Isaiah 7:1-8:18

Introduction to Isaiah

http://www.biblica.com/niv/studybible/isaiah.php

Isaiah 7:1-8:18

- Quoted text: If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

- Quoted text: Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test.”

- There is no need to fear when one trusts God.

- Interesting points:

Isaiah 7:9

“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

- This means, trust the Lord. If you do not trust Him, then you will fail.

Isaiah 7:12

“Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.’”

- Although this is a good mindset (God has said to never put Him to the test), we can see that this isn’t the case here, as seen in the next sentence, below.

Isaiah 7:13

“Will you try the patience of my God also?”

- This suggests that God is trying to deliver a message/prophecy, as mentioned below.

Isaiah 7:14

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and^d will call him Immanuel.”

- I find this prophecy interesting because it shows that Christ was not the only human born from a virgin!

Isaiah 7:1–9

2 Kings 16:1–6

- Judah's crisis was that they could not overpower Jerusalem.

- The name of Isaiah’s first son means “a remnant shall return.” This means that a portion of Israelites will return to Jerusalem.

- Aram has allied itself with Ephraim, and Ahaz are not allies with these two great powers.

- Always place faith in God and trust that He will do what He has promised to do—and that is, to protect His people.

- The definition of “Sovereign” is:

The person, body, or state in which independent and supreme authority is vested; especially, in a monarchy, a king, queen, or emperor.

Syn: King; prince; monarch; potentate; emperor. [1913 Webster]

Hence, the significance of “the Sovereign Lord” means God is the one true King of Everything.

- God is the one true King, and that there are no other gods.

Isaiah 7:10–16

Matthew 1

2 Kings 16:7–10

Exodus 17:1–7

Deuteronomy 6:16

- Ahaz placed his trust in other gods and chose not to trust in the Lord

- God gave Ahaz the sign, as quoted in Isaiah 7:14-16

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.”

This sign means Israel will eventually be saved.

- According to Matthew 1, this prophecy points to Jesus Christ.

- Most importantly, Christian do NOT disregard Jesus as the sign from God. Israelites do. And the reason why Israelites do is because God had long predicted that they would be blind to what they see and deaf to what they hear. The Israelites thus could not and cannot comprehend the meaning of Jesus Christ until the end of times.

Isaiah 7:17–8:10

- In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River^f—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also. In that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two goats. And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,^g there will be only briers and thorns. Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.

God will do this to bring on the King of Assyria, to bring the end of Damascus and Ephraim.

- Despite their current hardship, the Lord is on their side and will help them out of this situation.

- “This people” and “You nations” = people of Damascus and Ephraim, people who chose to disobey God , who has no faith in God, who chose to place their faith in other gods. These people and nations will be destroyed.

Isaiah 8:11–18

- Isaiah says if we put our faith in our Lord, we should have no fear.

- To fear the Lord means to understand that He is our maker and thus to respect that He is the one—the ONLY one—who can make anything happen. To realize that we may plan all we want and manipulate all we want and think that we can do whatever we wish, but that at the end of the day, no matter how powerful we THINK we are, God can destroy it all with a simple wave of His hands.

Isaiah 28:16

Romans 9:30–33

1 Peter 2:4–10

- To the Israelites, Jesus is a stumbling stone.

- To the Gentiles, Jesus is a sanctuary.

Isaiah 7:1–8:18

- Trust God no matter what. Especially at times when things are hard and doubts start to set in. It is especially easy for us to lose faith during those vulnerable moments, and thus it is even more critical for us to remain close to God and to constantly seek His guidance.

100505: To be a Christian

No man is righteous.

You cannot be in the presence of God with sin.

Thus, when you sin.

Repent. Make amends. Then ask for forgiveness. (Repent and ask for forgiveness.)

And then change from the heart.

Your heart needs to be in the right place.

Non-Christian vs Christian (born again, changed person)

Holy Spirit: conscious, discernment, wisdom

Choice is what makes you a new person / a new creature.

