Category Archives: Prophecy

All Powerful / King of All, Hope, Prophecy

The Breath of Life: God’s Power to Restore and Revive (Ezekiel 37)

Have you ever felt as though your hope was lost or your spirit was dry and lifeless?

In Ezekiel 37, God reveals His power to bring life to the dead and hope to the hopeless through the vision of the dry bones.

Key Verse: “Thus says the Lord God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.’” – Ezekiel 37:5 (NKJV)

Background Context: Ezekiel 37 presents one of the most powerful and vivid visions in the Bible—the valley of dry bones. God takes Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones, symbolizing the hopelessness and despair of Israel. Through this vision, God demonstrates His power to restore life, not only to the nation of Israel but also to all who trust in His life-giving power.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 37

Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones

      1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” 4Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.’ 5“Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the LORD.’”

      7So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’” 10So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

The Vision Explained

11Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ 12“Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13“Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14“I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it,” declares the LORD.’”

Reunion of Judah and Israel

15The word of the LORD came again to me saying, 16“And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ 17“Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 18“When the sons of your people speak to you saying, ‘Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?’ 19say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ 20“The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. 21“Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. 23“They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God.

The Davidic Kingdom

24“My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them. 25“They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons’ sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever. 26“I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27“My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 28“And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”’”

Reflection on Ezekiel 37:

  • The Valley of Dry Bones: Ezekiel is brought to a valley filled with dry, scattered bones, representing the house of Israel in a state of hopelessness and despair (Ezekiel 37:1-2). These bones are very dry, signifying that the people have been in a state of death and separation from life for a long time.
  • The Question of Hope: God asks Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezekiel 37:3). This question highlights the apparent impossibility of life returning to these bones, yet it invites Ezekiel—and us—to consider the power of God to do the impossible.
  • The Word of the Lord: God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, declaring that God will bring them back to life (Ezekiel 37:4-6). As Ezekiel obeys, the bones begin to come together, forming skeletons, then muscles and flesh appear, but there is still no breath in them (Ezekiel 37:7-8). This illustrates that even when things start to come together in our lives, true life comes only through God’s Spirit.
  • The Breath of Life: God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, and the breath enters the bodies, bringing them to life (Ezekiel 37:9-10). This breath represents the Spirit of God, who brings life and revival to what was once dead. This powerful act symbolizes the restoration of Israel and the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit in our lives today.
  • The Promise of Restoration: God declares that He will open the graves of His people and bring them into the land of Israel, promising to put His Spirit within them so they will live (Ezekiel 37:12-14). This promise of restoration is not only for Israel but for all who trust in God’s power to revive and restore.

Summary Key Points:

  • God’s Power to Restore: The vision of the dry bones reminds us that no situation is too hopeless for God to restore and revive.
  • The Importance of God’s Spirit: True life and revival come only through the Spirit of God, who breathes life into what is dead.
  • Obedience and Faith: Ezekiel’s obedience to God’s commands demonstrates the importance of faith and trust in God’s promises, even when the situation seems impossible.
  • Hope for the Hopeless: God’s promise to restore Israel reflects His desire to bring hope and life to all who feel lost or abandoned.

Application: Reflect on areas of your life where you feel dry or hopeless. Do you believe that God can breathe new life into those areas? Trust in His power to restore and revive, and invite His Spirit to bring life where there has been death. Just as God brought the dry bones to life, He can restore hope, joy, and purpose in your life. Be open to His Spirit, and have faith that He can do the impossible.

Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your power to bring life to what was dead and hope to the hopeless. We ask that You breathe Your Spirit into the dry and lifeless areas of our lives, restoring us and reviving us for Your purposes. Help us to trust in Your power and to have faith that You can do the impossible. May we live in the fullness of life that comes from Your Spirit, bringing glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hope, Interceding for Others, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Prophecy, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin, Teachable, Through Prophets, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Judgment and Redemption (Ezekiel 6)

Have you ever considered the consequences of forsaking God’s ways?

