ISAIAH 66

Verse Of The Day: V1 “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest?”

In the days of Prophet Isaiah, many people have put themselves above God. They worshipped God with their lips but not their hearts. They loved themselves and their houses more than they loved God and His house. Today, the people are also worshipping God with their lips but not their hearts. They worship themselves, their family, their career and their possessions more than they worship the true and living God.

Isaiah 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”
 
1.  God is King In Your Life

V2 “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

The judgment of God is coming soon and one day, everyone of us, whether young or old, rich or poor, shall meet Him. The good news is that those who are poor and contrite in  spirit, or those who do God’s commandments, and have chosen God as the King in their lives, shall meet Him as His faithful, and shall enter into the gates of the city of God.

Revelation 17:14 “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Revelation 22:14 “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

2.  God Is Nothing In Your Life

V4 “I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.”

The bad news is that those who refuse to believe in the true and living God and continually do evil before Him, their names shall not be found in the book of life and shall be cast into the lake of fire and burnt forever and ever.

Revelation 20:15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Prayer Of The Week

Dearest God, I believe in You, and You are right in the center of my heart and life.

ISAIAH 65

Verse Of The Day: V17 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”

What a glorious day it shall be when Christians or the saints of God meet their Creator and Almighty God in the new heaven and the new earth!

1.  No Death

In the new heaven and the new earth, there shall be no more death and every Christian or saint of God shall serve their Almighty God.

Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Revelation 22:3 “And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:”

2.  No Sorrow

V19 “And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.”

In the new heaven and the new earth, there shall be no more sorrow nor weeping nor crying as the saints of God shall rejoice and reign with Him in His everlasting light forever and ever.

Revelation 22:5 “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

3.  No Hurt

V25 “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”

What a great and glorious day it shall be for the saints of God in the new heaven and the new earth as there shall be no more hurt nor destruction but peace and worship!

Revelation 22:9 “Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.”

Prayer Of The Week

Dearest God, I believe in You and I shall be with You in the new heaven and the new earth.

ISAIAH 64

Verse Of The Day:  V8 “But now, O LORD, Thou art our father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand.”

1.  You Are Filthy Rags

V6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; ..."

If you think you are a Somebody, think again.
If you think you are a graduate and a successful professional, think again.
If you think you are a Pastor and the most spiritual person, think again and again.
The prophet Isaiah openly and boldly described men as filthy rags; those rags that you use to clean dirty tables or floors! Indeed, in the sight of a holy and righteous God, we truly fall short of His holiness and righteousness.

2.  You Are A Leaf

V6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

What do you know about a leaf?

It is something that you see everywhere on the tree, and on the ground as they fall from the trees. The fallen leaves shall turn dry and subsequently decay and become dirt. Again Isaiah described man as a leaf. In the sight of God, our lives are transient and we shall die because of our sins. Unless you repent of your sins and believe in Jesus Christ, you shall die in your sins and be condemned into hell. However, if you believe in Jesus Christ, when you die, your soul shall live forever in heaven with God!  

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
 
3.  You Are The Clay

V8 “But now, O LORD, Thou are our father; we are the clay, and Thou out potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand.”

Do you know that you are a mud ball?
We are truly nothing without God, just like the clay is nothing with the potter. However, once the potter starts to mould and make the mud ball or clay into his masterpiece of art, the clay becomes an important piece of creation. Similarly, when you believe in God as your Saviour, He shall take hold of you and make you His masterpiece for His glory.

Ephesians 1:12 “That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

Prayer of the Week

Dearest God, thank You that You are my potter and I am Your clay.

ISAIAH 63

Key Verse: Isaiah 63:4 “For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come.”

Have you been deeply hurt by others and you cannot forgive and forget the hurt? Many times, you say you forgive but deep down in your heart, you can never forget the hurt. It is time that you forgive and forget and commit your hurt to God.
 
1.  God Knows Your Hurt

God knows your hurt as the Lord Jesus Christ had experienced the deepest hurt when one of His disciples, Judas, betrayed Him and sent Him on the cruel cross.

Luke 22:47-48 “And while He yet spake, behold a multitude, and He that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?”

