Allen Burns – Christ Community Church

Irresistible King – Easter 2021

Jesus tells us, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32). Do you see Him as the irresistible King of the nations? Do you see Him as offering eternal life? Do you see the glory of King Jesus, offering forgiveness and salvation? Do you see Him as the risen King triumphing over your enemies? Jesus is lifted up from the earth. Is He drawing you? Be drawn to the Son of Man, the irresistible King.

Death of a King – Good Friday

Good Friday is about the death of a King.

Righteous Worship – Jesus’ Triumphant Entry

Those who worship Jesus righteously worship Him in truth. We worship Him as a gift sent from God. We worship Him as Lord of lords. He is mighty in battle and defeats our greatest enemies. We worship Jesus as Savior. We cry out to Jesus, “hoshiya na, save us, please.” We worship Jesus as our loving Savior.

What is the Fruit of Salvation? (part three)

The main idea of the message today is the same as last week. We are to seek to bear good fruit from the Spirit and not from the flesh. We will cover these three truths. • Fruit from the flesh • Fruit from the Spirit • Fruit for the glory of Jesus

What is the Fruit of Salvation? (part two)

Fruit is as important to our salvation as it is to the health of our bodies. What Jesus says at the beginning of John 15 (v. 1-17) proves this to be true. God purposes in us that we bear fruit. He prunes and cultivates us, so we produce the maximum amount of fruit. All who abide in Jesus will bear fruit. Our fruit is proof that we are disciples of Jesus and in union with Him. And, bearing fruit brings us fulness of joy.

What is the Fruit of Salvation? (part one)

Jesus speaks of four aspects of the vineyard; the vine, the branches, the fruit, and the vinedresser. Jesus is the vine. He is the one from which the water and nutrients pass along to the branches of the vine. We, the disciples of Jesus, are the branches which come off the vine. The fruit grows off the branches. The fruit grows because the vine feeds the branch. God the Father is the vinedresser. He watches over the process to make sure there is much fruit. We will see five truths about the fruit of our faith. 1) Bearing fruit is God’s aim. 2) Bearing fruit requires Jesus. 3) Bearing fruit is proof. 4) Bearing fruit brings joy 5) Bearing fruit requires going.

What is Saving Faith?

We do good deeds before people, so Jesus gets the glory! God is working through us for the glory of His Son. Our good works are a testimony before people, and the principalities and powers of the heavenly places. Our born again life is a testimony to all creation, seen and unseen, of the glorious work of Jesus!

What is Righteousness by Faith? (part two)

MAIN IDEA: Know we are adorned with Christ’s perfect righteousness when we put our faith in the gospel. We see three truths about the righteousness we receive from Christ. 1) It is a righteousness of surpassing value. 2) It is a righteousness that is perfect. 3) It is a righteousness that adorns.

What is Righteousness by Faith? (part one)

All the promises of God find their yes, their fulfillment in Christ. The promise in the Garden to give a Savior, to Abraham to be a father of many nations, to David that his descendant will sit on an eternal throne, and so forth. Jesus fulfills every promise that God makes. All who put their faith in Jesus Christ, that Jesus is God in the flesh, and that Jesus died on the cross and rose again for our salvation, receive righteousness by faith.

What is Salvation?

MAIN IDEA: Know and believe that faith in Christ saves us from unrighteousness, spiritual deadness, and God’s just wrath. Salvation is a rescue from a danger that can cause harm or death. A Christian is rescued from danger by a Savior.

Where is Our Hope? – Perfect Salvation

Many Christians are asking, “What is God doing?” Know that everything God does points us to Jesus. God will not share His glory. Our hope in Christ should not be tarnished by events and circumstances, but needs to shine brightly.

New Year Resolutions – 2021 for the glory of God!

Imagine if all of us are intentional to imitate Jesus in the upcoming year! In doing so, 2021 will be among the best years of our life. We may face challenging circumstances, but we will together grow in maturity. Our souls will find the joy and satisfaction we seek.

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Go Tell It On The Mountain In this last week of the Christmas season, we have in mind the Christmas Carol, “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” “Go Tell It…

O Come All Ye Faithful

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

O Holy Night

We are looking at popular Christmas hymns and their origins in Biblical truth during this advent season. Our objective is not to exposit the hymns, but to worship along with the hymn writer and the countless others who know the hymn. We will look at the Biblical truths that inspire the hymn. This week we are singing the hymn, “O Holy Night.”

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

The writers of the hymns are moved by the truth of Christmas, and they use their talents to write songs of worship and adoration. We join in with these songwriters by singing with them in unity as we rejoice together. Many of the Christmas hymns are deep in theology. We want to explore the Biblical truths expressed by the writer of the hymn so we may sing them with the depth of passion and worship they felt as they wrote the hymn.

Attitude of Unity

We need to consider that the yoke we are wearing is a yoke of pride and self-centeredness. As long as we wear the yoke of pride, we will always find life to be hard. But, if we learn from Jesus, and we humble ourselves and seek to be gentle and serve others, our soul will find rest. Our church will be in unity. If our church becomes full of people who are humble, gentle and serving, the church will be a place where our soul finds rest. God will exalt us. We will find honor in the eyes of God. Let’s find unity and rest in the humility of Christ.

Unity of the Body

The Bible continually reminds us to increase in our maturity as Christians. We begin as born-again Christians who feed on the milk of the word. From there, we progress in maturity until we eat upon the meat of the word. We grow in maturity in character, wisdom, and bearing fruit. Part of our maturity requires us to be mature in our relationship with the body of Christ by being in unity.

