Today’s Reading: Isa 58:1–59:21, Luke 22:24–62, Job 13:1–12

Today’s Theme: The call to repent.

Today’s theme is about the call for us all to repent which means to chafe our minds and turn from sin to walk in the higher ways of holiness before God. We look at this first through the lens of biblical fasting.

Isaiah 58:1–59:21

Don’t deceive yourself

Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. Isaiah 58:2 (ESV)

Ask the Lord to keep us as a people from delighting in his ways without the love and resolution in our hearts to live in his ways.

If we are walking in self deception we need to repent before God.

It’s not about you

‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Isaiah 58:3 (ESV)

In some circles it is commonly taught that if you want something from God then you need to fast to get access to it. This is simply not true and unbiblical, fasting should not be about us seeking our own pleasure as God will explain in the rest of the chapter.

If our focus is on ourselves we need to repent

Fasting God’s way

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Isaiah 58:6 (ESV)

The fast that God has chosen is not the seeking of pleasure or the other extreme of just humbling yourself. Instead it is extremely practical in its aims and goals which are connected to social justice and mercy.

It is also connected with the removal of oppression, this can be both physical and spiritual.

Genuine fasting will result in more than just humility it will manifest in acts of love and service

If we engage in any spiritual activity with the wrong motives then we need to repent of this too.

We need to change

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, Isaiah 58:9 (ESV)

Through fasting we should change, we should stop oppressing others, pointing the finger in criticism / judgement and gossip / speaking wickedness. God calls us again to repent.

We need to repent to restore a healthy relationship with God so that he will respond when we pray.

Satisfaction for the scorched places

And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11 (ESV)

Through this change brought about in us through prayer, fasting and true repentance God will strengthen us and satisfy our desires especially in areas of our life where there is great need (scorched places)

God will bring healing where the fire of lust, sin and rebellion has brought pain, loss and damage to our lives.

Delight in God

then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 58:14 (ESV)

All repentance is a turning from delighting in sinful things to delighting in God.

This is the ultimate purpose of fasting, that we delight no longer in the trivial things of this life but take delight in the Lord.

Sin separates us from God

but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. Isaiah 59:2 (ESV)

An important truth, sin separates us from God and for Gods people in particular, if we walk in open sin he will not hear our prayers unless they are genuine prayers of repentance.

Walk in honesty

No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. Isaiah 59:4 (ESV)

Lord keep us from dishonesty, our culture is one focused on individual rights and desires which are exalted above honesty and truth, keep us from being swept up in the tide of dishonesty and selfish gain.

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart today and to do away with anything that is dishonest as you walk in repentance.

Walk in peace

The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace. Isaiah 59:8 (ESV)

We are actually commanded to pursue peace and to walk in peace. If we walk in anxiety, worry and panic then we are actually in sin and need to repent.

Lord help us to know the way of peace and to walk in it.

God is unstoppable

He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him. Isaiah 59:16 (ESV)

Even though there should have been someone to intercede for the city and there was not, God in his power and mercy still moved to honour His will to bring salvation Himself.

So even if we do not do as God requires, we will not stop his purpose, we only hurt ourselves.

Lets remember to pray for the city we live in today.

Be clothed like God for the battle

He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. Isaiah 59:17 (ESV)

We are constantly in a state of war in the spirit.

This is God clothing himself for battle, the first part of this imagery is used in the NT too for the believers armour.

Put on the full armour through faith and the word today to fight the battles ahead in the spirit and prayer.

Pass on the word of God

“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.” Isaiah 59:21 (ESV)

We are called to actively pass our faith on to our children.

We can claim this promise of God as yes and Amen for ourselves as we read and meditate on Gods word, speaking of it and passing it on to the next generation.

Luke 22:24–62

Be a servant

But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. Luke 22:26 (ESV)

We must repent of having the worlds ideals in terms of greatness.

Jesus teaches us the truth that in the kingdom of God, we should be servants of God and of one another, Jesus who was certainly the greatest served the disciples at the last supper giving them a clear picture of what greatness in Gods kingdom means.

Lord help us to joyfully serve you and your people.

