Jeremiah 15 - A Broken Heart

 

Jeremiah 15 – A Broken Heart

 

Jeremiah did not rejoice that the people were facing either captivity or death. He was a man with a broken heart. He knew that the nation deserved their fate, but it pained him just the same. Jesus also felt that pain when He wept over Jerusalem, (Luke 19:41-44).

 

Jeremiah did not preach “smooth words” as the false prophets did, and his messages made people curse him. Sometimes we must cause problems before we can solve problems.

 

The prophet experienced the loneliness of leadership and the anguish of his ministry, but God encouraged him as he fed on the Word. God may not take away the pain in your heart, but He can balance it with His joy.

 

The prophet had to be careful to preach only the true Word of God and not mix it with lies as the false prophets did. As a wall, he brought division; but God would defend him from the attacks of the people. God did not keep him out of the battle, but He did bring Jeremiah through.

 

“To be a true minister to men is always to accept new happiness and new distress, both forever deepening and entering into closer and more inseparable union with each other, the more profound and spiritual the ministry becomes. The man who gives himself to other men can never be a wholly sad man; but no more can he be a man of unclouded gladness.”    Phillip Brooks

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. Nelson’s Quick Reference Study Bible, J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.

 

Jeremiah 14 - Only Hope in the Lord

 

Jeremiah 14 – Only Hope in the Lord

 

God sent a drought to Judah to bring His people to repentance, but the chastening did no good. The people mourned for the land but not for their sins. They were sorry for their plight but not for their evil ways. God was making a judgment here to let the people know that what is happening to the land is also happening to their spiritual lives.

 

Their only hope was in the Lord, but He would not do anything for them if they refused to return to Him. Instead of being King in residence, God was a tourist passing through the land and a warrior unable to help. If God is not with us, everything will be against us. We must take our place before God and confess our own sins as well as the sins of the people.

 

 

Their religious activities could not save them because their hearts were far from God. The messages of the false prophets gave the people only false hope for peace and healing that never came. God told Jeremiah that he did not speak through those prophets but him alone. The people prayed to the idols, but the idols could not send rain.

 

Sometimes all you can do when God is a stranger in the land is to imitate Jeremiah and get alone and weep. Wait on the Lord with a broken heart.

 

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

Jeremiah 13 - Profitable for Nothing

 

Jeremiah 13 – Profitable for Nothing

 

God told Jeremiah to put on a girdle, not because he was fat, but because in those days a girdle was used to bind up the flowing garments that are used for God’s service. The service was in fellowship with Christ, not in teaching a Bible class or in preaching a sermon, but it is being cleansed and used for what God wants us to do.

 

Then God told Jeremiah to take the girdle and hide it by the Euphrates River. So, Jeremiah did what God told him to do. If the people clung to God in humble obedience. God was glorified.  When they defiled themselves in pride, they became ruined and useless. Then, God told him to go back and dig it up which he did, and he was to wear it until it was so dirty that it was profitable for nothing. Too proud to repent, Judah ended up in the darkness.

 

The bottles represented the leaders and the people who were all empty of spiritual life. God would fill them with drunkenness, which means judgement, then He would smash the bottles and show no pity.

 

Their leaders were to be like loving shepherds, instead, they were selfish hirelings. The sheep would be taken to slaughter by the invaders.

 

God’s point was to let Jeremiah know that the people of Judah will become so full of sin that they weren’t good for anything. Then God tells him to go bury it in Babylon. This was to let the people know that Babylon will capture them and take them into captivity. The people have no where to turn now, and because they did not turn to Him, He tells them exactly what will happen.

 

Until a man does his work in the name of Jesus, and for His glory and honor, he is simply doing the work for himself.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Jeremiah 12 - Why Evil Men Prosper

 

Jeremiah 12- Why Evil Men Prosper

 

Jeremiah asked God why evil men prosper while those who follow the Lord, suffer? King Josiah had died and now wicked kings reign over Judah. To Jeremiah and every pastor who tries to lead their members toward God it’s a valid question. We often ask God that question our self. Why does He allow wickedness to rule the Land? Why does He allow His own children to suffer from disease? The question Why is always prevalent in our minds.

 

Jeremiah asked God, why don’t you judge these wicked people? God’s answer to Jeremiah is one that we must also accept. He said, “I know what I am doing, you trust in Me, rest in Me.” Whatever God does or allows we know it is right.  That is where faith comes in. We must always walk in faith, knowing God knows what is best for His people and to lean upon His promise that “all good things come to those who Love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose.”

 

God is telling Jeremiah, I will take care of this, I’ll be the one dealing with this. He had a plan that Jeremiah could not look ahead and see. He tells Jeremiah that things are going to get worse, they will be going into captivity, but God remembers the land and He will bring them back to the land.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah.

