Already & Not Yet

Jesus came to Establish his Kingdom in our hearts

In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2 When the house of David was told, “Syria is in league with Ephraim,” the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind. - Isaiah 7:1-2

3 And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer's Field. 4 And say to him, ‘Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of these two smoldering stumps of firebrands, at the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah.” - Isaiah 7:3-4

7 thus says the Lord God:

“‘It shall not stand,     and it shall not come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus,     and the head of Damascus is Rezin. And within sixty-five years     Ephraim will be shattered from being a people. 9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,     and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. -Isaiah 7:7-9a

If you are not firm in faith,     you will not be firm at all.’” - Isaiah 7:9b

“10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”  - Isaiah 7:10-12

13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:13-14

The birth of Jesus resulted in the forgiveness of sin. The Return of Jesus will result in the end of suffering.

The people who walked in darkness     have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,     on them has light shone. - Isaiah 9:2     

 Our Greatest Need is the Forgiveness of our Sin not the discomfort of our Circumstances

“For to us a child is born,     to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,     and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - Isaiah 9:6

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace     there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom,     to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness     from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.