Isaiah 43:1 KJV But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
This the good news of God. We have been redeemed. Redemption opened our eyes to know we were created, formed, called, and belong to God. We were created by God and are born again in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10).
Revelation 5:9 KJV And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
We will sing a new song because Christ is worthy to open the seals, we have been redeemed by His blood, and we will eventually reign with Christ. Our future as believers is set. Our position is in heaven but our physical reality is we live on earth with all its curses and destruction.
Isaiah 43:2 KJV When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
God says trials, sorrows, suffering will come. When they come God is with us to keep us from drowning, being overcome, overwhelmed, or destroyed. Jesus said we will have tribulation in this world but be of good cheer, He has overcome the world (John 16:33). We are in Christ and our faith in Christ overcomes the world (1 John 5:4). We have victory. God is with us helping us, holding us, and keeping us. Times are getting rough for Christians everywhere now. The silencing of believers in America is being implemented into law now and persecution will follow.
What are we to be doing before Christ comes for His bride?
Isaiah 43:10 KJV Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God. 13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
God is talking about Israel here. God called Israel to be set apart in order to be a witness to the other nations but that has not happened yet. Until it does, Revelation 7:4, the church is to be Gods witness of His good news which is in Jesus Christ. Telling people they can not earn their way to heaven, they are not a good person but are guilty in God’s courtroom and sentenced to eternal death does not make you a popular person. But without the bad news the good news doesn’t make sense. To tell people Jesus is the only way to God and He and God are one, which means Jesus was God in flesh, offends many. This is why our trust is in the One Who will never leave us, who loved us when we were rebelling against Him with every breath we took, and Who died for our sins even though we were His enemy. Jesus is the perfection of love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you and revile you. Our job here on earth is to believe in Christ and spread His good news to a dying world knowing it will cost us something. But as we do we are always looking forward:
John 14:1 KJV Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
The flood waters and the fire will come, God did not say if, and when they come, know in Whom you believe for it will bring you comfort and peace.
Psalm 4:8 KJV I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
Trusting in God through all these troubles.But God saw them coming.Faith and endurance are required from those who believe.God has the final Word.That
is the comfort to me. No matter how bad they persecute Christians. They will lose in the end. But as we pray for strength,we also pray for the lost.I don’t want
to see them eternally lost.The Christian of 2019 needs to pray without ceasing.More than ever. And trust God through it all. Amen.
I could not agree more Bob. It is very sad to think of those things, but God is faithful to His Word. What a loving God we have and we pray for those who are lost. Thank you for you comment! Have a blessed day!
Great study!
You have done a wonderful job redesigning your website.
May you be blessed.
Thank you Mary for your kind words and very happy to hear you can still find our material :)!