Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Oh Friends, ain’t that good news? Yes, it’s surely wonderful tidings! I think Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets, being able to see way into the future, talking about Jesus’ coming and all the attendant stuff. And after continually haranguing and lambasting Israel for their disobedience to the God of their fathers, he finally sees a good day dawning for Zion and Jerusalem. ‘And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.’ (Is.62:2-3) Yes Friends, the Lord will relent, reorganize and bless His chosen people Israel, but the rebellious will certainly pay. ‘But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain…therefore will I number you to the sword… because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.’ (Is.65:11-12) Oh people, let’s try and not be numbered amongst that lot nuh, cause it will be a very sad day.’ ‘Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; for the Lord shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name.’ (vs.14-15) Oh Friends, it behoves us all to ensure that we fall in the category of ‘his servants,’ so that we can bless ourselves and ‘swear by the God of truth, because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.’ (vs.16) Oh sing Hallelujah people! For the Lord would have destroyed the wicked and left all the problems in the past. ‘For behold I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come to mind.’ (vs.17) Oh thank you Lord! ‘But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.’ Wow! ‘And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people..’ (vs.18-20) Oh Friends, what a wonderful, wonderful God we serve! We’ve got to get our act together, right now, so that we can be amongst those who’ll rejoice with our God in the new Jerusalem. For yuh know what people? There’ll be no more sorrow and crying. No early deaths. All shall live till around 100, though the sinner will be cursed. We shall build houses and live in them, not somebody else. The same for vineyards; we shall plant and we shall eat of the fruit, ‘for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain; nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.’ (vs.22-23) Oh people, what a marvellous honour it is to be known as ‘the blessed of the Lord!’ I don’t think we can be accorded any greater, cause when you’re blessed of the Lord, ‘It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear.’ Oh Friends, Praise His Holy Name! Sing Hallelujah! For He’s such a mighty, magnanimous God to those who LOVE and obey Him. Wow! That’s all I can say. Words fail me. (smile) All that good stuff is just making me long for the new heaven and earth now…well.. just a little while yet on this troubled earth. Hn, hn! Oh Friends, Bruh David attested to the Lord’s goodness too. ‘Because he hath set his LOVE upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.’ (Ps.91:14-16) Oh people, what better rewards can we ask of a life spent in service and worship to the Lord eh? And Friends, if you didn’t believe it when Isaiah said He’d hear and answer while we’re still speaking, then read Daniel 9:20-23 ‘And whiles I was speaking, and praying and confessing my sin…yea whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel…touched me…And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications, the commandment came forth, and I am now come to shew thee, for thou art greatly beloved..’ Oh Friends, what more do we need to convince us of the truth in God’s Word and that we should obey it eh? So let’s all work together nuh, that we can meet and rejoice in the new Jerusalem with the Lord when the time comes! Much LOVE!…to see good, long days…believe…and live obediently…
Oh Friends, ain’t that good news? Yes, it’s surely wonderful tidings! I think Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets, being able to see way into the future, talking about Jesus’ coming and all the attendant stuff. And after continually haranguing and lambasting Israel for their disobedience to the God of their fathers, he finally sees a good day dawning for Zion and Jerusalem. ‘And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.’ (Is.62:2-3) Yes Friends, the Lord will relent, reorganize and bless His chosen people Israel, but the rebellious will certainly pay. ‘But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain…therefore will I number you to the sword… because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before my eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not.’ (Is.65:11-12) Oh people, let’s try and not be numbered amongst that lot nuh, cause it will be a very sad day.’ ‘Behold my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; for the Lord shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name.’ (vs.14-15) Oh Friends, it behoves us all to ensure that we fall in the category of ‘his servants,’ so that we can bless ourselves and ‘swear by the God of truth, because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.’ (vs.16) Oh sing Hallelujah people! For the Lord would have destroyed the wicked and left all the problems in the past. ‘For behold I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come to mind.’ (vs.17) Oh thank you Lord! ‘But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.’ Wow! ‘And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people..’ (vs.18-20) Oh Friends, what a wonderful, wonderful God we serve! We’ve got to get our act together, right now, so that we can be amongst those who’ll rejoice with our God in the new Jerusalem. For yuh know what people? There’ll be no more sorrow and crying. No early deaths. All shall live till around 100, though the sinner will be cursed. We shall build houses and live in them, not somebody else. The same for vineyards; we shall plant and we shall eat of the fruit, ‘for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain; nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.’ (vs.22-23) Oh people, what a marvellous honour it is to be known as ‘the blessed of the Lord!’ I don’t think we can be accorded any greater, cause when you’re blessed of the Lord, ‘It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear.’ Oh Friends, Praise His Holy Name! Sing Hallelujah! For He’s such a mighty, magnanimous God to those who LOVE and obey Him. Wow! That’s all I can say. Words fail me. (smile) All that good stuff is just making me long for the new heaven and earth now…well.. just a little while yet on this troubled earth. Hn, hn! Oh Friends, Bruh David attested to the Lord’s goodness too. ‘Because he hath set his LOVE upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.’ (Ps.91:14-16) Oh people, what better rewards can we ask of a life spent in service and worship to the Lord eh? And Friends, if you didn’t believe it when Isaiah said He’d hear and answer while we’re still speaking, then read Daniel 9:20-23 ‘And whiles I was speaking, and praying and confessing my sin…yea whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel…touched me…And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications, the commandment came forth, and I am now come to shew thee, for thou art greatly beloved..’ Oh Friends, what more do we need to convince us of the truth in God’s Word and that we should obey it eh? So let’s all work together nuh, that we can meet and rejoice in the new Jerusalem with the Lord when the time comes! Much LOVE!…to see good, long days…believe…and live obediently…
SCRIP-BITS 