Rejoice: For In Thee, O Lord, Do I Hope: Thou Wilt Hear, O Lord My God - Part 2354

"Hear the Word of the LORD, ye that tremble at His Word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My Name's sake, said, "Let the Lord be glorified: but He shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed ..." (Isaiah 66:5)

Increasingly, the modern day religious culture is becoming akin to the religious establishment in the days when Jesus walked the earth. Similar to then, those who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith, and were subsequently water baptized in His precious, holy Name (according to the scriptures) were hated for standing up for scriptural truths. As Paul alludes, some were jailed and imprisoned for their faith. Others were beaten and thrown over cliffs. Moreover, believers were cast out of synagogues, as prophesied by the Lord Jesus. 

Sadly, the same situation is happening today, particularly by those religious who falsely teach a triad, three-headed, trinitarian god. Or present to their congregations that the One God who created us in the very beginning is now divided into three persons -- as in 1/3 of God does this, and another 1/3 of God does that. Those self-declared religious leaders who water baptize their parishioners in the titles -- and not in the "Name" that Jesus and the apostles instruct us to do.

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"

Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:36-41)

But thankfully, Jesus doesn't just tell us this will happen. In fact, Jesus goes further, saying, "Blessed [are ye] that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are ye] that weep now: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." (Luke 6:21-23) 

He tells us to rejoice when people hate you and separate you from their company. He tells us we are blessed -- when men shall hate us for our faith. In fact, if we look into these specific scriptures further, Jesus tells us to rejoice and leap for joy! Imagine the message that would send to those self-declared authorities who kick us out of their religious establishments -- watching us rejoice and leaping for joy!

As I read from both Isaiah and Luke, I thought of the scriptural example of the young dead maid.

"While He yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s [house], saying to him, "Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master." But when Jesus heard [it], He answered him, saying, "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole."

And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her: but He said, "Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps." And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

And He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, "Maid, arise." And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but He charged them that they should tell no man what was done." (Luke 8:49-60)

The same account of miraculous healing from Mark:

"While He yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, "Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?" As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, "Be not afraid, only believe."

And He suffered no man to follow Him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And He cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and sees the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when He was come in, He saith unto them, "Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleeps."

And they laughed Him to scorn. But when He had put them all out, He takes the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with Him, and enters in where the damsel was lying. And He took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, "Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, 'Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.'"

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And He charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat." (Mark 5:35-43)

In both accounts, these laughed Jesus to scorn. What did Jesus do? As He continues to this day to perform for His people who love Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength this day. That is, to turn every single situation (both good and bad) around for His glory. Herein, we see a miracle performed and the young maid brought to life. Herein, we also see Jesus separate the unbelievers from the believers.

Continuing in Isaiah 5:

"And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled: but the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is Holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: that say, "Let Him make speed, and hasten His work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!"

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from Him!

Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel.

Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against His people, and He hath stretched forth His hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcasses were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 5:15-25)

The Lord God Almighty (His Name JESUS in this current dispensation of grace) is still saying, "The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; where is the house that ye build unto Me? And where is the place of My rest. For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been," saith the Lord, "but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My Word." (Isaiah 66:1-3)

So the next time you are thrown out of a church or despised from the modern day religious community for speaking in the precious holy Name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, meditate on these things, rejoicing and leaping for joy, and remembering Isaiah 66:5 -- wherein the Lord shall appear for your joy!

Stand in the offering plate.