COMFORT ONE ANOTHER
COMFORT ONE ANOTHER
Sunday, October 31, 2021
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
On October 30, 2021, we lost a dear member and Deacon of Eastgate Church to the plague of COVID. Tim Sherbeck, a gentle giant, was loved and respected by our congregation. He gave his time and strength to assist Tom Terlep in the construction of this church building. He gave faithfulness to me as a pastor. He gave his goodwill, prayers and friendship to each of us. We salute and honor him as “faithful” to God, his family and to his church family.
The Sherbeck family began attending Eastgate Church in 2013. That was nine (9) years ago. We as a church give honor to this Christian family.
I returned Friday night from attending a family funeral in Missouri. We gathered to honor my sister-in-love, Martha Sissom who lived out her fullness of days at 92 years. It was sweet and loving as we shared the richness of her life and the blessing, she deposited in each of us.
The call came on Friday morning from Carol that Tim had been placed under palliative care. Saturday morning at 3:30 a.m. Tim crossed into Heaven to his great reward. Two deaths within a few days, but it seemed Tim’s came too early. He had a young family and was the picture of strength and health. Just three Sundays ago, he sat with us at lunch laughing and enjoying life with an expectation of fulfilling his days.
However, we have this promise: HE (Jesus) loves the people. All His saints are in his hand (Deut. 33:3).
Those of us who remain must comfort each other and edify one another. We must comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, and be patient with all. As the last days approach, those who sleep in Jesus before we do, will come with Him when He comes in glory. Hallelujah! Paul says we are to comfort one another with these words (1 Th. 4:13-18).
Moses in his final address to the congregation before his death decreed a blessing over the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 33.
Moses’ prophecy to the nation is a stream of mercy, comfort and blessing to the Church in all ages as we face the challenges of the times whether as a nation or personally.
The chapter begins with the manifestation of the GLORY of the LORD (1-5) and closes with the future GLORY and JOY of God’s people (26-29).
Deut. 1-5: This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. He said: “The LORD came from Sinai, and dawned on them from Seir. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came with ten thousands of saints. From His right hand came a fiery law for them. Yes, He loves the people. All His saints are in Your hand. They sit down at YOUR feet. Everyone receives Your words. Moses commanded a law for us, a heritage of the congregation of Jacob. He was King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people were gathered; all the tribes of Israel together.
Jeshurun means “upright one” and is a symbolic name for Israel describing her ideal character. A German commentator gives it the quaint and familiar rendering of “gentleman,” or “one of gentlemanly or honorable mind,” a noble epithet alike for an individual or a nation.
Isa. 44:2-3: Thus says the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you. Fear not, O Jacob My servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground. I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring.
Isaiah is here prophesying of the glorious, overcoming end-time church. Just as he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to deliver us from sin and hell, He will pour out His Spirit which will deliver His church into the glory of Jeshurun, the upright one, the righteous one, the ideal church.
In Deuteronomy 33, Moses prophetically blesses each of the twelve tribes:
1. 33:6 - REUBEN -Preservation from extinction and poverty.
2. 33:7 - JUDAH -Divine aid to fulfill a Divine destiny.
3. 33:8-11 – LEVI -The service of God at the cost of hostility, and hatred
through jealousy.
4. 33:12 - BENJAMIN -Personal safety through God’s sheltering care.
5. 33:13-17-JOSEPH -Precious things from the good will of Him…
6. 33:17 -EPHRAIM - glory of the first-born bull, your ten thousands
-MANASSEH - shall push the peoples
7. 33:18-19-ZEBULUN -Successful enterprise and domestic tranquility.
8. 33:18 -ISSACHAR – partake of the abundance of the seas and of hidden in the treasures treasures hidden in the sand.
9. 33:20-21-GAD -Courageous leadership and bold determination.
10. 33:22 -DAN -Courageous in battle though small in size.
1l. 33:23 -NAPHTALI -Satisfaction from being accepted before God.
12. 33:24-25-ASHER -Strength to be a source of blessing to others- his foot will dip with oil will dip with oil.
As we know, all of the tribes fell below their “ideal character.” All of us at times in our life have fallen below this “ideal.” However, as we have become aware in our study of the nations in Jeremiah, the blessing of the blood line and the curse of a blood line continues through all generations until they receive the cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus full of the Spirit (I will pour My Spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring), redeemed us from the curse and will deliver us into the glory of His presence. Life is in the Blood and we have the Blood of Jesus running through our veins.
