Godchaser Podcast
Join Evan Evans on The God Chaser Podcast, a weekly exploration of faith, spirituality, and personal growth centered on Jesus Christ. Evan, a devoted believer and captivating host guides listeners through engaging conversations and thought-provoking discussions that deepen their understanding of Christ and His teachings.
We delve into topics such as Christ's teachings, the power of prayer, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of community in spiritual growth. The God Chaser Podcast aims to inspire and challenge listeners, equipping them with the tools and insights needed to live a more fulfilling, Christ-centered life.
Whether you're a seasoned believer or just beginning your faith journey, The God Chaser Podcast with Evan Evans supports and nourishes your spiritual growth. Subscribe to Apple Podcasts and join us each week as we chase after the heart of Jesus, embracing the transformative power of His love and grace.
Godchaser Podcast
From Prophecy to Personal Expression: Discovering Jesus in Isaiah's Story and the Journey of Faith
Can you imagine discovering Jesus centuries before His birth? Join me, Evan Evans, as we embark on a profound exploration of Isaiah's prophecies on the God Chaser podcast, often heralded as the "fifth gospel." We'll traverse through the vivid depictions found in Isaiah, from the prophecy of the virgin birth to the majestic titles like Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. These prophecies not only paint an astonishingly precise picture of Christ's life and mission but also offer hope and insight into God's meticulous plan of salvation, helping us understand Jesus as fully God and fully man. We'll unravel the tapestry of immediate and future fulfillments, examining how Isaiah's words resonate with themes of justice, personal restoration, and cosmic renewal.
In another enlightening chapter, we explore the intersection of faith and fashion, discussing how faith-inspired apparel can be a bold manifestation of one's spiritual journey. This conversation encourages you to integrate faith into everyday life and recognize the blessings along your spiritual path. By exploring how the pursuit of God's presence can transform daily practices into a fulfilling lifestyle, we hope to inspire you to embrace your spiritual journey with renewed vigor. As we conclude, we look forward to engaging with more life-transforming topics in the future, encouraging you to keep your pursuit of God alive and thriving in every aspect of life.
Keep chasing after God
Welcome to the God Chaser podcast, where we pursue the heart of God and explore the depths of His wisdom. I'm your host, evan Evans. Today we're continuing our journey of discovering Jesus in every story of Scripture. Last week we explored how Elisha's ministry pointed to Christ through multiplication and grace. Today we're diving into what many scholars call the fifth gospel, the book of Isaiah.
Speaker 1:This isn't just another prophetic book. Isaiah's visions and prophecies provide us with such detailed descriptions of Christ that they read more like history than prediction. From the virgin birth to the suffering servant, from the child called Wonderful Counselor to the King of Kings, isaiah paints perhaps the most complete portrait of Jesus in the Old Testament. In today's episode we'll explore how Isaiah saw Christ's glory centuries before Bethlehem, why his prophecies are so remarkably detailed and precise, what the servant songs reveal about Christ's mission. How predictions of suffering and glory interweave. Why Isaiah's vision of the future gives us hope today.
Speaker 1:Whether you're struggling with current circumstances, like Isaiah's original audience, seeking to understand God's bigger plan or wondering how ancient prophecies speak to modern life, this episode will help you see Jesus more clearly through Isaiah's inspired words. The God Chaser podcast is committed to helping you see Jesus on every page of scripture, growing deeper in your faith and understanding God's heart more fully. Whether you're new to the Bible or have walked with God for years, you'll discover fresh insights into how all of Scripture points to Christ. This is Evan Evans and you're listening to Episode 13, finding Jesus in Isaiah's Prophecies the Gospel According to Isaiah.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the God Chaser podcast, the ultimate destination for those yearning to cultivate a passionate, intimate relationship with God. Join your host, evan Evans, as he explores the depths of scripture, shares inspiring testimonies and provides practical guidance to help you become a true God Chaser. Discover the transformative power of pursuing God's presence and be inspired to reignite your spiritual journey. Pursuing God's presence and be inspired to reignite your spiritual journey. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts and get ready to embark on an adventure that will change your life forever. Welcome to the God Chaser podcast. Let the chase begin.
