June 29, 2009

• Isaiah overview by Pastor Don

  We took a vote, since we finished the book of Hebrews about what we wanted to study next.  Isaiah won out.  Pastor Don began with an overview of Isaiah, but we didn’t get too far into the book because there were some background things we needed to look at so that the passages would be more clear to us. This book was written early 703-740 BC, It deals with responsibility, Jerusalem and all of Israel.  Israel got split into two kingdoms, the Northern and the Southern. 

  Sins of the flesh bring to the surface weakness and exposes us if our sin is not fully dealt with and it will pass on to the next generation (generational curses).  The Body of Christ has a tradition of looking for generational curses, but not all that happens to us is generational curses – often it is our flesh acting out.  It isn’t a generational curse unless there is a supernatural aspect to it.  Children observe what their parents do.  Some sin is habitual and cultural.  There are stereotypes.  Look at the fleshly things in a family – not all dysfunctional families are dysfunctional because of demonic activity – there are not enough demons to go around.

  Only 1/3 of the angels fell from heaven, and our population has increased.  But no new demons are created.  There is a difference between a fallen angel and a demon. 

  Isaiah the prophet comes into power to prophesy to Judah. 

  Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

  When David was King, before Israel divided into two kingdoms, he had sexual sins and lusted, having over 1000 wives.  When David’s son, Solomon, became King he repeated the pattern – having 1400 wives – some were political and some were for sexual gratification.  This behavior violated God’s instruction.  Deuteronomy 17:16-17 But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’  Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself.

  Not all of Solomon’s wives were good Jewish women.  Pagan wives caused the nation to sin.  Solomon became compromised.  As head of the house, Solomon was responsible for the authority over his home.  But it gets worse. 

  Solomon’s son Rehoboam – the third generation was not tied to God.  He refused to accept the counsel of the elders and this would result in a divided Kingdom.  Solomon had increased the tax burdens on the people to support his wealthy lifestyle.  He would have been three times richer than Bill Gates.  There was slavery and huge taxes.  The elders advised Rehoboam to ease the burdens on the people and they would follow him. 

  Pastor Don told us that even today, just as Rehoboam had a destain for the elders, the Church has a destain for its elders.  If someone in the church does not like the advise of an elder, they move.  Every 4.5 years many people in the church leave and go to a different church.  Some churches count new members coming in as church growth, but it really isn’t all new souls won for Christ, it is just the saints moving around

  The elders told Rehoboam that his father was hard on the people and he should lighten up on them. Rehoboam went and consulted with his peers and they told him that he should increase the burdens on the people.  1 Kings 12:10-11 Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’”

  This did not please the Nation Israel and the northern tribes separated themselves from Jerusalem.  Only two tribes remained with Rehoboam in Judah.  The nation split.

  Isaiah was prophesying over Judah and Jerusalem.  The book of Isaiah has a high concentration of Biblical prophesy and End Times prophesy.

  There is a battle between the Supernatural realm and the Biblical realm – those who hate God and those who love God.  Because of the our nation’s sin, the people of God are in a minority, 84% say that they are Christian, but only 4% participate in the life of the Church.  Israel was in the same situation.  There was a minority who obeyed God, but idolatry had a strong toe hold in both the Northern and the Southern Kingdoms.  There will be many Israelites martyred and hated.  Now we are seeing similar things in our own country.

  We then looked at Noah so we could see how today is like it was in the time of Noah.

  Genesis 6:1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,

  NOW

  Genesis 6:2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

  Who are these sons of God?  In Hebrew they are angels, and these angels (fallen angels) had relationships with physical people.  The Bible tells us that we have entertained angels unaware.  Angels can take on physical human form. 

  Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive^d]’> (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

  2 Peter 2:5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;

  The fallen angels have been around and know stuff which is how they seem to know our stuff. 

  It is no accident that the two symbols of the European Union are the Tower of Babel and the woman riding the beast.

  Genesis 6:4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

  After the flood, the spirits (demons) were still on earth looking for bodies to inhabit. 

  When David went to kill Goliath he picked up five smooth stones – one for Goliath and four for Goliath’s brothers.  These fallen angels’ offspring are the source of our mythological creatures such as Hercules and Cyclops – they are related to these. 

  The word “dinosaur” was not used before 1840, but Behemoth and Leviathan were the terms used before then.

  Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD^f]’> of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

  The demons want control, and the fallen angels and demons are doing all they can do to stop God’s plan for Adam and Eve.  They oppressed and possessed to try and block God’s plan.  Judas Iscariot was one of the 12, and he opened himself up to the devil. 

  Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

  From the day God made Adam and Eve, the demons and devils worked to try and keep Jesus from coming.  They tried and are still trying to destroy Israel.  They do not operate under polite rules of engagement, and they seek to prevent Jesus from coming again.  During the time of Noah they tried to destroy the genealogy from Adam to Jesus, but Noah and 7 others had a pure blood line.  Yet there is a Rod from the stem of Jesse (Jesus).  And we are branches – our roots are of Judaism.  Yet, although they try to destroy us, destroy the Jews, interfere with Jesus’ second coming, we know the end of the book – God wins. 

  Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.

  What a powerful Bible study.  I pray this helps to clarify things for you as it has for me.  God is so good, and I am glad that I am on the winning team.

  Heather

  • 6:15 am
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