Perfected in Unity

We cannot begin to think, talk, or act towards unity until we fully understand unity with God. If we do not have unity with God as individuals or collectively as a church, we will never have unity. The main idea of the message is: Be perfected in unity by being in unity with Jesus.

“In Christ” – Union with Christ (part four)

In Christ – Union with Jesus As we journey through this series of unity, I hope you are being encouraged. It is a joy to see the depth of how…

“In Christ” – Union with Christ (part three)

In Christ – Union with Jesus To say we are in union with Jesus is the same as saying we are in unity with Him. Everything we need to know…

“In Christ” – Union with Jesus (part two)

In Christ – Union with Jesus The focus of our study on unity is now centered on our union with Christ. The most frequent words used in Scripture to describe…

“In Christ” – Union with Jesus (part one)

Paul does not use the word Christian to describe who we are as believers. His most common phrase for those who put their faith in Jesus and follow Him is that they are “in Christ.” It is a short phrase that is easy to read over. But, do not undervalue the phrase's significance. Being ‘in Christ’ is the essence of the Christian experience.

Jesus Restores Unity (part two)

Jesus Restores Unity – part 2 In the beginning, before the creation, God exists in three persons, the Trinity. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. On the sixth day…

Jesus Restores Unity (part one)

God’s predetermined plan is to place before us His beloved Son, a treasure beyond all measure, worthy of our complete trust and worship. When we see Jesus, our hearts sing for joy. Jesus satisfies all our longings.

The Destruction of Unity

In the beginning, everything in the universe works in one accord. Water and land, plants and animals, stars and planets, and light and darkness worked in unity. The universe was a display of perfection. But, today, we witness that the universe is not perfect. Unity is gone. Wars, fighting, conflict, discord, strife, arguing, and trouble are found on every street and in every house. Something happened. What happened to God’s perfect design?

The Unity of Creation

The Unity of Creation We are continuing in our sermon series on the subject of unity. Our aim is that our church is a place where we and other people…

God of Perfect Unity

Why Unity – Introduction Beginning this Sunday, we will put Luke aside for a season and start a sermon series on Unity. What this sermon series is not – This…

Christlike Disciples

There is only one person who can render a judgment as to who will be the greatest in His kingdom. The King of kings decides which of the apostles will be the greatest. It will be the opposite of what they think. The least among them shall be the greatest.

Majesty

When we are in heaven, we are not going to be marveling at His power or authority. Jesus’ power and authority are truly marvelous. We will be praising the glory of God’s grace. We will be marveling at how such a magnificent God goes to His death so we may be saved. We will marvel at the Bridegroom laying down His life for His bride.

My Son

Bible Text: Luke 9:35, Psalm 2, Isaiah 42:1-9, Deuteronomy 18:15-19 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Son of Man | Gospel of Luke | My Son Luke writes his…

The Transfiguration

In heaven, the Lamb of God who dies for us and sets us free is the bright and shining glory of God. God’s glory is His forgiveness and mercy and the Lamb of God is God’s glory. Put your faith in Christ alone and nothing else. God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). Believe Jesus is God’s Son and Chosen One coming again in His Glory.

Follow the Suffering Christ

Following Jesus is to live in a way that proves He is our most valuable treasure. Treasure the suffering Messiah as supremely valuable over all things, including life itself.

The Suffering Christ

There are two truths upon which we place our faith. One is the person of Jesus. We put our faith in His identity. Second, we put our faith in the work of Jesus. We put our faith in what He accomplishes. The eternal outcome of our soul is at risk. Where we spend eternity depends upon our understanding of these two essential truths about Jesus.

Bread From Heaven

Jesus heals the sick, teaches them about the kingdom of God, and miraculously feeds them all with only a few fish and five loaves of bread. Do you wonder what it might have been like to be in the crowd that day? To follow Jesus, get healed, hear His teaching, and then be satisfied with fish and bread? What if we were one of the twelve apostles? How might we remember that day? Let’s put our imaginations to work. Let’s take the description of the day given to us by the four gospels, and compile two stories. The first story is that of a young couple who encounter Jesus. The second story is that of one of the twelve apostles.

Jesus is the Gospel

In a world full of bad news, Jesus is the good news that we all are seeking. Jesus has the power and authority to reverse all that is wrong in this world. Only He is the source of good. Put your faith in Him.

Healing Touch

Jesus is the Messiah who restores life. Jesus didn’t come just for the woman with the hemorrhage or to raise Jairus’ daughter from the dead. Jesus came to save all sinners. He came for you and for me. One day, we will be in a grave. But, when we believe Jesus is the Messiah who restores life, we no longer fear the grave. We know that after we are dead, Jesus will extend His hand to us. We will sing with joy and say, “The grave has no victory over me. Jesus gives me eternal life.” He will take us by the hand, and just like the girl, we will also eat. We will sit at the great banquet of the marriage supper of the Lamb and we will enjoy the presence of Jesus forever.

A Right Mind

Jesu will meet a man who is without hope and in desperate need of salvation. He is a man abandoned by society and left in the wilderness while everyone waits for him to forever vanquished. Imagine living a life that nobody wants to be in your presence. His end will be good news for the city of his upbringing.

