One of the images in which the Messiah is presented in the Old Testament is that of the Servant or Slave of the LORD. He occupies a central place in the second half of the book of the prophet Isaiah. The first few verses of chapter 49 reveal to us the greatness and character of Jesus Christ associated with this image. This is one of the most vivid portraits of the Messiah presented in the Old Testament. In it, we see what God considered important to reveal to people more than 700 years before the birth of Christ.
In this sermon, we explore a powerful passage from Mark 6:45-52, where Jesus, the Sovereign Savior, orchestrates a divine lesson for His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. Following the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, Christ sends His disciples into a storm, revealing their weaknesses and His infinite power. Through impossible tasks—feeding a multitude, crossing a stormy lake, and walking on water—Jesus teaches them, and us, to recognize our limitations, rest in His strength, and respond with courage and worship. This message invites us to trust in God’s providence and power when facing life’s overwhelming challenges.
Human problems stem from broken harmony with God. Scripture shows that the restoration of this harmony is connected to the true peace or shalom — the state of wholeness, satisfaction, and security. How can we find this peace today, and why did the Israelites struggle to do so?
The Bible reveals to us an amazingly profound picture of God's plan of salvation, which encompasses the entire history of mankind and shows how God leads people step by step to His glory. Every page of Scripture, from the Old to the New Testament, is connected in this great plan. Through judgment and mercy, through promises and their fulfillment, through prophecies pointing to Christ—the main purpose of God's revelation.
That is why we pay attention not only to the Gospels and the epistles of the apostles, but also to the prophetic books, where salvation is presented in types and promises. Studying chapter 48 of the book of Isaiah, we see again how God, despite the stubbornness and unfaithfulness of His people, shows mercy for the sake of His name, for the sake of His glory, which He will not give to anyone else.
The salvation of the human soul is closely connected with its immersion in the Church. The Church of Jesus Christ is the ultimate goal of the creation of the Universe. Unfortunately, most Christians do not realize the true significance of the Church and therefore lose its blessings by neglecting their responsibility to it. The Apostle Paul speaks in detail about the Church in his epistle to the Ephesians, helping us to understand its place in our lives and our place in it.
How should we respond as evil grows bolder and more cunning? Scripture reminds us not to be swept away by anger, but to follow the only true path—overcoming evil with good.
The Babylonian Empire is one of the most frequently mentioned in the Old Testament, and there are good reasons for this. First, Babylon was the dominant empire of the ancient world for many centuries. Second, it is presented in Scripture as a symbol of human pride and the quintessence of civilization's achievements: it was there that the technology, culture, and development of the time were concentrated. Third, God used Babylon as an instrument of punishment for His people, Israel, allowing them to be taken captive for their long apostasy. That is why the Bible speaks so often about this kingdom. However, the main problem with Babylon, for which it faced God's judgment, was its self-confidence and all the evil that came from it. That is what we will talk about today. This is not only a problem of an ancient empire—this sin is typical of every person living in this world.
Marriage is one of God's most important institutions. God created marriage at the very beginning of human existence. A significant part of the brief history of the creation of the world, presented in the first two chapters of the Bible, is devoted to describing this process. The importance of marriage has made it one of the main targets of Satan's attacks. As a result of these attacks, we see the tragic state of marriage and family not only in the world but often in churches today.
What can we do to counteract this? How can we preserve the family and make it a place of blessing? In this sermon, in the light of Scripture, we will look at practical lessons from the long-term experience of ordinary Christians in marriage, which make a strong and blessed marriage possible even today.
In persuading Israel to trust, obey, and follow Yahweh, Isaiah again relays God's words comparing the true God with the false gods that the Jews at that time were infatuated with. These gods do not stand up to any comparison. Not only do they not help or do anything. They also demand to be cared for. The true God, Jehovah, controls the universe and everything that happens in it. He establishes righteousness, saves and cares for His own.
The light of the city standing on top of the mountain is the light of Jesus Christ, the light of His Gospel and His life, which permeates the hearts of those He has saved. In order for us to shine, it is not enough to have only calls and desires. To shine, we need to have light within ourselves; we need to be a source of light. This is exactly what Jesus Christ spoke about when He met the woman in the city of Samaria. What does living water mean? How can we learn to drink it? How can we become a source of this water for the people around us?
John MacArthur's ministry is a shining example of faithfulness to God, love for God's word, and love for the church of Jesus Christ. In these days, as we remember his passage into eternity, it is helpful to draw some practical conclusions about pastoral ministry and its place and role in the life of the church, according to God's design.
We do not worship leaders who have influenced us spiritually. While we are grateful to them, we realize that the primary value is in the Word they preached. And that value is tremendous. It is crucial to remember it.
The election of the nation of Israel always had a purpose that went far beyond that nation. Although the Messiah and the salvation accomplished through Him was primarily revealed to God's people, it was always intended to reach all nations, all over the face of the earth. This principle has not changed in the time of the Church of Jesus Christ. God builds the Church not only to make us strong, free, and joyful in Him, but also to make us conduits of His salvation to others.
Jesus Christ is the Designer and Creator of the Church. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit unites each person to the Body of Christ, His Church, the building of which is the central design of the history of the known universe. According to His design, each of us has a very definite place in Christ's body. Diakonia is one of the most important parts of the life of the Church, contributing to its growth. According to Christ's design, this ministry has two levels. In one sense, all members of the church are participants. In the other sense, it is a specially designated people who have been gifted and ordained by God for this work, which makes the life and development of the Church harmonious and coherent.
