Hope: A Path to Fulfillment - Micah 4:1 - 6:16

The relevancy of God’s word to the present day and time in which we live is one of the elements that strengthens my faith, and increases my assurance that God was, is and will ever be in control of this old world. Last Sunday’s lesson reminding us that CORRUPTION IS A PATH TO NOWHERE is an excellent example. This truth has been reaffirmed over and over down through the ages, and should be obvious to all by now. However, I know of no other civilization as well blessed as America, which has openly come out through all Medias of communication rejecting God. And I am hearing of more CORRUPTION in high places than ever before in our history. My heart is so broken that maybe it was God’s will that I not teach last Sunday.
The first bit of information today reaffirms my great HOPE. Juanita [wife] was unconscious when she fell, May 3. On May 4, three metal plates and many stitches were required in the operation on her face, and she remained in intensive care for three days. A pacemaker was installed on May 7. She was transferred to rehabilitation on the 12th. As of the afternoon of the 16th, as I write, she is able to walk from bed to bath on her own, and is eating satisfactorily {All food is blended}.
During these trying days, the hope that I have; my utter dependence on God and his response is no less than my path-way to peace, joy, thanksgiving, and surely fulfillment. We thank all who have prayed for her recovery.
If you have no hope in God, the Bible says that you are of all men most miserable. I speak to you who have hope and ask—what would you do without hope. Would life really be worth living? Think seriously about this matter. Hope in Jesus Christ sustains us. It holds us up, keeps us going, supports us, proves and approves us and above all provides us with the spiritual nourishment we need.
We know that God has a purpose and a plan of action for each individual. Some of us may falter along the way but we can know with absolute assurance that if we are still here as Christians our purpose is not yet accomplished. And if you are a sinner and still here it is to give you more time and opportunities to accept Jesus as your personal Savior; but know assuredly that he will not forever strive for your acceptance. Time is of essence.
Faith and hope have definitions that are similar and are not only based on the Lord but they are given to us by him. They are indestructible; and no one can take them from you; so the only way to loose them is to refuse to believe and use them. Think on this and reflect on the Lord’s words of hope revealed to Micah and how His words provide you with strength as you face difficult situations.
Micah was a contemporary of Hosea of the northern Kingdom and also one of the greatest of all prophets, Isaiah, from the Southern Kingdom. They all prophesied during the last half of the eighth century BC. Their messages were similar even though they may have had different backgrounds. It is felt by many that Isaiah belonged to the royal family or at least the princely families of Jerusalem—and that Micah may have belonged to the poorer classes living in the country. We know that Isaiah belonged to some of the noblest of families; there is no biblical account regarding the family of Micah; not even his father’s name, which is unusual among Jews. As a city dweller, Isaiah moved among the city politicians and statesmen and was the counselor of the king. Micah moved among the poorer classes, country people, peasantry who lived in the country of Judea. He has been called the prophet of the poor.
Micah’s entire message could be summed up in one sentence. All nations that live selfish and luxurious lives, even though they offer costly sacrifices, are vampires in the sight of God, sucking the life-blood out of the poor. Through Micah, God called his people into court to hear their indictment against them. Their sins center in the capital cities of Samaria and Jerusalem the capitol cities of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Time has not changed anything—our sins center today in the capitol city of the country, Washington DC.
The warning from this prophet was no different than the one from all the other great prophets that we have heard speak against sin and disobedience. Micah made sure that the people in rural areas got the same messages as those who lived in the cities with great control and influence.
The messaged was loud and clear that the Israelite nations were doomed and their cities and temples would fall, including Jerusalem and the temple located there. Evil nations would conquer the people and they would be exiled, made slaves, and loose all wealth and status.
Only a remnant would be saved and allowed to return. Then the prophet referred to the one that would be born as King of the Jews and they were told that their only hope was in this new king that would come to rule over them. The were warned that God does not let his people continue sinning without warning them of the consequences of their sins, giving them the opportunity to change their lifestyle and rendering punishment for sin.
God has always used individuals he calls out in important historical moments to guide his people, to call them back to him, ant to warn them of his punishment for their sin. There has never been a day in the history of the world when there were as many men of God preaching about the end of time and the coming doom as there are today. Not only are there more great preachers, but they have the radio and television to multiply their efforts to millions in one night.
I have a deep feeling of concern for people of foreign countries that have never had access to the word of God as we in America have had. However, I doubt that God’s wrath will be as heavy against them as it will be against the American disobedient public that has ever reason to know how to do right and are failing to do it. They know when they are wrong but choose to be wrong rather than right and submissive to God.
Those that have rejected God and his great Salvation have no hope past the last day of life here on earth. Those in Micah’s day had no hope without the promise of the King that was yet to come and rule over them as their Messiah. And the Christian hope today lies entirely in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the salvation these events have assured for us.