Your faith will not fail

but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:32 (ESV)

Like Peter Jesus has prayed for us hat our faith will not fail under trial, if we do stumble we need to turn again or repent as Jesus said and seek to strengthen our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Repent and live to fight another day

Laying our rights down

He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one. Luke 22:36 (ESV)

Jesus would have had the right to take up arms against those who came to capture him, so baring the arms was not wrong and the use of them would not have been wrong but forgoing his right to use them showed an example to His disciples which they would follow in their own lives as ministers of the Gospel after His resurrection.

This is the opposite to the teaching of Islam which encourages the use of the sword and violence.

Chose to lay down your rights for God’s purposes today.

God’s will be done

saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:42 (ESV)

This is the core of all prayer and repentance.

This should be a crucial element in our prayers, we should make our request in respect and submit to the ultimate will of God, surrendering our will to His.

This was not just a routine for Jesus this was genuine anguish of soul, which is why he prayed this very genuine and heartfelt prayer.

He is standing right there

And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” Luke 22:61 (ESV)

This means there was not a great distance between them, this was an awful blow for Jesus but he had prepared his heart for it in advance and he had prepared Peter and I’m sure in his looking at Peter it was one of Love.

How often have we been guilty of denying Jesus when he is standing right there?

Job 13:1–12

What about my case?

But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. Job 13:3 (ESV)

This is wounded pride and arrogance speaking, the sad thing is that in todays world many people think they also have a right to argue with or argue their side of the story with God.

This is flawed and fallen thinking.

Thankfully we are covered by our advocate Jesus.

Don’t be a hypocrite

Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man? Job 13:9 (ESV)

Job is right to warn his friends of the hypocrisy of supposing to speak for God with great legalistic maxims without the foresight that they too would fail under such scrutiny.

Those in exposure ministries should take heed here, as the NT says, when judgement or correction is given in hypocrisy the hypocrite is in danger of the same judgment.

Legalism and pointing the finger at others can often be a deceitful mechanism to hide or minimise our own shortcomings, we can foolishly compare ourselves against our selves or look at external circumstances and deduce with human reasoning and false discernment that someone is “blessed” or “cursed”.

Today’s Reading: Isa 55:1–57:21, Luke 21:25–22:23, Job 12:13–25

Today’s Theme: Free Grace

Today’s there is no clear theme although the first point about God’s free grace is in some way connected to all other points about faith, repentance and our conduct before God, it all starts and is empowered by the free grace of God found in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 55:1–57:21

Free Grace

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isaiah 55:1 (ESV)

God makes an urgent appeal without discrimination for all men to come and find satisfaction in him. This free grace offered to all men is fulfilled in Christ as we read in John 4:10–14 and John 7:37–39.

God bids us to come and buy although the price has been paid by Christ. This indicates that a transaction must take place, action is required on our part. The buying is faith and repentance in Jesus Christ’s finished work.

We do not need to labour and spend ourselves on things that will not satisfy or sustain us, instead we should throw ourselves on God’s free and abundant grace.

While water speaks of our necessity (the need for salvation), the milk and wine speak of Gods abundant life and blessing freely offered in Christ. Thank God for his grace today.

Repent today

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Isaiah 55:6–7 (ESV)

This is linked to the first set of verses, this is the buying without money spoken of. God now calls all men everywhere to repent.

We must repent quickly because repentance is not just a given, its a grace granted by God which will not always be available so we must not take it for granted or have the mentality that I’m going to sin and then repent.

There is a window of opportunity in all our lives to seek The Lord and we must do it now. This not only speaks to those lost but also to those who have gone astray… Notice it says return to The Lord.

God’s thoughts are higher

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)

We can trust in God, his thoughts are so far beyond anything we can begin to comprehend, he sees and knows everything intimately, he knows the past, present and future, he is full of wisdom and knows the outcome of every possibility, by his intellect he created the physical universe and all it’s inhabitants, by his power he created the spiritual real, heaven and the Angels.

Consider the greatness of our God, he is so much greater than us, so much higher than us, he knows everything, while we know so little, we are not on par with God, he is infinitely great while each one of us and even collectively as humans are finite in our minds and ways of thinking.

This serves as a rebuke to humanistic reasoning which men try to apply to God’s word and the notion that we know more than God and the bible found in the aggressive secular humanism characteristic of atheism and and so called scientific ideas like evolution and the big bang theory.

