He who prays as he ought,
will endeavor to live as he prays.
– John Owen
Tag: Discipleship
Sermon Songs: Isaiah 49:14-26
Our Lord has not forgotten you
Your name is on His hand
He came to save, to make you new
His covenant will stand
Our Lord has not forgotten you
He knows your suffering
Your trials he’ll end – make all things new
And pour out his blessing
Our Lord has not forgotten you
The wicked – they will pay
He’ll gather us on the earth new
When He returns one day
The Lord has not forgotten you
So know your Savior Lord
And wait on Him – He will prove true
You’re held by love’s strong cord
– From a sermon on Isaiah 49:14-26
(To the tune of the “Amazing Grace”)
Gentleness
Gentleness is illustrated by the way we would handle a carton of exquisite crystal glasses; it is the recognition that the human personality is valuable but fragile and must be handled with care.
– Jerry Bridges in The Fruitful Life
Not Forgotten
In Isaiah 49, Isaiah is writing to the people of Israel in Babylonian exile. And they need to know that they are not forgotten. The Lord has not forgotten them.
And still today as we face our own trials and struggles, we need to know that we are not forgotten. The Lord has not forgotten us.
Though it feels that way sometimes, doesn’t it?
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.” – Isaiah 49:14
Ever feel that way? Ever think those thoughts? As you are walking through some trial or struggle, you wonder: where is God in the midst of all of this? And it feels like God has forgotten. But your feelings are wrong.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
– Isaiah 49:15
Could a mom forget the baby lying in her arms? Could your mom have forgotten you? And even if she did, even if your mom and dad and everyone were to abandon you, God says, “I will not forget you. I have compassion on you. I care about you. I care for you. I love you.”
Remember this week no matter what you face that you are not forgotten. The Lord has not forgotten you.
God’s Glory
God’s “weight” or glory is the greatness of who He is. His glory is the awesome gravity of His name, the infinite wealth of His divine attributes as is found in His holiness, sovereignty, wrath, grace, goodness, and so forth. Every aspect of His character is immeasurably heavy, incomparably great, beyond any human character or ability. Being absolutely perfect, God is awesome in every way.
– Steven Lawson in Expositor Magazine
Prayer Quote of the Week
Real prayer comes not from gritting our teeth,
but from falling in love.
– Richard Foster
Sermon Songs: Isaiah 49:1-13
The Lord called and named His Servant
His mouth was a sharp sword
Glorified God where-e’er he went
And labored for the Lord
Behold our Lord formed His Servant
To bring His people in
For all the nations he was sent
To save them from their sin
Our faithful Lord chose His Servant
Despised and honored – He
God made Him a new covenant
So that we might go free
So let us all come and believe
And celebrate our Lord
His comfort and His love receive
His salvation out-poured
– From a sermon on Isaiah 49:1-13
(To the tune of the “O God Our Help In Ages Past”)
Depression
Our challenge, when depressed, is to be suspicious of this message of misery and hopelessness. Things are not always as they feel. Depression can identify the troubles of life, but it can be blind to the work of Christ and the possibilities of faith, hope, and love.
– Ed Welch in TableTalk
That We Might Believe
In Isaiah 44-48, God predicts the coming of a king named Cyrus who will defeat the Babylonian empire and allow the people of Israel to return to their land.
And around 200 years later, Cyrus comes, defeats the Babylonians, and allows Israel to return to their land.
God predicts and brings it to pass – that we might believe.
In Isaiah 49, God predicts the coming of His Servant whose words will be like a sharp sword, who will glorify God, and who will labor in vain. This Servant will gather the people of Israel and be a light to the nations. He will be both despised and honored. He will be a covenant for the people.
And around 600 years later, Jesus comes. His words are like a sword that pierce the heart. He lived for God’s glory. He labored among the people, but many didn’t understand or accept him. He gathered many in Israel, and his gospel has spread to the nations. He was despised by rulers, and yet will one day be honored by all. He is a new covenant through whom we can have a relationship with God.
God predicts and brings it to pass – that we might believe.
Cyrus and Jesus came just like God said they would, and they did just what God said they would do. And because God predicts and brings it to pass, our faith is strengthened. We have reason to believe in the one true God. We need not doubt. We need not chase after idols. We can trust Him with our lives. We can trust Him with our future.
God predicts and brings it to pass – that we might believe.
Passion Points
Here are some good (and challenging) posts for your weekend reading:
Rejoicing in Lament – Mike Wittmer
Answering “No” To One Of These Questions Will Kill Your Evangelism – Trevin Wax
How Memorization Feeds Your Imagination – Joe Carter (TGC)
What Do You Really Want Your Church To Be Known For? – Mark Altrgogge
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day celebrating your Savior with your local church!
Brian J. Mikul 