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Jesus is King. Live in that Victory. Matthew 2:23 part 2
Hey, good evening. This is truth in love. I'm so glad that you could join me this evening to spend time together with me. Looking at God's Word. I'm so thankful to be able to do this and spend time together with you.
This is a fantastic opportunity. Once again try to do some research and and look. Investigate what's going on with with Facebook and Facebook live. I remember when I used to do the videos. It gives you the number it lets you know how many people are watching.
And it used to show you the name your name would pop up if you if you decided to view this video your name would Pop up on the video and I could see and I could speak to you. But it doesn't do that anymore.
They they changed formats. They they changed how they how they do their live videos and it doesn't show. Who views who watches anymore? I hope they bring that that feature back so that I can I can speak to you.
I can interact with you. So I just wanted you to be aware that that feature is no longer there. I can't see who is watching. Some of you may like that. I know I've spoken with one person that that wants to.
Really wants to stay anonymous, but but you know wants to watch. But uh, I say that to say I can't see who's watching so but I would love to know that that you're watching. So if you would Leave me a comment.
Say hello. Say hi. Let me know that you're watching. Otherwise, I don't know who's watching who's joining me. And of course the floor is always yours. If you have a question a comment you you want to talk about anything you want to talk about scripture.
You want to talk about a Bible verse have a question about the Bible have a question about church things that are going on in the world and. And how we can look at it from a biblical perspective. If anything that you want to talk about in regards to those areas, I'd love to be able to do that with you.
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So Reach out to me any way that you can anyway that you would like to. And that would be fantastic. I call this truth in love and I get that from Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15 Paul says but speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in all aspects into him who is the head even Christ.
So we want we want to grow up in all aspects all aspects of Scripture. Grow grow up in all ice aspects in our lives. According to his word and we want to communicate that with one another and as Paul says to do that Communicate that truth in love.
And so I want to be able to do that as I do the videos. Hey Emily Thank you for commenting. It's good to see you guys. There there's so much that I want to cover tonight I think this is the first time that I've I've done a part two.
I watched a little bit of the video The other day just to do a little critique and and I apologize I guess I feel like I don't have a face face for video. God has given me The the countenance of I guess an angry or a sad person and it and I I don't naturally look happy or or Inviting so I apologize for for my natural.
Look I want to look I want to look like I am enjoying myself I'm enjoying my time with you that I have joy in the Lord. I want my face to reflect that. And I feel weird trying to smile the whole time.
So if I look sad or my countenance is just Looks maybe down Please look past that that's just how I am naturally and that's the way the Lord has made me I guess it is not a face for Video, but I do want to reach our community with the gospel For Jesus Christ, and I appreciate you doing that with me Like I said, I think this is the first time I've done a part two if you have your Bibles if you want to follow.
Along.
We're in Matthew because I wanted to continue to look at look into Why I say what I say when I make the comment Jesus is King. Go live in that victory. We want to live in the victory that Jesus won the fact that he is King and and how do we live in that victory?
And one of the best places to go I believe is gonna be Matthew where the theme of Matthew is that Jesus is King. He's showing us how he is King. And I just wanted to work our way through Matthew and see see how he Shows us that Jesus is King and how we can live in that victory.
Last time we went through Matthew chapter 2 verses 19 through 23 and the theme was or the title was the Christ Grows in obscurity and and so does his kingdom his kingdom. He has designed it to where his kingdom grows in obscurity.
And we looked at how both of those truths Were lived out and are being lived out today.
And.
So as we as we start I think I'm going to hit on a few few of those points. That I missed or didn't have time for last time but what we're going to do. The the verse we're just gonna look at one verse.
What it's gonna be our key verse. But it's gonna take us back to the Old Testament the the text that it refers to Matthew chapter 2 verse 23 if you if you have your Bibles if you want to follow along, but it says in that verse and.
Came.
Well.
Just to give you some context and being mourned by God in a dream. He departed for the regions of Galilee this will be Joseph and taking his family Mary and Jesus and to the regions of Galilee and verse 23 and came and resided in a city called Nazareth that What was spoken through the prophets? might be fulfilled he shall be called a Nazarene and and what we discovered last time was that you know, one of the popular views is that How to interpret this verse is Jesus being called a Nazarene they won't some folks want to make a relationship with with the Nazarite bow.
And and of course one of the most famous Nazarites was Samson he took the Nazarite balance. So, you know, they will want to make the comparison with Samson and Jesus, but in fact That's not what? These words and this verse is referring to it's not referring to the Nazarite vow.
And and what makes it so mysterious and and has has perplexed folks in the past is the fact that Nazareth Nazarene. It Matthew tells us that so that was That what was spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled.
But the fact of the matter is is that this This wording this this text this sentence or however, you want to say it is it's not found in the Old Testament That he shall you I mean you would think just like in the the other three that he quotes he In in verse 6 verse 15 and verse 18 Of the same chapter and of course, this is the fourth prophecy from the Old Testament that Matthew mentioned mentions.
But you would think like in the other three the previous three where he specifically gives you a reference That doesn't occur in in Matthew chapter 2 verse 23, you can't find it in the Old Testament. So, you know.