2.  God Forgives Your Sins

In spite of Jesus’ suffering on the humiliating cross at Calvary, His last breath was His prayer to God, His Father, to forgive Judas who betrayed Him as well as all who hurt and crucified Him.

Luke 23:33-34 “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted His raiment, and cast lots.”

3.  God Vindicates Your Hurt

V4 “For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart, and the year of My redeemed is come.”

No matter how much people have hurt you, do not bear grudges or seek revenge or take matters into your own hands, but commit them to the Lord. God has promised that the day of vengeance is in His heart and He shall vindicate you.

Hebrews 10:30-31 “For we know Him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

You need to commit all hurt to God and forgive those who hurt you as Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Action of the Week

Forgive and forget the wrongs that others have hurt you as God has forgiven you.

ISAIAH 62

Key Verse: Isaiah 62:4 “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.”

Today, there is nothing much we see in the land of Israel, the city of Jerusalem and its suburbs, however, one day, they shall be a great and glorious land and all the people of God, the saints of Christ, shall dwell together in the new Israel and new city of Jerusalem!

1.  Delightful Land

V4 “Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, …”

What is Hephzi-bah? Hephzi-bah means “Delightful”. Today, Israel is a land of tension and conflict, a land forsaken by God and desolate by war and violence, however, one day, it shall be a delightful and peaceful land where God dwells among His people.

2.  Married Land

V4 “… and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.”

What is Beulah? Beulah means “Married”. Today, the land of Israel is separated from God, however, one day, the LORD shall delight in it and they shall marry and be one!

3.  Holy Land

V12 “And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.”

One day, all believers of God shall be called The holy people and The redeemed of the LORD, dwelling in the holy land called “Sought out”, a city not forsaken by God.

Revelation 21:2-3 “And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Today, the church is the bride and Christ is the Bridegroom. However, one day, Israel together with the church shall be the bride dwelling with God forever in heaven!

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it;”

Action of the Week

Stay faithful to GOD and His church as one day we shall dwell forever in the Delightful, Married and Holy Land of GOD.

ISAIAH 61

Key Verse: Isaiah 61:6 “But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.”

Why are Christians dismayed and depressed when God has empowered and enthroned us with bountiful blessings?

1.  You Are Priests

V6 “But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: ...”

Exodus 28:43 “And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statue for ever unto him and his seed after him.”

Who are the Priests of the LORD? The Priests are the mediators between God and man. Aaron and his descendents were the chosen ones to serve in God’s holy tabernacle. Today, we are the Priests of God because the Lord Jesus had paid for the penalty of our sins by His death. We are now the Priests of God set apart to serve and worship Him.

Hebrews 7:26-27 “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself.”

2.  You Are Ministers

V6 “… men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.”

Do you know that Christians are Ministers of our God, just like we have the various Ministers in the government of our country? Indeed, Christians are chosen by God to be His Ministers in representing God in bringing peace, prosperity and progress in His Kingdom, just like the Ministers of our country representing our government in bringing peace, prosperity and progress for our nation.

3.  You Are Joy

V7 “For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.”

Not only God empowers you as His Priest and Minister but He also gives you everlasting joy!  So cheer up, keep your chin up and rejoice in the LORD always even in rough times!

Action of the Week

Rejoice always as you are the Priest, the Minister and the Everlasting Joy of God!

ISAIAH 60

Key Verse: Isaiah 60:19 “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.”

1.  You Shall Be Glorious

V19 “… the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.”

Are you discouraged and distressed by the constant difficulties and struggles in your health, family, relationship, work, career, ministry, etc? Hope in God and keep on doing your best and leave the rest to God. God shall lead and deliver you in all your challenges and one day you shall be glorious before Him!

Romans 5:2 “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

2.  You Shall Be Rejoicing

V20 “Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.”

What a day it shall be when we see God face to face in heaven glorious day! There shall be no more mourning or weeping but there shall be great rejoicing and celebration with God and all His saints who have gone ahead of us. I greatly rejoice that one day I shall see my beloved father who went to be with the Lord on 11th October 2003.  I miss him very much. Though he has weaknesses, he also has strengths and one of which was his humor and wit. Praise God, I shall be with him one day and enjoy his humor and wit forever!