God’s active word

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)

The words of men are impotent but Gods words are active, full of power and because this is the very universe that he spoke into existence, his words have great creative force to the point that His word like guided missiles hit their target and accomplish his mission without fail.

We can trust in God’s word, it is not like the words of man, Gods word is sure and true.

A house of prayer

these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Isaiah 56:7 (ESV)

God desires to save people from all nations and desires that we come together to pray. This was God’s desire for the house of God in the OT and in the church today. In this sense everything is secondary to prayer, when we pray things actually change God will go to work brining that which we believe him for to pass.

Yesterday night we had a powerful prayer meeting at Church where we prayed for our Christian brothers and sisters suffering under the terrorism and brutal murder inflicted by ISIS.

If you do not attend prayer meetings or regular prayer with other believers it is something that must be remedied in your life today.

Be humble

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15 (ESV)

God, who is himself rightly high and lifted up dwells with those who are humble, who are low in their own estimation and broken in spirit. The paradox is that by humility we dwell in the high heavenly places with God whereas exalting ourselves in pride will bring us to the low place of the flesh.

The lesson is simple, be humble and God will revive and strengthen you.

Luke 21:25–22:23

Jesus will return

And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:27 (ESV)

We are reminded that Jesus will return and his return will not be quiet or private but very public.

This single verse destroys the argument of Rastafarians. When Jesus returns, it will not be through a woman, he will come in the clouds and everyone will see it.

We look forward to that day, living in hope and readiness.

Holy Communion

And he took bread, and when he had 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.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. Luke 22:19–20 (ESV)

Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus and was actually based on part of the Passover meal.

When we keep communion we are obeying the words of Jesus and in a special and symbolic way by faith remembering his body that was broken for us and his blood that shed for us in thankful reflection and worship.

Jehovah Witnesses do away with communion which is against the teaching and command of Jesus.

Job 12:13–25

Sound Wisdom

With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his. Job 12:16 (ESV)

Sound wisdom comes from God.

This statement and all the others in this section speak of Gods position of power, influence and his ultimate sovereignty.

Although we must be careful with Job as he is speaking in the anguish of his soul and his understanding is not perfect so some of his examples make God sound capricious

Today’s Reading: Isa 52:1–54:17, Luke 20:41–21:24, Job 12:1–12

Today’s Theme: The Suffering Servant.

Today’s theme is about God’s suffering servant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53 is one of the most striking prophecies about Jesus and lays out quite clearly the substitutionary nature of the suffering and atonement accomplished by Christ, we will explore this chapter in particular and look at how God was sovereign even over the suffering of Jesus and is sovereign over our suffering too in our NT and Job readings.

Isaiah 52:1–54:17

Good News: The King Reigns

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” Isaiah 52:7 (ESV)

This verse gets to the heart of what the Gospel is, it is a declaration of victory, God has won, we are his messengers bringing this good news of the kings victory over the enemy and the establishment of his kingdom, rulership, lordship and reign.

The good news spoken of here is one of peace, happiness and salvation all these are possible because one of the key messages of the Gospel is that God is king, and he actively reigns… Good News, the devil is not in charge and is not on the throne, God is, which means we can confidently put our trust in him and find peace, true happiness and eternal salvation.

Those who hear, are called upon to respond in worship to the kings good news which we have be commissioned to publish.

Jesus disfigured for us

As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.     Isaiah 52:14–15 (ESV)

The hebrew word “mišhat” translated as marred is only used once in the whole bible. It means the terrible disfigurement or distortion of a person’s appearance, to be inhumanly deformed implying ugliness and the resulting repulsion.

This word is used to describe the suffering servant, the Messiah, Jesus’ appearance after being beaten and mauled by the blood thirsty soldiers and crowd at his trial and crucifixion.

From this disfigurement he will sprinkle many, the many are his elect from every nation, he hallows us to God through the sprinkling of his blood.

The reference to the kings mouths being shut is possibly a veiled reference to the principalities and powers of darkness being triumphed over and their accusing mouths are stopped, they are shocked by the sacrifice and victory of God’s servant, Jesus.

Through his humiliation he put the powers of darkness to shame as we read in Colossians 2:15 “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Jesus rejected for us

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3 (ESV)

Jesus God’s servant and Messiah was rejected and despised by those he came to save, so much so that he was delivered up to suffering and death.

