Today in the Word June 15-21
Today in The Word
Monday June 15, 2020
In Acts 8 a wealthy, Ethiopian government official of Queen Candace is reading Isaiah 53, and asks a Christ-follower named Philip who Isaiah is talking about (Acts 8:26-35). Verse 36 states:
“Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”
Can the gospel be told from Isaiah’s prophecy in 53? First, Isaiah 53:7-9 states:
“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away…though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”
The passage states that Jesus was executed unfairly. He could have defended himself, but he chose not to. Jealous and frightened men put him to death. Jesus was not a criminal, and not deserving of any punishment, much less crucifixion. The first point of the gospel in Isaiah 53 is that Jesus submitted to an unfair execution for a higher purpose. He went to the cross to fulfill God’s great plan to rescue humanity.
And that’s The Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday June 16, 2020
Can the essential gospel be told from the prophecy of Isaiah in chapter 53? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. The first verse states:
“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
John 12:37-38 explains 7 centuries later:
“Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
“Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?””
Jesus performed many miracles that brought healing to broken bodies and freedom from spiritual bondage, yet many in his day refused to believe he was the Messiah God sent.
And the same is true today. The gospel calls to us to believe in Jesus. The gospel challenges us to put our trust in God’s Son Jesus, and calls us to trust in him on the basis of the great miracles God did through him.
God sent a message to humanity through his son Jesus. Will we believe in him or not?
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday June 17, 2020
Can the essential gospel be told from the prophecy of Isaiah in chapter 53? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. The fifth verse states:
“…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
7 centuries later, Peter follows this passage up in I Peter 2:24:
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.””
Jesus’ death on the cross bore our sins. His torture and death paid the penalty that we owe for all the things we have done wrong. He sacrificed himself for all of us. We could not fix our sin problem, but he did. When we accept that he stood in our place on the cross, ‘by his wounds we are healed.’
The gospel calls us to believe that on the cross, Jesus bore our sins.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly. Join our Wednesday adult Bible Study at 6:30 for more of the Word.
Today in the Word
Thursday June 18, 2020
Do you feel like a black sheep? We have been asking this week if the essential gospel be told from the prophecy of Isaiah in chapter 53? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. The sixth verse states:
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Peter follows this up in the time of the early church in I Peter 2:25:
“For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
We as humans have a tendency to wander and get lost. The gospel carries the bad news that we are all strays. But it also carries the good news that Jesus is looking for us to come into the fold. Jesus is the Shepherd of our souls. He has taken upon himself our iniquity. He can remove the penalty of our past bad choices and can get us back on the good path again.
And that is the Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday June 19, 2020
Is the death of Jesus the whole gospel story? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Isaiah 53 describes the heart of the gospel: Verse 11 states:
After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many…”
Paul explains 7 centuries later in Romans 4:24-25:
“…for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”
In Jesus’ death he bears our sin, but that is not the end of the gospel story. Jesus was resurrected from the dead. He was ‘raised to life for our justification.’ Jesus’ death handles our past sin, and his resurrection offers us a future in relationship with him. Jesus isn’t in the tomb; he can live right inside us helping us day by day.
Without the resurrection of Jesus, the gospel is just a history lesson. But it is much more. It is a relationship with the very One who loves us so much he sacrificed his life—for a time—on the cross.
And that’s the Word. You can enjoy more of the Word this Sunday at 10:30 at Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Monday April 20, 2020
How can Jesus help us in our day-to-day life? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Isaiah 53 describes the heart of the gospel: Verse 12 states:
” …he…was numbered with the transgressors; For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Paul tells the church in Romans 8:34-35:
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ...”?
We are transgressors. We often get it wrong. But the resurrected Jesus is not only alive but he is interceding on our behalf in heaven itself. We have the best legal representation possible. He is not arguing that we made no mistakes, rather he is claiming before God that he has already paid the penalty for our transgressions.
An interceding Jesus is the best possible day-to-day help we could ever hope for.
And that’s The Word from Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday April 21, 2020
Can the essential points of the gospel be found in Isaiah 53? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Philip explained the gospel to an Ethiopian politician in Acts 8:26-39. What could he have found in that prophecy?
Verses 7-9 connected to I Peter 2:22-23 explain that Jesus submitted to an unfair execution even though he could have defended himself. Verse 1 connected with John 12:37-38 points out that Jesus verified he was from God by his many miracles, but we are challenged to believe in him. Verse 5 connected to I Peter 2:24 explains that Jesus’ death bore the penalty for our sins. While verses 11 and 12 connected to Romans 4:24-25 and Romans 8:33-34 make it clear that Jesus’ death handles our past sins, but his resurrection offers us future in relationship and help from a living Savior.
“He was oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open his mouth…Who has believed our message?...We all, like sheep, have gone astray…and the Lord has laid on [Jesus] the iniquity of us all…After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied…my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”
Isaiah 53 indeed contains the gospel!
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.