“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 missionary 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
Yes, You Lord, are our heavenly Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Mold us Lord with Your mighty power and loving grace and mercy. Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord as we come to worship Him. Stay warm.
God, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the deer’s;
he makes me tread on my high places.
Habakkuk 3:19 ESV
Psalm 91 (On Eagles Wings) – Shane and Shane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9JfJw6Wf-4
Thank you Beverlee for all the beautiful music you post!
Often I feel as if it is just for me..:) ..awww I know it is for all!
May God bless you for your faithfulness and your big heart, may you
have health and peace and joy!
Have a blessed Sunday everyone!
Ahhh! You are so sweet, Anne. Thank you for your kind and loving words. May God richly bless you today, dear sister-in-Christ!
The Fellowship of the Saints:
They that feared the Lord spake one with another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.—Malachi 3:16.
Blessings all dear saints this and every day.
The Lord’s Prayer, by Andrea Bocelli:
https://youtu.be/57Zdd4i0Au0
Thank you Lynda!
Yes, thank you Beverlee for all your posts, prayers and music and you Anne and Lynda D. Getting a big storm today but not as bad as in NFL.
Hi Ger; I was just listening on the news about NFL and I was praying for the people their and for the people in Asutralia,
We must remember that our LORD GOD ALMIGHTY knows EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON IN THIS WORLD; however; I truly believe that He dearly loves us to pray for different places in our world especially when we hear they are having a difficult time; again, God bless you Ger for your post;
Lord we love You Lord, we know that You are looking after each and every person on this earth; Lord we are very sorry when we sin against You in Thought, Word and Deed, forgive us Lord; thank You for Your forgiveness of all our sins.;
Lord we pray for our young people in our country; we pray for the families; we pray for the seniors; we pray for all those who care for each and every person everywhere; caregivers are needing patience, love, kindness; support;they need to be thanked;they appreciate a meal, the word THANK YOU…..
Yes Lord, Thank You for all Your unconditional love and forgiveness in Jesus Name we pray amen amen amen
Amen Sah
Amen Sah
God Bless You
Dear Lord God, when we read your Word (as well as David’s comments), we can see that You are passionate about Life, about Truth, about the Way to live. Put that passion in us, Lord, for the things that are important to You. You command us to love God and others. You tell us to go and make disciples. How, when we are so weak ourselves? Please be strong in us, Lord. As Isaiah prayed, please don’t give up on us. We know You won’t, but, Lord, please show Yourself strong in your people, in your church, in us, in our families, our workplaces, our government, our countries… We desperately need You. People say this world is getting better, and it may be in some ways, but we see our own country slide further from You and your ways all the time. People are trusting in their own ideas of justice, seeking to change others rather than looking to change themselves. Dear Lord God, may people see themselves as You see them. Show us what to do and how to do it, Lord, we ask in Jesus’s name, amen
Rob thank you for your words; it took me years to realize that God knows everything that is going on; He sees, hears, all. When that finally got through to my heart, somehow I felt so much relief, I felt so much more calm, many times I will begin to cry when I realize how many stupid things that I did and how I have hurt the Lord and after a good cry, I realize also that He knows, He understands and He forgives; so thankful to the Lord for everything;
I pray for healing for all those in need and I pray with thankfulness to the Lord God for His overwhelming love and kindness and care and understanding He has for His children, I also realized that God has a tremendous sense of humour,
God bless everyone
Amen Sah. so true
Amen Rob
Amen Rob
Thank you Lynda!
Wonderful scripture, comments and picture thank you Mainse family!!