jesus – Page 39

“And the government shall be upon his shoulder”

Posted on December 11, 2016December 15, 2016 by elizabethprata

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6).

Part 1 – For unto us a child is born
Part 2 – A Son is given
Part 3 – And the government shall be upon his shoulder
Part 4 – ‘and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor’
Part 5 – Mighty God
Part 6 – The Everlasting Father: the Father of eternity
Part 7 – Prince of Peace

This is a multi-part series looking at this wonderful verse of scripture from Isaiah and commentary from Barnes’ Notes. I’d said that for me, the text is rich and full of truth; complex with spiritual meaning, yet can be read and understood by children; is a great a promise, one even spoken as had already happened, yet would not occur for hundreds of years hence; a faithful promise, and a comforting thought. We’d looked at the first part of the verse, ‘For unto us a child is born’, and part 2 ‘a son is given.’ Here’s more. Barnes’ Notes-

And the government shall be upon his shoulder – The sense of this passage is, that he shall rule, or that the government shall be vested in him. Various interpretations have, however, been given of the phrase ‘upon his shoulder.’ Some have supposed, that it means simply he shall sustain the government, as the shoulder is that by which we uphold any thing. Pliny and Cicero thus use the phrase; see Rosenmuller. Others, that it means that he should wear the royal purple from a child. – Grotius. Lowth supposes that it refers to the ensign of government – the scepter, the sword, the keys, or the like, that were borne upon the shoulder, or suspended from it; see the note at Isaiah 22:22. It is evident, from this latter place, that some ensign of office was usually borne upon the shoulder. The sense is, that he should be a king, and under this character the Messiah is often predicted.

An additional comment from Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

government … upon … shoulder—The ensign of office used to be worn on the shoulder, in token of sustaining the government (Isa 22:22). Here the government on Messiah’s shoulder is in marked antithesis to the “yoke and staff” of the oppressor on Israel’s “shoulder” (Isa 9:4). He shall receive the kingdom of the earth from the Father, to vindicate it from the misrule of those to whom it was entrusted to hold it for and under the Most High, but who sought to hold it in defiance of His right; the Father asserts His right by the Son, the “Heir of all things,” who will hold it for Him (Da 7:13, 14).

How beautiful Jesus has been given the government. He will rule perfectly. All decisions, actions, mercies, and justice will be meted out in perfect harmony with His character.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. (Matthew 28:18)

God has given us a glorious gift in Jesus Christ, Messiah and Ruler.

prophecy, Uncategorized

“A Son is given…”

Posted on December 10, 2016December 15, 2016 by elizabethprata

Yesterday I’d begun a multi-part series looking at this wonderful verse of scripture. I’d posted some comments from Barnes’ Notes. I’d said that for me, the text is rich and full of truth; complex with spiritual meaning, yet can be read and understood by children; is a great a promise, one even spoken as had already happened, yet would not occur for hundreds of years hence; a faithful promise, and a comforting thought. We’d looked at the first part of the verse, ‘For unto us a child is born’.

Here’s more. Barnes’ Notes-

A son – This word does not differ materially from the word translated child. In the future scenes, as they passed before the mind of the prophet, he saw the child, the son that was to be born, and described him as he appeared to his view – as a child. Fixing the eye on him, he proceeds at once to designate his character by stating the appropriate names which he would bear.

Is given – The Messiah is often represented as having been given, or sent; or as the rich gift of God; the note at Acts 4:12; John 3:16; Ephesians 1:22; John 17:4. The Messiah was pre-eminently the gift of the God of love. Man had no claim on him, and God voluntarily gave his Son to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

prophecy, Uncategorized

“For unto us a child is born…”

Posted on December 9, 2016December 15, 2016 by elizabethprata

How rich and full of truth this verse is! How complex with spiritual meaning, yet can be read and understood even by children! How great a promise, one even spoken as had already happened, yet would not occur for hundreds of years hence! How faithful a promise, and how comforting a thought!

Barnes Notes comments on all the parts of the verse. Let’s look at a few excerpts of the commentary today and tomorrow. “For unto us a child is born…”

For – This is given as a reason of the victories that were predicted in the previous verses. That it has reference to the Messiah has been almost universally conceded; and indeed it does not seem possible to doubt it. The eye of the prophet seems to have been fixed on this great and glorious event – as attracting all his attention. The scenes of coming times, like a panorama, or picture, passed before him. Most of the picture seems to have been that of battles, conflicts, sieges, dimness, and thick darkness. But in one portion of the passing scene there was light. It was the light that he saw rising in the distant and darkened Galilee. He saw the joy of the people; the armor of war laid aside; the image of peace succeeding; the light expanding and becoming more intense as the darkness retired, until he saw in this region the Prince of Peace – the Sun of Righteousness itself. The eye of the prophet gazed intently on that scene, and was fixed on that portion of the picture: he sees the Messiah in his office, and describes him as already come, and as born unto the nation.

