Not Ashamed

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

This puts things into perspective. God is sovereign; can we limit God? Can we build him a dwelling place? Yet, he has chosen to make us His dwelling place; the God of omnipresence, who inhabits all creation, has given to us a special unction of the Holy Spirit. We didn't do it, he did this through His Son who shed his blood for our redemption, justification and sanctification. The heaven or heavens are His throne, all creation physical and spiritual. Earth is but a footstool, so what does that make us? In ourselves we are as ants, but he himself has lifted us up out of the dust, given us a new spiritual birth and made us the children of God. What a glorious salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.

Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Who will the God and creator of all pay attention to: Is it our wealth? Our Speaking ability? Our position of importance? Who will God look for? But to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Poor of spirit, not full of self, challenging God. A contrite spirit, not full of self pride, but sorry for sins. You reverence and tremble at his word, instead of doing your own thing and calling "that book" as archaic and written by men. One sign of being born again, is reverence for His word and a desire to obey God.

The LORD speaks to the idol worshippers of Judah

Isa 66:3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

They did their own form of religion and their hearts were far from God. From the LORD's viewpoint; the sacrificing of an ox was as killing a man, from these disobedient worshippers. All they did was an abomination to him. Where were their hearts? Those who reject Christ have made their own distorted values, for example: a compulsion to save the whales combined with a mandatory granting of abortions, the killing of unborn babies for stem cell research and the policy makers denying of the elderly of health care, because they have no value. Another way of seeing this; their sacrifices were only adding to their sinful behavior. What good is a religious sacrifice if it is to a false god or from a sinful rebellious heart?

John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Isa 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

They would be cursed and follow after delusions instead of truth. We see this in the world today for those who have rejected God and Christ. They make up delusions of evolution, mother earth, green policies, global warming, and one world government. The Christians who trust God and his Word and follow His truth, are branded as the enemy, the intolerant ones, people of hate speech, because they oppose the sins of the world. Gay pride and their claim of love, cannot replace a humble and contrite spirit. Not only are they not sorry for their behavior, but they want to make it the law of the land. When I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear. This is the blindness of self made religion. They do not hear from God when he calls, but they hear false teachers and false spirits. They do not obey the true God, but they do evil before His eyes. He sees it all, without the slant of the world's news. Those who worship the God of Israel hear him and obey him, for he will avenge his elect.

Isa 66:5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders and he spoke to them.

John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

If we fear God, we tremble for hunger of his word and speak his word as it is life and truth; then some religious people may break fellowship with you, but if you trust and obey the LORD, you shall be rewarded by him. Saul of Tarsus thought he was serving God when he rounded up Christians, but when he saw the light that was Christ Jesus, he became the greatest apostle. We are to continue to shine the light of Jesus in a sin darkened world.

Psa 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psa 34:5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
Psa 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psa 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psa 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

From the beginning, man has had to make choices. Will you follow the voices of the world, or hear and follow the voice of the LORD? The world is seeking an earthly paradise their way; through their own thoughts and reasoning and actions. They reject God and Christ Jesus and will be cast out. Those who are of a poor and contrite spirit, who tremble at his word, he will receive in Christ Jesus.

Mat 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
Mat 10:36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Mat 10:37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Mat 10:38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

The way to paradise is through the cross of Jesus and his blood spilled to make us clean of sins. The world is becoming more and more evil, but we are not of the world. We must shine as the light of Christ, even if this may result in persecution while saving some from the fire.

2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Tim 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,...

We please God, not man.