 

 

Jeremiah 11 - How are we Living?

 

Jeremiah 11 – How are we Living?

 

Jeremiah brings a message after the Books of Law are found. He emphasizes the action of the Law which conditions the way we live our lives, the way we treat our neighbors, the way we conduct business and the kind of social life we are living. The covenant that he speaks of is the promise the people made to God, that they would obey His commandments. God told them “Cursed is the man that does not follow His commands.”

 

God further went on to tell Jeremiah that it was no use for him to talk to the people of Anathoth anymore because they have rejected God and are planning to kill Jeremiah. So, Jeremiah left Anathoth and went someplace else.

 

Jeremiah knew the people of Judah were not where they should be spiritually. Jeremiah had a big responsibility in bringing God’s message to his people. When they rejected his message, he wept and left his hometown.

 

Even Jesus had to leave His hometown because they wouldn’t listen to Him. He prophesied in John 4:44 that a “prophet has no honor in his own country.”

 

Jeremiah had given his message and even warned the kings not to go into battle with Egypt. Because of their trust in their self, they fought and that is how King Josiah died.

 

The prophet’s own friends and relatives tried to silence him and then slay him, but God defended His servant. Jeremiah took his life in his hands when he preached, but nothing stopped him. He was bold before men because he was broken before God.

 

Both Jeremiah and Jesus were like sheep led to the slaughter (Isa 53:7). They did not fight back but committed themselves to God and trusted Him to work. (I Pet. 2:18-24).

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

J, Vernon McGee Through the Bible

 

Jeremiah 10 - Substitutes for God

 

Jeremiah 10- Substitutes for God

 

People have always had substitutes for God. If we are not worshiping the true and living God, then we are worshiping something else. We may be worshiping ourselves, thinking we are too smart to bother with a higher being. We may worship money and are willing to be dishonest to become rich. There are some who worship fame who sell their honor for some unworthy goal. Some even follow the signs of the zodiac which is being promoted by the pagan world. Some worship the stars. Man did not create the universe, God did, and He didn’t consult us as to where we want them placed or how they are to be arranged. This is His universe, and He is the only one who is worthy of our worship.

 

The minute man turns from believing the Word of God, they are on a detour. God doesn’t want us wandering aimlessly, depending on things of the world, He wants us to depend on Him and Him alone.

 

Today’s idol is much more subtle than the idols in Jeremiah’s day, but they are just as worthless when it comes to a life that is real: money and the things money can buy, position, authority, fame, and so forth. When we trust and serve anything other than God, we practice idolatry. I John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

 

One of the problems with idol worship is that people become like what they worship (Psalm.115:8). Idols are unable to speak, and those who follow them are dull-hearted and without knowledge. The Lord of hosts will judge the faithlessness of these works of errors and their creators. We should focus on God’s fullness. True wisdom is found in God alone (Jams 1:17). Ultimately there is nothing and no one who can successfully substitute for God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.      J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Jeremiah 9 - Our Emotions

 

Jeremiah 9 – Our Emotions

 

The prophet Jeremiah was not afraid to cry. He expressed his feelings loud and clearly. His anger and grief teach us lessons about emotions and how to talk to God. Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet who mourned and cried for the people of God. He preached a message of judgment through tears that flowed from a heart of compassion.

God has not only directed us to condemn sin but to love the sinner. This gives us a wonderful example of God’s character and His compassion.

The prophet Jeremiah was not afraid that God might be offended by his honest feelings. Jeremiah’s awareness of his own feelings made him particularly sensitive to God’s expressions of disappointment and sadness. He was open to the heart of God because his own heart was open to God.

Can we truly tell God what is on our mind? Most certainly, the more we learn to communicate with God, the more we will find ourselves open to His spirit, sensitive to His corrections, and we will grow in compassion for the world.

Here are things that saddens our God almighty, divorce, abortion, murder, adultery, immorality, etc. Jeremiah gave his message in tears because he saw what God sees every day. What Jeremiah saw then is what we still see today. He said his people were adulterers, liars, deceivers. He stated that he wished he could go somewhere and not see the sins of the people.

Jesus Himself wept for Jerusalem and the people thought the prophet Jeremiah had returned.

Our nations strength is not found in riches or fame or the economy. Any strength that we do have must lie in our spiritual values, our moral values, our character and our purpose. All these values are not even taught in schools anymore. We have raised a rude generation with no moral values.

What we need today is people who know God, who know His word and is obeying it. We need to get past the illusion that we are a smart people and start doing things that glorify God. We need to pray for our next generation and for our nation itself. We need to cry for the people of the world and pray for their salvation.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah.

 

Jeremiah 8 - Why are They Backsliding?

 

Jeremiah 8 – Why are They Backsliding?

 

First, people backslide because they believe lies and don’t listen to the truth of God’s word. Secondly, they will not admit their sins or repent of them.  They are happy with the superficial ministry of the false prophets and the right it gives them to be religious and still live in sin.

 

They still sin because they don’t believe the enemy is coming! They have false confidence based on lying words, so they are at peace.

 

The Israelites provoked God because they believed they could serve both the Lord and their idols. They did not abandon the Lord; they just made Him one of their many gods. But the Lord will not accept equality with any other god for He is God alone. Just as an unfaithful husband or wife provokes a spouse, so the unfaithful child of God grieves the heart of the Lord.

 

There was no recovery because the people did not heed God’s warning and His long suffering reached its limit. Had they plowed their hearts; they could have been a harvest of repentance; but it was too late. The sickness was gone too far, and no medicine was available.

 

When God calls you to return, do not wait too long. Seek the Lord while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6-7)

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Jeremiah 7 - Unfounded Confidence

 

Jeremiah 7 – Unfounded Confidence

 

God told Jeremiah to preach a sermon at the gate of the temple and tell the people that their confidence was unfounded because they were trusting the wrong things. The false prophets were saying, “nothing can happen to Jerusalem because the temple is here,” “We are safe because we offer sacrifices to the Lord,” “We have the ark of God’s covenant, the throne of the Lord, “and “we have the law of God.”

 

The temple, the sacrifices, the ark, and the Law were precious things, but they could not be used to please God apart from the sincere devotion of the people to the Lord. The people were hiding their sins behind religion. The so-called revival under King Josiah (2 Kings 22-23) was only a surface reformation. It did not change the hearts of the people.

 

Never be satisfied with surface religion; be sure that God ministers to your heart and that you obey Him from the heart (Eph 6:6). The only way to have confidence is to build on your relationship with Jesus (Matt. 7:21-29), and the only way to build on your relationship with Jesus is to obey what He says.

 

People today think there is great value in going to church and there is if you are going there to build a relationship with Jesus. If you are going to church because you can say you did, or because you want to be seen or heard, then where is the transformation in your life. When we worship God, there should be a transforming in our life.

 

God told Jeremiah not to pray for the people until they turn to Him, because until they do, there is not hope for them. We pray blessings on people that do not know God when we should be praying for them to be saved.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Jeremiah 6 - Jeremiah Warned Israel

 

Jeremiah 6 – Jeremiah Warned Israel

 

Jeremiah saw the invasion coming and warned the people, but they would not listen to him. Jerusalem would be ruined, the sun would go down, and the harvest of sin would be reaped.

 

He saw the sickness and wounds of the nation and pointed to God as the only source of healing. The false prophets gave a superficial diagnosis and a false remedy, which led the nation into judgment (lam. 2:14). Beware of religious teachers who look only at the surface and never get to the heart of the problem.

 

Jeremiah saw the people wondering which way to go. The “new religions” confused them, so he called them back to God’s word. Seek “the old paths” of the word, not to try to repeat “the good old days”, but to go forward to do God’s will in your day.

 

Jeremiah’s words were like a fire that separated the precious metal from the dross. But the people chose to be cheap alloy instead of precious gold and silver.

All of God’s judgments were in vain.

 

Jeremiah told them what God said, “you have rejected my law, and I will reject you and when I reject you, the men of the world are going to reject you also.” It worked out on Jeremiah’s day and it is working out in our day. Our nation is making enemies of other countries and we are coming upon the final conflict. We must pray constantly for that revival that we are so much in need of. Pray always for our nation and for the nation of Israel.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Jeremiah 5 - One Truthful Man

 

Jeremiah 5 – One Truthful Man

 

God tells Jeremiah to run through the streets and look for a truthful man and if one is to be found God will pardon the Israelites. Jeremiah could not find one! Not even among the “great men” who were spiritual leaders in the city. Never underestimate the importance of one person living wholly for the Lord. Perhaps you can be that “righteous one” in your home or place of employment.

 

He did the same with Sodom and Gomorrah. He told Abraham He would spare the cities if they found ten righteous people. There were not that many people in either place, so God destroyed both Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

The eyes of the Lord search for people who are faithful to Him and His Word. They may be in the minority, and they may be persecuted but they are God’s own people and He will bless them.

 

The eyes of the spiritual leaders were blind to God and what God was doing (Isa. 6:10). They were also blind to the judgment about to fall on the nation. The waves of the sea know where to stop, but Judah’s leaders went beyond the limits God had set. They might be popular and prosperous, but their prosperity would destroy them.

