One Year Bible - September 28

ISAIAH 54:1 - 57:14                                                                                                           
Chapter 53: Our Savior, the One Who would free us from bondage and captivity would be a willing sacrifice, a loving servant.   Although God caused Him to suffer and was pleased with the sacrifice for sin which He became, His Son would be highly exalted as the result.  Because God's Servant took upon Himself our iniquities, our transgressions and our sin, we are a blessed people.

Chapter 54: The Blessings of Zion: (The Church-within-the-Church; the ones who press close) NOTE: These blessings are first of all CORPORATE - for the "one new man" - the Church.   BUT, each part of the whole Body, individually, also come into these blessings, of course, because the church is made up of individual members. For my purposes, I am ONLY addressing the individual application.

(V.1-3) STRETCH: The Word demands change if we are going to be conformed to the image of Jesus.  We can stretch our wineskin only just so far, and then it is time to toss it and give God a new one to fill with revelation of Himself.  What makes change so painful is that our flesh does not like to be denied.  We have to move on to something unfamiliar and different from how we've done things.  We are creatures of habit, and new habits are difficult at first. BUT, growth is inevitable if we are alive in God.  Although we may appear to be small and unfruitful, we shall be abundantly fruitful as we expect God to act.  Remember, doubt is a subconscious defense mechanism to hold at bay the demands of the Word of God.

(V.4-7) FEAR NOT:  When Jesus (the "servant redeemer") marries the Church, it will be forever and He promises never to leave us individually either. (Heb 13:5 and 2 Tim 2:13, even when we are UNfaithful; He remains faithful.)  Our relationship with Him is one of love and maturity.  We are His WIFE!  We don't have to be afraid of being abandoned or rejected by God.

(V.8-12) KEPT: God will keep us in the time of trouble.  We may have to go thru, but will come out the other end as "more than conquerors".  (with more than we "went in" with).

(V.13-14) PROVISION: Even in the time of trouble, we have righteousness, peace, and understanding.  God's promises reassure our hearts as we are buffeted from the outside.

(V.15-17) VICTORY:  All our circumstances are overseen by God as He works all things to His own purpose.   We are not at the mercy of our enemies.  We must "strengthen our stakes"  because we shall BE BLESSED, and we shall BE A BLESSING.  This fact, sworn to by God, anchors our soul.

Chapter 55: THE INVITATION:  "come, drink, eat..."  Who may come?  The thirsty and the penniless (poor in spirit).  Again, Isaiah lets us know the unsatisfactory and unfulfilling state of idolatry - anything that is a substitute or counterfeit for God.  Quit pursuing things that can never satisfy.  Possession of God depends on our sense of need, our sense of emptiness. "Listen" and "eat".  When we come and partake, we become part of an "everlasting covenant".

Chapter 55: CALL TO REPENTANCE: "seek the Lord; call upon Him":   We must repent of our substitutes and counterfeits for God.  They do not satisfy the hunger and thirst of our souls.  They don't even satisfy people in the world who don't know God.  When we repent, God will "abundantly pardon", even tho' we know we don't deserve it.  This forgiveness is so radical, that it forces the contrast between our ways and God's ways.  God's ways are to BEND LOW, like bringing water to earth, etc.   The heavens are high and inaccessible, but drop down rain to the barren earth.   So God's Word comes down from heaven and causes our barrenness to become fruitful, supplies water to our thirst, nourishment for our vast hungers.  All our perceptions change when we get our fulfillment from God.   Even nature rejoices with us as we come out from under "vanity".

      GOD'S THOUGHTS: God is motivated by wanting to draw us close to Himself.  He is       always thinking of us, wanting us to draw close.  This is why He stepped into the breach Himself.

   GOD'S WAYS:  To bend low, to bring forgiveness without resentment or in any way lessening His own holiness. His ways are the ways of VICTORY.

Chapter 56: GATHERING OF OUTCASTS:  "Whosoever will..."  Together with the people of God, the outcasts take hold of God's Righteousness and the Sabbath rest, and get gathered into relationship.

SABBATH REST: Being at peace with God's sufficiency, God's ability and God's strength.  We REST in what Jesus has FINISHED.   Matt 11:28-30 describes the Sabbath Rest as a state or condition of the heart whereby I trust Jesus regardless of what is going on around me.  Hebrews 4:11 says, "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."  Heb 3 and 4 says we "labor" to get into that rest.   It is "the rest of faith" that comes when our hearts submit to God's goodness and greatness and trust Him.   Jesus redeemed us, we don't have to sweat and try to qualify ourselves for God. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit and His Life and the Word, we don't have to try and fail at keeping the law to "come up with" being like Jesus (His image).   The opposite of God's Rest is "an evil heart of unbelief".  Our rest is obtained by coming to the Lord and trusting Him.  We do that OUT LOUD by instructing our hearts (which hate God and can't obey Him :Rom 8:7), that it is safe to trust Him.   We meditate (OUT LOUD) on the goodness and greatness of God.  Our "labor" is what we do to get "in the rest of faith".  Our efforts are to connect with Jesus in an "abiding" state, whereby we live from His energy, His strength, His Life - and not our own.   I MUST CONNECT WITH GOD - ABIDE IN HIM TO DO THIS.   My part in the struggle is to orient myself toward God by praising and thanking Him for His goodness and greatness.

Chapter 57: IDOLATRY & OPPOSITION TO GOD:  Not only are the leaders blind and drunk and greedy, but people have fallen under their influence.   All of God's promises are of no avail apart from forsaking evil and practicing righteousness.  Their condition is the result of deluded and deceived thinking.  They had wasted the anointing on selfishness instead of character issues.  God looks on our idolatry (substitutes and counterfeits) as ADULTERY, unfaithfulness to God.

RESPONSE:  Our thoughts are self-dependent and self-centered.  Our ways are those of self-confidence.   And they are EVIL.  And so the wicked must forsake his ways and the unrighteous his thoughts.   God thoughts and ways are higher - so much more elevated as to wipe out sin, neutralize it and reconstitute us in purity and holiness.   When no one was found to "stand in the gap" - God bent low and stood in it Himself!  To draw us close.

EPHESIANS 6:1-24                                                                                                            
"HONOR":  The 5th commandment promised long life to those who "honored" their parents. The original Greek word meant "to place value on someone as being precious". Honor gives the advantage to another, in place of yourself.  True honor to parents sees their status in terms of the Word of God.   Honor does not have to be earned, by the way, and this is how it can be commanded. It doesn't even necessarily mean "to admire".  As long as we "honor" them. 

WORKING FOR THE LORD:  When we carry out the will of God "from the heart", God receives what we've done as if we had done it directly for Him!   I've said it before: "nothing feels as good as pleasing the Lord."  We can experience God's pleasure by serving one another in His Name.

"FINALLY":  This is placed at the end because the important thing is not who our opposition is. The important thing is Who our ally is and that He is Jesus.  Conclusions are now drawn on what has previously been said: How do we behave in conflict?   Our lives should be distinctive, and so sometimes we draw fire.  "BE STRONG" does not mean "get a grip" or "pull yourself together." The word is actually "enduo" which means "to be endowed" or to be "empowered".   It is an ever-increasing strength.  We are to get our strength from God - in the inner man.  "THE POWER OF GOD'S MIGHT" refers to everything that has been already stated - "spiritual blessings in heavenly places", "the riches of His glory".  The word for "power" is "kratos" and means "the outward manifestation of God's power".   It enables us to bear up under whatever circumstance comes our way.

THE GREATEST WEAPON WE HAVE IS THE CHANGED LIFE:  It is not what we say to the devil, it is how we live.  Our obedienceto God, our surrender, our submission to one another defeats the prince of darkness.   Everything in Ephesians so far has been leading up to this argument.   We live in an environment that is hostile to the "worthy walk" of Eph 4:1.   1John 5:19 says the "whole world around us is under the power of the evil one."  

WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD:  We are in a war zone and must wear our "outfit".  We don't put this on piecemeal; this is a whole garment - a garment of Christian character.  It is not "slapped onto" the outside like paint.   It is who we ARE.   This is so we can stand our ground.   It is not for some daring offensive - it is so we can dig in.

ENEMY WILES:  This is deliberate, systematic planning.  The enemy counterfeits, deceives, lies, distorts, masquerades, speculates, snares, traps, tempts, unsettles, confuses, blinds, perverts, etc.  ALL THIS TAKES PLACE IN THE MIND.   Against this, we "STAND". "Hold your ground." "Hold your position." "Dig in."  Being spiritual is not perfection, it is consistency.  We don't hunt the enemy down; he'll find us.  But we remain immovable in the face of persistent attack.  1 Peter 5:8-9 says that our enemy, the devil, hunts for someone to seize upon and devour.  "Withstand him" firm in the faith. James 4:7 says "resist him" - means "to stand against" - not an offensive stance, but a face-to-face digging in.  When we make a decision to obey God (submit) no matter what, stand firm and the devil will flee from you.  Our victory lies not in defeating the enemy. Jesus already did that. But in standing firm in faith, bearing witness to Jesus.

WRESTLE:   This is close, personal, and intense. But it is not a physical battle.  This is not a power struggle.  It is a truth struggle.  It takes place in the mind.  An un-renewed mind, untaught and unchanged mind, is vulnerable to the lies of the devil.  2Cor 10:3-6 lets us know that this is war. 1Cor 9:26-27 calls it boxing.  Eph 6:12 is wrestling.  1 Tim 1:18 is waging war. The New Covenant says that Jesus disarmed, judged, bound, defeated and cast down the evil one. Jesus is already above every principality and power in earth, under the earth, and in heaven.  The crucifixion and resurrection forever put Satan into an irreversible retreat. It is not tht Satan is powerless, but that his assault on Jesus was a failure.  The world is not given over to the devil; it is being taken away from him.

John 16:11 - The devil is already judged.
Luke 11:21-22 - The devil has been disarmed, bound and spoiled.
1 John 3:8 Jesus destroyed his works.
Colossians 2:15 - Dethroned and triumphed over the devil.
Heb 2:14 Destroyed the devil's power over death.
Eph 1:22 Put all under His feet.
Rev 12:9; Luke 10:18 - Cast the devil out of heaven.
Matt 28:18 - All his jurisdiction and authority ripped from the devil.

MY "JESUS SUIT":  My armor is all inward, not outward.  It is in submitting to God and obeying Him.  "having done all" does not mean that "God helps those who help themselves." It means have done "everything the crisis demands" - standing.   Submitting to God, resisting the lies, the intimidation.   God tells me to STAND IMMOVABLE.

"Loins gird about with the belt of truth" - Hypocrisy leads to defeat.   (1John 1:6-10) If we claim to be without sin, we are then without a belt and we fight with our pants down around our ankles.  "Breastplate of righteousness"  goes with that belt because the truth is that our hearts are wicked and we are deceived about just what we are really capable of.  Our wickedness is counteracted with "the righteousness of God in Christ".  It is our protection; it is HIS LIFE being lived in us. "Feet shod" with sandals having cleats for digging in.  It keeps us from tipping over because we know what the Gospel is about - it is about Christ in me, the hope of Glory.  "Shield of faith" is overhead to cover me all up.  The shield of faith is our obedience to what God asks of us.  This will always extinguish whatever the enemy throws at us. "The helmet of salvation" protects our minds and thoughts. "The sword of the Spirit" is the specific, spoken Word of God for our situation.  We stand and pray.   Not petition - but trust and obey.

THE DEVIL: 1 John 5:21 says to "keep yourself from idols" - not demons.   Because 1 John 5:18 says the Greater One lives in us.   Col 1:13 says Jesus has "delivered us from the power of darkness..."  Our salvation is complete.  Satan is an external influence.   Jesus reprimanded an UNHEALTHY INTEREST in Satan (Rev 2:24).  Our mission is not survival, but influence.

RESPONSE:   Escapism is pagan. We don't run from trouble.  We STAND firm and get our hair messed up.  In fact, the time of trouble is when people are most vulnerable to the Gospel. We should always be "prayed up" and ready to step in.

PSALM 70:1-5                                                                                                                     
"HURRY, GOD!"  I have been told that God is always "on time" with His answers to prayer. This Psalm asks God to hurry up!   This time it is urgent.  It's the time to MAGNIFY the Lord. Again. 

PROVERBS 24:8                                                                                                                 
The "ringleader" is the one who "plots evil" .

RESPONSE: Our faith is tested through delay.   Somebody say, "amen".