Unto us – For our benefit. The prophet saw in vision the darkness and gloom of the nation, and saw also the son that would be born to remove that darkness, and to enlighten the world.

A child – This word usually denotes a lad, a boy, a youth. It is commonly applied to one in early life; but no particular stress is to be laid on the word. The vision of the prophet is, that the long-expected Messiah is born, and is seen growing up amidst the surrounding darkness of the north of Palestine, Isaiah 9:1.

Is born – Not that he was born when the prophet spake. But in prophetic vision, as the events of the future passed before his mind, he saw that promised son, and the eye was fixed intently on him; see the Introduction, section 7, and the note at Isaiah 1:1.

To be continued!

encouragement, Uncategorized

We all look forward to our wages, but…

Posted on December 6, 2016December 6, 2016 by elizabethprata

I work in a school system. We’re paid monthly, on the last day. It takes discipline to budget a household in a single income where the wages come 28-31 days apart. In December we go on Christmas vacation a few days before the holiday and return in the first week of January. It’s about a two week break, something everyone looks forward to since we began school in early August. We all need one by then!

As a kindness, the payroll system works in feverish activity and closes payroll early so we can get paid before Christmas instead of the week after, as the usual rotation would have been. That’s the plus. The minus is that it’s 50 days in between paychecks. Our wages don’t come for about 6 weeks and it’s a veeeeeeery long stretch between mid December and the last day of January. It takes a lot of patience to wait calmly and in disciplined manner for that paycheck in January.

We all look forward to our wages, whether they come on the day we worked, or the week’s end or the month’s end. When we receive that envelope, or open our bank account to view the Direct Deposit, we feel gratitude, pride in our work, and relief.

For the unsaved world, including the false Christians who think they are saved but aren’t, the spiritual wages they will receive on their last day will come as a shock. The wages for the sinner have a very long delay, but on their last day they will receive a fat envelope containing a list of all their misdeeds and sins. Their wages will be toted up at the bottom and it will say $DEATH$.

Why is this Romans 6:23 verse an encouragement to me? Deep in sin, Jesus lifted me from the muck, cleansed me with His blood, and gave me eternal life. I accumulated an eternal debt of wages upon wages for all the evil work I had performed before I was saved. I deserve death. He gave me life. Hallelujah!

Praise Him to the Highest. The babe has come, the boy will grow in wisdom and stature, the Man will die, the King will reign!

EPrata photo

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52).

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15)

encouragement, Uncategorized

God is light

Posted on November 28, 2016 by elizabethprata

God is many things. His attributes are infinite. We know that God is love. Did you know that “God is light” too?

See the verse.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5).

I like thinking of Jesus as Light. It’s one of my favorite ways to think of Him. I use a lighthouse quite often in my blog banners and avatars.

God is light. What does that mean? We know what it means on a surface level. We understand and can read the words on the page. It’s easy enough to understand the fact of the sentence. But what does it mean, spiritually? How can it inform me of His attributes and increase my knowledge of Him so I can love Him more and worship Him properly?

The word light in this verse is from a Greek word meaning phós. Strong’s Concordance says it is defined this way-

in the NT, the manifestation of God’s self-existent life; divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ.

When were saved, our citizenship transfers, from being children of darkness to children of the Light. (1 Thessalonians 5:5). Light does reveal, doesn’t it? It reveals all. What glorious light He is!

God is light—What light is in the natural world, that God, the source of even material light, is in the spiritual, the fountain of wisdom, purity, beauty, joy, and glory. As all material life and growth depends on light, so all spiritual life and growth depends on GOD. As God here, so Christ, in 1 Jn 2:8, is called “the true light.” Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

As a matter of fact, look how many times Apostle John referred to Jesus as Light- (John 1:4–5, 7–9; 3:19–21; 8:12; 9:5; 12:35–36, 46; Rev. 21:23). One cannot walk in His light and also be walking in darkness (sin). One cannot serve two masters. Light is Light and darkness is darkness, and the two can’t dwell with each other. If we claim to be in the Light but are holding on to sin without repentance we are lying that we’re in fellowship with the Light. Disobedience is dark indeed.

God is purity itself. He is holy without blot or stain. Is there anything on earth that is pure? I think not. Gold has dross which must be extracted. A newborn babe, though innocent looking, has a sin nature. Even the light through which we see vistas and each other, is polluted. The cleanest and clearest thing on earth swill is subject to the curse.

God’s glorious light must be ablaze with stunning purity and glorious illumination. Sometimes at church where the lights are a bit dimmer, a lady’s diamond ring might catch the light and sparkle for just that flash of a moment. I always try to hold onto that flash but it’s momentary. As beautiful as it is, it cannot be captured.

