Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Purpose on the Earth

Read: Isaiah 43:14-45:10; Ephesians 3:1-21; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 24:1-2

God said he would take down the Babylonians for Israel’s sake. He reminds them of how he led them out of Egypt and led them across the Red Sea on dry ground. Then he provided water or them in the desert and led them. But, they didn’t worship him or give him anything in return. 

God forgave then their sins. He reminds them that their first ancestor Adam sinned against him, and all their leaders turned against him, so he profaned their priests and turned over Judah to be destroyed and Israel to be shamed. 

But now, he will help them and pour his Spirit upon their offspring and bless their descendants. They will call upon the name of the Lord and honor his name. 

Those who make idols and worship them will all be put to shame and humiliated. They made gods from wood and stone and actually believed them could help them. but, these idols are worthless and the ones who worship them are deceived. 

He calls them to remember that God made them and he has not forgotten them. He will once again forgive their sins and restore them. He will make fools of false prophets and those who think they are so wise. He will carry out the prophecies of his chosen prophets. The earth will respond with singing and joy. God will rebuild Jerusalem and send Cyrus to proclaim it. Cyrus will open the doors of trade to other nations who will greatly fear him. God will go before him and level the power of the ones ruling the world. He will crush their power and give Cyrus hidden treasures no one knew about. God will do this so Cyrus will know that he is the God of Israel. God will do this for the sake of his chosen people. Even though Cyrus didn’t know the Lord, he will use him, equip him and lead him to do his will. 

President Trump is a type of Cyrus and God is doing though him everything he did through Cyrus. President Trump is leveling the power of the ones who have wielded the power over the nations. He is opening trade to countries we have never traded with and they are afraid of him. God is giving him riches beyond what we have seen and we are entering into a Golden Era just like he proclaimed. It is glorious to see. God is doing all this for the sake of his chosen people.

God makes sure we know that he is the creator of light and darkness. He is the one who sends good times and bad times. The heavens will pour out righteousness so that the earth can receive it and bear righteous fruit. 

It will not go well for those who fight what God is doing. We must not argue with who God choses to use and why. Our job is to trust the Lord and his ways.

In Ephesians, Paul talks about the mystery of Christ. The mystery was that Christ was sent to the Gentiles the same as he was sent to the Jews. God’s plan was to save the world with his gospel. 

Paul was given grace to be a minister of this truth and to share the good news to the Gentiles as well as the Jew. It is God’s plan which had been hidden for ages to be revealed through the church. They would be his witnesses to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places. This was all realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now we have confidence through our faith in him. Paul prays that every chosen person in heaven and on earth to be strengthened with power in his Spirit so that Christ may live in their hearts. This revelation will help them to comprehend how great and expansive the love of God is and that they be filled with all the fulness of God. 

Lord, you are able to do so much more than we can even know to ask you to do. According to your power, may you work in us your glory and may it spread to all generations.  

Wed.’s Devo - God is the Only God!

Read: Isaiah 41:17-43:13; Ephesians 2:1-22; Psalm 677:1-7; Proverbs 23:29-35

God said that when his people get thirsty enough for him, he will answer them. He will send rivers of refreshing and food that they did not know of. God will bring provision in places we had no idea there was any. The earth is his and he will provide. The gods of this world cannot do this. Those who choose false gods to tell them their future will be disappointed. 

In Chapter 42, God tells then that he is sending his servant who will have his Spirit. He will bring justice and truth. He will be the light for the nations to open their eyes and bring them out of bondage. He is telling them this before it happens so they will be looking for it. He is speaking of Jesus the Messiah.

This is reason to sing and praise him. When it is time for God to act, he acts. Those in power (the mountains) will be brought down. Their sources of money will be stopped. The ones who were under their spell will have their eyes opened and God will guide them into truth - the light. Those who trusted in false gods will be humiliated.

Isaiah sees the oppressed people as hopeless and plundered but God brings them hope. God had given them over to their oppressors because they had forsaken the Lord. But now, he is going to restore them. He will bring them through to their deliverance. He will bring them back to Israel and no one can stop what God is doing. Israel is his witnesses to the nations of who he is. 

What hope! This is what is happening in the earth today! We are waking up to the fact that we have been slaves to an evil one world government and we are breaking free of the mind-controlling matrix. Glory Hallelujah!

In Ephesians, Paul talks about our spiritual break-through. We were once blind and dead in our sin. But, we heard the truth and broke out of Satan’s mind-controlling matrix of sin. We have been made alive in Christ who saved us by his grace and mercy. We are created for good works. 

Jesus came and brought the Jew and the Gentile together as one new man. He broke the hostility of the two and brings peace. We both have access to the Father and are citizens of his kingdom. Jesus is the cornerstone of this new building that God is building on the earth by his Spirit.