 

The biggest sin in our nation today is immorality. We make it sound good by calling it the New Morality, but in God’s eyes it is still sin. For the Israelites it was covetousness, and it is still here today. We covet gold and silver, riches, fame, and the neighbor’s spouse. On the surface, people go to church, they pray, but behind doors God is still witnessing sin. The healing process is like putting talcum powder on a cancer and then saying it is healed.

 

Know God and His Word and become that one righteous person in your home and neighborhood.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary. J Vernon McGee Thru the Bible

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Jeremiah 4 - Our Whole Heart

 

Jeremiah 4 – Our Whole Heart

 

King Josiah was a good king and listened to Jeremiah. He began a reformation, but it was before the Books of Law were discovered so we can’t call it a revival. The Israelites heard Jeremiah and his words, and they were turning to God but only in an outward manner. They were going to the temple, and they were going through the rituals, but their heart was not in it.

I have heard the statement that our country is going through a revival because many are turning to God. Many calamities in life can bring us closer to God, but once the news of the calamity dies down, do we really remain close to God, or do we get comfortable and go back to the way we were before the calamity?

God has a great interest in the Israelites both in those days and now. He told them that He would not remove them from the land if they but had a right relationship with Him. There would be no use for a reformation if we are “casting our pearls to the swine” as it says in Matthew 7:6.

It is like planting a garden in thorny ground. We must first plow up the dirt and prepare it for a good garden. If we are not putting our whole heart into having a relationship with God then we are not preparing ourselves for eternity. We are merely going through the motions as the Israelites did.

What this nation is lacking is the message of the prophets. Instead, we receive messages of comfort, words that we want to hear, but not what we need to hear. God warns us against this.

Jeremiah warned the people that if they did not give their all to God then the enemy will come and take them away. The enemy was Babylon, and they did exactly that, they destroyed their land and took them into captivity.

Remember how Jesus came and presented Himself to the Israelites but they rejected Him, they crucified Him. When a nation, a church, or an individual rejects God, then God rejects them. Christ told the Israelites in Matt. 23:38 “Behold your house is left unto you desolate.” God gives us a free will we are free to reject God, or accept God, but be aware that if we reject Him, He will reject us. God is gracious; patient and longsuffering and waits for us all to come to Him. Once we have backslidden from His grace, He always provides opportunities to return to Him, it is up to us to recognize those opportunities.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible

Jeremiah 3 - Backsliding

 

Jeremiah 3 – Backsliding

 

Jeremih told the Israelites that they had backslidden. They once loved God an followed His commands but now they had turned away, backslidden from God.

In the dictionary the word back slide means to fall back from morals or religious values. To become less virtuous or pious.

Many times, people come to the Lord and without proper instruction or daily reading of God’s Word, they lose their interest and go back to the ways of the world. We as Christians fall short in teaching others what God would have us teach them. One way I have been taught to keep me on the straight and narrow road is to have an accountability partner. An accountability partner is a mature Christian who has the desire and time to invest in relationships with others. They must be able to keep confidence and be concerned enough with your personal growth that they can be tough when it is needed. An accountability partner should be older than you, of the same gender and is willing to pray with you at any given moment. To have an accountability partner one must always be honest and not lie to the other, we must be humble and not full of pride. It is not easy to be vulnerable to another’s scrutiny, but if you want honest help, you must be honest too.

An accountability partner is needed to help curb one’s immoral thoughts or actions, to help with greed and gluttony; lying, gossip and slander, and to keep one from backsliding away from God and His word.  Accountability brings the body of Christ together in a supportive way to encourage us to grow in Christ. It allows us to develop our gifts. We grow by doing what is right. Through accountability, our faith is strengthened by the example of other’s obedience.

God judged Israel by withholding their rain. When they return to Israel they will have water in abundance. We can see God’s judgment in many of the calamities that come to our nation. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to wake us up and bring us back to Him. Backsliding is a refusal to go God’s way. Then we go backwards every time and unless we repent we only get farther and farther away from Him.

God told the Israelites the same as He tells us today to “Come back to Him, though we have sinned, we belong to Him and He will receive us.” Judah did not repent of their sins, but Jeremiah repented for them and for himself. We as Christians should humble ourselves and repent of our sins. God is our accountability partner, and He is willing to listen and heal us of our backsliding.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible. J. Vernon McGee Through the Bible.

 

Jeremiah 2 - Called to Prophecy

Jeremiah 2 – Called to Prophecy

 

Jeremiah was about 20 years old when he was called to prophecy. This was under the rule of King Josiah.

