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Episodes
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Monday Dec 13, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
13 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 16
6 On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. 7 It will be a unique day – a day known only to the LORD – with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.
8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.
9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.(Zechariah 14:6-9)
“He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.” He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.”(Revelation 21:5-7)
As we saw in Isaiah 61 to 63, God has commenced doing a good thing through the Servant Messiah. At His first coming as a baby, this Servant Messiah ushered in the Year of the Lord’s favour. We live in that period of time now, and it will continue until the Servant Messiah, Jesus Christ, comes again in glory and majesty. He will take those obedient followers to the City of God. For those who reject Him and the free offer of God’s grace, there is the Day of Vengeance. Now in Zechariah 14, we get a different perspective. We get a vision of the Kingdom of God at that tie in the future. So let us take a flight with Zechariah, into the future to see what this Messiah’s Kingdom is like, where Jerusalem where mentioned, is in fact the New Jerusalem, the City of God!
God will be king and lead the battle (Zechariah 14:3)! The original hearers and readers of this letter would recall how in times past, God has done mighty things for them! Things such as the parting of the Red Sea in order to escape the rampaging Egyptians. Just as God caused the Red Sea to split in two, so says Zechariah, God will split a mountain in two, and leave a valley in the middle to escape their enemies! The Almighty and Living God is coming with His legions of angels and the saints! You can almost feel Zechariah getting caught up in the ecstatic vision! That day, as described in Zechariah 14:6-7, will be unique and special. That day is only known to Yahweh! There will be a special and unusual light! Zechariah 14:8 shows that there will be living water permanently. The old Jerusalem had poor water supply, but the New Jerusalem will have a permanent supply of Living Water! This day sees the end of the “Year of the Lord’s Favour” and leads in the new heavens and new earth we discussed a couple of days ago.
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Zechariah had to say concerning the Kingdom of the coming Messiah Saviour. What will Kingdom be like? What will happen to the enemies of this Messiah Saviour? What will happen to the followers of this Messiah Saviour? What relevancy does this have with Jesus Christ?
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Sunday Dec 12, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
12 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 15
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion –
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy
instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendour.(Isaiah 61:1-3)
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.( Luke 4:14-22)
Here the prophet Isaiah gives two contrasting certainties: “the year of Yahweh’s favour” and “the day of vengeance of our God”. The year of honour, as we shall see has already started. We don’t know when it will end, but we know that it will. The day of vengeance will be in the future sometime. Again we don’t know when that will be either. But we know it will all happen quickly, suddenly and without warning (Isaiah 60:22). Therefore people need to be ready and alert! The time of when it will occur is not known, but it is known who will end it – Almighty God.
The Servant Messiah speaks without being introduced this time, and is the preacher in the year of the Lord’s favour. This preaching is probably a referral to the rams horn that ushers in the Year of Jubilee as established in the Mosaic Covenant (Leviticus 25:8-55). The Servant Messiah’s preaching will usher in a time of grace, justice and freedom – just as the ram’s horn introduced the Year of Jubilee. The phrase to “proclaim liberty” is used in both the year of Jubilee and in this the year of the Lord’s favour. This proclaimed year of the Lord’s favour starts when the Messiah comes the first time and will cease when He returns again. The word “year” is not a fixed period of time as we know it, but is rather to be seen as symbolic of an extended period of time.
This Servant Messiah is anointed with the Holy Spirit of God. This Good News was to be preached to the humble, the poor and poor in spirit – the Good News is news of freedom, liberty, grace and justice! The comfort they will receive should the offer be taken up, is one of being released from condemnation for sin through the Messiah’s offer of forgiveness – that is grace! Because of this grace, three things will be occur for these people who have accept the offer, here referred to in Isaiah 61:3 as “trees of righteousness” : they will display or reflect the Lord God’s glory and splendour; they will be priests of the Lord God service; and will inherit all things!
