To be persistent means to do something unceasingly and continuously. Persistence is a character trait of a faithful Christian. Last week we looked at the power of prayer, particularly group or congregational prayer. And while congregational prayer is extremely important we also must remember that individual prayer is just as important and effective. The bottom…

Isaiah 26 is a song of praise. After redemption there should always be praise. Not only did God come in judgment upon the wicked, but He faithfully redeemed the righteous. For this reason God is worthy of praise. He is the creator and the judge of the entire universe. God is worthy of praise for…

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says we are to “pray continually”. Last week we looked at what makes up an authentic Christian Community: unity, responsibility for one another, and boldly proclaiming God’s Word. A recurring ingredient that enabled the early Christians to do all of those things was prayer. First-century Christians prayed with passion and persistence. Congregational…

The Bible is full of imagery and rich with metaphor. The biblical writers, inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and led by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) used familiar, everyday objects to symbolize spiritual truth. Symbols are quite common in the poetic and prophetic portions of the Bible and much of the book of…

Last week we talked about endeavoring to persevere. The first century church was all about perseverance and that stemmed from a cooperative spirit. Without a group of other Christians to sharpen and challenge on a consistent basis, the individual is prone to drift. The Book of Acts paints a portrait of the early church and…

Isaiah 25:6-8 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The…

James 1:3 tells us “the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” 2020 has certainly been a year where the faith of many a faithful Christian has been tested but what should our attitude be? We should endeavor to persevere. To endeavor is to “make every effort”. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:3 to “Make every…

Isaiah 24:23 The moon will be dismayed, the sun ashamed; for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory. This Wednesday we continue our study on Isaiah by focusing on chapter 24. What can we learn from Isaiah 24? God will judge the sinner and save the righteous….

“You shall not covet” Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21. The 10th command goes beyond a simple command to not covet listing specific examples. Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” The…

What do all of these ancient oracles teach us today? Isaiah’s oracles teach several important truths, still relevant centuries later. First, God rules over all nations; He’s not a local deity or a territorial god. Despite appearances at times to the contrary, God has His hand in the intricate details of our lives as well…