Squirt

Q6. (Isaiah 66:22-24). Why do you think eternal punishment is mentioned at the end of such a glorious prophecy as Isaiah? Not all will believe. It is necessary to show not only the blessings for those who are obedient, but the punishment for those who are not. Perhaps the truth of the judgment to those who do not believe will lead them to reconsider and turn from their evil ways. It seems that there are vast numbers of unbelievers who fail to understand that human beings are eternal creatures, made in the image of God. The atheists think that you die and that’s it. Period. You live, you die, you’re dust and it is all over. It is necessary to lead them to see that you cannot opt out of eternity: your choice is between eternity in heaven or eternity in hell. Why is the enduring, eternal kingdom mentioned? In the same way that eternal punishment is needful for the sinners to hear, the reassurance of an enduring, eternal kingdom is encouragement to those who are struggling. Who will be included in this kingdom? It is entered by faith and submission to the Lord. Who will be excluded from it? Those who do not repent of their rebellion and believe in the Lord will be excluded from the eternal kingdom.

Q5. (Isaiah 66:1-4) If God prescribed temple worship in the Pentateuch, why does he seem to prohibit it in 66:3? The temple is within: when Christ died on the cross, the veil separating the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom and we were granted access to God ourselves through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Israelites were performing the ritual of worship without actually worshiping God. Their offerings were worldly, surface action performed for appearance’ sake rather than honoring God. They were prideful and self-serving. They offered sacrifices from duty rather than from the heart. What is missing from their worship? Heart, worship, abandonment of self, focus only on the Lord. Have you ever had this element missing from your worship? Yes. It has often happened in the past, and still does when something during the service seriously distracts me. There have been times when I rushed into prayer time with the Lord without first actually coming into His presence. There are times when, in prayer, I lift up someone in need but my thoughts are on the person I’m lifting up rather than on the Father. What kind of heart is God looking for (66:2)? A humble and contrite spirit, and a reverential awe of God

Q4. (Isaiah 65:17-25) Why do you think the final state is referred to as the new heavens and the new earth? What is new about them? The millennial time brings Christ to earth to reign over His kingdom. The curse of sin has been lifted. Jerusalem will be a source of joy, a city where the people are filled with happiness, where a man who reaches 100 years of age is considered still a child, where children will not die prematurely. It is a time of peace rather than war. The people will plant and harvest and God will bless them. Nature will be at peace with them, and there will be instant communication with God, for before we ask He will hear. Which verse talks about the end of pain and sorrow? Isaiah 65:19b The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. Which verse mentions instant communication? Isaiah 65:24 Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. Which verse illustrates the peace of this Kingdom? Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on My entire holy mountain,” says the LORD. (from Isaiah 11:6-9).

Q3. (Isaiah 63:7-64:12) What is the basis of Israel's expectation of salvation according to this prophecy? They plead the Lord’s honor, as Moses did when the Lord was angry and would have destroyed the people in the wilderness. “Your holy cities have become a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Lord, after all this, will You restrain Yourself? They also plead His covenant relationship with His chosen people: He has always been merciful to His people throughout their history–“He lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past.” “All of us are Your people.” “You are our Father, even though Abraham does not know us, and Israel doesn’t recognize us.” What does 64:5-7 teach us about the quality of our righteousness? On our own, we are unclean and as dead as a withered leaf through our sinful nature. He turns His face away. We have no righteousness in ourselves. Jesus is our righteousness. How are we to see our relationship to God according to 63:16 and 64:8-9? He is our Father and our Redeemer and a righteous God to His people. He is the potter, we are the clay. Does the clay tell the potter how to form it, what shape it should have, what decoration is best, what use best suits it? Through our loving obedience to His work in us, we become God-shaped vessels perfected for His purposes. First comes our relationship with Him. Our loving Father wants face time with you and me. He wants us to really know Him, and He wants us to be open and loving children enjoying and trusting in Him. It is fellowship first and worship. He can cleanse us and remake us in Christ’s image if we will let Him have His way. What does this passage teach about grace? Grace is a gift we do not earn in any manner; we cannot earn or deserve the blessings He bestows on us as His children. His grace is plentiful, based on His love and compassion for His creation. In all their suffering, He suffered; the Angel of His Presence saved them; He redeemed them because of His love and compassion; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past.