Calm Seas

God raises up a storm over the Sea of Galilee so His Son may prove He has authority over creation. God desires to show that He and Jesus are One. The fullness of God dwells in Jesus. It is by Jesus that all things are created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things are created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). The storm is created by Him, so He may rebuke it and say, “Be still.” Jesus proves that He is able to lift the blanket of corruption from this world, because He has power over sin and creation. Are there storms in your life? Are the catastrophes that make you anxious? Are you worried about the coronavirus? Are you facing life-threatening circumstances? Where is your faith?

Kingdom Word

Jesus came to warn the citizens of the kingdom of this world that God hates the rebellion. A day coming when God will pour out His wrath upon all who rebel against His authority. Jesus tells people they can escape the wrath to come if they put their faith in His salvation, and submit to His authority. Jesus came to save us from the inevitable destruction of the kingdom of darkness and to transfer us into the kingdom of His light.

Much Love

The deeper our understanding of sin, the more we may understand grace and forgiveness. A shallow understanding of sin will result in a shallow love of Jesus. If we think we have little sin to forgive, our worship of Jesus will be lacking. The woman at Simon’s home shows an extraordinary understanding of the forgiveness of sin. She goes to Jesus despite great risk of public ridicule and shame. She values Jesus more than she values what others may think. Let us be a people who prove we believe we are forgiven much by loving much. Let us not be ashamed of loving our Savior. Let us be a people who weep openly at the feet of Jesus because we are thankful that He gives His life so we may live forever with Him in glory.

God’s Wisdom

In God’s wisdom, He lovingly provides a way to be just and loving at the same time. He gives the world His beloved Son, who willingly takes the punishment we deserve. When people put their faith in God’s salvation from sin, by believing Jesus takes their punishment, they are saved from God’s judgment. God’s holiness and justice make salvation necessary. God’s love makes salvation possible. Jesus’ message is simple. Do not be offended by Jesus. Don’t stumble over the rock of salvation. Those who put their faith in God’s wise proclamation of salvation are saved. Believe God’s proclamation of salvation as perfect wisdom.

Who is Jesus?

The prophetic testimony of the sure word of God is compelling and reliable. I implore you to think about Jesus's ministry, teachings, and His life. Remember that Jesus is seen alive and His disciples went to their grave believing Him as risen from the dead. Believing in Jesus requires faith in believing the testimony of God’s word. Put your faith in Jesus, the compassionate Savior.

True Disciples

Bible Text: Luke 6:37-49 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Son of Man | Gospel of Luke

Godly Love

Bible Text: Luke 6:27-36 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Son of Man | Gospel of Luke | Godly Love In the wilderness, Jesus proves knowledge of the Scripture…

The Last Enemy

Death is sobering. Let the thought of dying permeate your thinking right now. You may say, “But I don’t want to think about death, it hurts.” I know. Thinking about death can hurt. But, to not think about death is irresponsible and immature. Death stings like a scorpion’s deadly poison. But what if there is a truth that eliminates the sting of death? What if there is life after death? Is there more than just this life? Whether or not there is life after death, or stated another way, “a resurrection,” is the most important truth for all people. If there is a resurrection after we die, it changes everything. It impacts how we live before we die. If there is a resurrection, we need to prepare for what comes after we die. If there is a resurrection, does it change the purpose and meaning of the life we have now? Does the resurrection lead to a life that is eternal, or will we die once again?

A Timely Demonstration of Love

In the first four chapters, Paul explains HOW we are saved by Jesus. In summary, he writes that we are saved by faith. Those who believe Jesus dies for their sin, and that Jesus is the substitutionary punishment for us, are saved. After explaining how to be saved, the Apostle Paul changes the subject in chapter five. He answers a very important question, which is, “WHY are we saved?” What motivates God to save us? Why, does God choose to save people. Paul addresses God’s motive for salvation. The short answer to Paul’s question is simple. The reason we are saved is because of God’s love. We know the answer because we are familiar with what Jesus said to Nicodemus. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” God loves the world. That’s why.

Blessings and Woes

Do you look around at what is going on today and fell like life is slipping away? Is your heart sick? Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Perhaps God is showing us how much we are trusting in this world. We don’t know how much we trust in this world until the things of this world are taken away. How would we pray to God if tomorrow the grocery stores were taken away? Give us this day our daily bread is a different prayer when there are no stores and no flour. Why should our prayer with no store be any different in a world with stores? Put faith in God for His blessings and don’t put faith in this world.

Three-Fold Ministry

Jesus sets a beautiful example of ministry. He faithfully prays to God. He trusts God will hear His prayers. He actively engages in discipleship. He is very intent on Growing God’s kingdom through equipping and enabling others to take His place. He leaves a legacy of people who follow in His footsteps. Lastly, Jesus ministers to all people, and we need to do the same. Let’s follow the example of Jesus for the sake of glorifying Him and for our joy.

Lord of the Sabbath

Everything about the Law of God, whether the law is from the Mosaic Covenant, or the New Testament, points to Jesus. The Mosaic Covenant points to Him prophetically. The commands of the New Testament call us to follow His example. Let’s not be like the Pharisees who use the commands of God to fill themselves with pride. Let’s live knowing God’s commands are for good. They point to mercy and love. They declare Jesus as our Sabbath rest. God’s commands lead to life.

New Wineskin

Levi is a follower of Jesus. He knows that Jesus is worth forsaking everything. Jesus is a cause for celebration. Levi invites people to his home to be with Jesus because Levi knows that Jesus heals those who repent. Those who are with Jesus love Him and are devoted to Him as a bride is to her Husband. Levi and all those who follow Jesus know that following Him means being given a new life. The old things pass away and the new things have come.

