Be Unshakable!
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The Dynasty at Stake
The Dynasty at Stake
Ahaz makes the decision to submit to the overlordship of Assyria, bringing peace and a cessation of hostility to Judah…or has he?
The Glory departs Judah. Personal faith and spiritual conviction in God and His goodwill are nothing but a slowly ebbing trickle.
The way of faith, Shiloah, has been seen as too precarious, too hazardous, to slow, unfaithful. The way of the world, the Euphrates with all it’s earthly kings, chariots, politics and speed, is the way to go.
The King of Assyria will be our Shiloah, he will save the city, be our water supply, for the country from the northern affliction.
He will be your Shiloah Jerusalem, he will be a raging Shiloah that will overflow your water system and drown you, as he drowns Ephraim and Syria. The Glory will depart. The foreignor will ‘fill your entire land, Immanuel!” (Isaiah 8:8)
But…as you see one son, Maher-shalal-hash-baz “quick to plunder, swift to spoil”, you will also see the other, Shear-jashub “a remnant will return”. One is ‘flood’, one is ‘faith’. Which will you choose? Both are the living incarnate word of the Lord born through the prophetess.
A person may plan his path, but Adonai directs his steps.
Devise a plan, it will fail. Make a prediction, it will not happen…unless the Lord God has planned it.
God is with you! So live as He is.
Fear God, Not Conspiring Powers
Fear God, Not Conspiring Powers
For this is what the Lord said to me with great power, to keep me from going the way of this people: Do not call everything an alliance these people say is an alliance. Do not fear what they fear; do not be terrified. You are to regard only the Lord of Hosts as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be held in awe.
Do not be paralyzed by fear concerning conspiracies or close association of individuals or nations for a common objective.
Fear God and His promises, not the purposes of men. Do not dread impending distress or misfortune. Instead fear God.
If one fears God, then He will become our sanctuary of strength, refuge, blessing and comfort.
For he will conceal me in his shelter on the day of trouble, he will hide me in the folds of his tent, he will set me high on a rock. Then my head will be lifted up above my surrounding foes, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, sing praises to Adonai.
“Adonai is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer, my God, my Rock, in whom I find shelter, my shield, the power that saves me, my stronghold. I call on Adonai, who is worthy of praise; and I am saved from my enemies.
You who live in the shelter of ‘Elyon, who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai, who say to Adonai, “My refuge! My fortress! My God, in whom I trust!”— he will rescue you from the trap of the hunter and from the plague of calamities; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his truth is a shield and protection. You will not fear the terrors of night or the arrow that flies by day, or the plague that roams in the dark, or the scourge that wreaks havoc at noon. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it won’t come near you. Only keep your eyes open, and you will see how the wicked are punished. For you have made Adonai, the Most High, who is my refuge, your dwelling-place. No disaster will happen to you, no calamity will come near your tent; for he will order his angels to care for you and guard you wherever you go. They will carry you in their hands, so that you won’t trip on a stone. You will tread down lions and snakes, young lions and serpents you will trample underfoot. “Because he loves me, I will rescue him; because he knows my name, I will protect him. He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble. I will extricate him and bring him honor. I will satisfy him with long life and show him my salvation.”
Treat God as Holy
Treat God as Holy
He will be a sanctuary; but for the two houses of Israel, He will be a stone to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be snared and captured.
God is a snare, stumbling stone and a trap to those of unbelief because their unbelief will lead to their downfall.
For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good? But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don’t fear what they fear or be disturbed, but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts; while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you—yet with humility and fear, keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are spoken against, those who abuse the good behavior flowing from your union with the Messiah may be put to shame.
We have this wonderful image of God set apart as high and holy in Isaiah 6:
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke.
Do we perceive God as high and exalted praised by Seraphim? Do we ignore His words, dishonor His name or fail to trust in Him? We do not honor God as high and holy King of this universe when we do not trust His promises.
December 21st there is a great event happening, are you aware? It is called “The Great Conjugation”. The planet Jupiter and Saturn are going to be coming together within 1 degree of one another in alignment. This has only happend two other times in history where Jupitar (The King Planet) and Saturn have come this close together in alignment. 1623 and 7 BC. Some astronomers believe this could be the “Christ Star” under which Jesus was born in 7 BC.
