Author: Brian

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

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 51:9-52:12

On By BrianIn Isaiah Hymns

MusicNotes

O Lord our God awake, awake
As in the days of old
Revive us Lord for Your name’s sake
Our hearts have grown too cold

Now to our God awake, awake
Father, Son, Holy Ghost
Who reigns o’er all that He did make
The Sovereign Lord of Hosts

To salvation awake, awake
Your sins He does forgive
New life with Him you now partake
Fore’er with Him you’ll live

To joyful joy awake, awake
He came and is coming
Around the world the good news take
Rejoice with glad singing

_ From a sermon on Isaiah 51:9-52:12
(To the tune of the “O God Our Help In Ages Past”)

The Primary Objective

On By BrianIn PASSION Quotes

FruitfulLifeThere are various spiritual exercises we may want to accomplish during our quiet time, such as reading through the Bible in a year and praying over certain requests. But the primary objective of our quiet time should be fellowship with God – developing a personal relationship with Him and growing in our devotion to Him.

– Jerry Bridges in The Fruitful Life

Walking in the Dark

On By BrianIn Book of Isaiah

Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness and has no light
trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.
– Isaiah 50:10

You have been there.
Walking in the dark.
With no light.
Nothing makes sense.
You don’t understand.
You wonder why.
Where is God in the midst of this?
Why is this happening to me?

And in the midst of darkness, God calls us to trust him.
To trust him in that trial.
To trust him in that struggle.
To trust him in the midst of that turmoil, that sorrow, that pain.

Just trust him.
Keep looking to him.
Rely on him.
Lean on him.
Rest in him.

Whatever dark paths you may be on today,
trust in the name of the Lord and rely on your God.
And he will hold you up.

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

4 Ways To Pray – Tim Challies

22 Benefits of Meditating on Scripture – Justin Taylor

Our Everyday Obedience Is Our Best Witness – J. D. Greear

Worship Is More Important Than Your Small Group – Jason Helopoulos

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day gathered together to worship with your local church!

Costly Obedience

On By BrianIn Book of Isaiah

The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious;
I turned not backward.
I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.
– Isaiah 50:5-6

These verses speak of the Servant of the Lord. He would obey God even to the point of suffering. And we know that the Servant is Jesus whose back was lashed, whose beard was pulled out, whose face was spit upon. As Philippians 2:8 tells us, he was obedient to the Father even to the point of death on the cross.

What about us? Are we willing to obey even to the point of suffering? Will we obey God even when it is hard, when it hurts? Will we obey even when we don’t feel like it? Will we obey even when it hits our pocketbook, intrudes on our free time, or crosses our comfort zone?

Jesus obeyed to the point of death, giving us an example of costly obedience. And he calls us to follow in his steps.

And yet on the other side of the cross, Jesus was and is exalted above every other name. On the other side of the suffering came great blessing. And so it is for us. Obedience may bring suffering for a time, but blessing follows close behind.

So let us obey regardless of the cost, setting our gaze on the blessings yet to come.

Sermon Songs: Isaiah 50:1-51:8

On By BrianIn Isaiah Hymns

MusicNotes

Come and follow the Servant’s way
And listen to His Word
Morning by morning everyday
Sustained by what you’ve heard

Come and follow the Servant’s way
Real righteousness pursue
In everything choose to obey
Believe, desire, and do

Come and follow the Servant’s way
And trust Him in the night
For by your side, He’ll always stay
Your held within His might

– From a sermon on Isaiah 50:1-51:8
(To the tune of the “O God Our Help In Ages Past”)