the very words spoken by John, the Baptist, about Jesus. If you truly believe in God, then you will believe all of His Word, believe in His Son, and that both testaments are centered right on Him, and not only that, Jesus is the Word made flesh, [John 1:1-14]. [but the word of our God shall stand for ever.] You can choose to ignore the fact that God is true, and His Word is true, that does not change the fact that it is. You do not have to physically see God to know that He exists, and that He is the center of all the earth. To the world, we are the fools for believing in God, but to God, we are the wisest people on the earth because we have faith in Him to deliver us out of this war.

[Isaiah 41:1-4,11-14 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. 2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow. 3 He pursued them, and passed safely; even by the way that he had not gone with his feet. 4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. 11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.]

[and they that strive with thee shall perish.] The world is so intent on “saving the planet” from everything from the climate to cows, that they are fools to the fact that God is in control of all things, He might let us choose how we live, but there is not one thing He does not know. And when we trust in His Son, we will no longer thirst for that spiritual water we needed to quench it. And by the way, afflictions, chastisements, and even tests do not last, God is with us through them all, He will even change our situation if we give it all to Him. The Holy One of Israel, Jesus Christ Himself, not only saves us from judgment, He gives us the strength to overcome even the earthly judgments we face for our own sin. While God chose Israel to be His witness, He never intended for it to be just them, He wants all people to believe in, and accept Him. Through Isaiah, God revealed when He would send Jesus to the Gentiles, and be His witness, and it would be after Israel rejected Him.

[Isaiah 42:1-2,5-7,16,24 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them. 24 Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.]

[I the LORD have called thee in righteousness,] It is only through the Lord, Jesus Christ that we are called into righteousness. Christ is the light of the world, the one who takes us out of the darkness of sin. He is God in the flesh, the only Redeemer, by His love, He opens up the understandings of sin and hell to the blind. By His love, He sets all who come to Him free from the judgment of sin. And since we are saved by grace through our faith in Him, we are to act like we are redeemed, that we are the chosen of the LORD. Through Isaiah, God reminds Israel that He created them and they are His people, but if you read carefully you will see that He was not only talking about the children of Israel here, but the nation of Israel as well, who are both Jews and Gentiles.

[Isaiah 43:1,3-4,7,10-12 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. 10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.]

[Even every one that is called by my name:] God used Israel to be a witness that the most stiffnecked, hardhearted, people can turn their fate around when they believe in and call on the only living God. The same is true for the Christian today, we are not saved by our works, but by believing in our Saviour, our God, our King, our Creator, our LORD, Jesus Christ. We are witnesses also, that Christ is alive and living in each and every believer. And His power and strength resides in each and every one who is faithful to Him, [II Corinthians 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.]

Today’s Prayer: God, You truly are the Almighty God, time and time again You have proven, even though the heavens declare Your handiwork, that You are the only Living God, Creator of all things, and the center of the earth. I know that it is only through my belief in You, Your Son, and accepting Him as my Saviour that I am one of Yours. Lord, Let me never forget the joy of my salvation and what you have brought me out of. Work in the hearts of those who are struggling and help them know the joy and comfort that I have as I declare You as my LORD. Open my heart, and eyes to serve you in sincerity and truth, and let me be a faithful witness of Your Son. I love you Lord and ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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