NancyinBelize

Q1. (Isaiah 56:3-8) What is the significance of God's welcome of believing and ethical foreigners and eunuchs to full status in his temple? God recognizes that we all are sinners. It's easy to fall into an attitude of self-righteousness. The attitude that God wants from his people is humility before him. There is a concept of holiness. We don't want to defile or ship, the church, or our fellowship with sin...Our God is holy. So we think that certain people don't belong in the church. David Wilkersen would say that the church is on Gods path if it is full of dinners. What are the implications of that for the church? The church people need to go out into the highways and byways to invite people into the church.. It's risky, and probably uncomfortable but God has told us to do it. The church has to get over the self-centered focus of what's good for "me". Who does your congregation tend to exclude from its fellowship -- if not explicitly, then by emphasis and focus? Our church is Deaf. We accept all kinds of deaf people...those who are poor, do drugs, those who have sexual addictions, and we have 4 former prostitutes...but...it us hard for us to mingle with hearing people who don't use sign language...and we tend to provide interpretation, but don't talk to them much. What could you do about this? Several of us need to try to visualize what including hearing people would look like and then share that vision with God and then with the congregation.

When I was a late teen (18 or so), I walked away from the church because of this issue ...( later returned with humble confession) but it was this question...How could Jesus take on the sins of the whole world past present and future. Sins that were not even committed yet? What kind of God requires a human sacrifice to be made so that people can be forgiven? These questions are real and honest. To actually reach some of the youth who like to think things through for themselves we need to search for our own hearts for real answers to these questions. We need to let them work through the questions and reach the truth vs. telling them the answers. The telling really turns many people off to The Lord. God usually (always) speaks in the language that the people will understand. The Old Testament taught that an offering must be made for our sins...that the sins are transferred to the offering and it becomes the substitute. It suffers instead of us. This was pretty much understood from pagan and Jewish ceremony. A lamb was not valued enough to take on such a weighty sin as the sins of the world. What would be valuable enough to offer as a sacrifice...only the son, Jesus, God himself. How does it work past present and future? It was Real but represented something symbolic. God offered himself so that all of his children could be forgiven...so that never again would there need to be a sacrifice. The sacrifice of Jesus shows the nature of God. He is one who desires above all else that we fellowship with Him and become one either him both here on earth as well as in Paradise.

First, thank you to Dr. Wilson for presenting a very balanced view of scripture. Yes yes yes I am convinced Jesus is Lord, but the question asked was: is the suffering servant presented in Isaiah 53, Jesus? Or Israel....as in the other servant songs. Because I know God is bigger than the questions, I am not afraid to consider something other than what the mainstream Christian concept is. The passage very accurately describes the suffering Jesus endured. There are so many similarities that it gives me goose bumps. However there are a few parts that don't fit ...verse 2 and 3.. People turn their faces from the servant , do not show him respect, yet Jesus ' ministry was full of respect ie feeding 5000, Palm Sunday, as well as ridicule. Second "difficulty" it seems the disciple attributed the servant song to Jesus AFTER he died but not during his ministry.. See Mark 9:31 to 32. They were shocked each time He explained that he would suffer and die. Third what about the studied Jews ? I had to wonder why they would not be immediately convinced that Jesus was the fulfillment of this prophecy. They knew the passage, certainly. What scales covered their eyes to miss the parallel? I looked up a Jewish interpretation of Isaiah 53 in Google. It didn't convince me that the passage was about Israel's suffering in Babylon...but that is the Jewish perspective. That this passage along either the other servant songs is about the exile. Having considered the alternatives with an open mind I am still convinced with goosebumps that this passage found in Isaiah 53 refers to the role and suffering of the Messiah.

What does the promise mean that no weapon formed against you shall succeed? Dear Friends, all have said that God will protect us...and he will. But...the reality is that the persecuted church in the New Testament and the persecuted church today is...sometimes their weapons do succeed at killing even the most faithful. When I left home to be a missionary 9 years ago, my mother cried. I said, "Don't worry. God will protect me." My mother replied through tears, " God didn't protect Jim Elliot!" So as saints who walk by faith, we who try to spread the Gospel under threat, trust that our reward is in Heaven and nothing can separate us from the love of a God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38). Surely there are others doing this study who know "their weapons" are real and fully functional. How do you reply to this question?

