God’s Spiritual Masterpiece – Platform (Isaiah 60:18-20) 8/14/2022
The Answer of the 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC:
God’s Spiritual Masterpiece – Platform (Isaiah 60:18-20) 8/14/2022
The word “masterpiece” from God’s masterpiece has the meaning, “the greatest masterpiece.” The antonym would be “a failure” or “a failed production.” What kind of beings were the humans that God created? The Bible says that life was created by God’s own image (Genesis 1:27), and it was a masterpiece that God was satisfied with (Genesis 1:31). How do we evaluate ourselves? Do we see ourselves as “classy” or “grateful?” Do we consider ourselves a “failure” or “useless?”
Following Adam’s corruption in Genesis 3, the world and its people are continuing to become corrupted and crumbled.
Why did the Israelites fall into slavery, captivity, and colonization and become nomadic people? It was a depiction of the lives that were separated from God, under sin and curses. There existed a great force in the background – the force of the corrupted spirits of Satan.
What must God do about this world and these lives? He desires to restore. That is why God sent His son as the Christ. He achieved what we call “salvation” (Matthew 1:21). This is the restoration of the original blessing.
What did this Christ do? He became the way for the lives separated from God (Prophet, John 14:6). By dying on the cross for us, he has freed our lives from sin and curses (Priest, Romans 8:1-2). As he resurrected, he crushed Satan’s head and destroyed all the devil’s work in our lives. He promises to give us victory (King, 1John 3:8). Now, he will work within us as the Holy Spirit so that our lives will become evidence that saves many others and a masterpiece.
Theologically, this process is called sanctification and glorification. “Sanctification” describes a state in which we are righteous and holy. “Glorification” means that the glory of God will appear in our lives (Romans 8:30). Ultimately, it is God’s desire, method, blessing, and conclusion for our lives to become His masterpiece. The first realization of that spiritual masterpiece is the platform.
- What does platform mean? The platform is a place where people gather, modes of transportation gather, and all streams merge. It is the source of all things.
1) God has saved us to be the ones who will enjoy heavenly blessings (Ephesians 1:3). It is the blessing of the source. Through one person, the blessing of God will come upon the family, children, others they meet, and the work that they do. Abraham held onto that covenant (Genesis 12:1-3). Isaac enjoyed this covenant to the point that the enemy acknowledged it (Genesis 26:29). Joseph, as a slave, in prison, and before the king, showed this evidence (Genesis 41:38).
2) God said he will revolve all things around his people. We can then save the world and save the church. Even when they were held as captives, God told them that everything will come back to those who hold onto this covenant. Nations and kings will return, crowds will return, sons and daughters will come, and all riches will come to glorify the house of the Lord (Isaiah 60:3-7). God can even change laws, policies, people, and environment for us. There may be temporary problems and hardships. However, they are not problems. We must discover greater answers and blessings through those things (Jeremiah 33:1-3).
3) Such individuals will ultimately change the culture of the world, and the stream of the future. That is why we call them, “the platform that saves the future.” One deacon Philip changed the spiritual flow of Samaria (Acts 8:4-8). The team that worked alongside the servant of God, Paul, overturned Rome and the world (Acts 13:1). Wherever they went, people came to them. They met Remnants like Timothy, Titus, Onesimus.
- There is something we must never be deceived by.
1) In the passage, God repeatedly promised “not anymore” three times (18-20). This was God’s promise, his declaration (Isaiah 55:11). This must be our confessions of faith (Isaiah 59:21).
2) Do not be deceived by three things. We tend to block God’s blessings. That is the channel by which Satan deceives us.
① Don’t be deceived by your past. Do not be caught up in your scars, failures, and incapability. God will do new things (Isaiah 43:18-20).
② Don’t be deceived by your reality. It may be your circumstance or environment. God has given us the key to heaven (Matthew 18:18).
③ Don’t be deceived by your unbelief. Satan will try to instill inferiority, competitive nature, anger, discouragement, and despair in you. This is the reason the Israelites faced failure in the wilderness. They were bitten by snakes (Numbers 21:4-6).
- What is the method by which God makes our lives into a platform?
1) “for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory” (19-20).
① Christ came as this light and glory (John 1:9-14).
When we reside in Christ and look upon him, he gives us strength. We must gain this strength.
② This strength is not just ordinary strength. It is the power of the light that overcomes all forces of darkness that is working in our lives and the world (Ephesians 6:12). Within this power, the glory of God will shine. When we enjoy this power, we can save ourselves, our families, our family line, the church, as well as the future.
② The time in which we enjoy this power is prayer (scheduled prayer, concentrated prayer, continuous prayer, 24 prayer). We must restore and train for the blessing of prayer in our personal lives. It is a time for you and God. All things that were bound by the darkness will return to you.
2) “They will possess the land forever” (21).
① This signifies the true blessing and true success that God gives when we look upon our eternal God. The blessing and success of the world is limited and temporary. However, the things that God gives are unlimited and eternal.
② The 7 remnants of the Bible, as well as all the people of faith enjoyed this blessing. Those individuals saved the world and the future. “The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation” (22). Poverty, education, disability, or failure did not become a problem. There were such individuals in America in the 19th-20th century (Lincoln, Moody, Wanamaker, Crosby, Edison). That age, America saved the world and commissioned out the most missionaries.
3) “I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly” (22). It is God’s time schedule. Do not be anxious, in haste, or quick to make judgements. Do not compare yourself to others or compete with others. Do not be discouraged when you don’t see immediate answers or fruits. What is important is your spiritual state today. The future has been prepared. God has a time schedule for each individual. Look forward to that time schedule and prepare yourself before God and wait (that is faith).
Conclusion – Look upon the Christ that became your life’s everlasting light and glory (only). Then, all of your things will become uniqueness. You will conquer the land and save the world (recreation). May we all become the platform established by this system.