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Isaiah had to say concerning the proclamations of the coming Messiah Saviour. What were these proclamations? How does this Messiah Saviour speak these proclamations and to who? What relevancy does this have with Jesus Christ?
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Saturday Dec 11, 2021
Saturday Dec 11, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
11 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 14
1 Open your doors, Lebanon, so that fire may devour your cedars!
2 Wail, you juniper, for the cedar has fallen;
the stately trees are ruined!
Wail, oaks of Bashan; the dense forest has been cut down!
3 Listen to the wail of the shepherds:
their rich pastures are destroyed!
Listen to the roar of the lions;
the lush thicket of the Jordan is ruined!(Zechariah 11:1-3)
So far in our Christmas journey, we have seen that the future is full of wondrous glory for the coming Servant Messiah and all those who choose to follow Him! It is a future of hope, joy, excitement, awe, wonderment and glory. But that is only one side of the future. In Zechariah 11, we come to another part of the future; the part of the future which is for all those who would reject God’s Servant Messiah. While Zechariah talks in picture language and symbols, the overall message is startlingly clear: those who reject the Messiah, will in the future be rejected by Him! But we are not given the full details here, but rather are told the why it will happen.
Here in Zechariah 11:1-3 we see this judgement coming. The strong barriers of the door are removed! There are no barriers strong enough to escape the judgment of God Almighty. Fire will destroy the mighty cedar trees (Zechariah 11:1), tall pines will fall wantonly (Zechariah 11:2) and fertile land will be decimated as will the places where lions inhabit (Zechariah 11:3). Why are the shepherds crying out in dismay and angst? Not for the land, the trees and animals! No! They were crying out in anguish because of their loss of income! They were too busy ripping off those the people they were meant to lead, rather than leading the people rightly and righteously. They were leaders only for what they could get out of the position they held. They were corrupt, deceitful and arrogant. How were the mighty cedars destroyed and barriers broken down? History tells us that the Roman Empire swept through Lebanon, subduing the entire Lebanese leadership & independent authority under its mighty power. To further illustrate this, Zechariah is asked to role play two Shepherds: a good Shepherd and a foolish Shepherd.
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Zechariah had to say concerning the rejection of the coming Messiah Saviour. How does Zechariah talk of this rebellion and how is it illustrated? What relevancy does this have with Jesus Christ?
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Friday Dec 10, 2021
Friday Dec 10, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
10 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 13
1 ‘Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;
and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labour on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendour.’ 6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.(Isaiah 55:1-7)
Recently we looked at the City of God which is to come. It will be a time where all those who have accepted God's invitation into relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, will live and worship the Lord God Almighty for ever! Who is this invitation for? This invitation to join is to all people of all races and nationalities! But they have to respond to the call! Have you responded to this call? It is still not too late!
“Come”, cries Almighty God through the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 55:1). Come! The gates to my City are open to all who believe! There is no entry charge, its free! This food is free for all! What is this food? It is mercy and pardon. Mercy from God and pardon for sin for all those who respond to the call God has put out. The invitations have been sent! Have you accepted this invitation yet?
This is the everlasting Covenant (Isaiah 55:5-6) or the new Covenant we have talked about and was proclaimed by other prophets such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Just as each of the previous covenants had a symbol to authenticate the agreement, so does this! Noah’s covenant had the rainbow, Abraham had circumcision and Moses had the sprinkling of blood. This new and everlasting Covenant will also have a sign! The sign is disclosed in Isaiah 55:13 as an everlastingly transformed universe! Amazing! This is the climax of Isaiah so far! Therefore, the Messiah Servant must suffer in Isaiah 53! This new everlasting covenant does not cancel the other covenants, but rather fulfils them. The result of the Messiah Servant’s work will be everything that Almighty God has promised, and all promises of God will find their Amen in the Servant.
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Isaiah had to say concerning the God’s invitation to the world via the coming Messiah and an everlasting Covenant between God and humanity! How does Isaiah talk of this Covenant? What are the details of this everlasting Covenant? How does this relate to the future promises of God? What relevancy does this have with Jesus Christ?