Q2. (Isaiah 62) The Jewish people have been humbled, scorned, and persecuted through the ages. According this passage, what will be their final state? They will be mighty, righteous and holy; given a double portion of honor; given future blessings, called by a new name the LORD will bestow; firmly established in fellowship with the LORD and joyful. They will be the ones who bring God’s light to the Gentiles...this is already being carried out by the Church. Will Christians be included in these blessings? (Hint: Romans 11:11-24). Yes. The blessings and promises are all “Yea” in Christ. If God has purposed to restore his people, why is intercessory prayer called for in 62:6-7? The watchmen on the wall are to call on the Lord unceasingly in reminder until Jerusalem is restored. We’re told to prepare for His coming again. We’re told to pray without ceasing. We’re told to pray for governments, for enemies, for the lost, for brothers and sisters, and pray for Israel. He has chosen to work through His people. Notwithstanding His sovereignty, His absolute power, God allows us to participate in His work on earth through our prayers. I’m reminded of a National Geographic article on lightning. Roughly paraphrased, a cloud-to-ground lightning strike appears to strike downward, but there is a corresponding charge upward from the ground. The bolt that appears to first originate in the clouds is a negatively-charged branch that does not become a powerful lightning strike until a corresponding branch, positively charged, rises from the earth. The two connect and enormous power is released. It is this result that we see with our naked eye. Our prayers are the upward branch that make the connection with His will. Where in the New Testament are we told to pray for what God has purposed? (Hint: the Lord's Prayer). Thy Kingdom Come, Thy will be done.

Q1. (Isaiah 61:1-3) Are words like "captive" and "prisoner" used literally or figuratively? They are used figuratively. Captives and prisoners of sin, living in ignorance, possessed by demons, unable to free themselves and, without Jesus, lost for eternity. For those who believe in Him, He removes their chains and sets them free. When they are freed by Christ, they are free indeed. How did Jesus intend them to be understood when he read them and spoke of their fulfillment? He intended, when He read this in the synagogue at Nazareth, that the words be understood as fulfilled in Him and was saying to the Jews, “Here I AM, the Messiah come among you to free you from your bondage.” At first they marveled at His words and His manner, but by the time He finished speaking, they tried to throw Him off a cliff. This passage has been compared to the “Year of Jubilee” when debts were marked paid, land was returned to its original owners, and slaves were freed. If you believe in Jesus, you have been set free from bondage; your spiritual debt to the Lord has been paid; you are living in ‘the acceptable year of the Lord.’ How are you personally doing in adopting Jesus' agenda here? There are times still when I am going through the day without looking for the work of the Lord, not expecting Him to show me something or someone, and as a result I am slow to respond when He speaks to me. How is your congregation doing? We have a congregation increasingly both eager and trained to go out and bring the lost to Christ; who minister to the needs of members of the congregation, mothers with babies, schools, nursing homes, carnival workers at the county fairs; children and families outreach; prayer groups both in homes and on campus; and foreign missions. There is always more that could be done. This congregation is actively seeking.

Q7. (Isaiah 59:1-2) How do disobedience and lack of repentance prevent our prayers from being answered? Sin causes a separation between us and God. He is holy; He turns His face away from our disobedience because He cannot look upon sin. The more we sin, the easier it becomes to continue and the more unconscious we become of our sins. We lose the sense of what is right and wrong. As long as we continue living in this state of sinfulness, God ‘does not hear’ our prayers. According to verse 2, who is causing the separation from God? How can it be corrected? We cause the separation ourselves by our sin. We must confess our sin, agreeing with God that we are wrong and turning from it, putting it away from us forever. Only when we repent of our sin does He turn to us again and answer our prayers.

Q6. (Isaiah 58:13-14) In these verses what positive actions align themselves with a true keeping the Sabbath? As Christians, we are made new in Jesus and we become spiritual creatures in temporary residence in the world. One day a week, on the Lord’s day, He calls us to separate ourselves and, turning away from the world, enter into a day of rest and worship of our God, honoring Him, worshiping Him in praise and song, and giving back to Him our offerings from the bounty He has given us. This is not intended as mere ritual or obligation, but a willing and joyful time, pleasing to Him and beneficial to us. Wherever possible, we gather together with our brothers and sisters in Christ to study the Word of God and to refresh our spirits. And we let our love for Christ include neighbors and family and friends. What negative actions should be avoided in a true keeping of the Sabbath? Avoid those things that give no thought to God, that do not honor Him, but in fact are dishonoring to Him. Abstain from business or selfish pleasure. Abstain from worldly activities that reflect poorly on Christians and the church of God.

