Tag: Isaiah 53

An Attack is Coming

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Early this morning while studying scripture I was given a message. The Scriptures tell us that the Spirit of Truth will lead us to all Truth and tells us of things to come. He doesn’t speak on His own but only the words He hears. After writing down the message, this is what I heard.

God is angry for breaking His laws and He is bringing death and persecution to the Church. Attacks are coming soon. People question God, deny Jesus Christ and listen to man. And God hates sin. False prophets are leading Jesus’s people astray.

From what I was told, people are not living as they should and evidently this includes God’s Church. While this seems a very grim message, we do have HOPE in the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is the rest of the message;

For God so loved the world that
He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

God loved His creation so much that He sent His ONLY Son into the world to save the World through Him. So God’s Son, Jesus the Christ, was sent in the flesh, was born of a virgin and when He became of age He began His ministry and preached the Word of God stating, Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried in a tomb, raised on the third day and appeared to His 12 Apostles. The Scriptures read;

And He told them, “This is what is written:
The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead
on the third day, and in His name repentance
and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to
all nations, beginning in Jerusalem. You are
witnesses of these things.
Luke 24:46

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus, the Christ, bore our sins in His body. Though He was completely without sin the only way we could be reconciled to God was through His sacrifice. It’s His blood that was shed for the Covenant which was poured out for the forgiveness of sin, the scripture reads;

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:26,28

But while many do not believe this the Old Testament actually backups everything that Christ endured. The Prophet Isaiah spoke of this very prophecy when He stated;

Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:4-12

This is why we have hope! Since Jesus was raised up those who believe in Him and follow Him, they will be raised also. Our great Hope and this is what the Lord Jesus Christ did for you and me!

Renewing the Mind

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Lately it seems I’ve been warring with the mind. Meaning, out of the blue a thought will appear out of nowhere that I know is not of my own. Which means, these thoughts are the result of the enemy waging war against me. How do I handle these thoughts? What can I do to fight against them? Luckily the Bible gives us information, but, it’s crucial to understand that;

For the word of God is living and active,
and sharper than any two-edged sword,
even penetrating as far as the division of
the soul and spirit, of both joints and
marrow, and able to judge the thoughts
and intentions of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

While I believe in the word and read it daily (mostly), it wasn’t until recently that I actually realized the implication of this scripture. Because during my difficulty, I prayed and turned to the scriptures to help fight against these thoughts and several scriptures stood out to me.

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

How can one renew the mind?

For me it’s reading the word daily, praying, memorizing scripture and applying those scriptures to my life. But I really didn’t realize just how important the Hebrews 4:12 scripture really was, till recently. Because, the very words have suddenly came alive in me. They’re no longer just words on the page that I need to apply to my life. No, the scriptures have absolutely taken hold of me in a way I’ve never experienced! Some of those scriptures which have helped during my warfare are;

Galatians 5:24 – those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires.

Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Knowing I’ve been crucified with Christ and He lives inside of me, I now have the weapon of the cross to fight against these unwanted thoughts or even temptations that often lure people away. Since Christ lives in me, He is in my mind, my heart and the rest of my body. So when a thought appears I picture that thought being held up against the cross and I see it demolished while reciting;

But He was pierced for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities; the
punishment that brought us peace was upon
Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

For me this has worked wonders, so, if you’re being plagued with unwanted thoughts, unwanted temptations, letting your imagination run wild or trauma from your past. Try this technique because nothing can stand against Christ being crucified on the cross!

Why I Read the Old Testament

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Sometimes many forget just how important the Old Testament is to a believer. It provides insight into God’s ways, gives us stories of the Patriarchs, the history of the Jewish people, it told of God’s Creation, it teaches one how to bare their soul to God and how to praise Him. It also provides warnings, insight, blessings, and curses through His prophets when a nation or people go astray.

While God did many wonderful works in the Old Testament, the information I believe the most important is the coming of the New Covenant. Remember, God always warns His people long before it happens and that’s exactly what He did through His prophets. One of the most revealing reads;

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My Covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. For this is the Covenant I will make with the House of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD: I will put My Law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:31-33

But there are other fascinating scriptures which help us grasp just why the Old Testament is so important and still valid. And other scriptures which help us understand the bigger picture of God’s New Covenant. A few of these scriptures read;

Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new Spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statues and keep My Judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19,20

I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Ezekiel 36:26,27

But did you know the Old Testament also prophesied of the coming Messiah? Yes, God’s only Son was prophesied long before He appeared. Some of these scriptures are;

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.

Micah 5:2

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son today I have begotten you. Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Bless are all those who put their trust in Him.

