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Showing posts with label God's Righteousness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Righteousness. Show all posts

Sunday, August 6, 2017

God Reveals His Righteousness to All People

God's Righteousness Revealed to the Gentiles

Book of Isaiah Chapter 62

In the time of Isaiah, the Jews did not have good thoughts for the Gentile nations and who could blame them. It had been a daily battle to protect themselves from the Gentile nations for many years and they were now in captivity to Babylon who had physically removed them from their own land. They considered all Gentiles to be their enemy!

They had failed to consider that it was not the Gentiles who were their problem, it was the fact that they had turned away from God themselves!

We all tend to blame others for problems we create for ourselves!

When we forsake the Lord, we cause ourselves multiple problems that can only be solved when we return to the Lord!

The nation of Israel was like an adulterous wife had forsaken the Lord.

They had made Jehovah God to be their enemy!

Jer 21:4 Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
Jer 21:5 And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

Lam 2:4 He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: he poured out his fury like fire.
Lam 2:5 The Lord was as an enemy: he hath swallowed up Israel, he hath swallowed up all her palaces: he hath destroyed his strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
Lam 2:6 And he hath violently taken away his tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: he hath destroyed his places of the assembly: the LORD hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.

This is a great lesson for all who know the Lord to learn!

What does God teach all nations Jew and Gentile?

We are to hate sin, "But We Are Never To Hate The Sinner"!

Until the Lord returns, He will chastise all those who love Him but He will never forsake them.
Until the Lord returns, everyone will have the same opportunity to have "Victory in Jesus" but those who reject Him will certainly face the "Wrath of God"!

Until this time, which only the Lord knows, God will accept "whosoever" will call upon His name!

We must remember it was humans who designated the chapters and verse numbers so let's once again look at the previous verse:

Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

The Lord will not rest until everyone upon the face of this earth gets an opportunity to know the righteousness of our Holy God!

Those who know the righteousness of God will certainly be the same ones who will praise God for what He has done!

Today a Gentile is considered to be anyone who is not a Jew.
A Gentile is anyone who worships a god other than Jehovah God. Which means all those who are not true Jew and true Christian.
Even the true Jew is not a Christian until they accept the Lord Jesus Christ and today those that do are known as Messianic Jews.

We should all consider that the Jew has never been told to forsake the laws of Moses but they have been told to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and no more sacrifice for sin is necessary.

In the Scriptures, the Gentile is also named heathen or we would say "pagans".

God still loves all pagans, or all heathen, or all Gentiles no matter how we say it!

*****Isa 62:1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

Again, we need to be reminded that the Prophet Isaiah was murdered for preaching the message he was given by the Holy Spirit and we should consider these Scriptures as God speaking to us, Himself!

Zion is the little mountain where the city of Jerusalem was built and in many Scriptures, it is called the "City of David".

BUT, Zion can also mean the "people of God"!

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

We already know God has a great zeal to fulfill all His promises.
God will not rest until all those who want to spend eternity with Him have made that known to Him!
AND, God will not rest until that glorious change in children of Israel has been accomplished!

Our salvation is assured by the inerrant Word of God, if we call on the name of Jesus in "faith"!

For many hundreds of years God has worked through the Jews to bring salvation to the world. It is easy to say the Jews failed and they may have failed the full intention of the Lord but if not for them, we as Gentiles would still have never known the salvation of the Lord!

Jesus Christ, the true Messiah came as a Jew. The Apostles were Jews. The Apostle Paul was a Jew.

It is these Jews by the Word of God who had been given the job of continuing with the salvation plan of God until once again the Jew will carry this message to the world.

There is coming the day when the righteousness and salvation of Zion will shine forth brighter than the dawn of a new Sun!

The Lord has instructed the Church to continue in His brightness until He returns to sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem and then these words will be fulfilled!

Mat_5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

That continuously burning lamp is a type of the presence of Jehovah and then the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the express image of His Father in Heaven.

Heb_1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

The Lord Jesus Christ will fulfill all the Old Testament prophecy!

Mal_4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and paid the sin debt for, not only all humans but for all God's creation, He became our "new owner".

As much as this world will deny it, they all belong to Satan, the Devil, until they call on the name of Jesus Christ!

This world is the Lord's "purchased" property and He is coming to lay claim on His purchase at any time!

Notice the Lord will not hold His peace. It will be a time of God's wrath until He accomplishes His goal.
Notice also, the Lord will not rest until the salvation lamp burns brightly in Jerusalem and seen throughout this world!

*****Isa 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

This Scripture gives us a great reference to the day Our Lord will sit as King, as the Messiah, as He rules from Jerusalem for 1000 years!

The Scripture also describes the Gentiles (those who have not known the truth of God) as they view the righteousness of Zion (the true Church), at the beginning of the Millennial reign of the Lord.

