Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Thursday, 28 December 2017 "The Champion of Heaven" by Albert Hung - Isaiah 42:8-17Isaiah 42:8 I am Adonai; that is my name.
I yield my glory to no one else,
nor my praise to any idol.
9 See how the former predictions come true;
and now new things do I declare —
before they sprout I tell you about them.”
10 Sing to Adonai a new song!
Let his praise be sung from the ends of the earth
by those sailing the sea and by everything in it,
by the coastlands and those living there.
11 Let the desert and its cities raise their voices,
the villages where Kedar lives;
let those living in Sela shout for joy;
let them cry out from the mountaintops!
12 Let them give glory to Adonai
and proclaim his praise in the coastlands.
13 Adonai will go out like a soldier,
like a soldier roused to the fury of battle;
he will shout, yes, he raises the battle cry;
as he triumphs over his foes.
14 “For a long time I have held my peace,
I have been silent, restrained myself.
Now I will shriek like a woman in labor,
panting and gasping for air.
15 I will devastate mountains and hills,
wither all their vegetation,
turn the rivers into islands
and dry up the lakes.
16 The blind I will lead on a road they don’t know,
on roads they don’t know I will lead them;
I will turn darkness to light before them,
and straighten their twisted paths.
These are things I will do without fail.
17 Those who trust in idols,
who say to statues, ‘You are our gods,’
will be repulsed in utter shame.
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Isaiah 42 describes the Messiah as the servant of the Lord, the chosen One in whom God delights and on whom the Spirit rests. Three times we are told that the Savior will establish true justice on the earth. He who intends to make all things new invites us to respond with praise and thanksgiving, to literally “sing a new song” exalting the champion of heaven, who has come to deliver us from our captivity to sin and death. It is a thrilling scene–the Lord marches out like a warrior, and with a shout He raises a battle cry over His enemies.
Do you know this God who fights for you with the strength of ten thousand armies? Perhaps you know God as a loving father, a caring shepherd, or the one who “binds your wounds and heals your diseases.” But He is also a mighty warrior, ferocious in battle, and He will not falter or be discouraged till He establishes justice on the earth” for you, your children, and your grandchildren. Bring your petitions to God with confidence, for the Lord is mighty to save.
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Hymn for Today: "One Day" by J. Wilbur Chapman
1. One day when Heaven Was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was As black as could be,
Jesus came forth To be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He!
Chorus: Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried My sins far away;
Rising He justified freely forever:
One day He's coming-- O glorious day!
2. One day they led Him Up Calvary's mountain,
One day they nailed Him To die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected:
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He!
Chorus: Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried My sins far away;
Rising He justified freely forever:
One day He's coming-- O glorious day!
3. One day they left Him Alone in the garden,
One day He rested, from suffering free;
Angels came down o'er His tomb to keep vigil;
Hope of the hopeless, my Savior is He!
Chorus: Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried My sins far away;
Rising He justified freely forever:
One day He's coming-- O glorious day!
4. One day the grave Could conceal Him no longer,
One day the stone rolled away from the door;
Then He arose, over death He had conquered;
Now is ascended, my Lord evermore!
Chorus: Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried My sins far away;
Rising He justified freely forever:
One day He's coming-- O glorious day!
5. One day the trumpet Will sound for His coming,
One day the skies With His glory will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved One bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine!
Chorus: Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried My sins far away;
Rising He justified freely forever:
One day He's coming-- O glorious day!
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Thought for Today: There is no one like you, Adonai!
You are great, and your name is great and mighty.(Jeremiah 10:6)
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Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in Iraq.
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Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Thursday, 28 December 2017 "True Security, Real Power" by Albert Hung - Isaiah 31:1-9Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those going down to Egypt
expecting help — relying on horses;
trusting in chariots, because they have many,
and in the strength of their cavalrymen —
but not looking to the Holy One of Isra’el,
not consulting Adonai.
2 But he too is wise and can bring disaster,
and he does not take back his words;
he will rise against the house of evildoers
and against the help of those who do wrong.
3 Now the Egyptians are men and not God,
and their horses flesh and not spirit.
So when Adonai stretches out his hand,
both he who helps will stumble,
and he who is helped will fall;
both will perish together.
4 For here is what Adonai says to me:
“As a lion or lion cub growls at its prey
and isn’t frightened away by the shouts
of hordes of shepherds called out against him —
their voices do not upset him —
so likewise Adonai-Tzva’ot will descend
to fight on Mount Tziyon, on its hill.
5 Like hovering birds, Adonai-Tzva’ot
will protect Yerushalayim.
In protecting it, he will rescue it;
in sparing it, he will save it.
6 People of Isra’el! Return to him
to whom you have been so deeply disloyal!
7 For on that day everyone will discard
his idols of silver and idols of gold,
which you made for yourselves
with your own sinful hands.
8 Then Ashur will fall by a sword not of mortals,
a sword, not of humans, will devour him;
he will flee before the sword,
and his young men will be put to forced labor.
9 His rock, out of terror, will pass away,
and his panicked officers will desert the standard.”
So says Adonai, whose fire is in Tziyon,
whose furnace is in Yerushalayim.
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We all find ourselves in trouble from time to time. In our panic, we can be tempted to look for someone who can right the ship, put us back on course, and secure our peace. We are instinctively drawn to those we perceive to have strength. Inevitably, however, we are disappointed in our leaders. They are, after all, only human.
In Biblical times, Egypt was more than a location; it was a symbol. To “trust in Egypt” was to trust in human government, technology, wealth, and military power. Yet for the Israelites, to return to Egypt was to return to slavery. It is a sad truth that in times of uncertainty, people will give up their freedom in return for the promise of security. But it’s a scam, a ruse, a con. There is no freedom in bondage.
True security comes from allying oneself with true power. And there is no power greater than God! Who do we turn to in times of trouble? Where do we find our hope and strength? God is a Roaring Lion? None can stand before Him. He is our shield and deliverer, the One who rescues us from the power of sin and the fear of death. Take heart!
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Hymn for Today: "A Mighty Fortress" is Our God by Martin Luther translated by the Frederick H. Hedge
1. A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
does seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
2. Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God's own choosing.
You ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
from age to age the same;
and he must win the battle.
3. And though this world, with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God has willed
his truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
his rage we can endure,
for lo! his doom is sure;
one little word shall fell him.
4. That Word above all earthly powers
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts are ours
through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still;
his kingdom is forever!
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Thought for Today: “God is my strength and protection;
he makes my way go straight.(2 Samuel 22:33)
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Please pray: That many people in Iraq will come to know Yeshua as their Messiah and be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh.
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