A DOUBLE PORTION
INSTEAD OF SHAME, YOU WILL HAVE A DOUBLE PORTION
Have you ever received a gift you didn’t expect, which exceeded what you could imagine?
How did you, or how would you react?
There are some people who would reject such a gift. They might say, “Oh, you shouldn’t have, and I can’t accept that.”
I have tried something as simple as to buy dinner for friends, and some of them say that exact thing, “Oh, I can’t let you do that!”
Maybe they are embarrassed or don’t want to feel obligated?
Listen to this and tell me what you think about this Gift:
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
I have read commentary after commentary on Isaiah 61. Each tells everything you would want to know. EXCEPT ONE THING.
I read that Isaiah is saying that God is at work in the historical events of the day to bring restoration and vindication of the people of God. As God’s people are renewed and restored, they would again assume their role as witness to God in the world (55:3-5).
Chuck Swindoll says, “the book of Isaiah provides us with the most comprehensive prophetic picture of Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament. It includes the full scope of His life: the announcement of His coming (Isaiah 40:3–5), His virgin birth (7:14), His proclamation of the good news (61:1), His sacrificial death (52:13–53:12), and His return to claim His own (60:2–3)”
THIS ONE THING
These commentaries tell everything, EXCEPT THIS ONE THING: What does it mean to me, and should I apply it to my life, today?
Should I try to apply Isaiah 61 to my life?
Here are some of the scriptures that we are to apply to our lives – daily…
THIS WE ARE TO DO.
Jesus said, in Matthew 4, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
We are to do this as Jesus does.
THIS, WE ARE TO DO.
Jesus said, in Matthew 16:24 “Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
We are to do this as Jesus does.
THIS WE ARE TO DO.
Jesus said, in Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Verse 20. teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
We are to do this as Jesus does.
THIS WE ARE TO DO.
Philippians 2:5 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus”.
We are to do this as Jesus does.
BUT, ARE WE ARE TO DO THIS, TOO?
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
If this is a PROPHETIC WORD from God…THIS WE ARE TO DO.
Verse 2. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
Verse 3 . To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
Verse 4. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
GOD WILL DO THIS and GOD HAS DONE THIS
(Dear friends, repeat and think about the words in the ‘blue lettering’ as your confession, and read what God has done)
Isaiah 61:5 says, Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,
(and strangers will stand and pasture my flocks)
And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
(And foreigners will be my farmers and your vinedressers)
Verse 6. But you will be called the priests of the LORD;
(But I will be called a priest of the LORD;)
You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.
(I will be spoken of as a minister of our God.)
You will eat the wealth of nations,
(I will eat the wealth of nations)
And in their riches you will boast.
(And in their riches I boast.)
Verse 7. Instead of your shame, you will have a double portion,
(Instead of your shame, I have a double portion,)
And instead of humiliation, they will shout for joy over their portion.
(And instead of humiliation, I shout for joy over my portion.)
Therefore, they will possess a double portion in their land,
(Therefore I possess a double portion in my land,)
Everlasting joy will be theirs.
(Everlasting joy is mine.)
Let’s all say
BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL. BLESS HIS HOLY NAME. YOU HAVE CROWNED MY HEAD WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND COMPASSION.
May it be as The Word of God says.
Now, let’s go and BE BLESSED – just as you have BLESSED THE LORD.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
