PIC: Children-at-play. Darrell Creswell
Let’s examine Isaiah 30:15-18.
Go to God …like a child Matthew 19:14…for Salvation and strength
Option: Skip to the full Isaiah text below
or Read Isaiah 30:15-18 at BibleGateway.com
God asks us to go to Him. As in the Old Testament, many nowadays need to return to Him. In Isaiah we read that He is waiting to act, wanting to be compassionate.
18 Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
[d]For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].
If we go to God in prayer He will be gracious, and He will be loving (“have compassion on you”). As they say, “Just do it.” I’m always glad when I do. No matter the issue…God wants to graciously answer. So, I go there.
Going to God
– See all references in one link or singly: Acts 20:32, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Corinthians 10:14, Acts 20:32, 1 Thessalonians 3:7, James 4:4, Acts 4:33, Matthew 11:28.
Every day, I go to God, my Savior – because He alone gives me rest and strength. I make it a point to start my day with Him – before a good cup a’ Joe… and as I sip my coffee.
He gives me strength to get through whatever is ahead! He hears me and wants me to approach Him with sincere and honest prayer. How great is that!?
God wants to be gracious to us vs18. He is all that – the most loving, the most gracious.
It’s easy to rush off to start the day and fail to connect with Him. However, to live for Him we must go to Him daily and rest in Him vs15. I must go to Him like a child, with faith and humility Luke 18:17 & Matthew 19:14.
Jesus saved me. So now, throughout my day — I go to God for His strength for living. He is my refuge and strength, my strong tower Psalm 18:2.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]”
Our strength in life is found in God through “quietness and confident trust” in Him.
Isaiah 30:15
“…In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved,
In quietness and confident trust is your strength….”
Excerpt from: Before a good cup a Joe
Me – getting up another day, praying…
PIC: Coach Kennedy praying…fired for his faith. ACLJ.org
I don’t do frenetic. I don’t do worry. I don’t let it in.
I don’t start my day all out of kilter thesaurus.com: “out of kilter” means: out of whack, gone to pieces, on the fritz, screwed-up.
I refuse to stumble into my day. In the morning when my mind wakes up, before I get up, that’s the time I start my attitude.
Before a good cup ‘a Joe, hear music while you read I pray. I think a few thoughts – to my Father God. Not a long prayer, not a lot of words (It’s 5am!) – just a few to set my mind on High.
Practice repentance
I go to God with what’s on my mind, with the weight on my heart. No one else is going to do this. I must, myself, take care of myself. So I go to Him.
Set your mind
I “set my mind”
See all references in one link or singly:
Colossians 3:2, Colossians 3:15, 1 Peter 1:15, Mark 8:33, Romans 6:13
Isaiah 30:15-18 AMP
This is the full text:
15 For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel has said this,
“In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved,
In quietness and confident trust is your strength.”
But you were not willing,
16
And you said, “No! We will flee on horses!”
Therefore you will flee [from your enemies]!
And [you said], “We will ride on swift horses!”
Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift.
17
A thousand of you will flee at the threat of one man;
You will flee at the threat of five,
Until you are left like a flag on the top of a mountain,
And like a signal on a hill.
God Is Gracious and Just
18
Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
[d]For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].
FOR MORE:
When do you go to God? Of course, the first time – go for His Salvation. And then every day – go to God for His strength.
__________
Receive The Kingdom like a child
Luke 18:17 AMP
“…whoever
does not receive
the kingdom of God
[with faith and humility]
like a child
will not enter it at all.”
– Said by: Jesus Messiah
God – The Holy Spirit…His Spirit fills me Excerpt: As born-again believers, followers of Christ… we have God Himself in us. The Holy Spirit, God in the form of a Spirit, was promised by Jesus as he left the earth after His resurrection from the dead. What does the Bible say about this?… He indwells us at all times. He will never leave us, nor forsake us….
