“FATHER”
Today’s Reading: Isaiah 63-64
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
A several hundred year-old wine vat the size of a van can still be seen in Meteora, Greece, at the Varlaam monastery. In Isaiah 63:3 we read, “I have trodden the winepress alone,” and “I have stained all my robes.” God’s mercy and judgment could only be accomplished by Jesus alone. Like the one who walks barefoot in the winepress has his clothes stained red, so Jesus’ garments were stained with blood.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Isaiah 64:4
For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
Today’s reading begins with a word picture of the judgment of God as a winepress. Jesus prayed just before His arrest and crucifixion, “O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as You will” (Matthew 26:39). What was in that cup? “The wine of the wrath of God which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation” (Revelation 14:10). As the wine vat pictured above provided storage, so the wrath of God was stored up since the sin of our first parents. Jesus drank all the wrath of God against sin for all who believe in Him. And because of this, all who call on Him, believing in Him in this age of God’s mercy are saved from the end-time judgment! Not so with God’s judgment on the ungodly world of the antichrist (Read Revelation 14:9-11).
Chapter 64 is the great prayer of Isaiah. He states the case that we are all sinners (64:6) who need to be saved. Then Isaiah writes, “But now O Lord, You are our Father.” This would be a good time to say the prayer Jesus taught, “Our Father…” (Matthew 6:9-13 or Luke 11:1-4). Jesus taught essentially the same prayer on two different occasions.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, I am praying the words You taught Your followers to pray. You are my Father God! I hallow (honour as holy) Your Name! To make sure I’m covering all the points in that prayer, I’m praying both Matthew’s words and Luke’s words. I believe that this is one prayer which You will always answer with a “Yes!” as long as it is prayed with repentance and faith, and not just a recitation in the mindless way of a religious exercise. In the Name of the One Who taught us TO PRAY (actually do it…not just talk about it), Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
As a boy I had a friend who could rattle off the “Our Father” five times in one minute. He was simply getting through what he was told to do as he confessed his sins to his priest. About 15 years later, a wonderful move of God came to his church. It was known as the “Charismatic Renewal.” Many began to confess that they were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. I heard them pray as Paul wrote, “I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding” (read 1 Corinthians 14:14-19).
When my father arrived home from a six-year absence (forced on him by WW2), I have such powerful memories as an 8 year old. Three times a day, after our meals, we would kneel around the table at our chairs and Dad would often pray parts of the Isaiah 64 prayer. He would lift his voice and sometimes weep as he prayed, “Oh, that You would rend the Heavens! That You would come down!” One time he explained to me that the church of Egypt (where he served as a missionary) was alive and growing in the things of God and in numbers too. He wanted me to know that in comparison, the Church in Canada was in need of a great revival, and I was not to judge the whole Church by its lack of fire and growth as we saw here. I’ve lived to see God come down in mighty power on the Canadian Church as He has consistently done in other parts of the world.
Yours for strong prayer such as Isaiah and my Dad prayed,
David
Such a wonderful heritage (and legacy) you have Pastor David with your dad sowing seeds of greatness and leading in prayer when he got home from serving in the mission fields. My dad never knew the LORD until his son (myself) received the LORD JESUS at 30 years of age and I had the joy of leading my own dad to Christ on his death bed at the Henderson hospital here in Hamilton. Now I have the privilege of sowing seeds of life with my family and friends that the good LORD allows me to be with. GOD is so GOOD.
Rev. Terrence Felvus
Amen Pastor Terry!
Praise God, David, for your father’s strong conviction of prayer and teaching you the same, which you have passed onto us. You take after your father, having seen you weep, on more than one occasion, on 100 Huntley Street. It is with reverence for our Lord and Saviour, that we pray on our hands and knees. It is with the utmost of love and adoration that we praise our Lord with prayers of thanksgiving. Oh, for all that we have to be thankful for–on earth, as it is in heaven! “You, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” Amen! Keeping you all in my prayers and giving thanks for you–with blessings, dear fellow saints!
“The LORD is near to all them that call on him, to all that call on him in truth.” Psalms 145:18
Thank You, Ray Boltz (awesome!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFrdJ2V3r7Y
Thank you Beverlee for the song…agreeing in prayer with you!!!
AMEN !
Thank You Jesus that you came down to show us the way to the Father…Our Father in heaven. That You shed Your precious blood to cleans me from all sin, and heal all our diseases, and You delivered us from all our iniquity!! Precious Lord, I praise and glorify You for You are worthy of all Praise. Thank You Father for giving us Your Son!!! Jesus Lord of Lords and King of Kings to You be all the Glory!!! Amen and Amen!!!
Thank you David for leading us into the “OUR FATHER PRAYER”. Yes, it is not how fast we say it, but how we speak it and receive its truth and its Power.
What meaningful words are spoken in Isaiah, revealing Our Lord’s Victory over the enemy. His Blood shed for us. He did all alone just for us. Thank You Jesus for Your Love for us!!!! For saving us!!!
THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BUT YOU JESUS, LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS!!!
Great picture of the winepress!!!
Amen David, Beverlee and all fellow saints. Thank you Beverlee, Joan, Rosemarie and Sah for your prayers and kind words and God is answering prayer. How faithful your father was David and the Lord has rewarded him in your life and family.”…Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”(Revelation 14:13).
Praise God love when you share your life story and please pray for my broken hip and speedy healing in Jesus name Amen
The healing hands of Jesus be upon your broken hip, dear sister-in-Christ, Lily May. May angels surround you, our good Lord comfort you, the Christ light heal you, and the Holy Spirit fill you. In Jesus’ precious Name, amen, amen, and amen!
Agreeing with Beverlee in prayer and supplication to our Lord and Savior for Lily May. Amen
Amen!
Father God I pray that You will care for in all manner Your dear child Lily May; she is dealing with a borken hip; Father God we ask that You will supply all her needs, we ask for Your Healing Touch on her hip, we thank You Father God for all the blessings You have given this precious Child of Yours, we ask that You continue to care for her, in every way, at all times thank you IN Jesus Name We Pray AMEN
Amen and Amen!