God's Victorious Nature

When we say "victory," we need to think "finish." That's a good synonym in the Bible for the concept of victory. And rest assured God is exacly up to that -- finishing what he started.

In fact, I was somewhat intrigued by the amount of biblical support for this aspect of God's nature, especially the word "finish."

• Daniel used it (Daniel 12:7) when talking about how God will finish his work in the tribulation.
• Paul used it when speaking of how God will finish his work in us on the day of Christ (Phil. 1:6).
• Jesus used it multiple times in John (4:34, 5:36, 17:4, 19:30) when speaing of his role on earth as the God-man -- to finish the Father's work!
• The writer of Hebrews used it to describe Jesus as the finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).
• Paul used it in Romans (9:28) to tell how God would finish the work he began with the Jewish nation.

So take courage and be strong, brother or sister. It ain't the 9th inning yet. God hasn't finished what he started yet..but he will; you can bank on that! For that's God -- the greatest finisher and victor ever!

Isaiah 56 and the Holocaust

The name of the Holocaust Museum in Israel, Yad Vashem, literally means "a memorial and a name," and is taken from the phrase in Isaiah 56:5. No doubt the name is indicative of the purpose: to preserve a memory. [You can see some of the museum at www.yadvashem.org.]

However, when God uses the phrase, he is referring to something far bigger than just preserving a memory. He is talking about redeeming a people, even people not originally Jewish by nature. But that's just how personal he is -- he establishes covenant relationships that are even closer and more personal than what we know on earth. WOW! That's a personal God, eh? And that's what he is up to -- bringing together a people from all languages, tribes, nations, and tongues who will shout his glory and spead his fame. Truly, He gives us his name so we can declare his!

Drawing Close

One of our readers (and now fellow blogger!) asked, "What are some ways to practically draw close to God?" In other words, we know he's close and personal; what can we do on our end to access that? Ater all, the first half of James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God..."

In a word, obey! Yep, that's the simple answer, and a very biblical one, too. Read Isaiah 56 and notice all the ways Isaiah asks for the foreigners and eunichs to obey. That's how God determined their seriousness.

Specificlly, it was in regards to the Sabbath, but the principle is clear: Obedience is the best way to show God you are serious about drawing close. Whether it be by praying as he instructs, reading and studying his Word , meditating and memorizing Scripture, witnessing to others, giving of our resources, confessing our sins, etc, etc...obeying God competely and unconditionally speaks the loudest.

Wanna draw close? Do the next right thing --obey! -- and God is there.

Why the Sabbath Emphasis in Is. 56?

Even a quick reading of Isaiah 56 reveals that, as God is displaying his personal and "familial" nature to the Jew, as well as to the foreigner and eunich, the Sabbath plays a critical role in this chapter. Why? Is it for today? Are we required to obey it?

Succintly, no! Here's a bit of explanation. The sabbath was strictly a sign for the Jews given to them as part of the Mosaic law. It was never given to the Gentiles, except for here in Isaiah 56. And why here? Because as their return to Jerusalem and Jewish worship was prophesied, God was asking all who were part of his people to return to his commandments as given to his people. This was important when they returned to rebuild the walls and the temple (Nehemiah and Ezra), and it will be important in the New Jerusalem (Millennium an afterwards) when God reigns visibly from the Holy City. At that point, I believe those in the New Jerusalem will once again return to worshipping on the sabbath (partly based on Is. 56). But for now, it is not in play as Jewish worship has not been reinstated during this parenthetical time of the church.

And this makes sense, especially knowing that sabbath means "last day." Truly, in heaven we will finally be 'resting' from all our earthly serving and working and finally able to completely and fully worship God -- and only God! What a 'rest' that will be, eh? Till then, we find our rest in him. When that day comes, we'll find our rest with him.

His Two-Pronged Faithfulness

It's a common verse we preachers use -- Isaiah 55:11. Two words in this verse help me understand what really happens when God's Word goes out. The words are "accomplish" and "achieve," and they speak of different aspects of "success" of God's Word.

"Accomplish" contains the idea of producing something; of manufacturing a product. No doubt God is bringing us to a place of completion (i.e., maturity), a place where we are recognized as his handiwork and masterpiece. For instance, when an old habit is broken because of God's Word, it has 'accomplished' something in us. This speaks to the task at hand.

But God's Word also "achieves" something in that it makes progress; it 'carries on' and furthers the work it is doing. For instance, when Christ-like attitudes are deepened, such as selflesness and service, then our 'journey' of sanctification has taken a good turn; we've taken steps on the path towards godliness. This speaks of the journey we're on.

Either way, you can bank on this: When God's Word is involved , it will do what it is designed to do. Whether stopping sinful things, producing godly things, or continuing a pattern of holy living, God and his Word is at the root of it all. And he will make sure his Word always produces (“accomplish”) what it needs to and always makes the progress (“achieve”) it needs to. Why? Because that’s the nature of our God: faithful! Completely consistent! Undeniably reliant!

No Bait and Switch with God

Isaiah 55 opens with an astounding invitation. -- "COME!" In fact, 18 verbs are used to say the same thing -- invite all to come! Why? Because only God can really deliver on the promise of lasting satisfaction. In the openeing verses Isaiah talks about how other offers fail and pale, but Jehovah's invitation actually delivers true fulfillment. That's divine "customer service" that is perfectly consistent with every client.

Of course, to some people, this invitation sounds too good to be true; like maybe they're staring at a spiritual “bait and switch”… not at all! That’s what others do for sure! But not God!

Truth is, you know why we wonder that? Because we see the invitation through man’s character, not God’s. Perhaps that's why Isaiah contrasts the two different natures in play -- man's and God's. (55:8-9 "my ways are not your ways...my thoughts are not your thoughts")

You see, consistency is exactly what God is – and exactly what man isn’t! So if trusting him and his invitation seems risky, it’s only because you are viewing God more like a human than the divine and holy Creator who cannot fail. God is not like us – people who break promises and fail to deliver. No, God keeps his Word every time. He is perfectly consistent and faithful. Hallelujah!

A Personal God

Seems everyone knows God these days. Haven't you heard the phrase of choice from television celebraties, media moguls, and sports stars? Here it is -- "O my God!" (emphasis added)

Yep, looks like people everywhere are laying claim to God. A better question is, "Does God lay claim to us?" According to Isaiah 55-56, he is close enough to do exactly that ("he can be found" and "salvation is close at hand"). That's the correct understanding of God's personal nature -- not that we found him, but that he found us, knows us, is close to us, and calls us by name.

To cement this, Isaiah lays out a beautiful picture of God's personal nature towards us in 56:5 when he says God will give "a memorial and a name" that is better than that which sons and daughters have. Ther is a lot more here contextually that I will explain in a future blog, but suffuce it for now to say that being known by God is even more intimate and personal than how your parents know you. WOW...that's personal! But that's God -- close and nearby! What a spirital Daddy!

God's Faithful Nature

Reading Isaiah 55 has left me with a simple word that best describes God's faithful character: He is consistent! Granted -- that word hasn't been the first word to roll of my tongue when I'm thinking about faithfulness, but it may well be more in line with the biblical concept of faithfulness.

For instance, in verses 1-7, God is consistent in his call to all peoples. He urged us to "Call", "Seek", "turn", and "forsake" (as well as other strong verbs). And it has been this way since he estabished his covenant, which he actually describes as "everlasting" and "faithful" in 55:3.

Additionally, as the rest of the chapter unfolds, God's consistency is contrasted against man's inconsistency. "His thoughts are not our thoughts and his ways are not our ways" (Is. 55:9), as well as the fact that his "word will never return empty" (Is. 55:11), are just two examples of how consistent his way and his word are -- perfectly! Guarenteed! Impeccable!

The result? A future kingdom city forever faithful -- consistent! -- with God's eternal purposes! That's what verse 13 states when it says, "This [i.e., the new Jerusalem] will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed." All that he has promised will be finally realized one day and it will forever remain that way. Now that's consistency. That's faithfulness. That's God!

God's Jealousy Understood Simply

Let me see if I can help us understand God's jealousy in a simple way. Essentially, he is not jealous of someone, but jealous for something. And that something, though it involves us in various aspects, is all glory and worship. Remember what he said -- "I will not share my glory with another."

