Weekly message: Are you looking for your Elijah? by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: Are you looking for your Elijah? 

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music & Pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Introduction  

Jesus is living God, He is real and reality in my life in every present help. I fix my eyes on Jesus and gaze upon His cross, crucifixion and resurrection. Christ Jesus’ divine life manifests in me when I fully lean on Him, trust in Him and dwell in Him by praising and worshiping Him and pray with whole heart devotion to Him, the sense of oneness will come and affirm His anointing, peace inwardly. Affirmation and blessing assurance will come to reality. No doubt!  Your inner being will know that He (Jesus) is real and alive. And indeed, affirm His presence and reality.  

Are you looking for your Elijah?

 When we grow in age, many friends, and families depart from us, some have passed away, and some have had physical limitations, paralyzed on the bed, and no longer have followership with us. Sometimes, we feel lonely, helpless and longing to find a former mental who had been our encouragement as Elijah to Elisha. My friends, are you like me, still seek Elijah in your life? Hope to find some strength, encouragement from him and or her?  Today, this message will awaken you not to look for Elijah any more, but trust in God and put your faith into practice, you will see Jesus Christ, our God Father is reality and He is with you always.

According to 2 Kings Chapter 2 the relationship between Elijah and Elisha, the historical events as follows,

    When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gigal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel”. But Elisha said, “ As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. (vv.1-2). 

               Second time,  Elijah said to Elisha, “ Stay here, Elisha, the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

 Third time Elijah said to him, “ Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan. And he replied, “ As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you!” Elisha replied, “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.” (v.9) 

Not a request that Elisha have or do twice as much as Elijah, but a plea that he might be the recognized heir of Elijah in the prophetic office (the firstborn received a double portion of his father’s inheritance,Deut.21:17). What Elisha requested was not Elijah’s to bestow. Elijah, like Enoch (Gen.5:22-24), was taken to heaven without dying. This will also be the experience of believers living at the time of Christ’s return (1Cor.15:51;1Thess.4:17).  As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire, and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. (v.10).

           Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” and Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.  Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it.  When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. (vv.12-14). The sons of the prophets did not believe what Elisha apparently had told them had happened to Elijah, and insisted on sending out a search party.(vv.16-18). But they didn’t find Elijah. 

 In our Christina life, each one of us will meet a person like Elijah to us, who encouraged us, and prayed for us as mental. It is not wrong to depend upon Elijah as long as God gives him (or her) to you, but remember the time will come when he (or she) will have to go; when he (or she) stands no more to you as your guide and leader, because God does not intend he (or she) should. In weakness, you may say, “I can’t go on without Elijah.” But God says you must go on.

Oswald Chambers’ viewpoint and expression are notable, 

First, alone at your Jordan (v.14). Jordan is the type of separation where there is no fellowship with anyone else, and where no one can take the responsibility for you. You have to put to the test now what you learned when you were with your Elijah. You have been to Jordan over and over again with Elijah, but now you are up against it alone. It is no use saying you cannot go; this experience has come, and you must go. If you want to know whether God is the God you have faith to believe Him to be, then go through your Jordan alone.

 Second, alone at your Bethel. (v.23). at your Bethel you will find yourself at your wits’ end and at the beginning of God’s wisdom. When you get your wits’ end and feel inclined to succumb to panic, don’t; stand true to God and He will bring His truth out in a way that will make your life a sacrament. Put into practice what you learned with your Elijah, use his cloak and pray. Determine to trust in God and do not look for Elijah any more.

I agree and appreciate Oswald Chambers’ thoughts. When our loved one ( parents or  mental) who had passed away, (or have grown in age), he or she is no longer with us, prayed, encouraged us, nor took responsibility for us as Elisha saw him no more. We need to move on, not look back, nor dwell in the loneliness or sadness, but fully trust in God and put the Word of God what we had learned from mental into practice as Elisha stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it.  When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. (2kings2:12-14).

Christians’ faith realization is that we may not have Elijah in our entire life, but we will have Jesus Christ our Lord eternal. Once we fix our eyes on Jesus, lean on Him and trust in Him wholeheartedly by praising, worshiping and praying persistence, we will taste His sweetness, holy presence, anointing and grasp His love and grace in our life journey.

My friends, what you had learned from your Elijah, put into practice by faith, you will experience the Lord Jesus Christ is reality and is alive, For Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore.      

 

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986 

Chambers, Oswald “My utmost for His highest” N.Y: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc., 1935.      

  

Bible in one year on 11/3 Isaiah 8-9 by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year on 11/3 Isaiah 8-9

by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &counseling

 

Isaiah Chapter 8   The meaning of the name Maher-ShalalHash-Baz, Isaiah’s second son, is “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil. Waters of Shiloah (v.6). Siloam was a healing spring in Jerusalem (John9:7) and here typifies God’s help, which Judah was not prepared to accept. Conspiracy. (v.12 Apparently the charge of the Assyrian alliance party against Isaiah, because he advised the people to trust God alone(v.13). the law…the testimony.(v.20) God’s Word, the only absolute and trustworthy standard.

The Lord spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said, “ Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured.” (8:13-15)

Bind up the testimony and  seal up the law among my disciples. I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel form the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and , looking upward, will curse their king and their God. They they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. (8:16-22)

Isaiah chapter 9  Zebulun and Nephtali came under the yoke of Assyria (2Kings15:29). Because Christ would minister and live in Galilee it will be glorious (Matt.4:15-16). Messiah will com as a baby who is born and as a gift from God to be a ruler (Luke1:31-33). His perfections are described as follows: Wonderful Counselor. “Wonderful” regularly mean supernatural (Judg.13:18), so the phrase refers to Messiah as the supernatural Counselor who, at His first coming, brought words of eternal life, and who, when He comes again, will rule with perfect wisdom (Isa.11:2). Mighty God, a term applied to Yahweh (Gen.2:4) in Deut.10:17; Isa.10:21; Jer.32:18, and which predicts the ultimate victory of Messiah over evil. Everlasting Father: Lit., Father of Eternity; Messiah is eternally a Father to His people, guarding, supplying, and caring for their needs. Prince of Peace. The One who brings peace in the fullest sense of wholeness, prosperity, and tranquility. Individuals can now know His peace(Eph.2:13-18), and one day the world will experience it as well (Isa.2:4). The everlasting rule of Messiah on David’s throne awaits the second coming of Christ.(v.7).

The People walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. (Isaiah 9:2-3).

For to us a child is born to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)   

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.(Isaiah 9:7).

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

 

Bible in one year on 11/2 2022 Isaiah 5-7 by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year on 11/2 2022 Isaiah 5-7

by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & counseling

 

 Isaiah 5 is the parable of the vineyard. From verse 1 to verse 12 Israel is elsewhere pictured as a vineyard (Jer.12:10;Psalm80:8-19;Matt.21:33-45) to whom God had given every advantage, but which yielded only evil fruit. The inevitable penalty for Israel would be removal of God’s protective hedge, which would result in invasion by her enemies. In verses 8 -25 expressed that there is a six-point indictment of Israel, each point being introduced with “Woe” as follows,

1)      Woe to land grabbers (vv.8-10;Kings 21:3,16), whose mansions will be desolate and whose land will become unproductive, one bath. Equal to about eight gallons; ten acres normally might be expected to produce five hundred baths of wine. One-tenth of a homer, which was fifty-eight gallons (Ruth2:17).

2)      Woe to the drunkard (Isa.5:11-17; 5:22;19:14;24:20;28:1,7) such dissipation brings temporal punishment to nations(5:13) and eternal punishment to individuals(v.14).

3)      Woe to the blasphemous who pull their idol of sin along, taunting God to act if He can.    “ Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes.” (vv.18-19)

4)      Woe to those who pervert moral distinctions. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (v.20).

5)      Woe to the conceited. “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.”(v.21).