Born again. And then you start to grow into a better person.

(mustard seed => grows into a tree)

Love your neighbor as yourself

1 John 3:11 => Love One Another

Proverbs 25:21

*When your enemy slaps your face, offer him the other side of your face.

Jesus said:

A man cannot have two masters, for he cannot serve both money and God.

Ephesians is rich with what Christians should and should not do.

Ephesians 4:25

* Read Ephesians 4 & 5.

*Damn it (to hell) = is a curse.

* Unwholeness talk = untruthful, malice talk etc.

Not wrong to have anger because God has anger as well.

But he tells us not to anger, because anger can LEAD TO SIN.

There is a time for it. There is a time for each emotion.

Numbers: God is slow to anger. (Be slow to anger)

Proverbs 14:29

Proverbs 16:32

Proverbs 19:11

Slow to anger vs quick temper

Difference is restraint.

Paul said: Get rid of all forms of anger. Rage = uncontrollable anger.

Paul said to get rid of all uncontrollable anger. Control your anger.

James is quick to the point.

James 3:1-6

Curbing your tongue.

Freudian slip = not curb you tongue and speak exactly what you are thinking.

Words are harder to control than the muscles that lead to actions.

That’s why he speaks of the tongue as “a very small rudder”. (It is small yet it is very powerful!!!)

 Your heart needs to be in the right place.

 If you say bad things and/or curse others, it tells that your heart is NOT in the right place.

 There is power in the spoken word.

 Jesus Christ said to the barren fig tree, “Curse be on you” and the fig tree withered away.

(because the vine must bare fruits)

 Genesis: “Let there be light” and there was light.

 Jesus Christ is the SPOKEN word of God (He is the word made flesh).

 Tongue is the readout of your heart AND it is POWERFUL!

(Revelation: double-edged sword, could be good and bad)

 Water = your spirit (out of the body came water flow of spirit…)

 You can’t be both good and evil. (A man can’t serve two masters.) → get rid of evil

Galatians: Early rain (right after you plant the seed) and latter rain (right before your harvest).

Dead sea is “dead” because there’s salt in the water (high salt) → everything is dead in it.

James 5:7

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Christians should rebuke another Christians.

Busybody = nosy (nosy Kathy)

- a person who meddles in the affairs of others

- Someone who interferes with others; one who is nosy, intrusive or meddlesome

- Creates problem rather than solve problems

- Don’t gossip.

Car idle: running but not moving.

You idle: doing stuff that does not yield anything (spiritually); laziness (physically).

James said: Faith without yield is dead.

Producing fruit is about putting your heart in the right place.

- You work more than you need to so that you would have enough to supply not only

yourself. But that when someone comes and ask for things, you will have the ability to

give.

- You should not take generosity when you do not need it because you are sucking away

help that should have gone to those who truly need it.

- God gave each of us a gift. You should not waste your gift but use it to glorify God.

Read Hebrews 12 (process of being Christian and HOW you learn)

1 Peter 2:9 (idea of being set apart, the living stone and the chosen people)

Acts 9: 1-22 (conversion, Saul → Paul)

Christians

No favoritism

Don’t judge

Giving / Serving (from your heart)

Humility (be humble and not proud)

Love one another (Love your neighbor as yourself)

Do not envy

Have no other gods

Talk about Jesus (spread the word)

Pray.

Be slow to anger.

Watch your tongue (do not speak bad things)

Christians should rebuke another Christians.

Do not idle.

100428: What does it mean to be a Christian?

What do you do as a Christian?

- Glorify God

- Share our testimony and strengthen other people’s faith.

- Own relationship with God and how you interact with other people.

→ Look for evidence in the Word

2 Corinthian 4:7-12

*4:11-12

o Carrying death = carrying death of Christ (you are cleanse by Christ’s blood)

Sinning, giving up yourself to Christ (death to the old self)

o Outwards comes life (and out of that comes life)

What does the new self do?