King Josiah was a good king who walked in the ways of his father, David. In the 12^th year of his reign, he rid Jerusalem and Judah of all the carved and molten images from all the high places. Before Josiah became king, this country was ruled by two wicked kings, his grandfather Manasseh, and his father Amon. During this time the Books of Law were lost in the rubbish of the neglected temple. The prophet Hilkiah was the one who found the books later.

Josiah did not know the word of God, but he did know that idolatry was wrong and need to be put away from their land.

Through Jeremiah, God asked Israel to remember the relationship they once had with Him. How they followed the pillar of fire at night and the pillar of cloud by day. Then God had given them a good land and they turned away from God to serve idols.

In this day, the country is ruled by people who do not remember our spiritual heritage and are going after the idol of the almighty dollar.

Jerusalem and Judah may have forgotten God and our Country may have forgotten God but be assured He has not forgotten them or us. God asked them what He has done wrong that they should turn from Him. Is God doing something wrong today? There are many people who delight in blaming God for our troubles, but God has done nothing wrong. We are stubborn people and we have a habit of going our own way. God doesn’t force us to follow Him, we have a choice, and He allows us our choices.

God told Jerusalem that when they entered the land that He had given them, that they defiled it.

He gives us many blessings today and it is our responsibility as His children to take proper care of what He gives us. Not only the physical blessings that we can see but the spiritual blessings also.

There are many preachers and teachers who do not know the word of God. As a result, they do not know God. It is necessary to study the Word of God to know God on a personal level. God is pleading with us today as He did with Jerusalem and Judah to give up our idols and come back to Him.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans for You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com. Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

Jeremiah 1 - Judgment Against Jerusalem

 

Jeremiah 1 – Judgment Against Jerusalem                                                             

 

Jeremiah was appalled at the sins of justice, idolatry and immorality that were rampant in his nation. When God pronounced judgment against Jerusalem, Jeremiah was devastated. He pleaded with his countrymen to turn back to God, but they didn’t listen to Him. Because they didn’t listen God allowed Jerusalem to be ransacked and deported to Babylon.

God is very clear that He is well acquainted with every individual from the time they are conceived and that He has a plan for every one of them. God knew Jeremiah before he had been formed in his mother’s womb and He planned for Jeremiah to be a prophet.

God knows everything, so He knows that some young lives will end too soon, and others will live well into their 100’s.

Jeremiah had great self-esteem; He saw himself in relation to God’s plan for his life. God has done the same for each individual. He has each person’s life in His hands. He created us for a purpose. We should stand tall with high esteem by understanding who we are in Christ.

Self-esteem generally describes feelings of self-hate, rejection, and an inability to accept oneself as special and unique. When people grow up believing what they are told about themselves, that they are unattractive, incompetent, their self-esteem will be shaped accordingly.

Paul (Rom 12:3) tells us to “think soberly” about ourselves. This means to be honest about who you are as a person and how God sees you. God usually places more value on us than we do. Many people either distort their self-image in a negative way or in an exaggerated positive way. We are either down on ourselves, not liking who we are or think we are better than others and have become conceited. We must first be honest, be willing to admit our strengths and weaknesses. Stop degrading ourselves and get rid of the negative.

To be positive is to affirm the gifts that God has given us and to praise God for who He made us to be. We are neither worse nor better than anyone else. We must value ourselves as God values us and we must value others as God values them. When people conquer their self-rejection, they open the door to be more accepting of both them and others.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J.Vernon McGee Thru the Bible.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.

 

Isaiah 66 - God's Footstool

 

Isaiah 66 – God’s Footstool

 

How can anyone build a house for the Lord when He made everything? He is so great that He uses the earth for His footstool. But with all His greatness, God desires to dwell with the humble, those who tremble at His word and seek to glorify Him.

 

To tremble means to respect what God says and fear to disobey it.

 

The restoration of Israel’s kingdom will be as sudden and joyful as the birth of a baby. The travail of their tribulation will give birth to glory, and God will love them just like a mother. It will be a time of peace and joy.

 

God will defeat His enemies, summon the gentile nations to share the glory, and make Israel a holy offering to the Lord. Isaiah opened his prophecy indicting Israel for her religious hypocrisy, but he ended it promising that her worship will be acceptable to the Lord.

 

God will make the distinction between true and false, those who practice religion but does not worship God will be cast out.

 

Any enemy of Israel is an enemy of God and He will deal with them in the final judgment. God will make sure all His promises are fulfilled.