In Ezekiel 6, we witness the prophet Ezekiel delivering a powerful message of judgment against the idolatry and rebellion of Israel. Through vivid imagery and prophetic warnings, Ezekiel portrays both the severity of divine judgment and the hope of redemption for those who turn back to God.

Reconnect:
Continuing the prophetic narrative of Ezekiel, chapter 6 serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of Israel’s persistent disobedience and the promise of restoration for the faithful remnant.

(Summarized and continued after scripture)

Ezekiel 6

Idolatrous Worship Denounced

      1And the word of the LORD came to me saying, 2“Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them 3and say, ‘Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, the hills, the ravines and the valleys: “Behold, I Myself am going to bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places. 4“So your altars will become desolate and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will make your slain fall in front of your idols. 5“I will also lay the dead bodies of the sons of Israel in front of their idols; and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6“In all your dwellings, cities will become waste and the high places will be desolate, that your altars may become waste and desolate, your idols may be broken and brought to an end, your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be blotted out. 7“The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.

      8“However, I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. 9“Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations. 10“Then they will know that I am the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would inflict this disaster on them.”’

      11“Thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Clap your hand, stamp your foot and say, “Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, which will fall by sword, famine and plague! 12“He who is far off will die by the plague, and he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged will die by the famine. Thus will I spend My wrath on them. 13“Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree and under every leafy oak—the places where they offered soothing aroma to all their idols. 14“So throughout all their habitations I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land more desolate and waste than the wilderness toward Diblah; thus they will know that I am the LORD.”’”

Summary Key Points:

  • Idolatrous Practices:
    Ezekiel condemns the idolatrous practices of the Israelites, who have turned away from the true God to worship idols and commit spiritual adultery. The prophet foretells the destruction of their sacred places and the desolation of their land as a consequence of their rebellion. Idolatry extends beyond the worship of false gods to include any object or desire that takes precedence over our devotion to God. Today, idolatry manifests in various forms, such as materialism, obsession with success, or prioritizing relationships with people above God.
  • Divine Judgment:
    Through symbolic acts and prophetic pronouncements, Ezekiel vividly portrays the severity of God’s judgment upon Israel for their idolatry and apostasy. The Lord declares His intention to execute fierce judgment against the people, leaving their cities in ruins and their sanctuaries desolate.
  • Promise of Restoration:
    Amidst the backdrop of divine judgment, God extends a promise of redemption and restoration to the faithful remnant of Israel. He assures them that He will preserve a remnant who will be scattered among the nations but ultimately restored to their land in accordance with His covenant promises.

Call to Action:

  • Repentance and Turning Back to God:
    Examine your heart and life for any areas of idolatry or disobedience, and earnestly seek repentance and turning back to God. Renounce any false gods or idols that have taken precedence in your life, and recommit yourself to wholehearted devotion to the Lord.
  • Intercession for Restoration:
    Intercede fervently for the restoration of God’s people and the fulfillment of His promises. Pray for spiritual awakening and revival among individuals and nations, believing in God’s power to bring about transformation and renewal.
  • Commitment to Faithfulness:
    Commit yourself to a life of faithfulness and obedience to God’s commands. Align your thoughts, words, and actions with His will, trusting in His faithfulness to fulfill His promises and bring about His plans for redemption and restoration.

Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we humbly acknowledge Your righteous judgment upon rebellion and idolatry, yet we cling to the hope of redemption and restoration offered through Your mercy and grace. Grant us the strength to repent and turn back to You wholeheartedly, and empower us to live lives of faithful obedience and devotion. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faith / Trusting God, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Obeying God, Prophecy, Through Prophets

Do Not Ignore God to Do What Seems Right to You

Do what the LORD says. Do not try to take matters into your own hands. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, mind, and soul. Lean not on your own understanding and be not wise in your own eyes. Obey what God says.

After all the accurate prophecy that God shared through Jeremiah leading up to the Babylonian victory over the Israelites, they still would not listen to Jeremiah about what God told them to do.

They insisted on deciding based on what made sense to them and doing right in their own eyes to try to take control of the situation.

After reading Jeremiah 43, I am sure we can see where this approach will not work out well for them.

