EDEN PRAIRIE, MN.-A shoot from David's family.
In a VERY cold Eden Prairie, at a VERY large Grace Church, we turned our attention in devotions to Isaiah chapter 11 which talks of Jesus in terms of a branch springing up from the lineage of Jesse, King David's father. Rather than tell you what we discovered, I'm going to ask you some questions to get you to discover for yourself. Use the NIV, NKJV or NLT if you can. Verses 1 to 5 are prophecies that have already been fulfilled with the first coming of Jesus, verses 6 onwards point to the second coming of Jesus.
In verse I what is the importance of Jesus being in David's line?
In verse 2 what do you think the word 'rest' signifies in relation to the Spirit of God?
In verse 2 what is the Spirit of God equipping Jesus with?
In verse 3 and 4 what is the Spirit of God equipping Jesus for?
In verses 6-8 what is the significance of the animals in pairs?
What image do you see in verses 10-12 of the victorious return of Jesus?
Go back to verse 1 and examine the phrase 'A branch will bear fruit'. Jesus uses the term 'bear fruit' often in the gospels. What do you think He means? How does your life bear fruit?
If you want to be more like Jesus, what have you learnt from this passage?
Reply with your thoughts, and we'll see if what you and we discovered was similar!
Yesterday we prayed for a 16 year-old girl called Gabby, from Tai and David's church, who was suffering from a brain problem due to a disease she had. Today we learnt that she had passed away. It's tough to find out news like that, especially when we prayed for her. Do I know why God chooses to heal some people and not others? No. Will that prevent me from praying that people will be healed? No. God's ways are greater than my ways, and He is sovereign. Today we prayed that Gabby would be secure in her heavenly Father's arms and that her family on earth would know the peace and love of God at this time of loss.
In verse 1 what is the importance of Jesus being in David's line?
The prophecy states that a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. All knew that David came from Jesse and that someone from his lineage would be the Messiah. Tracing Jesus back to David is crucial to the validity of Jesus being the Messiah.
In verse 2 what do you think the word 'rest' signifies in relation to the Spirit of God?
It brings to mind something or someone coming to a stop. I see the Spirit of God stopping and staying constantly with Jesus.
In verse 2 what is the Spirit of God equipping Jesus with?
Wisdom and understanding
counsel and power
knowledge and the fear of the Lord
(all that we should pray for!!)
In verse 3 and 4 what is the Spirit of God equipping Jesus for?
To judge the world.
In verses 6-8 what is the significance of the animals in pairs?
These are animals that right now in the wild do not coexist with each other in peace. One seeks out the other to eat and devour. It will all change one day.
What image do you see in verses 10-12 of the victorious return of Jesus?
I see a world where people no longer look at the color of skin, the economics, the education or any "differences" we have...I see a united world where we care for each other and we all have ONE focus and it's not US!!! Our focus is Jesus only.
Go back to verse 1 and examine the phrase 'A branch will bear fruit'. Jesus uses the term 'bear fruit' often in the gospels. What do you think He means?
It is putting me on the back burner and seeing this hurting world and introducing this world to its Savior. We must give of ourselves and leave behind something that is bigger then we are and something of eternal value.
How does your life bear fruit?
God has called me to travel the world and spread the news of His Son Jesus. I have been to Sri Lanka and just recently Israel. It's amazing to be used by God. I want to bear fruit in my local world as well which is often more difficult because I'm very comfortable in my little world here.
If you want to be more like Jesus, what have you learnt from this passage?
To interact with those that I don't usually coexist with and to truly fear the Lord and delight in that fear.
(Thanks for your insight....God bless!)
Posted by: Wendy | December 09, 2007 at 07:44 PM
My study is too big to post here....I have emailed it.
But I will give an answer to question One...
Note that the Stock of Jesse is Ruth and Boaz....Jew and Gentile. Interesting.
:)
Posted by: Joan Young/Godgrl Gomer | December 11, 2007 at 01:05 AM
I've been working long hours, so just answering the ones that came to mind while I was dwelling on it at work.
1- Jesus was born in David's line to fulfill prophecy that He is the Messiah.
2- 'rest' - brings to mind that the Holy Spirit could 'stay put' on Jesus because He was the only person who could be filled up to overflowing and stay that way because He was (and is) perfect.
6-8 The animals in 'pairs' brings to mind the battle has has been going on from the beginning ...satan and Jesus, Cain and Abel, Ishmael and Isaac, the Israelis and Palestinians.......... and will be ended when Jesus has the final say.
10-12 The victorious return of Jesus. - When all prophecy is fulfilled, we we have reached our destiny and are in the place we have all been yearning for since conception, when we are with the one and only Father who can love us as we were meant to be loved, when we are in bodies that will never feel pain, when we will sing 'Holy Holy Holy' for eternity and it will be like singing a new song each time ..... (and EVEN more awesome than hearing a new Third Day song live........ hmmmmmm.....
:)......)
I think Jesus mentions 'fruit', because fruit is the visible evidence of the state of a plant....and so it is with us. What is going on on the inside will end up being visible on the outside.
How does my life bear fruit? .... By, I hope, the testimony of people I have had the priviledge of leading to the Lord. By the patience I have developed from years of longsuffering as the only born-again believer in my family for many years.
By the miracles that God Has worked when I stepped out in faith, when He used a broken, patched up and leaking vessel like me..... by which I am still overwhelmed.
If I want to be more like Jesus...... I have learned that I should not only spend more time with Jesus Himself but with the people that NEED Him.
(My biggest fear is to be lukewarm..... to be spat out of Jesus's mouth....)
Sorry this is rushed and bits are missed....... but great to be joining you Nigel, guys, Wendy and Joan........... -loving it!
Posted by: Teresa (auntie gomer) | December 13, 2007 at 04:41 PM
In the Spring of 2006 God sent a message. His message is about the meaning of First is Last and Last is First. The message is this:
In the morning I go to Heaven. In the afternoon I live my Life. In the evening I die, death.
What does this mean? It means that Birth is Last and Last is Birth. God also gives an example so that you can understand this better. Example: Mike Douglas died on his birthday. (Note Mike Douglas and Michael Douglas are two different people.)
Posted by: Mel Steffir | September 12, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Correction: To the meaning of First is Last and Last is First. It means that Birth is Last and Birth is First. Sorry for the error. God talks in symbols and opposites at times, so it takes time to figure out what he is saying. Some of his messages are clearer than others, plus they have multiple meanings.
In 2007 God said this:
We each die in succession, then we are born on the same day.
Posted by: Mel Steffir | October 07, 2008 at 07:38 PM