7 is the perfect number of God. Here we are in the middle of our prayer challenge falling on the 7th day and we will be seeing the sign of God in the 7th chapter of Isaiah. God spoke 2500 years ago and he is still speaking….let’s find out!
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, “Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”Isaiah 7:10-14 NIV
Israel was racing towards the judgedment of God. No one believed it would happen. They were wealthy, fashionable, prosperous and happy. They only wanted to listen to the prophets who spoke about prosperity and the good times coming. They didn’t think they needed to repent. Prophets like Isaiah seemed extreme and outdated. Maybe even dangerous….
When we look at the context, the prophetic irony is not lost on us. God decided on the sign that he thought fitting to send a message to a rebellious nation. This nation was betrothed to God, but they prostituted themselves with idolatry, sexual immorality and greed. So, God’s sign to them that he was coming? ……
A virgin.
Purity. Innocence. Faithfulness. Waiting. True love. Hope.
All the qualities embodied by Mary were virtues God desired from his people.
The Isaiah 7 prophecy was given hundreds of years before Mary or Christ were even born. God sees the big picture. He is eternal and 1 day, 1 decade or 1 century are but a drop in the ocean. His character nor his plan change day after day or century after century. He stays the course. But, he keeps giving signs and he keeps speaking to hearts.
Judgement on the faithless betrothed was set. But, God made a plan for purifying and rescuing his beloved.
During Isaiah’s time, people would hear the prophet declaring the Word of the Lord and say, “Isaiah, you’re a liar! That prophecy didn’t happen right away. I don’t see any virgins having sons!”
Exactly. That’s the point. No one was worthy. Everyone was turning away. But, the true virgin would bring forth the Father’s one and only son and he would lay on him the iniquity of us all.
Jesus came, born of a virgin to show what God was wanting, a pure bride bringing forth life. Life and purity birthing love and hope. His people Israel were dishonoring God before the world. They were rejecting him like a faithless wife, laughing on the arm of another man at a party….and worse.
And the mockers kept mocking the coming of the Messiah. It’s all a fable.
A virgin having a son? That’s crazy! How could that happen? It would have to be supernatural.
Exactly. No other option but the supernatural. And for us to be purified and to produce God’s life? Only a supernatural move of God can do this. Life only comes from the Father, and the Father says all life comes from the Son.
But, God sought his children and his Son was born, at just the right time, so all things would be complete. Those who are born again are born of the Spirit and born of purity.
And Jesus is coming again, for a virgin bride. A bright and spotless church. So many of his parables reference the faithless virgins, the wicked servants vs the faithful ones. He is returning for the faithful. He is returning for the bride who is waiting in eager expectation.
In first Peter it speaks of the second coming of Christ and it specifically prophecies that people would mock and say “Where Is this coming that was foretold?” Here is what it says about the second coming:
“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.”
2 Peter 3:1-9
We live in a time not unlike the days when Isaiah and Jeremiah prophecied. Gods people are again faithless. Jesus asked, “When I return, will I find faith on earth?”
Many churches today are churches in name only. They bear the name of Christ, but they have forsaken the message of purity. They embrace impure lifestyles and say if God loves everyone, he will accept all sexual lifestyles. Beloved, how would you like it if your husband or wife slept around and expected you to be faithful? God expects a pure church that is uncompromising. He is still speaking, but he doesn’t speak with a forked tongue. He is not a liar and he does not change his character.
The Christians need to get out of the bed of the world. They need to stop thinking God will be pleased if they have more people in church, no matter what is taught. What good does it do to be in church, thinking you are going to heaven, but end up in hell? Pastors and leaders, stop compromising the truth.
The gospel accepts people as they are, but it changes us into who God made us to be, the bride of Christ- pure and blameless.
The refining fire is coming, then the bride will be ready for her bridegroom. God’s heart pleads for the bride to be ready. He longs for the day the virgin bride will be united in heaven with his Son.
I will end with this passage of hope:
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.””
Revelation 21:1-8 NIV
PRAYER-
Have you repented of your sin and turned to Christ? Have you experienced the new birth? Go before God With a sincere heart and pray this:
“Father, in Jesus name, I am a sinner. I am a sinner you want to redeem. You long for a relationship with me, but I have turned away from you. Save me from my son! Deliver me Jesus. Remove the stain of sin from my life and wash me white as snow. I want to be ready for your second coming. I want to experience your purifying gift of life and your forgiveness. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and write my name in your book of life. Show me what in my life displeases you and teach me to hate the things that are dishonoring to you. Give me new life in the name of your son Jesus who died from me and rose again from the dead, Amen!”
For the believer:
Father, speak to my heart. Create in my a clean heart, oh Lord and renew a right spirit within me! Cast me not away from your presence, Oh Lord. Take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me, the joy of my salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.
Father, help me to understand the beautiful gift of your Son and forgive me for treating it lightly. His sacrifice was poured out for me and so many times I live in ways that does not bring honor to you. Lord God, purify my thinking. Do not allow me be swept away by false teachings that permits sexual immorality and other sins and applauds those behaviors. Keep me safe from deception, in Jesus name!
Forgive me for participating in any mocking attitudes or talk about the return of The Lord. Forgive me for allowing any unclean thing in my heart or before my eyes.
Bring chastness and purity into my life by your power! Father, I pray that you purify the church of Jesus Christ. Purify those who call on your name. Convict church leaders of the sin of compromise. Convict all those who believe in the lies that sexuality doesn’t matter.
I pray for many to be loving, yet walking in truth. May your truth prevail.
Father, you want to birth life in me. Bring it forward. You want me to help others and shine the light of Christ into their hearts. Do this through me, I’m Jesus name. Give me courage!
Clarify my heart when the lies swirl around on social media and around my friend circles. Help me to trust the truth, in Jesus name, Amen!
Father, I pray that when Christ returns he will find faith on earth and that he will find it in my heart and home.
Revealed Ministries 