Tag: Christianity

Reflections on Isaiah 63-66

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Judgment is coming against those who reject God, but a glorious day is coming for God’s people.

  • Humility – God will look to the one who is humble before him (66:2). We have every reason to be humble before God, for even our best righteousness is as filthy rags (64:6).  So part of our humility is to have contrite, repentant spirits.  Humbly we tremble at his Word (66:2).  Are you humble before God?  Are you repentant of your sins?  Do you tremble at his Word?
  • Great Day – Isaiah 65 and 66 speak of a great day coming. It will be a day without weeping, a day without strife.  And all shall come to see the glory of the Lord and worship him together.  What a great hope we have!

Sermon Songs: Revelation 17

On By BrianIn Revelation Hymns

MusicNotes

Behold Babylon the great whore, She seek to entice, allure
With pleasure and greedy for more, Her cup filled with things impure
Beware of her, Slick allurements, Dear Christian stand firm for Christ

Behold the Beast plotting, planning; Striving, making such a din
All his efforts come to nothing, Be encouraged – Christ will win
You are called and, You are chosen, Dear Christian stand firm for Christ

Behold the Beast full of hatred, Destroys Babylon the whore
Fulfills all that our God has said, The Lamb reigns forever more
Trust in His plan, Rest in His rule, Dear Christian stand firm for Christ

To the tune of “Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending”

Reflections on Isaiah 58-62

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

There will be judgment for sin, but a glorious day is coming.

  • Our Sins – Israel sinned against the Lord. They failed to follow the Lord, they rejected justice and righteousness, and they committed many other sins (59:1-15).  Their many sins separated them from the Lord (59:2).  Our sins separate us from God too.  We need a Savior.
  • Our Savior – Isaiah speaks of a Messiah (anointed one) who will have the Spirit of the Lord, bring good news and deliverance to the people, and usher in a glorious new day (chapters 61-62). Years later, Jesus read part of this passage in the synagogue and announced that he was that Messiah (Luke 4:18-19).  Our Savior has come!

Isaiah 58-66: A Glorious Future

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(58) Why was God not pleased with Israel’s fasting (v1-5)?

What did God expect the people to do along with their fasting (v6-7, see also the “If” statements in v9-10, 13)?

What would be the results (Then… in v8-12, 14)?

What application do you find in this chapter for us today?

(59) How does God describe their sin (v1-8, compare with Romans 3:10-18)?

How would you summarize the results (v2, 9-15a)?

How does God respond (v15b-19)?  How else does God respond (v20)?

(61) What will Messiah come to do (v1-3, see also Luke 4:16-21)?

What would be the results (v4-11, see also 62:1-5)?

(60) What words and ideas are frequently repeated in this chapter?

What phrases and ideas are also found in Revelation 21:1-22:5?

What do you learn about God’s promise for the future?

(65) What words and ideas are repeated in v17-25?

What more do we learn about the future?

(66) What words and ideas are repeated in v18-23?

What more do we learn about the future?

From these chapters, how would you summarize God’s future plans for his people?

What kind of people is God looking for (v2b)?  Why do you think this is?  How well does this describe you?

Reflections on Isaiah 52-57

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God promises the coming of the suffering servant, calling all to come to him.

  • Suffering Servant – God’s chosen servant will suffer and die to pay for our sins, and in the end will be victorious (chapter 53). What a glorious prediction of our Savior!  Have you come to the Savior?  How will you respond?
  • Come to the Lord – God calls Israel to freely come to him, to seek him while he could be found (55:1-6). Even foreigners can come to him (56:3, 6-7).  He will dwell with the contrite and humble (57:15).  Are you walking in humility?  Thank God that you can come to him.

Reflections on Isaiah 49-51

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

God will raise up his servant for Israel and the nations, and in him we must put our trust

  • God’s Servant – God’s servant will raise up Israel, but he will also be a light for the nations (49:6). Simeon recognized that this servant was Jesus (Luke 2:29-32).  Jesus affirmed this by calling himself the light of the world (John 8:12).  God’s chosen servant has come!
  • Trust the Lord – Isaiah uses the picture of one walking in the darkness and calls these people to trust in the Lord (50:10). In what ways are you walking in darkness, unable to see the path ahead, and needing to trust the Lord?

