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Isaiah – Week 4

Rich Fodey — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:12:43 +0000

It is hard to imagine the prophesies in Isaiah being written 700 years before Jesus, but when a young Bedouin shepherd found a scroll of Isaiah in a cave near the Dead Sea, predating Jesus by 150 years, this was pretty sound proof that these prophecies were not added after the fact. By the time of Isaiah, the kingship of the nation was a wreck. How could God fulfill His promise to David; that Israel will have great rest forever (2 Samuel ⁠7:10-14, 18-20⁠). Isaiah wrote: after great destruction, after the forest is leveled, there will be a root, a shoot will rise up that will lead in the perfect spirit of the Lord (⁠Isaiah 11:1-10⁠). This can only be Jesus. He told us His kingdom is here by quoting Isaiah 61 (⁠Luke 4:16-21⁠). But He stopped short of saying that the entire prophesy was fulfilled. Jesus is our king now, but there is still more to come, an eternal glory to come.

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Isaiah – Week 3

liferoads — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:02:46 +0000

“If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all” (⁠Isaiah 7:9⁠). These are the words given to Ahaz, a king who trusted wordly strength over trusting God. Isaiah told him to ask God for a sign and God will deliver him. But, Ahaz would not. Under false spiritual pretense (⁠Isaiah 7:12⁠). So God gave a sign of deliverance. “A child will be born” (⁠Isaiah 7:14-16⁠). This sign was not for Ahaz, but for the remnant, those who remain in faith. The sign was for us. (⁠Isaiah 9:1-7⁠).

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Isaiah – Week 1

liferoads — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 03:55:56 +0000

Seven hundred years before Jesus was born the prophet Isaiah was called to give a message of warning and hope. That message has echoed through the entire Bible, through history and still speaks today. The scene was shocking (⁠Isaiah 6:1-8⁠), the full glory of Jesus on the throne (⁠John 14:41⁠). Though Isaiah recognized his sin and the unrighteous state of his nation God purified him and sent him with a message (⁠Isaiah 6:9-13⁠). A greater servant will come and deliver all of creation (⁠Isaiah 52:13-15⁠). That greater servant is Jesus (⁠John 17:18⁠). And that message still rings true today.

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More Than Conquerors – Week 4

liferoads — Sun, 31 May 2026 21:43:48 +0000

Paul’s primary point through⁠ Romans chapter 8⁠ is all about what Jesus has done for us on the Cross. No matter what you are up against, look to the Cross. God does not condemn those who are in Christ, He will use all things for good. The good news is the love of Christ! And He invited us into His love (⁠John 15:9⁠). Live in that truth. No matter where you are at, no matter what is against you, return to the love of Jesus on the cross. It is there that we pile all our deeds (good and horrific) and flee to victory. It is at the cross that we are offered victory, we are offered peace, we are offered a love surpassing all knowledge (⁠Ephesians 3:14-19⁠). It is at the cross that we are more that conquerors.

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More Than Conquerors – Week 3

liferoads — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:46:42 +0000

How things should be and how they are do not match up. The reason is sin. Like a crack in a screen, there is a flaw in the perfection of creation. All creation groans, we groan, the Spirit groans for the completion of redemption (⁠Romans 8:18-30⁠). It is not that suffering should not be minimized, it is that the glory of God’s redemption should be maximized (⁠2 Corinthians 4:16-18⁠). God will complete the good work He has started (⁠Philippians 1:6⁠).

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More Than Conquerors – Week 2

liferoads — Mon, 18 May 2026 01:51:00 +0000

Romans 8⁠ calls believers to take sin seriously, not by living in fear, but by remembering who they are in Christ. This message explores the battle between the flesh and the Spirit, the call to “put to death” sin by the Spirit’s power, and the incredible reality that through Jesus we are adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters. Rather than being defined by shame or slavery, Christians are invited to live from a new identity as children and heirs of God.

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More Than Conquerors – Week 1

liferoads — Mon, 11 May 2026 05:23:06 +0000

The Gospel is more than a being door opened to a new relationship. It is a relationship with Christ the creator. The Gospel is God transforming us. Paul wrote, maybe, the most encouraging words of what the Gospel is. ⁠Romans 8⁠ tells us our verdict (no condemnation), how we should respond (in thought and action), an how we are empowered (with Christ spirit in us). We are not condemned, we are in union with Christ! So, set our mind on what Jesus had done, and walk according to His spirit. It is a ‘long and obedient walk in the same direction.’ Christian maturity is not independent strength, it is a dependance on God, more and more.

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Faith and Identity

liferoads — Mon, 04 May 2026 02:47:48 +0000

Most of us know the story of Gideon (⁠Judges 6:1-16⁠). He found himself in a oppressed society because the future generation did not make an intentional effort to hand pass of their most important inheritance, faith in God (⁠Judges 2:8-12⁠). We need to understand, this is not an automatic hand-off. God warned Israel of the blessing of following Him, and the curse that comes upon us when we put idols before our creator (⁠Deut 6:4-7⁠). God sees and interacts with our true identity, there is no avoiding that. Jesus say Gideon as a mighty man of God (⁠Judges 6:11-12⁠), and then he lives it out (⁠Judges 6:25-35⁠). When we are obedient God works in us to make us who we really are (⁠Philippians 1:6⁠).

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Bless the Lord O My Soul – Week 3

liferoads — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 03:11:18 +0000

Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman in John 4 shows that worship is not about a place, but about putting all worth in God – in spirit and truth. Humanity is drawn to worship but we often misdirect it, while all along, God is calling us back to Himself. Worship involves the whole person and is shaped by what is true about God. Different styles and expressions of worship have always existed, but our focus should be on sincerity rather than personal preference.

(⁠John 4:7-26⁠)(⁠Psalm 108:1-4⁠)

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Bless the Lord O My Soul – Week 2

liferoads — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 03:09:15 +0000

Over and over again the Bible calls us to worship. It is a command to sing and give worth to our Lord. This sure makes sense, because we were created to sing (⁠Psalm 98:7-9⁠). All creation worships The Creator. Jesus even said, if we don’t worship Him the stones will cry out and worship Him (⁠Luke 19:38-40⁠). Worship is a community activity, not only are we to worship together now (⁠Colossians 3:16-17⁠), but it is rooted in the history of the Church. When we worship, we are worshiping with the community of saints all the way back to the Israelites, delivered on the shore of the Red Sea. It is encouraging. Encourage each other and sing truth into your heart. Worship the ⁠Lord ‘O my soul⁠.

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