SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 1, VS 15-17
15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 1, VS 15-17
He’s saying, that in the state of the Church, in compromise and blindness to the sin around it, He cannot answer prayer. He hides His eyes, and proclaims judgment on the nations because His Church is not standing for His Word and righteousness!
People obey church holidays, go on certain days, do certain things, are bound by certain denominational doctrines, and do these things, not by the Spirit of God, but by their leaders orders. The Lord doesn’t consider these things wrong, but if they are not done through the Spirit, they are done in vain, for God must be worshiped in Spirit and in Truth, and when our faith is shallow, and in the carnal realm, we are vulnerable to the secular leaders and the intimidation, not having the courage, faith, and wisdom that comes from our spirits being connected to the Holy Spirit. He wants us to be led by Him and Him alone!! (See Jeremiah 4:4). In John 4:23 and 24, Our Lord said: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.”
We must live with Him seven days a week, twenty four hours a day. We must love others and let Him live our lives for us. Only He can put the love in our hearts that we need to do His work.
We have made an exchange with Him–our lives for His. He wants us to truly give our lives to Him to Live in us and for us, and when we do that, we find it easier to live our lives as He would live them, and we will find a new courage to stand for Him, and “work out our salvation” (Philippians 2:12) in the world.
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SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 1, VS 18-20
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 1, VS 18-20
These are some of the most beautiful, yet most powerful words of the Bible, and they are directed to the Church of today as much as to the chosen People in those days. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
— This well-known verse tells of His beautiful forgiveness of our sins, both individually and as the corporate Body of Christ, the Church, but He wants our total honesty with Him. In the Bible, the most serious sins were forgiven when repented of, but dishonesty to the Spirit of God, and covering up of our sins was taken very seriously by Him. The early Jews thought He wasn’t looking when they worshiped idols–the Pharisees were planning in private against Him–Annanias and Sapphira lied to Him, and all came to greater punishment than the biggest sinners.
— When we come to Christ totally and give Him every part of our lives, He will take care of every detail of our lives, but
whatever we try to do of ourselves, we leave an unprotected area for Satan to slip in through a hole in our armor of Christ with his sword. (See Jeremiah 1:16)
In Our nation and world, He promises to heal our land IF we all repent and turn totally to Him, stand for Him, and, if necessary, die for Him. BUT, if not, our land will be devoured, and we will be left desolate—–even of knowing His Voice anymore!!!! THAT is a VERY terrible state to be in!!!!
2 Chronicles 7:14
King James Version (KJV)
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.