Read: Isa. 59-63
I don’t know of any of the prophets that prophesied more of Christ’s coming than Isaiah. When there was no intercessor so God sent Jesus who put on righteousness as a breastplate and salvation as his helmet. He was clothed in vengeance and zeal for God.
In chapter 60, it says that Jesus will come when the world is full of darkness. He will arise in light and the Gentiles will be drawn to the light. Jerusalem, once again will become a city lifted up. After the fulness of the Gentiles have come in, the Jews will be gathered to the Lord. The kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdoms of our God.
Isaiah 61 starts with the description of Jesus’ first mission to earth. Jesus read this back to the people when he stood up in the synagog in Luke 4:18.
Isaiah 62 is all about the Jew coming to the Lord. Those who saw themselves forsaken and desolate shall be called delightful and married to the Lord. Jerusalem will become a praise in the earth. - a city not forsaken.
After God redeems his people, he will bring judgment and salvation. Salvation to those who called upon his name and judgment to his enemies.
Lord, your plan is beyond our comprehension so let us live the part we are to play in your great story.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Thurs.’s Devo - The Promises of the Upright
Read: Isaiah 54-58
Isaiah 54 foretells of the day when Salvation through Christ will come to the Jew and the Gentile. The shame and desolation of the past will be done away with and joy and mercy will take its place. Our children will be taught the things of God and oppression will leave because our foundation will be righteousness.
Isaiah 55 speaks of the Word of God being our food and drink. When people choose the Lord over all else then our thoughts become His thoughts and our ways become His.
Isaiah 56 invites everyone to obey the Lord. His promises and blessings are for the eunuch as much as for the priest. Everyone who follows the Word and obeys the Lord is blessed and not forgotten.
In Isaiah 57, the righteous are taken from the evil to come but the wicked must suffer. They will be punished for their idolatry, their acts of persecution on the Christian, and the fact that they forgot God. God will heal the humble and restore those who cry to Him for help but punish the wicked.
Isaiah 58 describes mans self-righteous attempts to get God’s attention. God was not interested in their fasts because they refused to live for the Lord. The fast that gets God’s attention is one that gives bread to the poor, give shelter to the homeless, and that clothes the naked and that makes man aware of his own sinful state. Then we will be a light to the world, God’s righteousness will precede us and his mercy will be around us. If you we spiritual food to the hungry and build up those that are cast down, then our light will rise and we will be noticed and honored by the people. God will lead us and feed our spirits when everyone else is in a spiritual drought. We will be full of the spirit and walk in His ways.
Lord, may we turn from our own pleasures and do your will and speak your words today. We delight in You!
Isaiah 54 foretells of the day when Salvation through Christ will come to the Jew and the Gentile. The shame and desolation of the past will be done away with and joy and mercy will take its place. Our children will be taught the things of God and oppression will leave because our foundation will be righteousness.
Isaiah 55 speaks of the Word of God being our food and drink. When people choose the Lord over all else then our thoughts become His thoughts and our ways become His.
Isaiah 56 invites everyone to obey the Lord. His promises and blessings are for the eunuch as much as for the priest. Everyone who follows the Word and obeys the Lord is blessed and not forgotten.
In Isaiah 57, the righteous are taken from the evil to come but the wicked must suffer. They will be punished for their idolatry, their acts of persecution on the Christian, and the fact that they forgot God. God will heal the humble and restore those who cry to Him for help but punish the wicked.
Isaiah 58 describes mans self-righteous attempts to get God’s attention. God was not interested in their fasts because they refused to live for the Lord. The fast that gets God’s attention is one that gives bread to the poor, give shelter to the homeless, and that clothes the naked and that makes man aware of his own sinful state. Then we will be a light to the world, God’s righteousness will precede us and his mercy will be around us. If you we spiritual food to the hungry and build up those that are cast down, then our light will rise and we will be noticed and honored by the people. God will lead us and feed our spirits when everyone else is in a spiritual drought. We will be full of the spirit and walk in His ways.
Lord, may we turn from our own pleasures and do your will and speak your words today. We delight in You!
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Wed.’s Devo - The Coming Messiah
Read: Isaiah 49-53
Isaiah proclaims his purpose which is to bring Israel back to the Lord and make Israel a light to the Gentiles. He reminds the people of God’s unfailing love for them. If Israel will wait for the Lord’s deliverance, they will not be ashamed.
In Isaiah 50 the Lord asks them where the bill is of their divorcement because the Lord never divorced them even though they left the Lord. Verse four is a great verse to declare over yourself. If we are saved, we will have the tongue of the learned that we will speak a word in the right season.