Q5. (Isaiah 58:9b-10a) In what ways are people injured by backbiting, judgmental attitudes, and harsh criticism? Those who are the targets are injured in spirit, made to feel inferior, sometimes shamed, sometimes angered, but carrying the weight of harsh criticism instead of love. If the injured party is angered or grieved and has difficulty forgiving, then not only have they been victimized, but they have been pushed into sinning too. They are oppressed by the ill will of their brothers and sisters and often led to doubt themselves and, much worse, to doubt God. This can lead to them severing their affiliation with the church congregation rather than face the perceived shame. Or it can lead to them 'responding' among their group of friends and the dispute widens. Those who perpetrate the backbiting, judgmental attitudes, and harsh criticism injure themselves in their walk with the Lord. Their actions are sinful and separate them from fellowship with God. If the actions are repeated, it leads to a hardening of their hearts toward others. How are they injured by false accusations and slander? False accusations and slander spread like wildfire among neighbors, among congregations, and in circles of friends and alter the attitudes of others toward the injured persons. Either they are forced to defend themselves, even in a court of law, or they are unwittingly defamed and do not understand what is happening to them. Their integrity is damaged without cause. But it is the inward effect that is the most damaging; if the accusations are taken seriously by the individual involved, then their self-worth is brought into question in their own minds. They begin to focus on self and have difficulty opening up to God. Their trust is shaken and faith is a more tenuous thread in their lives. How can we change our church cultures to banish this kind of behavior? First, encourage love among brothers and sisters in Christ, not only teaching brotherly love, but demonstrating it. If someone is seen to be taking part in backbiting, criticism, false accusations and slander, we are taught to go to them in love and gentleness and talk to them about it (Mt. 18:15-17). If someone is talking to you and speaking harshly about someone else, gently ask them to stop. Let them know that you do not participate in such talk. Then pray for them to be guided by the Word and by the Spirit to an understanding of the truth. If they do not listen, then turn away from them. It is not always easy, especially if the one doing the talking is a friend. One hopes that a gentle remonstrance will work, but often it does not and then you’re forced to speak more plainly. No one has promised that walking as a Christian is going to be easy going all the time. What would it require of us to really "spend ourselves in behalf of the hungry"? What would this look like for an individual? For a congregation? Take part in food drives, donate money and goods to food pantries and church organizations that minister to the hungry, and directly help those within our personal circle/neighborhood who are in need. Bring the needs of the community to the attention of the congregation for corporate attention. Be willing to be an active part of the solution. Pray to the Lord to open our eyes to the needs of those around us, and then look for His leading, listen for His prompting, and follow through on what He shows us. We don’t always know when a neighbor is in need, but if we ask the Lord to show us, He will. Ask in faith and truth, and listen. It is important first to EXPECT that He will answer. Jesus said, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22 When He answers, respond immediately.

I finally found my way to this area of the board--a little tech-slow. My name is Kathryn. I live in Florida. Am married, no children, and am a first-timer to the on-line studies of Pastor Ralph, but I do have a number of His studies via e-books. I'm enjoying the experience and the knowledge.

Message from Pastor Ralph today regarding the problem receiving the lesson emails: I have been having serious problems with my e-mail server and since Monday, November 4, none of the e-mails have gotten out. I am truly sorry and am working hard to remedy this situation. Until then you may find links to the lessons you're missing at: http://www.jesuswalk...aiah/isaiah.htm Please let those on the forum know about the situation. Thanks. May God richly bless you Yours in Christ's service, Pastor Ralph

Message from Pastor Ralph today regarding the problem receiving the lesson emails: I have been having serious problems with my e-mail server and since Monday, November 4, none of the e-mails have gotten out. I am truly sorry and am working hard to remedy this situation. Until then you may find links to the lessons you're missing at: http://www.jesuswalk...aiah/isaiah.htm Please let those on the forum know about the situation. Thanks. May God richly bless you Yours in Christ's service, Pastor Ralph

