Isaiah 9 is one of those portions of Scripture that is so significant we need to rehearse it, read it, meditate on key words from the text and evaluate it from various perspectives. This month of December we are looking at 4 perspectives as revealed in the 4 Gospels as we look into this important revelation of Christ.
Matthew reveals Jesus as our King. Mark reveals Him as the “Obedient Servant.” Luke shows Jesus as “The Perfect Man” and John reveals Him as “The Divine Son of God.” Today our focus is reading with the understanding that Jesus truly is the Son of God!
Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders... NIV
The shoulders are on the body. The body of Christ carries the government of God.
Isa 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair THEY will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. 4 THEY will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. NIV
Who are “They”? They are those who are brought out of ashes, mourning and despair for the purposes of God in the earth! This is us!
We’ve not merely been rescued from darkness. We’ve been given the light.
Unto us God’s Son has come. He didn’t come to establish a holiday or produce a religion. He came to awaken God’s Kingdom in our hearts and that’s what transforms our world! Are you purposing to live a life that is inspired by God?
When we are born we take in our first breath. When we are born again we take in God’s breath.
You can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air...but without inspiration from God there can be no true life.
Uninspired people simply live below their God-given potential.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Begin praying and reflecting on our 2019 New Year’s Revelation. Fully Known Fully Loved
Recently I heard a Bible scholar describing something interesting that took place in Luke 4:
Luke 4:16-22 Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?” NIV
Recent Bible scholar = the reaction of the people came when “Jesus sat down”. Taking and reading the scroll was the custom of any rabbi in the Temple. This scholar explained how Jesus sat in the seat of Moses. This was a declaration that he was the Messiah.
Notice the reaction of the people came when “Jesus sat down”. Taking and reading the scroll was the custom of any rabbi in the Temple. This scholar explained how Jesus sat in the seat of Moses. This was a declaration that he was the Messiah.
As soon as you step into the next dimension of your call from God the response of people who know you will be to confine you to what they knew of you rather than to embrace what you are becoming for this next season of your life and your call.
Notice their question trying to confine Jesus to what they had known about who he had been, “Is this not the son of Joseph?”
Once you step forward into the next dimension of your call from God you will have to choose not to live up to the low expectations from others of who you are. You are called by God into dimensions of influence for the purposes of transformation.
Jesus sat in the seat of Moses. You and I are seated in Christ. In Christ we find our true assignment in this life.
Eph 2:4-10 because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV
Be inspired!!! The Son of God has come and brought us from death to life commissioning us to Love God & Love others as we love ourselves.