PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 31, 2024

 

Jan 31 – Bedlam – Isaiah 3:1-5

 Jan 31 – Bedlam – Isaiah 3:1-5

 

     Isaiah in this chapter again must talk about the present condition of the nation of Judah.  This was during the time Ahaz who was a vassal or puppet king.  He has allowed the nation to fall into idolatry.  The Lord has decided that all support from Jerusalem and Judah was about to be cut off.  Their water and food.  God had said this would happen if the people forgot Him or went after idols. 

     People who they relied on the hero, warrior, judge, prophet, diviner or elder would all be taken away.  The army captain, counselor, skilled craftsman, and clever enchanter.  They would be humiliated to the point where youth and children would rule over them or have better understand, wisdom and insight than they had.  The result of this abandonment is oppression, fighting, looting, division, and all would be dishonored.  It would be bedlam, anarchy, and chaos.  A total breakdown in society.  When that is wrong becomes right and that which is right becomes wrong society soon is destroyed.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 30, 2024

 

Jan 30 – Man Will Fail – Isaiah 2:19-22

 Jan 30 – Man

 Will Fail – Isaiah 2:19-22 

     Isaiah continues with the vision of the future.  People are going to flee from the Lord by running and hiding in caves and shelter underground.  The Lord will rise on that day with fearful presence.  He will show his splendor and majesty.  The whole earth will be shaking.  Remember all that can be shaken will be shaken.  John saw this as well in the book of Revelation. 

     On that day the people will throw away the idols that they personally made to the moles and bats.  They will see the futile of what they have made.  Isaiah uses parallelism which is a Jewish emphasis on what is going to happen for certain.  They will hide in crags and caverns.  The Lord will shake all by his fearful presence, splendor, and majesty.  Isaiah counsels them to stop trusting in human beings who are mere creatures who die and pass away.  Don’t hold them high esteem or value them because they will fail and fall.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 29, 2024

 

Jan 29 – Humbled – Isaiah 2:10-18

 Jan 29 – Humbled – Isaiah 2:10-18

 

     Isaiah reveals what is going to happen to Isarel during this time.  He counsels them to hide in the rocks and caves.  The Lord is coming in fearful majesty and glorious majesty.  The arrogant will be humbled, and human pride will be brought low.  The very cornerstone of human thought and philosophy will be humbled.

     The Lord has something in store for the proud and lofty.  They will be humbled and judged.  Jesus said whoever exalts themselves will be humbled and those who are humble will be exalted.  He uses practical illustrations.  The cedars of Lebanon, the oaks of Bashan and the towering mountains and hills.  Isaiah then uses manmade things such as towers, walls, ships, and stately vessels.  

     Human pride and arrogance will be brought low and humbled.  Pride began with satan but continues through man.  The Lord will be exalted in that day and every idol will disappear.  This is a day of reckoning but also of restoration in the Lord.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 26, 2024

 

Jan 26:- A Moment - Isaiah 1:27-31

 Jan 26:- A Moment - Isaiah 1:27-31

 

     Isaiah contrasts between the different types here.  The righteous and penitent will be delivered.  The rebels and sinners who forsake the Lord will perish.  They had made gardens, altars and sacred places for their idol worship and these places will be destroyed.  The warning to the so called mighty and proud is that they shall become like tinder and fuel.  They will be burned up and no one will saved them or help them.  

    Jonathon Edwards scripted a sermon called, “Sinners in an angry God.”  This is Judah at the time of Isaiah.  It was a time of ebb and flow.  Good kings made the land prosperous.  Bad kings blighted the land.  Seems clear that if we want prosperity and health, it begins and ends with righteousness.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 25, 2024

 

Jan 25 – Sober Thought – Isaiah 1:20-26

 Jan 25 – Sober Thought – Isaiah 1:20-26

 

     The Lord says if the nation does not repent and chooses to rebel, they will be destroyed, and He will not change His mind.  The city of Jerusalem was once a city of faithful, just, and righteous people.  Now it is full of prostitutes and murderers.  One time they had the best now the silver is dross and their wine diluted. 

     The rulers are rebels.  They can be bribed.  They work in partnership with crime and so there is no justice for the oppressed and poor.  The Lord Almighty will send his wrath and avenge on behalf of the oppressed.

