His Mastery

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

 

Isaiah foretells of the descending of the Holy Spirit that rested on Jesus at His baptism. The Holy Spirit who proceeds from the throne of God brings 7 “aspects” with Him. Today we will talk about the fifth “aspect,”  that of “might.”

The idea of “might”  is that of one who masters. If there’s one thing that is superbly evident in the New Testament is the mastery of Jesus. His might was often on display in His mastery over the devil and his demons: Mr 1:27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."

His mastery over nature: Mt 8:27 So the men marveled, saying, "Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?"

 

His mastery over earthly elements: “He turned water into wine. Later He would turn water into mere pavement and walk on it!

 

Even His mastery over death! Joh 11:43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"

 

We may never walk on water like Peter, or see a miraculous calming of a storm, but as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will one day taste of His mastery over death. 1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 

Let the might of Christ be your comfort and solace in all you may face today! He is able!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFwmgeP6SVc

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Perfect Prudence

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

 

Isaiah foretells of the descending of the Holy Spirit that rested on Jesus at His baptism. The Holy Spirit who proceeds from the throne of God brings 7 “aspects” with Him. Today we will talk about the fourth “aspect,”  that of counsel.

 

The idea of counsel here is that of prudence. Imagine that! Prudence is all about timing, and the Holy Spirit brings perfect timing in the application of knowledge and wisdom. To quote that old theologian, “The Gambler,

” You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done.”

 

That’s prudence!

Being in perfect unison with the Father, Jesus often used the counsel, (prudence) of the Holy Spirit to move away from those plotting to kill Him:  Mt 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. 15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.  16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known,

 

Timing is everything. And Jesus had it, and used it perfectly. Joh 7:8 "You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come."

 Understand something about this short verse in John. We know that Jesus indeed went to the feast, He just didn’t go with His brothers. “I am NOT YET going up to this feast.” The timing wasn’t quite right. Something is missed if he goes with His brothers. He needed to delay for whatever reason. That’s how perfect the prudence of the Holy Spirit is.

 

I think we could all learn to lean on Him for the application of prudence in our own lives. Sometimes something can seem so right, but our timing is off. We either get ahead of God or miss it through delay.

 

We have the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside us, and HE has given us the Book of Proverbs to help us hone  the application of prudence in our lives.

 

There’s a Proverb for every day of the month (31 of them) I urge you to read one a day and see how the Holy Spirit will use them to help shape prudence in your life.

Pr 8:12 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Perfect Understanding

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

 

Isaiah foretells of the descending of the Holy Spirit that rested on Jesus at His baptism. The Holy Spirit who proceeds from the throne of God brings 7 “aspects” with Him. Today we will talk about the third “aspect,”  that of understanding.

 

Imagine that! Perfect understanding! That would’ve sure come in handy during algebra class. It would reduce story problems to child’s play! Try to think of it this way, the Holy Spirit understands all the problems in your story, and if you want them solved….go to the Holy Spirit! Lean on Him and His understanding!

How did the proverb put it? Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

 

Jesus in His humanity, relied on the Holy Spirit in every case where understanding was needed. He understood every human problem perfectly! Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

 

When tempted to sin, we can never say, “You don’t understand Jesus.” ….because He does….perfectly!

 

Perplexed? Puzzled? Turn to the only One who can shed light on the subject. Ask the Holy Spirit for His perfect understanding of your situation. God loves you and will give you the understanding you need, when you need it! Trust Him, wait on Him. He will deliver.

 

Isa 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,

 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

Perfect Wisdom

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

 

Isaiah foretells of the descending of the Holy Spirit that rested on Jesus at His baptism. The Holy Spirit who proceeds from the throne of God brings 7 “aspects” with Him. Today we will talk about the second aspect, that of wisdom.

That Jesus is the ultimate in wisdom, cannot be disputed. Jude 1:25 says, “To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

 

His wisdom was well noted when HE taught in the synagogues: Mr 6:2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!

 

And in practical ways as HE dealt with situations manufactured by His enemies in order to trap Him.  Remember the woman caught in the act of adultery and the wisdom in which Jesus handled it? "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." (Jn 8:7b)

Or the time they tried to trap Him on the matter of paying taxes?  “And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

 

Up to that time, Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, but he was not always wise. He made some dumb mistakes, not so with Jesus the Holy Spirit’s perfect wisdom was with Him always.

