Isaiah 26 - 3.17.2023

Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.

Isaiah 26:19

But your dead will live, Lord;

    their bodies will rise—

let those who dwell in the dust

    wake up and shout for joy—

your dew is like the dew of the morning;

    the earth will give birth to her dead.

Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?

But your dead will live, Lord;

In verse four of the same chapter it says to trust in the Lord forever. As I read about Your dead rising, Lord Jesus, I was filled with hope.

Because I miss the loved ones that are not here on earth with me currently.

I wish…for so many things, but some of my deepest longings revolve around being reunited one day with those that I love. Verse four tells me to trust God forever. Verse nineteen shares that our loved ones will rise if they have given themselves to God. If they are the Lord’s (possessive). If my loved ones belong to you, Lord Jesus, their bodies will rise!!!

Application - How will you apply this to your life?

Isaiah 26:2 

Open the gates

    that the righteous nation may enter,

    the nation that keeps faith.

Today I will build my faith!! And reaffirm my membership as part of a righteous nation!

I choose to TRUST IN THE LORD FOREVER.

I believe that Your dead will live, that their bodies will rise!

When a moment of grief overcomes me over the loss of loved ones I will remember today that they were Yours! That THEY WILL RISE!

And I will be reunited with them!

Prayer - Write out a prayer.

Lord Jesus, with the help of your Holy Spirit I choose to build my faith further today! Help me Lord in my moments of sadness to be reminded of what my future in You looks like! Help me to build my faith today! Lord in my moments of sadness remind me of what those who make You their Lord have waiting for them! In the name of Jesus do I pray, amen.

-kenneth lee

Psalm 20 - 3.16.23

Scripture

Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT

“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.”

Observation

This is a psalm of David. It is a psalm of encouragement to those who are in times of trouble. It is an encouragement to call out to God for help during those times. It is also a prayer that God will answer those who cry out to Him for help. It is a prayer that God will keep them safe, give them strength, give them favor, look favorably upon them, and help them succeed. It is a psalm that looks at those troublesome times through a lens of faith, knowing God will be victorious.

“May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.”-Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭5‬a ‬‬

David writes this psalm with confidence, knowing God’s faithfulness from personal experience.

“Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.”-Psalms‬ ‭20‬:‭6‬a

So just know that however BIG your problems may seem, our God is BIGGER!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬

Application

‬‬Boasting in my God the way David did.

Can I boast in God the way David did? Yes I can! Do I, like David, have that personal experience of God’s faithfulness to me? Yes I do! Do I have that confidence, seeing the world through that lens of faith that David did, knowing that God will deliver me and get the victory? I hate to admit, but sometimes I fail at this one.

Prayer

Father God, I know from experience of Your faithfulness. You have delivered me time and time again from various difficult situations. You always provide everything I ever need to make it through. Please forgive me for my times of doubt and fear. Your Word tells me that You are always with me and will never leave me. Help me to walk in faith knowing that. Give me that faith like David, a faith knowing I can face any “giant” that stands in my way, because You are with me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

1 Corinthians 12 - 3.15.23

Scripture

1 Corinthians 12:21-26

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Observation

Paul talks about spiritual gifts, the diversity in the parts of the Body and how UNITY in the Body of Christ is achieved.

Application

Who can I honor from our church body today?

In order to maintain unity in the Body, we must honor others above ourselves, instead of seeking our own recognition.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)

Prayer

Dear Lord, please forgive me for the times that I have not been a healthy, functioning member of our church family, due to seeking my own recognition and special treatment. I pray over myself and our church Body, that we would each be healthy, functioning members. You’ve distributed gifts to each of us to serve You for Your glory. Please help us to not to be jealous of any other person’s gift or try to compete for recognition, but rather serve and honor our brothers and sisters above ourselves because of love. May we work together for Your glory alone. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi