Shake of Your Dust

 “Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah calls for Zion to rejoice.  Arise and shake off your dust! Sit enthroned, Jerusalem!  Break off your shackles of bondage from your neck, you captive daughter of Zion! This dust is our “dust nature” received from Adam.  The first man was from the dust of the earth which we need to crucify; the second Man is Yeshua in Whose image and likeness we have been born again.  Now we clothe ourselves in Christ.  Part of satan’s curse is that he was to eat dust.  Whatever we withhold from God becomes food for the serpent.  We shake off the “dust” of our old life and rise up in our new life, enthroned with Jesus Christ.  We are overcomers, Hallelujah!

The Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ

 “in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul gives clear revelation of the glorious Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The survival and self-improvement programmes of the religious systems of this world veil the minds of the unbelievers; exploiting their ignorance about their true origin and their redeemed innocence.  The veil of unbelief obstructs a person’s view and keeps them from seeing what the light of the Gospel so clearly reveals: the glory of God is the image and likeness of our Maker redeemed in human form; this is what the Gospel of Christ is all about.  The blueprint glory of God is what Adam lost on mankind’s behalf.  This unbelief caused the Israelites to believe a lie about themselves that they were grasshoppers and the enemy was a giant beyond any proportion!  The Gospel is that Christ redeemed mankind from the hand of the enemy through His death, burial and resurrection.  Let’s identify with that and be conscious of our restoration of the glory of God in us!  Hallelujah!

Christ the Word in our Mouth

 “And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭51:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah encourages the Jews of his day that they are hidden in the hollow of Yahweh’s Hand, because they were going to face terrible calamities in the days to come.  Yahweh says He has placed His words in their mouth and has hidden them in the hollow of His Hand, to establish the heavens and make the earth rock solid.  Yahweh says to Zion that they are His people.  Jesus Christ is the True Prophet Who has the words of God in His Mouth.  All those who believe in Jesus Christ alone are His people who are hidden in His nail-pierced Hands.  Let’s be those who increase our faith that pleases Yahweh, to seek Him by meditating on His Word day and night, and take out the hidden treasures that He has for us, safe and secure in His Hands.  Hallelujah!

Ministry of Christ’s Righteousness

 “For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains that if the ministry of condemnation had a glimpse of glory that Moses reflected, the glory that the ministry of righteousness now communicates is beyond comparison!  There are two administrations: the one confirms mankind’s guilt because of Adam; the other confirms mankind’s innocence because of Christ!  The one was upheld by the letter of the law; the other sustained by the life of the Spirit.  Mankind’s standing before God is restored; righteousness by the merit of the Cross far outweighs any attempt of the flesh to compete!  Nothing that anyone can do can improve their standing before God!  Only through Jesus.  Let this Gospel ring worldwide!  Amen!

The Tongue of the Learned

 “The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭50:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesied what we experience today through God the Holy Spirit.  The Lord Yahweh has equipped me with the anointed, skilful tongue of a teacher - to know how to speak a timely word to the weary.  Morning by morning, He awakens my heart.  He opens my ears to hear His Voice, to be trained to teach.  Seven times Jesus stated that He spoke only what the Father gave Him to say.  Because of the shedding of Jesus’s precious Blood, God the Holy Spirit came to teach us who believe in Christ by dwelling in us.  This wonderful anointing we have received from God is so much greater than the world’s deception and now lives in us. There’s no need for anyone to keep teaching us. His anointing teaches us all that we need to know, for it will lead us into truth, not a counterfeit. So just as the anointing has taught us, let’s remain in Him.  Amen!

The Fragrance of Christ

 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is overwhelmed with gratitude!  Wherever his travels take him, he is so aware that God leads him as trophies in His victory parade.  What God knows to be true about us diffuses through us like a perfume of sweet aroma everywhere we go, celebrating the success of the Cross.  We are a sweet savour of Christ to God evident in everyone we meet.  The fragrance of Christ is recognised in all to salvation.  The same Gospel that announces the fragrant victory of Christ declares the door of death; the defeat of destruction in everyone!  In ancient triumphs, abundance of perfumes and wreaths of sweet smelling flowers were used in victory celebrations.  This parade of Christ’s victory is a public announcement of the defeat of the religious systems and structures based on the law of works.  Just like in any public game, the victory celebration of the winning team is an embarrassment for the losing team.  The death of evil is announced in resurrection life!  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Hallelujah!