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
Thursday Dec 09, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
9 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 12
1 ‘Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labour;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,’ says the LORD.
2 ‘Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.(Isaiah 54:1-3)
You may recall back in Isaiah 52, Isaiah started talking about a great homecoming for all those who believed. Then Isaiah gave a picture regarding the sacrificial suffering of the Messiah Servant. Now in Isaiah 54, we see the reason for the suffering. We see that because of this coming Messiah’s suffering and subsequent exultation and vindication, that God will make a New Covenant with all the peoples of the world!
God has always kept the promises He made with people! Promises to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David were also kept by God! God is ever faithful and always true to His word! And here God reminds them through Isaiah of three promises or covenants He has made: Abraham, Moses and Noah.
Then Isaiah goes on to link those promises to the coming Messiah who is promised! God is going to make a new Covenant with people, through this coming promised Messiah – and God can be trusted to keep His promises!
In the podcast today, we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Isaiah had to say concerning the Messiah being God’s Promise – not just to Israel but to the world! How does Isaiah talk of Noah, Abraham and Moses? How does this relate to the future promises of God? How does How does any of this have relevancy for Jesus Christ?
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file
You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Wednesday Dec 08, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
8 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 11
1 Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime;
it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms.
He gives showers of rain to all people,
and plants of the field to everyone.
2 The idols speak deceitfully, diviners see visions that lie;
they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain.
Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd.
3 ‘My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders;
for the LORD Almighty will care for his flock, the people of Judah,
and make them like a proud horse in battle.
4 From Judah will come the cornerstone,
from him the tent peg, from him the battle-bow,
from him every ruler.
5 Together they will be like warriors in battle
trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets.
They will fight because the LORD is with them,
and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.(Zechariah 10:1-5)
During the time of Zechariah, the Temple was being rebuilt. The Temple, as you may or may not be aware, was central to Jewish worship. Indeed, central to Jewish life. But who would help give advice and solve the multitude of problems they were facing? Who cared about them? Well, Zechariah speaks into their situation with wise words. He has already likened the nation of Israel as being like sheep, and that God is their shepherd
“Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over his land. “ (Zechariah 9:16)
Throughout Zechariah 10, it is repeated again and again, that God will care for and bless them. But in order to receive the blessing and care, the nation of Israelites must respond appropriately!
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Zechariah had to say concerning the coming Messiah’s leadership. Zechariah call Israel to respond to God, but how are Israel to respond to God? How does Zechariah describer the leadership of the coming Messiah? How does any of this have relevancy for Jesus Christ?
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
7 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 10
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the war-horses from Jerusalem,
and the battle-bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.(Zechariah 9:9-12)
We have seen in Isaiah that the coming Messiah was a Servant Prophet, a Servant Disciple and a Servant King. We see this as we switch over to the Book of Zechariah to look at in more detail about this Servant King Messiah. Zechariah gives us a picture of how the Messiah will announce His arrival and what sort of qualities that this Servant King will have. He comes into Jerusalem on a donkey! The phrases ‘Daughter of Zion’ and ‘Daughter of Jerusalem’ are terms symbolizing God’s people who believe. It is a scene of exultation, excitement and emotion. The people recognize this man as their Messiah: their Servant-King.
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Zechariah had to say concerning the coming Messiah’s arrival as King. How does Zechariah describe the coming King? How does Zechariah foresee some the consequences of the coming of this King Messiah? How does any of this have relevancy for Jesus Christ?
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Monday Dec 06, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
6 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 9
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him –
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness –
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.( Isaiah 52:13-15)
11 After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.( Isaiah 53:11-12)
During the previous Servant Songs, we saw glimpses of the suffering this Servant who is both a King and Prophet will endure. Now in this section, this Servant Song we get the full picture of suffering and why He must suffer. This is how people will on the last day be consummated with God and attention is now back on him as Isaiah 52:13 states “Behold, my servant”.
