Bible Study - Heart of Worship (1) - Focus of Our Worship - Isaiah 40:21-31 - January 12, 2025

 

Bible Study – Heart of Worship (1) – Focus of Our Worship - Isaiah 40:21-31 – January 12, 2025

Only the One True GOD deserves our worship.

Our focus scripture is Isaiah 40:21-31.

Let’s explore!

Why am I, a person, upon earth?

The Apostle Paul gives us a clue in Ephesians 1:3-14:

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons (and Daughters) through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One (JESUS).

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

¹³ In him (Faith in JESUS) you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

The Apostle Paul was looking back to the life, crucifixion, death, resurrection, ascension of JESUS into Heaven and what it means to all people who place their faith in JESUS.

We must keep in mind that Paul before his conversion on the road to Damascus had studied the scriptures under the Jewish teacher Gamaliel. Paul knew the scripture and experienced its fulfilment through his encounter with JESUS on the road to Damascus.

Now we turn to GOD’S message to the Jews and all others who were interested in building a relationship with the One True GOD of the Universe through the message of Isaiah – look around and consider where did you come from, why are you upon earth and where are you going when you die? This is the same question all of us face today.

Let’s read Isaiah 40:21-24:

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been declared to you
from the beginning?
Have you not considered
the foundations of the earth?
²² God is enthroned above the circle of the earth;
its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
²³ He reduces princes to nothing
and makes judges of the earth like a wasteland.
²⁴ They are barely planted, barely sown,
their stem hardly takes root in the ground
when he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind carries them away like stubble.

The Good News is that we who are alive today have more information than those of Isaiah’s day had about the same universe. Plus, the passion of JESUS has taken place, and GOD has sent The Holy Spirit to indwell all who place their faith in JESUS. As we study this scripture, it confirms the truth we have heard. It is true today in the day Isaiah wrote the words as inspired by GOD.

Let’s read Isaiah 40:25-28:

²⁵ “To whom will you compare me,
or who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.
²⁶ Look up and see!
Who created these?
He brings out the stars by number;
he calls all of them by name.
Because of his great power and strength,
not one of them is missing.

²⁷ Jacob, why do you say,
and Israel, why do you assert,
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my claim is ignored by my God”?
²⁸ Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the whole earth.
He never becomes faint or weary;
there is no limit to his understanding.

GOD inspired the Prophet Isaiah to get us, as humans, to think. Look around and behold what you see. The earth, the sky, the moon, sun, and the stars. Who do you think placed them in the sky and who placed you upon earth? The ONE TRUE GOD placed them in the sky, and HE placed you upon earth. Therefore, place your faith in the ONE TRUE GOD, YAHWEH (YHWH) then and JESUS since the passion of JESUS.

The Apostle Paul reveals to us in Ephesians 1:3-14: God’s Rich Blessings

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^[d] 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the right time^[e]—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[f] because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory.

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

.

Let’s read Isaiah 40:29-31:

²⁹ He gives strength to the faint
and strengthens the powerless.
³⁰ Youths may become faint and weary,
and young men stumble and fall,
³¹ but those who trust in the Lord
will renew their strength;
they will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not become weary,
they will walk and not faint.

As Spirit-born Christians, we are sealed by and confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is an eternal seal confirmed by the shed blood of JESUS and HIS resurrection and bodily ascension into Heaven. JESUS took HIS seat at the right-hand of GOD HIS and our FATHER.

JESUS is working in our behalf in the Heavenly court and waiting for HIS and the FATHER of all who place their faith in JESUS to respond when GOD gives permission for JESUS to return to earth and rapture (remove) all Spirit-born Christians from earth.

My prayer is for all who are prompted by this invitation to do so by asking JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your life now. If you prayed this prayer or something similar, then thank JESUS for saving you and for HIM coming into your heart, as evidenced by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

When the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, HE brings gifts to confirm HIS presence. Ask GOD to reveal your gift or gifts to you and use your gift or gifts as The Holy Spirit leads and guides you.

 

I Was led to come back to Isaiah 40:21:

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been declared to you
from the beginning?
Have you not considered
the foundations of the earth?

GOD is urging all people to pause and look around. What do we see?

We on the east coast are still digging out of the ravages of Hurricane Helene. Hawaii has faced destructive fires, and the West Coast of the USA is witnessing destructive fires. There are earthquakes.

Former President Jimmy Carter is being eulogized on National and world media.

Are these events coincidental or by design to get the attention of the people of the world?

JESUS CHRIST is being lifted up not only in the United States but globally.

Consider what is being revealed. These things are to get our attention and to get our relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS in order. Whether JESUS returns to earth in HIS second coming or we die, the message of GOD and JESUS is to get the people of earth to take the step of faith that guarantees every person who does eternal life. Place your faith in JESUS by asking HIM to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart and redeem you from the consequence of your sin, which is eternal death. Doing so, makes you a “born-again” or Spirit-born believer and an eternal child of GOD.

Welcome. As a newborn, you need Spiritual nourishment – read and study GOD’S Word, The Bible. You might study the Gospel of John. You need to communicate with GOD by speaking to HIM or prayer. Through the miracle of Spiritual birth, you are now GOD’S Child, and you can call GOD, FATHER and JESUS is your brother, who gave HIS life for you.

Blessings!!!