Bold Declaration

There are many miracles that Jesus performs, but not all of Jesus’ miracles are written in Luke’s account. The fact that Luke gives details surrounding these two miracles in chapter five, the healing of a leper and a paralytic, we may expect that they reveal very truths into the person of Jesus. These miracles reveal the extent of Jesus’ authority. They will show that Jesus has the authority to declare the unclean clean and that He has the authority to forgive sin.

Marks of a Disciple

To be a disciple of Jesus requires a radical and continual evaluation of life. Jesus requires His disciples to follow Him in every way. We can take this sentence, “Being a disciple of Jesus requires me to evaluate how I blank (fill in the blank) and make changes as necessary.” The blank can be eat, drink, work, love, dress, drive, and play. In short, the blank is best filled with the word, “everything.” Being a disciple of Jesus requires me to evaluate how I do everything.”

Compassionate Authority

Jesus is calling all people to humble themselves and confess Him as King. When we put our faith in Christ, we confess Him as Savior because He rescues us from the domain of darkness. And, when we put our faith in Him as a Christian, we confess that He is Lord.

Hometown Prophet

Throughout Luke’s gospel, we will see two responses to Jesus. Some people respond like the people of Nazareth, and they want to throw Jesus off a cliff. They like Jesus up until a certain point. They are no different than people of today. People today like Jesus up to a certain point. But, as soon as the topic of sin emerges, talk of Jesus is no longer welcome. The gospel is not enough. Others, like the disciples who continue to follow Jesus, are willing to hear the truth, even when it gets difficult. When Jesus asks them, “Do you want to stop following Me as well?” Peter responds, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:67-69) What about you? Do you believe Jesus is the Holy One of God who has words of eternal life?

Life’s Temptations

Bible Text: Luke 4:1-13 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Son of Man | Gospel of Luke | Life’s Temptations Life begins with Adam and Eve living in the…

Heaven Speaks

The truth of Jesus is life-changing. It is to “rock our world,” “shake our foundations,” and cause us to stop in our tracks and evaluate everything about life. The truth about Jesus is the most important truth. It is said that Jesus brings peace and prosperity to the nations. He offers people comfort, security, and satisfaction. His followers claim there is unspeakable joy in His presence. To all who are sick, hungry, thirsty, and dying, Jesus offers healing, food, living water, and eternal life. There is no question that the claims of Jesus are astounding. If all that is said about Him is true, every person in the world ought to beg to know more about how they may have access to all that He offers.

Make Ready

Bible Text: Luke 3:1-20 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Son of Man | Gospel of Luke | Make Ready Luke begins chapter one of his gospel by telling…

Submissive Son

The Bible encourages us to be like Jesus. God’s ultimate goal for us is to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ. We are to love as He loves, obey as He obeys, and to live as He lives. A common approach to Christianity is for us to ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” In other words, when given a life situation, it is wise for us to ponder how might Jesus respond or what might He say in the same situation. We are to imagine knowing the character of Jesus what He would do. In pondering this, it helps us have the wisdom to respond the same way. As we read about Jesus at the age of twelve, let’s examine His example, and look for ways we may do as Jesus does. Therefore, the main idea of the message today is to follow the example of Jesus and faithfully be obedient to God’s call on our life.

Contentment in Christ

Are you content with Jesus? Do you feel as though your life is complete because your eyes have seen Jesus? We have not seen Jesus in the flesh, but we know in our heart of God’s salvation. We can chase after things of this world. Or we can be content to have what Christ gives us. Content with holiness. Jesus is the way. Are we content with the way? Jesus is the truth. Are we content with knowing the truth? Are we content with the life Jesus gives, or are we looking for more in this world. A song that has meant much to me is, “I’d rather have Jesus.” I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold I'd rather be his than have riches untold I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land Yes I'd rather be led by his nail pierced hands Than to be the king of a vast domain and be held in sins dread sway I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today The Apostle Paul says it well. He says: But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. (Philippians 3:7)

God is Born

Bible Text: Luke 2:1-21 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Son of Man | Gospel of Luke | God is Born! Many people read Luke each year during the…

God’s Tender Mercy

How do we see serving? How do we imagine heaven? Do we imagine heaven as the angels serving us as we put our feet up? On earth, we all imagine our greatest joy is found in being served by others. How delightful does spending eternity serving sound to our ears?

Mary’s Song

There are hundreds, if not thousands of sermons written on this inspiring passage. These verses are a treasure-trove of theology. As we look at this passage, let’s take a slightly unconventional approach. Let’s examine the joy and excitement these two women express. Let’s imagine we are the proverbial fly on the wall and we observe these women as they lovingly greet one another. We get the sense that their worship of God bubbles out and that they are very, very happy.

Born of a Virgin

Bible Text: Luke 1:26-38 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Son of Man | Gospel of Luke | Born of a Virgin Luke provides for us a detailed account…

Christ’s Forerunner

The first piece of evidence that Jesus is God in the flesh and Savior of the world is the account of an older couple who live in the hills of Judah. In Luke 1:5-25, we see the evidence of how God fulfills Old Testament prophecy. God prophecies that before the Messiah, there will be a forerunner. Luke begins by telling us of the birth of Christ’s forerunner.

