Humanity on Trial

Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I'm Pastor Sarah Tomlinson, and I'm thrilled you've taken the time to check out our blog. I love creating these posts because they condense our one-hour live services into engaging 15-20 minute summaries. Plus, you'll find additional insights here that we didn't have time to cover during the live sessions.

Get ready for some uplifting news! I want to encourage you to put your faith in Jesus as we believe together for breakthroughs in our lives. My prayer is that today's teachings from the Bible will have a profound impact on your life and draw you closer to God.

This blog covers our Wednesday Night Service from June 12, 2024. The topic of this blog is Humanity on Trial.

The book of Isaiah depicts the prophet as putting the people on trial with God acting as judge. It’s like a courtroom in heaven where Isaiah serves as both the prosecuting attorney and defense lawyer, and the Israelites are the ones being accused. This legal comparison is most clearly seen in Isaiah 1:18 when God says, “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” This quote points out their wrongdoing but also provides a way back—if they reconcile with Him, He will forgive them according to His justice and mercy.

Throughout this thread, there seem to be two sides of Isaiah: one that prosecutes sins committed by people before him, demanding accountability while pleading for compassion; and another that advocates for mercy where necessary, based on what God requires for salvation. This duality can be discerned in Isaiah 6:5-7, where, after coming into contact with divine holiness, he exclaims, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” However, upon realizing his own and others’ sinfulness, he becomes clean again and is sent forth to pronounce both doom and consolation simultaneously. Such understandings enable us to appreciate just how sinful humanity is but also that it can always find forgiveness from above, leading to newness in life.

What does it mean to you when Isaiah describes a heavenly court where God is the judge and people are being tried? Does the idea of judgment alongside possible redemption apply to justice as you know it in your own life? When have you had an encounter with being answerable for what you’ve done that ended up with pardoning or another opportunity?

Isaiah's Legal Metaphor

In this part of Isaiah, God wants to make things right with His people. It’s almost like He’s saying, “Let’s work through this together. I know you’ve really screwed up, but I can fix it all.” He sets out the conditions—even though they have sinned so much—He will wash them as white as snow. The legal stuff shows that He means business about what they did wrong; but at the same time, it shows that there is no punishment without correction because still, He would want to make things right again, not just punish them outright. It just goes on to show how God has both justice and mercy as part of His character in dealing with human beings.

This is the place where Isaiah assumes a dual role. He accuses them of doing wrong while seeking to reconcile them with God at the same time. As their prosecutor, he lists all the things they have failed in such as having idols and not keeping God’s laws among others. He wants them to understand how much trouble they are in with God. However, it is not only about blaming – he also wants them to acknowledge their sins and know what will befall them if they do not change. In this message there can be found both severe admonition but also possibility for returning unto The Almighty provided they show remorse.

Isaiah had a role more than just a lawyer. He pleaded with God to forgive the people and told them what they needed to do to reconcile with Him. Like in Isaiah 6:5-7, you can easily see him in these two roles. There he realizes completely how evil he is before God: “I’m doomed!” I cried out, “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” But God doesn’t leave Isaiah feeling that way. Rather He purifies him symbolically by touching his mouth with a hot coal from the altar to show that his sins have been forgiven and washed away. This life-altering encounter enabled Isaiah to intercede on behalf of the people imploring them apologize to God and return back to Him. The prayers for mercy and messages of hope by Isaiah indicate that God wanted restore His people give them fresh beginning It demonstrates that even though sin angers but still desires redemption should be redeemed.

Recognition of Human Sinfulness

Meeting the Heavenly Father helps people to be aware of their imperfections and sinfulness. It displays how much they do not match up with Him in any way at all. This truth is clearly seen in what Isaiah did when he saw God. The reality of this giant chasm between people filled with sins and mistakes on one side and a holy God on the other was driven home for him. He knew that before anything could happen, he needed to first confess his unworthiness.