The Invitation is Inclusive - Isaiah 55-67

ISSAIAH 55: 1 TO 67, MAY 3, 2009
By: John Vandiver
During the last fifty years there has been a constant increase in the practice of pre-marital and promiscuous sex among high school and college age young men and women. You can add to this problem the increased use of drugs and alcohol and find the root cause for most marital failures in our country. A great number of the most heart breaking stories happen to students with unlimited talent and abilities.
The Bible is unlimited in the vast number of times that we are told that if we will place our faith in God, that he will make the way straight for us where we can use our own unlimited talents and abilities; however we can also know that they will be enhanced by the power and might of God. The bad mistakes that we continue to make automatically tells God that we really do not need his help; that we will be able to carve out a creditable life on our own without His help. It is so sad but usually true that things do not work out for our best when we neglect to take Jesus as our partner through life’s darkest hours.
In preparation for this lesson today, a great number of famous and some not so famous names came to my attention as examples that could be used to explain why many able people fall far short of their capabilities and our expectations. John Daly is the first that came to mind. He had the support of his family and the Russellville and Dardanelle golfing communities and played outstanding golf while attending the University. John won the hearts of the American golfing community and was noted and admired for his long drives. He was his own worst enemy and finally lost all control to the destructive power of alcohol to control his life. and even destroy. A terrible loss has resulted in the fact that John did not learn his drinking habits from Isaiah 53.
The last successful Razorback team was led by Matt Jones, a quarterback from Fort Smith that could throw the ball with great accuracy and surprised everyone with his ability to run the ball when it had to be moved forward. I may be naïve about his high school and college life, but he seemed to be honest, honorable, and dependable. Because of his height, long arms and running ability he was drafted by the pros as a wide end; and there is no doubt that his versatility would have led to great success. Just a few days ago he was on a visit back to Fayetteville when he was arrested and jailed on a drug violation. It was revealed that this was not his first offense, and it cost him his contract. When he broke his partnering contract with Jesus Christ it caused him to lose his playing contract in pro football.
I have wiled away many hours listening to Harry Carrey explain the exploits of the St. Louis Cardinals. There were dozens of super base ball players that set records that would still be holding if a group of cheating, nonprofessional un-American and non-Christian players with steroid muscle power had not exploited the profession. As a result they can not be the best that ever played because they cheated to get there—and they robbed honest top players of their position because we will never know now just how they did compare to players of the last decade.
All of the above really believed that they had found a way to make sure they had found satisfaction in this world. They made their own plans; they depended upon their own strengths and desires and they left God completely out of their overall plan for success. It is unfortunate for each one of them; but they chose the wrong road, wrong friends, and bad advice. It is sad, but they have hurt many others [family, friends, and co-players] and disappointed many of their fans.
Why will good people risk loosing all that is right and enjoyable just for the privilege of enjoying sin for a moment? It must be human nature because the problem has always existed. At the time covered by the 55th chapter of Isaiah, the Jewish people were operating under the covenant that God had made with David as King of Judah and Jerusalem. His people had violated their part in the covenant and their disobedience had led to their fall away into heathen bondage. It is now time under the covenant for them to return to their country, and rebuild. For a hundred years or more the prophets had been using the language of the lawyers and judges—courtrooms talk; and used the arguments from the temple, the priest and prophets trying to reach the people. It is actually quiet refreshing to see that Isaiah changes to the language of the salesman, and in this case all was free.
In order to serve his people that were returning, the servant God is talking as if they are hungry and thirsty but he is referring to Spiritual desires. He is telling them that spiritual food and water is free and that they only have to accept salvation as a free gift. Isaiah sounds like Christ talking seven thousand years later, when he invited all that was hungry and thirsty to “Come unto me.” “I will give you life freely.” The word thirst refers to a personal desire for man to know God. The word bread as use here refers to everything that is necessary in life like food. Clothing and shelter but these are just tributaries to the heart and soul of man.
This invitation is inclusive just as the title indicates. If you are ready to turn [or return] to God, then come without money…there is no cost…all is free. This has the same connotation as does grace in the New Testament. Grace is free…there is no cost. Salvation is by grace but through faith.
People understand that physical food cost money and is never free—someone has to pay for it. It only lasts a short time and only meets some very special needs. This comes through the hands of men. Spiritual food comes through the grace of God and can not be bought. How do we get it then? The book says that we [come] [listen] [seek] and [call on God] but we do this without price or money.
God’s covenant with David promised a permanent home, with no threat from other countries, but Israel did not keep their part of the covenant and their disobedience led to wars and destruction that left only a remnant to return and rebuild.
People were told to call on God while he was near, and there has been no change in this instruction. You may have thought that He is always near, but there is a condition here. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He never moves away but we do the moving and the distance grows because of our moving away and our livings out-side of his covenant responsibility.