Some folks want to use that against Christianity against the the trustworthiness of Scripture but the fact of the matter is is that it is in the Old Testament just.
Not as.
It is normally found or how it how Matthew normally has referenced the Old Testament passages. So, how is it? How is it found? How do we find it?
You have to look at the word Nazareth and and Nazarene and both of those words both of those words mean branch and So the passage that we go back to where this this prophecy is fulfilled is in Isaiah and what I want to do is Not just look at that specific verse That fulfills this this verse in Matthew.
But just like just like the New Testament audience We want to be like the New Testament readers the New Testament audience where when a when an Old Testament passage was referenced they would have understood the context they would have understood where that was coming from and and what was going on in the in the Context of that time so you don't want to just take One passage.
You want to understand what's going on in the whole passage in the context of what's going on? so that you can understand what the author is trying to say what the Holy Spirit is trying to say and That's how the readers the original readers would have understood it.
The best example of that of course is When when Jesus is crying out from the cross and he actually quotes a psalm. But they when they heard that reference to that psalm They would have Understood all of what that not just that one verse, but they would have understood What he was saying from that whole passage and that that passage in psalm Helps explain that that hard to understand Place that hard to understand Message that Jesus spoke from the cross Where he says my God my God, why have you forsaken me and that that's a very hard Concept for us to understand.
But when you go back and look at the whole context the whole passage from that psalm It becomes more understandable and so the same thing is true here and all the other places you want to look at the the Context of that that Old Testament passage.
That's what I want to do tonight and walk through that Old Testament passage. What Matthew is referring to as he is is he is showing how Jesus is King How he is the anointed one how he is the Messiah the long-awaited Messiah anointed one and He's proving that he's showing that through this passage from Isaiah chapter 11 Isaiah chapter 11.
So if you if you're with me in your Bible, you want to follow along we're in Isaiah chapter 11 and Instead of reading I'm just gonna go through verses 1 through 10 and I'm not gonna read them all and then go back.
We'll read them as we go. So just for the sake of time but the the first verse is is going to give us a recap somewhat of what we talked about last time and I'm going to be able to point out some of the things that I left out from last time.
So Thank you, thank you guys for watching if you would if you want to partner with me and join me in trying to reach Out to our community. I would encourage you to share if you think this is something that would benefit others Spending time together with me looking at God's Word sharing the message of Jesus Christ.
I.
Would encourage you to share it. I don't I don't want to to say that as Someone who's trying to get views, I mean this that's what all these social medias being on social media is about today's is how many views can you get and and What type of video that you can make to get the most amount of views so that you you become an influencer.
You can get money from from YouTube or that's not what this is about. Let me share this with you before we get started. Since since we're on this Kelly and I were watching a TV a few minutes ago and of course commercial came on and it it showed the the commercial for the the Marvel movie the the Black Panther and Of course the leading character in that.
His first name is Chadwick and When I saw him I was reminded of how how young he was. So I looked him up and he's he was only two years older than I am and I remembered that he he died last year. He died last year of colon cancer and and just a I wanted to say fun fact.
But fun fact doesn't fit with us. The solemnness of the message there. But an entry interesting fact about Chadwick was that he is he was born in Anderson, South Carolina, and that's where he is buried.
Today.
But as I saw him and I saw his young life and Remembered how he he died last year of colon cancer. I reflected on How many folks are out there that are far from God you think about the folks that that are in Hollywood that that are Just they're just chasing after after fame popularity money.
Some of them try to tap into some type of religion, I guess to appease something in their conscience. You know that whether it's Scientology Mormonism Jehovah's Witness. You know a lot of stars are among those religions.
They're agnostic they're they're atheist and and then I think about The majority of folks that that go to church now I know one of the one of the things that I don't want to say it one of the one of the paths that that Has been taken by people amongst our generation and in generations before us in the in this modern era is is this this idea of Growing up and then leaving home sowing your wild oats creating your own family having children and then They're again trying to appease something in your conscience.
You and you decide well, I need to get back in church or I at least need to get my children back in church. But there's no relationship there with God. There's no desire to worship him and and be with other believers and and serve him.
It's just a pattern that was that's so common that Young people grow up Sow their wild oats get married Have a guilty conscience maybe and feel like that their children Need to be in church. But they themselves sometimes don't even go they just try to get their children in church.
Yeah, all these thoughts roll through my mind when I when I saw this young man that died last year from colon cancer and and all the different beliefs that that are out there and and how many that are still far from God that are even Involved in our churches which Reminded me of how important it is for us to share the gospel to share the love of Christ his grace and mercy and To do things like this where we share God's Word is so important because If they if they die without Christ then they will be without him forever and We want folks to know Christ and have a relationship with him and have life in him and we want them to Live with him forever and not face the alternative which is God's wrath.
And so those are the thoughts that that went through my mind as I saw that young man in that commercial that died last year. That so many thoughts and religions and beliefs out there and and in America We have we have Created a place where everyone's opinion is is Relevant to them and it's okay for them to have their own thoughts and opinions.