Message from Pastor Ralph today regarding the problem receiving the lesson emails: I have been having serious problems with my e-mail server and since Monday, November 4, none of the e-mails have gotten out. I am truly sorry and am working hard to remedy this situation. Until then you may find links to the lessons you're missing at: http://www.jesuswalk...aiah/isaiah.htm Please let those on the forum know about the situation. Thanks. May God richly bless you Yours in Christ's service, Pastor Ralph

Q4. (Isaiah 58:6-7) What kinds of injustice does Isaiah condemn in these verses? He condemned the Israelites for going through the motions of observing the Law without being changed. They fasted, but it didn’t change their hearts; they did not stop oppressing those who were weaker, those who were indentured to them. He condemned them also for not providing the necessities of life to those who were unable to provide for themselves. We pray each day “give us this day our daily bread,” by which we mean “provide for us today those things which we need to live.” He challenges them, asking them aren’t you supposed to feed the hungry and provide shelter to the poor wanderer, clothe the naked, and provide for your own flesh and blood? Are you not your brother’s keeper? What excuses do we use to rationalize not being generous to the poor -- in our communities or in our families? Someone else is supposed to be helping them–there are government programs If they really needed help they wouldn’t be wearing $100 shoes I’m not going to give money to someone who smokes. There’s a food bank down the street. Goodwill has clothing for just a few dollars. Most of those folks you see out there are just out to get something for nothing. I should give, I know, but things are a little tight... The shame of excuses is that we are turning our backs on the people who most need us at a time when they can’t help themselves. The Lord’s command is to love others as ourselves In what ways is "tough love" important to help people? When the Lord allows trials in our lives, the intent is to draw us closer to Him. Not only does it refine us, but it gives us both a witness and sympathy for others suffering similar things. When Israel and Judah continued to sin against God, He removed His protection from them and allowed their enemies to be victorious over them. He “sent” them into bondage to other nations until they humbled themselves and called on Him with all their hearts. When they recognized that they could do nothing on their own and that they needed God, then He was prepared to again work on their behalf to bring them back home and show them His love. His love isn’t changeable; He loved them always, but it was a necessary lesson for them to learn. In what ways could it hurt them? Trials are not fun events--loss, sickness, want, sorrow, isolation, bondage. These are things that hurt. In the case of the exiles we’re studying now, only a remnant returned. Many of those died who were taken into Assyria and later those exiled to Babylon. Tough love can also harden hearts even more in those who do not, or will not, see what is best for them.

Q3. (Isaiah 57:15) What things do we learn about God in this verse? Our God esteems those who are humble and contrite and will dwell with them to bind up their wounds and heal them and to encourage and sustain them. The proud He deals with from afar. What is the great paradox here? Our God is Holy, sovereign, above all things. Yet He will dwell with the humble and contrite. Why does God care so much about the downtrodden and the contrite? He LOVES. He is a God of compassion and love and justice and righteousness, and His people are vulnerable to oppression not only from their leaders who are more interested in their own fortunes and position than in the people, but also from their enemies. A contrite and broken spirit He will not despise. Those who are the most vulnerable are special to Him, their need and dependence reach out to Him and He responds. Do you and your congregation care for the downtrodden and contrite with the same intensity? No. We will never care with the same intensity as God until Jesus comes again. We do not have the same intensity that God does. We care, and are involved in a number of programs to help the needy, and to reach out to the lost, but we often get too comfortable with our lives and forget for a time the struggles of others.

