Powerful Words from the Prophets“God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth.” – Isaiah 42:5 (NLT)“The ‘Big God’ Theory” One night, a few years ago, I was talking to my grandson about the idea of evolution—how some people think that the universe just “happened” without any ki...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle.” – Isaiah 42:2-3 (NLT)“Leading Like Jesus” I saw a video some time ago that was really disturbing. It was a pastor who was using the pulpit to give people a good tongue-lashing. He wasn’t just speaking in harsh generalities. This guy was calling people...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations.” – Isaiah 42:1(b) (NLT)“God’s Work Requires God’s Spirit!” In the Old Testament, whenever God raised up someone to do His work, He put His Spirit upon them. The Spirit is who empowered Moses to perform miracles. The Spirit is who gave Samson his strength. The Spirit is who gave the prophets the wo...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me.” – Isaiah 42:1 (NLT)“Chosen and Pleasing” Let’s focus on the second part of verse one today. “He is my chosen one, who pleases me.” What a powerful prophecy about the coming of Jesus. Jesus was indeed “The Chosen One.” He was chosen by God to be the full expression of His Divine Being to th...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.” – Isaiah 42:1 (NLT)“Look to Jesus!” When I sat down with our verse today, I laughed. Because as I walked and prayed this morning, I asked God to help me keep my eyes fixed on Him. I find it’s so easy to be distracted and focus on all the wrong things. It’s easy to focus on the problems rather than the Powerful One. It’s easy ...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“For I hold you by your right hand—I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” – Isaiah 41:13 (NLT)“Will You Let God Help?” As I read our verse for today, I sat with that last phrase for a little bit. “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Though those are wonderfully endearing words that the Lord speaks to us, it sparked sev...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)“God’s Got This” A few years ago, I had two profound events that reminded me of God’s power and provision. One was in a time when circumstances hit that left me sure that we would nev...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.” – Isaiah 40:26 (NLT)“You’re More Than a Star” Did you know that you can name a star? It’s true. For a minimum of around $50, you can go to a website cal...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?” – Isaiah 40:13-14 (NLT)“Remember to Whom You’re Talking” When I was in college, I had a Greek professor who was ab...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” – Isaiah 40:10-11 (NLT)“A Powerful Gentleness” My father was one of the mos...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsA voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the LORD has sp...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone, and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the LORD has punished her twice over for all her sins.” – Isaiah 40:1-2 (NLT)“Run to God’s Arms of Comfort” I had a friend who told me about a time when he got punished by his father for something he didn’t do. Something at ...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the LORD of Heaven’s Armies: ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the LORD. ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in t...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift. He had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick and that he had recovered. Hezekiah was delighted with the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen this message came to Isaiah from the LORD: “Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.’” – Isaiah 38:4-6 (NLT)“New Life!” “New Life!”...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsAbout that time, Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’” When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, “Remember, O LORD, how I have...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsThen Isaiah son of Amoz sent this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Because you prayed about King Sennacherib of Assyria, the LORD has spoken this word against him… because of your raging against me and your arrogance, which I have heard for myself, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. I will make you return b...

Powerful Words from the ProphetsAfter Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the LORD’s Temple and spread it out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed this prayer before the LORD: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim! You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You alone created the heavens and the eart...

Powerful Words from the Prophets“Then the chief of staff stood and shouted in Hebrew to the people on the wall, “Listen to this message from the great king of Assyria! This is what the king says: Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you. He will never be able to rescue you. Don’t let him fool you into trusting in the LORD by saying, ‘The LORD will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands o...