 

Many nations will gather in Jerusalem and Christ will sit on His throne and separate the people as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. The redeemed of all ages will worship God throughout eternity. There will be no peace for the wicked.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Isaiah 65 - The Remnant

 

Isaiah 65 – The Remnant

 

God makes it very clear that Israel’s sins and their unfaithfulness are responsible for His judgment against them. Nevertheless, He has preserved a remnant through which He will fulfill all His prophecies. Romans 10:20, Paul quoted “I am sought of them that asked not for me, I am found of them that sought me not; Behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.” Isaiah was speaking of the Gentiles.

 

When Paul went to Philippi there was not one man seeking to hear the gospel. Instead, he found Lydia holding a prayer meeting down by the river. At the time she may not have recognized her need but Paul shared the gospel with her anyway. God does the same thing; He responds to people who doesn’t even call upon Him.

 

Many people never asked to be saved but He saves them anyway. Isaiah reminded the Jews that the gospel was given to them first and since they rejected it God gave it to the Gentiles. We must be careful not to reject God’s blessings because He will find someone else to give them to. Someone who will appreciate them more.

The Jews missed out on many blessings because they practiced idolatry and rebelled against God. They didn’t keep His commandments but walked in pride. Still there is a remnant that God holds dear to His heart. He will never be done with the Israelites because of His promise. Today there is a remnant in the church that He holds out to the end.

The church that will go through the tribulation is called the old harlot in Revelation 17. It is a group that does not belong to Christ. It is not His bride at all. The true believers will be taken out before the Great Tribulation.

 

Isaiah was the only prophet in the Old Testament that saw all the way to the new heavens and the new earth. Like the apostle John, the prophet saw a time when tears would be wiped away and God’s people would live with Him in a continual state of eternal bliss. (Rev. 21:4). Even the best of God’s promises for this life cannot compare to His wonderful promises for the life to come. The God who loves us enough to redeem this fallen world will one day express the greatness of His love by creating a brand-new world for His children.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Isaiah 64 - Christ is Coming

 

Isaiah 64- Christ is Coming

 

According to J. Vernon McGee and popular opinion Christ is coming before the Great Tribulation to take the church out of the world before the suffering begins. At the end of the Tribulation Christ will establish His kingdom. There is great controversy as to when Christ will come whether before or after the tribulation. We’re not here to debate the truth of it, but to prepare for it. The scriptures tell us to not lean upon our own understanding. We as God’s children pray that we do not have to go through the times of tribulation.

 

Today, we are pleading for Christ’s return. “Oh Lord Jesus, how long, how long, ere we shout the glad song, Christ returneth, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, amen.”

 

As a nation, we wonder why our nation mingles with other godless nations to help them out. The truth is, that we are just as godless as they are, only in different ways. God deals with the other nations just as He deals with us. That is why there are earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tornadoes, Tsunami’s, pandemics, etc.

 

God speaks out in thunderous ways and still mankind does not notice what He is doing. If one were to look deep into what is going on in the places that these disasters happen, you could see how God’s anger has exploded upon them.

 

To His children, God has revealed His plans through the Holy Spirit. The answer will always be there for us, we must be open to His revelations.

 

All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. It doesn’t matter what we do here on earth, all our good works will not get us into heaven. It is our relationship with Jesus that causes us to Love Him enough to do these good works that will get us to Heaven. A lost sinner who believes his good works will get him to heaven is not acceptable to God. He must first come to God through the plan of Salvation. We can only come to God one way, and that is through Jesus Christ. We are certainly God’s creation, but that doesn’t make us children of God. It is through our choices that we become children of God, or children of Satan. We cannot serve two masters so we must decide to seek out Jesus and accept a relationship with Him by being obedient and baptized into His kingdom.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Psalm 63- In His Wrath

 

Psalm 63 – In His Wrath

 

When Christ comes, He will come in wrath, but with His wrath, He will remember mercy.

 

In Isaiah’s day men would get into a winepress barefooted and tread out the grapes. The juice of the grapes would stain their garments. Those who witness Christ will see that there is blood on His garments just as if He had trodden a winepress. This blood is not His own blood but that of others. This will be the day of vengeance that He spoke of. He will come to save His redeemed ones from the vicious oppressors.

 

When Jesus died He brought Salvation on His own and when He returns He will bring judgment on His own. This may sound terrible, but can you think of any other way He could possibly come? If He came as He did before, do you think He would be accepted any better than the last time?

 

Man is not prepared to hand over their affairs to Him. He was rejected then and has been rejected ever since. The Book of Revelations speaks of Christ’s coming to put down the unrighteousness and rebellious and godlessness that is on the earth. He will destroy the anti-Christ and all his followers. There will be much blood shed and God will remain righteous in all His doings. His love for His own will pour out through His vengeance on the wicked. He will never forget His own people because He will show them mercy. The Israelites and a great company of Gentiles will turn to Him during the great tribulation. By then, the church had already gone to be with Him and has been in His presence for a long time. He is looking for people here who don’t lie, who fall or get in trouble. He is waiting to lead them out of their Egypt to Eden. In the end they will completely surrender to God.

