Kingdom - Liferoads Church

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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Following Jesus – Week 13

Rich Fodey — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 03:11:34 +0000

Jesus confronted the religious leaders of Jerusalem shortly before his crucifixion. He criticized them for hypocrisy and contrasts the outward show of righteousness with inner corruption, like tombs that appear white on the outside but are full of dead bones inside (⁠Matthew 23⁠). This reflects a larger theme of rebellion against God’s ways and the rejection of the Messiah.

Jesus’ words echo his earlier teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing humility, authentic obedience, and integrity. He warns of judgment upon those who reject God’s message and misuse religious authority; such rejection leads to destructive consequences. Despite this harsh critique, the passage holds an invitation to follow Jesus by seeking his wisdom, heeding his judgments, and submitting to him fully.

There is an easy road leading to destruction and a narrow, difficult path leading to life. Embrace God’s kingdom. The call is clear: to live in the upside-down values of the Kingdom, embracing true servanthood and dependence on God. Jesus’ promise in ⁠Matthew 11:28-30⁠ of rest for the weary, inviting all to take his yoke and find renewed strength. Through prayer and reflection, lay down your burdens, choose the narrow path, and commit to following Jesus faithfully.

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Following Jesus – Week 12

Rich Fodey — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 21:00:30 +0000

Throughout the Gospel of Matthew a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven is being presented. (⁠⁠⁠Matthew 19:16 – 20:28⁠⁠⁠) Jesus describes an upside-down kingdom that reflects the character of its King—marked by generosity, grace, and servanthood rather than power, wealth, or status. It begins now, overlapping with this world as Jesus rules in the hearts of His followers, calling them to humility, forgiveness, and sacrificial love that mirror His own life and mission.

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Following Jesus – Week 11

Rich Fodey — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 21:59:00 +0000

Jesus holds up humility as an essential character of the kingdom of heaven (⁠Matthew 18:1-4⁠). Note the humility of a child: sincere, sensitive, and simple. The humblest child has the ability to influence many souls. Forgiveness is a characteristic of the kingdom as well (⁠Matthew 18:21-35⁠). You can’t even count the importance and value of forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is extreme; forgiveness is divine.

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