The Lord Is at Work - Isaiah 40 - 49

There are usually fifty or more senior adults present at each of our Wednesday night prayer meetings at First Baptist, Heber Springs. During our prayer time, most of these offer up a personal prayer seeking God’s attention regarding personal problems of concern. For the most part these prayers are intercessory in nature and cover the water front from the improvement of a dear friend or relative with Alzheimer’s disease to protection for grand children; from problems of deep concern in the local church to hart-felt sorrow because of the deterioration of morals in our nation. In one night, we think of literally thousands of things for God to do.
When we think about the thousands of churches, many with larger memberships than we have that are making millions of request each week—plus all the Christians that have daily prayer times in their homes—and when we realize that all of these prayers are directed to one person—our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—only then can we realize just how busy He must be. No prayer is prayed that he does not hear and personally consider. We have his word that he hears and answers prayer, THE LORD IS AT WORK. Because of who He is and because of his nature, He never sleeps and is never tired; therefore he is available to answer our prayers 24/7 and always will be until his final return to earth to claim his Bride—The Church.
Only those of us who are older can remember the trying times that started in 1929, and increased during the 30s. When times got really hard and the almighty dollar practically disappeared, strong men turned to God in prayer. Times were hard, and many dedicated followers wondered how this terrible depression could possibly be a part of God’s plan for America. The Lord wants us to live with confidence that He is working in the world at all times to achieve His purposes although not always in ways that we can easily see or understand. We know, from his word, and from past experience, that he desires that his people both trust and depend upon Him and not on man, wealth and power.
The Lord is at work today to bring us out of this spiraling fall toward another Great Depression. He can not and will not fail if America will turn to Him and depend upon him to bring us out virtuously. This can only happen when we who are Christian people place our trust and faith in Him. On TV this morning, April 11, 2009, I watched and heard our President, personally say, “We are no longer a Christian Nation, but instead we are a nation of citizens.” This scares me! You may ask me—why? Here is my answer. First, most of our forefathers who were the founders of this great nation claimed to be Christian men, and they invoked God’s name often, and gave Him credit for the early successes of the new nation. They believed and proclaimed through the writings of the legal papers of America that the future success of this new nation depended upon the people’s continued faith in the Almighty God.
Any Christian can pray to God and expect his prayer to be answered. There is no limitation on what he can include in his request so long as it is requested in Christ’s name and within God’s will. However, an unsaved citizen can only pray one prayer and expect God to answer. The only prayer that God will answer for him is this one: “God. I am a sinner, lost and undone, come into my heart and save me from my sins.” A lost person can not pray successfully for our nation to be guarded against another Great Depression; he can pray, BUT GOD WILL NOT HEAR AND ANSWER AN INTERCESSORY PRAYER OF A LOST PERSON. If we are no longer a Christian nation, then who will go to God in prayer for us? I do not accept this conclusion; because if we were not somewhat pleasing in our service to God—He would have already arranged for our fall. Just look at what he did to his own people in Israel.
In bondage in Egypt for 400 years, His people were free and on their way to the land of milk and honey, they rebelled and disobeyed and were sentenced to another 40 years wandering in the desert. They successfully arrived along the costal plains and along the Jordan River and chose Judah and Jerusalem for the center of government and worship. Solomon built the most perfect and beautiful temple ever dedicated to God. Jerusalem was the safest of all walled cities; and it became known for its underground water system, unmatched in the world. This nation could well be compared to the new America that grew in prosperity and expansion quickly and very successfully.
Then weak and wicked kings gained power. They made treaties with nations that had been their enemies. They allowed immigration from heathen nations. There was inter-marriage of Jews and heathen women who brought their gods of Idols and established idol worship, all against the law of Almighty God. Oh, my beloved friends in Christ—look carefully and you can see that Israel was a Christian nation that turned into a nation of citizens!
Troubles cropped up on every side. The nation first divided into the northern and southern nations—and they lost power and prestige when this happened. Tribal wars flared and the kingdoms grew weaker, until the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC; and most of the walled cities in the southern kingdom were conquered; they were the dominant enemy of the Jew. No one in power even suspected that Babylon was a threat to the kingdom, but Isaiah was sent to warn them—and 130 years later in 587 BC the southern kingdom fell to Babylon. All but a remnant were conquered and carried away in exile.
[REMEMBER ALL THESE PROBLEMS WERE SENT BY GOD OR ALLOWED TO HAPPEN BY GOD BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAD DISOBEYED HIM!]
In about 800 BC God sent Isaiah to warn the people and explain what would happen to them as a result of their disobedience. Isaiah came in time to warn them and they could have saved their nation had they listened to him. Remember that Isaiah prophesied prior to the problems…he wrote in past tense as if it had already happened. He warned them that they would be taken away into captivity in Babylon. And then he explained how God would rescue them and use their known enemies to bring them back to their motherland. Their staunch enemies, the Assyrians would help negotiate a treaty with Babylon to let the people go, and then they would use the old devil’s money to move the people back to Jerusalem and even to help to rebuild their city and temple. Note: This prophesy is recorded in Isaiah chapters 40 and 41. Especially those that doubt what I have told you should read this prophesy! If you are one that will say that you do not believe the Bible—then explain how Isaiah knew every detail 800 years before it happened.
America has come to the place where they are disobeying God at every turn. God has never allowed the Jewish people to escape without punishment—why would anyone think that He would make an exception for the American people. PAY-DAY IS COMING SOME-DAY—AND IT MAY BE SOON! Pay day can pertain to you as an individual…or it can apply to a nation of non-believers. You need to realize that god has a system of punishment and rewards that fit individuals, families, communities, cities, nations or countries. Before we go any further in this study, please, please go back and read chapter six—especially verse 8 through 13.
God told his messenger that the people’s heart had become calloused [hard] and that they would not listen. Then why go to a people that will not listen? Yes, why? God had enough. God was fed up with a rebellious people. Listen, listen to me, please…God has a limit beyond which he will not go. Oh, I fear that America is approaching that limit today, every day we are getting closer. At this time, God’s patience with their chronic rebellion was finally exhausted. God had already passed his judgment and it was to abandon them to their rebellion and hardness of heart.
Why did God send Isaiah because he knew that the people would not listen to him? Please do not think that I am puffed up and think that I am anything like Isaiah!!! But he sent Isaiah and me for the same reason. The nation may not hear. Government officials may not respond. The local community may disregard this lesson. But there may be a few…just a few that will hear and respond. That is why he sent Isaiah, because God knew that his word would not return unto him void. Although the nation would not hear and repent and they were already set to reap justice, but there would be a remnant that would respond to God’s warning.
When would the people listen? As soon as they came to their rope’s end and had no where else to turn but back to God. I ask you…When will America listen to God’s warnings? The answer is redundant. When they have no other hope. These people gave up when they were captives in Babylon. Some, a few, held on to their faith and dependence in God. And God never gave up on them. He kept his promise and used their enemies to help them migrate back to their homeland and start rebuilding.
THE LORD IS STILL AT WORK TODAY and one of his biggest chores may be in deciding how to handle the American people who have sat by and allowed the immigrants and dissenters who worship other gods, and Godless people to gain control of our beloved America. We who love God and America should stand strong and tell the opposition to either join us in loving this country, obeying its laws, speaking its language, attending its schools, abiding by our laws, paying their taxes, worshipping the god of their choice, and allowing us to worship our God without being criticized and accused of being left wingers, or go back where they came from. If they are not happy…they should feel free to leave!