If Isaiah had merely thought about it or considered it as an idea, his life would be unaffected by this knowledge of God’s holiness. But the prophet felt something more than just an intellectual knowing; something happened inside him when the Lord sat upon His throne, filling the temple with glory! “I am undone!” cried out Isaiah, “I am a man of unclean lips living among people with unclean lips too; yet mine eyes have seen King Yahweh of armies.” Because such purity shone forth from Who Is Pure Love Himself even unto impure hearts like ours…

This moment reveals the human condition in the presence of God; we understand our moral failures deeply and see ourselves as sinners. We also recognize our urgent need for healing and refreshing.

So the story doesn’t end with Isaiah being weighed down by hopelessness. Instead, it changes to a powerful scene where God’s mercy shines through. An angel takes a hot coal from the altar and touches Isaiah’s lips with it, saying “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for”. This gesture signifies that people can be made clean again by God. The coal represents both punishment and purification, thus changing Isaiah into a better person suitable for being a prophet. What this means is that it is not enough to acknowledge that we have done wrong but also allow God cleanse our inner beings so that we may become vessels ready to fulfill his purpose for our lives; thereby demonstrating how meetings with divinity can save even those who seem beyond redemption.

Reflecting on Isaiah's experience, how do you think encountering something greater than ourselves can lead to personal transformation and a sense of purpose?

Promise of Renewal and Redemption

All throughout the book of Isaiah, it describes that God will make everything new again. This gives people hope for what is to come because right now there is so much suffering and sin in the world. But even though the world is a mess right now, God has a plan to fix everything in the end. One part of this plan is that someday there will be new heavens and earth.

In Isaiah 65:17-25, it talks about this idea more specifically. It says that God isn’t just going to do a few touch-ups here and there; He’s going to completely remake creation from top to bottom. People won’t even remember bad stuff from before – their minds will be so blown by all the newness around them! And it’s not like this passage is saying “God’s gonna help you out when you feel down” either, no sirree. According to these verses, ALL OF CREATION will be made brand spanking new with NO MORE PAIN or SUFFERING!!!!!! Evil and death are donezo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Therefore, this assurance enables believers to have faith in God even if things seem to be going wrong now. They believe that He will one day fix everything anew and make sure nothing is left out. It’s deep. Not just a surface change—the whole universe transformed from top to bottom. A complete and total redo.

In Isaiah, what sticks out most is the idea of hope brought about by God’s commitment to recreate everything. When God says He won’t bring up old stuff, it means that people don’t have to worry about their past mistakes or grieve over lost time because they’ll be insignificant compared with what’s coming next. This outlook on future times provides an impelling source of strength for those who follow Him as well as a reminder that no matter how bad things may appear currently, they’re going to end up much better than anyone can imagine within His saving plan for humanity. The promise of different skies above us along with new ground beneath our feet acts like a lighthouse pointing toward expectation—so let us wait faithfully, trusting until stillness comes forevermore as promised by God but never realized until now, which makes sense only when read backwards from beginning till end.

The hope and transformation found in Isaiah’s vision of God making everything new, by bringing about a new universe and a new planet earth is very deep. My question for you is: What does the assurance that this world will be completely restored – with heaven itself coming down to us – mean to you personally?

So to summarize, think about your own sinfulness and desire for repentance. Consider how Isaiah’s response to the holiness of God applies to you. What have you done wrong? How do you need God’s forgiveness and restoration? Be honest with yourself about where you need growth, and let the truth of God’s holiness sink in alongside your need for His grace. This is necessary for spiritual growth and aligning our lives with what He desires.

When we realize that God is the judge and Isaiah is presenting both a case against people as well as asking for mercy—it changes how we view sin and redemption. Sin becomes even worse after seeing the righteous judgment of all actions by observing them seriously judged according to His standards. But also, hope arises again when listening closely while the prophet pleads on behalf of mankind, telling them what has been said by their Creator so they can be restored back into a relationship with Him. Justice must take place before love can cover a multitude of sins, thus leading us closer to Christ once more. Both sides could be used by an individual as grounds for personal transformation: Isaiah pleading before God's throne room may make one feel like there is no chance left except through grace alone. This should help us see that justice has to be served since it is only then that mercy can flourish.

