Ken Miller

Be holy! You won’t find two other words like these that are as capable of striking fear into the life of a Christian. Whether you read them in Leviticus 11:44-45 or 1 Peter 1:14-16, they carry the same weight and produce the same impact. In either case, God is calling His people to be holy, as He is holy. That’s a seriously lofty standard that would leave anyone questioning the sanity behind the command and the viability of anyone ever pulling it off. And yet, both the Old and New Testaments call us to be holy. So, what exactly is God’s expectation of us? Is He demanding that we become what we are not, or is He encouraging us to live as who we already are? The doctrine of sanctification has gotten a bad rap because too often we assume that our spiritual growth is up to us. God saved us, but we somehow have to perfect ourselves. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Ep 884 – Sanctification – Leviticus 11:44-45

For many of us, the doctrine of sanctification is all about movement or progress. We tend to think of it as a process that requires us to move from spiritual infancy to adulthood. We even refer to it as growing in “Christlikeness” or “spiritual maturity.” And it’s not that those designations are wrong. It’s that they are incomplete or insufficient. Sanctification is a much deeper, richer doctrine than most of us realize and, whether we recognize it or not, it is faith-based just like salvation. We have been set apart by God as His own and while we are expected to live in that reality, God does not demand or expect us to achieve holiness on our own. In fact, He tells us to be holy, not become holy. Why? Because He already sees us as holy.

Ep 877 – Sanctification – Leviticus 11:44-45

Everybody is familiar with the story of Adam and Eve. But even some Christians don’t know that Adam was the first model off the assembly line. But, unlike many prototypes, Adam was made without a single flaw, because he was made by God. Even God deemed His creation, “very good!” But something happened. That Adam 1.0 model failed to live up to its creator’s expectations. He developed a glitch in his software. It began with Eve, the female version of this unique species. Made in the image of God, these two chose to disobey Him. In other words, they sinned, and it resulted in their expulsion from the garden and away from God’s presence. But while Adam’s system glitch was passed on to his successors, God introduced Adam 2.0, a totally new model, with the intent of eliminating the problem that plagued the original.

Ep 874 – Sanctification – 1 Corinthians 15:44-49

Everyone enjoys rejoicing. We like to celebrate, whether it’s someone’s birthday, a victory by our favorite team, the marriage of a friend, or the achievement of some life milestone. But the thought of rejoicing without a tangible reason to do so sounds crazy. It makes no sense. And yet, in Isaiah 66:7-14, the prophet calls on the people of Judah to rejoice – even though their present circumstances were far from rejoicing-worthy. They were facing the judgment of God in the form of the Babylonian empire. Their destruction was eminent, and their future looked far-from-appealing. But here was God’s prophet telling them to “rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her.” They must have thought he was crazy. Somewhere along the way, he had lost his mind. Or had he? Isaiah was speaking on behalf of God, revealing to the nation of Judah the plans He had in store for them. And while the majority of those plans would not take place in their lifetimes, the people of Judah were still expected to rejoice in all that God was going to do. He was a faithful God who would follow through on every commitment He had made. They could count on it and rejoice over it. And there was no reason to wait for it. They could and should rejoice!

Everyone enjoys rejoicing. We like to celebrate, whether it’s someone’s birthday, a victory by our favorite team, the marriage of a friend, or the achievement of some life milestone. But the thought of rejoicing without a tangible reason to do so sounds crazy. It makes no sense. And yet, in Isaiah 66:7-14, the prophet calls on the people of Judah to rejoice – even though their present circumstances were far from rejoicing-worthy. They were facing the judgment of God in the form of the Babylonian empire. Their destruction was eminent, and their future looked far-from-appealing. But here was God’s prophet telling them to “rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her.” They must have thought he was crazy. Somewhere along the way, he had lost his mind. Or had he? Isaiah was speaking on behalf of God, revealing to the nation of Judah the plans He had in store for them. And while the majority of those plans would not take place in their lifetimes, the people of Judah were still expected to r

Ep 868 – Isaiah 66:7-14

The Old Testament talks a lot about the concept of the remnant. And we see it demonstrated time and time again in the history of the Israelites, as God sovereignly spares a small number of His chosen people in order to keep the nation alive. When they deserved to be destroyed because of their unfaithfulness and unrepentant sin, God preserved a remnant, in order that He might keep the covenant promise He had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And in Isaiah 65:8-16, God reveals that there is yet another remnant He is going to spare and, this time, because they had remained faithful to Him while all their friends and neighbors had turned to false gods. This faithful few had stood against the rising tide of disobedience that had flooded the nation of Judah. And God was going to reward them for their courage and tenacity in the face of overwhelming pressure to capitulate and compromise. And, as we will see, God also has plans for another remnant of His chosen people, a group who will one day witness the restoration of their nation and the arrival of the New Jerusalem.

