Isaiah 44 And God Outside Time

Send us a note!You can feel like you’re failing and still be called “upright” by God. That’s the tension Isaiah 44 refuses to let us ignore, and it’s where Pastor Carl spends time: God names His people Jeshuram, “the upright one,” even while they’re stumbling, threatened by judgment, and surrounded by counterfeit hopes. That isn’t denial of sin, it’s grace rooted in God’s choice, God’s redemption, and God’s power to finish what He starts.We trace a straight line from “In the beginning, God” to a very present struggle: when life gets dark or confusing, we tend to shrink God down to human limits. Isaiah pushes back with a big view of the Lord as the One outside time who can declare what is coming because He’s already there. That’s why “do not fear” is not wishful thinking; it’s a rational response to God’s sovereignty and goodness.The message also gets intensely practical: spiritual dryness is real, and God answers it with living water and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We connect Isaiah’s promise to Psalm 1’s picture of a tree planted by streams and to Joel’s prophecy echoed in Acts, a reminder that God’s Spirit empowers obedience, endurance, and hope even in seasons that feel like exile.Then Isaiah turns blunt and even darkly funny, exposing idolatry as a dead end: the same wood used to cook dinner becomes a “god” someone begs to deliver them. It’s a warning for every generation about worshiping what we build, protect, and depend on for identity, power, or security. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it.What makes a Calvary Chapel a Calvary Chapel. Join Pastor Carl as he goes through one of the Calvary Chapel Distinctives on The Mountain Cross Minute. The 20th anniversary of Facing the Giants, Monday September 14 - 6:30PM at the Smoky Mountain Cinema in Waynesville.Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com.