Men cannot look at God’s servant without having to look at themselves and so avoid looking at him, the people did this when Jesus walked the earth and people still do it today.

Instead of facing Jesus and so having to deal with our sin, we turn our faces away, hoping he will go away, but he stands, he is God’s loudest message to the entire world, not as a conquering king but a suffering servant, showing God’s mercy, grace and magnanimity to undeserving man.

Men are called to look square in the eyes of Jesus, facing his life, words and sacrifice and respond in truth. look into the eyes of the man of sorrows today, you will either run or bow in repentance and worship.

Jesus walked the earth grieved at sin and death, conscious of the weight of his mission, we should have the same perspective as his disciples.

Jesus carried our sorrows

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 (ESV)

This whole chapter is the high ground of the OT and has been described as the 5th Gospel or the Gospel according to Isaiah.

This is a powerful truth for us to remember, Jesus has carried the weight of our griefs and sorrows, this is why he said my yoke is easy and burden is light and that we would find rest for our souls in him.

Jesus stood as a substitutionary sacrifice for us, suffering in our place, carrying our sin, Jesus suffered for us as his elect people.

Read this a few times today and give thanks to God for the sacrifice Jesus made to bring God glory and save you. We no longer have to live in the sorrow and decay of sin, we can live in joy and freedom today.

Jesus crushed for us

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

Man alway tries to play down the seriousness of sin, of our mistakes and shortcomings, but consider all that Jesus went through at God’s command because of our sins and you will see that sin is no small thing, God takes it very seriously, so seriously that he gave his only Son.

Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, this points directly to the piercing of crucifixion. Jesus was crushed for our moral depravity. Stop and consider that for a moment, Jesus took our place on the cross we should have suffered and died for sin but he suffered in our place.

God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus, so that we could come to God in peace. Through Jesus wounds on the cross we are healed form the spiritual sickness of sin (we can stand on this for physical healing as we pray too).

Jesus accomplished so much for his elect people through his substitutionary suffering and death on the cross. Take time to think about this today, look at the words used here and pause to think and worship God.

Jesus like a sacrificial lamb for us

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 (ESV)

Jesus was the fulfilment of all the temple sacrifices, he is our passover lamb.

If Jesus was able to do this in his true innocence and holiness then how much more should I be able to be silent before accusers.

Jesus perfectly fulfilled this prophecy in submission and obedience to his Father.

Jesus buried for us

And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:9 (ESV)

Jesus was put to death between two robbers in Matthew 27:38 and buried in the tomb of the rich man, Joseph of Arimathea in Matthew 27:57–60, perfectly fulfilling this prophecy.

Jesus was buried for our sin but rose from the dead victoriously after three days.

Jesus died for God

Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isaiah 53:10 (ESV)

We think of ourselves as the reason Jesus went to the cross when in fact there was a greater, primary reason that Jesus went to the cross, his love for his Father over and above his love for us.

The cross was no disaster or tragedy, it was the fathers plan to redeem an elected people from all nations of the earth.

God had our salvation in mind, this is why it was God’s will to crush his servant Jesus for us making a full and final payment for our sin.

God has been satisfied

Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11 (ESV)

God is satisfied with the sacrifice Jesus has made, making God’s many elect people righteous before God.

You can not do anything to make God more satisfied so rejoice in the free and full salvation that has been purchased for you.

God stands over the enemy

Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; Isaiah 54:16 (ESV)

God reminds us of the totality of His sovereignty, in light of the last statement that there are those who will stir up strife and he did not send them, this is not a contradiction but clarification of the nature of Gods sovereignty, basically he does not force the hand of man, but he made man and has authority over man.

Our heritage and that of Israel in particular is one of great security, no weapon the enemy devises will prevail against us, with Gods help we will boldly refute those who stand against Gods purposes.

Luke 20:41–21:24

We are called to suffering

This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. Luke 21:13–15 (ESV)

Jesus warns us of the persecution we will need to endure as his disciples, like him the suffering servant we will have to endue suffering but he encourages us that he has given us the grace and Spirit of God to endure and be witness for him.

He calls us to persevere in him. Assuring us that we will never ultimately perish because we are secure in him.

Job 12:1–12

God is in control

Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? Job 12:9 (ESV)

Job understands this is not the devil, he has a far better understanding of the sovereignty of God than his friends he knows good and bad all come from God who is ultimately in control and he makes a point by saying, ask any living creature… they all know God is king.