Light of Yahweh’s Salvation

 “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesies of the Lord’s special Servant - the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Lord Yahweh says, “Is it too small a thing for You, My Servant, to restore greatness to Jacob’s tribes and the survivors of Israel?  I will make You to be a Light to the nations and to bring the Light of My Salvation to the ends of the earth!”  Jesus, the True Servant of the Lord was called and named from the womb; equipped and prepared by God; appointed and commissioned as God’s Servant to bring Israel back to God.  Jesus is highly favoured in the sight of God, Who found all His strength in the Father and did only what pleased Him.  Jesus Christ is the Light and Salvation to the nations.  Thank You Jesus for Your obedience to the Father, Amen!

Our Consolation by His Sufferings

 “For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul, who was not even one of the twelve disciples, was revealed, that this bliss and closeness we now participate in was made possible through the enormous consequence of the sufferings of Christ.  The overwhelming extent of His sufferings brought about this equally overwhelming sense of inseparable oneness!  The theme of Scripture is the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory.  Every suffering that we face is just an opportunity to increase our understanding of the affliction of Christ on behalf of His Body which is the Church.  The inconvenience that Paul was suffering on behalf of the believers was not to add to the sufferings of Christ as if the sufferings of Christ on our behalf were insufficient.  But it is to further emphasise and confirm the principle of unselfish love that constrains the New Covenant ministry.  No form of suffering can interfere with my joy of the seamless union I have with Christ.  Amen!

Refined & Purified

 “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesies of the all-knowing God to Judah.  See, I have purified you in the furnace of adversity, but not like silver - I have refined you in the fire.  For My Own sake alone I will do it, so My Name will not be dishonoured.  I will not yield My glory to another.  If God had left them in the fire to melt down all their dross, they would still be there in the fire with nothing left of them.  God limits the intensity and the timing of our every trial and uses the furnace of adversity to make us more like Christ.  God promises to deliver, refine and rescue His people so that His Own Name and Identity as the God of gods will not be defamed.  Rescue is as sure as God’s identity. Thank You for rescuing us in Christ, Abba Father!

Remain Under the Grace of Jesus

 “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:22-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul ends his first letter to the church in Corinth affirming that grace came through the Lord Jesus Christ alone.  Anyone who prefers the law above grace remains under the curse mentality.  Jesus Christ has come - grace is the authority of His Lordship - we love Him!  He is the Messiah, the Christ, the world was waiting for.  His grace is with you and you are highly favoured.  In the new covenant we realise that the Promise outdates the performance mentality as the basis of mankind’s innocence.  Help us, Holy Spirit, to receive the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ today in all its abundance that we may reign in life.  Amen!

Redeemer, Rescuer, Deliverer

 “Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭47:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah prophesies the fall of Babylon when it hadn’t yet become a powerful empire!  He says that its humiliating nakedness will be uncovered, its shame exposed and seen by all.  God will take vengeance and let no one intercede for Babylon.  We have a Redeemer.  Yahweh is His Name, the Commander of Angel Armies, the Holy One of Israel!  Although Babylon fell historically, the Babylonian system in the church is also falling.  Old concepts are crumbling and being swept away as God exposes our impurity.  Yet the Redeemer stands ready to restore and revive those with hungry, passionate hearts for God.  Our Redeemer is our rescuer and deliverer Who has brought goodness and honour back to His family - those who believe in the finished work of the Cross.  Thank You Jesus our Kinsman Redeemer!

The Second Man

 “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:47‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains that human life was reduced to slavery and the soul-ruled earthly realm through Adam’s fall, but is now awakened to lordship in the heavenly realm of spiritual realities through the knowledge of our co-resurrection with Christ.  We theologically created the idea of mankind being “sinful by nature“, as if humans are flawed by design.  In fact it is a distorted mindset that we inherited from Adam that Jesus had to free us from.  Our indifferent mindset alienated us from God into a lifestyle of annoyances, hardships and labours, sponsored by the law of sin and death that lodged in our bodies hosting a foreign influence, foreign to our design; just like a virus attaches itself to a person.  There is nothing wrong with our design or salvation, we were thinking wrong.  We are defined by our heavenly image made in Jesus’s image!  Hallelujah!

Worship the Living God

 “and even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭46:4-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah says that even as you grow old and your hair turns gray, Yahweh will keep carrying you!  Yahweh is your Maker and your Caregiver.  Yahweh will carry you and be your Saviour.  To whom can you compare Yahweh, the incomparable God?    Have you found someone else like Yahweh?  The wealthy pour out gold from their purses, weigh out their silver in the scales, and hire a goldsmith who crafts it into a “god”.  Then they bow down before it to worship it.  Let’s keep ourselves from idols and turn to the true and living God because there is no agreement between idols and us since our body is the temple of the living God.  How great is our God Who has chosen to dwell in us through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Who conquered death.  All glory to God!