In Isaiah 51, Isaiah reminds them of where they came from and what the plan has always been. They are a nation set apart for the Lord. He encourages the people to turn back to God because their deliverer is coming.
Isaiah 52 is a call to wake up and get ready for the Lord to visit them. He begins to describe Jesus. Isaiah 53 is the best Old Testament picture of Jesus’ first coming. He describes how he will be a person who grows up among them who is ordinary and not of kingly ascent. He will be despised and rejected of most men and not accepted. He will be brought as a lamb to the slaughter and killed for the sins of the people. His sacrifice will be the ultimate sacrifice that will atone for man’s sins.
Lord, thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus. Thank you for the day we are living in and for the Holy Spirit. Wake us up to ready ourselves for your second coming.
Isaiah proclaims his purpose which is to bring Israel back to the Lord and make Israel a light to the Gentiles. He reminds the people of God’s unfailing love for them. If Israel will wait for the Lord’s deliverance, they will not be ashamed.
In Isaiah 50 the Lord asks them where the bill is of their divorcement because the Lord never divorced them even though they left the Lord. Verse four is a great verse to declare over yourself. If we are saved, we will have the tongue of the learned that we will speak a word in the right season.
In Isaiah 51, Isaiah reminds them of where they came from and what the plan has always been. They are a nation set apart for the Lord. He encourages the people to turn back to God because their deliverer is coming.
Isaiah 52 is a call to wake up and get ready for the Lord to visit them. He begins to describe Jesus. Isaiah 53 is the best Old Testament picture of Jesus’ first coming. He describes how he will be a person who grows up among them who is ordinary and not of kingly ascent. He will be despised and rejected of most men and not accepted. He will be brought as a lamb to the slaughter and killed for the sins of the people. His sacrifice will be the ultimate sacrifice that will atone for man’s sins.
Lord, thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus. Thank you for the day we are living in and for the Holy Spirit. Wake us up to ready ourselves for your second coming.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Tues.’s Devo - Our Destiny
Read: 2 Kings 20-21
I have so many questions to ask Hezekiah when I get to heaven. I applaud him for contending for himself and getting his healing but what did he do during his last 15 years? He received the word that his sons would be eunuchs in the house of Babylon by the same prophet that told him he would die immediately. He contended for himself but not for his sons. Manasseh was only twelve when he became king which means that Hezekiah had him after this encounter. He had twelve years to pour everything he knew about God and how to please Him so that Manasseh would be a good king. If Hezekiah could turn God’s hand from his own body, he could turn his wrath from his nation. He should have spent his last days turning his nation to God but apparently he just enjoyed his last years showing off his kingdom and waiting for his death.
Prophecy is not what has to happen. It is what God has planned. We can change that by either changing and doing what is right or doing what is wrong. If it is a prophecy of doom, we can repent and turn God’s wrath away. If it is a good prophecy of destiny, we can abort it by our rebellion. It is in our hands. Right now if the Christian’s don’t repent and turn back to God with all their hearts, there will be a disaster happen that will keep our present leader in office. If we pray, we can change this.
Lord, we do repent for our rebellion as a nation. Awaken our
I have so many questions to ask Hezekiah when I get to heaven. I applaud him for contending for himself and getting his healing but what did he do during his last 15 years? He received the word that his sons would be eunuchs in the house of Babylon by the same prophet that told him he would die immediately. He contended for himself but not for his sons. Manasseh was only twelve when he became king which means that Hezekiah had him after this encounter. He had twelve years to pour everything he knew about God and how to please Him so that Manasseh would be a good king. If Hezekiah could turn God’s hand from his own body, he could turn his wrath from his nation. He should have spent his last days turning his nation to God but apparently he just enjoyed his last years showing off his kingdom and waiting for his death.
Prophecy is not what has to happen. It is what God has planned. We can change that by either changing and doing what is right or doing what is wrong. If it is a prophecy of doom, we can repent and turn God’s wrath away. If it is a good prophecy of destiny, we can abort it by our rebellion. It is in our hands. Right now if the Christian’s don’t repent and turn back to God with all their hearts, there will be a disaster happen that will keep our present leader in office. If we pray, we can change this.
