Bible Study - Looking Forward (1) - Hope - Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 - December 1,2024

 Bible Study – Looking Forward (1) – Hope – Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11 – December 1, 2024 

We have sure hope because JESUS willingly came to us.  

To me, it is so amazing that JESUS willingly left HIS home in Heaven to come to earth to be born of the Virgin Mary, to be 100% human, yet 100% GOD. JESUS was tempted in all ways humans are tempted, yet HE remained sinless. Why?  

Because HE had to be the perfect acceptable blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of all people.  

Why a blood sacrifice? Hebrews 9:22 - 22 According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 

GOD established the Law. The Law was and is rigid. 

Why did GOD send HIS only Son, JESUS, to earth to live a 100% human life? 

What spiritual light does our selected scripture shine upon the coming of JESUS, the promised Messiah? 

Let’s explore!!! 

During this time of the year, most churches celebrate Advent. 

What is Advent?  

Advent is the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. 

In Christianity there are two Advents (1) The arrival of the promised Messiah, JESUS, which took place 2024 years ago and the second Advent is the return or second coming of JESUS.  

The Biblical prophecies regarding the coming of JESUS are over 900. 

JESUS, GOD’S Only SON, willingly came to earth. HIS human mother was the Virgin Mary and HIS FATHER was GOD. JESUS was 100% human, yet GOD. HE was tempted in all ways as humans are tempted but HE did not sin. If HE cut HIS finger, HE bled or banged HIS toe it hurt.  

JESUS was tempted in all ways as humans are tempted. JESUS was fully capable of sinning, yet HE chose to remain sinless to be the only perfect acceptable sacrifice to HIS FATHER, GOD, to atone for all sin for all who place their faith in HIM and HIS Passion.  

The first human, Adam, sinned and in doing so thwarted GOD’S plan for the human race to have eternal life upon earth. Since Eve was the first to eat the forbidden fruit, why didn’t Adam speak up? GOD had placed Adam in charge of the Garden of Eden, and he was responsible for what took place in the Garden.  

GOD had a back-up plan thus the need for the second Adam, JESUS. GOD’S only SON. GOD did not make human robots but humans free to think and act. GOD is all knowing; therefore, GOD knew what would take place.  

This reveals to all people that GOD does not dictate our choices in life, but HE does give all of us a choice, eternal life, or eternal death. 

The first coming of JESUS, JESUS came to earth 100% human, yet GOD. As a human, HIS physical life had to be sinless. HE was tempted in all ways as humans are tempted, yet HE remained sinless. HE was able to call Angels to rescue HIM at any moment, but HE remained faithful to HIS calling. HE willingly gave up HIS physical life upon the cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb and GOD resurrected HIM to eternal life on the third day. JESUS is the first fruit of the new dispensation for all people who place their faith in JESUS. Eternal life regained through faith in JESUS. 

Spiritual birth through faith in JESUS prepares us for the second coming of JESUS. All who have placed their faith in JESUS and are alive at the second Advent of CHRIST, will be raptured or taken from earth into the sky to meet JESUS in the air.  

You may want to refer to last week’s lesson. 

The first Advent has taken place and all who have been Spirit-born through faith in JESUS and are alive are eagerly waiting for the second Advent which is the rapture of Spirit-born Christians and the true church.  

Dr. David Jerimiah calls it the great disappearance. All Spirit-born Christians will be taken up to meet JESUS in the air and taken into Heaven. It will be like the ascension of JESUS after HIS resurrection. That is why a person must be born of the Holy Spirit. Because it is the Spirit-born, born-again body that will be taken up into Heaven with JESUS. This is the second Advent of JESUS and there are 1,845 references in the Bible to this second Advent according to Dr. Jerimiah.  

Our lesson focuses upon the first Advent when GOD fulfilled HIS promise to send The Messiah, JESUS, to remove the stone of sin that blocks the way to salvation. JESUS is the only way to eternal life, through faith in JESUS.  

Have you accepted JESUS as your Savior and asked HIM to forgive you for your sins and come into your heart? If not, right now is that opportunity.  

Dear JESUS, I believe YOU gave YOUR sinless life to atone for ALL OF MY SINS and I ask YOU to come into my heart (the core of my being/eyes of my heart) for me to be born Spiritually into YOUR eternal family. Thank YOU, JESUS, for the gift of Spiritual birth and eternal life. 

If you prayed that prayer, you are now a baby in CHRIST, and you must take Spiritual nourishment to feed your newborn self. You need to read GOD’S Word, The Bible, talk to GOD and JESUS through prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, teach and direct you. You are in for an awesome journey as you walk in faith as a Spirit-born Christian. Prayers and Blessings for you as you walk. 

Let’s explore the journey toward the first Advent through Prophet Isaiah.  

The Jewish people and their prophets had been waiting a long time for the Advent or coming of the promised Messiah. The time was drawing close, there was excitement in the hearts of the Jews. The time you have been waiting for is now about to take place. Rejoice!!! 