The Lord is Alive - Matthew 28:1-17

Have you ever wondered how you would feel if you had to admit that the God you serve is dead? If your god could not conquer death and the grave of what benefit could he be to the living? Generally speaking, there have been only three kinds or groups of gods mentioned in the bible; and it would be impossible for any of these to be resurrected from the dead.

Some men of the Old Testament as well as the North and South American Indians worshipped the moon and stars. In India the cow is considered to be sacred. These are all a part of God’s creation.

All of the twelve tribes of Jews chose many different gods. These were varied according to the needs as felt by the people. Statutes, carved poles, and molded images such as the golden calf at Mt Sinai were made to represent the sun, and moon or the god of rain or thunder; or a beautiful woman as goddess of sex. These were all man made to represent an imaginary god.

The third kind of gods that exists is the men that have lived and organized a cult religion that was espoused by small groups such as Jim Jones. Then there are Confucius and Mohammed with their millions. Confucius, Mohammed and Jim Jones are all dead, and neither of them will be resurrected from the dead until their judgment day—and surely will not return to claim their church.

As we all realize there is only one Jehovah God, who was, is, and will forever be the living God who gave his Son to die on the cross for our sins; and who was resurrected on the third day, was witnessed by many and ascended back into heaven where he sits at the right hand of His Father God as our intercessor. We proudly call this man Jesus Christ our Savior who died on the cross for our sins and is now the resurrected One.

We constantly read and study the scriptures in order to show ourselves approved and to simply have a better understanding of the bible. There are so many truths that we believe hare hidden between the lines, that it makes us want to look often and even closer than we did before. One fact not yet fully understood is that Christ chose twelve men to be his disciples that would be with him during his three years of ministry. However, he chose to allow two women to be the first to see him after his resurrection and charged them to go tell the twelve disciples. Since some of them wanted to be seated on his right and left side and even talked to him about it, I wonder how they felt when they learned that Jesus had granted the women in his life the opportunity to see him first as the resurrected Savior.

28: 1 says that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary saw him first. The other Mary was probably not the mother of Christ. [John 19: 25] indicates she could have been the wife of Clopas, and [Matthew 27:56] indicates that she may have been the mother of James and John. Or she could have been Jesus’ aunt. When these women ran back to the disciples and told them that Christ had risen, the disciples did not believe them. Note: they did not necessarily think the women were deliberately lying, but that they must be mistaken, misinformed, or had imagined it. There is no indication that any of the disciples actually expected to see Jesus again.

We know that a stone was used to close the grave. Matthew says that Joseph of Arimathaea rolled the stone in place. However, if the stone was flat on one side with the rest rounded, it could have been possible for one man to role it in place; but impossible for one man to move it out. It was also sealed by soldiers which could have made it more difficult to move.

Mathew records that an earthquake was felt in the area early that morning, and this indicates that the quake could have caused the grave to open. More than one apostle records that there were angels present that morning, early, before it was bright daylight which would cause their brilliant shining robes to be even more observable. Matthew says that the angels rolled the stone back and sat on it. The guards that had been assigned to guard the tomb saw this happen and froze in their tracks…they were afraid to try to interfere with what was happening; and feared their life might be taken for letting it happen.

One truth is clear regarding the open tomb. Regardless of how the rock was actually removed from the opening, the purpose was definitely to allow the women and apostles to look inside the grave and was not to make it possible for Christ to get out. His burial clothing was positioned on the slab as if he simply melted out of them…they were in place…undisturbed. His napkin was folded in the position that indicated that he was still around.

The angel met the women when they arrived and explained that Christ had risen as he had said he would and that they should go and tell the disciples. They should also tell the disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee.

Matthew says the women were afraid but joyful. They left and were running on their way when Jesus met them and greeted them. He removed their fear and left them with their joy. They fell at his feet and worshipped him. Jesus bade them go tell his brothers what had happened and that they should meet him in Galilee. He use the word brothers instead of disciples to indicate that he was not mad with them even though they had left him during the trial and crucifixion—and even though they had never fully understood.

There is nothing inferior or without meaning in the salvation story, however there are several keep points, high points, most important points, and the resurrection no doubt is a very important key to the Christian faith. You may ask why I believe this to be true. Here are several reasons.

Jesus promised his disciples and us that he would not remain in the grave, and he kept the promise—now we can look forward to him keeping all of his other promises to us.

Jesus bodily resurrection shows us that he is alive and the ruler of God’s eternal kingdom and not an imposter.

This is proof to us that death is not the end of our life; there is future life. We too will be resurrected as he was and we will live with him forever. That is one of his promises.

The same power that brought his physical life back is available to us to bring us back from our spiritual death—for we are dead in trespasses and sin, and must be born again.

His resurrection forms the bases for our message of grace. He is not dead! He is alive! He can and will save you! He died for our sins but he did not leave us alone to die in our sins.