Jeremiah 43

In Egypt Jeremiah Warns of Judgment

      1But as soon as Jeremiah, whom the LORD their God had sent, had finished telling all the people all the words of the LORD their God—that is, all these words— 2Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, ‘You are not to enter Egypt to reside there’; 3but Baruch the son of Neriah is inciting you against us to give us over into the hand of the Chaldeans, so they will put us to death or exile us to Babylon.” 4So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces, and all the people, did not obey the voice of the LORD to stay in the land of Judah. 5But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took the entire remnant of Judah who had returned from all the nations to which they had been driven away, in order to reside in the land of Judah— 6the men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the bodyguard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, together with Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah— 7and they entered the land of Egypt (for they did not obey the voice of the LORD) and went in as far as Tahpanhes.

      8Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, 9“Take some large stones in your hands and hide them in the mortar in the brick terrace which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes, in the sight of some of the Jews; 10and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Behold, I am going to send and get Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and I am going to set his throne right over these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his canopy over them. 11“He will also come and strike the land of Egypt; those who are meant for death will be given over to death, and those for captivity to captivity, and those for the sword to the sword. 12“And I shall set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt, and he will burn them and take them captive. So he will wrap himself with the land of Egypt as a shepherd wraps himself with his garment, and he will depart from there safely. 13“He will also shatter the obelisks of Heliopolis, which is in the land of Egypt; and the temples of the gods of Egypt he will burn with fire.”’”

Spend time in prayer and reflection. Are there areas in your life where you are not fully listening to and surrendering to God’s direction? Are you going your own way because it makes sense to you?

Ask God to help you make changes to fully rely on Him and do as He leads.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

False Prophets / Teachers, Prophecy, Through Prophets

Hearing God’s Voice: Seek Truth Amidst Confusion

Not everyone who claims to have a prophecy or speak for the LORD is actually doing so. It can be confusing and certainly disappointing. We must discern the truth, not trust anyone who brings a word they say is from God. Sometimes the word God sends is not one we want to hear and that makes it harder to hear and accept.

Continue to seek a personal relationship with God and seek to draw near to Him. Study His word. Pray. Spend time quietly listening. Learn to hear His voice.

Certainly don’t become the person who boldly claims to speak for the LORD if you are not sure it is from Him. It may lead others astray.

Jeremiah 28 

Hananiah’s False Prophecy

      1Now in the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, 2“Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3‘Within two years I am going to bring back to this place all the vessels of the LORD’S house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4‘I am also going to bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the LORD, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”

      5Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD, 6and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD confirm your words which you have prophesied to bring back the vessels of the LORD’S house and all the exiles, from Babylon to this place. 7“Yet hear now this word which I am about to speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people! 8“The prophets who were before me and before you from ancient times prophesied against many lands and against great kingdoms, of war and of calamity and of pestilence. 9“The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent.”

      10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Even so will I break within two full years the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’” Then the prophet Jeremiah went his way.

      12The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13“Go and speak to Hananiah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You have broken the yokes of wood, but you have made instead of them yokes of iron.” 14‘For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. And I have also given him the beasts of the field.”’” 15Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16“Therefore thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This year you are going to die, because you have counseled rebellion against the LORD.’”

      17So Hananiah the prophet died in the same year in the seventh month.

Take a few minutes to pray and ask God to show you any areas where you are on the wrong path, having listened to the wrong advice. Ask Him to speak clearly to you so as to avoid any confusion about what you are sharing with others. Don’t share in God’s name too quickly on important matters. Be sure it is Him.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discerning / Judging, False Prophets / Teachers, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Prophecy, Prophecy, Through Prophets

Unveiling Deceptive Appearances: God’s Messengers and the Call to Discernment

One of the common threads throughout scripture is that the world at large will reject the messengers that are truly sent from  Yahweh. Over and over again, those who speak the truth and represent our Creator and Lord without concern for self bring forth much anger and rejection from many. We must choose carefully whom we follow. Let us not be deceived by slick salesmen who seem popular, but only look out for themselves. Rather, we are to dig deeper and compare what is taught with the word of God. Do not be distracted by style and appearance. Often it is those we least expect that bring forth the powerful truth of God.

