List of Words from the Pastor

One of Isaiah’s purposes was to declare God’s displeasure with and judgment
upon sin in Judah, Israel, and the surrounding nations. Almost all the Hebrew
words for sin are used by the prophet. Another purpose was to try to turn God’s
people away from disobedience in order to avoid disaster. Perhaps the greatest
purpose, however, was to lay a foundation of hope and promise for the faithful remnant of God’s people. Thus the book is full of promises of restoration and redemption, of salvation for all the nations, and of the triumph of God’s purposes in spite of suffering.

For our application, the Book of Isaiah speaks powerfully to the modern day church, and it has been called both the “messianic prophet” and the “evangelical prophet.” He prophesied for all future ages, predicting both the First and Second Advents of Christ. His very name means “Salvation,” not only for those of his day, but also a salvation of the peoples of the nation for all time. This salvation comes from a Savior who has provided a ransom; a salvation by grace. The prophetic time frame of Isaiah will not close until the Son of David rules over His kingdom of peace (2:1–5; 11:1–10; 42:1–4; 61:1– 11; 65:17–25; 66:22–23). Isaiah speaks as powerfully to our day as he did to the society of his day. He focused a spotlight of holiness upon the sins of Israel; he called his peers to stop their social injustice, and their quest for carnal indulgence. He also warned of the consequences of judgment if sin continued.

It’d be wise for us to listen to Isaiah today.

Yours in Christ,

Pastors Rudy and Marion

We’ve just finished reading minor prophets Amos and Jonah.

Amos stresses that righteousness and justice are essential to a healthy society. Religion is more than observing feast days and holding sacred assemblies; true religion demands righteous living. The way a man treats his neighbor reveals his relationship with God. This is the message of Amos, a message needed today.

We also are living in a prosperous, materialistic society. Because we are prosperous, we may also deceive ourselves into believing that we have God’s blessing on us. Our tendency is to give God material goods and believe we have satisfied Him. Observation of external rites is not enough. God demands our obedience—a heartfelt attitude that responds to meet the needs of our fellow human beings.

Jonah’s story has much to say about the heart of God and the mission of God’s people. God desires to show His mercy and offer forgiveness to all peoples of the earth. He has committed this ministry of reconciliation and the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–19) to the church. Just as Israel was commissioned to reveal God to the world (Gen. 12:3), so the church has been commissioned to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Matt. 28:18–20). When the church takes seriously the command of God to arise and go to the nations of the world, those people who hear the Word and respond in faith experience the mercy and forgiveness of God in life-changing measure.

We the FCF family must renew and cultivate a loving and gracious attitude toward people in our personal worlds.

The transition from David’s rule to Solomon’s is a study in movement from
grace to glory—from God’s favor bestowed upon us to God’s majesty dwelling in our
midst. Chapters 1–9 recount the building and dedication of the temple, which
underscores the kingdom-life principle that worship must come first among God’s
people.The remaining chapters of 1 Kings testify to God’s sovereignty, demonstrating that whatever man does—either in partnership with God or in rebellion against Him—God’s purposes will prevail.

The opening chapters of 2 Kings (1–9) are full of accounts of prophetic ministry,
including the dramatic climax of Elijah’s witness and power. God’s kingdom power
is clearly demonstrated, including His judgment executed upon the house of
Israel. The fall of the northern kingdom shows that there is no “kingdom power”
without “kingdom obedience.” Israel’s continuous violations of God’s ways,
revealed in the leadership and lifestyle of every one of the northern kings, exhausted the seemingly endless patience of the loving,yet holy, God Almighty.

2 Kings 17:5–23 offers a heart-rending analysis of Israel’s fall. God’s holiness
required the capital punishment of nations,though the text makes it clear that the
Almighty took no delight in this. This passage both (1) vindicates God’s action, and (2)
describes those things that will invite similar judgment anywhere, anytime. They are:

    1. Refusal of God’s ways (17:7–8)
    2. Running to evil excesses (17:9–12)
    3. Rejection of prophetic warnings (17:13–15)
    4. Rebellion unto demonic worship (17:16–18)

2 Kings shows how kingdom people are not to live. We’d be wise to remember this.