The Exact Truth

Bible Text: Luke 1:1-4 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Son of Man | Gospel of Luke | MAIN IDEA: Place your faith in the exact truth of God’s…

Seeking Pleasure: addictions and the desires of the heart

It seems inescapable that there is a deep-seated motivation in us that moves our body toward experiences that bring enjoyment. We are creatures designed for pleasure and enjoyment!

God’s Ambassadors

Bible Text: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: God's Purpose for the Church

The Gift of Nurture

Bible Text: Ephesians 4:11-16 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: God's Purpose for the Church | God’s Purpose For the Church Imagine we are missionaries entering a new culture. How…

The Assembly of Worship

The main idea of the message is that we will endeavor to fulfill our purpose as worshipping members of the church. We need to strive as a church, to be a unified worshipping body, and we need to strive as individuals to be a member of the body who worships. We see the scriptural basis behind this idea, and we will review practical suggestions on how to fulfill God’s purpose. We desire to please God in our obedience to His ways.

Eternal Worship

We are to place our hope in the eternal worship of His glory. This age will come to an end. All who put their faith in Christ will live forever with joy and satisfaction basking in the presence of God. We look forward to our eternal worship of enjoying God. We will say, “I have now understood why I am created. My purpose is to enjoy my God. God is the source of all my pleasure and gladness. My soul is full. My heart leaps with passion. I need not turn anywhere, but to look into the face of My Savior who loves me. I am content, consoled, and filled with peace as I am held close to His bosom.”

God’s Intimate Love

The main idea of the message is that we are to be enthralled with the intimate love of God. To be enthralled is to be held captive, spellbound, fascinated, and absorbed. The truth of God’s love is to permeate our mind, invoke deep feelings, pull on our heartstrings, and affect us in such a way, that God’s intimate love changes the way we live.

Humble Worship

God’s revelation of Himself is a very loving thing to do. God makes Himself known so we may enjoy Him to the greatest possible extent. God wants us to know He is worthy of our trust. He is able to save us. If we want a big strong Savior, God says, trust Me because I am bigger than you think.

Gladness & Rejoicing

Let’s live today demonstrating we believe one day we will be filled with gladness and rejoicing in the reign of Christ. Let’s live in such a way that others will ask us about the hope that is within us; for our joy, and God’s glory.

True Worship

Those who trust in Christ are satisfied. Jesus is bread and water of life. They are like Jesus, who says that their food is doing the will of God (John 4:34). They hunger and thirst for Christ’s righteousness, and their soul is filled. Those who put their faith in the world will eat, but never be filled. They will drink, but will always be thirsty. When we have Christ, we shout joyfully and have a glad heart, no matter our circumstance. Take away our food, home, health, and we ought to find contentment and satisfaction because our satisfaction is in Christ. Those without faith, always have a heavy heart and a broken spirit. They will never be content. They grumble and complain. They are unhappy. Their name is a curse before God and their future is condemnation and wrath.

Revival Prayer

Bible Text: Isaiah 63:15-64:12 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Vision of Isaiah: Judgment & Hope | Last week (Remember Hesed), we looked at the first two stanzas of…

Remember Hesed

Bible Text: Isaiah 63:7-14 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Vision of Isaiah: Judgment & Hope | Remember Hesed Is this world depressing to you? Do you lament over…

Trampled in Wrath

Bible Text: Isaiah 63:1-6 | Pastor: Allen Burns | Series: The Vision of Isaiah: Judgment & Hope | Trampled in Wrath Seven hundred years before Jesus is born, God proclaims…

Hephzibah and Beulah

The beauty of this passage is found in God’s promises. If anyone else made these promises, we would scoff. Who can possibly fulfill these promises? Only God. Nothing can stand in His way. He is all-wise, all-powerful, and full of zeal to bring about His purpose and plan. “Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.” (Matthew 22:9)

Salvation’s Triumph

The main idea in verses 4-11 of chapter 61 is that we are to produce the fruit of righteousness, praising God for His salvation in Christ. The work of Christ is to transform and restore God’s creation. He is sent to bring righteousness and praise among God’s elect. Jesus is sent to us. He intervenes in our life and establishes us as oaks of righteousness. We are to produce the fruit of righteousness as a result of Jesus being sent.

Anointed Messiah

Perhaps, they see Jesus as being pompous. They see Jesus as Joseph’s son, not as the Messiah. We know just the opposite is true. Jesus is not a pompous man, but a humble God. He lays aside His privileges and divine glory, humbles Himself and becomes a man, He serves, and He obeys God to the point of death on a cross. Jesus takes on the mission, so we may be set free, comforted, and made righteous. We have a glorious Savior. Believe Jesus is the anointed Messiah sent to make us righteous, for the glory of God.

City of the Lord

The work of the Messiah is transforming. Isaiah prophecies that God will transform deserts into lush gardens. Animals have a new nature so that the lion lays down with the lamb. And, God will transform people so that they are no longer rebellious, but righteous and holy. Isaiah 60, and Revelation 21 are passages prophesying that God will transform Jerusalem into a glorious city. She will be a sparkling gem upon the earth.

Wrapped in Zeal

Before we finish, take a moment to notice the work of God throughout this chapter. God delivers the verdict of guilt. God expresses His displeasure with the situation. God sends His Right Arm because there is no other choice. God declares the victory over evil and wickedness. The same Right Arm of God defeats evil and is our precious Redeemer. God makes a covenant with those who Christ redeems. We bring nothing to our salvation except our confession of sin and our willingness to turn from our ways and follow God’s ways. We put our faith in Christ, the Right Arm of God, and He does the rest.