Echoing previous passages of where the Servant is God’s. It is as if we are meant to understand that nothing that has been said before is as important as this passage. Without this passage of Scripture, none of the rest makes sense. Let us discover together why that is so.
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Isaiah had to say in Isaiah 52 & 53, concerning the coming Messiah’s sacrificial life. How does the prophet Isaiah describe the coming Servant who will be exalted, despised suffer silently and then give the greatest of surprises? How does any of this have relevancy for Jesus Christ? We discover how the aspects offered by Isaiah regarding the life of the coming Servant relates to the man of history we know as Jesus Christ.
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You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
5 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 8
1 ‘Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord:
look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn;
2 look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.
When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many.
3 The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.( Isaiah 51:1-3)
Here in the ancient book of Isaiah, we see that faith is nurtured by listening and hearing. People are encouraged to look back and see what God has done with just one man, Abraham! How from him came an entire nation! This bodes well for the future when all history is consummated – have faith in your God who will lead you into the next world! But for now, don’t be afraid of what other people will do – stay close to God, have faith in Him, trust Him patiently and live obedient and righteous lives. For as stated: “my salvation shall be for ever, my righteousness will never fail.” (Isaiah 51:6)
Then we come to a mounting anticipation with bated breath. Quickly the phrase “Awake! Awake!” is repeated, as if to give a sense of urgency. The exodus from Egypt, an event remembered well by the nation of Israel and alluded to in Isaiah 51:9-10, will be surpassed by a new age of righteousness at the end of time. All those “ransomed by the Lord”, those set free by God will enter the city of God with joyous singing which will be their crown! Sorrow and sadness will no longer exist! Gladness and joy will be triumphant! Alleluia! Despite many obstacles in the way, the Lord God will reign triumphant. His Messiah, His Servant will deliver you. His Servant, the Messiah, will be triumphant.
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Isaiah had to say in Isaiah 51 & 12, concerning the encouragement of the coming Messiah for the people of Israel and for the world. What form does this encouragement take? How does the coming Messiah inspire, reassure and support? How does any of this have relevancy for Jesus Christ? We discover how the encouragement, inspiration and support given by the coming Servant relates to the man of history we know as Jesus Christ.
Click or Tap here to listen to or save this as an audio mp3 file
You can now purchase our book about the story of Christmas by clicking or tapping on this link here which will take you to Amazon!
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
Saturday Dec 04, 2021
Partakers Christmas Thought
4 December 2021
Looking Ahead to Christmas – Part 7
4 The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.
5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears;
I have not been rebellious, I have not turned away.
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.
7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near.
Who then will bring charges against me?
Let us face each other!
Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!
9 It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me.
Who will condemn me?
They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.
10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?
Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light,
trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.
11 But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches,
go, walk in the light of your fires
and of the torches you have set ablaze.
This is what you shall receive from my hand:
you will lie down in torment.( Isaiah 50:4-11)
In this the third Servant song, we see now the obedience of the Servant. This coming Servant will exhibit obedience to God, of God and trust in God. This obedience is regardless of all manner of spite, evil, malice and bitterness which confronts the Servant. Part of obedience is that we the Servant is willing to learn. This willingness to learn is a lifelong learning as indicated in the phrase “morning by morning”.
What is His name? We find His name is Israel! Not the nation of Israel itself, but as a person who embodies all that Israel was meant to be and do. This Servant would glorify God in all His ways. This servant is a Prophet who is also a King. This Servant is a perfect incarnation of God’s light, covenant and salvation.
In the podcast today we continue looking ahead to Christmas and its consequences, by seeing what the prophet Isaiah had to say in Isaiah 50:4-11 about the obedience of the coming Messiah. How does this obedience give the Servant confidence, humility as well as determination? We discover how the obedience of the coming Servant relates to the man of history we know as Jesus Christ.
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