Lord, we do repent for our rebellion as a nation. Awaken our
Monday, July 27, 2015
Mon.’s Devo - The Secrets of Darkness
Read: Is. 44-48
These are some of the richest chapters in the Bible for showing us the secrets of God. I love how God starts out talking to Jacob his servant and Israel, whom I have chosen. I think that Jacob would refer to the Jews as a nation and Israel would include all who know him and are called by his name. In the next verse he speaks of Jacob and Jesurun which is a symbolic name for Israel. He is referring to the Gentile church and all believers. Jacob’s name was Jacob until God revealed himself to him and called him Israel. We are Jacob, the supplanter, trickster, sinner before we are saved. Once we are saved we become Israel. Israel means “he will rule as God.” One day the body of Christ is going to get that revelation and we will rule as God. In the third verse it tells us how this will be possible….by his spirit that he will place in us.
One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 45:3, “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” Another shocker is verse 7: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” When I tell people that God created evil they don’t believe me till I show them this verse. How can the creator of all, that is in control of all, not be the creator of evil? “Evil” in the Hebrew means “adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displeasure, distress, grief, harm, heavy, hurtful, mischief, naughtiness, sorrow, trouble, wrong.” Meditate on those words and it will give you a new perspective of God. “Darkness” in that verse means “misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, obscurity”. It all makes sense if you realize that the purpose for forming this earth is to find a bride for his son and a kingdom of people who will serve Him. She has to come forth out of all the evil and darkness as a righteous, pure, holy bride who has chosen Him. His servants will build his city on the foundation of God’s righteousness (vs. 13).
In 46:10 and in 48:3, 5 we see that God declares the end from the beginning. We need to do that also. We need to declare what we want to see, not what we do see. That is faith. God is the one who teaches us to profit and leads us by the way we should go (48:17). If we would just do what God says then we would have peace, be prosperous and our offspring would be also. There is no peace to the wicked.
Lord, show us the secret things that You have hidden. Let us chose to turn from the wickedness and allurement of the world and pick You!
These are some of the richest chapters in the Bible for showing us the secrets of God. I love how God starts out talking to Jacob his servant and Israel, whom I have chosen. I think that Jacob would refer to the Jews as a nation and Israel would include all who know him and are called by his name. In the next verse he speaks of Jacob and Jesurun which is a symbolic name for Israel. He is referring to the Gentile church and all believers. Jacob’s name was Jacob until God revealed himself to him and called him Israel. We are Jacob, the supplanter, trickster, sinner before we are saved. Once we are saved we become Israel. Israel means “he will rule as God.” One day the body of Christ is going to get that revelation and we will rule as God. In the third verse it tells us how this will be possible….by his spirit that he will place in us.
One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 45:3, “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” Another shocker is verse 7: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” When I tell people that God created evil they don’t believe me till I show them this verse. How can the creator of all, that is in control of all, not be the creator of evil? “Evil” in the Hebrew means “adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, displeasure, distress, grief, harm, heavy, hurtful, mischief, naughtiness, sorrow, trouble, wrong.” Meditate on those words and it will give you a new perspective of God. “Darkness” in that verse means “misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, obscurity”. It all makes sense if you realize that the purpose for forming this earth is to find a bride for his son and a kingdom of people who will serve Him. She has to come forth out of all the evil and darkness as a righteous, pure, holy bride who has chosen Him. His servants will build his city on the foundation of God’s righteousness (vs. 13).
In 46:10 and in 48:3, 5 we see that God declares the end from the beginning. We need to do that also. We need to declare what we want to see, not what we do see. That is faith. God is the one who teaches us to profit and leads us by the way we should go (48:17). If we would just do what God says then we would have peace, be prosperous and our offspring would be also. There is no peace to the wicked.
Lord, show us the secret things that You have hidden. Let us chose to turn from the wickedness and allurement of the world and pick You!
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Sun.’s Devo - Hope and Salvation Has Come!
Read: Is. 40-43
The book of Isaiah is set up like the Bible. The first 39 chapters correspond to the 39 books of the Old Testament. The 40th chapter to the 66th chapter correspond to the 36 chapters in the New Testament. Look at how chapter 40 begins. It begins in comfort and hope because Israel’s sins are forgiven. It foretells of John the Baptist who will cry in the wilderness, “prepare ye the way of the Lord…” Jesus was the Lord revealed in the flesh for all to see. Jesus truly fed the flock like a shepherd and gathered his lambs with his arms. He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
God called the generations from the beginning of time. We were strategically placed on the earth for this time in history. And we have been given the grace to walk through everything this generation will be called to endure. He reminds us to be of good courage. He will hold our hand and say to us, “Fear not; I will help you.” God promises to never leave us or forsake us. He called his people to be righteous so that they would be a light to the Gentiles. Their gospel would cause those who were spiritually blind to be able to see and those that were locked in their own prison to be set free and saved. God had a new covenant in Jesus and he promised to tell us before it happened. This was God’s way of preparing us for the new covenant of grace through Christ. Salvation is the new song - the new way. God promised to make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. He can make a way in all our problems!
