Good morning Saints in Christ Jesus.
We give glory to God for the gift of another weekend, for the privilege of life and for God’s unending mercy and grace upon us always. Praise God!
The Book of Isaiah Chapter 31
This is a repetition of Isaiah’s message against Judah putting their trust in man for Salvation instead of God.
Isaiah 31:1-2
[1]Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
[2]Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.
Proper exegesis must be done to verse 2 so that people will not think God brings evil pr God is evil or God has evil nature. Unfortunately, that has been one of the numerous verses many preachers quote to unleash fear in the heart of people.
The Scriptures must be properly searched and studied to comprehend it.
John 5:39
[39]Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
The truth is New Covenant believers are more informed about God’s true nature and Way more than the Old Covenant Prophets and writers. The reason is explained below:
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 TPT
This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine – these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers. [10] But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all things.
Did you just read the above verses? As a believer, you are in a proper and better position to explain God to people more than Isaiah and other prophets.
Please, read on to understand why.
It is the understanding of Christ that helps every believer to comprehend the mysteries embedded in the Old Testament books.
When you know Christ, you will know God’s true nature.
However, we must note this that despite the fact that God cannot do evil or God is not evil, does not remove the fact that evil people will be punished. Jesus Himself and the Apostles taught about this. They taught about consequences of sin and disobedience against God and His offer of Salvation, which is judgement.
Yes, they will definitely be judged, punished and banished into an eternal damnation alongside the devil (the originator of evil) unless these people repent from their evil ways and join the family of God, which God prepared and made possible through faith in Christ.
Ephesians 5:6-7 (KJV)
[6]Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
[7]Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Also read this:
Colossians 3:6 (KJV)
[6]For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.
Who are the children of disobedience? Those who refused to accept God’s grace and offer of Salvation. Those who refused to dwell in the extravagant Love of God expressed in Christ Jesus.
The issue I am having with some of the preachers of our dispensation is that despite the fact that they all read about how Jesus and the Apostles taught from Old Testament books without referring to God as evil or sending evil on humanity, yet they decided to form their own doctrine to paint another picture of God to their followers using Isaiah’s and other prophets’ model, forgetting that even the old Testament prophets did not have full revelation of God. They only knew Him in types and shadows. Hence, the reason they spoke/wrote in figurative languages.
This is exactly the reason God called a meeting on the mount of transfiguration to set the record straight.
Present in the meeting were:
- Moses (who represented the Law).
- Elijah (he represented the Prophets).
- Peter, James and John (they represented the New Covenant church/ believers).
- Jesus Christ Himself (the mediator of the New Covenant). 1Tim 2:5
We will notice that when Peter moved a motion in the meeting about the need to keep on practicing Old Covenant (both Law and the teachings of the Prophets) with the New Covenant, using building of 3 tabernacles as his illustration, God quickly interjected and declared this statement:
Mark 9:7-8 (KJV)
[7]And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
[8]And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
Did we just read that?
God Himself says we should hear Jesus’ teachings only. The moment God said that statement, what happened? Both Moses and Elijah disappeared, meaning that their ministry ended the moment Jesus manifested in order to explain to the New Covenant Church what they have been speaking about Him in parables, figures, types and shadows.
Does this mean Prophets are no longer needed among New Covenant believers?
This verse will give us a clear answer:
Hebrews 1:1-2 (KJV)
[1]God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets.
[2]Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.
God now speaks to us through His Son. Meaning that if you have Christ, you will hear from God yourself. You are a Prophet yourself.
Nevertheless, there are still some people God has appointed to help you grow and mature in Faith. The Bible gives details about them here:
Ephesians 4:11-12
[11]And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.
[12]For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
What is their work? It is to point you to Christ and mature you in the faith so that you can do the same thing and you don’t necessarily have to wear collar to do this.
So, if any doctrine is not pointing you to Salvation in Christ in order to reveal the true nature of God to you, then trash it.
Let’s see how Jesus himself taught from the Old Testament books:
Luke 24:44 (KJV)
[44]And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Notice the phrase: “concerning me (Christ).
It means that if you are reading the book of Isaiah or any of the Old Testament books without the mind of Christ, then you are living in errors.
If because Isaiah and other prophets said God brings disaster and you picked that verse and ran with it, without properly studying the context of the entire message in the light of Christ teachings, it means you are dwelling in errors.
After all these clearly explained verses by Jesus Himself and His Apostles, why are some preachers of our dispensation still teaching errors?
It could be because of any of the followings:
👉Primarily, it’s one of the satanic activities to create a false picture of God in the heart of people, so that when he unleashes his terrors and evil works, he manipulates people to believe it’s God. Read 2Cor 11:3
👉To create fear and manipulate their members. It is only in mythical stories that we read about gods (the fallen angels) being evil and sending disasters and the same mentality has been brought into interpreting the true nature of God. So unfortunate.
👉Another reason is as a result of ignorance.
I must be fair with the honest preachers, who taught from Old Testament books ignorantly, because of their limited knowledge of God and also what was passed on to them from their mentors who also inherited erroneous teachings from their own mentors, and they continue to pass on same over and over again. If such people have access to the rightly divided Word of God, they will definitely change and amend their teachings.
👉One more reason could be as a result of pride. Some preachers have been teaching errors for decades and the moment the truth is coming out, they find it difficult to pull a reverse gear. They are trying to protect their ego. This is terribly wrong and will only lead to more and more errors.
We need to keep on praying for them so they will have the courage to pull a reverse gear and teach their members the right message.
Lets remember what Jesus did to His disciples when they did not understand how to interpret the Old Testament books. Jesus opened their minds…
Luke 24:45 (KJV)
[45]Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.
Also Paul’s prayers to the Ephesians in Chapter 1:17-18 (KJV)
[17]That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
[18]The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
And this 👉 Eph3:17-19 (KJV)
[17]That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
[18]May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
[19]And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Honestly speaking, every believer needs the above prayers all the time to prevent us from falling into errors.
To be continued…Praise God.
Let’s declare this together:
“I refuse to fall into errors. I believe in God’s declaration on the mount of transfiguration and therefore, I choose to embrace Christ’s teachings. I carry the authority of God in Christ Jesus. Amen!”
Bible readings for today: Judges Chapters 1, 2 & 3 with Psalm 69:1-18
I call you blessed now and always.
Saturday April 25, 2020 (DDMI)