It's as long as it's right for them and and we just we can't Accept that truth. There's only one truth and it's the truth of the Word of God and there's only two destinations there's only two ways to live in Christ or without Christ and People need to hear that message if you if you love God if Jesus is precious to you and you love people.
They need to hear that message so I Hope you will join me and we we do this together. We do this with our churches. We do this together outside of church that we are reaching people for Jesus. Because we who want to glorify him.
We love him and we love people so. With that being said, that's why I want If you desire to share the the video. So now let's jump into Isaiah chapter 11 because this is what Matthew is referencing in Matthew chapter 2 verse 23 Jesus grew up in Nazareth and he was known as a Nazarene.
And why did he have to do that? Jesus had to fulfill of course all the prophecies about the Messiah that were found in the Old Testament and and one of those prophecies was here and there's also other references of Jesus being a branch.
Isaiah 11 of course here Isaiah 53 Jeremiah 23 verse 5 Jeremiah 33 15. Just I meant to name a few of other references of the Messiah. Having the title he must carry the title of a branch. And so for him to do that he had to have been from a place he could have been called a Branch he was called a Nazarene.
Someone from from the branch. It's very difficult to think about how to how to say that but He had to be from somewhere where he could be called a Nazarene the branch. Because the Messiah had to carry that title to fulfill these prophecies and it makes you think about how how wonderful and amazing how powerful how smart God is to have Orchestrated all these different minute details for all these prophecies hundreds and hundreds of prophecies to to be fulfilled exactly in Jesus Christ and and you know We're just looking and we're just starting here in Matthew 1 and in Matthew chapter 2.
Just a few of those prophecies that we would looked at are just simply amazing. We've referenced already the the other. The other prophecies that that Matthew mentions the the first one that he mentions was was the prophecy about Jesus being from Bethlehem and.
The second one was the the prophecy of the Messiah coming out of Egypt and then the the third was the the prophecy of Rachel hearing mourning from Rhema and and Rachel weeping over over her children and then the fourth prophecy here is in verse 23 of the branch and.
You.
What we have to do in our mind is is paint this large picture of what is actually going on. And make these words come alive in our mind and paint this huge picture so we can somewhat get a grasp of the magnitude of of the Orchestrating that God did to make all this happen.
That.
Mary and Joseph were from this area in Nazareth. But God had it planned where there would be a census Which this type of census didn't normally happen. But this type of census Called everyone to go back to the their hometown the town of their fathers.
So that a census could be taken so Joseph had to go back to Bethlehem and All that took to orchestrate that and then For the Messiah to come out of Egypt and for Jesus to fulfill that there had to be a reason for for Joseph and Mary and Jesus to to flee and leave Bethlehem to a place that was safe to go to Egypt.
And so that took place of course when Herod wanted to kill All the ones under two years old so that he could take care of this threat this threat that this this rumor that there was gonna there was a king of the Jews that what that had been born and Herod of course was the king of the Jews.
So there was this threat to him and his throne. So he had to take care of this threat which Led Joseph to take his family where it's safe so that Jesus could Fulfill the prophecy and come out of Egypt and then the prophecy of of Rhema.
A.
Voice coming out of Rhema of weeping and crying of Rachel. Rachel being Jacob's wife. And Jacob of course God changed his name to Israel. So Israel oftentimes represents the whole Jewish nation. Sometimes it just represents the northern kingdom.
Either way in this context in this verse Rachel being Jacob's wife represents the mother of the nation. And and why specifically Rhema. Well when. When Israel broke covenant with God He promised that that he would bring someone bring a nation to Take them out take them into captivity and.
So.
From Judah in the south and and Israel in the north Rhema is is somewhere right there around the border and this is the place of Departure where they would they would bring them all and they would depart from Rhema and Be exiled out of their home.
And so the the mothers being represented by Rachel Weep for the children of Israel because of the deportation because of the exile. They were taken out of their home and then here fulfilling this prophecy of the Messiah Rachel the representative the the mother of the nation of Israel Now doesn't cry for the deporting of the children of Israel she is now mourning and weeping the deport the deporting the deportation of the Holy One of Israel the Messiah being deported out of his home to Egypt.
And God is orchestrating all these things to happen. So these prophecies can be fulfilled specifically and Then of course we have our final one in verse 23 where Jesus fulfills Being known as the branch the sprout the shoot and of course The verse reads in Isaiah chapter 11 verse 1 then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse and a branch from his roots will bear fruit so so there's the the introduction of while we're here and And in glorifying God for what all that he has done.
And now we I want to make just a couple more points about the Obscurity of Christ and his growing up. That we can pull out of these passages in the in the Old Testament and also back in Matthew. If you if you look at Isaiah chapter 6 you see where God Cuts down the the tree and all that's left is is a stump and we see that in Isaiah 53 That is where it's referred to it's referred to a stump as well.
And so out from this stump you will have this this shoot That will that will spring up From the stem of Jesse from this from the stump of Jesse. So this Here we have to paint this big picture just to grab us get a small grasp of what's going on.