Q2. (Isaiah 56:2) Why does keeping a sacred day of rest honor God? It is a day when we gather as a church body to witness that He is God, to worship Him, sing His praises, and study His Word. We bring glory to Him through our witness and praises; He brings refreshment to us, and our worship helps us to be obedient to His will. Matthew 18:20 (KJV) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. How awesome is that!?! Christians practice this different ways: (1) Sabbath worship and rest, (2) Sunday worship and rest, (3) Sunday worship, no rest, or (4) no worship, no rest. Which of the various options might best honor God? Sunday worship and rest: As Christians, Christ is our Sabbath rest. Christ died on the first day of the week; the early Christians worshiped and studied the Word on the first day of the week. The Sabbath worship was set apart (Exodus 31:12-17) for the Jews under the Law, though it was sanctified by God when Creation was completed and God rested on the seventh day. Psalm 46, and particularly v. 10, seems to me to fit here as an integral part of a day of worship: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Which of these might dishonor God? Item 4: “No worship and no rest” In His infinite wisdom, God said that man needs a day of rest. Do you doubt His wisdom? He desires us to rest in Him, to fellowship with Him, to honor Him. He knows that when we spend time in singing and praying and studying with others who also believe, we are strengthened, uplifted, and we go into the week better prepared to face whatever happens. The choice of whether to rest is not always under the individual’s control, but worship is from the heart and is possible at any time, so even when circumstances prevent you from resting on the Lord’s day, delight in the Lord and worship Him. Which of these keep the spirit of one "who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it"? The first two options are set aside for worship and rest with the only difference being the day/people–Sabbath/Saturday: Jews under the Law; Lord’s Day/Sunday: Christians under grace, until Christ comes again when we will all worship together.

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 has declared that believers from all nations will be joined together as His people. Where foreigners and eunuchs were treated as lower than the Jews and either excluded from the temple worship or restricted to certain areas of the temple, God has declared that they will be equals. It is significant in that it demonstrates that it is not who you are but Who you believe that matters. Those who believe in Christ and who live ethical lives, following the commands given in the Bible, are welcome. What are the implications of that for the church? "God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." (Acts 10:34b-35) Our actions are not based on personal likes or dislikes, but rather on our desire for peace and godliness for all mankind. Who does your congregation tend to exclude from its fellowship -- if not explicitly, then by emphasis and focus? I am unaware of anyone who is excluded from our congregation. We are taught to love one another, to worship the Lord, and to obey His commands. Our congregation is composed of believers and those who do not yet believe, the righteous and the unrighteous, those who seek to live for Jesus and those who live for themselves. We encourage all who want to learn about Jesus to come, and even those who aren’t sure they want to learn to come anyway! For faith comes by hearing, and hearing from the Word of God. Joining the church is another matter. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of your life? Have you been baptized? What could you do about this? We are told in the Scriptures that the answers we need to live peaceful and godly lives are given to us in His Word. And if we cannot find an answer there, we are to go to Him and ask. We’re not to add to His Word, nor are we to excise from it those things with which we disagree. We are not to re-write the Word to fit worldly views, nor are we to take specific verses out of context in order to suit what we want to hear. That is, we are not to become like the Pharisees, nor are we to become like those who turned away to idols but continued to offer sacrifices in the temple.

Q5. (Isaiah 53) Which single New Testament passage best sums up for you the lessons of Isaiah 53? Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV) Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Why did you choose this passage? I see Isaiah 53 as all about Jesus. Philippians 2:5-11 has the same focus, taking us from Jesus in the form of God, through His service and His sacrifice to His exaltation. And with the introductory “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” and ending with “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” it also shows our proper role.

Q4. (Isaiah 53) In addition to our sins, the Servant also bears the punishment deserved by sinners. In what sense, if any, did Jesus bear the punishment due you when he died on the cross? I’m a sinner. Until Jesus comes again, I’ll never be rid of all sin. The wages of sin are death–eternal separation from God and eternal suffering in hell. Jesus went to the cross for me, took my sins upon Himself, and died in my place. He clothed me in His righteousness, and was crushed and made a curse by His Father for my sake. Jesus knew, certainly during His ministry and undoubtedly before, that He would die on the cross and He accepted that role. In the garden of Gethsemane when He asked His Father three times if there wasn’t another way, the thing that sorrowed Him nearly to death was not the death on the cross (though it was a horror) but separation from His Father–that moment when the Father turned away from Him because of the sin He bore. “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!” (Mark 15:34) Only as we begin to comprehend the magnitude of the Father’s love, and Jesus’s love, for us, can we understand the horror Jesus experienced by separation from His Father. He set aside His glory to come as the Son of Man, but there was never a moment before this when Father and Son were not together. Nothing man could do to Him could hurt like this separation He experienced for me.

