Our Bible Verse this morning is found in the great Book of Isaiah. I especially want you Believers in Jesus, having accepted Him as your personal Saviour, to read it carefully.

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” The Lord God speaking in Isaiah 44:22.

“Transgressions,” the noun, means “rebellion,” spelled “pesha” in Hebrew. To revolt against the Almighty, what an affront to Divinity. And we’ve all done it!

“Sins,” that noun, means “missing the mark” when it comes to anything godly. Disobedience, which leads to great loss. It is spelled “chattah” in Hebrew.

We, both by birth and by practice, are rebels and derelicts when it comes to the things of the Lord.

But God the “Redeemer” (using the word that indicates that great “Kinsman Redeemer” thought in Jewish culture, Old Testament theology) has provided a way to deal with (to do away with) my transgressions and sins!

Through the Blood of Jesus we now know!

As in… “The Blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

But now to the word pictures today’s Verse employs. Specifically that of “blotting out” our “wrongs” as if they were as distinct as a “thick cloud!”

“Blotted out” (in Hebrew “machah”) means “to wipe away! To abolish or to destroy! One lexicon says “to exterminate!”

And “thick clouds” are those of the violent thunderstorm variety, extremely severe at that. We’ve all seen them. And at times feared them, I’d say.

God can dry up that storm!

And next, here’s the illustration that captivated me this morning … “and as a cloud, thy sins return unto Me.”

This noun for “cloud” is not as foreboding as the first. Hence the absence of the modifier “thick.” Several etymologists (those who study word origins and usage) says this word (spelled “anon”) can means “mists!” Like the “fog” on an early Spring day! “Morning mist” one Preacher explained it!

By “returned unto Me,” God means He will absolve, forgive, evaporate those sins as He does that for, those mists of the morning! The verb “return” actually expresses the Bible idea of “repentance!”

Again … all this because of God’s amazing Plan of Redemption!

Paul explains this best. Read the following little paragraph please …

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the REDEMPTION that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

God can clear the skies!

Clear the mist!

Here today with this Verse … even the weather can be a powerful illustration of my sin (and yours) … being taken away!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Oh, the Lesson Title …“Delete!” My laptop computer allows me, with one slight touch, to erase my mistakes! Yes, that little “delete” key! Do you get the picture? God, through the Death of Jesus on the Cross, can also “delete” our sins!

Gone!

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That’s what I call them anyway, “reversals.”

For example: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5 … changing tears into shouts!

Or God giving grace enough that Paul can truthfully claim: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10, weakness miraculously reversed into strength!

Or John Newton’s famous song even: “I once was blind, but now I see!” (Amazing Grace)

Come to think of it, God’s fist Biblical Act was bringing order out of chaos. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.” Genesis 1:2-3

My testimony can be added to the list, as well as yours dear Christian friend! “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1, once DEAD, now ALIVE in Christ Jesus my Lord! The “reversal” I’ll never get over!

Now I’ve discovered a new paradoxical Move of God, a “reversal” of gigantic proportions as we live our lives for Christ!

The “reversal” of Psalm 18:28 … “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.”

Christians in darkness?

Oh yes! “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, THAT WALKETH IN DARKNESS, AND HATH NO LIGHT? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay (lean) upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10

And when I am going through one of those inevitably dark times, it’s great to know that eventually … “the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.”

Folks, remember this verse, I mean get it “in your heart!” We just might need it in the days ahead.

Once again …

“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” Psalm 18:28

I’m quite sure enough has been said. The Holy Spirit will do the rest! He will “inculcate” this Truth into our hearts! (Latin: “in” meaning “into” and “calcare” meaning “to tread!” Dictionary definition: “to teach someone an attitude, idea, or habit by persistent instruction.”)

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Follower of the God of “reversals!”

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My focus this morning is the Prophet Elijah. Well, really it is THE LORD GODof the Prophet Elijah!

We are taking for granted that God provides for His Own. This is part of His very Essence. He delights in doing so, I believe.

