Our Mighty Creator 08.03.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Sunday August 3, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of Isaiah. Please read Chapters 5-9 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%205-9&version=9

Today we will read and learn about God's judgment upon sinners; Isaiah's vision of God's holiness; his message for King Ahaz; and the foretelling of Christ's birth and His Kingdom. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that God calls us to be holy in our hearts and our lives in order that we may be effective witnesses.

Isaiah the prophet lived in Jerusalem, the capital of Judah. His ministry continued for 50 to 60 years through the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and possibly Manasseh. "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 6:1-5). Isaiah saw himself as utterly unfit to stand in the presence of the Almighty Holy One. For guilty men there is cleansing; and lips, once unclean, can be made holy. The greatest obstacle is self-satisfaction and self-sufficiency.

When we see God as the Holy and Mighty Creator, like Isaiah, we can't help but see ourselves as unclean. This self-evaluation is made in response to the fact that we have seen the Most Holy God. He submitted himself as an instrument in God's hand in self-surrender. He was ready to go where God might lead him.

Isaiah was called to prophesy to an unbelieving and sinful generation that had forsaken God, "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land." (6:9-12). It was an age of international political tension and prosperity when only a minority in the kingdom of Judah remained faithful to God. The Northern Kingdom of Israel, under Jeroboam II, also was enjoying prosperity; but it was even more corrupt than Judah.

In the midst of evil and unbelief, God foretold the coming Messiah to Isaiah to proclaim it to an evil king, "And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good." (7:13-15). The name Immanuel means "God with us." Not only does the prophet foretell the virgin birth of Jesus, but he also reveals His deity. He received also another glorious revelation of Christ, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (9:6).

We recognize the fulfillment of that prophecy in Jesus, who was born and later crucified, providing eternal life to all believers by dying on the cross for our sins and by His triumph over death. Not only was His first advent declared, but also His second. We can rejoice as we look forward to the time when He will reign in righteousness on earth as the most Wonderful Counselor.

The call of God demands that we be faithful, not always successful. Men measure by success, but God by faithfulness.

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed as Immnauel (Isaiah 7:13). Other prophecies concerning Jesus are found in Isaiah 8:14, 9:2,6-7.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
We are so very grateful that our family roots are not the sole source of who we are nor does it dictate what we can accomplish. Our spiritual roots, because of our well-grounded faith in You, goes much deeper and spreads much broader. We are able to accomplish the impossible and overcome life’s difficulties because our roots are connected to the True Miracle Worker and that is You. May the water of Your Holy Spirit quench our thirst and the spiritual food from Your inspired Holy Word satisfy our hunger causing us to grow in spiritual maturity. We remain safe and securely rooted in You, Lord, though the winds and storms may shake us from time to time. It is in You that we live and move and have our being! In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderful Lord's day!
God Bless,
Christina

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