Good day Brethren in Christ Jesus. It’s another brand new day.
We give glory to God for the privilege of life and for His unending mercy and grace upon us always. Praise God!
STUDYING AND UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE – PART 471
Isaiah Chapter 64
This chapter is a continuation of the prayers that were recorded in the previous chapter.
It’s loaded with humble prayers for revival and Salvation. Let’s read a few verses…
Isaiah 64:1-4 TPT
God, if only you would tear open the heavenly realm and come down! How the mountains would tremble in your awesome presence!
[2] In the same way that fire sets kindling to blaze and causes water to boil, let the fire of your presence come down. Reveal to your enemies your mighty name and cause the nations to tremble before you!
[3] When you did amazing wonders we didn’t expect, you came down, and mountains shuddered in your presence!
[4] These amazing things had never been heard of before; you did things never dreamed of! No one perceived your greatness. No eye has ever seen a God like you, who intervenes for those who wait and long for you!
Note that those praying the prayers in the verses above pictured the event that took place during the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and when they got to Mount Sinai, the mountain shook, there was a thunderous sound and fire came forth, then God spoke.
It was this event that marked a powerful turn around in the lives of the Israelites and woke their consciousness about God and the amazing things He did for them. It was also this event that birthed the 10 commandments (Exd 20), which served as a schoolmaster that pointed them to the Messiah.
Exodus 19:16-18 GNT
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud appeared on the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast was heard. All the people in the camp trembled with fear.
[17] Moses led them out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
[18] All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD had come down on it in fire. The smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and all the people trembled violently.
This same event was what Elijah had in mind when he was waiting for God to speak to him when he ran away from King Ahab and his wife Jezebel.
But in his own case, God was not in the fire, thunder and storm. Rather, God answered him and spoke in a small voice. Read 1King 19:11-13
Therefore, in the New Covenant dispensation, we don’t need to wait for fire or thunder to come down as a confirmation that God answers prayers. If you do that you will be wasting your time, because Jesus Christ has simplified the matter for us, broke every barrier and reconnected us back to God through His death and resurrection.
The writers of Old Testament books only used those words like fire, thunder, wind etc as metaphors (figurative languages).
In our time now, God speaks through His Son Jesus Christ, who is the Word. It means, if you have Christ in you, you can communicate with your Father effortlessly from anywhere and you don’t have to start looking for Mount Sinai or Mount Zion in Israel before your prayers are answered.
I am not saying it’s wrong to travel to Israel. You can go there for tourism to check the facts recorded in the Bible. You can as well attend church services there the same way you can attend in your home country. Remember God is everywhere. He lives in you. If God wants to speak to you now, He does that through His Son – The Word.
Let’s read this…
Hebrews 1:1-2 GNT
In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets,
[2] but in these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one through whom God created the universe, the one whom God has chosen to possess all things at the end.
Then in verse 6, Prophet Isaiah mentioned a major hindrance to answers to prayers.
Isaiah 64:6 TPT
We have all become contaminated with sin, and you see our self-righteousness as nothing better than a menstrual rag. We are all like fallen leaves, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.
But then, he affirms what human beings are in the hand of God the Creator- Human beings are like clays in the hand of a potter.
Isaiah 64:8-9 TPT
Yet still, Yahweh, you are our Father. We are like clay and you are our Potter. Each one of us is the creative, artistic work of your hands.
[9] Yahweh, don’t be angry with us! Don’t remember our sins again forever! Please look at us; we are your people.
What a prayer of humility…
You see when a sinner humbles himself, repents, believes the Gospel and receives the Message of Salvation, he becomes saved. His sins are forgiven and he becomes a brand new person.
To be continued…Praise God.
Prayers:
👉Probably there is someone around you or in your family that is yet to be born again, I declare the Light of the Gospel of Salvation will illuminate his or her heart and will be drawn to God, in Jesus name.
👉Some people are on this platform and you have been incessantly praying to God for His intervention in your life. I declare your prayers are answered and you will testify, in Jesus name.
👉None of you will be overwhelmed by the challenges and circumstances of this life and you will always be victorious over every battle, in Jesus name.
Welcome to another new week and happy Sunday to you all.
Bible readings for today: 1Chronicles Chapters 9, 10 & 11 with Ecclesiastes Chapter 11.
I call you blessed now and always.
Sunday July 12, 2020 (DDMI)