Granted -- he receives his worship from his creatures (that's us!), and it is his plan to keep his covenant with Israel so that eventually all the rest of the world will worship him. So from that angle we are involved -- we're the worshippers! But the end focus/goal of his "jealous" nature and activity is not us, but ultimate and final worship. He's not jealous of us at all! But he is correctly jealous for our worship, and one day he will lay an exclusive claim to it from every tongue and knee.

God's Exclusive Nature and Oprah

God's exclusive nature doesn't settle well with those who only want a benign, passive God. Why? Because exclusivity means possessiveness. And rightly so! Any covenant relationship that doesn't have a bibically correct view of fierce loyalty (i.e., "jealousy") isn't a covenant relationship at all. It's just an idolatrous pretense.

But God is rightly jealous. Fiercly loyal. Correctly possessive. Exclusively committed. Oprah may not like that fact, as expressed in her recent Web classes and on her show often, but changing God's nature isn't an option. "Reinventing" God as less exclusive and more equal is not an acceptable alternative. It is unbiblical and illogical from an argument's standpoint, and deceitfully dangerous and damning from a personal standpoint. God's exclusive, jealous nature must be correctly understood and properly taught. And Isaiah does that well, not only in chapter 49, but in much of the last half of the book (40-66). His jealousy is just, proof positve that he does operate consistently within his covenant towards his creatures.

Pray for Oprah to repent and come to a true, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray she will see God as he really is. Pray against her "new earth church." Pray that their message will be thwarted, their eyes opened, and minds renewed. Intercede for those headed towards damnation with hearts of compassionate mercy, wills of divine steel, and minds of biblical conviction (Jude 17-23). Truly, Romans 1 is happening before our eyes -- "supressing the truth" ... "exchanging the glory of the immortal God" ... "worshipping the created things." God help us to stand strong against error with the unfailing truth of sound doctrine.

God's Exclusive Nature...He Alone Owns Me!

As we think about God's exclusive nature in Isaiah 49, keep in mind that we are not talking about his exclusivity in regards to himself (his holiness...i.e., he is intrinsically different), nor are we talking about his exclusivity in regards to the world (his sovereignty). Instead, we are talking about his exclusivity in regards to his creatures -- he alone owns us! He has sole rights to lay claim to our life, and it is his sole decision to do whatever it takes to bring us/them back to himself. God displayed that type of exclusive ownership with Jersualem, especially in Isaiah 49. It was evident that he owned them by creation and by covenant, so he could rightly lay claim to them. Exclusive claim. Sole rights. He doesn't need permission or a vote of cofidence. He's God, the exclusive owner of all things.

Applying the Restoration/Renewal Principle

Okay, here is Isaiah 34-35 in a sentence: God will restore fully one day, and he fully renews today. But what do we do with this principle we have learned about God’s character. It’s great that he is a God of restoration one day, and very comforting that he is a God of renewal today. But what do I do with that today…tomorrow morning…Thursday night?

Most importantly, make sure the inner man gets your first and foremost attention. Be a person who focuses on what matters most -- the heart. That's the battle you have to win! Don’t stress as much about your face; do something about the heart! God will one day handle the restoration, so relax! Yes, do what you can, but calm down and “be OK with the DK.” And while you’re waiting for that day, let him handle your renewal today! Quite frankly, if we would spend as much time and money on the inner man as we do on the outer man, we’d have church full of renewed warriors ready to stand against the wiles of the devil and the gates of hell!

In addition to concenrating on the innner man and letting the outer man have our secondary focus, here are some other things we can do or attiudes we can adopt:

1. Don’t blame. Blaming God, or others for that matter, for current conditions is not only unbiblical and quite illogical, not to mention very untheological, it is simply foolish. Blaming only lengthens the road to recovery and is a very external action; it's an "outer man" rseponse. Instead, believe in God and watch what faith can do to you even in the middle of situations that are less than ideal. Thats how the inner man responds -- in faith towards God!

