The first three verses of this chapter are great.
61:1 The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me,
because the Lord has chosen me.
He has commissioned me to encourage the poor,
to help the brokenhearted,
to decree the release of captives,
and the freeing of prisoners,
61:2 to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor,
the day when our God will seek vengeance,
to console all who mourn,
61:3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,
by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,
oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning,
a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement.
(NET)
The applied to Isaiah as he wrote about the future delivery of Israel from captivity and of the comming of Christ. The verses were the very work of Christ as he was here on earth and to this day. However, as I read this tonight God was telling me that "The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon ME, because the Lord has chosen ME." (emphasis added) He sends me "to encourage the poor,to help the brokenhearted,to decree the release of captives,and the freeing of prisoners, to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor,the day when our God will seek vengeance,to console all who mourn, to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning,a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement." My life, my daily life needs to be proclaiming Christ and setting people free from their bondage. My life now even while I am in school needs to proclaim Christ. I can't sit on my hands waiting until the day my training is finished and I go to a mission field to become a missionary. I live amoung the lost and God's passion and desire is to them saved as well as the lost in foreign countries.
The second portion of the chapter that moved me tonight was verse 10
61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
I will be overjoyed because of my God.
For he clothes me in garments of deliverance;
he puts on me a robe symbolizing vindication.
I look like a bridegroom when he wears a turban as a priest would;
I look like a bride when she puts on her jewelry.
(NET)
Praise God that he clothed me with deliverance, salvation and righteousness. For I have no righteousness of my own that I could wear. I would stand naked before the Almighty God if Christ had not provided my righteousness.
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Monday, April 30, 2007
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Sunday, April 29, 2007
Isaiah 60
THE GLORY OF ZION
Zion, here does it refer to Jerusalem the physical city, Jerusalem remade in eternity, or the Church. Men much smarter, more learned, and more importantly more closely attuned to the Spirit write in commentaries that the chapter refers to Zion, the Church, in a future glory after a period of affliction. The chapter shows Gods desire for all nations, a vast diversity to be drawn to the Church. His passion is for all peoples as shown in multiple verses. Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar, Nebaioth and Lebanon are all mentioned, places surrounding Isreal in all directions. Nations, foreigners, kingdoms mentioned frequently all bringing glory, gifts to Zion. God's desire for all peoples is also seen in the allusions to the sky and sea in verses 8 and 9. His passion for all kinds of people in v. 13 "the pine, the fire, and the cypress" adorning His sanctuary. The cypress a rich, beautiful wood used for royalty, but also those of lesser rank and more common origin. God's heart yearns to draw all nations, all people to himself. Christ came so that would be possible, so that all could seek God. If I honestly seek the heart of God, if I truly try to become like Christ my heart must also break for the lost of all nations. Not just the ones in my home.
Zion, here does it refer to Jerusalem the physical city, Jerusalem remade in eternity, or the Church. Men much smarter, more learned, and more importantly more closely attuned to the Spirit write in commentaries that the chapter refers to Zion, the Church, in a future glory after a period of affliction. The chapter shows Gods desire for all nations, a vast diversity to be drawn to the Church. His passion is for all peoples as shown in multiple verses. Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar, Nebaioth and Lebanon are all mentioned, places surrounding Isreal in all directions. Nations, foreigners, kingdoms mentioned frequently all bringing glory, gifts to Zion. God's desire for all peoples is also seen in the allusions to the sky and sea in verses 8 and 9. His passion for all kinds of people in v. 13 "the pine, the fire, and the cypress" adorning His sanctuary. The cypress a rich, beautiful wood used for royalty, but also those of lesser rank and more common origin. God's heart yearns to draw all nations, all people to himself. Christ came so that would be possible, so that all could seek God. If I honestly seek the heart of God, if I truly try to become like Christ my heart must also break for the lost of all nations. Not just the ones in my home.
The Man that Shaped Me
I thought it most appropriate that if I was blogging about that shaping of my soul I would have to include some of my father's words. He more than any other man on earth has made me into the man I am today. He has shown me how to love his God, to seek Him with all that is within every cell of his anatomy. He has shown me how to love his wife and cherish her and romance her for thirty years. He has shown me how to love his sons (4) and teach them to become disciples of Christ. He has shown me how to love the world and share with it the grace and love of God.
Here is a portion of an email he recently sent me. It shows his heart, his passion and therefore something that God, through him, has implanted within my own soul.
Wow, Aaron, soooo good to hear from you. It is also great to feel (I could really feel it) your passion to make a difference for Christ in this world and to finish the mission he gave us to do. I just preached this past weekend at First Wesleyan's missions conference. I preached from Gen 12:1-3, but specifically from the point that Genesis is a book of beginnings and that the book is introducing us to God, who he is and how he operates. Here we see for the first time the foundational methods of God's world-wide plan for redemption and restoration. 1.God's plan is a man 2. God's promise is to bless 3. God's priority is the nations. When God sees mankind in need of redemption he starts with a man. Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Jonah, Jesus, Paul...all are examples. Then he promises to bless that man, to enable, empower, and encourage so that that man might be a blessing to the nations.
Earlier in the service while the organist played, "Count You Blessings"I had the people write out blessings God had blessed them with. During the conclusion I had them go back to their list and ask themselves if they were using those gifts to be a blessing to the nations. One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given me is my family. I'm sooo grateful that the Lord is using this wonderful blessing he has given me to bless the nations. If Israel is an example them I suspect that as I allow my blessings to bless the nations he will continue to bless but if I withhold my blessings from the nations he will withhold his blessings from me.
I pray that I will have the passion for the salvation of the nations that is so evident in the words and passions of both my Heavenly and earthly Father.
Here is a portion of an email he recently sent me. It shows his heart, his passion and therefore something that God, through him, has implanted within my own soul.
Wow, Aaron, soooo good to hear from you. It is also great to feel (I could really feel it) your passion to make a difference for Christ in this world and to finish the mission he gave us to do. I just preached this past weekend at First Wesleyan's missions conference. I preached from Gen 12:1-3, but specifically from the point that Genesis is a book of beginnings and that the book is introducing us to God, who he is and how he operates. Here we see for the first time the foundational methods of God's world-wide plan for redemption and restoration. 1.God's plan is a man 2. God's promise is to bless 3. God's priority is the nations. When God sees mankind in need of redemption he starts with a man. Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Jonah, Jesus, Paul...all are examples. Then he promises to bless that man, to enable, empower, and encourage so that that man might be a blessing to the nations.
Earlier in the service while the organist played, "Count You Blessings"I had the people write out blessings God had blessed them with. During the conclusion I had them go back to their list and ask themselves if they were using those gifts to be a blessing to the nations. One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given me is my family. I'm sooo grateful that the Lord is using this wonderful blessing he has given me to bless the nations. If Israel is an example them I suspect that as I allow my blessings to bless the nations he will continue to bless but if I withhold my blessings from the nations he will withhold his blessings from me.
I pray that I will have the passion for the salvation of the nations that is so evident in the words and passions of both my Heavenly and earthly Father.
The Shaping of a Soul
This will be used to shape and sharpen myself. It is amazing how life changes me. What is most amazing is how Grace changes me. It changes and formes continually, always. However, does God change me and shape me when I refuse. Will he drag me kicking and screaming. Does he carry me to Grace and Mercy even when I am throwing a tantrum and refuse his Forgiveness and Love. Or....does he stand by patiently until my yells and tears subside. Does he then gently remind me that he still loves me and is still willing to claim me as his child. Still willing to say to the world and his Father this one is mine. Despite the shame I have brought on my self and witness I have tainted.
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