Q3. (Isaiah 53) Isaiah 53 teaches what theologians call "the substitutionary atonement." In what sense does the Servant act as a substitute to bear our sins? Put it in your own words. The sin offering has to be sinless, but we are ALL sinners. The animal sacrifices of the OT Law were established to remind God’s people that they were sinners. However, the spotless lamb of OT sacrifices was only a shadow of the true sacrificial Lamb. To atone for our sins, we needed a man, a sinless man, but there could not be a natural sinless man after Adam’s fall. We had no hope of salvation at all. Just as God provided a substitute for Isaac, He provided a substitute for us: Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God. Born of a woman, but by the Holy Spirit, He was therefore without the sin that came to natural man through Adam's fall, and He lived a sinless, obedient life.

Q2. (Isaiah 53) Which New Testament parallels to Isaiah 53 convince you that Jesus himself saw his own mission and destiny spelled out in Isaiah 53? "It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment" (Luke 22:37). This reference to Isaiah 53:12 clearly indicates the path Jesus is walking voluntarily and in Luke 22:37 He acknowledges not only what was written in Isaiah 53 but declares that it must be fulfilled in Him and that what is written is coming soon. If you aren't convinced, what stands in your way? I am convinced.

Q1. (Isaiah 53) From how large a group of people does God remove sins in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12? Whosoever will come. In what sense is this a universal sacrifice of salvation? The offer of salvation is extended worldwide, to all nations and all people. He took on the sins of all. Just as the sins of many came from the sin of one (Adam), so the restoration of many come from the sacrifice of one (Jesus). In what sense is Jesus' sacrifice wasted on some people? They refuse to accept Jesus as Lord. Or their confession of faith is weak and they fall away, like the seed that lands on the path.

Q9. (Isaiah 55:6-9) What does seeking the Lord entail? Seeking the Lord is an active pursuit of the Lord through reading the Word, meditation, and prayer, with a deep desire to know Him. The more we know Him, the greater is our love for Him. If God's ways and thoughts are different than our own human way of thinking, what are the implications of this for success in our lives? We need to give thanks every day that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours, that He is a loving and gracious and faithful God and Father, forgiving our sins and accounting us righteous through Christ Jesus. He is sovereign. Every aspect of our lives is in His hands. When we do His will, He will guide us and work through us to achieve His purposes, and He will bless and keep us. Why is repentance necessary to this process? He is holy. In coming to the Lord, we need to put away any known sin, any unforgiveness. While our sins are taken away through the finished work of Jesus on the cross, any sin or unforgiveness that we harbor in our hearts separates us from the Lord. Why is humility necessary? There can be only one Head of the body, one Master. Until you empty yourself, He cannot fill you. Your pride blocks His access. Your self-confidence substitutes your human effort for His work through you. He’s the Master. Surrender total control to Him. What happens to us if our seeking is shallow? We won’t find Him. Just as the widow seeking justice from a corrupt judge had to keep crying out to him for justice until she wore him out, we need to keep asking and seeking and knocking. What happens if we put off seeking the Lord when we hear his invitation? There may not be another time. He touches our hearts and waits, lovingly, for us to respond. We have this present moment and that is all that we have for sure. We don’t know when He will come, but He says it will be when we least expect Him. And we don’t know if we’ll wake up in the morning. In addition to the loss of opportunity, the more we turn away the easier it becomes. Is it ever too late to seek the Lord? The Scripture says to seek Him while He can be found. We don’t know the day of His coming. It could be today. We are to be prepared, and being prepared doesn’t mean “I’ll do it tomorrow.” But as long as we have breath in our bodies, seek Him! While we know that there may not be another time, we also should never give up witnessing to others about Jesus. Only recently, a dear lady in my Bible class told me that she prayed for and witnessed to her brother in law for close to 40 years without success. Then one day he came to her home to fix something. She was on the telephone and showed him what the problem was and started to go back to the phone when he said “You aren’t going to talk to me about Jesus today?” She told me, “I hung up the phone right then and I talked to him about Jesus." There was a quaver in her voice as she added, " I almost missed my chance with him. I thank God that I didn’t, because, after 40 years, he accepted Jesus as Lord of his life that day.” Can any real success be found by other means than seeking the Lord? No. And why would you want to miss knowing the Lord? Seek and ye shall find. Wow! What a promise and what a huge blessing!