2. Don’t complain. Instead, learn contentment and the ability to compliment. After all, we are in the Valley of In-Between, so make the best of it, eh? Multiple times in the New Testament Paul urges us to "do all things with thankfulness" and "without grumbling or complaining." What's hard to understand about that? I have fouind that voicing the exact opposite often helps me fight through the temptation to complain. That why it's good to compliment the second you feel like complaining. Take the road less traveled!

3. Don’t look backward in regret; look forward in anticipation, especially to the day of restoration. The past will only be a ball and chain to your best "moving forward" efforts. Yes, learn from it, but don't lean on it. Leaning on it has a way of "velcroing" itself to you in a way that isn't supportive at all.

God's Restoration and God's Renewal: The Difference

Isaiah 34-35, as a unit, is a coin with two sides....a battery with two teminals. Is. 34 talks about God's retribution (-), and Is. 35 talks about God's restoration (+). And this restoration will be a perfect completion to his 1) kingdom, 2) people, and 3) the earth. And though that is great, I am struck by the fact that this restoration is still "one day." In other words, it is eventual. Which means, it ain't happened yet! Bummer, huh?

So what do we do in the meantime while we are livng in what I call the "Valley of the In-Between?" Answer: Let God renew us! Paul makes a strong case for renewal in the here-and-now in 2 Corinthians 4 when he says "though our outward man is perishing, our inward man is renewed day by day." This renewal is inward, and it is daily. I find it intriguing that Paul is not promising outward and lasting quick fixes now, but instead inner resiliance, and that even on an "as-needed" basis. (Reminds me of the passage where God promised Paul that his "grace was sufficient.")

So there it is -- Restoration one day, renewal today! The difference is all in the timing...the "when." So let's fix our eyes on the inside...let's make sure we are looking at what matters most during our time on earth: a rightly renewed heart!

God's a Great Farmer (Isaiah 28:23-29)

Three verbs tell us how we should appraoch this first WOW passage -- "listen" ... "hear" ... "pay attention." Here's why: Isaiah is laying out for us God's real intent in plowing -- fruit! (29:24-26) If we aren't listening we could miss this and think God was simply enjoying the act of digging for digging's sake! :) Not at all! He digs so that he can plant so that he can grow so that he can reap. It's all about the fruit at the end, not the digging at the beginning.

In fact, this is the theme of all these veses! When he talks about the "cartwheel over the cummin" (29:27) or the "grain being ground" (29:28) or the "threshing with a sledge" (29:27), it's for the purpose of bread! Yep, good ole' bread! That's the positive side of farming! Does it entail negative asects? Yes -- digging, threshing, grinding, etc. But the end product is enjoyable, beneficial, and profitable.

Such is God's chastening and training! In the short run, painful; but in the long run, profitable. God isn't just a good parent, he's a great farmer!

Jeremiah's Positive Side to God's Discipline

As I was meditating on the five WOW passages in Isaiah 28-33, God's Spirit brought a verse from Jeremiah to mind that also speaks of God's positive intent even in the middle of seemingly negative discipline/training -- Jeremiah 29:11!

"For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

WOW! And though too many people have used that verse out of context for their own selfish plans and profit (sing kum-ba-yah everyone), it does nonetheless give us great insight into God's intent for his people, the nation of Israel: The real goal of their captivity, both in the BC time and in the "soon-to-be" time, is positive! Yes, God fully intends to bring them to the final posession of a land that will one day be fully restored to its full fertility and into a community of worshippers whose vision is singularly fixed on Jehovah -- that's awesome! That's the chastening character of our God as it should wholly be seen -- positive, not punitive. Sure, it's not always evidenced immediately, but it is always fullfilled eventually.

God's Discipline is His Delight

The main chapters in view for March 2 are Isaiah 28-33, all of which begin with "Woe" except for one (ch. 32). I call them the 5 "Woes," for they talk about the chastening/discipline God is bringing upon the nation and city because of their sin. Yet, in the middle of these chapters that have definite punitive overtones, Isaiah leaves us with 5 "Wows" -- passages that tell us of God's positive intent in the discipline. It's like God, in the middle of our waywardness, says to us, "You'll thank me for this one day." (reminiscent of when our parents often said similar things to us) :) God is so committed to our holiness/sanctification that even in his training (i.e., discipline, chastening), he makes sure to tell us it is, in the end, for our good.