 

The good news is that as a baptized believer in the Lord Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit indwells you and His wisdom is available to you for the asking.

Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

 

Are you in a situation where you need wisdom from on high? Ask, seek, and knock, it will come to you.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

More On the Holy Spirit

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

 

Isaiah foretells of the descending of the Holy Spirit that rested on Jesus at His baptism. (a good reminder to us of the promised Holy Spirit coming to us at our baptism as well! Peter said in Ac 2:38 “Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 

Let’s talk about the Holy Spirit! In the Book of Revelation, the Holy Spirit is referred to as “the seven Spirits who are before the throne of God: Re 1:4 John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,

 

It’s not that there are seven Holy Spirits, but there are seven aspects of what He brings to the table from the throne of God. These seven “aspects” of the Spirit, are spelled out for us here in Isaiah. First and foremost, He is referred to as the “Spirit of the Lord.” The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity!

 

Ro 8:9-11 tells us:  But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

 

God, dwelling in His baptized believers! This is no small thing! 1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

 

He is in you! There to guide you, to lead you, to convict you of your sins and assure you of God’s forgiveness through faith in Jesus. Don’t ignore Him! Lean on Him at all times! Trust Him to speak to you through His written Word….the Bible.

Isa 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

 

Yes, do not grieve the Holy Spirit, rather learn to call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word

My Birthday Prayer

 

 

Almighty God, my Maker and Redeemer. I will praise you because 75 years and 9 months ago, you fearfully and wonderfully  crafted me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks for Your protection through the years. You have delivered me from all sorts of physical maladies and diseases. You kept me through the ordeal of a ruptured appendix, you spared me from a critical bout with Covid, and I don’t know the half of what you spared me from in the foolish days of my youth.

 

But You not only made me and kept me,  You redeemed me. You bought back my soul through the precious blood of Your only Son, Jesus Christ. Even when I played the prodigal, Jesus left the ninety nine for the one and He rescued me from the very precipice of hell!

 

I will praise You because You daily invite me to confess my sins and receive Your bountiful forgiveness through Your infinite mercy.

 

I will praise You for the gift of the Holy Spirit who resides in me and ever seeks to teach and counsel me, leading me to seek to do Your loving will, and helping me to be an ever thankful and obedient seeking son.

 

I pray that by Your grace You will continue to lead the way unto that day when I come into Your presence through Your gift of faith in Jesus Christ.

 

I pray that those who may read or hear this prayer, will be drawn unto You and with thankful hearts receive Your saving grace into their hearts, that they too may have the joy and peace of a new life in Christ.

 

In His name I pray, Amen

Seven Aspects of the Holy Spirit

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 11:2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

 

Isaiah began this chapter with the assertion that the Messiah would come from the root of Jesse. Having established His physical DNA, he moves on to the spiritual DNA of Jesus.

 

Here he lists seven identifying marks of the Holy Spirit. He is (1) the Spirit of the Lord. (2) The Spirit of Wisdom. (3) The Spirit of understanding. (4) The Spirit of counsel. (5) The Spirit of might. (6) the Spirit of knowledge (of the Lord) (7) The Spirit of the fear of the Lord.

 

This Spirit would rest on the offshoot of Jesse in all His fullness. Ever present with Him as God, ever wise, ever understanding, ever counseling, ever mighty, ever knowledgeable, and ever respectful of the Father’s will. (the fear of the Lord)

 

Of course the Father, used the occasion of the baptism of Jesus to affirm this settling of the Holy Spirit on Jesus to make it plain that this was “His Son in whom He is well pleased. In effect, He was saying, “this is what I was talking about through Isaiah in Isa 11:2,3!

 

Mt 3:16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting (resting) upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

 

So that’s one aspect of the Holy Spirit playing out in the life of Jesus, next time we will see how far we get looking at the others.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

The Branch

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 11:1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots

 

Isaiah continues with the analogy of trees. He has just likened the soon fall of Sennacherub and his armies to the destruction of the cedars of Lebanon. Here’s the thing about a cedar, when you take it down to the stump, it’s a goner. It doesn’t sprout any further growth. That’s how final and complete the destruction of the  devil and his forces will be!