Luke 4: 18-19: The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me; because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.
During this time of tribulation on the earth, we who walk with Christ are anointed to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, etc. Many are looking for an escape from the tribulation, but I believe the end-time “Jeshurun” will fulfill the GREAT KINGDOM MANDATE to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Deut. 33: 26-29: There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to help you and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, “Destroy!” Then Israel shall dwell in safety. The fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help and the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, and you shall tread down their high places.
As “the God of Jeshurun” the Lord speaks to us under that glorious covenant-name promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that we are heirs to the blessings which follow. All the spiritual seed of Israel are “upright”, and “righteous” through the righteousness of “the Righteous One, Jesus Christ”. It is in Him alone that our feet stand in an “even place,” “Surely shall one say, in the Lord I have righteousness and strength…In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified and shall glory” (Isa. 45: 24-25).
These verses are a special promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. “There is none like the God of Jeshurun…the eternal God our refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:26-27).
In Isa. 44:3, the water poured out on the thirsty and dry ground is clearly identical with the second promise of, “I will pour My Spirit upon your seed and will pour floods on dry ground”. “I will pour my blessing upon your offspring”
44: 1-4: My servant you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour My Spirit upon your seed and My blessing upon your offspring. And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
The double promise expresses plenty in abundance. Both the water and the floods; the rain from heaven; and the mountain-torrents to refresh the parched land. This is prophetic of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church of God.
This is the promise to those of us who remain and for the Kingdom mandate we are to fulfill. Church I cannot believe we will go out of here without the glorious Jeshurun being delivered to Jesus Christ, the glorious, overcoming church.
The willow, of all trees, was most dependent on moisture, so it is a beautiful and appropriate emblem of the Believer and the Church, moistened and refreshed by the influences of the Holy Spirit; when He comes down “like rain upon the mown grass, and as showers that water the earth,” ---causing those who in themselves are dry, sapless, or dead, to become “trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified”.
Jesus confirms the interpretation of this figurative language in his glorious words: “If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink.” This He spoke of the Spirit, which all who believes on Him will receive.”
“This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…and whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
As “the God of Jeshurun” He speaks to us, His glorious covenant-name of Excellency, uprightness, and righteousness of His glorious promise that He will pour out His Holy Spirit upon the seed.
Isa. 44:5-6: “One shall say, I am the Lord’s and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and His redeemer the Lord of Hosts. I am the First, and I am the Last; and beside Me there is no God. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for Me; since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show these to them.”
We, like the Apostle Paul, will join with the voices from every quarter of the world, saying, “God, whose I am, and whom I serve;” “I bear on my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Once more the Prophet Isaiah listens, and yet another voice is heard, “I surname myself by the name of Israel.” I desire to bear the surname of God’s redeemed people; --to be identified with the Kingdom of God---thus permitted to inherit the blessings uttered of old by Jacob to Ephraim and Manasseh: “The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil…Let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth” (Gen. 48:16).
This is a beautiful picture of the Church of Christ in its latter day of glory! It is a glorious chorus of hosanna’s shouting, “I am Jehovah’s”. One voice is heard in the distant east; it rises from the plains of India, or amid the teeming millions of China and Japan. Another; is from a dweller in the desert rocks of Iraq and Afghanistan. Another; from the African jungles---all stretching out hands unto God; another from the North Pole; the isles of the sea, the forest of Australia; voices from the loud tide of humanity. But the theme of universal homage is, “To Jehovah I belong.” Crown Him! Crown Him! Crown Him Lord of all.”
Personally, we can all say, “Put my name down, sir, for I too am to be one of the Hosts of the Lord.” (Bunyan)
The Lord Jesus gave us and epithet: His Name, His glory, His Spirit, His Kingdom, His Power, His Righteousness, His Peace, His Joy, His Bloodline, His Word, and His comfort for all that we will face in these days on earth.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from NKJV. I entered into the labors of Comfort ye, Comfort ye, by John Ross McDuff; Principles of Present Truth on Deuteronomy by Kelly Varner; Isaiah 44 (10/7/2014) by Pastor Carolyn Sissom