Tag: prophesy

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ACAD – Rejected: Isaiah 53

Who has believed what we have heard?
    And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For He grew up before Him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground;
He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him,
    nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.
He was despised and rejected by others;
    a man of suffering[a] and acquainted with infirmity;
and as one from whom others hide their faces[b]
    He was despised, and we held Him of no account.

Surely He has borne our infirmities
    and carried our diseases;
yet we accounted Him stricken,
    struck down by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
    crushed for our iniquities;
upon Him was the punishment that made us whole,
    and by His bruises we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have all turned to our own way,
and the Lord has laid on Him
    the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and He was afflicted,
    yet He did not open His mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so He did not open His mouth.
By a perversion of justice he was taken away.
    Who could have imagined His future?
For He was cut off from the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people.
They made His grave with the wicked
    and His tomb[c] with the rich,[d]
although He had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him with pain.[e]
When you make His life an offering for sin,[f]
    He shall see His offspring, and shall prolong His days;
through Him the will of the Lord shall prosper.
   Out of His anguish He shall see light;[g]
He shall find satisfaction through His knowledge.
    The righteous one,[h] my servant, shall make many righteous,
    and He shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great,
    and He shall divide the spoil with the strong;
because He poured out Himself to death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet He bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

Footnotes:

  1. a.Isaiah 53:3 Or a man of sorrows
  2. b. Isaiah 53:3 Or as one who hides his face from us
  3. c. Isaiah 53:9 Q Ms: MT and in his death
  4. d. Isaiah 53:9 Cn: Heb with a rich person
  5. e. Isaiah 53:10 Or by disease; meaning of Heb uncertain
  6. f. Isaiah 53:10 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  7. g. Isaiah 53:11 Q Mss: MT lacks light
  8. h. Isaiah 53:11 Or and he shall find satisfaction. Through his knowledge, the righteous one

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ACAD – Rejected: Psalm 89

God’s Covenant with David

A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord,[a] forever;
    with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
    your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
    I have sworn to my servant David:
‘I will establish your descendants forever,
    and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones.
For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?
    Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,
a God feared in the council of the holy ones,
    great and awesome[b] above all that are around him?
O Lord God of hosts,
    who is as mighty as you, O Lord?
    Your faithfulness surrounds you.
You rule the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you still them.
You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
    you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;
    the world and all that is in it—you have founded them.
The north and the south[c]—you created them;
    Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
You have a mighty arm;
    strong is your hand, high your right hand.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
    who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance;
they exult in your name all day long,
    and extol[d] your righteousness.
For you are the glory of their strength;
    by your favor our horn is exalted.
For our shield belongs to the Lord,
    our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said:
    “I have set the crown[e] on one who is mighty,
    I have exalted one chosen from the people.
I have found my servant David;
    with my holy oil I have anointed him;
my hand shall always remain with him;
    my arm also shall strengthen him.
The enemy shall not outwit him,
    the wicked shall not humble him.
I will crush his foes before him
    and strike down those who hate him.
My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
    and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
I will set his hand on the sea
    and his right hand on the rivers.
He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the Rock of my salvation!’
I will make him the firstborn,
    the highest of the kings of the earth.
Forever I will keep my steadfast love for him,
    and my covenant with him will stand firm.
I will establish his line forever,
    and his throne as long as the heavens endure.
If his children forsake my law
    and do not walk according to my ordinances,
if they violate my statutes
    and do not keep my commandments,
then I will punish their transgression with the rod
    and their iniquity with scourges;
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love,
    or be false to my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant,
    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness;
    I will not lie to David.
His line shall continue forever,
    and his throne endure before me like the sun.
It shall be established forever like the moon,
    an enduring witness in the skies.” Selah

But now you have spurned and rejected him;
    you are full of wrath against your anointed.
You have renounced the covenant with your servant;
    you have defiled his crown in the dust.
You have broken through all his walls;
    you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
All who pass by plunder him;
    he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
    you have made all his enemies rejoice.
Moreover, you have turned back the edge of his sword,
    and you have not supported him in battle.
You have removed the scepter from his hand,[f]
    and hurled his throne to the ground.
You have cut short the days of his youth;
    you have covered him with shame. Selah

How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?
    How long will your wrath burn like fire?
Remember how short my time is—[g]
    for what vanity you have created all mortals!
Who can live and never see death?
    Who can escape the power of Sheol? Selah

Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
    which by your faithfulness you swore to David?
Remember, O Lord, how your servant is taunted;
    how I bear in my bosom the insults of the peoples,[h]
with which your enemies taunt, O Lord,
    with which they taunted the footsteps of your anointed.