Since earthly Kings had ruled them, some were looking for the ideal earthly King. Satan attempts to distort GOD’S Word. Keep in mind that Satan appears as an angel of light, therefore seek truth as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit and GOD’S Word. 

The Prophet Isaiah announced that a new day was coming to Jerusalem.  

Chapter 40 sheds light on the fulfillment of GOD’S promises after their exile. Their Babylonian exile is over, and Israel’s sin has been dealt with. The Israelites should return to Jerusalem because there is going to be a new day in the lives of all people, especially the Jews, the True King, JESUS, is coming.  

Isaiah 40 is the turning point. GOD was ushering in a new day moving from judgement and wrath to loving kindness and grace.  

Let’s read Isaiah 40:1-11: 

“Comfort, comfort my people,” 
says your God. 
2 “Speak tenderly to[a] Jerusalem, 
and announce to her 
that her time of hard service is over, 
her iniquity has been pardoned, 
and she has received from the Lord’s hand 
double for all her sins.” 

The law was a placeholder until the true forgiveness for sin could be atoned for by the shedding of the blood of JESUS and establishing GOD’S Grace. The proof is the resurrection of JESUS from the physically dead. HE fulfilled and conquered the Law. 

GOD’s Word reveals to us that stubbornness is like witchcraft and the Jews could be stubborn and some are still stubborn. To GOD be the Glory there are Messianic Jews who place their faith in JESUS as their Savior and LORD. A precious lady I worked with in Washington is a Messianic Jew and my wife and I had the joy of attending their service. Great worship, wonderful music, fellowship, and food, yum. 

The legal system loves itself. It is stern and does not bend unless a judge overrules it. It is the law, but a new day is coming. That new day will be marked with grace for all who place their faith in JESUS. 

3 A voice of one crying out: 

Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness; 
make a straight highway for our God in the desert. 
4 Every valley will be lifted up, 
and every mountain and hill will be leveled; 
the uneven ground will become smooth 
and the rough places, a plain. 
5 And the glory of the Lord will appear, 
and all humanity[b] together will see it, 
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 

(John the Baptist stated that he was a voice crying in the wilderness for people to repent. He was the Herald or forerunner for JESUS announcing that The Messiah had come.)  

6 A voice was saying, “Cry out!” 
Another said,[c] “What should I cry out?” 
“All humanity is grass, 
and all its goodness is like the flower of the field. 
7 The grass withers, the flowers fade 
when the breath[d] of the Lord blows on them;[e] 
indeed, the people are grass. 
8 The grass withers, the flowers fade, 
but the word of our God remains forever.” 

(When we look at life from a human point, you see hopelessness but read, study and trust GOD’S Word because you will see hope. Take the lid off of what you already know, rejoice, and tell others the Good News because a new dispensation is unfolding. It is the beginning of the coming/Advent of the promised Messiah.) 

9 Zion, herald of good news, 
go up on a high mountain. 
Jerusalem, herald of good news, 
raise your voice loudly. 
Raise it, do not be afraid! 
Say to the cities of Judah, 
“Here is your God!” 
10 See, the Lord God comes with strength, 
and his power establishes his rule. 
His wages are with him, 
and his reward accompanies him. 

(The promised Messiah will reveal through HIS life marvelous power that will document that HE is the ONE and ONLY Messiah. Pause and consider all that JESUS did that only GOD could have done – cast out demons and evil spirits, healing the sick, raise the dead back to life, feed a multitude with little and so much more. Wages are plural and vary as we grow in our knowledge of JESUS as revealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Wages are earned through obedience and application and grow as those Spirit-born are obedient to GOD’S call to serve. The Messiah holds all the Gifts of the Spirit to be released as those who are born of the Holy Spirit work in GOD’S vineyard/earth.) 

 
11 He protects his flock like a shepherd; 
he gathers the lambs in his arms 
and carries them in the fold of his garment. 
He gently leads those that are nursing. 

(The Messiah is powerful, yet gentle. HE protects the sheep of HIS pasture and is patient with them until they grow up. What a beautiful picture of JESUS because we have the fulfilment of this prophecy. We have the Bible that reveals to us in the Old Testament and the New Testament GOD and JESUS, the promised Messiah on an ever-ascending scale. GOD gives all who ask JESUS into their hearts the Holy Spirit, WHO is the Spirit-born person’s guarantee and assurance of eternal life. GOD gives Spiritual Gifts to those who are Spirit-born.) 

So, what awaits those who are Spirit-born?  

An awesome journey with GOD and JESUS culminating with the words penned by The Apostle Paul as recorded in 1 Corinthians 2:9: 

9 But as it is written, 

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, 
and no human heart has conceived— 
God has prepared these things for those who love him.[c] 

JESUS has come, and gave HIS physical life upon the cross. GOD raised HIM from the physically dead to take HIS seat in Heaven at the right-hand of GOD, HIS FATHER. The first Advent is complete. 

The second Advent is getting closer with every passing day. Are you ready for the second Advent? 

Blessings!!!