You have this this large tree the large tree, of course represents the this mighty nation this line of Jesse where you have King David as his son and this large tree with with large branches that that covers cover so much ground and This this large tree with this this large trunk God cuts down and all that's left is the the shoots the small shoots that came up from that tree and Isaiah goes on to say that the shoot grows from dry ground.
This shoot grows in a place where no other plant can grow. Only this shoot any other plant would die. But this shoot grows from from dry ground and this is where we get the concept of the of Christ and his kingdom growing in obscurity where you had once had this large tree that was massive and In this this lineage think when you think about a family tree From King David you have this massive Important lineage that's why the the trunk is so strong and so massive and covers the David's a nation covered so much ground.
But yet it was cut down to non-existence to where all you have left is this stump and that around the stump is Just simply dry ground where nothing else can grow. But yet out from this dry ground coming out from this stem this this stump is a branch which is going to bear fruit and the kingdom from this shoot from this sprout is Going to grow into a kingdom From dry ground where nothing else can grow into a kingdom That fills the whole earth and last forever.
Isn't that amazing how God works? If we go back to Matthew, this isn't one last point on the obscurity of Christ if you go back to Matthew and It if you look in chapter 1, of course, we we covered the genealogies in in a past video but it's there's something interesting to notice and this is related to the the tree representing the the lineage of Jesse and King David and how you how important and Noticeable that tree would have been.
If you look at the genealogies that that Matthew give us gives us in Matthew chapter 1 and you follow the names Follow the names from from the beginning and Follow them down until you get to of course Jesse and you get to David think about that that massive Lineage that massive tree family tree and then you get to a guy named Zerubbabel and from the beginning of the list until Zerubbabel if you will go to your references and Look up each one of those names.
You can find a reference you can find that individual in the Old Testament. But here's something interesting. After you get past Zerubbabel. You'll find this gap of.
Silence.
Where you can't find a reference to any of Christ's lineage. After Zerubbabel. So here you have this massive Lineage this massive family tree. That's so strong and powerful. But God cuts it down and then there's this shoot that springs up.
Not from this massive lineage creating this family tree but from Jesse from these.
Unknowns.
Comes this shoot that grows in dry ground. So we see how Christ grows from a lineage of obscurity.
Of.
No, nobody's. We we know their lineage because the the Jews were. They were they were good at keeping their lineage and their family trees and and who they belong to. But the strong family lineage the strong family tree was not the one it was.
It came from the gap the unmentions in the Old Testament. So we see there another example of Christ. Coming from obscurity. Think about. Think about Christ as that shoot growing. In a place where nothing else can grow and and just just making a practical point.
The the growth of and I'm transitioning from from Christ to his kingdom here. So the growth of God's kingdom Does not depend on Good soul. The the growth of God's kingdom the gross the growth of Jesus's kingdom does not depend on Good soul.
So in our day and time when you watch the news when you look at the newspaper. When you when you look around you and see what's going on. Don't be discouraged. Don't be pessimistic because Christ's kingdom Does not need good soul to continue to grow.
There is a promise that his kingdom is going to fill the whole earth and that it's going to last forever and The world around us may look like dry ground. How can God's kingdom grow? I Think it has been referenced here recently.
There was a famous pastor whom I love and respect but the quote coming from him. Supposedly he's saying that we lose down here and that we are on a sinking ship if we are in God's kingdom if we are in Christ.
We are we are in a ship that that will never sink. They said the Titanic wouldn't sink and it did but the ship that we're in. If we're in Christ, we're in a ship that will not sink. This ship will not go down it will continue to grow and it will last forever and You can we can look around this world and see all the dry ground around us.
But God doesn't need good soul to grow his kingdom. He is going to continue to grow his kingdom no matter what the circumstances that you see around you. So don't be discouraged. Don't be pessimistic.
Keep your eyes on things above keep your eyes on Christ. Because that promise will be fulfilled in Christ. Two other references if you look at mark. And Going back to the going back to the the theme of Christ's kingdom growing in obscurity.
Mark chapter. Mark chapter 4 starting in verse 26. Jesus says to her I'm in John. I'm sorry about that. I should have all these places marks enough. Mark chapter 4 starting in verse 26. And he said Jesus saying the kingdom of God is like a a man Who casts seed upon the soul and Remember, we just talked about that Christ doesn't need good soul.
But he's telling us what the kingdom is like. He's like a man who cast a seed upon the soul and goes to bed at night and Gets up by day and the seed sprouts up and grows. How he himself does not know.
The soul produces crops by itself first the blade and then the head then the mature grain in the head. But when the crop permits he immediately puts in the sickle because the harvest has come. Christ is going to grow his kingdom and we not we may not be seeing how it all operates and and the mystery of How God is working?
But it is growing and it will grow. Even if we don't see it. That's why we can't focus on the dry ground around us and then of course like the the verses we referenced last time in in verses 30 through 32 and Jesus said How shall we picture the kingdom of God or by what parable shall we present it?
It is like a mustard seed which when sown upon the soil. Though it is smaller than all the seeds that are upon the soul yet when it is sown grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and Forms large branches so that the birds of the air can nest under its shade.
And we talked about that last time how the kingdom of God started out small and now it does fill the whole earth and it is filling the whole earth with millions and millions of followers of Christ and How it grows we may not know.
