Verse of the Day 2/3
Isaiah 43:10-11 "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord,
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
11 I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior. English Standard Version (ESV)
"and my servant whom I have chosen,
that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor shall there be any after me.
11 I, I am the Lord,
and besides me there is no savior. English Standard Version (ESV)
I heard today's verses in a message that I listened to while driving from John Piper. It was given several years ago as his church was preparing for expansion. The topic of the message was God's sovereignty and that nothing for God could be done apart from His involvement, His doing. Anything done by human will without seeking and honoring Him as God, and LORD would be futile and would ultimately not succeed.
Before thinking of growing, Piper circled back to the roots of the church the roots of faith that God is sovereign, He is in control and in Him alone is salvation that besides Him there is no savior. In trying to attract people, to make the gospel more "palatable" churches through the Bible have either "watered down" the message or avoided making statement about Jesus being the only "way, the truth and the life" John 14:6 and that there is "no other name by which we must be saved" Acts 4:12.
His message also focused on exalting God, lifting Him up as the One true God and exulting in God, delighting in Him praising Him and desiring to know more of Him and experiencing Him as Savior. He touched on verses in Isaiah 43 through 45 that reinforced the message. It is a reminder that for true growth, as a church or in our personal lives, in our hearts we need to lift Him up and delight in Him alone as God, with Jesus as Savior and that there is no other.
Contrary to those that criticize such a belief that it is futile, arrogant or any other accusation, it is the truth and faith place in this thought that He alone is God will help carry us through troubled waters:
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God, Isaiah 43:1-3 The Message
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God, Isaiah 43:1-3 The Message
Earlier in the book of Isaiah the prophet referred to God as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
We don't worship a god of our own imagination, but the true God who reveals Himself to us as just that. He spoke, He created, He saved and has told us this from the beginning.
Previous to me there was no such thing as a god,
nor will there be after me.
I, yes I, am God.
I'm the only Savior there is.
I spoke, I saved, I told you what existed
long before these upstart gods appeared on the scene. Isaiah 43:10-11 The Message
nor will there be after me.
I, yes I, am God.
I'm the only Savior there is.
I spoke, I saved, I told you what existed
long before these upstart gods appeared on the scene. Isaiah 43:10-11 The Message
Blessings,
Mike
Isaiah 43:1-13The Message (MSG)
When You're Between a Rock and a Hard Place
43 1-4 But now, God's Message,
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.
5-7 "So don't be afraid: I'm with you.
I'll round up all your scattered children,
pull them in from east and west.
I'll send orders north and south:
'Send them back.
Return my sons from distant lands,
my daughters from faraway places.
I want them back, every last one who bears my name,
every man, woman, and child
Whom I created for my glory,
yes, personally formed and made each one.'"
I'll round up all your scattered children,
pull them in from east and west.
I'll send orders north and south:
'Send them back.
Return my sons from distant lands,
my daughters from faraway places.
I want them back, every last one who bears my name,
every man, woman, and child
Whom I created for my glory,
yes, personally formed and made each one.'"
8-13 Get the blind and deaf out here and ready—
the blind (though there's nothing wrong with their eyes)
and the deaf (though there's nothing wrong with their ears).
Then get the other nations out here and ready.
Let's see what they have to say about this,
how they account for what's happened.
Let them present their expert witnesses
and make their case;
let them try to convince us what they say is true.
"But you are my witnesses." God's Decree.
"You're my handpicked servant
So that you'll come to know and trust me,
understand both that I am and who I am.
Previous to me there was no such thing as a god,
nor will there be after me.
I, yes I, am God.
I'm the only Savior there is.
I spoke, I saved, I told you what existed
long before these upstart gods appeared on the scene.
And you know it, you're my witnesses,
you're the evidence." God's Decree.
"Yes, I am God.
I've always been God
and I always will be God.
the blind (though there's nothing wrong with their eyes)
and the deaf (though there's nothing wrong with their ears).
Then get the other nations out here and ready.
Let's see what they have to say about this,
how they account for what's happened.
Let them present their expert witnesses
and make their case;
let them try to convince us what they say is true.
"But you are my witnesses." God's Decree.
"You're my handpicked servant
So that you'll come to know and trust me,
understand both that I am and who I am.
Previous to me there was no such thing as a god,
nor will there be after me.
I, yes I, am God.
I'm the only Savior there is.
I spoke, I saved, I told you what existed
long before these upstart gods appeared on the scene.
And you know it, you're my witnesses,
you're the evidence." God's Decree.
"Yes, I am God.
I've always been God
and I always will be God.
Follow the verse of the day at mikesvotd.blogspot.com
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