Isaiah 66:3-4 (KJV) Cherry-Picking

Isaiah 66:3-4 (KJV)

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

 

A few days ago, a man challenged me and said the God I preach is a psychopath. Those who make such accusations think God is pro-slavery, killing innocent women and children,[1] and indiscriminately gave the Promised Land to Israel without thought or care for the previous occupants. In those cases, they’ve merely misread the Bible. Most likely they’ve not read the Bible at all but have cherry-picked out those events in the Bible someone else told them are unjust.

 

But here is a legitimate complaint they might level. The fact is God does not judge equally the thoughts and actions of all men. He does not accept every sacrifice presented to Him. They, like Cain, might complain that God has no respect for their offering while He does for another.

 

And it’s because they’re confused about God. The corrupt nature the serpent promised Eve has led them to believe they, not God, are the judges of morality.

 

Frankly, until they get past that falsehood and surrender to the supremacy of God, nothing else in the Bible is going to make any sense at all."

 

Someone once said, “Low thoughts of God lead to a hundred lesser sins.”

 

#MisunderstoodDivinity #GodsJustice #ChallengingBeliefs #SurrenderToGod #UnderstandingDivineJustice

Cherry-Picking: Grappling with God's Moral Standards

 

 To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6200 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

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The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Isaiah 66:3-4 (KJV) Cherry-Picking

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[1] These same people are most often pro-abortion.

Isaiah 65:2 (KJV) God's Plea to a Rebellious World

Isaiah 65:2 (KJV)

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

 

As one works through this chapter, we see it begin with current times and move toward eternal days.

• Verse 3, “a people that provoketh me… continually”
• Verse 17 “for behold I create new heavens and a new earth”

 

I take it that the chapter begins nearing the end of what we would consider current times. I see then these words, therefore, as indicative of the days in which I write.

 

There has never been a time in history easier to get the gospel around the world. Just my little Daily Visits with God podcast is heard currently in sixty countries around the world, many of them being restricted access nations. Truly God has “spread out His hands” today, inviting the rebellious, sinners, and unbelievers to come to Him and be saved.

 

But as surely as the ability to spread the gospel has increased in this time, the way those people walk has grown increasingly wicked and their thoughts, like those in the days of Noah have become “only evil continually.”[1]

One of those accusations so often leveled against Christians today is that we only believe because our parents believed. When the floods came only Noah, and his family boarded the Ark. I imagine those outside mocking them for being brainwashed. But then I imagine them crying out to be forgiven and invited in.

 

We’re inviting you into our spiritual family right now, before it’s too late to cry.

 

#SpreadTheGospel #DaysOfNoah #EternalInvitation #GlobalFaith #SpiritualFamilyInvitation

God's Plea to a Rebellious World: The Modern-Day Invitation

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6200 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Isaiah 65:2 (KJV) God's Plea to a Rebellious World

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[1] Genesis 6:5 (KJV)

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Matthew 24:37 (KJV)

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Isaiah 63:16 (KJV) Knowing Jesus

Isaiah 63:16 (KJV)

Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

 

The Jew made such a big deal to Jesus of Abraham as their father.[1] The Muslim does the same thing today. Interestingly, God speaks of a day when those who come to Him will have no claim in either Israel or Abraham.[2]

 

I take this to be a mystical[3] reference to the New Testament Church age Christian. 

 

John the Baptist urged people not to fixate on Abraham. 

Matthew 3:9 (KJV)

And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

In Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile. Distinctions such as heritage, lineage, and standard of living all give way to membership in the local church of God. Pedigree no longer matters. All the Lord is interested in is whether you know Him.

Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

Do you know Jesus? Rather, do you know that He knows you?

 

#InChristAlone #SpiritualHeritage #BeyondLineage #LocalChurchUnity #KnowingJesusKnowingMe

Knowing Jesus: A Personal Relationship Beyond Heritage

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6200 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Isaiah 63:16 (KJV) Knowing Jesus

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[1] John 8:33 (KJV)

They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

[2] Except for a spiritual one.