Psalm 2:7-12

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fist? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name, if you know?

Proverbs 30:4

And of course, who can forget the passage which speaks of the most heartbreaking scriptures found in the Old Testament prophesied hundreds of years before it occurred, the crucifixion of the Christ, the Messiah.

He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took on our affirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to His own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away, and who can recount His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in His death, although He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53:2-12

The Lord God announced the New Covenant long before it went into effect. He told His people He would write His Law on their hearts and put it within them, give them a new Spirit, HIS SPIRIT, so they could walk in His judgments (Law). Which means, the 10 commandments are valid, they’re written on the Heart of every true believer, they’re put within them, and God’s Spirit will help us to walk in them. For we walk by FAITH, not by sight.

THIS is the reason I read the Old Testament…

Sin in Society

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Our world today is in turmoil because of the failure of the shepherds to address sin in a Biblical manner. Pastors, Preachers, Scholars, Evangelist, the shepherds, of our world have failed. They’re more concerned with how the world preceives them instead of addressing sin which has caused them to welcome unrighteousness with open arms.

Because of sin, wickedness, depravity, sexual immorality, idolatry, the refusal to worship God as Creator and to accept the Lord Jesus as Christ abounds. Jesus, the one who was born in the flesh of a virgin, preached about the Kingdom of God, was beaten, spat on, whipped, a crown of thorns placed on His head, was nailed to a cross and crucified. Jesus, who was raised on the third day and later ascended into Heaven. Jesus, the one who sacrificed HIS life for ours so we would be santicifed through His blood. Jesus who made attonement for our sin as a living sacrifice, the ONLY one who was SPOTLESS, without sin. Was stricken because of us. The Prophet Isaiah puts it this way;

But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, and He has carried our sorrows and pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him]. Isaiah 53:4

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; the punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes [wounds] we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

All of us like sheep have gone astray, we have turned, each one, to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] to fall on Him [instead of us]. Isaiah 53:6

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth [to complain or defend Himself]; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before her shearers, so He did not open His mouth. Isaiah 53:7

There are many who proclaim to be a CHRISTIAN but also continue to live in sin. Whether they continue to steal, lie, cheat, are workoholics, dress provocatively, desecrate the Sabbath, live for their addiction, party all the time, or all about money, they continue to live worldly lifestyles instead of following what Jesus and the Apostles taught.

But, I believe the sin which is more difficult to break away from is when a Christian is in a same sex relationship or same sex marriage. Can one be redeemed from such sin? YES, absolutely, if they hear the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many church leaders today don’t teach it because they’re more interested in feel good sermons, or maintaining a certain monetary lifestyle. This leaves many Christians today unequipped to fight sin, instead, they choose to give in to it, they become proud of it, and they celebrate it.

The Bible teaches God’s judgement will START in the Church. It’s the whole reason the Apostle John was told by our Lord Jesus to write a letter to each of the 7 Churches in the Book of Revelation, to reveal God’s Glory and to reveal what would take place for believers within the Church.

Personally, I believe we’re mush closer than many realize to Christ returning. And, there are days when my Spirit feels so convicted by what I see in this world that all I want to do is humble myself, pray for the lost, for the persecuted, and for the Church.

But there is HOPE! The Son of God, Christ Jesus.

As a Christian, I believe it’s imperative to use the time we have left to get our house in order because a time is coming when that opportunity will pass us by.

Another Snow Dream

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Last night I had a dream and saw more snow. Now from the way it appeared to me the flakes seemed small, but consistent. Usually I only dream of snow when it’s going to have an impact on me or the US in some sort of way, so, not exactly sure how to take this dream.

Although the snowflakes appeared small it was coming down rapidly not by any means a dusting or light snow fall. I didn’t get to see how the snow looked on the ground as in my dream Snow Flooding Dream, but, rather saw the snow as it was falling. So just not sure how it’s going to affect us.

While I saw the snowflakes as being small and light the amount of snow that was falling wasn’t. The snow appeared to rapidly fall, the snow fall was consistent, and appeared to be heavy. Oh and it was falling at night when I saw it. Complete darkness with the exception of the snow.

Hopefully, this want be anything like my Snow Flooding Dream and the US can begin to dethaw!

Remember, all dreams are given through the Holy Spirit to be used for the Glory of God. Because God always warns people before He acts. Pray for this situation and if you haven’t accepted Jesus the Christ as your Lord and Savior now would be a Good time. Turn to God, repent of all sins, believe in Jesus as the son of God who came in the flesh by being born of a virgin, paid the penalty for our sins by being crucified on the cross, and was resurrected on the third day.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him and by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:4-6