Author: Brian

Follower of Jesus, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, and Pastor

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 60

On By BrianIn Isaiah Hymns

MusicNotes

Arise and shine, forever praise, Our gracious glor-ious King
People of God your voices raise, Forever let us sing.
For Christ our Savior will return, New Jerusalem bring
We look forward, our spirits’ yearn, For our Lord’s soon coming.

Our glor-ious Lord with us will dwell, In everlasting light
In brilliance no mere words can tell, He’ll banish the dark night.
His people He will gather all, Each daughter ev’ry son
From all the nations He will call, The children of Zion.

Great songs of praise declare His worth, And tell of His glory.
Great wealth will flow from all the earth, Abundance from the sea
Zion in glor-i-ous beauty, The sights, the smells, the sounds
The brilliance of this new city, Ever expands, abounds.

But what of us, vile and sinful, How shall we enter in?
Our Lord make us each beautiful, Cleansing us from our sin.
We’ll walk in humble righteousness, Trust in Him and His grace
We’ll dwell in peace, joyful gladness, Of sin and death no trace.

This glor-ious day is guaranteed, To all who will receive
Turn from your sin, His offer heed, Your Savior now believe.
And in the trials of these days, To this great promise cling:
We’ll dwell with God, forever praise, Our gracious glor-ious King!

– From a sermon on Isaiah 60
(Words: Brian Mikul. Copyright 2015)
(Music: To the tune of “I Sing The Mighty Power of God”)

Look Forward

On By BrianIn Book of Isaiah

Isaiah 60 calls us to look forward to the New Jerusalem where:

  • God will dwell with us in all of his glory with such brilliance that there will be no need for the sun or moon (v1-2, 19-20, see also Rev. 21:3, 23).
  • God’s people will be gathered from the nations to dwell with God forever (v3-4, 9, 21, see also Rev. 21:2-3).
  • God will make the city a place of glorious beauty (v7, 13, 15, see also Rev. 21:2, 11, 18-21).
  • Great wealth, abundance, and praise will flow into the city for an ever-expanding glorious beauty (v5-7, 9, 11, 13, 17, see also Rev. 21:24-26).
  • Great salvation from sin will be completed as everyone trusts in him, submits to him, and walks in righteousness before him (v9, 10-12, 14, 17-18, 21, see also Rev. 21:8, 27).
  • Great salvation from the consequences of sin become a reality as peace reigns, mourning comes to an end, and joy abounds (v11, 15, 20, see also Rev. 21:4, 25)

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

God Is an Inexhaustible Fountain of Love – Jonathan Edwards (via Trevin Wax)
And there this glorious fountain forever flows forth in streams, yea, in rivers of love and delight, and these rivers swell, as it were, to an ocean of love, in which the souls of the ransomed may bathe with the sweetest enjoyment, and their hearts, as it were, be deluged with love.

Fountain of Love, Fill Our Souls – E. B. Pusey (via Trevin Wax)
O God, Fountain of love, pour your love into our souls,
that we may love those whom you love with the love you have given us…

Conflicts: Our Laboratories of Love – Jon Bloom (DG)
Here’s the good news: Conflict is the laboratory in which love (agapē) grows. Conflict is the construction area where humility is built. Conflict is the radiology department where pride is exposed. Conflict is the field where our treasure is unearthed. Conflict is a discipline God uses to make us holy and bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:10–11).

Worship God as Our Father – Stephen Miller (DG)
Worship is responding to God — who he is and what he has done. And the truth that God would give his own Son that he might make us his sons and daughters ought to produce awe and wonder and amazement in us. It ought to make us stop for a second — or for a Sunday morning — and say, How great is the love of the Father! How could we not sing? How could we not shout? How could we not respond, with all that we are, to all that he has done for us?

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day worshiping our Father and loving his people!

Sunday Morning Prayer Guide

On By BrianIn Prayer Guides

I wrote the following guide for a Sunday morning prayer time.  The requests are all about asking God to prepare our hearts to worship Him.  I wonder what might happen in our lives and churches, if we prayed prayers like this each Sunday morning. So here is a prayer guide for your consideration as you prepare to worship the Lord this Sunday, and maybe the Sundays beyond.

Pray through God’s Word
Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
– Psalm 85:6-7

Pray for Myself
• A heart to worship the Lord for his great love and salvation
• God’s Word to convict, challenge, and comfort me this morning
• God’s help to encourage and build up others this morning

Pray for Our Church
• For people to come, and Holy Spirit to work mightily among us
• Growing joy and delight in the Lord, desire and thirst for God
• Deep hunger for the Word, and abundant grace to live it out
• Growing burden to pray – individually and corporately
• Reverent awe of our great and glorious God
• Gripped by the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection
• Personal revivals leading to church revival
• Practical love and care for one another

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 59

On By BrianIn Isaiah Hymns

MusicNotes

Our Lord, He died and rose for you
To give you hope and make you new
So dare to be diff’rent today
In what you think, you do, and say

From violence, lying turn away
Be faithful to the Lord today
And for our nation kneel to pray
Proclaim Jesus: the only way

– From a sermon on Isaiah 59
(To the tune of “The Doxology”)