Revelation 21:4 “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

3.  You Shall Be Strong

V22 “A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.”

Are you weak and wearied? One day the weak, the wearied, the sickly and all who hope in God shall be strong and shall reign with the Lord God forever!

Revelation 22:5 “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”

Action of the Week

Always hope in God as one day you shall be glorious, rejoicing and strong in the LORD.

ISAIAH 59

Key Verse: Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”

1.  God’s Hand

V1 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; ..."

God is the Creator of this entire universe. He is the Maker of all living creatures as well as the entire creation of this world. Everything is created and made by God.

Genesis 18:14 “Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

God encouraged and assured Abraham after many years of waiting for his first child that He shall provide him and his wife, Sarah, with a son. Indeed, God can save mankind and He can do all things and nothing is impossible with Him.

2.  God’s Ear

V1 “… neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:”

God loves, cares and knows all your needs. When you ask and pray to God, He shall answer you and provide all your needs.

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; …”

3.  Man’s Sins

V2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”

God’s hand is not short nor his ear heavy that they cannot do or hear, but it is because your sins have separated you from God.

Matthew 27:46 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Even God hid His face and did not answer His Son’s prayers because Jesus bore the sins of the entire human race!
 
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”

Indeed, it is not that the Lord cannot hear your prayers but He will not hear because of your iniquities or sins in your hearts.

Action of the Week

Confess and forsake your sins and the Almighty God shall answer your prayers today!

ISAIAH 58

Key Verse: Isaiah 58:13 “If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:”

1.  Do What God Does

V13 “... not doing thine own ways, ...”

It is very easy to do our own ways. Whatever we feel like doing we just do. However, in order to honour God, we must do what God commands us to do.

2 Corinthians 5:20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, ..."

Just like the ambassadors of Singapore to the United Sates will only do or speak to the American government according to the views and policies of the Singapore government, the ambassadors for God will only do or speak according to the commandments of God.

2.  Seek What God Delights

V13 “... nor finding thine own pleasure, …”

All of us enjoy the pleasures of life. However, some of the pleasures of life are dishonorable to God. One of the common pleasures of most young people is go to the pub to dance, drink, smoke and chill their Saturday night away just before the Lord’s Day on Sunday.

Do you know you dishonor God when you miss church the next day? Do you know you dishonor God by not taking care of your health and your testimony when you find your own pleasure? Let us seek what God delights and His delight is when we seek Him and His righteousness first!

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

3.  Speak What God Says

V13 “... nor speaking thine own words:”

It is very easy to speak what comes into your minds. However, as ambassadors of Christ, we must be careful of what we say as we are God’s representatives.

1 Samuel 2:30 “... but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.”

Action of the Week

Honour God by praying and asking Him for His directions in all your decisions be they big or small.

ISAIAH 57

Key Verse: Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

What is revival?

Revival is a time when you are brought back to a level of zeal, joy, interest and enthusiasm in God and His Word and in serving and worshiping Him in your utmost best. Many times, we pray for revival in the church that hearts shall be drawn closer to God and lives changed but do you know that revival begins with you and me! 

1.  God Revives You When You Are Holy

V15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place,…”

Sometimes we wonder why we are not as zealous and enthusiastic as we used to be. We feel like God is very far from our hearts. We feel like we are not growing and we are stagnant. My friends, pray for holiness in you. God is Holy and the only way you can be revived is when you are holy or without sins. In other words, repent your sins and wrong doings, and pray, read God’s Words and worship God in the beauty of His holiness.
 
2.  God Revives You When You are Humble

V15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

We can never have revival when we only think of ourselves, our career, our possessions, our family and our future. We are proud when we are self-centered. God can only revive and give us grace when we humble ourselves and are God-centered and think of others, and do what He commands us.

James 4:6 “But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

3.  God Revives You When You Are Healed

V19 “I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.”

As you repent of your sins and humble yourself before God, He shall give you perfect peace, heal your sins and revive you.

Action of the Week

Set aside a daily time of prayers and reflection upon God’s Word to stay holy, humble and healed.