Going back to Friday, about noon, some of the disciples gave up and got out of town (Jerusalem) as quickly as they could for fear their lives. Some returned to their home in Galilee broke; they had no income during the past three years they had to get back to their fishing jobs. They had depended on Christ to feed them on the road.

Two of the gospels indicate that some of his followers…some other than the disciples…holed up in their hideout in Jerusalem and were still in the process of deciding what to do. Christ walked through the wall and visited with them, giving them comfort and direction before they all went on to Galilee where he had instructed the women to tell everyone to meet him.

It is not as well known, and has never been discussed as much as the resurrection, but the forty-day following is another one of the important keys to the salvation story. This period is a faith builder for me. During this time he walked many miles, ate food, slept, and appeared to thousands of people who recognized him and have attested to his life after death. This is far too many for me not to believe them.

A third key that showed up in this lesson is the fact that he gave the church its commission as his last instructions. We know what he would have us do. We can know when we are about our Father’s business—we can know when we are doing our Father’s will. We are to go everywhere and preach, teach, care for his little ones.

The fourth and final key to our future came when he bid farewell and disappeared in a cloud headed back to his throne. We know that as they saw him go…he will return again. We know that we too will be caught up with him in his cloud to heaven where we will rein with him forever more. We will have a new resurrected body; we will have a new life in glory. Who are we? Only those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior will be able to enjoy heaven and a life with Him.

The Sacrifice is Sufficient - Isaiah 49:1 - 53:12

While growing up on the family farm it was necessary for me to make dad a farm hand the year around; and I can distinctly remember that time crept by very slowly in those days. It was not unusual for me to work as many as 200 weeks from one Christmas to the next. {Time seemed to creep by} Congress started messing around with our clocks, moving them forward and backward and it caused a great difference with the passing of time. Time goes much faster now. I have only had enough time to take two showers and get one hair-cut since last Christmas, and here it is Palm Sunday; next Sunday we will celebrate Easter. Where did over three months go?

At Christmas time, we always try to tie the Bible lesson plan in with the story of our Lord’s birth, which is as it should be. To me, it is just as appropriate for us to discuss his death and resurrection at Easter time and we will. Today we will talk about his reason for coming, his preparation for His sacrifice He made. It actually makes it more interesting to me when I realize the Bible source of the information being used today is coming from Isaiah; he foretold this story about the life of Christ hundreds of years before the Jesus was born. His prophesy is as detailed and accurate as is the history written by eye witnesses, and there are no contradictions.

Some of you may be skeptical of the Bible and at least have doubts about some of the miracles as recorded. You should find much strength and assurance when you read the truth about how Isaiah and other prophets were able to predict with precision the birth, life and death of Christ about eight hundred years before the event happened exactly as they told us it would. Prophesies made that have come true hundreds of years later help us to know that we know the Bible to be the true Word of God.

People did not have to wait until after the life of Christ to know who the Messiah would be. They did not have to wait until the New Testament was written to find that Christ lived, died for our sins and was resurrected and ascended back into heaven. And they did not have to wait past their own generation to know for sure that His SACRIFICE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT. Isaiah explained it well in the scriptures we are studying today. The 53rd chapter is one of the most amazing prophecies ever made. I keep warning us in the beginning of the 21st century that even though God is love, there is a limit beyond which he will not tolerate blatant disobedience of His people. The Israelites, for some reason, never seemed to understand this characteristic of Jehovah; and King Uzziah completely ignored the law of God, and the Jewish people had turned to their idols and selfish desires. Remember that God called Isaiah on the day Uzziah died. He was called to specifically warn these disobedient people that they could either change their ways or there would be a series of wars that would completely annihilate the Kingdom—even Jerusalem and the temple.

In the eighth century B.C. Isaiah met the Lord, high and lifted up—he got his instructions and started his work. You will find that chapters 40 to 66 cover the look ahead to the Babylonian exile and the time when only a remnant of the Jews would be left and finally able to return to their home country. It seemed that he was a bearer of nothing but bad news, but that was not completely so. In God’s time a remnant would be able to return to what would be a New Jerusalem under the rule of their new Messiah.

Isaiah explained to the people that because of their disobedience they would be conquered and exiled by their enemies but that through Babylon, Assyria, and others there would be a remnant that would eventually be able to return and rebuild their land, and bring His people back to Him; not only this but they would also be charged to carry this good news of salvation to all people everywhere. He told them that they would be released from exile and would even feel they had been rejected, but he declared that God had not forgotten them and that their defeat was only punishment for their sins. God would restore them and their restoration would witness to His lordship [49]. This all cam true just as he told them it would.

Listen dear friend, don’t miss this fact! Isaiah was telling the Jewish people [and us] what was going to happen 800 YEARS BEFORE IT HAPPENED: And it happened just as he had predicted. The Bible confirms this as truth. Oh, so you do not believe the Bible? Well, history books confirm that these wars took place and the temple was destroyed. Do you believe history books? Yes. Or No. Maybe you should question whether or not Columbus discovered America; or even whether or not there was ever a new settlement at Plymouth Rock. Did the English attack early America? Was there ever a Spanish American War? How do you know? If you believe historians regarding American history, why do you doubt historians who confirm the Bible history to be true?