Q8. (Isaiah 55:1-3) Why do people "spend" their lives doing things that they know won't satisfy them deep down? We deceive ourselves. Many times we don’t know that the things we’re pursuing won’t satisfy us. Someone who doesn’t know the Lord can be convinced that having things, doing things can bring satisfaction. If what we’re doing doesn’t work for us, we multiply what we were doing, thinking that quantity will lead to quality. It is only when we recognize that we are spiritually bankrupt and we surrender to the Lord, only when the Holy Spirit guides us, that we find deeper satisfaction. Where does hedonism or a love of pleasure lead? To the pit unless they turn away and accept the offer of the Lord for eternal satisfaction. Our life paths seem to operate on a rachet system: if we’re unbelievers, the rachet draws us, one choice at a time, further and further into sin. As believers, each act of love or obedience draws us closer and closer to the Lord. A love of pleasure and excitement is a drug that becomes less effective as we indulge until we need more to continue to satisfy us. And, like the effects of a drug, as we multiply our sins we grow increasingly incapable of understanding anything but our need for the present moment. What are the gracious elements of Yahweh's invitation in this passage? He offers us life itself in the Messiah. In Scripture, both water and wine are pictures of the Holy Spirit and the use of the plural ‘waters’ would seem to indicate an abundance. The Holy feast is Jesus, the Bread of Life; the Holy Spirit, water and wine; and His living Word, the milk. Eternal life! Proverbs 9:5-6 (HCSB) “Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave inexperience behind, and you will live; pursue the way of understanding.” What is the cost of accepting the invitation? The cost is the life of the Savior on the cross, given for our sins. The invitation to us is free. The blessings are the free gift of grace. Nothing we can do will earn what He gives freely to us when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Will this invitation be perceived as "good news" to those who hear it? The rich young man who came to Jesus did not consider it good news after Jesus told him to sell all that he had. He was saddened, but he chose to keep what he had and walked away. Not all will believe when they hear the good news. But those who truly hear, those who are called of God, will perceive it as good news. How can you issue this invitation in today's vernacular? Here’s a quote from Pastor John Piper in a sermon he preached on Isaiah 55:1-3 “So what verse 1 says is that God is willing to revive us from the heat of Death Valley with the miracle of his water; and make us strong and healthy and stable with the miracle of his milk; and then give us endless and ever-fresh exhilaration with the miracle of his wine.” http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/the-great-invitation-come-drink-eat-live What I wrote before I read Pastor Piper’s sermon: Begin your invitation with the power of Jesus: Before you ever leave home, ask Him to guide you to someone He wants to reach. Then, when He leads you to someone, silently pray for Him to give you the right words. He will do it. For a “today’s vernacular” invitation, you just have to be telling and not reciting. Accurate, but natural. The best invitation is through a friendly conversation–inviting them to church, telling them what God has done in your life specifically. Sometimes that isn’t comfortable, but God often gives us trials so that we can witness to others who have had or are undergoing similar trials.

Q7. (Isaiah 54:16-17) What does the promise mean that no weapon formed against you shall succeed? The Sovereign Lord will protect His people. Those who forge the weapons are His creation and He rules. The promise doesn’t mean that they won’t face opposition, but that they will prosper despite opposition. Does it mean we won't have to conduct spiritual warfare through prayer and faith? No. As followers of Christ Jesus, we are part of spiritual warfare, whether we acknowledge it or not. This is one of the reasons why we must be constantly growing in our faith, constantly aware of the subtle ways the enemy attacks our faith and our witness each moment. If we stand still in the midst of battle, we will begin to drift backward. In Ephesians, Paul urges us to put on our spiritual armor every morning: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. “ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:10-18 What then does it mean? “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” We are led by God, strengthened by God, protected by God. He acts through us. The battle is His. The victory is His. And no one can snatch us out of His hand. I’m reminded of the lyrics of a modern praise song: I know who goes before me, I know who stands behind, the God of angel armies is always by my side The One who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine, The God of angel armies is always by my side. And nothing formed against me shall stand, You hold the whole world in Your hands I’m holding on to Your promises You are faithful You are faithful (Whom Shall I Fear, Chris Tomlin–partial lyrics)