Speaker 1:Last week we explored how Elisha's ministry pointed to Christ. Today we're diving into what many call the fifth gospel, the book of Isaiah, and let me tell you, if you've ever wondered how detailed God's plan of salvation was, this book will absolutely astound you. Isaiah, chapter 1, verse 1, tells us this prophet ministered during the reigns of Uzziah, jotham Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. That's roughly 740 to 680 BC. Think about this Hundreds of years before Bethlehem, god was already giving such precise details about Jesus that some critics have claimed Isaiah must have been written after Christ. Let's look at what Isaiah saw. In chapter 6, verses 1 to 3, he has this incredible vision I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne. Above him were seraphim calling to one another Holy, holy. Holy is the Lord Almighty. John tells us in John, chapter 12, verse 41, that Isaiah saw Jesus's glory and spoke about him. This means that the exalted Lord Isaiah saw on the throne was Christ in his pre-incarnate glory. Think about the implications. The same Jesus who would be born in a manger, the same Jesus who would be despised and rejected, the same Jesus who would die on a cross, was the one Isaiah saw high and lifted up. Some of you need this perspective right now. You're seeing Jesus only through your current circumstances, your present struggles, your limited understanding. But Isaiah shows us Christ in his full glory from throne to manger, to cross, to throne again.
Speaker 1:Let's move through Isaiah's prophecies chronologically as they reveal Christ. Isaiah, chapter 7, verse 14, gives us our first explicit messianic prophecy. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel. Now let's unpack this. The Hebrew word here for virgin is Alma, a young woman of marriageable age who has never been intimate with a man. The Greek Septuagint translation, made 200 years before Christ, uses Parthenos, specifically meaning virgin. Uses Parthenos specifically meaning virgin. This is why Matthew, chapter 1, verse 23, quotes this prophecy about Mary. But notice the name Emmanuel, meaning God with us.
Speaker 1:This wasn't just about a miraculous birth. It was about God taking on human flesh. John, chapter 1, verse 14, would later explain on human flesh. John, chapter 1, verse 14, would later explain the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Some of you struggle with understanding how Jesus could be fully God and fully man, believing in the virgin birth, accepting supernatural intervention in human history, seeing God's detailed planning. But Isaiah shows us that none of this was an afterthought. God revealed these details centuries beforehand.
Speaker 1:Then comes that magnificent prophecy in Isaiah, chapter 9, verses 6 to 7. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, prince of Peace. Look at these titles Wonderful Counselor, perfect Wisdom, mighty God, divine Nature, everlasting Father, eternal Existence, prince of Peace, kingdom Authority. These titles in Isaiah, chapter 9 reveal Christ's complete nature. As Wonderful Counselor, jesus would later say in Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28,. As wonderful counselor, jesus would later say in Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28,. Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. This isn't just advice, it's divine wisdom coupled with power to transform Mighty God. El Gibor in Hebrew, the same term used in Isaiah, chapter 10, verse 21 for Yahweh himself. This wasn't just saying the Messiah would be godly, it was declaring his deity.
Speaker 1:Think about the implications. A child born who is mighty God. An infant who is eternal. A human who is divine, a son who is father. Some of you struggle with this concept, but notice, isaiah prophesied this centuries before the theological debates about Christ's nature. This wasn't later church doctrine. It was God's revealed truth from the beginning.
Speaker 1:Then we come to Isaiah, chapter 11, verses 1 to 5. A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him. This prophecy reveals his human lineage from David's father, jesse, his divine anointing Spirit of the Lord, his perfect wisdom, spirit of Wisdom, his righteous reign, judge with righteousness. But what makes this extraordinary is the context. Isaiah had just prophesied judgment on David's dynasty. It would be cut down to a stump, but from this seeming destruction the Messiah would emerge, just as Jesus would later rise from the apparent defeat of the cross.