Lord, may we hear your voice and do your will. Thank you for salvation and forgiveness. Thank you for what you are doing in our day. It is truly a miracle of grace. May we join with what you are doing. We are your witnesses that you are the only God.

Tues.’s Devo - Good News!

Read: Isaiah 39:1-41:16; Ephesians 1:1-23; Psalm 66:1-20; Proverbs 23;25-28

The king of Babylon heard that Hezekiah had been sick and miraculously recovered so he sent envoys to congratulate him and give him gifts. Hezekiah, in his pride, showed them everything he owned. 

When they left, Isaiah came to Hezekiah and asked him who had come to visit him and what had he showed them. Hezekiah told him and Isaiah said that everything he showed them would one day be taken to Babylon along with some of his sons who would be made eunuchs. Hezekiah was just glad it wouldn’t happen in his day since he only had 15 years. I would think that he would do something to prepare for this and pray it wouldn’t happen, but we don’t know if he did this or not.

The first 39 chapters of Isaiah are like the 39 books of the Old Testament and now everything changes in the 40th chapter. Isaiah prophecies the coming of John the Baptist who would be a voice in the wilderness telling the people to prepare their hearts because the Messiah was coming. Isaiah, like John the Baptist began proclaiming good news for Jerusalem. God was coming with power and his kingdom and his government. He would be a good shepherd who would care for his children. He is the creator of the earth. He is wisdom, knowledge, understanding and power. He rules the earth from heaven and will strengthen those who wait for him. He will trample kings under his foot and destroy them with his sword. He is the first and the last. Even the creation trembles before him. 

He tells Israel that he is with them and they have no reason to fear. He will help them and rid them of their enemies. Israel will once again rejoice in the Lord and see his glory.

Ephesians was written by Paul when he was in Rome awaiting his trial. It is called the Capstone of the New Testament  as it reveals the glory and majesty of Jesus. He begins by saying we were chosen before the foundation of the world to be his holy children. We were predestined to know him and be redeemed by his blood. Our sins are forgiven and we are given his wisdom, and insight into the mystery of his will through Christ. At just the right time all things will be brought together in him in heaven and on earth. 

Our inheritance is his will and was give to us at the time of our salvation. Paul prays that we might receive God’s Spirit of wisdom and the revelation of who God is. May the eyes of our hearts be enlightened to know the hope we have been called to and the glorious inheritance that is ours. Christ has been raised to sit at God’s right hand in heaven. All rule, authority, power and dominion and everything that is made is under him. He is the head of the church.

Lord, this causes us to do what the Psalm says, “Shout for joy to You and sing of your glory!” Thank you that you hear our prayers and you are answering them. You are bringing down the kingdom of evil and establishing your kingdom of righteousness and truth in the world. We give you all the glory as we look at what you are doing. Truly you rule over the nations!

Mon.’s Devo - Answered Prayer

Read: Isaiah 37:1-38:22; Galatians 61-18; Psalm 65:1-13; Proverbs 23:24

Hezekiah had just been told about the threats Rabshekeh made to his army. He immediately put on sack cloth and went into the house of the Lord to pray. He sent his officers to tell Isaiah what was going on to see what he had heard from the Lord.

Isaiah sent word back to Hezekiah that he should not fear what Rabshekeh was saying because God was going to make him hear a rumor and return to his own land where he will be killed.

Rabshekeh did return to Assyria to find his country fighting Libnah. He sent a letter to Hezekiah telling him not to think  his God could help him because none of the gods of other lands could help them. 

Hezekiah took his letter into the Temple and spread it out so God could read it. He prayed that God would save them. Isaiah was sent to answer his prayer. He told Hezekiah that because he prayed to God to help them and because the king of Assyria mocked him, He would put a bit in his mouth and turn him back the way he came. It was God who planned for Assyria to take down those other nations. It was God who fought with them. But, they had taken all the credit and it would not go well for them.

God told Hezekiah that they would live off the land for two years and in the third year they would sow and reap. There would be a group of survivors who would be God’s remnant and they would carry on their posterity.

Concerning the king of Assyria, he would not fire a shot against Jerusalem. He would leave the way he came. That very night the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 of the men in the Assyrian army. Sennacherib left the way he came and when he returned home, two of his own sons killed him and escaped. Another son, Esarhaddon became king in his place. 

Hezekiah later became deathly ill and Isaiah came to tell him he would die so he needed to put his house in order. Hezekiah cried out to the Lord and reminded him of his faithfulness to him. God sent Isaiah back to tell Hezekiah he would extend his life another 15 years because he sought the Lord. As a sign he would do this he caused the shadow on the sun dial to go back ten steps. 

Isaiah showed Hezekiah how to apply a cake of fig to his boil and he recovered.