The Gift by His undeserved grace Excerpt: God is asking you to repent. Accept Him and be born again, be made brand new inside. When it comes to repentance for salvation – Jesus is all inclusive. He will accept any truly repentant sinner of any vile stripe. You name it, He will forgive. But His is a limited grace. Don’t try to squeeze-by in His courts of justice.
The Holy Spirit only resides in true believers Excerpt: Why do I write about this so much? I am extremely concerned for the millions who are being misled into apostasy. Instead of coming to the knowledge of salvation in Jesus, they are flocking to a belief in a false christianity – a faith that does not – save.
“…even now many antichrists (false teachers) have appeared, which confirms our belief that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us [seeming at first to be Christians], but they were not really of us [because they were not truly born again and spiritually transformed]….”
– 1 John 2:18-19
He is my refuge and strength – Psalm 46:1 KJV
Psalm 18:2 – my strong tower
When difficult times assail us
Stand strong Excerpt: I hate to fail. Obviously. Who set’s out to fail?! The same with failing God – sinning. I hate to sin. I don’t consciously set-out to sin….
I have failed – way too much. It is really ridiculous! I won’t count the ways, but — How can this happen? Scripture shows me exactly what it is that God Himself calls sin (“failure” to obey His Ways). I know exactly what it is. So why do I go there!? FOR MORE, read: Sin Defined
Sin Defined Excerpt: Sin is an awful thing. The word for sin in the Greek is Harmatia and means “to miss the mark”. It was taken from a military expression of trying to hit the bull’s eye but missing it. Because it is so powerful, we can become a slave to it (John 8:34). It will control us (Romans 5:12). Sin can be defined as something that is contrary to God’s nature and character. It is his opposite.
Yes I can – I can stand strong Excerpt: We most definitely CAN – God says through the Apostle Paul: I can.
I can stand strong, strong enough to “[successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-18…verse 11).
The Spirit enables us. So I say… bring it on!
“God is my refuge and strength,
an ever present help
in times of trouble.”
– Psalm 46:1
Prayer with God? I just don’t get it
God’s wonderful blend of dynamic power, immense love, divine forces, and human transcendence…He is mighty and powerful
Yes I can – I can stand strong
Can you really see what is going on in the world? Excerpt: Perilous times are here
With the direction the world is going – we really need to be ready to meet the Lord. You think?
Self talk prayer…I think a few thoughts in coversation with God
Make Self Talk… God Talk. It goes on and on and on
Conversations with God…Do you share with God? Excerpt:
Self-talk can be God-talk. All that self-talk we all engage our minds in throughout the day? “Talk it” to God.
You can direct all your self-talk to God as prayer. You can have intimate conversations with God in the privacy of your inner self. That is just so totally awesome!
Pairing with God – an easy morning prayer to start it right
Before a good cup a Joe Excerpt: In the morning when my mind wakes up, before I get up, that’s the time I start my attitude. Before a good cup ‘a Joe, hear music while you read I pray.
When I pray I always want to have no sin Excerpt:
…I ask His most Holy Loving Spirit
search me show me cleanse me
keep me in the Way Everlasting….
God hears us and wants us to approach Him with sincere and honest prayer
Forgive me Oh Lord for I know I have sinned Excerpt: Do you share with God your failures, your sins, what you need from Him? More than I know “I am short of holy“. So I pray about it.
Forgive me Lord
for I have sinned 1
I have fallen short 2
I have not been a rock
I have snapped like a twig
I need your grace
It may be that I have offended God – so I have ineffective prayers and am wimpy
What makes your prayers effective
My simple frequent practice of repentance…I practice repentance. I make a point of it
Only my God Jesus makes me perfect in this moment…through repentance I am perfect in Christ
Sinners versus “living in sin”
Sin Defined Excerpt:
Sin is an awful thing. The word for sin in the Greek is Harmatia and means “to miss the mark”. It was taken from a military expression of trying to hit the bull’s eye but missing it. Because it is so powerful, we can become a slave to it (John 8:34). It will control us (Romans 5:12). Sin can be defined as something that is contrary to God’s nature and character. It is his opposite.
Pick a Sin – Any Sin Excerpt:
Scripture mentions “the sin which so easily entangles us” (- Hebrews 12:verse 1). What is yours? I do not want to be like drunk people, like a dog, like a pig… Isaiah 19:14; Proverbs 26:11; 2 Peter 2:22.
God takes care of sinners Excerpt:
We all sin. The allurements of the enemies of our soul entrap us with sin, saying, go that way. The message of Christ says, repent, turn this way. “I am the way, the truth, and the life….” We struggle not to sin. So, what kind of sinner are you?
God forgives sin by His Holy Holy Justice Excerpt:
What do you know about God, the most holy in the universe? Our Holy Holy Holy God was (and is) so opposed to anything not holy – that He volunteered to die in order to be able to save us all – you and me. THAT is truly the biggest Wonder of the Universe. God came to earth as a man, Jesus! His holy system of justice demanded holy justice. So He Himself went to the cross.
Playing With Sin Excerpt:
Sinners who accept sin, who conform themselves to their flesh – in whatever form, remain under condemnation still. If you struggle with sin, that means you are not accepting of it. You are rejecting sin but finding your flesh overwhelming. Born-again followers do that. There is a difference between being a sinner – versus living in sin. All born-again believers are sinners, but they have rejected sin by turning to Christ. They have been freed by God – from condemnation.
Keeping Sin Excerpt:
The little verse of Psalm 66:18 teaches us a whole lot about God – and prayer. Just in this tiny verse we see: “If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear.” I am born again, and God has forgiven me of all my sins. However, on any given day or moment, if I come to Him in prayer AND am holding a sin, so to speak, or allowing a sin to have a place in my life — then, the Bible tells me: God will not give heed to what I say.
God forgives sin by His Holy Holy Justice
Receiving the forgiveness of God through Jesus the Messiah
Specific Salvation Parameters to get saved
Specific Salvation Parameters Jesus absolutely requires…of all
Salvation is a God thing Excerpt: Salvation is not what you make of it. Getting right with God is something only God does. He has particular expectations. Salvation comes from Jesus.
Imagine what being saved has meant to you…God has forgiven me of all my sins – all of it!
All is forgiven forever Excerpt:
Are you “hidden with Christ in God”? Colossians 3:3 Some day when you sin “too much”, will God renege on His promise to save you forever – and make you “unhidden”? Not a chance. Scripture tells us all about salvation.
Legally Damned – Legally Forgiven
What being “saved” means…Jesus saved me. Excerpt: Pray to Jesus
The good news is that, no matter how evil we may have been, or how vile we are now, God provides each of us the privilege of prayer. We can beam up our voice to Him, so to speak.
Any dirty rotten sinner (or deceived “Karen” who thinks she’s empowered) can pray directly to God. No priest needed! I did. Jesus saved me.
Whosoever will may come…That means: Any dirty rotten sinner can get saved Excerpt:
Any and all may come to Jesus for salvation. God is not just calling some. God is calling all people to repent and follow Jesus. From there we continue our journey with “all the privileges and rewards of a new life with Him”.
Whosoever
Jesus said, “Whosoever will – may come”. Here are the “whosoever” passages.
See all 17 references in one link
or individually: Matthew 7:24, Matthew 10:32-33, Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:34-35, Mark 8:38, Mark 10:15, Luke 9:24, Luke 9:26, Luke 14:27, Luke 14:33, John 3:14-16, John 11:26, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13, Romans 13:2, James 4:4, Revelation 22:17.
Better is thinking with God’s Word
The one-off offer Jesus makes to everyone
There is a broad road that says heaven but goes to hell
Flesh and blood absolutely cannot inherit the Kingdom of God
When it comes to God, who wants mere opinions?
Footnotes
- Luke 15:11-32 – verse 18. The Prodigal Son. Excerpt: I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight.”
- Isaiah 53:6. All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing] To fall on Him instead of us.
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