You're No "Lion Of God" from Isaiah 29

Send us a note!A city that calls itself the “Lion of God” gets renamed by its actions and God’s response is sobering. We walk through Isaiah 29 as Pastor Carl unpacks God’s warning to Jerusalem: you can keep the feasts, say the right words, and still live with a heart that’s far from the Lord. The result isn’t just bad theology, it’s spiritual blindness, the kind that doesn’t come from lack of information but from refusing to see what’s true.Along the way, we trace Isaiah’s images of siege, dust, and silence and connect them to the real collapse that came when Babylon conquered Jerusalem. Then the focus shifts to a theme that keeps repeating like an alarm: pride makes life feel like a dream. You “eat” and “drink” in your sleep, wake up empty, and realize the satisfaction was never real. That’s how self-trust, religious performance, and temporary security work when they replace genuine dependence on God.We also dig into what it means for Scripture to become “a sealed book.” Pastor Carl points to the Holy Spirit as the One who brings the truth off the page and into our hearts, producing conviction, repentance, and lasting change. To bring it home, we connect Isaiah’s warning to Revelation 3 and Jesus’ rebuke of the lukewarm church of Laodicea, plus his merciful invitation: “I stand at the door and knock.” If you’ve been coasting, hiding, or settling for surface-level faith, this message presses a simple question: are we all in, or just nearby?If this stirred something in you, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find it. What’s one area where you need God to open your eyes and help you repent?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.