6)      Woe to drunken judges. “ Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent…therefore the Lord’s anger burns against his people. (vv.22-25).

From verse 26 to 30 indicate that with a banner and with a whistle, Assyria would be summoned to punish Israel.

 Isaiah chapter 6 unveiled the commission of Isaiah. During the time King Uzziah died in 740.  Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a throne,  “seraphs” (v.2) used here of heavenly angels and in Num.21:6 of fiery serpents. Derived from a verb that means “to burn” the seraphs were agents of cleansing; here they are angelic agents. Compare note on Gen.3:22-24 on cherubim.

 “ Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: with two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, Holy,Holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (vv.2-3).

Verse 5 This confessions is similar in Job 42:6 and Luke 5:8.  Verse 6 a live coal…from the altar. Either the altar of incense or the altar of burnt offering. In either case, the coal stood for the full significance of the Temple ritual of cleansing. God took the initiative in cleansing the prophet.

Woe to me! I cried, “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty” then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips, your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. (Isaiah 6:5-7)

Verse 8  for us. God is seen as a king in council. This phrase certainly allows for the fuller N.T. revelation of the Trinity.

The I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?  And I said, “ Here am I, Send me!” He said, “ God and tell this people: Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeking, but never perceiving..” Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.  (vv.8-10).

 In the verses 11 and 13 Though the people would not pay attention, Isaiah was to continue to prophesy until the Babylonian deportation. After the seventy years in Babylon, a tenth would return. These would, in turn, be subject again to chastisement (laid waste) but not eradication. Israel would sprout like the terebinth(an oak-like tree from which, when cut, flows a fragrant, resinous juice ) and Oak trees.

             Isaiah  Chapter 7 the coming of Messiah Isaiah unveil from chapter 7:1 to  chapter 12:6.   Chapter 7:1-15 provided the vision and the sign of Immanuel. In the 2 Kings 16:5-18 and 2 Chron. 28:5-21 record the historical background of this chapter. Aram( Syria) and the ten northern tribes of Israel rebelled against their overlord, Assyria, and were attempting to force Judah into their alliance, even if it meant disposing Ahaz and substituting a puppet king, the son of tabeel (Isa.7:6) Isaiah saw a political crisis also, because Ahaz was trusting man’s power rather than God’s.  

 God’s sign to Ahaz was that of a virgin ( when the prophecy was spoken, it probably referred to the woman, a virgin at that time, whom Isaiah took later as his second wife, 8:1-4) and whose son would not be more than twelve to fourteen years old before Syria and Israel would be captured. The virgin of Isaiah’s prophecy is a type of the virgin Mary, who, by the Holy Spirit, miraculously conseived Jesus Christ (Matt.1:23). The Hebrew word that is here translated virgin is found elsewhere in the O.T. in Gen. 24:43;Ex.2:8;Ps.68:25; Prov.30:19; Song of Sol.1:3;6:8 and in those instances refers only to a chaste maiden who is unmarried.  A food of a nomadic people, indicating that the land of Judah would soon be devastated. Reject the wrong and choose the right. An age of moral discrimination. Within twelve years after this prophecy, Damascus was captured by Assyria (732) and Israel had fallen (722).

The sign of Immanuel : 

Then Isaiah said, “hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah7:13-14)

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

 

Bible in one year on 11/1 Isaiah 3-4 by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year on 11/1 Isaiah 3-4

by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & counseling

 

Isaiah Chapter 3

             Isaiah 3:1 supply and support. Both words indicate something one leans on. Through Nebuchadnezzar(2Kings24:15-16). Verse 4 boys. Immature physically (Manasseh was twelve when he began to reign) and immature in political ability (Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah ).  It will be no honor to rule the nation (v.7). verses 16 to 26 indicate that the fashionable women, seeking to lure other women’s husbands with their imported luxurious dress, would soon be destitute  (1Pet3:3-4).

