"As for me, this is my covenant with [those who repent of their sins]," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants — from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
—Isaiah 59:21 NIV
Isaiah 59:1-16 is one of the most crushingly sad sections in the entire Bible. God is frustrated and heartbroken because his people are in such blatant rebellion and have no one to lead them back to him. They have been crushed by their enemies, and they are without hope — spiritually and physically. So, God decides to act! He moves with fury and might against his people's enemies (Isaiah 59:17-19). Then he promises to send his Redeemer. From that moment on, God's Spirit and God's words will rest with his people forever. As was often the case, such prophecies had double fulfillments: One was in Old Testament times and another, in New Testament times. We have just seen the New Testament fulfillment in the gospel of Matthew: Jesus is this Redeemer, and the work of the Spirit brings the dawning of God's kingdom. While we live in difficult times for the followers of Jesus, we also live under the promise that God's Spirit will not depart from us and that the Spirit's presence assures us that God's words will not be taken from us!
Father, thank you for your Word, and your words. Thank you that your Word is the great Redeemer who has delivered us from Satan and sent your Spirit to us. We praise you and thank you for this grace, and we pledge ourselves to your work in our world, transformed by your Spirit and informed by your Word. In Jesus' name, we thank you! Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Continue reading...
—Isaiah 59:21 NIV
Key Thought
Isaiah 59:1-16 is one of the most crushingly sad sections in the entire Bible. God is frustrated and heartbroken because his people are in such blatant rebellion and have no one to lead them back to him. They have been crushed by their enemies, and they are without hope — spiritually and physically. So, God decides to act! He moves with fury and might against his people's enemies (Isaiah 59:17-19). Then he promises to send his Redeemer. From that moment on, God's Spirit and God's words will rest with his people forever. As was often the case, such prophecies had double fulfillments: One was in Old Testament times and another, in New Testament times. We have just seen the New Testament fulfillment in the gospel of Matthew: Jesus is this Redeemer, and the work of the Spirit brings the dawning of God's kingdom. While we live in difficult times for the followers of Jesus, we also live under the promise that God's Spirit will not depart from us and that the Spirit's presence assures us that God's words will not be taken from us!
Today's Prayer
Father, thank you for your Word, and your words. Thank you that your Word is the great Redeemer who has delivered us from Satan and sent your Spirit to us. We praise you and thank you for this grace, and we pledge ourselves to your work in our world, transformed by your Spirit and informed by your Word. In Jesus' name, we thank you! Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2021 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Continue reading...