ARE YOU THROUGH (ISAIAH 43:18-19)

 

ARE YOU THROUGH?

BIBLE PASSAGE: ISAIAH 43:18-19

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

JANUARY 23, 2022

 

MEMORY VERSE

 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

ISAIAH 43:19

 

INTRODUCTION:

When you were a child, you had no responsibilities to think about, you had no duties to fulfill, no deadlines need to pass, no bills need to pay, no relationship to work on it and no future to think more about but now you’ve a lot of responsibilities and thoughts and dreams need to fulfill. Sometimes these are some of the reasons why you raise the red flag indicating of surrender. These reasons make you set aside spiritual matters and do the work to fulfill your responsibilities. The question for today in your spiritual life is, “ARE YOU THROUGH?”

There are Christians thinking that when they were young, they did their best in the ministry and now in their middle age, letting others serve and thinking others can do that; I’M DONE! ARE YOU REALLY THROUGH IN THE MINISTRY?

Others think, when they are in senior years, there are no ministries for them because they are already weak and have bad memory. Of course, you cannot do the Bible Study in highlands, you cannot teach kids in the field that requires strong and big voice but there are some other ways. You can be a prayer partner; get involved in prayer ministry. Don’t say, “I CAN’T” COMMON! You mean you cannot talk to GOD? Be an encourager (huwag maging pasaway), that’s a great personal ministry in the body of Christ. Come to church and don’t be late in the ministry even in your senior years; that would be a great testimony to the young ones. Also, this is a great opportunity to apply God’s word in your life; be a wisdom seeker (pray for it). Just don’t live your life like you are through in the ministry.

Other scenario in Christian life wherein you are tired of the hectic schedules and your tiredness seems like above your head. Then you’ll say, “I’m tired of this, I’m done. It’s over!” Is the question, “Are you through?” fits you?

The passage tells that this was the time they were in captivity. Remember their situations, they were not at peace. Like Israelites, we are in captives of so many things, the work, relationship, and situations in life. Our work holds us back, relationship makes us to be a double-minded person; we consider their feelings and the time we spent with them, and this is the reason we don’t like to spend much on spiritual matters. Also, the situation in life, like financial issue - trouble in budgeting or no budget at all and a lot more. You know what, if we don’t fight for it; we’ll keep on troubling by these. The enemy will keep on giving us reasons not to involved in the ministry UNTIL WE ARE USED TO IT.  Whatever circumstances we are involved in, you are in pain right now, something troubles you, you have anxiety, and you want to give up, always remember… GOD’S NOT THROUGH WITH YOU YET! AMEN!

There are things holding us back from everything God wants to do to fulfill His desires for us. However, He promises great and marvelous works; doing ways we can’t even imagine but we need to discern the path to take with a God’s setting mindset by…

 

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  SHIFTING YOUR FOCUS (ISAIAH 43:18)

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

The children of Israel had failed God miserably, though God had been good to them, they return to evil ways. God gave a temple, but they gave Him idols worship, He gave the truth, but they live in proclaimed lie, he gave them wealth, but they used them to abuse. The Israelites did not deserve to receive anything from God, yet He still loved them; yet he earnestly wanted to help them and transform their lives. God charged Israel to do the exact same thing to telling us to do today: Forget about your past hurts, your pains, disappointment, the rejection, the shame, the memory; God wants us to be free. God wants to be free by shifting our focus by forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14). We have to shift our focus. The long as we’ve been a slave to the past, focusing less to the future. It’s good to have future with God. It will be greater; Job 8:7 says, “Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.”

2.  SHARPENING YOUR FOCUS (ISAIAH 43:19a)

 Once we shift our focus, we must sharpen our focus. Verse 19a says, “Behold, I will do a new thing…” The word, “behold” is an interesting word; it means to perceive, it means to know by see. God required the children of Israel to see it before they see it. Look I will do a new thing in your life; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? Though God will do a new thing, we can’t see it. In our journey of life, do you see the possibilities, or do you see your problems? We are not able to sharpen our focus.