Today’s Reading: Isa 50:1–51:23, Luke 20:1–40, Job 11:12–20

Today’s Theme: The Wisdom of Jesus

Today’s theme is about the remarkable wisdom of Jesus, the OT passage speaks about how Jesus would spend time with the father every morning to be able to teach with wisdom which is an example for us. We see that wisdom on display in our NT passage. Lets learn from Jesus how we too can walk in wisdom.

Isa 50:1–51:23

The servant as prophet, teacher and disciple

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. Isaiah 50:4 (ESV)

These passages are again about God’s faithful servant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Where the servant says that God has given him the tongue of the learned, he is not talking about the knowledge of this world but the experiential knowledge that comes from a life of submission and obedience to God. Experiential knowledge is what we should seek rather than disconnected head knowledge only.

The purpose for all that God’s servant knows mentally by study and the Spirit and experientially by intimacy and obedience to the Father is to sustain others with his teaching. Jesus is both prophet and teacher to us.

It seems clear that Jesus had a daily devotional life with the Father and we should follow his example as his disciples. Listen to God every morning as you read your bible and pray. This will enable you to be used by God to help others.

We will read in our NT reading about the remarkable wisdom Jesus has.

The suffering servant

I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. Isaiah 50:6 (ESV)

Those who claim the Messiah is only a triumphant king run into difficulty here. The fact is the Messiah was prophesied as suffering servant and a ruling king.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus gave his back to the Romans when they beat him and his beard to those who plucked it off on his way to his crucifixion.

Give thanks to Jesus today that he endured the humiliation, pain and suffering of all that was included in the brutality of the cross for our redemption.

Remember your spiritual heritage

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. Isaiah 51:1 (ESV)

God begins to comfort his people, there are other verses we won’t comment at length on like verse 6, 7, 11-13, 16 and 22 which speak of God’s eternal salvation for his people, the joy he will give them, the comfort he will provide, an encouragement to not fear men, that they have his inspired word in the scriptures and that he pleads their cause.

In this verse God reminds the children of Israel of their godly heritage to help encourage them.

You too should remember your godly heritage in God’s family (not necessarily your own family). We share the heritage of Israel so can look back to Abraham, Moses and the Prophets but we have heritage in the New Covenant too so can look to Peter, Paul and John as well as faithful Christians who have gone on before us like Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon.

Remember your spiritual heritage in Christ today and be encouraged by it

Luke 20:1–40

The wisdom of Jesus

And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Luke 20:8 (ESV)

Jesus uses great wisdom when dealing with the trap the leaders tried to force him into, he did not directly answer their question, instead he pointed out the stupidity of their question by diverting the same question to one who was under and endorsed Jesus namely John.

The folly and evil intent of the leaders was exposed and the question was answered by default, also Jesus will raise this question of his authority again in tomorrow’s reading.

Ask God to give you wisdom when answering questions like Jesus.

The Rejected yet Victorious Stone

But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Luke 20:17–18 (ESV)

Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants and alludes to his own death at their hands as the Son.

Jesus wisdom was so often shown in the questions he asked, he alway asked the right question. In this case he turns to the listening people and asks them in context to the story he has just told, what does the passage of scripture about the rejected stone mean.

The question is asked in a rhetorical sense to get the people to think and then answered to warn them of the consequence of following their wicked leaders vs following him.

Jesus uses a combination of old testament allusion to answer the question and makes clear that the rejected stone (himself) is in fact victorious and will judge all those who reject and come against him.

We should rejoice in the victory of Jesus the rejected stone and ask God to help us exercise the same type of wisdom as Jesus by asking the right questions.

Citizens of both Heaven and Earth

He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Luke 20:25 (ESV)

Jesus shows us his great wisdom again, this time in answering those who try to catch him in regard to paying taxes.

Jesus takes time to ask the right question again and this time lays down a lesson for all our lives with the type of wisdom the people had never heard before.

By stating that we should render to Caesar what is due to him and to God what is due to him Jesus is teaching that we are citizens of both heaven and earth.

Jesus was no revolter like Barabbas, he taught that those who benefit from the state must pay their due to the state and live under the laws of the state inasmuch as those laws do not oppose God’s law.