They will say: "see how these Christians love one another and love their God" (the 2 commandments of Jesus Christ)

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

It will also be a time of Israel's final glory.

All leaders of nations that remain will acknowledge that all laws will come from Israel and King Jesus.

This will not be as hard as people think because the same Word of God that we have now will be the source of all law.

The Word of God will never change!

Psa_119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

If God's Word is settled in Heaven then it cannot be changed by the people of any age!

It is a shame that so many try to change what God has said, today!

What will a new name do?

1) It will abolish the old name! The title Saint will replace, idolater, spiritual adulterer, sinner. (Condemnation replaced with justification)!
2) It will abolish the old character! There is a new birth, new nature, new life.
3) It will be significant of a New Acceptance, a New Honor! From an old shack to a mansion. From Salvation to Glorification!

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

I don't know about anyone else but the Lord can give me any name He chooses and call me by whatever He will, because I will be with Him throughout eternity!

Psa_84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

How will the Lord present His Church to the world?

*****Isa 62:3 Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

1) A Crown of Glory is described as an ornament of "Grace" in Proverbs 4:9 and we are saved by the "Grace" of God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

A Crown of Glory represents the Lord's workmanship toward His Church.

2) A Crown of Glory is described as a diadem of beauty in Isaiah 28:5. The Crown of Glory, replacing my own crown of pride!

3) A Crown of Glory is described as the head of those who have grown old who have remained in the Lord since the day they accepted Him as their Savior and have remained in righteousness all their days. Righteous in the way they served their own families and noticed by our Heavenly Father. Proverbs 16:31

Pro 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

4) A Crown of Glory is promised to all those who have become ministers of the Word of God, when the Chief Shepherd (The Messiah) returns to take His Church home! 1 Pe 5:4

Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

All the world will see the Glorified Saints of God, the Bride of Christ, on display in all her glory presented by her Husband, The Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ!

The world may call us by many names but when we wear the "Seal of the Holy Spirit" what the world says does not matter!

*****Isa 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

Forsaken means to be deserted, or left, or abandoned.

It is true that the people of Israel and even Jerusalem felt that Lord had forsaken them for what God would say was a short time because we do not live in the same time as our God.

Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

There shall come a time when Israel will also understand these words!

Act 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Rom_11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

If we would use the time scale of this world for our daily activities but live in the time scale that God has given to us, we would understand in what "Age" we live and know that the "Church Age" is coming to an end very soon!

We have seen so many things fulfilled in accordance with the Word of God that we should know this thing! (God said to be watchers)

Luk_21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

It’s not time to hang our heads in failure or in sadness, it’s time to look up and know we will soon be going home!

Israel will no longer be forsaken, (the people nor the land), and we are already seeing signs that this is also true!

Hephizibah means "the land God takes His delight in"

What has God promised?

Eze 36:34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
Eze 36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
Eze 36:36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.

Beulah means "the land that is married to its people". (We sing that song "Beulah Land" because we are married to Heaven)

Again, we see the beginning of this happening before our eyes today in Israel.

The Lord uses the term "marriage" in the sense of a permanent bond in all cases.

Eph_5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

One day soon we will truly live in Beulah land because it is the place where the Lord dwells and we will be with Him!

Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And the Church will be joined with those of Israel who have gone through the "Time of Jacob's Trouble".

Hos 2:19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.
Hos 2:20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD.

*****Isa 62:5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.

The city of Jerusalem will be filled with only believers and the Lord will rejoice over Jerusalem like a bridegroom over his new bride!

We see that the Lord has chosen Jerusalem at this time.

Psa_132:13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

In "typology" the Jerusalem we see for 1000 years is a type of the New Jerusalem that will be for eternity!

Rev_21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

God has determined that the Messiah will return to set up His Kingdom upon this earth for 1000 years.

The government will be housed at Jerusalem.

The glory of the Lord will go forth from Jerusalem.

The Lord Jesus Christ will make Jerusalem the praise of the earth!

*****Isa 62:6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
Isa 62:7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

In the days of Isaiah, the watchmen were the men who were assigned the task of guarding the city from a surprise attack.

We should consider that the Church has returned with the Lord now and all believers are to be "watchmen" which includes being "prayer warriors" today!

We are to never hold our peace and never keep silent about the wonderful works of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom_2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

We are always to cry out to the Lord to fulfill His promises.

We must never forget, We Stand or fall on The Promises of God!

In fact, in this Scripture, we are wrong when we do not pray for God to fulfill the promises He has made to us!

We must remember this parable: (also remembering a parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning)

Luk 11:5 And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
Luk 11:6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
Luk 11:7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
Luk 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Luk 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luk 11:10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

We can go boldly to the throne of God but be humble when we get there and we must certainly go often!

We must give the Lord no rest in our prayers until He returns to take us home but we must also remain just as busy as the Lord, until that glorious day arrives!

The closer we are to the Lord, the greater our growth in "Faith"!

When the Lord establishes Jerusalem as the praise of the earth, then all the Church will be joined together!

As for Israel, they all need to remember the time of Jacob and the Lord:

Gen 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Gen 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Gen 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Gen 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

There comes a time when we need to wrestle with the Lord until we receive His blessing!

These are Gods own words and just as true as all others!

In fact, I believe the Lord loves a good wrestling match with those who love Him. (Up close and personal)

There is coming that day when the Church will be a thing of praise in this entire world, just the opposite of today when the Christian is so hated.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Then God actually guarantees all these things!

*****Isa 62:8 The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:
Isa 62:9 But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

We already know that the right hand of God is the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of that arm is the Holy Spirit.

It is the Triune God that solemnly binds Himself "by an oath" to come to the relief of His people. In this case God is referring to the Jewish people after the "Time of Jacobs Trouble".

We have seen God swear by Himself.
We have seen God swear by His Holiness.
We have seen God swear by His Great Name.

But God has also sworn by the excellency of Jacob:

Amo 8:7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works.

God promised the "Time of Jacobs Trouble" but God also said the true Jews would be saved out of this judgment.

Amo 9:10 All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.

Jer_30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

So, it is at this point where we can see the truth of our Scripture, today.

When Israel was in control of the land called Palestine, the fruits of their labor were constantly destroyed or carried off by hostile neighbors. Much of this has not changed today.

Terrorism affects Israel more than any other nation daily and it is ignored by this world!

God has sworn to put an end to all these things.

It is this promise to Israel that will finally bring peace to the entire world but notice it is only after the Church has been removed and there has been 7 years of Hell on earth!

The courts of God's holiness now will be Zion but will include this entire world!

Deu 12:7 And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

God says proclaim His Word to be true because it is!

*****Isa 62:10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

We already know that the Jerusalem of this age, is now a thing of Beauty and the Temple has been restored and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah sits upon the throne of David.

We also know that the way of salvation has been prepared so it is just a matter of going through the gates to Zion!

This is the same way of salvation today!

The Lord has prepared the way and all that need be done is to go through the "Door", the "Gate", those things being the Lord Jesus Christ Himself!

Miss the wrath of God and go today, "The Way Has Been Prepared"!

Zion can also mean the Church and the "Gates" of the Church have been open since the First Coming of the Lord!

To the Jew, they stumbled at the "stumble stone" of Jesus Christ.

1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

All the obstacles for the Jews have been removed and even for all the Gentiles that remain!

As the Church, we are to understand all these things also making note that we will miss out on the wrath of God and return with Him when He returns to Mount Zion.

The Church has already been "Justified" and "Redeemed"! (The Church is just waiting to be picked up)

Blindness will be removed from the Jews!

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

We must understand what God says today is meant for the world to hear and this maybe the most important part of our job to get God's Word out to the world!

Most people think getting involved with the Church is inside the doors of the Church but our field of labor is now and has always been outside those doors!

The Lord Jesus Christ has done all the work to make salvation a reality for "whosoever" calls upon His name.

It is our job to tell the world His name so they will know "Who" to call upon! (it is not Allah, or Buda, or Confucius, or any other false thing, but only the Lord Jesus Christ)

"We must prepare the way of the people"
"We must gather the stumble stones out of that highway to salvation"
"We must lift up a standard for the people" That Standard being Jesus Christ the Messiah!

It is only the Church that will miss out on the "wrath of God"!

*****Isa 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

The Lord has always had the same message!

Psa 98:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
Psa 98:2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
Psa 98:3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Psa 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

The salvation of the Lord has always been about "Faith" and "Obedience" to the Word of God!

Salvation is just the beginning of the rewards that come from knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior!

Psa_116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

The "Gospel" of Jesus Christ is the "Highway" to eternal life! The way is clearly marked! This highway is lit by the "Glory" of God in His Son!

Even all the "peculiar people" of the Lord have found this to be true!

This world as we know it will end one day and there is a far better place that we will call home!

What did Jesus say?

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

What is the truth of this place that Jesus has gone to prepare?

1Co_2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

The work of salvation is complete!

The preparations of our new home are complete!

When the Lord returns He will complete all His other work!

Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Who are those that will inhabit Jerusalem and all the world during the Millennial Reign of Christ!

*****Isa 62:12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Zion the Church are the Holy People because they are the Redeemed of the Lord!
Zion the city of Jerusalem will be restored also!

Jer 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Jer 30:18 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
Jer 30:19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
Jer 30:20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.

The Jews once known as a holy people until Roman conquest have been despised but then they will again be called a Holy People who serve the true Lord.

Questions?

Let's Pray!