Speaker 1:Now we come to what many consider the mountain peak of Messianic prophecy the servant songs, particularly Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 13 through chapter 53. These passages are so detailed in their description of Christ's suffering that they read more like history than prophecy. Let's examine Isaiah, chapter 53, verse by verse. Verse 2, he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him. Nothing in his appearance that we should desire him Challenges our celebrity culture. Shows God's value system differs from ours. Explains why many missed him. Points to inner beauty over outer appearance.
Speaker 1:Verse 3, he was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain. This describes his rejection by religious leaders, his abandonment by disciples, his betrayal by Judas, his loneliness on the cross. Some of you understand rejection intimately You've been overlooked for advancement, excluded from relationships, misunderstood by family, rejected for your faith. But notice, jesus experienced all this before you. Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 15, tells us he was tempted in every way, just as we are. Verses 4 to 5 get even more specific. Surely, he took up our pain and bore our suffering. He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities.
Speaker 1:Look at the detailed prophecies Pierced, fulfilled by nails and spear, crushed, internal suffering, wounded, physical abuse, chastised, bearing punishment. Look at Isaiah, chapter 53, verses 7 to 9. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. This prophecy is so precise it's breathtaking. Let's break it down. He did not open his mouth. Remember what a maize pilot?
Speaker 1:Matthew, chapter 27, verse 14, tells us Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge. When falsely accused, he remained silent. This wasn't weakness, it was fulfillment of prophecy Like a lamb to the slaughter. John the Baptist would later declare in John, chapter 1, verse 29,. Look the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The sacrificial system itself was a shadow, but Jesus was the substance Grave with the wicked, with the rich, in his death. Think about this Jesus died between two criminals but was buried in a rich man's tomb. Joseph of Arimathea, described in Matthew, chapter 27, verse 57, as a rich man, fulfilled this prophecy without even knowing it. But it gets even more detailed. Verse 9 says Even Pilate had to admit.
Speaker 1:In Luke, chapter 23, verse 4, I find no basis for a charge against this man. Some of you are facing false accusations right now. Your integrity is questioned, your motives are doubted, your character is attacked, your reputation is damaged. But look at verse 10,. Yet it was the Lord's will to crush him and cause him to suffer. This wasn't plan B. This wasn't God scrambling to fix humanity's mistake. This was the eternal plan of redemption.
Speaker 1:The prophecy continues After he has suffered, he will see the light of life. Here's resurrection. Death isn't the end of the story, just as Jesus would later say in John, chapter 10, verse 17, I lay down my life, only to take it up again Family. Let's dig even deeper into Isaiah's vision of Christ's victory. Look at Isaiah, chapter 53, verses 11 to 12. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied by his knowledge. My righteous servant will justify many. Therefore, I will give him a portion among the great Think about this. Right in the middle of prophecies about suffering, we get this glimpse of triumph. It's like Isaiah is saying but wait, there's more. The cross isn't the end of the story. This brings us to Isaiah, chapter 61, verses 1 to 3, which Jesus himself would read in the synagogue the spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
Speaker 1:Let's pause here. You know what's fascinating when Jesus reads this in Luke, chapter 4, he stops mid-verse. Why? Because the rest of the prophecy and the day of vengeance of our God was about his second coming. Jesus knew exactly which parts he was fulfilling in his first advent. This shows us something profound about prophecy. It often combines multiple events. It can have immediate and future fulfillments. It requires spiritual discernment to understand. It reveals God's complete plan. Some of you are struggling to see God's bigger picture because you're focused on current circumstances. You can't see past, present pain, you're stuck in temporary setbacks and you've lost sight of final victory. But Isaiah shows us both the suffering and the glory, the cross and the crown, the sacrifice and the triumph, the servant and the king. The sacrifice and the triumph, the servant and the king.