But we can trust that it is Just a few other points just a few other ways that um Christ's kingdom grows in obscurity or How mysterious it can be sometimes? You can look at Matthew Matthew chapter 24 verses 36 through 44 and and Jesus is saying of that day and hour no one knows.
God.
Leaves many things in this kingdom and how it operates as a mystery. And first Thessalonians 5 1 through 3 The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 2nd Peter 3 10 day of the Lord will come like a thief.
And Revelations 3 3 I will come like a thief. You will not know What I have. What hour I will come to you? So there's a lot of mystery there's a lot of unknown there's a lot of things that we don't see.
But we can't get pessimistic. We can't get discouraged. What you need to keep our eyes on Christ. Now, let's continue in Matthew. Matthew. Isaiah chapter 11, but the passage that Matthew references as the fulfillment there Matthew here fulfillment of Isaiah chapter 11.
Looking at verse 2 and hopefully these next few several verses will go a little bit quicker and the spirit of the Lord will rest on him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding the spirit of counsel and Strength.
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
This is this is describing Who this Messiah will will be that he will be? Anointed by the Holy Spirit Isaiah goes on to say in chapter 61 that in as the Messiah will fulfill That the Spirit of the Lord is upon me that's a Going to be fulfilled in the Messiah.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and Then Luke chapter 4 verse 1.
Says.
Jesus.
Full of the Holy Spirit. So there Jesus. And Luke is giving Evidence that he is fulfilling this prophecy because Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit. He is the anointed one and he is full of the Holy Spirit.
And then Luke chapter 4 Continues on right there following that passage of that text Referencing back to Isaiah 61 which we just read where it says that the Spirit of the Lord is upon me and Luke quotes Isaiah chapter 61 He says being being full of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit being upon me He is anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor to proclaim release to the captive sigh to the blind Free the oppressed and proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.
So this anointing this being filled filled with the Holy Spirit Produces in him This task this fulfilling this task to do these things. And then if we um, this is interesting how it's it's worded here, but if you'll Look at it like a sandwich Verse 3 Part a the the beginning of verse 3 and then verse 5 part B the the second half of Verse 5 it kind of shows the the character of the Messiah that will come.
Verse 3 part a says and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. And verse 5 part B says and.
Righteousness will be the belt About his loins and faithfulness the belt about his waist. This is showing his character and who he is and his relationship With God and how he how he views the Lord. And then we go on.
In the middle there verses 3 through 5. We're gonna see What he does as as the anointed one the one being filled with the Holy Spirit. We're gonna see what he does Along with you know fulfilling Isaiah chapter 61 in Isaiah chapter 4.
This is what This is what the Messiah will do. And again in verse 3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord and he will not judge. But what his eyes see this is so important. This is so important for us today.
He will not judge by what his eyes see. Nor make a decision by what his ears hear but with righteousness he will judge the poor and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the Earth and will stride the earth with the rot of his mouth And with the breath of his lips when he slay the wicked.
So when he when he's making his judgments when he is performing these acts. Listen what it says and how he says he does it it says he will not. He will not judge by what his eyes see nor make a decision by what his his ears hear.
And we are we are. We are accused even even if we don't don't do it of Judging with our eyes and judging with with our ears. We're talking about the the the great sin of Racism that has always been around.
It's still around today, but Let me proclaim this this is how Jesus as a Fulfilling of Old Testament prophecy showing that he is the Messiah the anointed one the promised one to come.
Fulfilling.
These prophecies and how he worked being full of the Holy Spirit. This is how God operates. That Jesus when he judges he does not judge by what his I see like. That's where that's where racism comes from.
That's where All these other Judgmental Aspects of who we are. It comes from what we see and what we hear with our ears. Then we make judgment calls about our preferences about we what we like what we don't like but this is not how the The Holy One of God the anointed one the Messiah.
This is not how he judges he does not not judge with what the I see and What's so important for us to remember as Christians as Jesus was called a Nazarene carrying that title of branch. If we are in him we have been grafted into that branch and therefore we are Nazarenes and being in him as Christians again, I said this in a previous video.
We are not a part of this world system where Many even many Christians claim that there is. We are guilty because we are a part of this system we are guilty of systemic racism because this system is Racist and since we're in the culture and in that system and we are a certain Type of person that we are just naturally Racist because we fall into that category and we fall into that system, but let me tell you Christian Who we are in Christ if we have been grafted into that branch.
We are ourselves a Nazarene a branch. We are from Nazareth we are from Christ and in Christ and in Christ just like him. We do not judge with what the I see and we do not judge. We do not make a decision by what the ears hear.
That's not how we judge. That's not how we look at people. We look at people in and through Christ and his eyes and we are not a part of Any system of this world we are part of the kingdom of God. That's how he operates and that's how we as his followers that's how we operate.
So with that being said I'm gonna move right along.
Again.
Matthew 23 is a fulfillment of this passage. Isaiah chapter 11 and Here's an interesting passage these next few verses are very interesting because it has to do with how you interpret it and And how you view eschatology or in times and of course that's a subject that I've I've hit on in the past in in other videos and You may be familiar.