2 Corinthian 12: 7

2 Corinthian 12: 10

Will not take trials / tribulations from you, but it won’t break in (sides of the jar, sides of the clay), it will not break you.

→ Pleads to take away the problems. But God says,” My grace is enough.”

→ Weakness (my power is made perfect in weakness)

→ “for” is a connecting word to say they will explain it more later.

Mathew 11:29

“Take my yoke upon you and LEARN FROM ME”

→ 1) Becoming a Christian (take my yoke upon you)

2) Being a Christian (LEARN FROM ME)

Mathew 16:24: Famous version of “take my yoke” = becoming a Christian

Ephesian 5

“Be imitators of God” (imitate Christ)

→ Christ had to carry his cross.

→ your cross: death and be born again, follow his footsteps and be like him.

Give up your life for God.

3 John 11

→ How do you define good and evil?

→ Proverbs 15:33

2 Corinthians 8:7

What does it mean to give? What do you give?

2 Corinthians 9: 6 – 15

→ Giving comes from the heart

→ Giving: tiding (10% of income: money, things)

→ the beginning is from the heart: so if your heart is in the right place.

Should not be reluctantly or under compulsion (as in forced to pay taxes)

→ 1 Samuel 16:7 (giving from the heart)

David: Youngest, smallest and weakest

(picture of Christ)

→ Luke 20:45 (worshipping from the heart)

Philipians 2:1-11

→ Be humble. Remove egocentric. Being one in spirit and purpose.

How: consider others better than yourselves => think of yourself less than others => you are a servant

Only the humbled are honor

So far we have covered that being a Christian means…

Your Heart is in the right place to give, be humble, be a servant and do not judge in the idea of imitating God.

Psalm 1:12

1 Corinthians 4:1

Christians shouldn’t judge. PERIOD. Do not judge. Not yourself. Not others.

So you don’t judge yourself poorly. Or greatly (which would leave to self-righteousness)

Galatians 3:26 – 4:7

→ We are equal. We are also a child, subject to guardian and trustee. We are no better. No one is better than the other. => Ties back to why we should not judge.

James 2

 Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (The Golden Rule)

 No favoritism. Don’t judge.

 Law that gives freedom vs law that does not give freedom

Law of condemnation: Exodus (ex. 10 commandments) => expose your sins.

Law gives freedom: through grace and faith, redeems you from your sins.

*The Beatitudes: Mathew 5

Speaking of attitude:

Those who are poor will be made rich in the NEXT life.

(For if you are already rich in this life, there is nothing more to obtain.)

Proverbs 20:23

The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.

100414: Resurrection and Rapture

Easter

- celebrates the resurrection of Christ

- death of Christ is on Good Friday

- Palm Sunday (Sunday before the death of Jesus): Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on a donkey through the east gate, with people laying palm leaves on the ground before Jesus, signifying the triumphant arrival of the humble king

- Last Supper (occurs over Passover, which spans a week)

John 20: The Empty Tomb

1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

* Mary Magdalene: She is a woman and also a prostitute—two statuses that were looked down upon back then; i.e. if this testimony was made up, the author would’ve picked a more “credible” source

* “… the other disciple, the one Jesus Loved…” = John, the author; because of his close relationship to Jesus, his perspective provides additional testimonies not seen in other gospels

* Theme of John: Jesus’ divinity and “person” of Jesus (due to John’s closeness to Jesus)

* Theme of Matthew: written to Jews

* Theme of Mark: literary gospel

* Theme of Luke: historical book; book to the gentiles

16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

* Why Aramaic? This would imply she may be a gentile

17Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

21Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”22And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

26A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 29Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

* Possibilities for Mary couldn’t touch Jesus but Thomas could:

1. Only men can touch Jesus

2. Jesus has returned from his Father: e.g. Jesus could not have received the Holy Spirit from God had Jesus not gone to Heaven first

Matthew 27:52

The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

* Jesus went down to Abraham’s Bosom prior to his resurrection, brought up saints on that 3^rd day in the morning (seen by Mary); these saints probably ascended to Heaven rapidly afterwards due to the lack of further reported sightings

* Reasons why Jesus needs to be cleaned/returned to his Father before He could be touched: Christ is the High Priest, therefore has to remain clean until He enters Heaven; Leviticus 16 on Day of Atonement; parallels between what Aaron had to do to enter the Holy of Holies versus what Jesus need to do to enter Heaven’s Holy of Holies (note how Jesus’ clothes were found folded up…)

John 21: Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.

25Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Luke 24: The Resurrection

11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.

44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them,“This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The Ascension

50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Acts 1:1-11 Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with^a water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

* Jesus ascended twice into the Heaven: 1) in secret (when he ascended with the saints from Abraham’s Bosom); and 2) in public on Mount Olive; hence, from the above scripture, Jesus is thought to descend twice from Heaven: 1) in secret (i.e. the Rapture); and 2) in public on Mount Olive, splitting it in half, for His thousand year reign

100225: Claiming Selves as Gods

Theme: Claiming Selves as Gods

Exodus: 32-33:6 à Using the Golden Calf to replace God

- Everyone has a choice (to make the calf), and every choice has a consequence (to be saved or not)

- The wages of sin are death (those who have sinned are blotted out of the Book of Life)

- Made the calf during times of plenty—when life was good, the people turned to other gods: when times are hard, it’s easy for people to turn to God; when times are good, people often forget about God and turn to idols (e.g. idolize movie stars, etc.)

29Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.”

- Levites are set aside as priests because they were able to follow God’s orders.

- Aaron “whined” when caught by Moses, just like Adam whined when he ate the apple, just like Eves whined when she was blamed for giving Adam the apple.

- The story is about sin and repentance. The wages of sin are death, and only repentance can save us from such a death.

Daniel 4:28-37 à using himself to replace God

[King Nebuchadnezzar] 30 said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

31The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

34At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

- Nebuchadnezzar repented and immediately was restored his kingdom.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;

his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

35All the peoples of the earth

are regarded as nothing.

He does as he pleases

with the powers of heaven

and the peoples of the earth.

No one can hold back his hand

or say to him: “What have you done?”

37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

- When a person puts himself before God, it is just as bad as idolizing other gods.

- Babylon, the devil, the antichrist have all put themselves above God

- On the Antichrist: 2 Thessalonians 2: [that day will not come] until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness^a is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

100214: Leader of the Pack

Theme: God’s chosen leader of His people and how people should follow such leaders

* General characteristics of a pastor/father/”shepherd of the flock” BEFORE reading the scripture: sex-blind (i.e. a man or a woman can be this leader); know the Word/Bible; upright (“a good person”); approachable; understand the times

Titus 1:5-9

Titus’s Task on Crete

5The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint^a elders in every town, as I directed you. 6An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7Since an overseer^b is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

* Titus was sent by Paul to guide the churches

* Overseer = pastor or head pastor

* Elders = the Board, well-respected senior members

* Elders/Overseers must be a “he” (Overseers are most likely elected from elders)

* The above personality traits are all listed in the Proverbs

* “Husband of one/first wife” (Greek translation of one can also be translated by “first”): this would thus suggest that pastor/father/etc. can only marry once and thus cannot be a divorcee, b/c 1 Timothy 3:5 “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?”

1 Timothy 3

Overseers and Deacons

1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,^a he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, their wives^b are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

* So… what is the difference between an overseer and a deacon? Hiearchy: Pastor à Elders, who has oversight over the Pastor (e.g. if Pastor’s not doing the right things, they can rein the Pastor in); on a separate path, Pastor à Deacons, who helps the Pastor minister to the people

* “first be tested” suggests deacons are selected from a screening process

* Here, we see the role of the wife, the supporter of the man.

14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:

He^c appeared in a body,^d

was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

Titus 3:1-11

Doing What Is Good

1Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

* This says that all Christians are to follow these aspirations.

3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

9But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.