Sometimes my prayers begin with thanks, acknowledging God's power in my life. What Hezekiah did and what Jesus did in the Lord's Prayer reminds us before we even begin of God's sovereignty, He is ruler and creator of the universe. In praising God and acknowledging that He is the one God, we give testimony to our faith ...that Yahweh has the power and authority to solve our problems.

Thank you Dr. Wilson for this clear explanation and references to 2nd Kings. In my own reading of the passage I had only a surface understanding Q1. Etc. I don't feel the need to repeat what the others have said so well but I will answer the last part of the question: How can we apply this principle to our own lives? I pastor a church in an area where Satan has a strong foothold. Last week I learned that one of the young men who was a Bible teacher and adept at memorizing scripture, was fired from his job because of persistent drunkeness. Another man who was at one time full of the Spirit and taught biblical wisdom with clarity and God's direction...has for a month now been "too tired to come to church". another woman, a cornerstone lied about being sick and not coming to church. I wonder what to do. Am I doing something wrong? I don't think so....except this: I must totally lay the battle before The Lord. I can visit and talk and be lied to...but the battle is the Lord's .

I seek The Lord with all my heart, but...sometimes the frustration of the moment gets to me and I get caught up in the moment instead of seeking God. Two days ago I tried to help Edgar get a passport so he could go to Mexico for surgery. We went to the passport office to get the nec. papers. We ran around town getting the necessary photos, signatures, and letters of recommendation. Then copied all as stated on the passport list. This took me away from work for a full 5 hours. Breathless we arrived at the passport office to find they rejected the papers because there was liquid paper (white out) on two of them. They also rejected one of the recommendations bcuz of a sentence in it. Also in the process two of the photos got smeared with ink that the signer used on the back. Argh! A whole day's work was wasted. It was so frustrating and I got angry..not with Edgar, or immigration bcuz you can't get angry with them and get what you need. I wasn't angry with God. I was just so angry that I had given a day's work to do something that resulted in nothing. Plus I was going to have to spend the money to make copies again, get new photos. I was going to have to go back and ask the doctor to write the letter again and probably pay him a second time. Sigh. If I was trusting God, if I was seeking him and listening to the way I should go I could have been a good example for Edgar instead of a crazy, frustrated, person. But I thank God for this lesson about getting caught up in the frustration of the moment. We did the whole thing again the next day, paid everything all over again, and turned in the papers...which were accepted. Ranting doesn't help...it's not the way God wants his servants to act. I need to seek The Lord in the midst of the overwhelming difficult moments.

..Q1. (Isaiah 28) How are we humans able to justify and deceive ourselves so easily? I become deceived when I get caught up in the moment. The stress or perceived immediate need takes over my ability to make wise choices or Godly choices. Why do we hold onto lies that guide our lives? I think the lie I hear from my parishioners most often is : " I'm only human." Another rationalization is "It's hard" to follow God and obey him. As if being " hard" is an excuse for not trying or Why do people stumble over Christ, the tested foundation stone, and his righteous standards? Because you have a choice : to follow Jesus or to hack out you own path. Many people prefer to "have it their way." How can we help people come to the truth? People come to the truth when the Spirit of God convicts them. They have to be open to listening to Gods voice inside of them. We can pray for them, model our best attempts at righteousness, show them God's word, and walk with them.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Refrain: Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, Leaning on the everlasting arms; Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Isn't it amazing how many songs are based on this theme of trusting Jesus to carry us through the hard times? Yet it is hard to do. Some of the problem in actually staying in God's peace instead of getting anxious and resolving the aproblem or just fretting about it. Jesus isn't like a trick pony that does what the ringleader asks with the click of a finger. Jesus walks with us like the cloud in the desert walked with the Hebrew people. Jesus is here but we want him to DO SOMETHING to relieve our stress or pain. All we have to do to find that peace in the storm is "fix our eyes on him"... Like Peter when he stepped out of the boat. Unfortunately most of us, and me most certainly, are more like Peter when he was walking on water and then ....looked away from the Lord. My fear, my desire to fix the problem ASAP, my nature is to do something instead of "lean" on Jesus. That does not mean the best corse of action is to never do anything.....but rather trust Jesus, look to him, seek an answer in his face. AND refuse to panic or give into fear. All of this is a good lesson for me.