You may have not Not remembered where they came from like I do sometimes but you may be familiar with these verses once we read them and how they are related to in times and and eschatology. But looking at verses 6 through 7 and The wolf and a lot of people think this says or used to say lion.
But it's always said wolf and the wolf will dwell with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the kid and the calf with the young lion and with the Fatling together and the little boy will lead them.
Also, the cow will and the bear will graze. They're young will lie down together and the lion will eat straw like the ox. So I'm sure you're familiar with that passage. You've heard it before and you know how it relates to in times in the end in in the last days.
In the new kingdom in the new heavens a new earth. The the animals will they'll get along and they won't be devouring each other. And I would told I totally agree.
With.
The fact that that picture is accurate when when all things are said and done and all this the the last enemy of Christ, which is death is done away with and And all things are completely made new. Yes, all animal kingdom Will get along as as it's portrayed and as it is it as it reads here all Mankind all animal kingdom and mankind and animal kingdom will all get along When all is when all is redeemed in in the end.
But we can also look at this In a different light understanding it in its context because what we just read from verses 3 through 5 Was that this is how the Messiah is going to deal.
Man.
How he will be a judge how he will be a fair judge. How he will strike the earth with a rod and Rod of his mouth breath of his lips. He will slay the wicked. So he's dealing with people in verses 3 through 5 and so in the context.
It's possible that the this Picture of these animals getting along is a is a picture of the nations of the earth growing in peace In here in this new kingdom as it grows as God's kingdom as the kingdom of Christ Grows and fills the earth.
Peace will come with it and so the the peoples will get along In Christ and I need to make that point and reiterate in Christ is where there's peace just because there's Christians here on the earth and the kingdom is growing and If if you are still outside of Christ, or if a nation is still outside of Christ.
Of course, there's gonna be enmity and and there's not gonna be peace. But that peace is going to be in Christ. And of course, it's going to spread and grow until it fills the whole earth. So apart from Christ, there's no no peace and we can look back at Noah and of course Noah being in the Old Testament is going to point himself and and his That story of the flood and Noah points to Christ one way is that when Noah was building the ark and and he finished and he covered the the ark with pitch or tar.
The same word that is used for for pitch and tar is the same word that is used for atonement and It points to Christ as he as he how he is our our pitch our tar and and seals and protects and saves us he atones for our sins and Saves us from the wrath of God and I think another way that we can view Noah in light of this text with with the animals, you know, it was a supernatural thing.
That God brought all the animals that he wanted to save into the ark. God did that God brought all those animals that he wanted to save into the ark. It was a supernatural thing and I also think it was a supernatural thing.
And if you've ever been to the the ark encounter in in Kentucky there with answers in Genesis and the the the Creation Museum. They have portrayed how Noah had a place and a system to take care of each of the different animals but even if that was the case where Noah had a place for all the Individual animals to stay and live while they were in the ark.
I Still believe it had to be a supernatural thing for all of those animals to live. That amount of time and that confined space and and they didn't tear each other apart each other and the animals didn't Destroy man while they were in there.
I believe that aspect of it too was a supernatural thing. And so this this picture that that Isaiah is using of the animals getting along together Is a picture of us of a supernatural work. That God is doing in man where two nations that hate each other so much that they would They would as they would rather the other die.
Than do any anything good for them Would bring them together where they would live in peace. Oh. One verse that we can look at. We can go back to Isaiah chapter 2. Starting in verse 1 it says the word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem verse 2 now.
Be careful and not skip over these words. When you're thinking about eschatology or interpretation. You can't skip over words. Verse 2 starts out with the word now, and I just wanted to reiterate that now it will come about that in the last days.
All right. I want to skip just a little bit and go to verse 4 and he will judge between the nations and will render decisions for many peoples and they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks and Nation will not lift up sword against nation and never again.
Will they learn war? This is what this is what the kingdom of Christ is is growing and is and is creating in this world a place of peace and Remember we can look at all the dry ground around us and how bad things are.
But the sprout the shoot from Jesse's stem Grows in dry ground where nothing else can grow and it grows in obscurity, but it's a kingdom That will last and will fill the earth and we can bank on it. We can trust in it.
If you look at Ephesians. Ephesians chapter. Ephesians chapter 2. Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 through 18. Listen to this. Therefore remember that formerly you he's speaking to his audience. Remember that you the Gentiles in the flesh who are called uncircumcision by the so-called so-called circumcision.
Which is performed in the flesh by human hands. Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ. Excluded from the Commonwealth of Israel and Strangers to the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus.
Did you skip over that word verse 13? But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been Brought near by the blood of Christ for he himself is our peace. Who made both groups? Wolves and the lambs both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall by Abolishing in his flesh the enmity which is the law of commandments contained in the ordinances that In himself he might make the two into one new man.
Thus establishing peace and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
For through him we both have our access in one spirit to the Father. That's what Christ came to do to bring people who hated each other together and make them one. To make us one. That's why we don't judge with our eyes it when we're in Christ.