 

Some of us or most of us have eye problem. I have a problem seeing in a distance; it’s blurry. According to Google, “A nearsighted person sees near objects clearly, while objects in the distance are blurred. Farsightedness is the result of the visual image being focused behind the retina rather than directly on it.” Others here have the same with mine or some are worse. I have searched that there’s a medical procedure to correct the eyes. We call it Laser Eye Surgery. What is it? Laser eye surgery is a medical procedure that involves the use of a laser to reshape the surface of the eye. This is done to improve or correct short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism. It can also be helpful in overcoming presbyopia (difficulty seeing up close as we get older). With this, we can see a 20/20 vision. But because we can’t afford that, we use eyeglasses. Using this, it eliminates all medium of obstructions that will hinder you from seeing what it’s really there (put glasses on). We’re talking here, not just on natural but spiritual. In order for us to see the bright future in our lives, which mentioned in Jeremiah 29:11, ^“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end,” we need to sharpen our focus. So that we may be able to see what to see. Sometimes you cannot see the need to minister because you have to do a lot of things. We need to remove the obstructions that cause us not able to see clearly; remove everything contrary to the plan of God. “I want to see.”

3.  STRUCTURING YOUR FOCUS (ISAIAH 43:19a)

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The land of blessings, God promised Israel. God wanted them to shift, sharpen and also structure their focus. Bible said that He will even make a way in the wilderness and even in the desert- “I’ll bless you.” But no matter what situation you find yourself in, God is still able to bless you. Do what God is offering. If they refuse God’s leading, they would have been doomed to remain in their captivity. At any point, if Israel refused to be led by GOD to draw in the direction on which God was leading them, then they would have remained in their condition. That’s why there must be structure focus. Structure focus requires TRUST; it requires complete trust. Knowing that even in the wilderness, even in the desperate situation, even when it doesn’t make sense that GOD COULD STILL BLESS ME. GOD CAN STILL USE ME even when it doesn’t make sense.

 

CONCLUSION:

There is no greater example of the structure focus in our humanity than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane. His wet so hard and his pores poured blood.

Jesus said, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:” Three times; not one time, not two time but three times (Matthew 26:36-46) he prayed this prayer. The Father didn’t answer verbally; he answered with a silence then Jesus ultimately said, “NEVERTHELESS NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS THOU WILT.” (NEVERTHELESS, NOT MY WILL BUT THY WILL BE DONE.)

As the soldiers marched Him to the Calvary, He trusted God with His future. As they hang Jesus on high on the cross, He trusted God with his future. As before he died, he said, “Father into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit” (Luke 23:46) then He gave up the Ghost. Glad He didn’t stop right there; all day on the first day, he was on the grave and all day on the second day, he was on the grave but early on the third day, HE’S ALIVE. He can say, “I still have a plan for your life.” If he has power to raise from the grave, then he has all the power to do something great for you and me God declares, “I AM NOT THROUGH WITH YOU YET.” 

A PLACE TO STAND

The picture was taken from Google

PSALM 40: 1-17

SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

AUGUST 26, 2018

MEMORY VERSE

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings

-         PSALM 40:2 –

INTRODUCTION:

Our lesson for this month is “Stand Firm! Press on.” How can we stand firm if our feet stand in the wrong place or direction? When you’re in a seashore, it’s easy for you to be drifted by the waves because you’re standing on soft sand.  Therefore, where is the safest place to stand?

In our Christian journey, we are not always strong; sometimes we feel week and unable to get up. The reasons maybe are the trials and afflictions come in our way.  Jesus told the disciples to expect trials by stating chapter 16 verses 1-2 of John, “These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not offend. They shall put you out of synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. He ends that chapter in a similar vein (16:33), “These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. Yet in spite of these words and many other similar Scriptures (John 15:18; Acts 14:22; 1 Thess. 3:3-4; 2 Tim. 3:12),

-         John 15:18  (KJV)

¹⁸ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

-         1 Thessalonians 3:3-4  (KJV)

³ That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

⁴ For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

-         2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV)

¹² Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

many that profess to know Christ stumbles and falls away when they get hit with various trials. If you’re going to persevere with Christ, you must know in advance that you will face times in this world. We need a strong place to stand. Let’s study our lesson for today titled, “A Place to Stand!”