     The Lord will restore proper leaders and the city will be called the righteous and faithful but not before the Lord has judged, purged, avenged, and remove all the leaders who called the wickedness and impurity.  A sober thought considering the times in which we lived.  God is not mocked whatever we sow we reap.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 24, 2024

 

Jan 24 The Invite – Isaiah 1:17-19

 Jan 24 The Invite – Isaiah 1:17-19

 

     Isaiah exhorts the people to have fruit to their religion.  They are to show it by doing right and seeking justice.  The practical expression of religion is to defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the orphan, and plead the cause of the widow.  James later would call this true religion.

     God then invites them to reason together and settle the matter.  Sin which is red as scarlet, and crimson is in the way.  If they repent it can become like snow and wool.  They must be willing and decide.  It is a decision of obedience to the invitation.  The benefit, promise, and blessing are that they will eat the good of the land.  Seems pretty clear choice to resolve a separation issue with God. 

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 23, 2024

 

Jan 23 – Stop Sinning – 1:13-16

 Jan 23 – Stop Sinning – 1:13-16

 

     The Lord is fed up with meaningless offering, incense, special days, and worthless assemblies.  Their religious service the Lord hates.  They have become a burden and wearisome to the Lord.  Thy pray but God does not hear or listen.  The reason is clear their hands are full of blood. The innocent has suffered because of them.  The tell them to clean up, stop doing evil, and wrong.  It is a sad situation when a person or nation get to the point where a loving compassionate God rejects and judges them.  This is a powerful warning to all societies about consequences.  Solomon says righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any land.  Whatever we sow we reap.  A good lesson to learn and quickly.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 21, 2024

 

Jan 22 – Follow Through - !:7-12

  

Jan 22 – Follow Through - !:7-12

 

Isaiah 1:7-12

 

     Isaiah lists the consequences of their rebellion, sin, and corruption.  The country is desolate, cities are burned with fire, and the fields are wasted or taken by strangers.  They are like abandoned wreck of a house in a field.  The Lord was merciful he left a remnant or else the entire area would have destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah. 

     Isaiah calls them Sodom and Gomorrah.  He calls to hear and listen to the instruction of the Lord.  All the sacrifices they make have no effect on the Lord.  The has no pleasure in a people who trample justice and truth in their judicial system and society.  This is a warning to them and us.  Religion has little effect on society when it is talk and not action.  Lets follow through with what we say.

Cornerstone community church service for January 21, 2024

ROMAN'S 15:13

PRAYING TO BE HOPEFUL

Prayer for families

To be holy

Prayer for young people

Prayer time for January 18, 2024

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 19, 2024

 

Jan 19 – Characteristics of Christ – Part Two

  

Jan 19 – Characteristics of Christ – Part Two

 

Righteous 11:5 – Jesus is righteousness and bestows righteousness.  He is the perfect example, role model and mentor.

Silence 42:2 & 53:7 – Jesus would stay quiet during his passion.  He only uttered seven sayings.  Each was clear and concise.  You don’t have to say much to get your point across.

Gentleness 42:3 – Jesus in his invitation in Matt 11:28-30, he says learn of me for I am gentle and humble.

Perseverance 42:4 – Jesus went all the way to the cross.  He knew what he had to do and he did it.  We must do the same.

Vicarious Suffering 52:14 & 53:10 – His wounds and stripes bring healing.  His blood brings redemption and salvation.

2 Chron 7:14

Prayer for revival

Ps 89:33

Turn to the Lord

Four things you need in your life

Prayer time for January 17, 2024

Worship time

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 18, 2024

 

Jan 18 – Characteristic of Christ – Part One

 Jan 18 – Characteristic of Christ – Part One

 

Radiance 9:2 & 42:6 – The Messiah is one who shines forth the essence, character, and nature of God.  He is bright and Morning Star.  Jesus Christ is the light on the hill and the light to our path.

Wisdom 11:2 – Jesus is the discerner of truth.  He is the application of knowledge and information to perfection.

Spiritual – Jesus Christ was led by the Holy Spirit through his ministry and life.  We have the same choice and opportunity.

Discernment 11:3 - Discernment in the Bible is the spiritual characteristic of sound judgment for perceiving the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, truth and error, and identifying God’s will and direction for his people. Discernment is necessary to understand spiritual truth, live holy as God intends, avoid life’s pitfalls and dangers, and properly govern society.  This is a quality which Jesus executed to perfection.

Justice 11:4 – The Messiah will display pure religion which is taking care of the oppressed, the fatherless and the widows and keeping oneself unpolluted by the world.

PROVERBS OF STEEL FOR JAN 17, 2023