When we see through the eyes of Christ and we judge as he judges. We look at our fellow man as our brother and sister in Christ if they're in Christ. They are our brother and sister. Now verse 8. Since we've looked at the the animals Having peace with one another and what that may represent.
Verse 8 is interesting as well it says. And the nursing child will play by the hole of the Cobra. And the weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. They will not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain.
Okay.
So there's there's a child playing around the hole of a Cobra and The weaned child will put his hand on the viper's den. Notice what the verses don't say. The verses don't say anything about the Cobra or the viper Being there.
It just references the hole and the den of the Cobra and the viper and the child playing around it if that's the case. If that's the correct interpretation and I'm open to be corrected and there's many many folks out there way smarter than I am.
But if that's the case that the children are Playing in an empty hole that was formerly occupied By these snakes. What is going on. What is that a picture of possibly two things possibly both things. The first option John chapter 12 verses 31 through 37.
Just as he is Known in Genesis. He is referenced here in John chapter 12 Satan as the serpent and That language that I that I don't want us to miss. And I apologize for continuing to flip. I should have all these passages marked but um.
John chapter 12 verses 31.
Now.
We cannot skip over these words. These words are so important and this word now continues to come up in our verses. But this is going on at that time right. Then verse 31 says in John chapter 12 now Judgment is upon This world.
This is Jesus speaking Judgment is upon this world now again. Now the ruler of this world shall be cast out and who was who was. Thank you, Tim, I appreciate that. I Hope it's correct. Well, it doesn't matter what I hope I Want to have a correct interpretation.
And and if I'm wrong, I hope. And of course, there's gonna be many folks that disagree but I Hope to find that out if I'm interpreting correctly or incorrectly. But John chapter 12 points out.
Very.
Clearly that now judgment is on the world and and now the ruler of this world shall be Cast out. And who was who was the ruler of the world? The serpent Satan. And if he's cast out, where is he no longer?
He is no longer in his home in his den in his home. So the child can play without getting bit because the ruler of this world the serpent has been cast out. Isn't that amazing what Jesus has done and how we can live in the new earth without the ruler ruling as he did deceiving the nations.
And the child can play around the hole around the den and not get bit. And then the other option and it could be. Either and it could be both. Luke chapter 3 verse 7. There's a group of people that are referenced as serpents and.
Maybe you're thinking about who that group of people is. It says you brood of vipers. The I believe it's the leaders. I'm not sure I was reading it. I think I don't think Luke is is specific. It says that the crowd is there and he speaks to them.
He says you brood of vipers who warned you. To flee the wrath of God to repent who warned you. And he's he speaks to them and calls them you brood of vipers. Here's a group of people referenced as serpents as vipers just like in Isaiah.
And Who do they represent? They represent Israel the nation of Israel the Jewish people at that time and. Just like the Jewish people over and over and over again. Broke covenant broke covenant broke covenant at this time.
Jesus. Remember what John says now judgment has come into the world.
Luke.
Says here in chapter 3 right after. Right after that verse where he calls them a brood of vipers in verse 9 he says the axe is already laid out where at the root of the trees and It goes back To where the the tree that they have built that they have grown.
At the root, there's an axe laid and is going to be chopped down thrown away thrown into the fire And burned up and it's this dead religion that cannot save this religion of works this religion that the the Pharisees that and the Sadducees and all the other Jewish leaders were.
Were leading the people to believe that to be right with God you had to to follow all these commands. Their way and how they understood it not God's way but their way and this dead religion. He said you you.
You. Jesus said to them you make People twice the sons of hell that you are. I think I quoted that correctly. Correct me if I'm wrong. They were leading people to hell and The axe was already laid to chop down this tree but Isaiah 11 says That a shoot will come up from a tree that has been chopped down and it will grow from dry ground where no other plant can grow and It will grow into this massive kingdom That will fill the whole earth and last forever.
And then in verse 9 of Isaiah chapter 11 They will not hurt or destroy him in all my holy mountain. For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord. Of course, we're fulfilling that today. With if we're following the mandate from our Lord Matthew chapter 28 verses 18 through 20 Jesus says all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Therefore go based on my authority go and preach the gospel Baptizing them and teaching them all that I've commanded you so there's our mandate to fill the whole earth with the knowledge of the Lord and Then going back to Isaiah chapter 2 where we were at just a few minutes ago.
Isaiah chapter 2. We're gonna read those verses that we we left out. Isaiah chapter 2.
Um.
Starting in verse 2 because we already read verse 1 now it will come about in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the Mountains and will be raised above the hills and all the nations will stream to it.
And this goes back to verses 6 and 7 where Christ is bringing peace and Bringing all the nations together and bringing all the peoples together and may and creating peace. And making us one people the mountain the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains and will be raised above the hills and All the nations will stream to it and many peoples will come and say come.
Let us come up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob. That he may teach us concerning his ways. The knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea and that we may walk in his paths.
For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem and he will judge between the nations and render decisions for many peoples. We think about the mountain here that will be far above all the other mountains.
That's also referenced if you will remember in Daniel chapter 2 where Daniel interpret interprets the vision of the statue made of all these different types of materials and each material represents a different nation.
And Then there's this.
Rock.