LESSON POINTS:

1)     STAND NOT IN AN HORRIBLE PIT, OUT OF MIRY CLAY (PSALM 40:2)

-         Psalm 40 is a song about the pits. It falls into two sections. In the first half (40:1-10), David tells how God got him out of one pit and he sings God’s praise for doing so. But he did not then live happily ever after. Rather, it is evident from the second half of the psalm (40:11-17) that he is in another pit, crying out to the Lord to deliver him from this one. Because David waited intently on the Lord to rescue him from the first pit, he knew how to wait on the Lord to get him out of the second pit. So it’s a psalm about what to do when you’re in the pit.

-         What is “the pit”?

a)    THE PIT COULD BE ANY OF A Some LIFE’S TRIALS.

David does not specify exactly what the trials of the first pit entailed. The second pit clearly involved the consequences of David’s sins (40:12) and many enemies that were trying to destroy him (40:14-15). But he doesn’t exactly say what the first pit was, except to describe it as a “pit of destruction” and “the miry clay” (40:2). Some think that it was David’s enemies, while others think that it could have been a physical illness or some deep emotional distress. Perhaps as with Paul’s “thorn in the flesh,” we are not told so that we can relate all our trials to David’s situation.

-          Your pit could be poor health, the loss of your job, former friends that turned against you, an unfaithful mate, rebellious children, or any other overwhelming problem. You may be responsible for being in your pit, or you may be a victim of the sins of others. David’s situation in the second pit seems to have been a combination of both. He acknowledges his many sins, which have overtaken him like a fog so that he can’t see his way clear (40:12). I think that he is not referring to sins that he was currently committing, but rather to the consequences of past sins that were now coming home to roost. But, also, the consequences involved wicked people who were wrongly intent on destroying David (40:14).

https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-40-when-you%E2%80%99re-pit

-         I remember in my early years as a worker of this church, I noticed there’s something wrong with a sermon of one of the leaders of the church. He preached with emotional and puzzled preaching. The preaching was a scene like a preacher was in a dungeon. His last words in the pulpit, “Whatever path you choose, God will make a way to put your decisions in the right way. The end is always okay.” When he went down after the preaching, one leader hand shook him and asked, “How are you.” He replied with somewhat like these words, “Bro. I’m in a pit and it’s hard for me to get out; I’m almost drowning.” This made me think that the church was in great danger and a problem. This was the start that the church had experienced great trials.  That’s why we need to pray for our leaders especially our pastors. If you have known the Lord in any length of time, don’t be complacent that you’re standing in the right place; any time you would be driven away from the ministry and stumble.

-         What does the word “pit” mean? Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He brought me up also out of a horrible pit - Margin: "A pit of noise." The word used here means a pit; a cistern; a prison; a dungeon; a grave. This last signification of the word is found in Psalm 28:1; Psalm 30:4; Psalm 88:4; Isaiah 38:18; Isaiah 14:19. It may refer to any calamity - or to trouble, like being in a pit - or it may refer to the grave. The word rendered "horrible" - שׁאון shâ'ôn - means properly "noise, uproar, tumult," as of waters; of a crowd of men; of war. Then it seems to be used in the sense of "desolation" or "destruction," as applicable to the grave. DeWette understands it here of a pit, a cavern, or an abyss that roars or is tumultuous; that is, that is impassable. Perhaps this is the idea - a cavern, deep and dark, where the waters roar, and which seems to be filled with horrors. So Rosenmuller understands it. The Septuagint renders it: ἐκ λάκκου ταλαιπωρίας ek lakkou talaipōrias, "a lake of misery." It is a deep and horrid cavern, where there is no hope of being rescued, or where it would seem that there would be certain destruction.

