Fellowshipmtz

Isaiah 60: Interpreting the Prophets

Isaiah 60 and Haggai 2 (primarily).

After a week away, and based upon Isaiah's lofty prophecy concerning the city of Jerusalem, Cliff surveys Biblical prophecy and offers some basic parameters for interpretation and understanding.

Guest Speaker: Biblical Community

Matthew Melville (Word of Life missionary in Portugal) returns to our church for a second time this year.  His message is a challenge to pursue authentic Biblical community.

Isaiah 60: Jerusalem‘s Exaltation

Isaiah 60 -- (along with Lamentations 1)

Understanding (and rightly interpreting) the particulars Isaiah 60 (Jerusalem's exaltation!) requires a basic understanding of the LORD's glory as it pertains to His covenanted people, Israel.  Today's teaching surveys along those lines.

Isaiah 60: Five Results of the LORD‘s Salvation

Isaiah 60  ( Part 1 )

The previous chapter set forth this essential truth (59:16a): [The LORD] "saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm brought Him salvation,"  Chapter 60 advances 5 important outcomes of the redeeming work of the LORD's Servant (Christ Jesus).  Those 5 outcomes are:  1) The LORD is glorified,  2) Jerusalem is exalted,  3) Jerusalem's children (Judah/Israel) are restored,  4) the LORD's temple is beautified (made glorious),  5) Gentiles also join in the worship of the LORD!

An Invitation for Change

Haggai 2:10-23

The LORD warns the people against mere outward conformity (i.e. building a temple) and invites them to consider their present situation "from this day onward" (vss 15, 18).  The LORD is not interested in bits & pieces of our who we are; He requires total and complete allegiance.  This remnant of Jews are at a crucial juncture!  What will they do?  How will they respond?

Sometimes Faith Seems Futile

Haggai 2:1-9

Haggai is one of three post-exilic prophets (along with Zechariah and Malachi).  Haggai arrives about 200 years after Isaiah (our normal Sunday morning series).  Haggai delivers FOUR messages in FOUR months, in the year 520 B.C. from August 29 to December 18 - (our calendar equivalents).
The first message (in chapter one) is a REBUKE.  The second message in 2:1-9 is an ENCOURAGEMENT.

Thinking Carefully About Our Ways! - (John Davis)

Haggai 1

John Davis takes us to the "minor prophet" of Haggai (Cliff will complete chapter two starting next week).  In Haggai, the people of God have forgotten God — or at least they don't see God and His call on their lives as all that important or relevant.  The good news of God is that even when we forget God, He hasn't forgotten us!  God calls His people back in to fellowship with Him.

To the Jews First and Also to the Gentiles

Isaiah 59:15b-21

What Isaiah describes is termed elsewhere as "the Day of the LORD" -- a time of Judgment and Deliverance, a time of Wrath and Mercy!

The Good News! (The LORD‘s Own Arm Worked Him Salvation)

Isaiah 59:15b-19

Two main points stand out:  (1) GOD is not indifferent to sin, injustice, and human suffering; and (2) We cannot save ourselves -- (no matter how much help God sends!)

First, the Bad News...

Isaiah 59:1-15a

Charles Spurgeon on this text: "You thought that God's hand was shortened, that it could not save; but it is your hand that is shortened, for you have not laid hold upon Christ.  You have not taken your sins to Him to be put away . . .  You said that God's ear was dull.  Nay, nay, nay, it is your ear that is dull; you have not heard what God the Lord has been saying to you, you have not been obedient to the heavenly message.  All the mischief lies with yourself, not with God; and at the last,  if you are not saved, the blame will not rest upon the Saviour, but upon yourself.  This is the doctrine that we preach; if a man be saved, all the honour is to be  given to Christ; but if a man be lost, all the blame is to be laid upon himself.   You will find all true theology summed up in these two short sentences:  salvation is all of the grace of God, damnation is all of the will of man."