Matthew Henry wrote,

This report asserts the excellency of the divine nature. He is all that beauty and perfection that can be represented to us by light. He is a self-active uncompounded spirituality, purity, wisdom, holiness, and glory. And then the absoluteness and fulness of that excellency and perfection. There is no defect or imperfection, no mixture of any thing alien or contrary to absolute excellency, no mutability nor capacity of any decay in him:Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible

Picture the glittering brightness of this scene, our prophetic future: (Revelation 22:1-5).

1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

His morally perfect sinless soul will illuminate the entire universe. His light will blaze out in uninterrupted glory, in a purity so clear that God, who IS light, will be our light. What a day that will be.

encouragement, Uncategorized

The Lawyer tested Him on the Law

Posted on November 26, 2016November 26, 2016 by elizabethprata

Let’s think about this verse today:

And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” (Matthew 22:34-36).

This lawyer was an expert not in civil law, but in religious law. By that time of Jesus’ incarnation, there had been added to the original ten, 603 laws. The Jews were laboring under a heavy yoke of an expectation to keep 613 laws.

Here is a website with which I’m not familiar, but lists a simple version of all 613 laws with their scripture. Continue reading “The Lawyer tested Him on the Law” →

encouragement, Uncategorized

The dignity of our spiritual release

Posted on November 12, 2016November 13, 2016 by elizabethprata

I was reading the Valley of Vision, A collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotionals, which is a stunning book, by the way. It’s one of the top three books on my shelf, after the Bible and barely before Pilgrim’s Progress.

In my version, there is a prayer on page 60 titled simply, “A Christian’s Prayer”. One particular line spoke to me deeply. The Christian who was praying (writing) the prayer wrote,

May I remember the dignity of my spiritual release

Continue reading “The dignity of our spiritual release” →

encouragement, Uncategorized

How to witness-lite

Posted on November 10, 2016 by elizabethprata

I was saved when I was 43 years old. At the time just before grace came and released me from spiritual bondage, I was working two jobs. In the morning I’d work from 6:30-10:30 putting up Post Office mail. Sorting the mail behind the wall of PO Boxes, I could hear the conversations occurring in the lobby. There was a particular Bible-believing pastor who used to come in and cheerfully greet everyone. It wasn’t one or two seconds before he would mention Jesus. Not ‘Lord’, or “Him’, or ‘God’, but he’d say “Jesus”. Things like, “Isn’t it a great day on Jesus’ world?” or “How are you on this day Jesus made?”

I’d become inflamed when I heard the name of Jesus. I believed that there was a God, the existence of the world in its complexity made it obvious. I was one whom the verse in Romans 1:19-20 applies,

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

However, I was also one for which the previous verse applied, too,

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

And, what truth was I suppressing? Jesus, for He IS the truth. Therefore any mention of Jesus by anyone, with all its attached concepts- sin, repentance, wrath, inflamed my heart and mind and I suppressed it all.

When I’d hear that name I’d push the mail into the PO Boxes a little harder, I’d grind my teeth, I’d mutter to myself, “Why doesn’t he shut up? Doesn’t he know nobody wants to hear that bunk? Doesn’t he know that nobody’s listening??”

Of course, lol, I was listening.

Soon after that, my carefully built fortresses I’d built in my heart and mind were as wafers and wisps in the face of Jesus’ power who, in His irresistible grace, in His timing, instantly crumbled them all down. I became a believer.

The lessons there were some I never forgot. Please allow me to share these few tidbits.

I know we feel funny when we witness to people. Sometimes we think we have to approach people in a way to share deep, complicated, theological truths in a private setting. Sometimes we beat ourselves up for missing an opportunity, or failing to be clear, or for being fearful we’ll forget critical component.

When we speak to each other as believers, or when we to those we interact with as we go through our daily life (clerks, tellers, cashiers, etc), we should say the name of Jesus, specifically. Saying His name in the public square has power. Not as in magic genie power, but because the name of Jesus is the only name, the name above all names, and the name upon which we come to salvation, the name of Jesus incites people.

Secondly, have conversations about Jesus in the public sphere. Speak of him in the college cafeteria, in the meeting before it begins, at the coffee counter. Just a quick exchange with the friend you’re with of what you learned about a specific verse, or reciting a scripture, or an insight regarding a parallel verse. Others around you hear these conversations. You may never know who heard them, as the pastor never knew I was listening, but the Holy Scriptures have impact upon whom the Lord decides they will have impact. Speak His truths in public, the word will not come back empty.

Of course we do want to witness as to the full message when we can. But when we can’t, don’t feel like you’ve failed. Speak His name or a few verses to someone in the public square. The name of Jesus and His word has power to chip away at the hardest of hearts.

prophecy, Uncategorized

Is it raining frogs yet? Thoughts on US Presidential election

Posted on November 8, 2016November 8, 2016 by elizabethprata

Bob Schieffer is a political reporter. Out of the total 58 elections the United States has enacted since the beginning of our elections process, Schieffer has covered 14 of them. His perspective is valuable by virtue of his lengthy experience as knowledgeable observer throughout 56 years. Yesterday he said the following:

I have seen a few [elections], but I’ve run out of ways to say I’ve never seen one like this. It’s as if the nation is enduring some kind of curse,” Schieffer said on the CBS Evening News Monday.”

Even the non-saved person such as Mr Schieffer knows and understands God’s hand upon the earth and on this nation. We have turned our back on God in all the ways possible and as a result, we are under judgment. God’s hand upon us is not one of soft care but hard abandonment. Romans 1:18-32 has the progression- we have had a sexual revolution, we then had a homosexual revolution, and now we have such reprobate minds we can’t even declare for certainty what our own biological gender is. The nation IS under a curse. Obviously the curse is so palpable that even the blinded mind can detect it.

Schieffer went on to say, “What should we expect next – that it will rain frogs? I wouldn’t bet against it.”

His reference of course is to the biblical plagues God sent upon the Egyptian Pharaoh who would not let the Israelite people go. The plague of frogs was the second plague, as we read in Exodus 7:25–8:15. I surmise that Schieffer’s reference here is to the unnatural conditions one finds in the United States, as compared to previous elections and conditions upon which candidates had promised to fix. How interesting that when one comes up against an unnatural condition, one’s mind turns to the Bible and its plagues or other events in which to compare.

Finally, Schieffer said,

“We tend to call every election the most important of our lifetime, but this one might well be. Those of you who are voting for the first time, take it from me – this election is not business as usual,” Schieffer said. “This one is different – and not in a good way.”

It does feel different. Time will show just how different. It says a lot on how far down the judgment path this nation has traveled since 2008 when many, many folks detected an evil supernatural quality to Obama, so much so that lots of folks thought he was the antichrist. And now they are feeling this election with its crop of candidates is worse? That’s saying something.

When God abandons a nation, He gives us the leaders we deserve. In His judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, He gave them mere boys to lead. (Isaiah 3:4). Later in Isaiah 3 we see that sometimes as a judgment He gives them women to rule over them. (Isaiah 3:12.)

In Isaiah 19:11-12 we see that the nation’s wise men had become foolish, their wisdom vaporizing like dew on a warm day. They could not deal with the crises at hand and had become helpless to fix them. This is because they were ignorant that God’s judgment was the cause.

If any of this sounds familiar, it should. These cycles of blessing and judgment have gone on since the Garden and they will until Jesus concludes His redemptive plan. Humans have always been either one of two things, sinful or righteous in God. If they are sinful they do not know God and worship the creation. Their foolish hearts are darkened and their minds cannot think correctly. If the people of a nation are righteous in Christ, they (we) submit to the temporal happenings with grace and good humor.

Despite the hoopla over the US Presidential Election, God’s redemptive schedule is still on track. Nothing is hindering it, nothing is throwing it off balance or behind schedule. Even if frogs rain down on post-election morning, I will still praise my Savior for His grace and works. This nation is enduring a curse. However, His children are never cursed. Our standing in Him is made righteous through Christ, and our citizenship is in New Jerusalem. Presidents come and go, but our Ruler is eternally on His throne.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:12).

poetry, Uncategorized

Kay Cude Poetry: What Manner of Man is This?

Posted on November 4, 2016November 4, 2016 by elizabethprata

Kay Cude poetry. Used with permission. Click to enlarge.

Artist’s statement:

After finishing this piece, the more I read and reread Mark 4:37-41 and Colossians 1:16-18, the more I was overcome with tears. The Holy Spirit is so faithful to teach, especially at times when I am too busy “doing things” for Christ (in my own effort). How many more readings of these verses will it take for me to attentively remember that Christ’s continuing patience with me, my fears and my sometimes feeble faith is unbelievably profound and so very merciful?

How many times has Scripture told me, told all believers, to pay attention to Christ and His Word, and to not allow the storms of battering and fearful trials or heartaches overwhelm us? That He is sufficient; that He will enable us to glorify Him in our lives; that He will supply us with the appropriate words needed at perilous times of persecution and impending death? Or to remember that all things are under His authority and that He is preeminent and sovereign and that he will supply us the wisdom and endurance to continue on? Or that His Holy Spirit sustains us!

I am so thankful, so grateful, that He knows the hearts of His redeemed so intimately, and so very thankful that He rescued me!

kay-cude-manner-of-man