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Isaiah 8:20

Isaiah 8:20

“To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.”

– Isaiah 8:20 (LSB)

Main Thought: The ministry of Isaiah the prophet was a time for the most part when the kings of Israel were evil and the Hebrew people had departed from worshiping the true God, instead worshiping the false gods of the surrounding pagan nations. God did raise up true prophets during this time, like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many of the minor prophets, who spoke the truth of God, but for the most part, they were ignored and persecuted for speaking the truth. God is speaking here and His testimony is that when a prophet speaks and it is not according to the truth of God, not according to His revealed Word, and according to the prophets such as Isaiah, it is because there is spiritual darkness within them; there is no dawn. These words also have application for us in this day as a warning concerning what preachers and teachers we are to heed. Those who have no dawn, no spiritual light within them, will be evident by what they speak. Paul speaks of this in 2 Corinthians 11:13, warning that there will be “false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.” He also spoke of this in Galatians 1:6-9 when he warns of deceitful preachers speaking “another gospel” and not the true gospel of grace through Christ, but a gospel adding works and other requirements. In 1 Timothy 6:3-5 he speaks of those who supposedly teach the Word of God but deny the personal godliness that Christ taught is the lifestyle of the Christian, instead saying even that godliness is a way of gaining great wealth. Peter adds to these warnings of false teachers who have no spiritual light in them, by saying that “there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master (Lord) who bought them…many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Pet. 2:1-2). How do we discern those who have no light in them but only spiritual darkness? Examine the Word of God against what they say, especially when it comes to what the Gospel is, what is said concerning practical holiness, bearing fruit in the Christian life, and especially concerning the person of Christ. If these teachers deny the Gospel of grace, the necessity of practical holiness and sanctification, the necessary evidence of the fruit of the Spirit, and deny the eternal deity of Christ, then flee from these teachers. There is no dawn in them, and whoever follows them is following a path of destruction. Immerse yourself in the Word of God, saturate your mind with it, and ask God by the Holy Spirit to illuminate you so that you may know how to discern false teachers and their heresies.

David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
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Isaiah 8:20

2 Corinthians 4:7

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”

– 2 Corinthians 4:7 (LSB)

Main Thought: God has chosen to use men and women, small and great, to do His work in this world. That work involves preaching the Gospel, making disciples of all nations, and building the Church. However, lest we get to thinking too highly of ourselves or other servants of Christ, Paul reminds us that we are just earthen vessels, formed and created by God, vessels that are limited in strength, vitality, and duration of life. God has privileged us to help in this work, but the work will be accomplished because of the surpassing greatness of God, not because of us and our abilities. When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and 3000 souls were saved, it was not because of Peter’s great prowess in preaching, but it was because of the great power of God upon him through the Holy Spirit. When writing to the Ephesians, Paul acknowledged that their salvation was not because of anything in his might or ability, but it was according to “the immeasurable greatness of His (God’s) power toward us who believe, according to the working of His (God’s) great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead…” (Eph. 1:19-20), and that the ability he had to preach the gospel was “according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power” (Eph. 3:7). Daily as we grow older and weaker physically, we come to realize in our work and efforts for the kingdom of God and glory of Christ, that anything we accomplish must be by His might; it must be by the enlivening of the Holy Spirit. What a great encouragement this should be for us, to realize that our physical abilities do not limit the work of God in salvation and the building of the Church or will not stop when we die, but even as our physical abilities fade the power of God is seen more visibly in us and He receives all the glory. Later on in this same letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Here is the reality, that God’s strength and power are most magnified in us when we are weak, when we are at the end of our human strength and abilities. So, Christian, we are not to despair because our earthen vessels are not as strong or as vital as they used to be, or because we grow tired and weak, but we ask for and know that God’s strength will be magnified in us in whatever tasks we have ahead, that He may be glorified in our work for the kingdom of God in this world.

David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
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Isaiah 8:20

1 Thessalonians 5:19

“Do not quench the Spirit.”

– 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Main Thought: When we think of something being quenched, it normally is a good thing. We quench our thirst with a cold drink, or when we hear of a fire or blaze being quenched it is something that has preserved property or a home, and perhaps even saved a life. But when we read these words, Paul is not speaking of quenching in a good way. The Holy Spirit has been given to all of us as believers, sealing us to the Father (Eph. 1:13), giving us assurance that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:15-16), equipping us for service in the Church (1 Cor. 12-14) and the displaying in our lives of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). These scriptures point to what happens when the Holy Spirit is quenched: we begin to doubt our salvation and lose the assurance of our relationship to Christ, our service to other believers and the church becomes ineffective, and the fruit of the Spirit becomes less evident to the unbelieving world, causing not transforming into the image of Christ, but a conforming to the world and losing our witness for Christ. How do we not quench the Spirit? We continue to do those things that are pleasing to God, that He has commanded us to do in His Word. First of all, we saturate our hearts and minds with His Word (Ps. 1:1-3; 119:9-11). Then, we make daily prayer a priority, confessing our sins and going to His throne for grace and fellowshipping with God in His presence (Heb. 4:14-16). Next, we make sure we are a part of a congregation that makes its focus the glory of God, the preaching of the Word and the Gospel, and Christ-centered living (Heb. 10:24-25). And last, we make sure we are not neglecting the Lord’s Supper, which causes us to examine ourselves and reminds us of the breaking of His body and the shedding of His blood for our sins (1 Cor. 11:23-34). In doing these practical things revealed to us plainly in the scriptures, we are not allowing worldliness and complacency to come in and quench the work and presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May each one of us who know Christ be diligent daily in our Christian walk and make not quenching the Spirit a constant priority.

