One Year Bible - October 2, 2010

ISAIAH 66:1-24                                                                                                                
Isaiah declared that God has done a "NEW THING: GOD HAS FORMED A PEOPLE FOR HIMSELF THAT ARE THE EXPRESSION OF HIS GLORY. Isaiah called them a REMNANT.

ISA 60: NEW LIGHT/UNDERSTANDING: We were made for trouble! We don't run from trouble, we get our hair messed up!

ISA 61: NEW PRIESTHOOD: We are here to BE a blessing, not just to receive one. We are called as reconcilers, healers, redeemers, rescuers, shelters, freedom-fighters.

ISA 62: NEW NAME: "Holy people".  We partake in His Life because we are His Wife!

ISA 63: NEW MERCY: Jesus has shared His victory over sin, sickness, fear, death, poverty, Satan, and hell.  The "Angel of His Presence" leads us to the Rest of faith.

ISA 64: NEW LIFE OF PRAYER:  We can live in God's Presence all the time.   We repent of all uncleanness, unconcern and unyieldedness because we NEED Him.

ISA 65: NEW HEAVENS & NEW EARTH:  Heaven and earth are met in the Kingdom of God.  Acts 14:22 says, "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."   This tribulation is a sifting process - no flesh can inherit the Kingdom of God. (1Co 15:50).   God's Kingdom is characterized by joy, long life, freedom, order and rest.

ISA 66: NEW CITY OF GOD  (Heavenly Jerusalem, Zion):  God's dwelling-place, His  "resting place" in His people - - - is a "humble and contrite spirit, that trembles at My Word." A "humble and contrite spirit" is one that has been "smitten of God" , like Jesus (Isa 53:4) and Jacob (Gen 32:25), and Abraham (Gen 15:12), David (Psa 51:17), Apostle Paul.   This is one who does not resist God, has the fear of the Lord, is obedient, addresses character issues without ducking.  God makes His home in the submissive believer who loves Him and submits to His Word.

Heb 12:22-24 says, when we approach God in prayer: "But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

A NATION BORN IN ONE DAY:  "Sons".... This is multiple births - born-agains.  God's dwelling-place!

JUDGMENT ON ENEMIES:  God avenges the death of the prophets.   Jesus laid this accusation right at the feet of Israel (Mat 23:29-36).  It was the Sanhedrin that beat Peter and John, Acts 4-5; and stoned Stephen, Acts 6-7.  The Jews instigated a "great persecution" against the church in Jerusalem, Acts 8.   Even Herod, when persecuting the church did so to please the Jews, Acts 12:1-3.  The Jews in Antioch stirred up the city against Paul, Acts 13:50. The Romans finally rescued Paul from the Jews, Acts 21:27-40.  See also Rev 2:9.  The righteous are blessed and the wicked are judged. God works out His purpose; we will not fall subject to the enemy's purpose. 

RESPONSE: Of the wicked, God said, "they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations."   Any time we have a preference for what WE want, over what God has said, we are headed for destruction.   This verse reminds me of a 2-year-old who wants what he wants, and no one must interfere.   In this "politically correct" climate, many times we aren't even allowed to say anything about what someone else is doing!   We are expected to "be okay with it", just because they are!   We may be going against the flow now, but in the invisible kingdom, or what I sometimes refer to as "the alternate universe",  the Kingdom of God, things are not like that!   In fact, that is our Ultimate Reality, so to keep from becoming disoriented to Reality, we must be in the Word of God all the time!   Listen to the Spirit when He warns us.  Don't be lulled to sleep, or tempted to "fudge" the lines.  BE DISTINCT!

PHILIPPIANS 3:4-21                                                                                                         
MANURE!: When I die to myself and replace earthly desires with a yearning to know God, then I forget what's behind (good or bad) and reach forward.   If I don't have TIME to pursue God, then there are things in my life that still need to be counted as dung.   Paul suffered "the loss of all things".  He listed all those things in 3:4-8  that are irrelevant in his pursuit of God.

JOY:  "FINALLY" - this is still part of the instructions for JOY!   "Dogs" pervert the Gospel and keep us from joy.  Good works, joyless religion, achievements, circumstances, feelings, are sacrificed for the sake of rejoicing in the Lord.  They are immaterial, because REJOICING is a CHOICE. Joy is "being found in Christ...."

KNOWING CHRIST:  Our goal in life should be to "know Christ" in CONTEXT, in a practical way.  "the power of His resurrection" refers to that sense of VICTORY, FREEDOM AND JOY that comes because we no longer fear death.   That power impacts us right now!   "the fellowship of His sufferings" refers to LEARNING OBEDIENCE.   Heb 5:8 "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered..."  This means we deny our flesh in order to pursue God.  It also means we have to put the past in the past and "press on".   We are straining for the goal and it is in front of us.   It is hard work to deny the flesh and re-orient our lives around God.   But we are motivated by a desire to please God - keeping our eye on the goal.

THE GOAL:  Our goal determines our decisions in life.  I want to please God and not have to live with regret or shame.  The Bible calls our goal, "the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." It is also called "perfection" - which means to finish our course.  The "high calling" is also translated "the upward call".  Heb 3:1 calls it "the heavenly calling."   It must be "apprehended" which means "to seize upon or embrace".   GOD HIMSELF IS OUR GOAL, OUR INHERITANCE, OUR "PRIZE".   He is why we "suffer the loss of all things" (rights, reputation, and dignity).   Knowing God must be "seized".   It must be our priority.   Lack of encouragement must not stop us.  Discouragement over our sin must not stop us.  Lack of information and knowledge should not stop us.   Avoid the naysayers and those who would discourage you; they are actually "enemies" of God.   We know God by knowing His Word, knowing His Spirit, knowing His ways, spending time in His Presence.   BUT THERE IS ONE MORE: we follow the good example of someone who is a godly pattern.  If we get discouraged, seek out someone who is already doing it.  And finally, "stand firm" (4:1)

PSALM 74:1-23                                                                                                               
Why does God allow evil people to harm His own people without lifting a hand to help us?   When we are unable to see a meaning to our suffering and God appears to have forsaken us, our concept of God must move to a higher realm from our personal God, to the One Who made heaven and earth.   People associate Christians with God Himself, so that any attack on us, is an attack on God's character, God's credibility and God's honor.

PROVERBS 24:15-16                                                                                                     
The bloodthirsty hate the righteous. This is the seed of the Serpent persecuting the "Seed of the woman".   When the righteous falls, he rises through repentance.   The wicked man falls into destruction.

RESPONSE:   It is immaturity that always looks for cause-and-effect. God has PURPOSE in mind.