Lord, thank you for your promises and your plan. You are our God and we adore You!
The book of Isaiah is set up like the Bible. The first 39 chapters correspond to the 39 books of the Old Testament. The 40th chapter to the 66th chapter correspond to the 36 chapters in the New Testament. Look at how chapter 40 begins. It begins in comfort and hope because Israel’s sins are forgiven. It foretells of John the Baptist who will cry in the wilderness, “prepare ye the way of the Lord…” Jesus was the Lord revealed in the flesh for all to see. Jesus truly fed the flock like a shepherd and gathered his lambs with his arms. He gives power to the faint and increases the strength of the weak.
God called the generations from the beginning of time. We were strategically placed on the earth for this time in history. And we have been given the grace to walk through everything this generation will be called to endure. He reminds us to be of good courage. He will hold our hand and say to us, “Fear not; I will help you.” God promises to never leave us or forsake us. He called his people to be righteous so that they would be a light to the Gentiles. Their gospel would cause those who were spiritually blind to be able to see and those that were locked in their own prison to be set free and saved. God had a new covenant in Jesus and he promised to tell us before it happened. This was God’s way of preparing us for the new covenant of grace through Christ. Salvation is the new song - the new way. God promised to make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. He can make a way in all our problems!
Lord, thank you for your promises and your plan. You are our God and we adore You!
Saturday, July 25, 2015
Sat.’s Devo - Don’t Give Up!
Read: Is. 37-39; Ps. 76
Yesterday, we read that the men of Assyria had surrounded Jerusalem and were threatening them. Hezekiah went to the temple and poured out his heart to the Lord. Isaiah told Hezekiah’s servants to tell him not to be afraid of the words of the king of Assyria because God was going to cause him to hear a rumor and return and all by the sword in his own land.
Sennacherib, the king of Assyria did hear the rumor but was determined to take Jerusalem first so he sent out even more threats. He reminded Hezekiah of all the other nations they had plundered and how their gods hadn’t been able to stop them. Hezekiah took the paper with the threats written on it and spread it on the floor before the Lord. What Rabshadek had written made God mad so he sent Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that He took personally what Rabshakeh had said. He was not just any god he was the only God and Israel was not just any city but God’s city. He would personally fight for them and destroy him. So the angel of the Lord went out and slew 185,000 that night and Sennacherib woke up to dead corpses. He took what was left of his army and left. He was killed in his own land by his own sons.
I want to point out that when Hezekiah got the word that the king was going to return to his own land he didn’t leave right away. He stayed and was even more determined to defeat them. Hezekiah continued to pray until he saw the victory. How easy it is for us to get discouraged when God doesn’t come through right away. We need to have the same response Hezekiah did and continue to pray because the answer is surely on the way.
Lord, help us not to faint in the middle of the battle but to continue to pray and have faith.
Yesterday, we read that the men of Assyria had surrounded Jerusalem and were threatening them. Hezekiah went to the temple and poured out his heart to the Lord. Isaiah told Hezekiah’s servants to tell him not to be afraid of the words of the king of Assyria because God was going to cause him to hear a rumor and return and all by the sword in his own land.
Sennacherib, the king of Assyria did hear the rumor but was determined to take Jerusalem first so he sent out even more threats. He reminded Hezekiah of all the other nations they had plundered and how their gods hadn’t been able to stop them. Hezekiah took the paper with the threats written on it and spread it on the floor before the Lord. What Rabshadek had written made God mad so he sent Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that He took personally what Rabshakeh had said. He was not just any god he was the only God and Israel was not just any city but God’s city. He would personally fight for them and destroy him. So the angel of the Lord went out and slew 185,000 that night and Sennacherib woke up to dead corpses. He took what was left of his army and left. He was killed in his own land by his own sons.
I want to point out that when Hezekiah got the word that the king was going to return to his own land he didn’t leave right away. He stayed and was even more determined to defeat them. Hezekiah continued to pray until he saw the victory. How easy it is for us to get discouraged when God doesn’t come through right away. We need to have the same response Hezekiah did and continue to pray because the answer is surely on the way.
Lord, help us not to faint in the middle of the battle but to continue to pray and have faith.
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