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“Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). Christ conquered with the cross and His subsequent burial, and resurrection! Thus, the spoil belongs to Him and His (cf. Rom. 8:14-17). Jesus gave it all and so must we be willing to do (cf. Psalm 22:14-17). Recall that Christ was crucified between two thieves (numbered with the transgressors) which fulfilled prophecy (cf. Mark 15:27-28; Luke 22:37). Truly, He bore the sin of many. Christ is our Great Intercessor. A description of intercession is found in Jer. 7:16 where it is grouped with prayer (petition; entreaty in favor of another); see also Jer. 36:25. Jesus lives to make intercession for us according to the will of God (cf. Heb. 7:22-25; Rom. 8:27, 34). He is our Mediator and Advocate (cf. 1 John 2:1-2; 1 Tim. 2:5). Even on the cross Jesus interceded when He cried, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” which was answered when about 3,000 souls obeyed the Gospel on the day of Pentecost (Luke 23:34; Acts 2:37-47). Let us intercede for others knowing that God wants all to be saved (1 Tim. 2:1-6). Trent Thrasher
“And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Beth-el” (1 Kings 13:8-10). This man of God was given a commandment by God to cry against the altar regarding a prophecy concerning king Josiah which he complied with (1 Kings 13:1-2). In connection with that commandment, was the charge not to eat or drink nor to go back the way he came. This man remained true to this charge even when king Jeroboam attempted to get him to refresh himself and receive a reward (1 Kings 13:7-10). Sadly, this would change. An old prophet located in Beth-el, found the man of God and asked him to come home with him and eat (1 Kings 13:11-15). The man of God repeated the charge (showing his understanding of God’s Word) to the old prophet (1 Kings 13:16-17). The old prophet then proceeded to lie to the man of God saying an angel had directed him to bring him back and feed him (1 Kings 13:18). The man of God believed the lie (he was deceived) and violated God’s charge by eating and drinking (1 Kings 13:19). It cost him his life as he was later slain by a lion (1 Kings 13:20-24). God means what He says. We must be ever on alert for falsehood (cf. 1 John 4:1; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:13; 2 Cor. 11:13-15). Paul warned against accepting a false message as it relates to the Gospel even if it was brought from an angel from Heaven (Gal. 1:6-10). The faith (of which there is only one - Eph. 4:5) has been once delivered for all time (Jude 3; cf. Gal. 1:11, 23). There will be no new revelation as we have the perfect law of liberty now (1 Cor. 13:8-12; James 1:25; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3). Let us listen to the LORD through careful obedience to His Word! Trent Thrasher
“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest” (John 4:35). It is easy to become distracted with the world. While Jesus was involved in teaching a Samaritan woman, His disciples were away buying food (John 4:8). Once they returned, they marveled (wondered) that he even spoke with the woman (John 4:27). The disciples then urged Jesus to eat some food (John 4:31). The reply of Jesus shifted the focus back to the more important matter of a great harvest, not of physical grain, but of precious souls (John 4:32-35). We know this to be the case as He has in mind gathering fruit unto eternal life (John 4:36). Precious souls believed on Christ because of His communication with this Samaritan woman and her testimony (John 4:39). When others came to and heard Jesus Himself they also believed and knew Him to be the Christ, the Savior of the world (John 4:40-42). We need more laborers lifting up their eyes and looking on the fields for, “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). Let us not be so preoccupied with the everyday functions of life that we miss the big picture. It is harvest time, brethren! Trent Thrasher
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isa. 6:8). After seeing the Lord sitting upon a throne, and the seraphims, that powerful scene caused Isaiah to exclaim, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isa. 6:1-5). One of the seraphims touched a live coal from off the altar on Isaiah’s mouth (lips) and declared his iniquity was taken away and his sin purged (Isa. 6:6-7). The Lord then asked that powerful question, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isa. 6:8). Before I can go for the LORD I need to make sure any sin in my life is dealt with properly (cf. Rom. 10:17; Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:18-24; Rev. 2:5; Rev. 3:19; 1 John 1:5-10). The message Isaiah was to take to the people found fulfillment in the masses who refused to listen with all the faculties God had given them (cf. Matt. 13:10-15; Acts 28:17-29). Some will hear the message and believe and some will not (cf. Acts 28:24). We still go for the LORD every day. Here am I! Send me! Trent Thrasher
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