Thoughts From The Bible

The third message from the book of Isaiah called “The confusion caused by sin.”

In this chapter we read of famine, mighty and wise men gone, and children and women ruling and oppressing people. 

This chapter is the result of Judah forsaking the Lord—for turning away from what is correct. The result is confusion. In the end, they went against nature and the order God set from the beginning of creation.

Sin is terrible. Rejecting God’s way is painful and causes confusion. Why not just obey the Bible and do things God’s way? Once we start obeying the Bible and do things in God’s order the confusion will end.

The second message from the book of Isaiah called “Come let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

In the first part of chapter two, we find the Lord encouraging Judah to come into the house of the Lord and walk in the light. It is a Millennium passage and talks about the peace Israel and the world will enjoy in the future.

Verses 3 and 5 we read “Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord” and “Come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

This is a very encouraging passage of scripture. It is admonishing us to come into the house of the Lord, worship him, and walk in the light of the Lord.

Prophetically, it is speaking of all nations coming to worship the Lord in the Millennium.

However, we will apply a spiritual application for us in the New Testament church. I would like to look at this passage as a picture of a church family.

The first message from the book of Isaiah.

The book of Isaiah is an exciting, convicting, and yet encouraging book to study! Doctrinally, it was written as a rebuke to Judah. However, we find practical lessons and applications for the New Testament church.

We will start with a message from chapter one called “The Pleading of a Father.”

God the Father is a person. He feels, He loves, He rebukes, He is sad when His people reject Him and embrace sin. 

This chapter not only shows us the heart of the Father but His rebukes and warnings, His command to repent, and His judgment if we refuse to obey Him.

The twenty-eighth message from the book of Ephesians called, “Stand Fast and Pray Always” Our verses for today are found in Ephesians 6:13-14 and verse 18;

Eph 6:13-14 "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;"

Eph 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"

We now come to the last two commandments: stand fast and pray always with watching.

Will you stand for the Lord? Will you stand for what is right? And will you pray always with watching?

The twenty-seventh message from the book of Ephesians called, “Put on the armour of God” Which is found in Ephesians 6:11-13:

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

The first command we looked at from this chapter was to be strong and in the power of the Lord. We must obey that if we have any hope of fulfilling the next command…put on the whole armour of God. We need this armour to stay faithful in the battle we are in.

Our battle as Christians is not a physical battle, it is a spiritual battle. This battle is real and of eternal importance. Our enemies are real and in high places, both spiritual and physical.

It is important that we understand that we are to stand in this battle. The sword of the Spirit is our only offensive weapon. The word of God, Jesus Christ Himself, does the fighting for us. We are simply to proclaim His word and stand faithful.

2Co 10:3-4  "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"

We are told in Ephesians chapter six to put on the whole armour of God. Not just one part, such as faith, but to put on ALL of it. Many Christians only obey part of God’s word—so also many only put on parts of this armour. We need all of it if we are to stand against such wickedness in high places.

The twenty-sixth message from the book of Ephesians called, “Be Strong in the Lord” Our verses for today are found in Ephesians 6:10-18.

In this passage we have several commands: be strong in the power of the Lord (vs. 10), put on the whole armour of God (vs. 11), stand fast (vs. 13-14), and pray always with watching (vs.18). These are strong commands for a serious reason: we must have these if we are to stand against the wiles and power of the devil.

We will look at each of these things in detail. For today we will look at the first command: to stand strong in the power of the Lord. We will look at the rest in a future lesson.

I hope you will be able to say: 

God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. (2Sam. 22:33)

The twenty-fifth message from the book of Ephesians: “Obedience and Service.” Our verses for today are found in Ephesians 6:1-9.

This passage talks about being obedient to the authority that is set over us and serving as unto the Lord and not unto men. The first example is children obeying their parents, the second is servants obeying their masters, and last are masters obeying and serving their Master in heaven.

We will look at all three today.

God desires that we be obedient in all things that He commands us. We are to be obedient to call on Him for salvation, to obey Him and His word, and obey the given authority over us. Let’s be obedient children in all things!

2Co 2:9  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

The twenty-fourth message from the book of Ephesians called, “The Bride of Christ.” Our verses for today are found in Ephesians 5:23-33.

This is a wonderful passage about the bride of Christ. We looked last time at the practical aspect of the correct relationship between a husband and wife. Let’s now look at the spiritual and doctrinal application concerning the bride of Christ.

Verse 27 tells us he will present it (the church) to Himself. This is a future event that will happen in Revelation 21:9 and 19:6-9

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.

The bride of Christ is a great mystery and a fantastic miracle of God. The bride is made one with Christ and lives forever with Him in joy! What a great blessing for a child of God to look forward to.

The twenty-third message from the book of Ephesians called, “Husbands and Wives.”

Eph 5:21-22  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

These verses talk about the responsibility of husbands and wives. Husbands and wives have different responsibilities before God and their spouse. They should both honor and love each other. If they will both act unselfishly, love each other, and also put God first in their lives then most problems in their marriage will go away. 

One of the reasons we have such a high rate of divorce in the world is that couples do not follow the principles set in the Bible. God has a correct order for the family—and when a family refuses to follow what God says problems will come in the home.

We should first submit ourselves before God and love him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. It will be much harder to have a good relationship with your spouse if you do not first have a good walk with God.

Luk 10:27  And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

If we do this we will be able to submit ourselves to not only God but those who are over us.

The twenty-second message from the book of Ephesians, “Filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Eph 5:18-21  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Most Christians have heard the term “filled with the Spirit” at some time in their Christian life but, what does the Bible mean when it says “be filled with the Spirit?”

We will do a simple study looking at times when God’s children were filled with the Holy Spirit. This will give us a good idea of what it means.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a mysterious, mystical thing. It is simply living and walking after the Holy Spirit instead of our flesh.

When you are filled with the Spirit of God you will be bold, speak of Jesus, glorify God, and be filled with joy and thanksgiving.