 

Not so for the mighty oak! Cut an oak down to a stump and it will sprout. When Jesus arrived on the scene the mighty oak of the nation of Israel had been cut down to a mere stump.

 

They hadn’t heard from a prophet of the Lord for 400 years and were under the heavy hand of Rome. But look! A Rod, the Hebrew word literally means twig! A twig sprouts forth from the lineage of Jesse, who was the father of David.

 

A twig, kind of tough picturing Jesus as a mere twig isn’t it? Isa 53:2 describes Him this way: “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

 

But this twig will grow into an oak of righteousness and it will be given a name and that name is Branch. Zec 6:12 "Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD;

 A life giving Branch will grow out of what appeared to be dead stump of Jesse and He will build the new temple, the Body of Christ, the Church. “That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Isa 61:3)

 

Jesus is the Branch, the vine spoken of in Joh 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

 

Jesus is the Tree of Life. Abide in Him, bear fruit and live!

 

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

The Road To Jerusalem

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 10:28 He has come to Aiath, He has passed Migron; At Michmash he has attended to his equipment. 29 They have gone along the ridge, They have taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled. 30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish-O poor Anathoth! 31 Madmenah has fled, The inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge. 32 As yet he will remain at Nob that day; He will shake his fist at the mount of the daughter of Zion, The hill of Jerusalem. 33 Behold, the Lord, The LORD of hosts, Will lop off the bough with terror; Those of high stature will be hewn down, And the haughty will be humbled. 34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon will fall by the Mighty One.

 

In this incredible prophetic portion of Isaiah, he lays out the battle plan that the king of Assyria would follow to conquer Jerusalem. This was of the King of Assyria’s “Road to Jerusalem.”

 

He would attack from the north, conquering, Aiath, Migron and Michmash, (where he would lay up his heavy war machinery perhaps figuring that he really won’t need it)

 

He figured right because after he took Michmash, there was little opposition. Geba lodged his troops, Ramah was afraid, Gibeah fled, Gallim pleaded for help to no avail, Madmenah fled and the inhabitants of Gebum sought refuge.

 

He would get as far as Nob, about 2 and a half miles from Jerusalem and no farther. He could see it, but all he would be allowed to do by God, was shake his fist at the holy city.

 

The armies of King Sennacherub (senn ock’ car ib’) are likened to a forest as they stand with their spears pointing to the sky, but the Lord of hosts will bring them down to size, lopping off the prideful boughs with a holy terror. They and their pride will be hewn down and fallen. The army standing tall would be laid flat like a forest harvested of all its trees.

 

The holy terror came to Sennacherubs’ army in the form of the angel of the Lord, and 185,000 spear carrying soldiers experienced the terror of the Holy One before they died. The next day they were found in their camp lifeless, with their spears, strewn about like fallen trees.   

 

2Ki 19:35 tells us, “ And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses-all dead.

 

What an amazing prophecy. Think of the comfort for the people of Jerusalem who believed the word of the Lord spoken by Isaiah.

 

How does this account help you and I? Well think of Sennacherub and his legions as the devil and his demons. A certain night is coming on them as well. It’s called Judgment Day and their end, as well as those who in their pride and disbelief reject Christ, will be sudden and terrifying. They will beg for rocks to fall on them rather than face the holy gaze of Jesus.

 

Re 6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,  16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

It doesn’t have to end this way for you! Stay within the walls of Jerusalem! Believe the Word of God and remain under the protection of Christ through faith in Him.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Endure To the End

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 10:24 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: "O My people, who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall strike you with a rod and lift up his staff against you, in the manner of Egypt. 25 "For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will My anger in their destruction." 26 And the LORD of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb; as His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt. 27 It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.

 

Do not be afraid of the Assyrian My people. His day is coming. Remember, God is using the King of Assyria to chasten His people who have turned away from following Him, and when the chastening has done it’s work, and His people return to Him in repentance, God will do a number on the Assyrians and their blasphemous king!  Da 11:36 tells us: "Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.