Beware of Religiosity

Real religion that pleases God is not easy. It requires that we die to our self. It requires humility. It requires sacrifice. Cruising along is not enough. Accumulating knowledge is not enough. We can do better. We are called to lay down our lives for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. Believe God when He says that dying to self brings abundant life. Trust God when He says, it is better to give than to receive. Believe the words of Scripture that we can count everything as rubbish because we gain Christ. Let’s grow in maturity. Let’s excel at true Christianity for the glory of God and our eternal joy.

God Dwells With the Humble

Pride is an obstacle to Christian maturity. God wants us to get the most out of a relationship with Him while we exist in this body. He wants us to glorify Himself in our lives. Make your life quest a quest for humility and enjoy the fullness of God’s presence.

Tickling Ears

The main idea of the message is that we need to examine our shepherds and our faith so we may be sure to stand on God’s holy mountain. We may not separate our salvation from our life. Salvation is a call to be set apart from the world. We are to put our trust in God and His ways. God gives us His word so we may grow. We need leaders to help us. We need teaching and correction. We need to be equipped. When God saves us, a work of transformation takes place. We follow people who proclaim Christ. We live holy lives, set apart for the gospel. Trust God and take refuge in Him.

Grace Evidenced

At the end of the age, believers like Bonnie, will who walk the highway of holiness, rejoicing in their salvation. The trees of the field clap their hands, and the mountains and the hills break forth with joy as they walk by. They are people blessed by God. Call upon God while He is near. Ask Him to show you your heart. Ask Him to help you be sure that you are a genuine believer who gives evidence of His work of grace. Trust in God and you will not be disappointed!

Satisfied Soul

Is your soul satisfied? Would you like it to be? God offers satisfaction for our soul that is free. He promises it to be complete and abundant. God promises that our soul will live. Nobody else is offering us such a rich and abundant enjoyment where our mind, body, heart, and spirit find complete enrichment. God can make good on His promise. God never lies. He is faithful.

Righteous City

The main idea of this passage is very simple. We are to worship the Savior for His remarkable transforming work of deliverance. To truly worship Jesus, others will see Him as being the center of our heart and affections. His name is on our lips. His salvation dominates our conversations. When we worship Jesus, the church is a sparkling jeweled city where we grow in the knowledge of Christ and learn how Jesus is to be the center of our life.

Compassionate Redeemer

Verse five of this passage is an amazing picture of our salvation and one which helps us to think rightly about our salvation. The basis of our salvation is not on our merits but upon the character and glory of God.Shout for joy, expand your tent, and fear notfor your husband is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.

God’s Good Pleasure

The world’s most famous verse sums up what God desires for us to know.For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.Are you prepared to stand before the judgment seat of God? As you stand there, will you be justified by the blood of Christ, or will you stand before God as a guilty sinner? Receive Jesus and you will not perish, but have everlasting life.

Slaughtered Lamb

Jesus is the perfect Lamb of God who has no blemish. Our atonement may only come from someone who does not deserve the punishment. In other words, Jesus cannot take our punishment if He also deserves punishment (otherwise, He will have to die twice, once for Himself and once for us). Isaiah rightly prophecies that the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God is made with an innocent Lamb without a blemish. He is pure, holy, and righteous.

Glorious Exchange

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)The well-being Jesus offers is to have peace with God. The healing Jesus offers is healing from our rebellion. The Palm Sunday people are disappointed.But, those who see Jesus carrying their grief, sorrow, and sin, are not disappointed. Jesus makes us righteous. He makes us right before God.For the Scripture says, “whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Glory Despised

The Son of Man, who we despise, willingly endures the shame and mocking. He outstretches His arms so we may nail Him to a tree. As He hangs there in shame before the public, the Man of Sorrows, offers forgiveness to those who are crucifying Him. He bleeds for our salvation. He is marred for our sin. It is our grief and sorrow He carries. There is only one who is worthy of our worship and praise. Worship Jesus for His atoning sacrifice for our salvation. His work of salvation is astonishingly complete in every way.

Lovely Feet

God expects us to respond to His work of salvation. We are to endeavor to respond to God’s saving work according to His word of truth. This passage reveals five ways we are to respond to our salvation.God expects for us to herald the good news of peace and happiness and that our God reigns.We are to break forth in joy knowing we receive all things in Christ.As we herald the good news and when people ask us about our joy, we are to point to the cross as the only way of salvation.We are the temples of the living God.

Know God

God is speaking to us. He says that we are free. Arise, and respond to God’s voice, believing He rescues His people. Arise, and put on strength. Clothe yourself with the beautiful garments of holiness. Arise, shake the dust off your feet. Remove the chains of addiction, anger, pride, depression, shame, hopelessness, oppression, sin, selfishness, and so on. Take off whatever chain is keeping you from having a full relationship with the Lord, and walk into the freedom of being alive, risen, and seated with Christ in the heavenly places.

God’s Holy Plan

We need to remember Jerusalem in her glory. She is a woman who was once the envy of all. She was beautiful, rich, and clothed in luxury. She was proud and stood tall as she brought the work of her hands to the market. She ate the finest food and drank the best of wines. She was virile and gave birth to strong, handsome sons. The picture Isaiah paints is that Jerusalem has become a pitiful drunk and helpless woman in the streets. She is clothed in pity and shame. She is filthy and covered in sores. If we were to see her, we might throw her some pocket change. We would not invite her to our home. As we go through these verses, picture this woman in mind.