Naturally, we can point to Jesus… He was ultimately plotted against and murdered by those who did not want the truth of God to interfere with their grip on power… their rules and teachings. This is evident by reading through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We could look back to Isaiah and see from prophecy that Jesus was not a striking figure to grab attention by the standards of men.  A full reading of Isaiah 53 is worth the time to read the prophecy about our Messiah, Jesus. I encourage you to click through and read it completely. For this article I am highlighting a portion to make the point that God’s messengers do not always come in the packages that we, as men, tend to look for through our eyes.  Jesus was not striking in appearance, nor did He come from a town of significance in the minds of the culture at the time.

Isaiah 53:1-3

     1Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

      2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

      3He 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.

So, too, with King David… God’s prophet Samuel kept looking upon David’s brothers and judging physical features, but God chooses differently. God chooses based on the heart and he chose the son who was so unexpected by man that even his own father did not bring him in for the occasion to line up before Samuel.

1 Samuel 16: 6-11

      6When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.” 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 9Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

Just to make the point with one more example… let us look at John the Baptist. A man sent by God, prophesied long in advance. He was not a “prototypical” teacher or preacher. His dress and lifestyle was very different. Even where he conducted his ministry was different.

Mark 1:1-8

Preaching of John the Baptist

      1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

      2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU,
WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;

      3THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,
‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,
MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”

4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8“I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In the case of Jesus, David, John and many more… the appearance was deceptive. Those who brought the truth came presented in a different manner than through the “established” religion of formal teachers and synagogues. Let us be careful to not jump quickly to conclusions about teachers based on their appearance or the size and typical nature of their ministry. Let us test each and every one against the truth of the gospel. Also, God’s message calls us to change, which many don’t want to do. This becomes another reason many will reject God’s true messengers. They want to stay how they are and not repent or change to follow God’s ways more completely. Quite often, those bringing the truth of God’s word appear in unexpected places and with unexpected styles and with a challenging message that calls us to action.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Heaven and Hell, Prophecy, Seeking God, Through Prophets

In My Favor I Have Compassion on You

There are a few key points I want to highlight about Isaiah 60.

  • For the glory of the LORD to rise upon you, embrace Him with all your life and not just words. Through believers, He will draw many others to Him. We must live out a life set apart from the world which honors God.
  • Ultimately those who serve Him will receive abundance and grace. Those who reject Him will be utterly ruined.
  • Starting in verse 15, we see a view of the future. Christ returns and is our redeemer. There is no violence. The LORD is our everlasting light. All are righteous. What a glorious hope to look forward to.

Isaiah 60

A Glorified Zion

1“Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

      2“For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the LORD will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.

      3“Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.

      4“Lift up your eyes round about and see;
They all gather together, they come to you.
Your sons will come from afar,
And your daughters will be carried in the arms.

      5“Then you will see and be radiant,
And your heart will thrill and rejoice;
Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you,
The wealth of the nations will come to you.

      6“A multitude of camels will cover you,
The young camels of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba will come;
They will bring gold and frankincense,
And will bear good news of the praises of the LORD.

      7“All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you,
The rams of Nebaioth will minister to you;
They will go up with acceptance on My altar,
And I shall glorify My glorious house.

      8“Who are these who fly like a cloud
And like the doves to their lattices?

      9“Surely the coastlands will wait for Me;
And the ships of Tarshish will come first,
To bring your sons from afar,
Their silver and their gold with them,
For the name of the LORD your God,
And for the Holy One of Israel because He has glorified you.

      10“Foreigners will build up your walls,
And their kings will minister to you;
For in My wrath I struck you,
And in My favor I have had compassion on you.

      11“Your gates will be open continually;
They will not be closed day or night,
So that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations,
With their kings led in procession.

      12“For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish,
And the nations will be utterly ruined.

      13“The glory of Lebanon will come to you,
The juniper, the box tree and the cypress together,
To beautify the place of My sanctuary;
And I shall make the place of My feet glorious.

