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: Monday, July 27, 2020
Chapters: Isaiah 44-48
Message: God’s Promise
Hello My Friend,
I have been so distracted today in getting this done, then as I was reading through the chapters I understood why, it was none other than Satan hindering me. Yesterday, I listened to four sermons from four different preachers, all of them had great things to say, but one thing stuck out the most, we are to never compare ourselves to other Christians or think of ourselves as being perfect. No one wants to be around a Christian who thinks they are perfect because they give off this persona about them that does not seem real. We are imperfect people who are perfected as we walk with Christ. As much as we would like to say that we do not compare ourselves with other Christians, we must admit that we do as I have often been guilty of saying my sin was not as bad as that persons. Let me tell you, sin is sin in God’s eyes, there is no levels of how bad a sin is, it all leads to pain. We must also remember one thing, and this is why the devil was hindering me, those whom have received Christ as their Saviour have been cleared of all the charges against them, God may chasten them, and with good cause, but He will never leave nor forsake them because He made a promise and He is sticking to it.
[John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.]
When you read about Israel in the Bible it can often be a bit difficult to comprehend what God is referring to since there are several different symbolism’s behind it, we have the country of Israel itself, which God had given them for an inheritance. We the person, Israel, who is also Jacob, we have the people of Israel, who are the children of Israel (Jacob) and then we have what the majority of us are, the nation of Israel, who are the body of believers engrafted into the people of Israel. The word Israel means the prince that prevails with God. Since we are in this political correctness state, we can reword it to understand that it means, the person that prevails with God. Israel as a whole is one nation (group of people) who believe not only that God Is the Almighty and only living God, and there is none else, they believe and declare that He is LORD, that His Word is true, and that they are chosen by Him through their faith in Him. Through Isaiah, God addresses Israel, His servant, whom He has chosen and reminds them that even though He is judging them, He is still their God, and they are still His.
[Isaiah 44:1-3,6-8 Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: 2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen. 3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: 6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall 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 shew unto them. 8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.]
[Jesurun, whom I have chosen.] Jesurun is another name that symbolizes Israel, and it means; the upright one. God only chooses those who have faith in Him, and if they have faith in Him then they will have faith in His Son, by whom we are chosen. The water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit that comes into the thirsty soul of the one who receives Christ as their Saviour, it not only quenches its thirst, it cleanses the soul and makes it perfect before God, [John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.]
While God never denies anyone the opportunity to be saved, Jew or Gentile, God shuts the eyes of those who create gods themselves, and even to those who create their own image of Him, if they are not willing to worship Him as Himself, then He will not choose them as His, and He will give them up to their own gods. Yes, God can change a heart, and many times has, but He draws the line at those who are reprobates. There truly is no God like Him, for our faith in our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts, the LORD, the King of Israel, who is Jesus Christ Himself. Through Isaiah, God reveals why He does not just cast us off even though we sin time and time again.
[Isaiah 45:4-7,16-17,20,22 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. 16 They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. 17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. 20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.]
[though thou hast not known me.] God is saying that even before we knew Him He already knew us, and predestinated that we would become, not only His servants, but sons and daughters, [Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,]
[I make peace, and create evil:] We must understand that there are two kinds of evil, natural and moral. Natural evil is any thing which produces pain, distress, loss or calamity. Death, diseases, and illnesses are natural evils, and these came as a result of the fall of man, in which natural evils proceed from moral evils. Moral evil is the sinful things we do all on our own consciously, murder, deception, destruction, crime, these are moral evils, and always lead to death, [Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]
[Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth:] God never denies anyone a chance to become one of His own, and he literally compels us to come to Him to be saved, but if they choose another god He will deny them for there is no other God. [Isaiah 46:3,9-13 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: 9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. 12 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: 13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.]
[and I will do all my pleasure:] You see, God will do what He will with His creation, He will use the reprobates to bring others to Him, and He will also use them to chasten His people as well as judge the nation, [Romans 9:21-23 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,]
[Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted,] Stouthearted; A proud heart. Everyone is born with the knowledge of God in them from birth, but their lifestyles cloud the heart from that truth. Some will learn and soften their hearts, some will be halfhearted, and some will block out any kind of knowledge of Him whatsoever. We cannot escape God no matter how much we try, we will all face Him one way or another, we might as well learn of Him now rather than when we do stand before Him and He tells us that He never knew us. Through Isaiah, God reveals why He afflicts His people, it is not out of punishment, rather to clear His own name.
[Isaiah 48:9-11,16-17 For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. 10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. 11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another. 16 Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me. 17 Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.]
[For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger,] It is not because of our own righteousness that God does not cast us off, even though we are stouthearted, it is because of our faith in His Son, [Ephesians 2:4-9 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.]
Today’s Prayer: God, There truly is no God besides You, and as someone who grew up Catholic, never knowing who you are, I am so grateful that You saw my faith in You, chose me, and opened my heart so that I could become one of Yours. In a world full of false religion it is comforting to know that no religion, race, or even my own righteousness is necessary to save me. You alone came here in the form of Your Son, to redeem all who believe in His perfect, sinless sacrifice, and that is enough for me. I am one of Yours because I believe in Your Son and have accepted Him as me Saviour. While I know nothing I do on this earth can save me, I do want to live me life to please You as a way to thank You for making such a great sacrifice for me. Lord, Lead me and guide me in Your will and way, keep my heart, eyes, and spirit always on You so the only think I will ever fear is You. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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