Speaker 1:Let's look at Isaiah, chapter 61, verses 4 to 7, where the prophecy takes an amazing turn. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, restore the places long devastated, repair the cities that have been destroyed. You see, family, this isn't just about physical restoration. When Jesus quotes this passage, he's talking about restoring broken lives. Think about it. What's been ruined in your life? Broken relationships, shattered dreams, devastated hopes, destroyed confidence? Isaiah saw a Messiah who wouldn't just save souls but would restore lives. Look at verse 7. Instead of your shame, you will receive a double portion and instead of disgrace, you will rejoice in your inheritance. This connects to Isaiah, chapter 62, verse 2. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. Just as Jesus gives Simon a new name in the New Testament, he's in the business of giving new identities.
Speaker 1:But here's something profound in Isaiah, chapter 65, verses 17 to 25. The prophet sees beyond our individual restoration to cosmic renewal. See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. This is where it all leads. Personal restoration leads to universal restoration. Individual salvation points to cosmic redemption. Our story fits into his bigger story. Present healing previews future wholeness.
Speaker 1:Some of you are thinking, but I don't see this restoration in my life. Some of you are thinking, but I don't see this restoration in my life. Remember what Isaiah said in chapter 55, verses 8 to 9, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways. What do you all think about this? How does seeing God's detailed plan hundreds of years before Christ help us trust Him with our futures?
Speaker 1:Let's explore one of Isaiah's most powerful visions of future glory in chapter 65. You know, this morning I was thinking about how this chapter speaks to where many of us are right now. Look at verses 17 to 19. See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. The sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more.
Speaker 1:Now let's talk about this. What does it mean? That the former things won't be remembered? Some of you are carrying memories that haunt your nights shadow your days, color your relationships, limit your future. But Isaiah sees a time when these won't even come to mind, not because we're forced to forget, but because the joy of the new creation so far outweighs the pain of the old. Let's dig deeper into verse 20. Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years. Some of us have experienced premature goodbyes, unfinished stories, interrupted dreams, cut short possibilities. But in this new creation, nothing dies before its time. Everything reaches its full potential. Think about that for a moment. What in your life feels cut short? What dreams feel interrupted? Feel interrupted.
Speaker 1:Isaiah, chapter 65, verses 21 to 23, gives us something remarkable. They will build houses and dwell in them. They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them. My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. The work of their hands, family. Let's talk about what this means for us. How many of you have built something only to see others take it? Worked hard but others got the credit. Planted seeds that others harvested, invested effort with no return.
Speaker 1:This prophecy speaks to deep human longings for justice in our work, fruit from our labors, security in our achievements, legacy in our efforts. But notice something profound in verse 24. Before they call, I will answer. While they are still speaking I will hear. This isn't just about answered prayer, it's about intimate relationship. Think about that God answering before we even ask. Isaiah sees a relationship where God anticipates our needs, communication is instant, understanding is perfect, connection is unbroken. How does this change the way we view our current struggles with prayer, when we can't seem to hear God, when answers seem delayed? Look at verse 25. The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. They will neither harm nor destroy. On all my holy mountain, you know, this picture of the wolf and lamb feeding together speaks to something deep in our hearts.
Speaker 1:Think about the conflicts in your life right now, the relationships that seem impossible to reconcile, the situations that appear hopelessly divided. To reconcile the situations that appear hopelessly divided. In Isaiah's vision, natural enemies become peaceful companions. This isn't just about animals, it's about fundamental transformation. Look at what this means for us. The lion will eat straw like the ox. Complete nature change, just like Paul would later say in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17,. If anyone is in Christ. The new creation has come.
