FBC Benbrook Sermons

God Pleasing Fasting

Fasting is abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose, and it has been practiced as a spiritual discipline by the people of God since the very beginning, and continues to be today. Fasting is often connected with mourning and confession, but usually it is associated with desperate prayer. The prophet Isaiah described how fasting can become displeasing to the Lord, but also reminds us of a great promise that God does respond to God pleasing fasting. In light of the recent crisis in Ukraine, we are invited and challenged to give the Lord the gift of a fast as we desperately pray for peace. (Isaiah 58.1-12) February 27, 2022.

Behold, The Servant of the Lord

In what might be the most important chapter of the entire Old Testament, the Word of the Lord came through the prophet Isaiah, speaking of Jesus, the Servant of the Lord. These 15 verses lay out the truth about Jesus: His incarnation, substitutionary atonement, and imputed righteousness to those who believe in Him. (Isaiah 52.13-53.12) February 20, 2022

The Furnace of Affliction

One story keeps playing itself over and over throughout the history of God’s relationship with His people: God’s people forget their calling, forsake His ways, and go after other gods. Isaiah 48 is a vivid reminder that our rebellion might lead the Father to put us through the “furnace of affliction,” to refine us for His name’s sake. But the prophet also reminds us that we can never “out sin” the steadfast love of the Lord. The merciful God is determined to redeem His people. (Isaiah 48.9-11) January 30, 2022

God of the Nations

How big is our God? Is God big enough to reveal to the prophet Isaiah the name of the king of a kingdom that wouldn’t exist for another 70 years, to name the king by name 130 years before he took the throne, to claim that God would cause this kingdom to become the largest the world had ever known, and to claim that this king would accomplish His purpose whether he wanted to or not? That is exactly the point of Isaiah 45, and this picture of a big God increases our faith in Him as we face the trials and toils of life. (Isaiah 44.24-45.13) January 23, 2022

Modern-Day Idolatry

In the words of the apostle John, followers of Christ are to “keep ourselves from idols.” But is idol worship really a sin that modern day Christians who live in a western, scientific world really need to concern ourselves with? What we can we learn from the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul about idol worship? What does modern day idolatry look like? (Isaiah 44.6-20) January 16, 2022

Because I Love You...

We take for granted the truth that God loves us, but when life gets real and painful, we often doubt His love. Isaiah 43 reminds us of God’s steadfast love, that we are precious to Him because He created us, formed us, called us, and redeemed us. God’s love for us is not based upon our worthiness but upon His eternal character, and the cross is the “once and for all” definite statement of His love. (Isaiah 43.1-7) January 9, 2022

Can a Weary World Still Rejoice?

One of our favorite Christmas songs, O Holy Night, features the line, “a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” Isaiah prophesied that a child would be born, and the angel confirmed to Mary that Jesus was in fact that child. His birth was, and is, good news of great joy, for He is the Prince of Peace and of the increase of His peace there will be no end. But how can we experience this peace today in a world that remains so weary? Is it possible for the weary world to continue to rejoice? (Isaiah 9.1-7) December 12, 2021

What Does It Mean to Call Jesus ”Immanuel”?

When the gospel of Matthew tells the Christmas story, it presents the virgin conception as the fulfillment of a prophecy of Isaiah. However, it also says that His name should be called “Immanuel.” What does it mean to call Jesus “Immanuel”? By looking at the context of the original prophecy, we hear that calling Jesus “Immanuel” is a confession that we believe Jesus is God in flesh, a testimony that God is with us through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and an encouragement to trust Him because our Good Shepherd is with us in the valley of shadows. (Isaiah 7.14) December 5, 2021

Why Should the Nations Say?

The first section of the book of Isaiah is all about trusting the Lord. This section ends with the story of Hezekiah, a king who was challenged to trust the Lord to deliver Judah from the Assyrian army. But the story is complex, and serves as a reminder to us that we should keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, give God the glory when given the opportunity, and be more concerned about the nations coming to know Jesus as Lord than our own prosperity and security (Isaiah 36-39) November 28, 2021

It’s Good to be a Child of the King

As we prepare for a week of thanksgiving, we spend some time reflecting on why it is good to be a child of the king. (Isaiah 35.1-10) November 21, 2021