 

This chastisement from God, will only last a short time in the grand scheme of things. (“His indignation will cease!”) Isa 54:7 reminds us: "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you”

 

And in Ps 30:5 “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

 

 The king of Assyria is meant to portray Satan, and right now, in these last days, Satan is furious! The Bible tells us in Re 12:12b, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time."

 

Know this beloved, you have the anointing oil of Jesus Christ to withstand the attacks of the evil one, and to lift his yoke off of your shoulders. Be confident that the devil’s havoc will be short-lived and his end will be swift and sudden.

It will be as swift as the Red Sea collapsing on the army of Pharaoh. As complete as the slaughter of the Midianites by Gideon at the Rock of Oreb.

 

Know this believe this! No matter what you are going through, God wins in the end! Therefore “do not be afraid of the Assyrian,” (the devil) and hear again the words of Jesus spoken in Mt 24:13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

Not By Works of Righteousness That We Have Done

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 10:20 And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God. 22 For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, A remnant of them will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts Will make a determined end In the midst of all the land.

 

Remnant – “a small remaining quantity of something.” In this case believers. Those who have put their hope solely on the “Holy One of Israel….Jesus. This is the litmus test of all believers…dependence on the Lord and nothing else for their salvation.  Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

 

The reality of the matter is that the remnant is indeed a “small quantity!  Jesus said in Mt 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

And in Mt 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Few find it, few understand that salvation is all God’s work! We are saved by grace through His gift of faith. Many either don’t believe in God, or if they do believe in God, they think He needs their help in saving them, or probably the biggest misconception of all is that God grants eternal life to all who think they are basically good people.

 

Let the record show here in Isaiah, that Israel’s reliance on foreign alliances for safety and security may seem like a good idea, (just like relying on our false perception that we are good people, and can get in without our reliance on Jesus ) but in the end, what they sought to rely on, will come back and bite them to their destruction.  It will be a testimony of self-dependence versus God dependence for our salvation.  And self-dependence always loses!

 

The remnant, the small remaining quantity of saved souls are those who in truth, depend on the Lord. (verse 20) Go all in with Jesus!

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

A Picture of Judgement Day

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 10:15 Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! 16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Will send leanness among his fat ones; And under his glory He will kindle a burning Like the burning of a fire. 17 So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, And his Holy One for a flame; It will burn and devour His thorns and his briers in one day. 18 And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, Both soul and body; And they will be as when a sick man wastes away. 19 Then the rest of the trees of his forest Will be so few in number That a child may write them.

 

The King of Assyria has been boasting about all of his conquering, oblivious to the fact that he was being used by God to carry out judgment against God’s  people….Israel. The king was like an axe saying to the woodsman, “you are nothing.” But without the woodsman, the axe just lays on the ground useless. I read one commentator who likened such arrogance to a fly on a wagon wheel, musing, “look at all the dust I am making!”

God will use the king of Assyria as long as He needs to carry out His will, but when He is through with him, the king will pay for his arrogance. The king has no idea whom he is dealing with!

 

The Lord of hosts, the Light of Israel (God) will send ill health (leanness) upon the Assyrians. He will kindle a raging destruction likened to a firestorm. The barb wire used for defensive purposes in battle, (thorns and briars) will be of no use against the judgment of the Lord of Hosts.! ; It will burn and devour His thorns and his briers in one day

 

The recent tragic fire in Colorado is a picture of the suddenness and completeness of the judgment of God against Assyria. When all is said and done, so few trees left standing that a child could count them!

When we saw the news reports, we were all stunned by the suddenness of the Colorado fire and the complete devastation. It was a literal hell on earth for those who were caught up in it.

 

This is what we must learn about God’s final judgment. It will be sudden, swift,  and utterly complete. And the only way to escape it is through God-granted faith in Jesus. To play with the judgment of God is to play with fire of the everlasting kind. Learn from this picture painted for us today from Isaiah.

Jesus reminded us in Mt 10:28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

 

Haughtiness

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 10:12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks." 13 For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. 14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, Nor opened his mouth with even a peep."