 

Most of us are afraid to yield to God because we think He will be hard on us. God wants to be gentle with us if we give Him a chance. He is the God of judgment, but it is our choice whether we will yield to Him and accept His gentleness or rebel against Him and face His judgment.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Isaiah 61 - The Year of Jubilee

 

Isaiah 61- The Year of Jubilee

 

In Luke 4:16ff, Jesus used this text while preaching in Nazareth. He announced that He was ushering in the Year of Jubilee (Lev. 25). It is a time of releasing the slaves, canceling all debts, and making a new beginning. Today, those who trust Christ begin to enjoy their jubilee; those who reject Him face judgment.

 

The land of Judah was in ruins after the Babylonian captivity, but God would help the people repair and rebuild. The whole nation would become priests of the Lord (I Peter 2:5,9) and servants of God.

 

Instead of shame, there would be rejoicing and everlasting joy. It would be like going from a funeral to a wedding (Luke 5:27-39) and from a desert to a beautiful garden!

 

For those who claim to follow Christ, they cannot refuse to help the poor, oppressed, and needy in their midst.

 

God intended the redeemed of Israel to be His priests and servants. Just as the Levitical priests were supported by the tribes they served, so will the Israelites enjoy the support of the nations to whom they minister as priests.

 

When Jerusalem is restored, she will be clothed with garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness.

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Isaiah 62- Yearning for Peace

 

Isaiah 62 – Yearning for Peace

 

The reason Jerusalem can’t have peace today is because her Messiah is not there. He is seated at God’s right hand and He longs to rule that city in righteousness. No one can bring peace into this world except the Messiah.

 

Many of us wish the Lord would come to get us away from our problems. When things are bad, we long for His return. When things are good we ask for a little more time.

 

We yearn as the Prophet Isaiah yearned as do all believers on earth for the coming of Christ. We yearn for a new heart, a new situation, a new earth, and a new righteousness.

 

Isaiah says Israel will be called Hephzibah which means delightful. Today, Israel is not delightful, it is forsaken and desolate but in the new Jerusalem it will be delightful.

 

Beulah means married. When Christ rules, He will be the protector as a husband is to his wife. Christ will delight over Israel as a bridegroom delight over a bride. The Salvation of Israel is part of God’s overall plan. Our duty here is to pray for Israel and present the gospel to any Israelite we may encounter. The Messiah is their Savior and when He returns, He will establish His kingdom on earth for these people and the Gentiles.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Isaiah 60 - Jesus' Purpose

 

Isaiah 60 – Jesus’ Purpose

 

In Luke 4:16-19 Jesus went into the temple, opened the Book of Isaiah, and began to read. He closes the book just before it says, “and the day of vengeance of our God”. Then He reopens the book as stated in Luke 4:20-21 and states “this day is their scripture fulfilled in your ears.” This was the fulfillment of Christ’s first coming.

 

Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would heal those with broken hearts and liberate spiritual captives and prisoners. God’s chosen One would announce His grace to a desperate Humanity as an expression of His compassion. From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus said that His purpose was to seek out lost sinners and restore to a relationship with the Father. Jesus quoted Isaiah 61 to substantiate His claim to being the Messiah and to restate the purpose of His life and ministry.

 

Jesus came to heal, teach, minister, and serve. His compassion reveals the character of Christ. God’s love and understanding reach out to those who are depressed and discouraged. He promises to give consolation, beauty in place of ashes, oil of joy in place of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness. The Bible recognizes the heaviness of depression. God’s Word brings hope and encouragement to those who are weighted down, and God’s people stand with those who struggle, to bring relief and restoration. God promises that He will bring restoration “that He may be glorified”. This promise He made was primarily to God’s chosen people, but it is equally important for us today.

 

Isaiah spoke of Israel getting a facelift. This is yet to happen; many Jews have returned to Israel but it has not yet prospered enough to have the Eden like qualities it once had and will have at the beginning of the Millennium. Israel will be a kingdom of priests. That was God’s first intention but because of their sin, this never happened. In the new kingdom, their lives will be of everlasting joy. They will no longer live with rituals, but their lives will adorn the character of Christ. They will greatly rejoice in the Lord.

Today the world is more wrapped up in their self than they are wrapped up in God. As long as we hold on to our sins, we cannot worship with the excitement and thrill God intended it to be.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Isaiah 59 - After Christ Comes

 

Isaiah 59 – After Christ Comes

 

When Christ comes it will be like the sun rising into midnight darkness. The nation Israel will reflect the glory light that will shine upon the entire earth. The church, in the meantime, has gone to be with Christ. Malachi 4:2 says that the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing wings. Darkness shall overcome the earth.