The next such alignment will not occur until March 15, 2080. One will be able to see this a half hour after sunset. And is supposed to be visible to the whole earth, as long as not covered by clouds. Only going to be for one day. Jupitar and Saturn align every 20 years, but never as close as this where the light will be so brilliant and it’s appearance majestic.
Why is this event so significant? 1) Reminds us of Christ being born under the original Christmas Star; 2) Reminds us of Jesus’ second coming; 3) We can point others to Jesus by telling the account of His birth and why He was born so many thousands of years ago; 4) The Christmas Star is a sign of hope, God has not forgotten about His people. Have no fear, God is holy and only He should be feared. He is coming!
“There will appear signs in the sun, moon and stars; and on earth, nations will be in anxiety and bewilderment at the sound and surge of the sea, as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is overtaking the world; for the powers in heaven will be shaken.And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with tremendous power and glory.When these things start to happen, stand up and hold your heads high; because you are about to be liberated!”
God is giving us a sign, His sign! Be unshakable in your faith!
For if God has in fact willed that you should suffer, it is better that you suffer for doing what is good than for doing what is evil.
Mary and Joseph - The Unshakable Couple (Luke 1:26-38; Mt.1:18-25)
Mary and Joseph - The Unshakable Couple (Luke 1:26-38; Mt.1:18-25)
How is it that Mary and Joseph could carry out the pregnancy of Christ?
Most Bible experts speculate that Mary was 15-16 years old when she gave birth to Jesus.
Meaning she was a teen mom, pregnant at 14. Life expectancy was only 45-50 years back then. This would have been normal.
What was not normal was this happend outside of marriage.
A Jewish betrothal was an important part of the marriage process and was as binding as marriage itself. Those initiating the betrothal and witnesses to the event would likely sign a marriage contract called a ketubah.
As a betrothed couple, Mary and Joseph were essentially husband and wife, and they later married (Mt. 1:24), although they did not consummate the marriage until after Jesus was born (v.25).
Therefore, if one or both parties wished to end the betrothal, they would be required to get a divorce.
What made Mary and Joseph so Unshakable to believe God?
His promise and they believed God, they trusted Him.
Do we?
“I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.
Those who believe are blessed (favored).
Indeed you are blessed, because you have trusted that the promise Adonai has made to you will be fulfilled.”
Peace on earth to the people whom God favors.
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!
God’s peace rests on those who believe in Him.
And Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, because He has looked with favor on the humble condition of His slave. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and His name is holy. His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him. He has done a mighty deed with His arm; He has scattered the proud because of the thoughts of their hearts; He has toppled the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly. He has satisfied the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, mindful of His mercy, just as He spoke to our ancestors, to Abraham and his descendants forever.
Jesus is Returning for His Bride
In His time on earth, Jesus often used Jewish marriage customs as a beautiful allegory of God’s relationship with the church, His “bride.”
Mohar - “the Bride price” The groom’s family paid the bride price.
Jesus purchased believers with His blood, shed on the cross for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 20:28; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; 11:25).
The Bridlechamber - The groom spent a year getting his house ready. The father told him when he was done and could fetch his bride. The bride would join the grooms father’s household.
Jesus is currently preparing a place for us (John 14:3), and will return for us at a future time no one knows (Matthew 24:36)
The Retrevial - The bride would not be aware of when the groom would come to fetch her and bring her home, so she was to be ready for his return at anytime, even in the middle of the night (Matthew 25:1-13). The groom would return with a trumpet call and a crowd.
He will return for His bride with a trumpet call and a shout (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17).
The Ceremony - the Bride would take part in a ritual cleansing; to present herself without blemish before the bridegroom at the marriage ceremony.
Jesus gave himself as our cleansing from sin to present us to His Father without blemish.
The Celebration - The celebration was paid for and provided by the bridegrooms family.
The dead in Christ and those alive in Him will be taken to heaven, where they will be joined forever with the Lord (Revelation 19:7) and take part in the marriage feast of the Lamb (verse 9).
Bind up the testimony. Seal up the instruction among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will wait for Him.
Seal God’s promises in your heart!
Do not wander through this land dejected, hungry and enraged, cursing God and King for this time. He said a time such as this would come. The people of the earth look and see only distress, darkness and gloom and will be driven into thick darkness, Isaiah says (v.21).
But we should look and see the signs of God…the Christmas Star to come. The sign that God is still in control and that Jesus is on His way to reclaim this world.
Trust in the Hope that was provided, and trust in the Hope to come. He will not disappoint. Be Unshakable!