Now if I could only learn how to stop double posting by accident. Very sorry!

This is a terrific question. Most of the answers above described the metaphor but not what it symbolizes. All of the descriptions of a feast to celebrate God's victory and Christ's coronation (above)..a wedding feast are still describing the image the metaphor presents. Yet, Pastor Ralph asked, if it is NOT truly about food , what does the feast represent? I think Humblejon (above) nailed it when he said, "we will hunger and thirst no more (spiritually)." The feast represents our fellowship with God and Jesus....being able to see them face to face, and talk with them! Drinking in their presence and devouring every word they say will be a feast.

Q1. (Isaiah 24) What is the reason that Yahweh will devastate the earth ? Our forgiving and living Father has given us numerous warnings...we were created to live holy lives in fellowship with Him..but we stubbornly disobey and do not follow his laws...we ignore God and elevate self. Why do we feel so threatened by this kind of prophecy? We wonder...am I forgiven? Will I be saved...and what about my friends, daughter, people I care about....what about people I font even know but represent the varied human existence. Lord I eagerly look forward to eternal life...but I also don't want anyone left behind. Why is this kind of prophecy important to forming faithful disciples who "fear the Lord"? I'd prefer to make disciple out of love for God, rather than fear of destruction. But...they go hand n hand....the salvation brought by Jesus death on the cross is a salvation from destruction. There's no getting around the "hell issue" as much as I would like to skip that. In what way does the glitter and glory of man (1 John 2:15-17) contradict this kind of prophecy I saw. TV ad for a new Gallaxy. Seems someone comes out with a new, better, faster smart phone every 6 months and millions of people rush to toss their old one and get the new one. Thirsting for the things of this world misalign our priorities, mess up our Kingdom financial management plan, and make us obsessed with novelty.

One good thing about chiming in late is the rest of you guys so thoroughly answer the questions, i get to just say "Amen" :-) I just want to add to the question..."Why will there be peace?" When the earth is filled with the knowledge of God we become ONE....no longer individuals seeking our own needs, but we will realize how God is in us and we are in God. God is in us and we are in each other. We are connected by a spiritual bond and the presence of God. This means we cannot kill or hurt our neighbors because we see the grace of God in them. The disciple John elaborated on this concept in 1 John 4: " Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born again because of what God has done. That person knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

I love this passage! My sister and I always have a fond memory of singing the section of Handel's Messiah where these words are used. it plays in my head through the Christmas holiday. I love it. Handel was really inspired when he wrote that. Amazing music that catches the grandeur and majesty of the Son of God. So....c) Which of these saving attributes do you need most in your life right now? Oh I need them ALL! Thank you Jesus for being wonderful counselor, Almighty God, everlasting Father, and prince of peace. Hallelujah!

Ok Guys...here's my take on this. Isaiah and the Psalms say that IF we trust in the Lord and depend on him, turn to him and worship him alone, he will be our jehovah Jireh, our protector and provider. Isaiah and the Psalms also say that if we choose to worship other Gods and not love God with our whole hearts (1st commandment), God will remove this hedge of protection and provision. This hedge of protection and provision is a rock, God is our Rock. But when we fail to worship, trust and love him, the wall of protection comes down and we find we are stumbling around trying to provide for ourselves and protect ourselves...stumbling over this wall of protection that God had put around us. Trapped and ensnared is a metaphor for not being able to find our way out of the situation. We make a decision and we are stuck not only with the consequences but what choices remain as a result of a poor decision. Ahaz chose to join hands with Assyia. After doing that and Assyria's destruction of Syria and Israel, Ahaz was stuck...with fewer choices and could not have a "do-over" at that point. Why do people stumble over a God that is righteous and wants to take care of them? That's exactly what God lamented."Israel why to you want to be beaten all of the time? "( Isaiah 1:5). It's foolish, stubborn, illogical, etc. BUT God gave us free will and allows us to choose. God has never been a God that forces His people to love him. He knows that is not love. So we have to choose to Love God. That means we have to choose to reject all other "loves" (self, idols, money, success, pride, independence, etc.) This is hard for most people to do. "They know that God's commands are right. They know that those who do evil things should die.But they continue to do those very things." (Romans 1:32)