 

There is so much sin in this world that darkness surely covers the earth. When Christ comes, He will be the light, and He will come to Zion and bring the Gentiles from afar. This will be the greatest revival on earth, all will come to life and be resurrected to Christ Himself. All the people shall be gathered in Jerusalem. They will come by land, sea, and by air. Wise men not only from the east but from all over the world will bring gifts to Christ, they shall bring gold and incense. There will be no Myrrh as that was taken care of at Christ’s death.

 

The sacrifice of animals will be reinstated in the Millennium temple. In the future it is said that Russia will send the Jews back to Israel and will not extract payment from them but will give them gifts just as the Egyptians did when the Israelites fled from Egypt. The Lord has made it clear that the judgment on the nations will be based on their treatment of the Israelites. In the Millennium every knee will bow, even those who don’t want to bow will be forced to by public opinion.

 

When Satan comes at the end of the Millennium, then those who bowed unwillingly will gravitate towards him, which will be the last rebellion. After that everything will be made brand new.

 

God is going to start over, and we are all going to have a new nature. Jerusalem will become the center of the earth, and many blessings will come that day. All the treasures will be restored back to its temple. We won’t have need of the sun or moon as Christ will be our everlasting light. Human strength will be restored. There will be no need for wheelchairs or walkers. We will be strong in the Lord. What a glorious day that will be!

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Isaiah 59 - God Hears

 

Isaiah 59 – God Hears

 

Lies, perverseness, vanity, mischief, violence, gossip, and evil are just few of the sins that are mentioned 32 times in the Bible. God charges Israel and tells them through Isaiah that they must repent and turn to Him.

 

Zechariah 12:11-14 says that there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem. Each family will mourn and confess their sins in the last days. The reason that Israel was not saved in the days of Isaiah was not because of any fault of God. His hand was not shortened, nor was He hard of hearing. Many people today do not believe that God hears their cries, or even cares about their troubles. That is not true. God loves each of us and stands there with a listening ear and outstretched arms.

 

Because Christ has come and died for our sins, He has reached down from heaven and touched us. He blesses us by making us one with Him.

 

Israel stated that they are in darkness, and they confess that their religious rituals have all been a pretense. We need to search our souls and see if there is any hypocrisy within us. If there is, we need to get down on our knees before God and confess this sin and repent.

 

Someday Israel will make this confession, and when they do, time will be close at hand for our Christ to come and dwell in Zion.  God made this covenant for Israel and Christ’s followers. There will never be a day that this promise will be forsaken for this is the purpose of God. It will be fulfilled in God’s time.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

 

Isaiah 58 - Can We Hurt the Grace of God?

 

Isaiah 58 – Can We Hurt the Grace of God?

 

Can wicked ways and outward religious forms delay the grace of God and hurt the cause of Christ? Men and women who are religious and church members and yet curse like a pagan block the grace and glory of God. Men and women who are dishonest in business, immoral in their social lives yet talk about being good enough to meet God’s standards also block the grace and glory of God. This is why God’s glory was withheld from the Israelites and is being withheld from people of today.

 

God told Isaiah to cry aloud and tell these people of their sins. It takes a very brave man to do this because not everyone likes to hear the truth. Isaiah made some enemies, but God tells it like it is and He wants His servants to tell it like it is and warn them that their sin could lead to eternal separation from God.

 

The Israelites asked what the purpose is of fasting if God didn’t take note of it. Fasting was to be an outward expression of the soul, but they made it a form which ministered to their pride and ego. Fasting is to be private between man and God. They boasted about fasting and God rebuked them.

 

If we are worshiping God to please man then we are not having a pure relationship with God. We must demonstrate our faith by our conduct. Start being honest in our dealings, be truthful in all ways.

 

The Israelites turned their back on the poor and needy. They even refused to show love and kindness to their own flesh and blood. When a person has a heart for God, they also have a heart for other people. You will want to be helpful to them and a blessing to them.

Isaiah was not popular with the people, they thought they were doing right and deserved some credit. If we want blessing and grace and glory from God we must build a relationship with Him. God wanted to give them blessings, as He does us, but if our worship is not for the right reason, we are only getting in God’s way. We must seek God’s forgiveness if we are doing what we do to seek compliments from man, thinking God will be pleased. Anything we do in the name of Christ should be done for Him and Him alone. We must put our pride and ego aside and humble ourselves before God.

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

If you have missed any lessons, you can go to: God Plans For You at https://sherrysouthard.blogspot.com.

J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.