Isaiah explained that the Jewish Messiah would come; and this new [GOOD] King would set up his throne and reign forever more. Then in chapter 53 Isaiah explained in detail who this new king would be, and all the details of his virgin birth, his physical description, his life’s work, and finally THE SUFFICIENT SACRIFICE that he would make to save his people forever. AND ACCORDING TO HISTORY IT HAPPENED JUST AS ISAIH PREDICTED OVER 800 YEARS BEFORE. WOW! Nothing gives me more faith in all the word. Through Isaiah, God called the people of that day to wake up. Through the teaching and preaching of the church you are being called to wake up and demonstrate that you have faith; and prove through your service that you do love Him. Here is what Isaiah said He would look like, what He would do and how his people {including you and me], and how you and I would accept or reject Him. [Notice that much of this is written as if it had already happened. Isaiah looks ahead and sees as plainly as you and I can look back and see that he was correct.]

53:1-12. His birth would seem as normal to the people as it was normal for a plant or weed to sprout and come up out of the ground. That is, He would be borne by a woman in natural childbirth. He would look like all other babies, with nothing different or noticeable that would set him apart from others. He did not look like a rising king; he was just another unwanted root that had sprouted. Jews expected the birth to come out of royalty, in a palace, with servants attending; and instead he was born in a stock yard stable, and raised in Nazareth not Jerusalem.

This is written in past tense hundreds of years before it happened and we can go to Matthew and read about it happening over 2000 years ago, after it happened. How did Isaiah know that? The only thing to discuss is the reference to sickness. We have no record of Jesus being sick as unto death with others. But he was around sick people, and served sick people, and healed sick people so he knew what sickness was. He was despised and rejected. Now look at the present tense: He is still despised and rejected today just as he was then—by many but not the faithful few. Which side are you on? It has to be one or the other. Do you despise Him? Have you rejected Him? Or, have you accepted Him? Why do you think the people living in A.D. 27-30, the time of his teaching life, rejected him as the Son of God? Why do people today reject him as Savior and Lord?

Jews had been accustomed to the use of birds and animals as their sacrifices and so it must have been difficult for them to fully understand that in this case their New Messiah would be the sacrifice for the sins of others. Isaiah described in detail how his death would involve more than just the crucifixion. Words to describe different types and levels of punishment and pain were such as stricken, afflicted, pierced and crushed. His people were thinking on a different level and it was impossible for them to visualize the New King being the sacrifice for his people. A servant or an animal should be the sacrifice, while the New King was being crowned.

They had problems understanding that each one of them was a guilty sinner. We have the same problem. If you talk to the unsaved about being saved, one of the most common replies you will receive sounds something like this. “I have always been a good person, I donate to charity, I have given all my spare time to working with youth in little league. I am truthful, honest and try to be a good neighbor.

Isaiah speaks of Israel as wandering sheep and the Messiah as the shepherd that would bring them back to the fold. People today that condemn the Jews for not accepting Isaiah’s warning must realize that they had to look forward into the unknown and believe; whereas we can look back into the known and recorded history given to us by eyewitnesses. God will have a greater reason for condemning us for our unbelief, than he has for condemning the Jew.

As you conclude your study of this lesson, through your mind’s eye, look back at the last three days of the life of Christ that led up to his death on the cross. Try as best you can to visualize him praying in the garden that God would find another way. Look in his face when he returned to his disciples and found them asleep and not praying for him. Feel his heart beat as Judas and the soldiers came to arrest him. Attend the trial and watch the crowd scream for his destruction. Look into his eyes as John denies him the third time and leaves the court yard.

Follow along with the crowd that pushed, shoved and beat him all the way to the hill of skulls. Listen to the whip as the lashes filed with metal spikes and glass, cut through his skin and watch the blood run down. Observe closely the Roman soldiers pounding spikes through his hands and feet. Hear his last prayer; “God forbid them for they don’t know any better.”

Stay Spiritually Alert - Isaiah 36:1 - 39:8

In preparation for the first five lessons in Isaiah we have read through the first 39 chapters. In the first four lessons we learned about the sins of Israel and Judah under the evil rule of King Uzziah—and we were made aware of God’s judgment that was assuredly coming. The setting for the book thus far has been the general area from the Mediterranean Sea and the Jerusalem area and then east to the Tigris River. Today’s study includes Babylon which is in the area of the valley where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers converge, and it runs north to Assyria which includes the vast area of the northern water sheds that feed the two rivers. Yes, the major portion of this area makes up the land of Iran, Arrack, and all parts west to the sea.

The Israelites were having difficulty “Remaining Spiritually Alert” from day one. They had been warned about placing their faith in other gods and other powers. They had been warned not to marry women from heathen nations because it would lead them to accept other gods. King Uzziah had ignored God’s warnings and allowed all of the above to be practiced throughout the country. He had even permitted the people to bring the idols representing their other gods into the Holly Temple in Jerusalem, and they were being worshipped along with or by the side of the Holly One. God did not overlook their disobedience—and he will not overlook the rejections he is now receiving from disobedient Americans.

In the year that King Uzziah died [740 BC.] God commissioned Isaiah to become their spiritual eyes so they could avoid the problems they were facing. His people were warned about the attacks that would come from all of their enemy nations. Isaiah’s prophecy about the fall of Jerusalem and Tyre fell on minds that were not spiritually alert. It is of great interest to me as I examine the map of this area today, 2009 AD, I find the most troubled area in the entire world is still in the same place and occupied by the same nationalities of people that never have found how to become spiritually alert. In fact, the vast majority still worship idols and false gods. It is noteworthy to mention that all of these “other gods” died…and remained dead. It is only the spiritually alert people who worship THE LIVING GOD!

