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Chapter 44 - Ye Are My Witnesses In the last lesson we saw that the LORD will do a new thing: placing His Spirit permanently and eternally within those who believe. Instead of covering His people the Spirit will indwell them. This is clearly taught in John 14:17. Today that is true of all who by faith place their trust in Christ and Christ alone for their salvation. Jesus' apostles (Luke 11:13) before we can pray like we must have The Holy Spirit within us. The lady at the well in John chapter 4 had an opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit if she would have first known who He was and known the gift available she would have asked (John 4:7). Why should she have known to ask? The prophesies spoke of Jesus. Look at these verses in Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within
you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an
heart of flesh: Romans
10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
See this precept: you can not pray, you can not be on one accord, God will not hear your supplication and you can not serve or witness unless you have the Holy Spirit and a heart that believes unto righteousness..
Jeremiah 17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. At this time as a nation Israel could not believe, serve or witness in truth because they had forsaken The LORD and He had removed the covering of His Spirit.
The comfort of 40:1 - he is going to raise up a righteous man that will show them how they can be covered by the spirit (old Testament) and The Righteous One who will show them how to be indwelled with the spirit (New Testament). Now 44:1-2 Here is the promise of The LORD - He will pour out His Spirit upon the people He has chosen, formed from the womb. Fear not (it is going to happen) 44:3-4 - The new thing river in the desert - giving life to the dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-2) - Blessing will once again be upon His people - after the Spirit is poured out. (No Spirit - No blessing) 44:5 - the seed of Jacob will give themselves by the Name of the LORD, by the name Jacob and by the name Israel. [Note God named Jacob and changed his name to Israel] {This could signify three levels of commitment to The LORD - Top level - those who call themselves by the name of the LORD; Second level - those who call themselves by the name of Israel; Third - those who call themselves b the name of Jacob {Jacob's name was changed to Israel - after that when he was closest to The LORD he was called Israel when he moved away from Him he was called Jacob}] 44:6-8 - Fear not; The LORD declared that He has told them that he will pour out His Spirit - He has declared that they are His witnesses- He declares who he is and tells them there is no higher power that cam stop Him from keeping this promise.. 44:9-21 The LORD declares that everything Israel had made and worshipped is nothing and actually the never considered in their hearts that it is an abomination to exalt their works above the Works Of The LORD. That's vanity (See Malachi 3:14 - See why a new heart is needed? 44:22- 27 The LORD's plea: All of Israel remember the promised I have made - remember I AM the one who created, formed, called and redeemed you. As a nation The LORD has blotted out their transgressions (not those of individuals). (Jeremiah 50:50) (Zechariah 3:9) - In That Day the nation will be saved but only a small remnant of the people (Isaiah 10:20). 44:28 - I am the one who will tell Cyrus - restore, build, be my shepherd over Israel - The Jews require a sign - Cyrus - is His sign to the disbelieving Jews - The Jews who were in the 70 captivity should have been looking for the reign of Cyrus - The Jews alive during Christ ministry upon the earth should have been looking for Him (the sign of Cyrus came true) the Jews today had all the past prophesy to learn from - what is their excuse -none they have chosen not to believe.
Cyrus: The Anointed servant * Cyrus: The shepherd * Cyrus: The
Conqueror * Cyrus: The king = All pictures of The LORD Jesus Christ
- - No Jew had or has an excuse for not knowing who Jesus was.
44:28 lead right into Chapter 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus..... Next Week Why are two woes seen in the middle of Chapter 45? Isaiah 26:13 O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. Malachi 3:14 Lamentations 5: all
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