David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
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Isaiah 8:20

Colossians 2:5

“For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”

– Colossians 2:5

Main Thought: Paul, even though writing this letter during his imprisonment, is still seeking to encourage these believers through his letters and prayers. Truly these churches that he had ministered in and had taught in were dear to his heart. It appears that some word had gotten back to him concerning their spiritual growth and progress. In the very first verses of Colossians, we find the phrases “Faithful brothers” (Col. 1:2), “Thank God…for you” (Col. 1:3), and “Have not ceased to pray for you” (Col. 1:9). What caused joy in his heart was hearing of their faithful standing for Christ, their continued walk with the Lord. This caused rejoicing for Paul and should cause rejoicing for us when we see fellow brothers and sisters in Christ advancing in bearing spiritual growth and faithfulness in their daily walk. It would have been so easy for him to be discouraged in this difficult time of his life, but Paul, instead of focusing on himself, focused on what God was doing among the people he had ministered to and helped establish as a church. This testimony of Paul should speak to us as well, that when we are tempted to let life’s circumstances discourage us, we should look upon the spiritual and physical blessings that are ours in Christ, and also rejoice in the ways in which God is blessing our brothers and sisters in Christ. It speaks to the necessity of being in a church family and surrounding ourselves with the people of God, who will encourage us with their own words and by seeing how God is working in others to transform them. May the rejoicing of the apostle Paul be an encouragement to all of us, and may we have a firm faith that encourages and brings rejoicing in others.

David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
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Isaiah 8:20

Galatians 6:1

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

– Galatians 6:1

Main Thought: We have all known Christian brothers or sisters who have gotten caught up in a repetitive sin, or have committed some sin that is obvious and evident to everyone around them. In our culture, it seems like very often a person’s transgression or wrong is magnified before others, bringing humiliation and shame. However, what Paul is telling us is that when this happens in the church among believers, forgiveness and restoration are what is called for. When I think about this verse, I think of Jesus’ approach to Peter following His resurrection. Peter had committed a great offense against Christ, flatly denying Christ three times in Jesus’ darkest hours on earth. After Jesus’ resurrection, in His third appearance to the apostles (John 21), He found the disciples on the Sea of Galilee fishing. They had not caught any fish, but Jesus told them where to cast their nets to bring in a large catch of fish. After eating breakfast on the shore, Jesus has a poignant conversation with Peter, asking him three times “Do you love me?” In the end, Jesus commits the “feeding of His sheep,” His disciples, to the apostle Peter (John 21:15-19). What does this reveal? Note there was no accusation or reminder by Jesus of Peter’s sin, but a loving commitment by Jesus, for Peter to care for those that Jesus had died for, particularly the early believers in Jerusalem. In those moments and in that exchange, forgiveness and restoration occurred. In the same way, we as believers should not continue to remind or magnify the sin that a repenting fellow believer has committed, but do what we can in compassion to restore that one to a right relationship with God and fellow believers. And in the latter part of this verse, we are reminded to keep a spiritual watch on ourselves lest we one day fall. Certainly, none of us is above sin, and should not look down arrogantly upon others who have fallen into a transgression. May each one of us be ready to restore a fallen brother or sister in Christ, and may we keep a guard upon ourselves to keep ourselves from falling into sin.

David Webber

David Webber

David Webber is married to Mary with four children and four grandchildren, and serves as the Pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Longview, TX. He obtained a BS in History from the University of Texas at Tyler, TX, and pursued studies at Baptist Missionary Association Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, TX. Throughout his ministry, he has been an invited preacher and educator in numerous churches and various Bible conferences. Surrendering to the gospel ministry’s calling in 1972 at the age of 16, he received preaching licensure from Little Flock Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, in 1974. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1978, he was ordained in December of 1980 by Faith Baptist Church. Following this, he contributed his services to Faith Baptist in Longview and subsequently engaged with Grace Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas, where he instructed Sunday School and delivered sermons as needed. In February of 1994, Faith Baptist invited him to lead as their pastor, a role he has faithfully held to the present day. David writes a blog for the church website and is a writer for The Art of Worship.

Faith Baptist Church: Longview, Texas
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