I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them. People will oppress each other man against man, neighbor against neighbor. The young will rise up against the old, the base against the honorable. A man will seize one of his brothers at his father’s home, and say, “You have a cloak, you be our leader; take charge of this heap of ruins!”

But in that day he will cry out, “ I have no remedy, I have no food or clothing in my house; do not make me the leader of the people”(Isaiah 3:4-7)  The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people. It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. (Isaiah 3:14) 

The Lord says, “ The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will make their scalps bald.(Isa.3:16-17). 

 

Isaiah chapter 4

Wars will slaughter so many men that in that day (ultimately the tribulation days), women will be willing to be self-supporting if only they can be married and escape the disgrace of being childless(v.1).Branch of the Lord (v.2) indicates “Messiah” where the same term is found in Jer.23:5;33:15; Zech.3:8;6:12. Verses 3 to 6 The fulfillment will be occurred the return of Messiah and establishment of His kingdom. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion, and The Lord will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a  spirit of fire.

In that day seven women will take hold of one man, and says, “ We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes, only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”  In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.

The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a  spirit of fire. Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who asssembel there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be  shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. (Isa.4:2-6).

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

 

Bible in one year on 10/31 Isaiah 1-2 by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year on 10/31 Isaiah 1-2

by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & counseling

 

 Isaiah Chapter 1  The people’s sacrifices(v.11), religious festivals(vv.13-14), and prayers (v.15) were shams. God was not repudiating the sacrificial system(which He Himself had established) but was condemning religious pretense.

 Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.(Isa.1:6). 

Wash and make ourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage
the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. (Isa.1:16-17)

 If you are willing and obedient; you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah1:19-20)

 

 Isaiah Chapter 2 As in Mic.4:1-5 a description of the millennial kingdom. God’s government (mountain) will be established over all the kingdoms of this world; Gentiles (nations) and Jews(peoples) will do the will of God; justice and peace will reign.

                       

             In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and says, “ Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his path.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 

          He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning books. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isa.2:1-4).

Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made. The Lord alone will be exalted in that day, and the idols will totally disappear. (Isaiah 2:8,17-18)

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.

Bible in one year 10/30/2022 Isaiah introduction by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 10/30/2022 Isaiah introduction

by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry &counseling 

Author :Isaiah   Date: 740-680 B.C.

 The prophet Isaiah was born into an influential, upper-class family, Isaiah rubbed shoulders with royalty and gave advice concerning the foreign affairs of the nation. Though usually scoffed at, he warned vigorously against foreign alliances and urged Judah to trust the Lord (7:4;30:1-17). He also attacked the social ill of the day, not because he was a social reformer, but because he saw those abuses as symptoms of spiritual declension (1:3-9;58:6-10). After living most of his life in Jerusalem tradition says that Isaiah was martyred during the reign of Manasseh (696-642) by being sawed in two inside a hollow log (Heb.11:37).

Isaiah has often been called “ the evangelical prophet” because he says so much about the redemptive work of Messiah. More about the person and work of Christ is found here than in any other book of the Old Testament. Consequently, there are many important and favorite passages in the book such as 1:18;2:4;6:3;7:14;9:6-7;11:9;26:3;35:1;40:3;48:16;Chapter 53;55:1;57:15; 59:1;61:1-3.

  Historical timeline--   During the latter half of the eighth century Judah seemingly was about to follow the example of apostasy of the ten northern tribes of Israel (who were captured by Assyria in 722). King Ahaz foolishly looked to Assyria for protection, even though Isaiah told him the Northern  Kingdom would shortly fall at the hands of the Assyrians(8:3-4). Hezekiah, Ahaz’s God-fearing son, instituted spiritual reforms but sought the help of Egypt in foreign affairs. Egypt fell before Sennacherib of Assyria, and only through divine intervention was Judah saved from the same fate(37:36-37).During the reign of Manasseh, idolatrous practices were reinstated, and Isaiah warned of the inevitability of the Babylonian captivity. He also gave assurance of the preservation  of the people and restoration of the nation.

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986.