Never Forget God

God doesn’t want us to downplay the present afflictions and sufferings of this world. He doesn’t want us to live in an alternate reality that denies sufferings.What God wants us to do is know that this world has troubles, but remember the words He speaks to us. He wants us to embrace the sufferings and embrace the comfort we have in Christ. He speaks to us so that we may have peace. In the world, we will have affliction and sufferings. But, Christ gives us comfort. He rises from the dead, so we may take courage knowing He overcomes the world. Never forget the power, sovereignty, and promises of God during times of difficulty.

The Righteousness of God

The fact that we are not righteous is the number one problem facing all people. God is righteous, and He expects righteousness in all people. God will not allow immorality in His kingdom. We, who are unrighteous, put locks on our doors to keep unrighteous people out. God, who is perfectly righteous, has a sign over the gate to the entrance to His kingdom which reads, “no unrighteousness allowed.” Because we are unrighteous, we need righteousness. It is our biggest and greatest need. Without righteousness, we may not step one foot into the kingdom of heaven.

Obey the Servant’s Voice

We live in a scary world filled with terror, evil, corruption, sickness, and death. Living in this world is like living in a dark, terrifying cave. Our church is facing many difficult challenges. We have relationship challenges, health challenges, temptations, and many other challenges trying to separate us from God. Each challenge is a test of our faith. Will cancer draw us closer to God’s voice or further away? Will the death of a baby draw us closer or further from God? Will marriage troubles and relationship difficulties bring us closer or further from God’s voice? Trust God! Listen to the voice of His Servant.

Is Israel Forsaken?

Is not Israel God’s first love? Is she not an apple in God’s eye? Or, was all that wonderful talk from God just words so He may use her to bring about the Messiah, and now that the Messiah is here, she is of no value to God. As God is making much of the Gentiles, and raising up all the nations, Israel cannot help but think that their God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, abandons her.

Servant Song

The Messiah of Israel is amazing. The descriptions of Him in Isaiah tell us that He is a great champion and ruler who reigns with perfection. The reason God reveals Him in the Scriptures is so that we get to know Him. And, in knowing Him, we welcome Him as King with worship and adoration.

12 Revelations of the Messiah

God does not want us to despair. God wants us to rejoice. He knows we may never live up to His standards. He loves us as a Father and He sent a solution to our need. Jesus is the answer. He dies so we may live. Jesus bridges the gap between our failure and God’s standard of perfection. He takes our sin and gives us His righteousness. The gospel is the good news that we are made perfect in the Messiah of Israel. The picture Isaiah reveals to us is a picture of a Messiah we may fall in love with. Think about how the Messiah is a complete answer to all of our needs. He comes to bring light into our darkness. He replaces our sorrow with gladness. He rescues us from the clutches of our enemies. And, He restores creation so we may live in abundance and peace forevermore.

Living for God’s Glory

The main idea of the message today is this: Find joy and purpose by submitting to God’s will for your life and live for His glory. The Bible teaches that when we live in harmony with the will of God and when our purpose in life aligns with His, we obtain great joy and fulfillment. Life will have meaning and purpose. We will have the peace that passes all understanding. We will understand how to persevere through difficult times. We pray for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done. We must live our prayer.

For His Namesake

Let’s all be like King David, a man who God says is seeking God’s heart. Let’s cry out to the Lord, and say, “Pardon my sin for it is great. Forgive me, not for my sake or because I deserve to have my sin forgiven but forgive me so that You may glorify Your mercy. Make me an object where You may show forth the glory of Your divine attributes. Let the universe see how You pour out Your love. Do it for Your glory and that Your name will be famous.”

Living as Royalty – an allegory of Christianity

We are in Christ. Union with Christ is a dominant theme of the New Testament. We are a people who are joined together in unity with Jesus. Our identity is not our performance in being good. Our identity is that we are a people who partake in the free grace given to us by our Savior. This is an allegory about the Christian life. It is titled, “Living as Royalty.” It is an attempt to tell the story of our salvation using a different approach and different words.

Generous Faith

As people with genuine faith, we need to recognize God as the source of all wealth. We know God is the source of our wealth, and we trust Him to provide for us. We serve God and not wealth. We hold wealth loosely because it belongs to God and not us. We recognize God as the source of our wealth, so we give Him thanks. If we have extra, we thank Him for His provision instead of patting ourselves on the back for our work and effort.

Gospel Generosity – Being Rich Toward God

Let’s ask ourselves, in this season of giving, what is the best gift we may give? The proclamation of the gospel is a generous gift to share. There is no greater gift we may give than the good news of the gospel. Be a good servant of the Lord by multiplying the gifts of His salvation. In doing this, we are generous by giving to others the salvation we receive.

Where is your treasure?

Be forewarned. If you are sitting here this morning and say, I know I can be generous, God will test your faith and give you an opportunity. I’ve had times when I thought I was generous before God, but God gave me the opportunity to be tested. Whenever we are seeking to build and invest in the kingdom of God, we will never fail. When we seek to build our kingdom, we will fail. As we give, we may know that God is good. We may trust Him.

