Good morning all!
Father, we know that You have an abundance of all that is in heaven and earth. Whatever we need You can provide, whenever we are empty You can fill. Thank You Lord for watching over Your flock, for making us to lie down in green pastures and leading us beside still waters, Amen. You know the commercial, what’s in your wallet? Well, God has a different question, what’s in your cup?
Isaiah 28
Isa 28:1 KJV – Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!
When you wear a crown of pride you should be beware of sorrow, you who are high in life, the glory you experience will fade, this will all come to a head when you are overcome with wine.
Isa 28:16 KJV – Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
The Lord says I’m building something here that’s really valuable, it’s TRIED first, then it’s PRECIOUS, then it will become a SURE foundation: start believing today don’t waste any time.
Isa 28:17 KJV – Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
I’m determined to build more than the foundation, I start at the bottom and work MY way up: I sweep away everything that’s not true, and I completely clean out every nook and cranny.
Isa 28:18 KJV – And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
And what you thought was promised to the point of death will be no more, and the black hole you agreed with will NO longer stand; when I come through and clean it and you will walk over it.
Bottom line
Did you notice the stone is tried before it becomes sure? What’s sure? The same thing that’s you’re cup…it’s the real you, the true you. Almost every person spoken about in the bible was tried and doesn’t God say He chose them each to be an example for us? You think you’re going to be tried?
Rev 3:10 KJV – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Where do you live today? Earth? Congratulations…God’s going to try ALL who dwell there…guess that includes you and I. Truth is it includes everyone, they can belief it or not, follow Him or not…God’s faithful…He’s gonna do what He do. And why? To make us miserable? Ridiculous, He says right here in verse 17 the trial is going to sweep away the “refuge of lies”. Think about that for a second, a place of refuge is supposed to provide comfort and security and yet God says it’s a lie. What’s the lie? The wine in your cup, God said we’re OVERCOME by wine. What is this wine you can’t get enough of? The wine which produces a false sense of security? Respect…being right…elevated…critical…entitlement…retaliation. The passage is dealing with the cup that God empties and after He empties the cup He builds a building from the foundation up, odd pairing? The cup represents what’s for me and the building represents what’s intended for others. When I’m overcome with wine I’m self-righteous, I think I’m righteous because I find fault with others which makes me RIGHT and them WRONG. And with that kind of thinking who is allowed in my building? Everyone? Don’t be ridiculous, I have to determine whether or not you’re qualified in my building. Now, this passage was addressed to the church…the cup and the building was a mess so God came in and cleaned it up with a trial. Now I have a clean cup and a beautiful building, you know how?
Mar 14:36 KJV – And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. What’s in our cup? It is the will of Abba Father. He’s not Abba until we empty out our wine for His will, His righteousness. He said ALL things are possible, so maybe instead of us finding what’s wrong in others we find forgiveness instead…that’s sounds like the Father’s will to me. And what about that building?
Eph 2:21 KJV – In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: We’re ALL God’s building and we should fit TOGETHER, that would have to mean there are NO wrong pieces, NO missing pieces. Have you ever completed a puzzle and got down to the last piece? Is it complete without that one piece? Funny they’re usually different sizes, shapes and colors and yet once it’s completed it looks beautiful but if one piece is missing it looks wrong. Did you notice that the building GROWS into a holy temple? Hmm…doesn’t God dwell in a holy temple? Do building actually grow? What is it? A Transformer?
2Pe 3:18 KJV – But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. You’re the transformer…GROW in grace and complete the YOUR puzzle…don’t leave anyone out!
Point to Ponder
What’s in the cup? Mat 26:27 KJV – And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; Looks like we should drink ALL that’s in the cup…good and bad…so what’s the point? We should GIVE THANKS always…