      14“The sons of those who afflicted you will come bowing to you,
And all those who despised you will bow themselves at the soles of your feet;
And they will call you the city of the LORD,
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

      15“Whereas you have been forsaken and hated
With no one passing through,
I will make you an everlasting pride,
A joy from generation to generation.

      16“You will also suck the milk of nations
And suck the breast of kings;
Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior
And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

      17“Instead of bronze I will bring gold,
And instead of iron I will bring silver,
And instead of wood, bronze,
And instead of stones, iron.
And I will make peace your administrators
And righteousness your overseers.

      18“Violence will not be heard again in your land,
Nor devastation or destruction within your borders;
But you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise.

      19“No longer will you have the sun for light by day,
Nor for brightness will the moon give you light;
But you will have the LORD for an everlasting light,
And your God for your glory.

      20“Your sun will no longer set,
Nor will your moon wane;
For you will have the LORD for an everlasting light,
And the days of your mourning will be over.

      21“Then all your people will be righteous;
They will possess the land forever,
The branch of My planting,
The work of My hands,
That I may be glorified.

      22“The smallest one will become a clan,
And the least one a mighty nation.
I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.”

Turn wholeheartedly to the LORD even today. His doors of mercy and grace are always ready to receive you.

Take a few minutes in prayer and reflect on the key themes in today’s scripture. Ask God to show you how you should apply it to your life.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Church / Body of Christ, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Prophecy, Purposeful / Intentional, Self Control, Submitted / Servant, Teachable

All Things Must Be Done Properly and in an Orderly Manner.

I find this section of scripture fascinating and challenging to study. Paul lays out some specific instructions for conducting church in an orderly manner in 1 Corinthians 14. He addresses prophecy and speaking in / interpreting tongues with some interesting considerations that can certainly still be applied today. He also addresses a subject that is sure to make some people uncomfortable or even angry as he speaks regarding women remaining silent in church. For our culture, this is roundly rejected… but should it be? We truly should always challenge ourselves to study context to better understand if this specific instruction was generally applicable or applicable to the church of Corinth due to its specific situation at the time. In any case, the broader point is clearly that we should have order and not confusion in order to edify God, help the body of Christ, and draw in new believers to Christ.

1 Corinthians 14:20-40

Instruction for the Church

     20Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21In the Law it is written, “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord. 22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

      26What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

      34The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 36Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

      37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

      39Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

Don’t miss the broader point of the scripture about needing to proceed in an orderly manner for tongues and prophecy and teaching in the church, about needing an interpreter for tongues and so on. Don’t focus solely on the verse about women keeping silent and miss the broader point. God is a God of order and not of confusion. We must conduct ourselves as the body of Christ in an orderly manner.

Curious or upset by the command for women to keep silent in church? Want to explore it more? I encourage each of us submit our spirit to God, quiet our preconceived notions based on our local culture, pray for help and click through to more study resources to explore what Paul may have intended more closely. From the link provided, you can select different commentaries and study multiple perspectives or do you own search. I need to spend more time with it myself. The immediate context may be limited to speaking in tongues or prophesying or interpreting tongues in church setting, which was the topic Paul was addressing, but it is difficult to avoid the possibility that it may be broader than that associated with women not taking a leadership role or authority role over men in the church. The issue of submission for women is covered in 1 Timothy, Ephesians, and 1 Peter in addition to here in 1 Corinthians (refer to link above labeled “study resources”)… not to mention Genesis 3:16.

Try to sort through the topic without bias of “what you are used to” or “what our culture has taught you” or even “current church teaching”. Be teachable and submitted to God. Look not to emotions, but to what the scripture actually says and in what context. Don’t rush to judgement on this topic. Meditate on it. Study it. Pray.  It is not our role to agree or disagree with scripture (e.g. with God), but rather to study it and change our lives to reflect what God instructs. Look around, there are plenty of examples of commonly accepted church practices which are wildly out of step with scripture and God’s instruction… always has been. Look to scripture and God Himself.

