Posts Tagged ‘ Fire ’
I will be with you when you pass through the waters, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.
Isaiah 43:2, HCSB
God has redeemed us from death and sin, so we know that no floods, no fires of eternal torment, no wrath or punishment from God will destroy us. We await eternal life because of our resurrected Lord.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2, ESV
God literally did these things for His People throughout history, yet, through the Holy Spirit, we know that God’s Son has saved us from the fires of damnation and chaotic sea of humanity. When this life seems un-navigable, He grants us peace and grace.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2, ESV
This world can be overwhelming, death and suffering terrifying, the fear of Hell debilitating.
But Christ has redeemed us, and by His Spirit we are comforted. Our hope is in Him and eternity with Him, so that our worries and fears are diminished in light of His glory.
I have started a small group series on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I am sharing my notes in case anyone else wants to use them with their group. [Reminder that these are only notes!] (And I just realized I forgot to publish this earlier in the week!)
Matthew 5:1-2:
Jesus wants to teach the crowds: Who are they? Jewish disciples: People who understand the
Scriptures (at least to a point). Notice from 7:28 the crowds still came along, but this teaching is for His disciples.
What does “blessed” mean?
Based on the first twelve verses, blessed means realizing our own wretchedness and need for a Savior. In other words, it is becoming/being a Christian.
Can God see into our hearts and minds?
• 1 Samuel 16:7 – “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but
the Lord looks on the heart.”
• Psalm 44:21 – Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
• Proverbs 21:2 – Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.
• Jeremih 17:9-10 – “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can
understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his
ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Mormons believe God can’t see into human hearts.
What is that old, archaic word for wanting something badly (found in the 10 Commandments)?
Covet – What does this mean? [To want more than God, to desire to the harm of others]
Is it the same as lust? What is lust?
[e.g. disordered desire for someone or something, usually sexual in nature]
What is Jesus saying?
[Is it okay to look? “It’s not hurting anyone!”]
What is Jesus saying?
[“STOP IT!” It is severely serious how bad sin is.]
• Matthew 18:7-9 – Our own temptations can lead others into temptation
o Will we actually enter eternity mutilated and deformed? (Remember, Jesus has His scars!)
• Jesus refers to Deuteronomy 24:1-4
o Sometimes a woman was given a second dowry if she remarried.
▪ What is the abomination in God’s sight?
• Remember that brothers were to give their widowed sisters-in-law a child, so is it purely sexual?
• If there is a second dowry, the first husband may be taking her back just for the money.
• We see the seriousness of divorce.
o Matthew 19:1-9 (Genesis 2:24)
• Does this mean a divorcee can never remarry?
o Consider 1 Timothy 3:2
o What if it was before they became a Christian?
o Consider Israel through Hosea: Israel was His unfaithful wife. The Church is not a new wife, rather a
renewed wife, for Israel is still included. In fact, we have been grafted into Israel (Romans 11)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2, ESV
God can save us from anything, but He protects and leads us especially through the persecutions of this world and from the flames of eternal torment.
Trust in the Son.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2, ESV
God is telling us that because He loves us and died for our forgiveness, we are unharmed by His wrath and can enter His eternal city.
(Read Revelation!)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2, ESV
Whether literal waters or fire, or the symbolic waters of humanity (see the sea in Revelation) or fires of controversy and problems, or even of salvation from the hell of God’s wrath, it is faith in God’s faithfulness and mercy that protects us.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2, ESV
Trust the Lord. He desires to take care of us, watch over us, and rescue us, even miraculously.
Relax in the Father’s wisdom, and find some at Proverbial Thought!
These year, our church has a renewed focus on evangelism, specifically by better equipping the saints to reach out to their friends, families, and co-workers.
It is therefore fitting that the next poem on my list and the first one for the year is based on Jeremiah 20:9 (ESV)
If I say, “I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name,”
there is in my heart as it were a burning fire
shut up in my bones,
and I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot.
May all of us who call on the name of the Lord find this passion to share that Name above all names, even when (as in the context of this passage) it is difficult and even dangerous to do so!
right now my mind is racing
and my heart palpitating
struggling to concentrate
on anything but Your face
longing to be in Your Presence
searching out Your countenance
that You would look on this servant
to whom You have said “We are friends”
knowing that You will always love me
want me with You for eternity
is hard for me to grasp and believe
but this love set me completely free
knowing all this has taken me aback
my spirit stirred and i cannot relax
because Your love is keeping me held back
in a constant almost panic attack
a simple man of God 