Old Testament: “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: NO GOOD THING will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

And New Testament: “But my God SHALL SUPPLY all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

With Elijah I can see God both “creating” needs, and “providing” needs, looks like simultaneously, all according to His perfect Wisdom, His Plan and Divine Work.

One day, in a time of dearth … “The word of the LORD came unto Elijah, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by THE BROOK CHERETH, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt DRINK of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; AND HE DRANK OF THE BROOK. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.” 1 Kings 17:2-7

God provided the brook! In fact … food as well! Sustenance from God’s miraculous Bounty!

Then one day … “The brook dried up!” God “took away” the brook!

Like Job suffering said: “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21

But while Elijah’s brook dissipated, God was already at work on the “other end” of the situation!

The Word of the Lord to Elijah again: “Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there TO SUSTAIN thee.” 1 Kings 17:9

Problem solved!

Did God do this to show His Power to an ungodly world?

Did God do this to strengthen Elijah’s faith?

Did God do this to strengthen my faith, your faith? Yes, these thousands of years later!

Or did God do this because HE IS GOD?

Or, as they say, “ALL OF THE ABOVE?”

Back to the Lesson title … God working on “both ends” of the situation!

And I will guarantee you … He is doing the very same thing in your life this morning!

This morning!

Lamentations 3:22-23 … “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new EVERY MORNING: great is thy faithfulness.”

Amen!

God’s very Nature to His children … “Blessed be the Lord, who DAILY loadeth us with BEBEFITS, even the God of our salvation.” Psalm 68:19, “Selah!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The Bible actually begins with a work scene! God Himself is on the job, making the heaven and earth!

The day God created Adam, for example, He was at work. Getting His Hands dirty one might say! Yes, the first man was created from the ground, the dirt, the dust of the earth!

When God has perfected His Paradise in which Adam and Eve were to live, he gave them jobs to perform as well! This is before sin entered into the world, by the way! Genesis 2:15 … “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”

Come to think of it, when Jesus came to earth, the Virgin Birth, He was a carpenter! That’s work, for sure!

In this day in our Country when places of business are begging for workers, because people would rather depend on the government to clothe and feed them, I fell that the “work ethic” of the Bible again needed to be highlighted!

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Sure sounds like work to me … Colossians 3:17.

Now, a word to us Preachers!

Alexander Maclaren, pulpiteer of yesteryear, was up and at it … by 4:00 every morning … studying the Scriptures! He said that he would not still be resting in bed when the men of his Church were already on their jobs!

Work!

Was Paul a worker? Question asked. Question answered!

Will I be lazy in the charge God has given me? Or will I be diligent, industrious?

God smiles on work, proper work!

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, DO IT WITH THY MIGHT; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” Ecclesiastes 9:10, work while you can!

“I must WORK THE WORKS of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” John 9:4, so said our Lord!

Let’s be busy, until Jesus comes!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Well, certainly the Epistle of Hebrews does not forthrightly say “Written by Paul the Apostle.”

But to me there are enough little “signs” and “hints” along the way to strongly suggest Paul’s pen has again been active!

And one of them I’d like to present for your consideration today. It’s a “new” indicator to me …

HEBREWS CHAPTER 13

Clearly the main “argument” (or “theme”) of the Book ends at chapter 12. It’s last two verses …

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29, stay faithful!

Such bold exhortations pepper the Book, for example …

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Hebrews 2:1-3 … Be careful! Don’t let these things of Grace and God and Salvation “slip” or “drift” right by you!

Or … “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” Hebrews 3:12-14

Yes, looks like Hebrews 12:29-30 culminates those “encouragements” to be faithful, or “warnings” to be faithful.

Then in Hebrews chapter 13 Paul (I believe) does what he always does in his Epistles as they come to a close. He gives practical advice for living godly!

Like …

“Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:1-5

Paul, typically all over the place, with good, sound exhortation!

Well, I suspect I have changed nobody’s mind this morning. But I have at lest bolstered my own faith in the Word of God!

The Greatest Book Ever Written!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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