Our challenge is to shape ourselves into God’s image, not to reshape Him into our own.

Spend time in prayer and ask God to reveal to you more discernment and wisdom on the specific instructions given here and on the broader topic of maintaining a proper and orderly manner in the body of Christ and in church.

—-

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Yeshua Suffered for Our Sins; Let Us Be Grateful!

As you read the prophecy about our Messiah, Yeshua, in Isaiah 53, Do not rush through it. Let each verse sink in and experience the fullness of meaning therein. It was for our sins that He suffered. Personalize it. He suffered so we could be reconciled to the Father. We did not deserve it or earn it!

Isaiah 53

The Suffering Servant

1Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

      2For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.

      3He 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.

      4Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.

      5But 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.

      6All 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.

      7He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

      8By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

      9His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.

      10But 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.

      11As 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.

      12Therefore, 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.

Take a few minutes right now in prayer and give God thanks for making a way for our sins to be forgiven and for us to be reconciled to Him based solely on His grace and mercy. It is totally undeserved on our parts!

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Consequences of Sin, Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faithful, Idols / False Gods, Loving / Kind, Obeying God, Prophecy, Prophecy, Purposeful / Intentional, Repenting from Sin, Salvation, Submitted / Servant, Through Prophets, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Do Not Fear, for I Have Redeemed You

Isaiah 43 contains several important themes that still resonate with us today if we take the time to listen and consider them.

  • Verses 1-7: God’s favor and goodwill are for His people. This should be a great comfort and encouragement. There is no need to fear.
  • Verses 8-13: God calls out those who believe in false gods or idols. He and He alone is God and savior.
  • Verses 14-21: The deliverance from Babylon is foretold, but there is a reference to greater events. The redemption of sinners by Christ, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the recall of the Jews, are described. All that is to be done to rescue sinners, and to bring the believer to glory, is little, compared with that wondrous work of love, the redemption of man.
  • Verses 22-28: God is troubled that His people turn away from Him and His offer of forgiveness of sins. They choose to overlook Him and go their own way. He pleads with the people that they would be justified through Him.

For more detailed thoughts expanding on these, consider Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary for Isaiah 43.

Isaiah 43

Israel Redeemed

1But now, this is what the LORD says, He who is your Creator, Jacob,

And He who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name; you are Mine!

2“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,

Nor will the flame burn you.

3“For I am the LORD your God,

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I have given Egypt as your ransom,

Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

4“Since you are precious in My sight,

Since you are honored and I love you,

I will give other people in your place and other nations in exchange for your life.

5“Do not fear, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring 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 hold them back.’

Bring My sons from afar

And My daughters from the ends of the earth,

7Everyone who is called by My name,

And whom I have created for My glory,

Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Israel Is God’s Witness

8Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,

And those who are deaf, even though they have ears.

9All the nations have gathered together

So that the peoples may be assembled.

Who among them can declare this

And proclaim to us the former things?

Let them present their witnesses so that they may be justified,

Or let them hear and say, “It is true.”

10“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,

“And My servant whom I have chosen,

So that you may know and believe Me

And understand that I am He.

Before Me there was no God formed,

And there will be none after Me.

11“I, only I, am the LORD,

And there is no savior besides Me.

12“It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,

And there was no strange god among you;

So you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,

“And I am God.

13“Even from eternity I am He,

And there is no one who can rescue from My hand;

I act, and who can reverse it?”

Babylon to Be Destroyed

14This is what the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:

“For your sake I have sent to Babylon,

And will bring them all down as fugitives,

Even the Chaldeans, into the ships over which they rejoice.

15“I am the LORD, your Holy One,

The Creator of Israel, your King.” 16This is what the LORD says,

He who makes a way through the sea

And a path through the mighty waters,

17Who brings out the chariot and the horse,

The army and the mighty man

(They will lie down together and not rise again;

They have been extinguished, and have gone out like a wick):

18“Do not call to mind the former things,

Or consider things of the past.

19“Behold, I am going to do something new,

Now it will spring up;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert.

20“The animals of the field will glorify Me,

The jackals and the ostriches,

Because I have given waters in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert,

To give drink to My chosen people.