Have Understanding & Be Mature

 “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:20-21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul encourages the church in Corinth to mature as he says, “Brothers and sisters, the days of being children in our understanding of spiritual matters are over!  Be innocent as infants concerning evil but in understanding be perfectly articulate!  In the law it is written, In foreign tongues and strange sounds God will speak to this people, and still they will not understand, says the Lord”.  We cannot live on baby food for the rest of our lives.  The revelation of righteousness in Christ is the meat of God’s word.  God’s act of righteousness in Christ restored mankind to blameless innocence.  This is the nourishment of the mature, who know the difference between the shadow and the substance; between the futility of the law of works and willpower to righteousness; and righteousness revealed by the faith of God in the finished work of Christ.  Thank You Jesus, for Your righteousness in me!

God’s Purpose Accomplished

 “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭45:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Three hundred years before Cyrus ruled, Isaiah gave this prophecy.  This is what Yahweh says to his anointed one, Cyrus, whose right I have grasped as my servant to conquer nations and dethrone their kings.  For I will open doors before him and no fortified gate will remain closed.  In 539 BC, Cyrus the Persian king conquered Babylon in one night and the Chaldean king Belshazzar was killed.  The prophet Daniel may have showed Cyrus this prophecy that Yahweh was going to take Cyrus as a partner to accomplish His purpose.  Cyrus also depicts Christ as both were called shepherds to perform God’s pleasure.  God takes Cyrus & Christ by the right hand and subdues nations before them.  It is amazing that God called a non Jewish king to show His power.  All power will bow before Christ Who has defeated the enemy of mankind and subdued satan.  God’s power can do anything.  What is impossible with man is possible with God.  Glory to God!

Love is Leading like the Shepherd

 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A superb revelation from Paul, that speaking in tongues is not the point - love is.  It is neither celestial-angelic eloquence, nor the mastery of human language that persuades.  It doesn’t matter how poetic, prophetic or profound I may sound, my conversation is reduced to the hollow noise of clanging brass cymbals, if love’s echo is absent.    The meaning of agapé love is to lead like the Shepherd guides His sheep to rest beside still waters.  By the waters of reflection my soul remembers who I am.  God’s rest is established upon His image and likeness redeemed in us.  So, to encounter agapé love is to remember who I am.  Jesus the Saviour of mankind rescued God’s image and likeness in human form.  The grace of God shines as bright as day making the salvation of mankind undeniably visible.  Amen!

God’s Favourite Child

 “Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭44:1-2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah’s revelation of Yahweh, the Only True God.  “Now, listen to me, my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one.  I am Yahweh, your Creator, Who shaped you in My womb.  Hear what I have to say to you: Don’t fear.  I will help you, O Jacob my servant, Do not fear, my pleasing one, Israel…”. There is no verse in the Bible that speaks of God as our mother, but there are frequent metaphors that imply God gave us birth (and new birth), nurtured us in His love, and even formed us in His womb.  The love God has for us is similar to a mother’s love.  God will straighten out the crookedness of Jacob.  Jeshurun is the unique, intimate relationship Israel has with God.  Let’s believe that in our born again birth we are in Christ and in our intimate relationship with Him we are God’s favourite child!  Hallelujah!

Gifts to the Ekklesia

 “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul explains that wherever God places you in the body is to co-compliment the full function of the ekklesia.  The seemingly most prominent and visible gifts are the apostolic, then the prophetic, the teachers, the workers of miracles, those gifted with healing various diseases.  Then there are those who can fulfill any role required of them for the moment; they are the ones who can stand in full support to assist any of the other gifts!  The administrators are gifted to manage the various functions of the ekklesia with great skill.  Then there are those gifted in languages.  What God now has in us, is gift wrapped to the world!  Each expression of His gift is to fully equip and enable the saints for the work of the ministry so that they may mutually contribute in their specific function to give definition to the visible body of Christ.  Only the Holy Spirit can organise us to function effectively in the Church which is the Body of Christ! Amen!

We are Created to Bring Glory to God

 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:2, 7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah is prophesying of Israel’s restoration and foretelling of a great worldwide harvest among the nations as a fulfilment of the Feast of Ingathering (Harvest) known as Tabernacles.  God is saying to bring Him everyone who is called by His Name, the ones He created to experience His glory.  He Himself formed them to be who they are and made them for His glory.  We were created to bring God glory and to experience His glory.  Moreover whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.  Hallelujah!