This scripture regarding this lesson is found in chapter 39. The first six verses deal with the period of time when Jerusalem is being threatened again. Hezekiah is now in his fourteenth year as King of Judah, and King Sennacherib of Assyria captured all the fortified cities of Judah up to the gates of Jerusalem. The king stopped at the pool and aqueduct, Jerusalem’s water supply, and waited until Hezekiah sent envoys out to meet them. In essence he told Hezekiah that he had no army of his own—and that he was depending on Egypt which was weak and undependable. The hardest jolt came when the King of Assyria ask if he was depending on the same God that was in the temple when King Uzziah removed God’s alters from the temple. Uzziah had destroyed alter worship and God had become distraught with his people because of their alien marriages and the worship of alien idols. Hezekiah was somewhat more devoted to God, but because of his weakness he had not restored true worship to the temple.

The next encounter that Hezekiah had with his enemies they were out of Babylon. He had been very ill and Isaiah told him that God said he would surely die. But after he went to God in earnest prayer and ask for extended time, God granted him an extra 15 years of time on earth. He gained some time but did not grow in spiritual alertness. The king of Babylon sent an envoy to see him bearing a gift since he had been very ill, and had recovered. While the envoy was in Jerusalem, Hezekiah showed them through out his vast holdings. This is another example of Hezekiah’s spiritual blindness. He either did not realize they were spies or he may have thought that they were not his enemies. Read 39: 1- 7.

At the time of this incident, Assyria was in total control, the most powerful of all the nations in the area including Babylon. None of these leaders realized that God was moving in and would switch power control over to Babylon. Isaiah knew, and he asked Hezekiah what information about his assets he had revealed to the envoy from Babylon. When the King said, everything he had, Isaiah told him that this information would be use by Babylon when he came to conquer the nation.

Though spiritually weak at times, Hezekiah was one of Judah’s most faithful kings. He did what he could to stamp out idolatry and restore the temple to its rightful place in the lives of the people. It was his efforts that gave the nation extended peace for the extra fifteen years that God added to his life. At his death, Manasseh became one of the wicked kings, and went back to idol worship. He actually rebuilt some of the idols that his father had removed from the temple.

It has been somewhat difficult to look deeply into this scripture and understand how it teaches us to be spiritually alert. It now remains a challenge for me to make sure that this lesson becomes relevant to those of us in bible study today. The first step in this attempt will be for me to help you see and understand how we measure, weigh, or place a value on things. One of the most troublesome contentions we must face in this life is that we must accept the fact that some things are objective and some are subjective.

As an example, go with me to the gym. When the basketball goes through the hoop everyone in the building KNOWS that the shooter made 1, 2, or 3 points. In football, when the ball goes between the goal post, the kicker has scored either 1or 3 points. These are objective facts that will always be scored alike by two or more scorekeepers. The highest score wins. Everyone understands. The decision is made in an objective way—without question and one of the teams goes home a KNOWN winner.

On Saturday the Heber Springs band plays in competition with other schools our size. The object of the concert, or marching, band is to be the winner. Can our band be the KNOWN winner? NO! The measurements used are subjective, and the ways the measurements are used are also subjective. Any one of the judges can be biased, and you and I can never know for sure that the band would have been the winner if it had been judged by different judges.

Spirituality must always be measured subjectively. No one can measure the spiritual alertness of any saint. Now, listen, the sad part is that you can never know for sure what your score is regarding your spiritual alertness. Before you become distressed, let me help you remember that the best, easiest, and only sure way you can measure your spiritual alertness is for you to read and study God’s word and learn how to be like Christ. It does not require an educated mind to know how to be spiritually alert, but it does take a broken and contrite spirit—a heart dedicated to Jesus.

Do you have a person in mind that always seems to know the right thing to say and do when the time is right? Do you know someone that is not overly blessed that seems to experience overflowing joy of others without showing any jealousy? Can you offer strength and hope to one that is burdened? Yes, but first you must have the spiritual talent of being able to recognize a burdened brow. I hope you will assess your spiritual disciplines and determine what you need to cultivate in order for you to stay spiritually alert. Just remember that you can not be both self-centered, and spiritually alert.

When the Kings of old, and the Leaders of the USA, and each of us are not SPIRITUALLY ALERT, we fail to be sensitive to our spiritual needs and the needs of others. This leads us to depend on ourselves and our armed forces, our allies [if we have any left] and money [which the US does not have left] instead of The Lord Jesus Christ. What happens when we are not alert nationally? I believe that biblical examples are better than guesses.

The first example is King Uzziah, with no spiritual alertness, disobeyed God and gave in to idol worship and allowed the people to desecrate the temple with idols of foreign gods.

The second example was King Sennacherib, of Assyria who had already captured the northern kingdom and in this lesson he defeats all the gated cities of Judah except Jerusalem and delivers an ultimatum for their surrender.

The third is King Hezekiah, one of the better kings, but still not strong enough to stay spiritually alert and depend on God instead of Egypt and the walls of his city for protection from Assyria and Babylon.

Manasseh is the forth I will mention because he was the final straw that broke God’s back when he destroyed all the good his father Hezekiah had accomplished.

What happened to them? God prepared Babylon with wealth, armies, and means to conquer the entire area from Judah to Assyria—whom everyone believed to be the strongest of all nations at that time. Jerusalem was considered to be God’s city, God’s temple home, and God’s people. The total city including the walls and temple was completely destroyed just as God had instructed his prophets to warn them. I believe that we in America are also God’s people and if we continue to disobey Him He will treat us in the same way. Many believe that history repeats itself. Read your history books and see if we are not following in the footsteps of the kings and people of the Southern Kingdom.