21“The people whom I formed for Myself

Will declare My praise.

The Shortcomings of Israel

22“Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob;

But you have become weary of Me, Israel.

23“You have not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,

Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings,

Nor wearied you with incense.

24“You have not bought Me sweet cane with money,

Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;

Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins,

You have wearied Me with your wrongdoings.

25“I, I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake,

And I will not remember your sins.

26“Meet Me in court, let’s argue our case together;

State your cause, so that you may be proved right.

27“Your first forefather sinned,

And your spokesmen have rebelled against Me.

28“So I will profane the officials of the sanctuary,

And I will turn Jacob over to destruction and Israel to abuse. 

Do not overlook God’s favor toward us as believers and followers of Yeshua, our Messiah. Let us put our faith in God and God alone. There are no other gods, no one else in whom we should put our trust. We are called to redemption and justification through Yeshua. Let us not reject such a wonderful offer!

Take some time in prayer to reflect on this powerful message. What is God telling you today about what you need to do in your life? Are you putting your trust in Him and Him alone? Are you fearful when you can instead find His peace? Are you putting your focus on living according to His ways rather than your own?

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Forgiveness, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Prophecy, Prophecy, Through Prophets, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Behold My Chosen One in Whom My Soul Delights

Isaiah 42 contains a significant prophecy about our Messiah, Yeshua. There are some themes to look for as you read. These themes still resonate with us today if we take the time to listen and consider them.

  • Verses 1-4: Prophecies about Yeshua’s first coming.
  • Verses 5-12: The work of redemption through Yeshua reconciles man back to God. It is an invitation to return to worshipping Him and being in the right relationship with Him.
  • Verses 13-17: God will lay low His enemies and graciously guide those who cannot find their own way (“the blind”).
  • Verses 18-25: Many hear the message and profess to follow God, but do not live it out. They do not live according to His law. They are not willing to walk in His ways.

For more detailed thoughts expanding on these, consider Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary for Isaiah 42.

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.

      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.”

      5Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people on it
And spirit to those who walk in it,

      6“I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness,
I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You,
And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the nations,

      7To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

      8“I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.

      9“Behold, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

      10Sing to the LORD a new song,
Sing His praise from the end of the earth!
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.
You islands, and those who dwell on them.

      11Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,
The settlements where Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud,
Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

      12Let them give glory to the LORD
And declare His praise in the coastlands.

      13The LORD will go forth like a warrior,
He will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enemies.

The Blindness of the People

14“I have kept silent for a long time,
I have kept still and restrained Myself.
Now like a woman in labor I will groan,
I will both gasp and pant.

      15“I will lay waste the mountains and hills
And wither all their vegetation;
I will make the rivers into coastlands
And dry up the ponds.

      16“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
And I will not leave them undone.”

      17They will be turned back and be utterly put to shame,
Who trust in idols,
Who say to molten images,
“You are our gods.”

      18Hear, you deaf!
And look, you blind, that you may see.

      19Who is blind but My servant,
Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send?
Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me,
Or so blind as the servant of the LORD?

      20You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
Your ears are open, but none hears.

      21The LORD was pleased for His righteousness’ sake
To make the law great and glorious.

      22But this is a people plundered and despoiled;
All of them are trapped in caves,
Or are hidden away in prisons;
They have become a prey with none to deliver them,
And a spoil, with none to say, “Give them back!”

      23Who among you will give ear to this?
Who will give heed and listen hereafter?

      24Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers?
Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned,
And in whose ways they were not willing to walk,
And whose law they did not obey?

      25So He poured out on him the heat of His anger
And the fierceness of battle;
And it set him aflame all around,
Yet he did not recognize it;
And it burned him, but he paid no attention.

This chapter has a lot of information to take in. Take time and reread it. Reflect on the themes summarized at the beginning of this article and how they apply to your life. Where are you in your relationship with God? We would not want to miss out on a right relationship with God for lack of walking out what we know (or should know) in our lives. Ask God to give you eyes to see and ears to hear.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.