AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Wednesday – December 15, 2021, Tevet 11, 5782
A STONE OF STUMBLING
Greetings dear and precious saints and those who are fighting against being saints in the Kingdom of God. We love you all and there is nothing you can do about it. Welcome to our ongoing study of the precious Bible Book of Isaiah. Please take a moment and share these teachings as widely as possible to expand our reach with this wonderfully good news of the Kingdom. The beautiful picture featured today was graciously provided by our friends, and man and woman of God, Bob and Kathy French. This week before I dive into the Bible Study, I want to bring a couple of things into our thinking.
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It seems to me that for this whole week the Lord wants me to remind you and me about a Word, really a challenge, an admonition, I originally shared a few weeks ago. He said: “My people are reluctant to challenge their paradigms”. A paradigm is basically a person’s way of thinking, speaking, and doing. This is applicable to groups and organizations as well (like our Church). The Noah Webster 1828 dictionary defines a paradigm as an example; or a model. Other dictionaries define paradigm as a typical example or pattern of something; a model. In our spiritual world that would include how we pray, how we conduct a Church service, and so on. Let us take the Lord’s challenge and examine our thoughts, our words, our ways. The challenge is to look for the Bible example of everything we think, speak, and do. If it is not God’s paradigm, then whose is it? Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary text continuing to read out loud.
Isaiah 8:13-18 (KJV)
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
Monday, I discussed the idea of sanctifying the Lord which is setting Him apart from all else, everything, every activity, and every person. Not only is He to be separate but far above all else. There should be no question in our own mind first or in the minds of those around us that God is set apart in a very special and elevated place. Remember we reviewed how Moses did not sanctify the Lord before the people and there were severe consequences. Yesterday we talked about the Lord as our Sanctuary and as a part of that discussion we reviewed parts of the 91st Psalm. For any of these to be a reality in our lives, our thoughts, what we really believe, our words, and our actions must be together, in alignment with each other, and congruent with Scripture. What we really believe and what we say around our Christian friends can be quite divergent, even dichotomies. Next, we come to the statement that this Lord of hosts, the Messiah, will be a stone of stumbling. See what the Apostle Peter records for our learning.
1 Peter 2:7-9 (KJV)
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (Bold added)
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Those of you who have studied Scripture, particularly the gospels know that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day rejected Him like they had the Prophets since the fall of man. Many Jews have become Christians however the majority have not, especially, the leadership. They stumbled over the stone (Jesus), the Messiah, rejected Him and have been rejecting Him for the most part for 2000 years however a turning to Jesus and redemption does come to the Jews remaining at the end of the Tribulation.
Romans 11:25-28 (KJV)
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow. Oh, remember, we love you and there is nothing you can do about it.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, doubt it not, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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