Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Isaiah 28-29

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. Revelation 3:10

I resumed my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, looking at Isaiah 28-29, I move along to the remainder of Lesson 11, Day 3, which looks at primarily how God warns us of destruction due to our inability to listen and heed His Word.  Isaiah first warns of destruction in Isaiah 28:2 as a result of the pride of Ephraim (28:3).  Isaiah then is more explicit in Isaiah 28:22 where he delivers a message from God warning of destruction "against the whole land." We are encouraged to refer to Revelation 3:10, where encourages believers that have "kept [God's] word about patient endurance" - those who have done so are protected "from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world." God delivers the same message from Isaiah that He does in Revelation - LISTEN to me and OBEY my Word!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God indeed and You seal me forever from eternal damnation - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and protection.  My sin is great and it is daily - I know You saved me out of GRACE and not from anything I did.  Thank You Jesus.  I KNOW that I am not deserving.  Please forgive me Jesus for my sin and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.

Luke 8

Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them. v18

I posted about Mark's version of these words back in December.  I reviewed John's Piper's commentaries on these words - Part 1 and Part 2. The importance of hearing is once again front and center.

From Piper's commentary on these words from Luke 8.

"Listening - hearing - is a high calling in the Christian church because your salvation hangs on it (verse 12), and your fruitfulness hangs on it (verse 15), and the spread of the light in the world hangs on it (verses 16-17), and in the end the glory of God hangs on it (Matthew 5:16). So (verse 18), "Take heed how you hear."

My salvation, fruitfulness spread of light, AND the glory of God through me hang on my ability to HEAR.  I focus on DOING (and the shame of NOT DOING) but instead I should focus on my HEARING.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has given me life and life to the full!  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such blessings.  I worry, I am distracted and I often fail to hear You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!...But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.

Psalm 81

If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!...But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. v13-14,16

A great promise for us...that God will protect us from our enemies (Satan) and that we will be fed (physically, etc.) and satisfied.  We need both protection and provision.  All of us do....We also need a Savior.

Key here is to listen to God...to listen and obey.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22

That is why corporate worship and living hand in hand with other believers is important.  So that we can support and encourage one another...to press forward towards maturity.

But most importantly I believe is to have a hunger and thirst for righteousness so that we may be transformed through the renewing of the mind.


My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me, even though You know everything about me.  You provide and protect me....and You have saved me from the sting of sin and death.  Thank You Jesus. I am not worth such love and blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.