Sin Exposed, 2of5

~ Sinfulness in Chapter 2 of the Book of Isaiah ~

Idolatry and Pride  ~  “For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with eastern ways; they are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they are pleased with the children of foreigners.  Their land is also full of silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is also full of horses, and there is no end to their chariots.  Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.  People bow down, and each man humbles himself; therefore do not forgive them.  Enter into the rock, and hide in the dust, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty.  The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.   For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up — and it shall be brought low — upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan; upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up; upon every high tower, and upon every fortified wall; upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all the beautiful sloops.  The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the Lord alone will be exalted in that day, but the idols He shall utterly abolish.  They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.  In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which they made, each for himself to worship, to the moles and bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crags of the rugged rocks, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.  Sever yourselves from such a man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for of what account is he?” (2:6-22).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Sin Exposed, 1of5

~ Sinfulness in Chapter 1 of the Book of Isaiah ~

Rebellion and Desertion of God  ~  “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth!  For the Lord has spoken: ‘I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me; the ox knows its owner and the donkey its master’s crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not consider.’  Alas, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who are corrupters!  They have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked to anger The Holy One of Israel, they have turned away backward” (Isaiah 1:2-4). 

Rebellion As an Ongoing Lifestyle  ~  “Why should you be beaten anymore?  Why do you persist in rebellion?  Your whole head is injured, your whole heart afflicted” (1:5, niv).  

Insincere Worship  ~  “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah: ‘To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?’ says the Lord.  ‘I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed cattle.  I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs or goats.  When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?  Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me.  The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies — I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.  Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them.  When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear.  Your hands are full of blood.  Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.  Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow’” (1:10-17).

Insincere Lifestyle  ~  “How the faithful city has become a harlot!  It was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.  Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water.  Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards.  They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them” (1:21-23).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Joy, 1of7

~ The Source of All True Joy ~

Introduction to the Joy Series ~  Our Lord Jesus Christ told us that He came so that His followers could have true joy resulting from their relationship with God?  Listen to His words:  “…I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled…” (John 17:13).  In the prior covenant King David said, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).  Near the close of our New Testament, “the disciple whom Jesus loved” tells us that “these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4). 

Joy In God  ~  “And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:11). 

Joy In Christ  ~  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).    

Joy In The Spirit  ~  “Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). 

Observation  ~  All three members of the Trinity are involved in the Christian’s joy.

Concluding Comment  ~  Regarding Christian joy Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, said: “Peace is joy resting, and joy is peace dancing.”

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .