Mid-week meeting

I led the mid-week prayer meeting and Bible study last night and Fire Fighter Romildo brought the study on Titus chapter 1. The praise was led by Erika, Netinho and Rogaciano with solos from Espedita and Vasti as usual. We also had a good time of prayer together as well as the sharing of blessed Bible portions which was good. We praise God for all his blessings.

Conclusion

Yesterday I concluded the synopsis of the 66 chapters of Isaiah which is the largest prophetic book in the Bible. It's a great feeling and a real blessing. Now it's the 52 chapters of Jeremiah!

The 'Life Squad' ministered in the Patos Men's Prison yesterday afternoon and 2 men made commitments to Christ. May God bless them and transform them for his glory. 

Jeremiah 1 (résumé): The Call of Jeremiah

The book of Jeremiah is a collection of poetic prophecies, narratives and divine judgements in and prior to the Babylonian exile. It relates God's judgement for Israel's idolatry and social injustice. Jeremiah witnesses and predicts the 70-year exile in 586 BC. 

Chapter 1 relates the call of Jeremiah in the 13th year of King Josiah's reign. Jeremiah says that the word of the Lord came to him telling him that his calling went back to before he was born appointing him as a prophet to the nations. However Jeremiah reacted saying he wasn't up to the task, but God insisted telling him not to be afraid as he was with him and would always rescue him. God said his job was to "uproot and tear down" (bring words of judgement) and "to build and to plant" (bring hope). So God tells Jeremiah to "Get ready. Stand up and say whatever I command you". He says that people will fight against him, but they will not overcome him. "Thus says the Lord".

Isaiah 66 (résumé): Judgement & Hope

This the final chapter of Isaiah's prophecy contrasts true worship with empty ritualism and form emphasizing that God is high above all. God says: "Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool". But God rejects sacrifices that don't go hand in hand with obedience and humility. The text then goes on to tell how God brings judgement on the sinful whilst blessing Jerusalem extending peace to her like a river, because as a mother cares for her child so I will care for you in Jerusalem... and the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants... but his fury will be shown to his foes... and he will rebuke with flames of fire. For there is coming a day of judgement with fire... but the surviving faithful ones will proclaim God's glory among the nations... and so will your name and descendants endure... and all mankind will come and bow before me. 

Isaiah 65 (résumé): Judgement & Salvation

Isaiah 65 gives God's reaction to Israel's rebellion. It starts: "To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, Here am I, here am I!... I have held out my hands to an obstinate people... a people who continually provoke me... who eat the flesh of pigs... such people are smoke in my nostrils... I will pay back in full... but I will not destroy them all... I will bring forth descendants from Jacob... but as for you who forsake the Lord... I will destine you for the sword." Thus the rebellious will go hungry but the obedient will eat... my servants will drink but the rebellious will go thirsty... my servants will sing for joy but they will wail. 

Then in the final section of the chapter a perfect future is envisaged with new heavens and a new earth... I will create Jerusalem to be a delight... where there will be no weeping or crying.... with no infant mortality or early adult deaths, with death at a hundred deemed young... as the days of a tree so will be the people... and they will be a people blessed of the Lord... and before they call I will answer... and the wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox!

Isaiah 64 (résumé): Oh that you would rend the heavens!

Isaiah 64 is a glorious prayer asking for God to step in and rescue his people: "Come down to make your name known to your enemies... you come to the help of those who gladly do right... but when we sinned you were angry... yet Lord you are our father. We are the clay and you are the potter. Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord... because all that we treasured lies in ruins... will you keep silent ad punish us beyond measure?"

Isaiah 63 (résumé): God's day of vengeance and redemption

Isaiah 63 presents a powerful man who is "mighty to save... striding forward in the greatness of his strength", who trampled his enemies in the winepress of vengeance... and defeated the nations in his anger. The text then goes on in stark contrast to talk about the kindness of the Lord... with the many good things he has done... according to his compassion... and so he became their saviour... in his love and mercy he redeemed them... despite their rebellions. Then Israel recalls the days of Moses and the Red Sea... dividing the waters. Finally Isaiah prays for God to look down from heaven and return the tribes of his inheritance because God's enemies have defiled the temple.