6/29 Reflect

​*6/25/2023-7/1/2023* Bible Reflection guide  

 
Pause & Reflect
 

1. What has God been teaching you through last week’s message – “Fear Not, for I Am with You” – from ISAIAH 41:1-16? Read the texts once more and discern what the holy Spirit is desiring to say through it.

 

 
1 Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;
    let the peoples renew their strength;
let them approach, then let them speak;
    let us together draw near for judgment.
2 Who stirred up one from the east
    whom victory meets at every step?
He gives up nations before him,
    so that he tramples kings underfoot;
he makes them like dust with his sword,
    like driven stubble with his bow.
3 He pursues them and passes on safely,
    by paths his feet have not trod.
4 Who has performed and done this,
    calling the generations from the beginning?
I, the Lord, the first,
    and with the last; I am he.
 

1. [v.1-4] The “coastlands” are those people & nations not only in distant lands, but also distant hearts – whose hearts are far from God. Yet, the Lord still offers a way for them to renew their strength and approach Him. How ought they first approach God’s presence?
2. *The biblical principle – Listen in silence, for God’s presence is speaking. How is God speaking to you in the silence? Have you listened in silence before His presence? How can growing your listening time be more fruitful to your speaking time (with God and others)?

 

 
5 The coastlands have seen and are afraid;
    the ends of the earth tremble;
    they have drawn near and come.
6 Everyone helps his neighbor
    and says to his brother, “Be strong!”
7 The craftsman strengthens the goldsmith,
    and he who smooths with the hammer him who strikes the anvil,
saying of the soldering, “It is good”;
    and they strengthen it with nails so that it cannot be moved.
 

1. [v.5-7] When the people of the “coastlands” – whose hearts are far from God – find themselves before the presence of God, they are afraid. Yet instead of fearing God and turning away from their idolatry, what do they do?
2. *The biblical principle – The presence of God will make us all afraid – that will either strengthen our idolatry or our repentance. How has fear of God actually turned you to run away from Him instead of run towards Him? Who encourages you with, “Be strong!... It is good” when you are walking in a way that is not good, in contrary to the holy Spirit’s conviction? How can fearing God strengthen us to repentance instead of resistance?

 

 
8 But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
    and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, “You are my servant,
    I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
10 fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
11 Behold, all who are incensed against you
    shall be put to shame and confounded;
those who strive against you
    shall be as nothing and shall perish.
12 You shall seek those who contend with you,
    but you shall not find them;
those who war against you
    shall be as nothing at all.
13 For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.”
 

1. [v.8-13] Although God’s presence in the “coastlands” will repel people away, His presence with His chosen people will draw them near. How are God’s people different than the people of the “coastlands” – what has He done and promises to do for them?
2. *The biblical principle – Unlike the world, God chose His people as His servants and friends to be their Helper with His abiding presence. Did you choose God, or did God choose you? If it is God who first chose you, how is this defining your identity and calling as His servant? How does this assure you to no fear anything at all, but know the Lord your God is with you, upholding you, and helping you? How does the enemy come to steal and destroy these things?

 

 
14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,
    you men of Israel!
I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;
    your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.
15 Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge,
    new, sharp, and having teeth;
you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,
    and you shall make the hills like chaff;
16 you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away,
    and the tempest shall scatter them.
And you shall rejoice in the Lord;
    in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.
 

1. [v.14-16] No one can stay untransformed in the presence of the Lord. God’s people were once as weak as a “worm” – yet what would they be transformed to become and do?
2. *The biblical principle – Knowing we are His chosen and redeemed people, God’s presence transforms us to rejoice in Him always. Are you transformed by the fact that God has chosen you and redeemed you? Does it leave you to rejoice in Him? How are we still stuck in the worm-like weak life, when God has chosen and redeemed us to live the new created life in His increasing joy?   

 

 
The central truth of this word was – Sinful fear is caused by absent faith. We are afraid because we do not trust God is near nor God is Immanuel (with us). In these times, we need to learn to listen in silence, for often our talk obscures God’s presence. His presence should make us all afraid initially – either strengthening our idolatry or stirring-up our repentance. Unlike the world, we are chosen by God as His honored servants and friends, so be gripped today by Your great Helper, His abiding presence. He is transforming you to rejoice, for it is His presence within you, through Christ, by the Spirit, empowering you with joy to do so! So rejoice, again we say, rejoice in Him! – *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 

 
Holy Spirit Moment
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)