The Blessing of the New Covenant

 “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:29‬ ‭KJV

Paul explains that anyone who partakes of this meal in an indifferent manner, either because of religious sentiment or merely being blasé about the meaning of the meal, eats and drinks judgment upon themselves!  The human body of Jesus represents the judgment of every single human life; to fail to acknowledge this, is to deliberately exclude yourself from the blessing of the New Covenant.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  No one can afford to underestimate what happened to us on the Cross!  To discern the Lord’s body is to grasp what God’s faith saw when Jesus died!  May we passionately love the Lord Jesus when we partake of this meal remembering His death out of love for each and every one of us!  Worthy is the Lamb!

God’s Chosen Servant

 “He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah introduces to us the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, as the chosen servant of the Lord, sustained by Yahweh, sent on a divine mission to bring light and freedom to the hearts of His covenant people.  His inner being will not become discouraged, nor will His light grow dim before He establishes justice on the earth.  Even the distant lands beyond the seas will hunger for His instruction.  Jesus was chosen and anointed by God Who committed to reach the unreached.  He was gentle and compassionate and not discouraged but having unfailing courage.  All that Jesus was on earth He has chosen us to be in our generation, anointed by the Holy Spirit to reach the unreached, being gentle, compassionate and having unfailing courage.  The Holy Spirit is our Helper.  Thank You Holy Spirit!

The Rock that was Christ

 “and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This revelation has Paul giving a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in the old covenant.  He says that the wandering children of Israel drank the same supernatural water from the Rock that accompanied them in all their travels; that Rock was the Messiah!  Their experience was saturated in the spiritual dimension and the miraculous, yet they died through unbelief!  The supernatural is not proof of faith!  Their unbelief was rooted in their believing a lie about themselves.  Yet Christ was there even in their unbelief, the Rock accompanied them!  Let’s not be in unbelief because it’s evil.  Let’s be in faith knowing that the Rock dwells in us!  Amen!

Trees of Righteousness

 “I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:19‬ ‭KJV

Isaiah prophesies God’s promised help to Israel.  God will plant in the treeless desert cedars and achaia, myrtle and olive trees.  God will set in the wilderness evergreens, together with many elm and cypress.  Achaia wood was used extensively in the tabernacle and was used to form the ark of the covenant.  The Hebrew for myrtle is Hadassah, Esther’s Jewish name.  The trees of oil symbolises the Holy Spirit and the rest of the evergreen trees.  These seven trees speak of fullness of new creation life and can be compared to the seven branches of the lampstand and the seven Spirits of God.  This only the Lord can do out of His passion for mankind that through the sacrifice of Christ we who were in the wilderness have as a new creation become evergreen by the Holy Spirit.  We are now the trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. Thanks be to God Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Hallelujah!

Passion for the Gospel

 “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is telling the Corinthian church that his persuasion is that every person is included in Christ and his desire is to be everything he needs to be in order to win everyone’s understanding of their union with Christ.  Paul did not present himself as super strong to the weak, but rather exposed himself to their weakness in order to win them.  Paul did not distance himself from anyone.  His mission was to be exactly what was required of him in every possible situation, to awaken every kind of person, whoever they were, to their own salvation - he had no other agenda!  This was his passion for the Lord Jesus Christ.  We live in a time where we must awaken to our passion for the Lord Jesus, let our love for Him awaken every kind of person to the salvation that Christ wrought for us, and to make it available as the power of the Gospel in peoples’ lives.  Hallelujah!

God’s Heart of Love, Hand of Power & Mind of Wisdom

 “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:13-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah directs us to the eternal and infinite Yahweh saying, Who fully understands the Spirit of Yahweh or is wise enough to counsel Him?  Whom does He consult to be enlightened?  Who teaches Him the ways of justice?  Who imparts knowledge to Him or shows Him the true path of wisdom?  Who teaches Him the right way to do things?  Who gives Him insight to make right decisions?  There is none capable enough to show God how to skilfully design His plan or wisdom to carry it out.  He is too wise to make a mistake.  God showed His Heart of love, His Hand of power and His mind of wisdom when He sent Jesus for mankind and when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit for all who are in Christ, to make us like Jesus.  Let’s decree the promises of God in Christ for us which are Yes and Amen; instead of our problems!  Amen!