That is cut out from a mountain and Thrown at the feet of this statue and This rock that has been cut out that wasn't cut out by the hands of man. That was thrown at the feet of the statue and crushed every layer of that statue.
This rock crushed all those nations that were represented there and Then Daniel says that this rock Will grow into the largest mountain that there is and that's the mountain represented here in Isaiah.
The mountain that is above all the other hills the one that they all the nations will stream to to to hear the teachings of his ways so that they can walk in his paths. And it says. And the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
Now here's another aspect of eschatology or in times one interpretation uses this passage to say that there is going to that that Jesus is going to return to earth later to establish his earthly kingdom and he's going to reign in Jerusalem and that's why it says all people are going to all the nations are going to come to Jerusalem because that is where Jesus is going to rule.
But as We've seen Here and in other videos Jesus is ruling now. He has already ascended into heaven. He's sitting on the throne of David. Why. Because he's the king and where the king is. That's where the throne is and he's sitting on the throne of David and he is ruling and reigning and God says Jesus tells us in Matthew chapter 28 that all authority has been given to him in Heaven and on earth.
He already has all authority. Jesus is king right now of heaven and the earth and.
Hebrews.
Instead of this verse telling us that the nations will We need to look for this future rain earthly reign of Christ and in Jerusalem. We need to look at this this verse and say that these people are the nations are looking to her to Jerusalem In a different way.
In what way is that? Hebrews chapter 11 verses 22 through 24 says that there is a heavenly Jerusalem and that's where Jesus is reigning now. So the nations are coming to this heavenly Jerusalem Looking to this heavenly Jerusalem to its king So that they can learn from him and to walk in his ways.
So Christ is ruling now in the heavenly Jerusalem on the throne of David and as the kingdom is growing and He is bringing peace and he is making his people who were different people who hated each other He's making them into one and bringing peace among men.
He is We are looking to him Our King so we can walk in his path and and walk in his wisdom and learn from him and that's what Everyone will be doing as he he draws them and brings all the nations to himself.
And then the last verse verse 10 of Isaiah. Isaiah 11 verse 10.
For the sake of time. I'm not going to read.
The.
Romans passage. But Rome Isaiah chapter 11 verse 10. Then it will come about in that day the nations will resort to the root of Jesse the nations will resort to the root of Jesse and This passage and I'll also it's it's related to verses 6 and 7 where God is bringing peace.
But this this passage in verse 10 Paul references this passage in Romans chapter 15 verses 5 through 12 as Jesus this Messiah is The Savior and the God of the Gentiles. He is the the hope of the Gentiles is what it says.
So Paul sees this Passage Isaiah chapter 11 as speaking of nations and God bringing peace among nations in Christ and how Jesus is the hope of the Gentiles and Ephesians how he's made the two groups Into one and then the very last part which we which we touched on in the last video in part one Who will stand as a signal for the peoples and his resting place will be glorious.
Jesus is our resting place and we referenced this in the last video Micah chapter 4 verse 4 It says that the Messiah Which is Jesus is the fig tree that every man can sit under and not fear. We want to be grafted in to his branch and be a Nazarene as he is a Nazarene and See our fellow man as Christ sees man and Love men as God loves men and live with at peace With with men and share the gospel with men so that they too can rest under this fig tree rest in his kingdom.
Because as I mentioned before the alternative is Facing the wrath of God, but we can be in the ark of Christ with our sins atoned for and forgiven and Be safe and secure in him and sit under him without fear.
If you do not know Jesus Christ, I would encourage you to repent of your sins Apologize and turn from them and in faith turn towards Jesus Christ putting your faith and trust in him to save you to graft you in to his branch and be a part of his kingdom and he says he will cause you to Go from death to life.
You will be transferred as Colossians says from the the domain of darkness To the kingdom of his beloved son Kingdom that grows from dry ground where nothing else can grow to a tree that bears fruit That will fill the whole earth and that will never end.
I hope that was encouraging to you and Tim I'm gonna I'm gonna read this when I get when I finish and get off Because I've already gone an hour in 20 minutes. Thank you guys for watching. And and I if it was encouraging to you, I hope you will share.
I hope you will give me feedback on how I can improve our time together if I can pray for you. Let me know at any time. Let me know just send me a message. Send me an email. However, you can get in contact with me Just let me know That I can pray for you and how I can improve for God's glory.
Let's pray together Father thank you for the time that you've given us together to spend in your Word. Thank you for Jesus our fig tree. Thank you for Jesus our anointed Fulfillment the fulfillment of all the prophecies our Savior our priest our King thank you for your kingdom and letting us be a part of a Kingdom being in a ship an ark that will never sink.
Thank you for letting us be a part of a kingdom that's going to grow and fill the earth and Never pass away. Your kingdom is forever so father we worship you and give you glory and we give you praise.
Father we we want to pray for all those that are suffering from Disease and illness and kovat right now and the families that are that are struggling. We pray for the people in our nation. Help us to be help us to be kind Help us to give Father help us to share the good news of your gospel.
We pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you guys for watching remember that Jesus is King go live in that victory and I hope to see you soon and Continue to go out there and share the gospel.