Let’s end with a prayer asking God to make us new. Dear heavenly Father, we acknowledge that we have done wrong and that we need you to clean our hearts. Just as you touched Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal and took away his sin, so may you do the same for us through your righteous son Jesus Christ who tore down the veil. Forgive us please, and grant us another chance. Let us anticipate the days ahead according to your perfect plan knowing that someday everything will be made right by you. Pour out Your Spirit on us in order to guide our lives into alignment with Yours. Shape and equip us for service out of love and pity for others by Your grace alone. In Jesus’ name we pray these things amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Sarah Tomlinson

Healing The Brokenhearted

Volunteer Walkthrough - A Journey to Spiritual Freedom: Joseph's Experience

Joseph’s journey to spiritual liberty is an amazing account of belief, persistence, and divine intercession. During a recent mentorship seminar about Courts of Heaven, Joseph volunteered bravely to speak out what he had gone through in order to find solutions for the longstanding issues of spirituality. Many years earlier his way started with disturbing otherworldly experiences that made him feel as if he was being fought against and held down by something invisible. Still, Joseph managed to walk himself into freedom step after step without giving up hope or losing trust in God even once.

The Struggle

Steps to Freedom

During the mentorship event, Joseph took several crucial steps towards healing:

Acknowledgment of the Problem: Joseph narrated his traumatic stories and admitted that he had been under spiritual attack. This was his first stride in healing – being vulnerable.
Seeking Forgiveness and Reunion: He said that he needed to forgive those who hurt him such as his friend who practiced witchcraft and a pastor who neglected him in the past. By choosing forgiveness, Joseph allowed Jesus to heal his broken heart.
Prayer and Intercession: Pastor Timothy Tomlinson guided them through a prayer session where they brought back all painful memories asking Jesus for healing and restoration.
Trust in Jesus: In the whole session, Joseph continued putting trust in Jesus whom he requested to take away pain plus confusion associated with past happenings.
Commanding Demons To Get Out: As part of this process, based on prayer; Joseph commanded every demonic spirit which was within him or around him (in Jesus’ name) to leave for pit.

Divine Intervention

Jesus' response to Joseph's earnest prayers was profound and transformative. During the session, Jesus showed up in several powerful ways:

Healing the Injuries: Jesus dealt with each trauma that Joseph had told him about, bringing peace and healing to his heart. All bad emotions and dark presence connected with those events vanished.
Showing Light and Pointing the Way: Jesus helped Joseph to see things more clearly by affirming him innocent before sending him forth. This confirmation from heaven brought great comfort as well as feeling like being set free.
Demons in Chains: When Joseph commanded it, those demonic spirits got bound up then sent away thereby breaking their power over his life.
Reviving Hope and Giving Strength: Jesus put his arms around Joseph lovingly which made him feel safe again. After this meeting with God Joseph’s hope was renewed; also, he became stronger in faith than ever before hence he could now journey on spiritually fearlessly.

Conclusion

Joseph’s story demonstrates the power of belief in God and love for humanity demonstrated by Jesus. He achieved spiritual freedom by taking intentional actions towards pardoning, praying to God for help and relying on Jesus Christ. It is a realization that regardless of how hopeless one’s past may seem; there remains an opportunity for recovery through faith in Jesus Christ.

References to Additional Resources:

Websites

YouVersion (youversion.com): YouVersion creates biblically centered, culturally relevant experiences that encourage and challenge people to seek God throughout each day. It’s through these experiences we create opportunities fit for anyone’s daily routine, ultimately helping them form a spiritually-rich rhythm of seeking God intimately.

Online Courses

"Spiritual Warfare Training through Inner Healing": Offered by Pastor Timothy Tomlinson is a free online Christian training program designed to help individuals find inner healing and freedom through prayer and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.
"Self Deliverance and Spiritual Warfare Training": Offered by Pastor Timothy Tomlinson is a online Christian training program that provides guidance on how to heal the wounded parts of your soul, overcome demonic oppression, and address emotional distress, all in the name of Jesus.
"The Daniel Prayer Playbook": Offered by Pastor Timothy Tomlinson, the online Christian training program provides guidance on how to approach Jesus as a friend, father, and judge, enabling participants to gain freedom from the enemy and experience healing through accessing the Mercy Court of Heaven.