The All-Encompassing Sacrifice of Christ

 “and through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭8:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul decries pride and tells the Corinthian church that their “superior knowledge” is actually causing the ruin of someone for whom Christ died.  When you become superior, you are influencing someone to exchange their new found belief in the sacrifice of Christ to become involved again in pagan worship and the sacrifice of animals as well as superstition.  Speaking the truth in the humility of love is far more persuasive than the arrogance of intellectualism!  No one can reason out the awesome sacrifice of the Lamb of God and the forgiveness of sins.  This is the glorious Gospel - that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day to bring humanity back to God.  Let’s give the glorious Gospel with the love of God in our hearts!  Amen!

Humility brings True Victory

 “And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭39:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The Babylonian king Merodach-Baladan (whose name means “god of blood and slaughter, mars, war, murder which is Baal”) sent envoys carrying letters and expensive gifts for Hezekiah after he recovered from deathly illness.  Delighted by the Babylonian king’s gesture, and to impress them, Hezekiah welcomed them, opened the doors of the king’s storehouses of treasures and showed them to the envoys.  He let them see all of his gold, silver, spices and costly fragrant oils, his entire armoury.  All of the king’s royal treasures, all that was in the king’s palace, and all the wealth of his whole kingdom was shown to them.  Jewish literature says that Hezekiah showed them the Ark of the Covenant informing them that this was the reason for their victory.  The great reformer king Hezekiah became arrogant and self-centred thinking only about himself.  Let’s remember the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ Who humbled Himself and thought only about each of us, and not fall into the enemy’s trap of pride and self-centredness, when God hears and answers us with miracles.  Amen!

Being in Christ Defines Us

 “Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭7:18-19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Here Paul is dealing with circumcision with the Jews.  He says that circumcision or the lack of it does not define them!  In Christ, the Jewish or Gentile heritage is irrelevant and can never again be a label.  No one could keep the commandments anyway, whether they’re circumcised or not!  So if circumcision did not contribute anything while they were seeking to be justified under the law, how can it possibly now advantage them in their understanding of righteousness by faith?  It’s not what we eat or wear, that declares our righteousness, it is only Jesus’s grace shown personally to each of us through the Cross, that declares our righteousness - entirely by faith, and no mixture added to it.  Let’s be those who have a personal relationship with Jesus that declares our righteousness by faith!  Amen!

The Sign of the Finished Work of the Cross

 “Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭38:22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah records that Hezekiah said, “What will be the sign from God that I will be healed and go up again to worship in Yahweh’s house?”  Hezekiah was not afraid of asking for a sign, not wanting to make the same mistake of his father Ahaz.  Ahaz was one of the worst of Judah’s kings, yet he had the living God standing ready to help him if he would turn back to the Lord.  God was willing to prove Himself to Ahaz and to us.  Unfortunately Ahaz instead of believing in the sign that God was giving, sought help from Assyria instead.  So when Hezekiah asked God for a sign of his recovery from his sickness and God said the that the sun’s shadow retreated ten steps on the sundial, and so it happened.  Today in the new covenant our sign is the finished work of Christ on the Cross, God will prove Himself to us when we come to Him through the Blood of the everlasting covenant.  Amen!

Ransomed

 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

What a revelation from Paul, we are bought and paid for.  All of me is His.  Let’s live our lives conscious of how irreplaceably priceless we are.  We host God in our skin!  It is clear to see that we were ransomed from the futile, fallen mindset that we inherited from our fathers, not by the currency of our own labour but we were redeemed with the priceless Blood of Christ - He is the ultimate Sacrifice, spotless and without blemish.  God does not require sacrifices and offerings - Jesus is the Lamb of God! Glory to God!

Every Tongue Confessing that Jesus Christ is LORD

 “Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria: this is the word which the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin, the daughter of Zion, hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee. Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭37:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Isaiah records the answer to Hezekiah’s desperate prayer to Yahweh against Sennacherib and his vast army.  Then Isaiah, son of Amoz, sent this message to Hezekiah: “Hear the words of Yahweh, the God of Israel: ‘Because you prayed to me about the taunts of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, this is what I, Yahweh, decree concerning him: “The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and ridicules you.  My daughter, Jerusalem, tosses her head back and makes fun of you!? Who do you think you’re mocking and blaspheming?  Against whom do you raise your voice?  And who have you looked down upon in your arrogance?  None other than me, the Holy One of Israel!  In the new covenant, Jesus humbled Himself even unto death so that God has highly exalted Him that at the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!