Let me ask you, can you stand in the pit out of miry clay? We know we have just studied last time about the life of Jeremiah and let’s read one of the things happened to Jeremiah, I was not mentioned this last Sunday. Jeremiah 38:6 “Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon, there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.” Out of the miry clay - At the bottom of the pit. Where there was no solid ground - no strong place on which to stand. See Jeremiah 38:6; Psalm 69:2, Psalm 69:14

B)    WHEN YOU’RE IN A PIT, YOU’LL BE TEMPTED TOWARD PRIDE OR FALSEHOOD TO GET OUT OF THE PIT.

In verse 4, David writes, “How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.” When you’re in a pit, it’s very easy, even if you profess to trust in the Lord at other times, to grab onto any seeming way of escape, even if it means compromising your faith. The proud are those that boast in their own abilities. They don’t recognize or admit any personal weakness. Rather, by their own ingenuity and effort, they will get out of their crisis on their own. Or, if you’re in a jam and it looks like a little “white” lie will get you out of the jam, you can be tempted to use it. You justify it by thinking, “Well, it’s just this once and I do need to get out of this pit.” But you’re trusting in your lie, not in the Lord.

King Asa was a classic example of a good man who fell into this trap. He was a good king who instituted many reforms in Judah. When a million-man Ethiopian army invaded Judah, Asa called out to God and affirmed his trust in God alone to deliver them  (2 Chron. 14:2-12). But many years later, after a long reign that God had blessed, when the king of Israel came up against him, Asa sent tribute to the king of Syria and enlisted his help against the enemy. Interestingly, his ploy worked. The king of Israel had to abandon his invasion of Judah to defend his northern flank.

But, a prophet rebuked Asa for relying on the king of Syria instead of relying on the Lord (2 Chron. 16:7-9). Asa’s final days were plagued with painful gout. But 2 Chronicles 16:12 reports, “yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.” It’s not that it’s wrong to go to doctors, but it is wrong to trust in doctors if your primary trust is not in the Lord. The lesson is, it is always wrong to trust in anything or anyone other than the Lord to get out of your pit, even if it works.

       https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-40-when-you%E2%80%99re-pit

C)    THE WAY OUT OF THE PIT IS TO WAIT INTENTLY ON THE LORD.

David says (Ps. 40:1), “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Waiting on the Lord is a common theme in Scripture. For example, Psalm 37:7: “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” Again, Psalm 37:9: “For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land.” And again, Psalm 37:34: “Wait for the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it.”

        https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-40-when-you%E2%80%99re-pit

2)    SET YOUR FEET UPON A ROCK (PSALM 40:2)

-         The days in which we live can feel as turbulent as the high seas. Like sailing ships of old, we need stability to help us navigate our way through the storms of life. David faced danger as well, and he celebrated the character of God for providing him with stability after he had endured a desperate time. He declared, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit; out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” (Ps. 40:2). David’s experience was one of conflict, personal failure, and family strife, yet God gave him a place to stand. So David sang “a hymn of praise to our God” (v. 3)

In times of difficulty, we too can look to our powerful God for the stability only He brings. His faithful care inspires us to say with David, “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us” (v. 5). When the world around us is crumbling, Christ is the Solid Rock on which we stand.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’s blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’s name. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand—all other ground is sinking sand. Edward Mote

Conclusion:

When you set your feet on a rock there is a firm standing. If we are in the pit, out of miry clay, there is no solid ground – no rock in which to stand. Christ is the solid Rock on which to stand. And established my goings - Or, fixed my steps. That is, he enabled me to walk as on the solid ground; he conducted me along safely, where there was no danger of descending to the pit again or of sinking in the mire. If we understand this of the Redeemer, it refers to that time when, his sorrows ended, and his work of atonement done, it became certain that he would never be exposed again to such dangers, or sink into such a depth of woes, but that his course ever onward would be one of safety and of glory.

THE BLUNDERING LEADER (LUKE 22:31-34,54-62; JOHN 21:1-23)

UNAPPRECIATED YET ESSENTIAL (GEN.29:15-30)

KEEP ON, KEEPING ON (HEBREWS 12:1-2)