Speaker 1:Let's discuss this honestly. Some of you are dealing with family relationships that seem permanently broken, workplace conflicts that appear irreconcilable, inner struggles that feel unchangeable, cultural divisions that look unbridgeable. But Isaiah sees beyond surface level peace to fundamental transformation. This isn't about wolves pretending not to be wolves, lions suppressing their nature, forced coexistence, temporary truces. It's about complete renewal. And notice where this happens on all my holy mountain. This points to Christ's kingdom, where old natures are transformed, natural enmities are healed, natural enmities are healed, deep divisions are reconciled, true peace becomes possible.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about what this means for your situation right now. What wolf and lamb relationship in your life needs this kind of divine transformation? This brings us to Isaiah, chapter 66, the prophet's grand finale. Look at verses 12 to 13. I will extend peace to her like a river. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you. Let's talk about this picture of peace like a river, not like a stagnant pond. Peace isn't passive, temporary stream. Peace isn't seasonal, contained pool. Peace isn't limited, man-made canal. Peace isn't artificial, but a river that keeps flowing despite obstacles, brings life wherever it goes, has depth and power, never runs dry.
Speaker 1:Some of you are seeking peace in external circumstances, changing people behaving differently, problems disappearing, life getting easier. But Isaiah shows us peace that flows from relationship with God. Jesus would later say in John, chapter 14, verse 27, peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Then there's this beautiful picture of God as a comforting mother. Think about what this reveals, about God's tender care, his intimate understanding, his nurturing nature, his personal comfort. Let's be real Some of you haven't experienced this kind of comfort from your earthly parents. But Isaiah sees a God who knows your pain deeply, holds you closely, understands completely, comforts perfectly. What does this mean for us today? How does seeing God as both sovereign king and comforting mother change our relationship with him?
Speaker 1:Look at Isaiah, chapter 66, verses 18 to 19. And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come and gather the people of all nations and languages and they will come and see my glory Family. This is huge. Isaiah sees beyond Jewish exclusivity, national boundaries, cultural barriers, religious divisions. He sees what Jesus would command in Matthew, chapter 28, verse 19, go and make disciples of all nations. Let's talk about what this means for us today. Some of you struggle with cultural prejudices, religious superiority, social divisions, tribal mentalities, but Isaiah sees a gathering where every nation is included, all languages are heard, every people group belongs and all cultures contribute. Think about verses 22 to 23. As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me, all mankind will come and bow down before me.
Speaker 1:This isn't just about religious observance, ritual worship, forced submission, external compliance. It's about heart transformation, genuine recognition, willing worship, true relationship. Let's discuss something personal here. How does this vision of universal worship change? How we view other cultures, how we treat those different from us, how we do church, how we live our faith Family?
Speaker 1:As we wrap up our exploration of Isaiah's prophecies, let's pull everything together. From chapter 1 to chapter 66, we've seen Jesus revealed as the Holy One on the throne, the virgin-born Emmanuel, the wonderful counselor, the suffering servant. But here's what I want you to take away today God's plan. Isaiah shows us that nothing about Jesus was an afterthought. Every detail was prophesied centuries before, revealed with amazing precision, part of God's eternal purpose, designed for our salvation. Whatever you're facing today, your suffering isn't meaningless, your waiting isn't wasted, your struggles aren't unseen, your future isn't uncertain. Isaiah's visions remind us that history is moving toward a purpose. God's promises will be fulfilled, peace will ultimately reign, all things will be made new.
Speaker 1:Next week, we'll explore Jeremiah's prophecies and see how the weeping prophet points to Christ. But today, remember, the same God who planned salvation in such detail is orchestrating your story with the same precision and purpose. This is Evan Evans, reminding you to keep chasing God's heart Until next time. Remember, jesus wasn't just predicted by Isaiah. He was the very one Isaiah saw on the throne. This has been the God Chaser podcast. Join us next week as we continue finding Jesus in every story of the Bible. This episode of the God Chaser podcast is proudly sponsored by God Chaser Apparel, the clothing line designed to empower and inspire your spiritual journey.
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Speaker 1:May you not just chase God but find Him in the blessings, big and small, that he has in store for you. And there we have it, folks, another episode of God Chaser wrapped up. We hope you've been blessed by today's discussion and we look forward to diving into more life-transforming topics with you in the future. Stay blessed and keep chasing after God.