 

I love the word pictures that the prophets often used. Here Isaiah speaks of the pride of the King of Assyria. So proud that he boasted of lifting the treasures from his conquered nations and compared it to taking eggs from the nest of a brooding chicken. And the chicken (the nations) neither moved a wing or made a peep in protest. Oh yeah, this king was powerful and gave himself all the glory!

 

Well God has a word for this arrogant king and any and all others who lift themselves up above God as if all their accomplishments are their own doing. He says, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart, and the glory of his haughty looks!” He won’t be beaming so much when all he has left is a basket of rotting fruit and eggs.

 

Pr 21:4 tells us: A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.

And in Jas 4:6 , we read "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

Whenever you catch yourself believing your own press clippings remember the words of  Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

What will you bring to God on Judgment Day, a basket of rotten eggs, or the fragrance of a soul filled with Jesus? Boast in Jesus, He is all we have to brag about.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

God's In Charge

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 10:5 "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation. 6 I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7 Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations. 8 For he says, 'Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus? 10 As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria, 11 As I have done to Samaria and her idols, Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and her idols?'"

 

Hey Assyria! You are being played! And you are being played by the King of the universe, God Almighty! He has decided to discipline His church and other nations and he is using you to carry out the job. It’s not that you are more special, but rather more convenient for God to use you to carry out His plans.

 

Any conquering you have done or will done is only because God has ordained it, and woe! He will take care of you after His purpose has been fulfilled.

 

When we will ever understand the sovereignty of God in human government and receive the peace that comes with that knowledge?  Ps 22:28  tells us: For the kingdom is the LORD'S, And He rules over the nations.

And Daniel tells us in Da 2:20, "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

Believe it! Rest in it! God’s got this! Always has always will! Even if we don’t see it, He’s always in charge. For our part let us be like Daniel who submitted himself to the governing authorities unless they demanded that He do something contrary to the Word of God! In the midst of horrific persecution Peter was able to write: “ Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,  14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. (1 Pet 2:13,14)

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

 

A Heart For the Poor

 

 

Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 10:1 "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed  2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless 3 What will you do in the day of punishment, And in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? 4 Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain." For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

 

This is about money isn’t it? Note some of the words used in verses 1 and 2: “Misfortune, rob, take, rob (again) Rewriting or ignoring God’s Word for the sake of lining  pockets will bring the wrath of God down on His church and a nation. (Woe!)

 

What will you do when the wrath of God falls? “To whom will you flee for help?” Will you turn to your bank account for relief? Ps 62:10 says, “Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them. And,

Pr 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage. And,

Ps 52:6 The righteous also shall see and fear, And shall laugh at him, saying, 7 "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."And,

Pr 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

 

Anyone who reads the Bible knows that God has a special place in His heart for the needy, the poor, the widow and the fatherless. If we call ourselves God’s children should we not also have His heart?

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.

 Good day! I’m Duane Matz and this is Today’s Living Word:

 

Isa 10:1 "Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed  2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that they may rob the fatherless.

 

“Woe!” Grief to those who decree unrighteous decrees. Grief comes to us in many forms doesn’t it? Mostly from the loss of loved ones, or loved things. Here we see that it will come to those who rewrite the laws of God concerning justice for the needy, treatment of the poor, widows, and the fatherless.

 

Knowing that “judgment begins in the house of God,” (1 Pet 4:17,) and according to  Isa 10:12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work (read that corrective punishment) on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, (His church)  that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks."

 

First the church, then the civil government.

 

So we in the church need to ask ourselves, are we rewriting or ignoring God’s laws concerning treatment of the less fortunate?

It certainly was a problem in the church during Jesus’ time on earth and He confronted the leaders on it! In Mt 15:3-6 we read, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?  4 "For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5 "But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God" -- 6 'then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.

 

And in  Mr 12:38-40, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces,  39 "the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 "who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

 

So we in the church need to take a continual long and hard look at our treatment of the needy, widows, and orphans in our midst. Do we wink at the sins of the wealthy and ignore the needs of the poor? Do we stay away from controversial topics like abortion for fear of uprooting the money tree? If so, we have a problem, and if not corrected…..woe is on the way.

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.