12th Sep 26 | 04:00
Studies by Book
Thu 09 Dec 2021
📖 Luke 23:24-25
Thu 09 Dec 2021 – God’s abundant blessing - Luke 23:18-25 - THE WILL OF MAN (11) - Bible reading: Isaiah 58:6-8
Even when we have chosen to go our own way, the Lord is still sovereign and He has turned it all around for our good. This is His love for us. We are not able to fully appreciate God’s love.
Our response to God is weak. Yet, the Lord is gracious and patient towards us.
Luke 23:24-25 So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. (25) And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
Matthew 27:24-26 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, " I am innocent of the blood of this just Person . You see to it." (25) And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children." 26 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
We have finally arrived at the time of the sentencing of Jesus. Jesus was condemned by Pilate to be crucified on the cross. This was the will of man.
Man has condemned God. We sat on the judgement seat and decided that God must die. Man, who is so finite and limited, took it upon himself to condemn the Owner, Creator and The Giver of life.
Proverbs 17:15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Pilate and all of humanity did exactly what has been said in Proverbs. We released Barabbas, the condemned man, and condemned the Just One. Aren’t we an abomination to the Lord?
God’s plan for man’s salvation, through the cross, was in process, even through the will of man. Yet, these two need to be seen separately. The outworking of God’s purposes and man to be accountable before God, for the choices of his will.
Man cannot be excused because God was working out His love for man. Man must realise that he is fully answerable before God, for his will.
God’s creation is glorious. Man and all of creation were created to be a reflection of the glory of God. We have fallen short of the glory of God and that is sin.
God’s heart breaks when He sees the evil that man has brought to God’s glorious creation. This evil we have brought about by doing our will and not God’s will.
Ezekiel 22:27 Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain.
The Lord is seeing that the prophets, priests, princes and the people are all doing their own will and causing all the oppressions in God’s glorious creation.
Ezekiel 22:29-31 The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. (30) So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (31) Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.
God is looking for those, who have the same concern that He has. His concern is that His glorious creation is being destroyed by the will of man. We have rejected God’s will and done our own will and have caused this sadness.
God is looking to see if there would be someone, who would stand in the gap and intercede. Someone who will feel the pain of God’s heart. Someone, who will see the evil in our world from the eyes of God. Will there not be someone, who will repent before God, on behalf of our people, that we have done our own will and not the will of God?
God’s word says that the Lord did not find anyone, who had His heart. Our heart seems to be inclined elsewhere. Since there was no one, God will pour out His anger upon the land.
Isaiah 58:6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
These are the people, we need to be.
Pilate went along with the evil plan of man but we need to be those who release people from wickedness, bondages, burdens, oppressions and yokes.
This is a spiritual battle, where we engage with our enemy, the devil, and we defeat him and crush his plans. We engage the enemy and lose the bonds of wickedness.
Matthew 16:19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
If we were to be the people that God desires us to be, then we will experience the abundant blessing of the glory of God.
Isaiah 58:8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Thought to ponder
Are you basking in God’s glory? Or is your life dry and listless?
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