So we must be good citizens of heaven and earth, we should pay our taxes with honesty and contribute to the wider community by obeying and helping the authorities under God’s sovereignty.

An entirely new order of life

but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, Luke 20:35 (ESV)

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection or the afterlife which seemed absurd to them because of their flawed logic which assumed that the order of life on earth would continue after resurrection.

They ask Jesus a question to show the absurdity of the resurrection according to their understanding, Jesus corrects their faulty logic and in doing so shows the stupidity of their question and understanding of the afterlife.

It is becoming popular through some songs, books and testimonies on Christian TV for women to speak about encounters with Jesus which are very romantic, as though they would actually be married to Jesus in the same way that we have marriage on the earth but this is not biblical or logical.

What about the men who are saved? and this type of gross romanticism is sensual and would paint a picture of Jesus as a mystic polygamist.

Jesus made three very important points in correcting these faulty understandings:
1. After the resurrection relationships change
2. Everyone does not qualify for life at the resurrection
3. Marrying and getting married are not part of the future existence

The reason for this is that Marriage and the accompanying children and families are no longer necessary because people will no longer die and so will not need to procreate through marriage to maintain human existence.

The main point is that life will take on an entirely new order where the need for marriage will be no more. Our marriages are temporary and earthbound pointing to the unique union and covenant we will share with God in eternity.

Job 11:12–20

Speaking without wisdom

But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last.” Job 11:20 (ESV)

Zophar had good intentions but he did not speak with wisdom, he looked at Jobs plight and made assumptions, he has been calling Job to repent and now warning against Job not repenting and so being left to the way of the wicked.

The fact is Job has nothing to repent of, this along with the sweeping generalities of good vs bad that Zophar paints the world in is symbolic of the faulty understanding of the nature of the world that the book of Job exists to correct.

We do not believe in karma or strict cause and effect, God is sovereign over all and shows mercy and grace to those who are undeserving as well as allowing his elect to go through difficulty according to his own purpose and plans despite mans formulas for what will make for a trouble free life.

We must speak with wisdom from God not using our own eyes and flawed logic.

Today’s Reading: Isa 48:1–49:26, Luke 19:11–48, Job 11:1–12

Today’s Theme: The Hope of Israel

Today’s theme looks at the Hope of Israel found in the prophecies of God’s faithful servant the Messiah, Jesus Christ. It is through the Hope of Israel that we find our hope and deliverance in Jesus and we serve, driven by the hope of the Kingdoms full consummation by Jesus with the accompanying rewards for faithful and fruitful service.

Isaiah 48:1–49:26

Confess the God of Israel, in truth

Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the LORD and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right. Isaiah 48:1 (ESV)

God calls on the entire nation of Israel in this passage to realise that many were only calling on the name of the Lord in hypocrisy and pretence. Many were born into deeply religious families while in the exile of Babylon so it is conceivable that many have become nominal followers of Yahweh.

Our OT passages today are all quite clearly directed to Israel in particular (either historically or prophetically), but we can learn from God’s dealings with is covenant nation and apply the principles and lessons to our lives today.

In this first instance we need to be careful that we don’t fall into religious lukewarmness, especially if we have grown up in a Christian family, we must not become so familiar with God and the Church that our declaration of allegiance and truth is no longer in sincerity or righteousness.

Be sure to confess the God of Israel as your God today, do so in sincerity.

The God who makes the future

“The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. Isaiah 48:3 (ESV)

God does not just tell the future, he does not make predictions, he has already seen the end because he exist both in and outside of time and so has seen all the days of time from the start to the end already (remember time is a physical, created property of the material universe).

However, God does not prophesy as a passive observer he actively brings his will to pass, notice he says suddenly “I did them”.

In this case the new things stands for God’s astounding announcement concerning Cyrus. God goes on to say he declared the future in this way so the glory could go to no idol or man but to him alone and to deal with the stubborn lack of faith in the people.

We should stand in awe of the God who makes the future, we can pray to God in faith knowing that he will go to work on his own decrees and see all his will and purpose come to pass… This should fill us with unshakable faith as we consider God’s word and pray.

For the sake of God’s name

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. Isaiah 48:11 (ESV)

God has called Israel by his own name and so withholds his anger and delivers them even when they are lacking in faith for the sake of his name.

