Author: Brian

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

Will We Be Faithful?

On By BrianIn Book of Isaiah

In Isaiah 59:12-15, Isaiah addresses Israel’s sins in terms that could have been written to our country today. He speaks of sin, transgression, and iniquity, and it doesn’t take long to see the moral depravity of our own nation. He speaks of Israel walking away from God, and it appears that our nation is doing the same as it drifts back into paganism. Isaiah says truth has stumbled in the public square, and today people just don’t want to hear about God, His Word, or truth in our culture or our government. Isaiah says that the person who departs from evil makes himself a prey, and we see examples today of Christians who have refused to participate in evil being sued and even losing their businesses. And the question for the church today is: will we be faithful?

In a culture that celebrates sin, will we be faithful to turn from it? In a nation walking away from God, will we be faithful to follow Him? In a country that rejects truth, will we be faithful to stand for the truth? In a world that rejects righteousness, will we be faithful to walk in righteousness? Will we be faithful?

Today, as we gratefully remember our veterans who gave themselves for our country, will we as Christians faithfully give ourselves for our Lord? Will we be faithful?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

Five Things Every Christian Should be Doing with God’s Word – Michael J. Kruger

17 Ways to Meditate on Scripture – Donald Whitney (via Justin Taylor)

Of Justice and Generosity – Kevin DeYoung

3 Choices in How We Respond to God’s Kingdom Agenda – Trevin Wax

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day!

Saturday: Pray for Our World

On By BrianIn Prayer Guides

Pray for our World:

  • Gospel to spread, people to be saved, and churches to be planted
  • A world-wide Great Awakening that transforms cultures
  • Unreached people groups to be reached with the gospel
  • Relief work in Nepal, Refugees in Syria and Iraq
  • Peace in Ukraine, Middle East, African countries

Friday: Pray for Our Nation

On By BrianIn Prayer Guides

Pray for our Nation:

  • Growing recognition of the hollowness of the idols of our age: money, material things, sex, homosexuality, technology, social media, fame, power, alcohol, drugs, entertainment, government
  • Growing openness and response to the hope of the gospel
  • Many in our country to come to Christ and grow in Him
  • Another Great Awakening that transforms lives and our country
  • President Obama and his Cabinet, Congress, and the Supreme Court – wisdom, follow truth, righteousness, and justice
  • Supreme Court decision on “same-sex” marriage
  • State – Governor Snyder, Legislature, Judicial – wisdom
  • Families – strong marriages, children, finances/work
  • Economy – national/state growth, job growth
  • Education – federal/state policies, curriculum, teachers, safety, public schools, private schools, home-school freedom
  • Entertainment/Media – Christian influence, positive impact

Thursday: Pray For Your Community

On By BrianIn Prayer Guides

Pray for your Community:

  • Growing openness and response to the hope of the gospel
  • Many people in our communities to come to Christ
  • Fruit from your church outreaches
  • A Great Awakening that transforms our community
  • Families – strong marriages, children, finances/work
  • Economy – local businesses, jobs
  • Education – local schools, teachers, safety, graduates

Wednesday: Pray for the World Church

On By BrianIn Prayer Guides

Pray for the World Church:

  • Churches to grow, world-wide church revivals
  • Pastors – Biblical training and resources, Biblical faithfulness
  • Church in Nepal, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Iran, India, China, etc.
  • Perseverance and strength for persecuted Christians
  • God’s provision (food, homes, jobs) for Christians
  • Christian refugees – especially from Syria and Iraq – and those ministering to them
  • Bibles, Christian literature, radio, TV, and internet available to encourage, strengthen, and help grow in the Lord
  • Growing freedom to worship the Lord

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 58

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

Don’t join worship to wickedness
Don’t do good out of selfishness
Pursue justice and righteousness
With great delight, devotedness

Repentance leads to salvation
He strengthens, offers protection
He hears our prayers and guides our ways
Satisfies us all of our days

Our God refreshes and restores
Abundant blessings He outpours
And in the darkness, He’s the Light
Our Lord in whom we take delight

– From a sermon on Isaiah 58
(To the tune of “The Doxology”)

Tuesday: Pray for the American Church

On By BrianIn Prayer Guides

Pray for the American Church:

  • Personal revivals leading to church revivals around the country
  • Growing commitment to worship, prayer, discipleship, fellowship
  • Growing commitment to evangelism and missions
  • Growing love for God, his people, and the lost
  • Courageous fidelity to Biblical truth in a culture of compromise
  • Wisdom for pastors and other church leaders
  • Wisdom for leaders of Christian ministries, schools, missions
  • Christians living with Biblical integrity in the workplace, school, neighborhood, and community

Worthy of Worship

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

SpiritualDisciplinesThe more we focus on God, the more we understand and appreciate how worthy He is.  As we understand and appreciate this, we can’t help but respond to Him.  Just as an incredible sunset or a breath-taking mountaintop vista evokes a spontaneous response, so we cannot encounter the worthiness of God without the response of worship.

– Donald Whitney in Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life