Something Greater

Supervised, Supported and Purposed | Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus... (Eph 1:1) Father, all that you do is motivated by your pleasure and choice. Paul's life shows how you were in control throughout every circumstance and influence, to make of him an apostle of your Son. I rest now in that same control over my life. All that I've experienced, thought and acted in and upon, every moment of my life, has been supervised, supported, and purposed for good by you, in accordance with your pleasure and will. Continue, Lord God! Make it so, Lord God, however you desire and determine! Amen!

Isaiah 19, Part One: Maker of War Isaiah 19:1-15 Previously, in Chapter 18... God inspired Isaiah to urge ambassadors from Cush (Ethiopia) to go to Babylonia, a nation "tall and smooth", a people feared "near and far", a nation "mighty and conquering." They were to tell of God's mighty work in delivering Jerusalem from the Assyrian army. Now, in Chapter 19, verses 1 through 15... Isaiah issues a harsh word of doom for Egypt. Isaiah 19:1-4 (ESV) An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them. And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom; and the spirit of the Egyptians within them will be emptied out, and I will confound their counsel; and they will inquire of the idols a...

Isaiah 18, Part Three: The Signal Isaiah had greeted ambassadors sent by a land of "whirring wings, beyond the rivers of Cush", probably referring to Ethiopia, south of Egypt. The alliance between Judah, Egypt and Ethiopia was condemned by God. Isaiah foretold that nothing would result except shame and disgrace for Judah. Now, Isaiah tells the ambassadors to look toward the east, to "a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering..." A People Feared Near and Far Isaiah 18:2 (ESV) Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation mighty and conquering, whose land the rivers divide. Who were the people "tall and smooth, a people feared near and far"? This passage begins and ends with reference to a nation "tall and smooth...a people feared near and far": Isaiah 18:2 (ESV) Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people feared near and far, a nation m...

Isaiah 18, Part Two: Four Kings At this point Isaiah's book may seem confusing. Judah and Israel, as well as Egypt, Cush, Canaan, Syria and Assyria all experienced changing alliances, defeats and victories, conquests and exile. Isaiah was prophet during the reign of many kings, and he was given visions spanning many decades, each with different circumstances and players. It may be helpful to look at the pivotal events that occurred during the time of Isaiah. Isaiah and the Four Kings Isaiah lived during the years of 740 to 681 BC. He saw the rise and fall of at least six different kings of Judah, beginning with Azariah, and ending with Manasseh. The Book of Isaiah specifically deals with the days of four of these kings of Judah: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Uzziah And Jotham: Maintaining the Status Quo Uzziah, whose name was a contraction of "Azariah", was the son of Amaziah. During his reign over the southern kingdom of Judah, and later that of his son...

Isaiah 8: The Flood (Part 2 of 4) The LORD compares the Assyrian invasion to a mighty river that will sweep over the land, including Judah. The armies of Syria and Israel will be shattered, bringing their dream of domination to nothing. The people "refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently." The Shiloah (Shelah or Siloam) ran through Jerusalem's royal garden (Nehemiah 3:15), forming pools used often for healing (John 9:7-11). SHILOAH: shiloah "shee-LO-akh" (a rill; a small stream); from shalah (to send away) "This people" refused the gentle stream of the LORD and sought happiness in Rezin and the son of Remaliah (the king of Syria and the king of Israel). "This people" referred to both Israel and Judah. Israel preferred an alliance with Syria, and Judah sought alliance with Assyria (2 Kings 16:7). The LORD promised judgement of "this people", using the Assyrian army as his instrument of wrath. He compared Assyri...

Being Saved What has gone on before... Paul has urged Timothy to remain at Ephesus as pastor, warning him to expect opposition from some in the church who use the Law of God unlawfully, swerving away from love, searing their consciences and controlling others. The first priority, according to Paul, was to pray: in supplication, with discipline, as intercession, and with thanksgiving . "This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4 (ESV) "This" refers to a peaceful, quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. "This" is salvation. Being saved means knowing the truth about ourselves and God . This knowledge brings peace, freedom from conflict and fear. It allows quiet meditation and contemplation without fear of rejection or punishment. Salvation creates the desire to adore goodness. Salvation restores human dignity, worthy of re...

Trust and Obey "And someone came and told them, - Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. - Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, - We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. - But Peter and the apostles answered, - We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." Acts 5:25-32 (ESV) The Jewish leaders were greatly perplexed (thoroughly ...

Sovereignty of God The religious rulers in Jerusalem were between a Rock and a hard place: they feared the power of Jesus and they feared the power of the people. They squirmed out of the trap, temporarily, by threatening Peter and John , charging them to speak and teach of nothing concerning Jesus, and releasing them from custody. "When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, - Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, - "Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed - "For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, w...