Follow the Lord's Will - Isaiah 24:1 - 35:10

The lesson title today should become one of your habits that surfaces at least two or three times every day, and should appear in both action and words and involve heart, mind and body. Personally, I seldom offer a prayer that I do not ask the Lord to have his way and will in my life. It becomes easier to shun sin and do right if one is committed to stay in God’s will and walk in his way daily. It is fairly easy to do if you refuse to walk anywhere Christ would not walk with you, for any reason He would not approve.

If you are a born again Christian, I hope you will not ask how you are to know God’s will for your life. If you do ask, it will reveal a great weakness in your character and understanding of our Savior and his teachings. The Holy Bible is your guide, your map and your book of instructions regarding what God wants you to do and what he has told you not to do. In order to cover all circumstances He reminds us of two types or ways of sinning—omission and commission. If one’s desire is to stay in the will of God; it requires doing what God says we must do; and it forbids doing those things that God tells us not to do. It requires simple obedience. How then can you know lest you “study to show thyself approved?”

Art Linkletter once had a very popular show entitled “Children are Funny—or say the funniest things.” Then he proved it with several episodes of a popular T. V. special. I am here to tell you that people are funny to me in a different way. The nation of Jewish people had been in Egyptian bondage, [crewel slavery] for over four hundred years, when Moses led them out into the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land that was flowing with milk and honey. God’s will was that they reach their new home in a year, maybe two or three at most. They refused to walk in his will and the short journey turned into forty years in the wilderness, and the death of a generation of people.

Those same people finally reached their land of milk and honey, settled in Judah, built the city of Jerusalem and dedicated it to Almighty God. The city was a fort that protected everyone, with walls all around and gates for the people to leave to go to their farms and vineyards to work by day and to enter again at night for protection. It was God’s will that they continue to depend upon him for protection, prosperity, continued growth in the independent life. They did some funny things! Some unbelievable things! They married out of the Jewish line, to heathen and ungodly people. They desecrated the Holly Temple by worshipping the gods of the heathen they had married. They placed their dependence in their armed forces—and when they felt week they placed their fate in the arms of other nations that would eventually turn on them. All the time, the prophets like Isaiah, kept warning them of the end result that would come when they REFUSED TO FOLLOW THE LORD’S WILL. Listen, you can be sure that God has not changed one bit, and He will treat America the very same way.

A little over two hundred years ago the early American immigrants were scattered all across Europe and the Middle East in England, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy and several other smaller nations. Their conditions, both physical and spiritual resembled the conditions of the Israelites. Word spread throughout that part of the world that a Spanish explorer named Columbus had found a new land of milk and honey that was just waiting for a bunch of hard working, God fearing people that would like to escape their present conditions. Listen! History books and not just the bible, recorded this westward expansion story, and most of the people came seeking religious freedom. Their faith in and dependence on God Almighty was confirmed by appearing in every government document that was written including the constitution. During the past forty years the voices have grown louder arguing that America does not need God any more.

This wasn’t the first or second time this had happened. Remember back in the Garden of Eden? God told Adam and Eve to live happily. Eat freely. Enjoy everything. Want for nothing. Everything is yours to do with as you please. Enjoy! You are in a perfect place where there is nothing else that man can desire and it is all yours! But, But, there is one thing…it is God’s will that you do not eat the fruit from this one tree. It was just one tree out of many but it was not in God’s will…for them to eat the fruit of it. They disobeyed and mankind has suffered horribly until this day.

When His own people became so immoral that they were abusing the temple and worshipping other gods, Jerusalem fell. The greatest nation in the early world, Rome conquered the known world and prospered until it decayed morally from the top down, and fell. Not since the fall of the Roman Empire has there ever been another nation with the prosperity, power, and prestige that the USA gained through the WWII period. Then during the decades of the 50s through the 70s, the Godless hearts and minds of a New Age movement became strong against our Christian heritage. God will not contend indefinitely with a people that continually disobey him; not even if their leaders live in a white house.

Isaiah’s message, found in the 30th chapter, deals with the situation that existed in Judah during the three year period from 704 to 701 BC and following the death of the powerful king, Sargon. Hezekiah became king of Judah. Times were troubled and the nation was week and against God’s will, Hezekiah tried to forma an alliance to stand against the North. He even went so far as to invite Egypt to join him, when God had forbid such an alliance ever since His people were in bondage there. God immediately called his people a “rebellious children” for disobeying his rules. Disobedience is no more than lack of reverence, and our people today have lost all reverence toward Jehovah God.

Egypt was a weak nation at this time, and the alliance formed proved to be too weak to withstand the invasion that came down and destroyed the entire southern kingdom except the city of Jerusalem. I see America in comparison today as a nation with very few allies and they are not the strongest of nations. The stronger nations feel that their currency is worth more than ours: some of our major banks are broke: our dominant industries have fallen into bankrupt status or at least are talking about it. Jobs are gone and fear is rampant and even at this low ebb in our history we have totally forgotten how dependent we are on the favor of God, and refuse to place our faith in him instead of a welfare-buyout by a government that is broke.

There are signs on every corner that tell us that God is unhappy with his people. We are re-living the days of Isaiah when the people of Judah had lost faith in God, their worship was empty and they were depending on their own schemes, power, and alliances and were ignoring God. The prophets and priest had spent their lives teaching the people how to please God and prosper, but they moved away from his WILL AND WAY and chose to follow their earthly leaders who were depending on their own decisions and the strengths of those who aligned with them. It is past time in America for our leaders to learn to follow the Lord’s will and by so doing, they could regain the respect of the people and the blessings of God.