In Galatians, Paul taught them to restore believers who fell into sin and repented. They were to do it gently with compassion. They were to humbly bear one another’s burdens because no one is above trials and temptations. They would all need each other sooner or later. They were to bless their teachers and provide for them. They were not to ever stop doing good or being generous because everyone reaps what they sow. 

The only thing we have to boast in is that we are saved by the blood of Christ. Period.

Lord, may we boast in you and not in anything of ourselves. Thank you for your grace. May we trust only in you like Hezekiah did. Thank you that you hear our prayers and you answer them according to your grace and mercy.

Sun.’s Devo - The Day of the Lord

Read: Isaiah 33:13-36:22; Galatians 5:13-26; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 23:23

This was the last prophecy about Sennacherib’s overthrow. The ones who were afraid were the sinners. But the righteous and those who speak what is right despise what the oppressors do. They refuse to take a bribe and do not delight in seeing evil. They will rise to the top and be blessed with all they need. They will see the Lord, but the evil people they will not see again. The foreigners who came into their borders will be gone. Jerusalem will stand immovable and protected. God will be their place of refuge and beauty. The Lord will be their judge, lawgiver and king. He will save them. God’s people will divide the spoil and even the lame will get their part. No one will be sick and they will all be forgiven their iniquities. 

God is filled with anger and wrath at the evil nations and their gods. He has devoted them to destruction and their blood will fill the earth. Their sin reached heaven and it is now time to punish the wicked. This is the day of God’s vengeance when he judges the world in a day but recompenses the righteous for a year. It is the terrible day of the Lord. Many prophets are saying we are coming to that day very soon when in a day, the evil people will be gone. 

The wild animals will possess the lands of the enemies of God. Kingdoms will be gone and only thorns will be left in their place. Then the land will rejoice because she can enjoy her rest. The desert will bloom like a rose and there will be joy and singing. The world will see the glory of the Lord. Those who didn’t have eyes to see the truth will be able to see and those who didn’t have ears to hear will be able to hear the truth. Those who could not sing because of fear will be able to sing. 

The way of righteousness will be holiness. We will not have to worry about the devil devouring us. We will walk as the redeemed and return with singing and joy. 

Chapter 36 tells us how all this worked out for them in Isaiah’s day. Sennacherib took the fortified cities of Judah and sent his officer, Rabshekeh to Jerusalem to give them the king’s message. He shouted to the men on the wall his message to King Hezekiah. He boasted of all they had conquered. He told them that they should not tell him that they were trusting in the Lord because Hezekiah had had them remove all their places of worship and only lets them worship at the altar in Jerusalem. Even if Assyria was to give them horses to ride, they would be no match for his army. They trusted Egypt to help them, but that didn’t work either. He even boasted that the Lord had told them to take Jerusalem and destroy it. 

The officers of Jerusalem asked Rabshekeh to please speak in Aramaic and not Hebrew so the men on the wall couldn’t hear their boasts but they said they wanted them to hear what they had to say since it affected them. They offered the men on the wall land and vineyards and their own cistern if they would surrender to them. They were offering Socialism to them. They reminded the men on the wall that the other nation’s gods couldn’t help them so why would they think their god was any stronger. 

The men on the wall didn’t respond because they had been ordered not to engage in words with them. 

This story is such a great one for us to read today. Our enemy is loud and obnoxious and a liar. He wants to intimidate and wear us down. He offers us provision as a bribe but it is only a trap to control us more. Satan and his follwers have no power, but we have it all because we have the Lord on our side. We have nothing to fear. 

In Galatians, Paul talks about our greatest weapon which is love. We don’t war as our enemy does with hatred and carnal weapons. Our weapons are mighty to the pulling down of strongholds. If we keep love in our hearts, we will win. 

Paul gives a list of all the works of the flesh which are evident in our world. The fruit of our lives is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. No law can fight these spiritual fruits. 

Lord, may we live in the fruit of your Spirit manifesting your fruit. May we be humble and not provoke one another or envy what another has. May we be content in your will for our lives. Prepare us for the days ahead. We trust in you as the commander of the Lord’s army.

Sat.’s Devo - God’s Wrath on the Nations and His Promise to his Remnant

Read: Isaiah 30:12-33:12; Galatians 5:1-12; Psalm 63:1-11; Proverbs 23:22

Isaiah warned them that because they refused to hear the word of the Lord and trusted in oppressing the poor and living according to their own laws instead of God’s, their lives were about to be destroyed. It would be sudden and harsh. The way to be saved was not in fleeing, but in standing and trusting in the Lord. They wouldn’t listen, so they fled when the enemy came.

God desired to show them mercy and to bless them. He waited patiently for them to ask for help, but they refused to trust him and wait for him to act.

A remnant would live in Jerusalem and God would hear their cry. He would be gracious to them and lead them with his spirit. These people will get rid of their idols and the idols of the people. They will be blessed with rain and prosperity. God will multiply them and bless them abundantly. He will bind up their wounds and heal them. 