Here are the five WOWs:

1. Isaiah 28:23-29
2. Isaiah 29:22-24
3. Isaiah 30:15-26
4. Isaiah 31:4-5
5. Isaiah 33:20-24

Exploring each of these 'WOW' passages would be a worthwhile study/discussion for any small group, but for now, here's a general sense of them all: God, even in the middle of perceived punishment, is actually perfecting us. His discipline is truly productive, not punitive. As stated in a previous blog, these 5 passges really resonate with the same themes as we find in the latter portions of Hebrews 12.

It's as if God is saying through Isaiah, "I know this hurts right now, but you'll be glad one day." (Or somthing to that effect.) That's the delight of our Heavenly Daddy -- to discipline (i.e., train) us in a way that prepares us for what's coming up. He's thinking way in advance, and getting us ready! He's the perfect parent, eh? Hallelujah!

God is a Disciplining Daddy

As I pull together my thoughts/notes for Sunday, March 2 (Isaiah 28-33 and God's chastening nature), it is accompanied by a glaring passage in Hebrews 12 that echoes and reinforces what Isaiah is saying: God always brings out the best in his kids! Sure, in the moment it doesn't seem like he's trying to bring out the best in us, but it really is his end goal! He hasn; forgotten about us and he isn't mad at us; he is simply producing in us what is needed most: the character of Christ. In fact, that kind of "discipline" is proof-positive we are his kids!

Here's a thought...Know why he is intent on bringing out the best in us? So that we can be most used for his ultimate and sovereign purpose! So even in his chastening nature, God is eyeing the future and working towards his goal of ultimate glory!

God's Soverienty - It's Not About Us!

Often we like God's Sovereignty when it makes sense to us...when it makes my life "work out" or look better. But that is really not the filter to use when trying to get a grasp on God's sovereignty, for it leaves us as the end goal...that's a shallow Christian and a small god. God is seeking a host of nations worshipping him, and one day that will happen. That's what he's up to in history! All of his actions lead to that! If my life doesn't always make sense now but it leads to that eventual goal, so be it! Remember Hebrews 11? The writer (Timothy I think) there said "they all died not having yet received the promise" (paraphrase). WOW! The best lens through which to see God's sovereignty in its fullest sense is the overall purpose of a gathering of nations worshipping the one and only true God! That puts my comfort or discomfort in a whole new light, and rightly so! It's really not about me or you...it's all about God!

God's Sovereignty - Rick Davis Style

I was struck last night (at our event "Marriage: Unplugged") by the number of times Rick, our Featured Mobilizer this month for missions, encouraged us to "let God be God." Granted -- God isn't waiting on our permission or approval (duh!)...but it's just our human way of saying, "Be okay with the fact that God is beyond us!" Rick and Nikky came face to face with this on several occassions (infertility, moving to Laos, & her mother, to name a few) and it was encouraging to hear him simply tell of his unwavering trust in a Sovereign God! To me, Rick really portrays what it means to simply trust, much like what God (through Isaiah) was commanding Ahaz to do in Is. 7 -- have faith!

God's Sovereignty

The focus of this week's message was/is the sovereign nature of God, and all I can say is WOW! (By the way, don't expect me to cover it in a week!) :)

Anyway, amazing, eh? We say we have choice, and it certainly appears that we do. But as A.W. Tozer said, and I paraphrase, "The (ocean) liner of God's purposes has already set its destination" (from Knowledge of the Holy). As a survey of the 10 nations in Isaiah 13-27 shows, God's purposes prevail over the course of time, in spite of mankind, and God is proven to be independently and absolutely in control. Truth is, he is even bringing those nations to that Day when all nations will worship him. So his sovereignty has an ultimate purpose -- God's glory!

Romans 9-11 brings this out in a stunningly clear way as well...enjoy those tension-filled passages! Did we choose? Did God already decide? Can we ever figure it out? I'm left hilariously glad and wonderfully happy that my God is "unfigure-outable." Unmanageable. Beyond understanding. Sovereign!

To all my Arminian friends, the appearance of your choice is a nice thing to watch. To all my Calvinites, your "irresistable" decisions are fun to follow. To all of us, enjoy an unmanageable God!