Isaiah 49-57: The Suffering Servant

On By BrianIn OT Studies

(49) How is the servant described in v1-5?

What will the servant do in v5-12 (compare with 42:6-7)?  How do we see Jesus doing these very things in the New Testament?

How are we to respond to the servant in v13?

What does the coming of the servant mean for Israel and for us (v13-16)?

(50) In what ways do you see Jesus the servant fulfilling v4-9?

How are we to respond to the servant in v10-11?  How are we not to respond?  What does this mean in practical terms?

(51) How should we respond in v1, 4, & 7?  In v11?  In v12-16?

(52) How should we respond in v7-10?

How is the servant described in v13-15?

(53) Describe his life in v1-4.  What does this description mean for us?

Describe his death in v7-9.

What did his death accomplish for us (v5-6, 10-11)?

Who is responsible for his death (v5-10)?

What evidence do you see of his resurrection in v10-12?

What especially stands out to you in this description of the suffering servant?

(55) How should we respond in v1-3?  In v6-9?

(57) What promise are we given in v15?  How does this challenge you?  Encourage you?

Passion Points

On By BrianIn PASSION Points

Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:

The Unexpected God: How He Meets Us in Disappointment – Brian Tabb (DG)
Unmet expectations. They are the constant thieves of our happiness and contentment. One of the greatest evidences of human falleness and finitude is how quickly we expect the wrong things, or the right things at the wrong time.  But the very heart and center of the Christian faith should remind us daily that our expectations do not typically map onto the grandeur and goodness and wisdom of God. The cross reminds us that God sent us the Messiah we really needed, not the one anyone expected.

Slay Sin by Savoring Christ – Erik Raymond
Too often professing Christians can be lulled to sleep with a false sense of security. Unwittingly they starve themselves of Christ and make provision for the flesh. This is a spiritual suicide mission! Instead of caring for and nurturing the flesh and its desires we are to starve and kill it.

Turn My Eyes from Worthless Things: Curbing Our Infinite Appetite for Distraction – Tony Reinke (DG)
Our endless desire for “the totally irrelevant” has finally been matched by the endless offerings of irrelevance in our smartphones. We love to be fed worthless things.  This onslaught of produced media is a major problem for us all because we can focus our minds only on a limited number of stimuli that come at us. So, how do we discern and navigate the digital age with wise discretion?

10 Prayers to Pray Before Church – Colin Smith
Going to church is not like a trip to the grocery store, visiting a friend, or a Christian task to complete. It is a declaration that worshiping the risen Christ is more important to you than sleeping in, eating brunch, playing sports, or working around the house….  As such, we should not enter church like any other place, but should prepare our hearts in prayer. Let these 10 prayers set your mind on God’s purposes for church and prepare your heart to worship the King.

Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating our Savior with your local church!

Sermon Songs: Revelation 15-16

On By BrianIn Revelation Hymns

MusicNotes

Hear the conquerors in Christ sing, To the Lord God Almighty
Amazing and great is our King, To Him all must bend the knee
He is righteous, He is holy
God’s just wrath is coming soon

Sores and blood and fire and darkness; Coming war, earthquake, and hail
Come against all unrighteousness, Satan’s kingdom soon will fail
Repent of sin, Cling to Jesus
God’s just wrath is coming soon

To the tune of “Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending”

Reflections on Isaiah 43-48

On By BrianIn OT Reflections

Isaiah reminds the people that there is only one true God who will restore them.

  • One True God – Again and again we read that there is only one true God. Idols are folly.  None can stop God when he acts.  God is the Creator who made us for his glory.  He is with us so we need not fear.  How does the presence of the one true God give you courage?  How are you living for his glory?
  • God Our Savior – God promises to save Israel by raising up a man named Cyrus to bring the people back to the land (44:28-45:1). This prediction is given over 100 years before the Persian king Cyrus is born, and Cyrus does indeed let the people return to the land. Truly God is in control, and he moves for the good of his people.  Praise the Lord!