God’s Mission

As we celebrate missions, let’ remember that the ultimate goal of missions is the accomplishment of God’s Mission. God’s mission is to freely offer the rich treasures of Jesus Christ to needy people. We live in a world filled with needy people who are looking for answers. Jesus is the answer. The gospel is good news. Jesus promises to meet our every need. He offers peace and rest. He gives our lives purpose and meaning. He protects us from our enemies and gives us safety and protection. Only Jesus offers forgiveness of sin and everlasting life. If you know Jesus, rejoice. Know that He is meeting your needs.

The Word of Our Testimony

MAIN IDEA: Share the word of testimony that Jesus is the Messiah so that others may know and be saved. Jesus teaches the disciples that there are priorities in life. Accomplishing God’s will is a priority. He can’t eat, He is busy eating. His food is God’s will. There are few things which we value more than filling our bellies. For Jesus, doing God’s will is one of those things.

God Carries His Children

All of us are (or should be) in an unceasing, unwavering war against our idols. Our culture has just as many, if not more, idols than the people of Babylon. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The idols of today are deceptive, and in most cases, we don’t realize they are idols. Know this, the idols of today all promise power, riches, comfort, joy, and safety. Just like Bel and Nebo, we hope our idols will control our destiny.

God of Honor and Glory

God is saving us from living in eternity in shame. God restores us to a place of honor by sending His Son. The death of Christ on the cross paves the way for God’s objective of restoring order to be complete. God is merciful and loving. He is abounding in grace. The Bible says that when Jesus died on the cross, not only did He bear our sins, but He also wore our shame (Hebrews 12:2). He was in complete shame, being mocked and ridiculed.

Righteous God

If someone asks us, what is God doing, what is His plan with creation? We may answer with Isaiah 45:8. God is pouring down righteousness upon the earth. In every nook and cranny, in every place where evil exists, God is pouring down His righteousness. At the end of the age, the entire earth will be dripping and soaked with His holy rain. Everything God does with His creation is right and good.

Behold Your God

God is orchestrating all of the world’s events to bring about the redemption of His people. Every morning that our feet hit the floor when we get out of our bed in the morning, we may know that God is working all things for good for those who love Him and are called by His name. And, at the end of the age, we will stand before His throne exclaiming the glory of God’s amazing grace! For, we know, that there is nothing we have done to deserve every event of the world being orchestrated for our good. God’s grace is bigger and grander than our feeble minds may imagine!

Flee from Idols

We are God’s chosen witnesses. People who are lost in deception will only hear the truth from God’s witnesses. We need to lovingly and boldly share the truth of God with a world that is lost.

God’s Chosen Witnesses

God says to His people, “You are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock?” God says, “I know of none.” God is right. We know of none. He is our Rock and our Fortress. He is our mighty deliver and Savior. We have no reason to be afraid because if God is for us, who may be against us. Go and proclaim to the world of this great God who forgives sin, not because we deserve to be forgiven, but because He is glorious!

God’s Love for His Elect

We serve God as His witness by bringing Him glory. We are servants and the purpose of our being saved is that we will be a blessing to the nations by bringing the gospel of Jesus as well as the fruit of the gospel, which is love.

God’s Soul Delight

We have received mercy. We are redeemed from a dark dungeon. We are given sight and we may behold the risen Messiah who gives us life. God saves us that we may glorify His name.

The Judgment of Religion

“For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.'"

Wait for the Lord

If our idea of God is that He is not the source for all we need for life, then we will look to Wall-Street financing to ensure we will live comfortably and despair when the markets crash. Or, we will put our trust in the world’s educational institutions to tell us how to live. But, if our idea of God is that He is all-wise, His word will be our primary source for education. We will trust His word to teach us and give us knowledge.

Comfort, O Comfort My People

We have the best news on earth. There is comfort for the weary soul. Warfare is at an end. Conflict, destruction or turmoil are over. Everlasting peace is at hand. Turn swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Stop striving and find rest. Drink from the well of living water and eat the bread which satisfies the deepest of hunger.

The Lord is Our Only Hope

We are frail physically. None of us has any guarantee we will be alive tomorrow. We are frail in our faith. We experience doubt. We may be on the super-faith path one moment, and a train-wreck life experience comes our way, and we find we need the help of others to clear the doubts away. We are frail in our morality. Many who appear to be mighty Christians have fallen only to find themselves humbly licking their sin-inflicted wounds. Success in our Christian walk happens not because we are super-Christians, but because God’s grace keeps us in His hand.

The Zeal of the Lord of Hosts

If we want to pray like Hezekiah, let’s pray according to God’s will. “God, show Yourself to be strong in my life. Help me to be humble and servant-minded like Jesus.” “God, show us how we may have our household be in submission to the Lordship of Jesus.” “God, give me boldness to share the gospel of Jesus for the glory of Your salvation and the building of Your kingdom.” These are prayers according to God’s will.

Highway of Holiness

We need to tell all people to draw near and listen. We warn people of coming tornados and hurricanes. If there were an imminent threat of terror, we would warn as many as we could. Sound the warning sirens. Put up the hurricane flags. There is a great disaster coming to the earth, and it is far worse than any disaster the world has ever seen. Tell people to get to the shelter of God’s wings.

The King in His Beauty

God takes our weakness and failures, and He works all things for good. He takes us sinners and makes us glorious by conforming us into the image of His Son. He makes those who are dead and gives everlasting life. He takes away our sin and gives us His righteousness. God makes us who are weak more than conquerors. We serve an amazing, loving, gracious God.