[3] I believe the great mystery Paul spoke often about is the local New Testament Baptist Church.

Isaiah 62:7 (KJV) Prayerful Pursuit

Isaiah 62:7 (KJV)

And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

 

Because there is a watchman in verse six, the context seems to be about witnessing, warning, and speaking to the unsaved about the great need of their soul. The need for faithful, persistent, and passionate witnessing cannot be overstated.

 

But the passage is not directly about witnessing. The one we are encouraged to give no rest to is God. This is prayer. More than this, it is fervent, earnest, importunate prayer. This is praying until God does what we know He has promised to do.

It has a direct connection to witnessing because the best, no, the only way to win the soul of another and successfully rescue them from the coming wrath is through the grace of God. We can’t rescue them by persuasion or rational thinking. It must come from the heart and soul. It’s an area of their being they won’t always admit exists. It’s an area of their being we have no access to. But it is an area of their being God has promised to touch.

 

So, the most effective witness is accomplished not by persuasion but by praying. The most effective way to witness is to give God no rest about the need of the lost.

 

Get a burden for some unsaved souls and “keep God awake” with your prayers for them. Don’t stop until God has saved them.

 

#PrayWithoutCeasing #FerventPrayerForTheLost #WitnessingThroughPersistentPrayer #IntercedeForSalvation #GiveGodNoRestForTheUnsaved

Prayerful Pursuit: Giving God No Rest

 

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6200 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Isaiah 62:7 (KJV) Prayerful Pursuit

Isaiah 60:12 (KJV) The Sword and Salvation

Isaiah 60:12 (KJV)

For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

 

There is reason, I agree, for great caution in our interpretations and applications of Old Testament text. God has never endorsed violence, though it has been necessary to quell the tides of evil men. 

The role of Christians, and I think it has always been the role of the followers of God, is to seek the conversion of the lost. Our role has always been to point men to a gracious Saviour. Those who bow to Him are safe.

 

Government is ordained as a restraining force. It is given authority by God to exercise the sword against evil. Because of the corrupt nature of mankind, that evil often presents itself in the form of another government. So, agencies like the police serve to restrain evil individuals, while the army serves to restrain evil coalitions and governments. But ultimately these have but a temporary impact. The eternal one is with Jesus. 

 

It comes down to this.

·   Those who serve Him fly home as the doves to their windows.[1]

·    Those that do not shall perish.

 

The reason anyone would have a problem with this is that they resist serving the Lord.  It makes as much sense that they would be angry with God for that as the one who robs a bank is angry with the police for catching him.

 

#SeekConversion #GovernmentAndRestraint #SafeInServingJesus #EternalJustice #ResistingTheLord

The Sword and Salvation: Government, Grace, and God's Ultimatum

 

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6200 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

Isaiah 60:12 (KJV) The Sword and Salvation

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[1] Isaiah 60:8 (KJV)

Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

Isaiah 59:16 (KJV) Predestined Salvation

Isaiah 59:16 (KJV)

And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

 

The verse is introduced first by Isaiah 59:16 (KJV)

Yea, truth faileth; and he tha tdeparteth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.

 

God saw that there was no judgment, no Intercessor, no man to save and He was displeased. It was God who therefore brought His own judgment, Intercessor, and Saviour. God’s response to His displeasure was to provide salvation. He did not respond in wrath. He responded in grace.

Consider that all of this happened, according to the Word of God, before the foundations of the world.

·       Before there ever was a sinner

·       Before there ever was an evil act

·       Before there was ever a need for judgment, an Intercessor, and a Saviour

 

God was already displeased with the wicked heart of man and had already graciously brought to him a means of salvation.

 

#DivineDispleasure #GracefulSalvation #IntercessorRevealed #PredestinedRedemption #GodsGraciousResponse

Predestined Salvation: God's Displeasure Turned to Grace

 

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 6200 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

 Isaiah 59:16 (KJV) Predestined Salvation