Blessed be the Lord forever.
Amen and Amen.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 89:1 Gk: Heb the steadfast love of the Lord
  2. Psalm 89:7 Gk Syr: Heb greatly awesome
  3. Psalm 89:12 Or Zaphon and Yamin
  4. Psalm 89:16 Cn: Heb are exalted in
  5. Psalm 89:19 Cn: Heb help
  6. Psalm 89:44 Cn: Heb removed his cleanness
  7. Psalm 89:47 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  8. Psalm 89:50 Cn: Heb bosom all of many peoples

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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ACAD – Giving Thanks: 1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy and Tongues

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their up-building and encouragement and consolation.The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Now, brothers,[a] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider[b] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign[c] not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.

Footnotes:

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:6 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or of him that is without gifts
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:22 Greek lacks a sign

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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Valley of Dry Bones: Can they live again?

Ezekiel 37:1-14 NLT

The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then He asked me,

“SON OF MAN, CAN THESE BONES BECOME LIVING PEOPLE AGAIN?”

“O Sovereign LORD,” I replied,“You alone know the answer to that.”

Then He said to me,

“SPEAK A PROPHETIC MESSAGE TO THESE BONES AND SAY, ‘DRY BONES, LISTEN TO THE WORD OF THE LORD! THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: LOOK! I AM GOING TO PUT BREATH INTO YOU AND MAKE YOU LIVE AGAIN! I WILL PUT FLESH AND MUSCLES ON YOU AND COVER YOU WITH SKIN. I WILL PUT BREATH INTO YOU, AND YOU WILL COME TO LIFE. THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.’”

So I spoke this message, just as He told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

Then He said to me,

“SPEAK A PROPHETIC MESSAGE TO THE WINDS, SON OF MAN. SPEAK A PROPHETIC MESSAGE AND SAY, ‘THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: COME, O BREATH, FROM THE FOUR WINDS! BREATHE INTO THESE DEAD BODIES SO THEY MAY LIVE AGAIN.’”

So I spoke the message as He commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

Then He said to me,

“SON OF MAN, THESE BONES REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. THEY ARE SAYING, ‘WE HAVE BECOME OLD, DRY BONES—ALL HOPE IS GONE. OUR NATION IS FINISHED.’ THEREFORE, PROPHESY TO THEM AND SAY, ‘THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS: O MY PEOPLE, I WILL OPEN YOUR GRAVES OF EXILE AND CAUSE YOU TO RISE AGAIN. THEN I WILL BRING YOU BACK TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, O MY PEOPLE, YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD. I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT IN YOU, AND YOU WILL LIVE AGAIN AND RETURN HOME TO YOUR OWN LAND. THEN YOU WILL KNOW THAT I, THE LORD, HAVE SPOKEN, AND I HAVE DONE WHAT I SAID. YES, THE LORD HAS SPOKEN!’”

Read some commentary on Ezekiel 37:  from Matthew Henry’s Commentary of the Whole Bible http://www.ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhc4.Ez.xxxviii.html

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The Zechariah Complex

By Cyndy Lavoie, Founder & Executive Director of Capturing Courage, www.capturingcourage.org

 

Scripture Reference : Luke 1:13-18 ESV
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

With this vision, God who had been silent for 400 years effectively broke His silence and ushered in a new era. Yet in the wake of this stunning announcement, Zechariah unfortunately found himself merely preoccupied with the logistics of the plan. He was an old man. His body didn’t work as it once did.

Would he be up for the task?

We find the angel graciously laying out the full plan about this coming babe. Zechariah and Elizabeth would personally find great joy and this joy would extend to many about them. The Holy Spirit would mark this child right from conception and he would have great standing before the Lord. John’s role would be instrumental in ushering in a new era for God’s chosen people and freedom from sin would be the result.

Yet it is as though Zechariah heard none of this.

We can almost hear the self-talk in his head, “But how will I get Elizabeth pregnant. If we were ever going to be pregnant wouldn’t it have been by now…” So preoccupied with earthly realities he exhibited no room in his understanding for the extraordinary, for the miraculous, nor for the import, and the real point of the message. Messiah was close at hand! We get the impression that Zechariah missed most of the angel’s prophecy and promise; he was stuck on his humanity.

My, how easy it is to be in this same place!

But as we all know, Zechariah did come through, he did have what it takes, he did rise to the challenge. For after all, all Zechariah really had to do was show up. It was God’s plan and God’s work. And when it is God’s plan and God’s work He purposes to bring it about. We merely show up, and God does the rest. When we are faithful to do our part, to respond as He invites, to fully engage His visions and plan, risking to see if we have what it takes, our Messiah proves Himself to be very close at hand.

And the rest becomes history.