God’s ultimate purpose is to be glorified, he will not allow his name to be profaned by those who are called by his name and so for the sake of his own glory will deliver his people.

We have seen this throughout the history of the nation of Israel, the fact the nation stands today after so many thousands of years and the attempted annihilation of the people by world powers, Islamic nations or assimilation into other cultures is testament to God’s glory.

The same can be said of the true Church, God preserves us for the sake of his own glory and we stand in the earth today as a testament to God’s glory, for the sake of his name and fame in the earth.

This is a great tool to use when we pray, we can appeal to God on the basis of his glory and for the sake of his name.

Jesus, The First and Last

“Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. Isaiah 48:12–13 (ESV)

Here is Old Testament evidence pointing to the New Testament fact that Jesus is indeed God, specifically he is the Son of God the 2nd person of the Trinity.

Jesus declares that he is the first and the last in Revelation 1:17 and again at the end of the bible in Revelation 22:13 where he states “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

God, who teaches you to profit

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 in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 (ESV)

This goes hand in hand with the parable in our NT reading today, we can ask God to teach us to profit, and lead us by his Holy Spirit in the direction we should go.

Jesus, the ideal Israel

And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” Isaiah 49:3 (ESV)

This chapter looks at the prophecy of the coming Messiah. God called him from the womb which puts to death every case for abortion.

This entire passage speaks about God’s faithful servant, the Messiah who we know is Jesus. This verse speaks of God’s servant Israel, however this is still speaking of the Messiah.

The book of Isaiah has illustrated to us God’s purpose for Israel, which was to be his servant as a light to the nations to lead them to God, however Israel failed in this mission and are themselves in need of salvation because of their own blindness, deafness and rebellion.

God loves his covenant nation and will not wipe them out for falling short, instead he sets in motion the ultimate solution, another will fulfil the function of Israel as God’s faithful evangelical servant, namely the Messiah, Jesus.

Jesus fulfils the function and mission given to the nation Israel today so that Jews and Gentiles can come to know God. Jesus is for Israel and the world what Israel was not able to be, causing God’s salvation to reach to the ends of the earth.

Our compassionate Shepherd

they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. Isaiah 49:10 (ESV)

Jesus as the shepherd of Israel and all God’s people takes pity on us or show us compassion, we saw this throughout the life of Jesus.

Know that God is not indifferent to your circumstances and feelings, he has great compassion on his sheep, he is tender and can be touched by our pain.

One day this promise will come in fullness (Revelation 7:16-17)

God’s commitment to Israel

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16 (ESV)

God encourages Israel that he will never forget them as a people with the most vivid image, he declares that he has engraved them on the very palms of his hands.

Usually the servant has to bear the name of the master, God shows again his heart which is to condescend to the his people and take on the servant role, this was expressed most clearly when Jesus humbled himself through the incarnation to show God’s love for Israel and the wider world.

Jesus engraved the elect on his hands for all eternity when the nails were driven through his hands.

The Hope of Israel

For thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children. Isaiah 49:25 (ESV)

This verse had two very literal senses, the most immediate is that Cyrus will defeat Babylon and send Israel home. The prophetic sense is that Jesus the Messiah and servant will defeat sin and bring Israel and the world to God.

We can also stand on verses like this when praying for the nation of Israel or anytime we pray for God’s people around the world. We used this to pray for the school girls in Nigeria that have been kidnapped by Boko Haram.

Here are two updates from Open Doors to help fuel your prayers:

http://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/stories/nigeria_140812.php

http://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/stories/nigeria_140815.php

Luke 19:11–48

Serve in hope

And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ Luke 19:17 (ESV)

We are all called to be faithful stewards of the money, time and talents God has given us, we must serve in hope of God’s rewards to be given when the kingdom has fully come (Jesus has returned having received the kingdom).

Pastor Dennis preached powerfully on this today (Sunday 24th Aug 2014). Pastor pointed out the fact that this servant was called good because he did better than the other two and the 10 cities can be seen in a sense here and now in terms of the reach and influence God will give those who serve faithfully.

Serve God in hope of the rewards and responsibilities God will give you for showing faithfulness as God’s servants.

Job 11:1–12

God is merciful

and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. Job 11:6 (ESV)

The context from Zophar is wrong but the truth remains that God does show us all mercy by not exacting from us all that our guilt deserves.