God will preserve his faithful children while sifting the nations with destruction. The faithful will see the destruction of the wicked and rejoice. Egypt will not be able to help though many will run there. God will rise up against all the people who did evil and those who helped them in their evil work. Man cannot stand against God and win. God is not afraid of mere men and their voices. 

Isaiah calls out to Israel to turn to the Lord. They will find no help in their idols of gold and silver. God’s sword will kill the Assyrians. They will run in panic from God’s army. 

Jesus will reign in righteousness and justice. His government will be rooted in peace and safety. Knowledge, wisdom and understanding will return to the earth. The fool and the scoundrel will be exposed for who they are. Isaiah warned the wealthy women of this day and told them to fear the Lord and repent of their idolatry. Isaiah saw the future of Jerusalem which was barreness and destruction. It would stay that way until God pours out his spirit on them. Then their wilderness would become fruitful once again. They would return to justice and righteousness in the wilderness and dwell in peace. 

The destroyer destroyed because they were evil. They betrayed others, now they will be betrayed. 

Isaiah prayed for God to be gracious to those who were waiting on Him to save them. He knows that God will fill the earth with justice and righteousness once again. The earth will be filled with salvation wisdom and knowledge and the fear of the Lord. But, what Isaiah was seeing was the time of total destruction and ruin. He sees the whole earth being devastated. He sees the fire of God burning out the chaff.

This is what God is doing now in the nations. He is exposing sin and deceit and turning us back to him. It is devastating to see, but glorious because God is cleansing the world of all the idolatry and sin. He will reign on the earth and it will be filled with his glory. Salvation, righteousness and justice will reign. 

In Galatians, Paul was giving them a choice of choosing to rely on circumcision and the law to save them or to trust in Christ to set them free from the law. He reminded them that Jesus is the law of love.

Paul reminded them that they had begun running their race well but had been side-tracked by these false teachers to tried to bring them back under the law. 

Lord, may we see through the subtle ways we are being tempted to get back under the law. May we walk in your grace and favor. Give us strength to stand and wait for your salvation. May we not be side-tracked by the things going on in the earth and miss the one who is orchestrating the rise and fall of nations. Give our righteous leaders wisdom and courage to do the right thing. We pray the same for ourselves. We look to you as the author and finisher of our faith. 

Fri.’s Devo - God’s Plan for Victory

Read: Isaiah 28:14-30:11; Galatians 3:23-4:31; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 23:19-21

Isaiah addresses the leaders of Jerusalem who made a covenant with the devil and believed his lies that he would take care of them. 

God laid the foundation stone in Zion and it can be trusted. In his government justice and righteousness are the standard. He will sweep away the things their lies brought them and destroy the things they did in secret. Their covenant with Satan will be annulled and will not stand the storm. What they trusted in will not sustain them in the storm. 

God will rise up and bring destruction on the whole earth.

Their punishment will be meted out according to their works. 

Chapter 29 is directed to Jerusalem and the Temple. They would be punished suddenly by the Assyrian army. The Assyrians would gain nothing permanent by the conquest. She would face inner strife and then be conquered by Babylon who would then be conquered itself.

Judah had been blinded by deception and false teaching, false prophets and false gods. True wisdom from God was like a book they were not able to read. They went through the motions of following God, but their hearts were far from him. They did things in darkness thinking they were hiding from God but he knows everything. Nothing his hid from our Creator. 

The day was coming when the people will be able to read the book of the Lord and understand it. Their blind eyes will be open and their deaf ears will hear the truth. Understanding and wisdom will bring joy and they will see the judgment of the wicked. The children of the Lord will turn to him and fear him and learn his ways again.

All the rebellious who made an alliance with the devil will go into bondage. They will trust in Egypt to their shame and humiliation. They will try to bribe Egypt to help them but it will be in vain. They had refused to hear the warnings of the prophets of God and it will come back to destroy them.

In Galatians, Paul explained that the law had been their guardian until Christ came to justify them by their faith. Through him we are all the same - God’s children, offspring of Abraham and heirs to all the promises of scripture.

Through Christ’s death, we received our inheritance as a son of God. We are no longer slaves to the world and its system but are heirs with Christ.

Paul is bewildered that the Galatians still desire to live under the law instead of under the freedom of grace. He explains that Hagar, the slave, had a child according to the flesh, while Sarah, the free woman had a child according to the promise of God. Haran stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia where the law was given and Sarah stands for spiritual Jerusalem which is the promise of our future. He explained that they were not children of Hagar but of Sarah. They were the heirs of the promise.

Lord, thank you that we are heirs of your promise. May we not slip back under the law of sin and death. Thank you for your promises and life, liberty and joy.