DOES YOUR HEART SAY “I WILL” OR “THY WILL?” Lucifer, whose name meant “Morning Star,” was cast down from heaven because of his rebellious heart that said, “I will be like the Most High.” Being cast down, he sought to corrupt and kill those whom God had made in His own image by tempting them
ISAIAH’S PROPHECY CONFIRMED IN CHRIST JESUS Isaiah prophesied God’s coming judgment on Israel and Judah. Yet, he also prophesied that though the tree of David’s throne would be chopped down, leaving only a “stump,” a “shoot” would grow out of it. This shoot would grow into a “new Branch,” which is Christ, the Son of
CHRIST’S STRENGTH IN MY WEAKNESS Paul told the Corinthians that he had learned to glory in his weaknesses, for it was in weakness that he had experienced the power of Christ at work in and through him. He had learned that real strength comes out of weakness which, distrustful of itself, gives itself up to
GOD STILL SENDS THOSE WHO WILL ANSWER HIS CALL Isaiah had a vision that changed his life. He saw the Lord’s heavenly throne room and heard the sound of the seraphim crying out to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” Isaiah was overwhelmed
UPSIDE-DOWN MORALITY–THE SIGN OF IMPENDING WOE The Lord declared impending judgment on Judah through the prophet Isaiah for their rejection of His law and the confounding of His Word. “What sorrow.” He said. Or as in other translations, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.” For their thinking had become so warped
BRING YOUR SINS TO THE LORD Isaiah begins his prophecy with a terrifying appraisal of Israel’s sin. Yet before he even finishes the first chapter, he offers this hope of forgiveness and covering from the Lord. For the Lord invites us to come to Him and “settle” our sin problem. Though our sins are deeply
THE UNFAILING LOVE AND GREAT COMPASSION OF OUR GOD David prayed for God’s mercy and forgiveness after being confronted with his sin with Bathsheba. He did not ask for God’s mercy based on himself, but according to God’s “unfailing love” and “great compassion.” David knew what his sin deserved, yet he cried out for God
THE DAY WHEN THE BRIDEGROOM SHALL SAY ‘RISE UP!’ The Song of Solomon is also called the “Song of Songs” because as part of Solomon’s wisdom literature it pursued the personified lady “wisdom” with a lover’s poetic passion, making it the pinnacle of his wisdom writings. However, when read through the lens of the apostle
FINANCIALLY POOR YET RICH IN JOY AND GENEROSITY! Paul commended the churches of Macedonia for their amazing generosity. For although they were very poor, they were very joyful and insisted on giving generously to the offering Paul was collecting for the saints in Jerusalem. God often chooses the poor to accomplish great things. For they
PAIN PRECEDES REPENTANCE Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was the most corrective of all his epistles. He was sorrowful to send it, knowing the pain it would cause. However, when he heard from Titus how the Corinthians had repented and changed their ways, he was overjoyed. He observed a spiritual truth: Pain precedes repentance.