The Old Testament talks a lot about the concept of the remnant. And we see it demonstrated time and time again in the history of the Israelites, as God sovereignly spares a small number of His chosen people in order to keep the nation alive. When they deserved to be destroyed because of their unfaithfulness and unrepentant sin, God preserved a remnant, in order that He might keep the covenant promise He had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And in Isaiah 65:8-16, God reveals that there is yet another remnant He is going to spare and, this time, because they had remained faithful to Him while all their friends and neighbors had turned to false gods. This faithful few had stood against the rising tide of disobedience that had flooded the nation of Judah. And God was going to reward them for their courage and tenacity in the face of overwhelming pressure to capitulate and compromise. And, as we will see, God also has plans for another remnant of His chosen people, a group who will one da

Ep 865 – Isaiah 65:8-16

Let’s face it. It’s hard to say, “I’m sorry.” And poor Isaiah has been trying to get the people of Judah to confess their sins and express their sorrow to God for 63 chapters. Now, as if in a last-ditch attempt to assuage the anger of God, Isaiah takes it upon himself to act as the corporate confessor for the nation of Judah. He stands in as their representative, presenting himself before God and begging the Almighty to accept his humble confession on behalf of his fellow citizens of Judah. But Isaiah not only hopes for forgiveness and restoration from God, he longs to see God in all His glory. Isaiah 64:1-7 reveals Isaiah expressing his desire For God to come out of hiding and to reveal Himself with all the pomp and circumstance He displayed on Mount Sinai. We’re talking thunder, lightning, earthquakes, smoke, and fire. Isaiah was looking for a show from God. But he had a reason for his request. He wanted the people of Judah to see God for who He was: The all-powerful, holy God of the universe. Maybe if they could see God, they would learn to fear, honor, and obey Him.

Let’s face it. It’s hard to say, “I’m sorry.” And poor Isaiah has been trying to get the people of Judah to confess their sins and express their sorrow to God for 63 chapters. Now, as if in a last-ditch attempt to assuage the anger of God, Isaiah takes it upon himself to act as the corporate confessor for the nation of Judah. He stands in as their representative, presenting himself before God and begging the Almighty to accept his humble confession on behalf of his fellow citizens of Judah. But Isaiah not only hopes for forgiveness and restoration from God, he longs to see God in all His glory. Isaiah 64:1-7 reveals Isaiah expressing his desire For God to come out of hiding and to reveal Himself with all the pomp and circumstance He displayed on Mount Sinai. We’re talking thunder, lightning, earthquakes, smoke, and fire. Isaiah was looking for a show from God. But he had a reason for his request. He wanted the people of Judah to see God for who He was: The all-powerful, holy God of the

Ep 862 – Isaiah 64:1-7

Today’s passage contains three little words that carry a punch: But the Lord… In Isaiah 60:17-22, God reveals His future plans for the people of Judah. While the near-term prognosis looked bleak, with judgment hovering over their heads, the people of Judah could rest in the promise that God had something remarkable in store for them. Their immediate prospects were less-than-ideal, but His long-term plans were better than they could have ever hoped or imagined. The future would feature a complete reversal of fortunes, turning the circumstances surrounding Judah and Israel on their heads. God was going to do great things for them. But the events described in this passage are still yet to be fulfilled. They remain on the distant horizon – a part of His end times strategy that will bring His redemptive plan for mankind and the world to a final dramatic conclusion. While it can be easy to look at the current state of affairs in the world and lose hope, we must always remember those three powerful words that hover over all time and history: But the Lord… He has a plan and He will bring it about.

Today’s passage contains three little words that carry a punch: But the Lord… In Isaiah 60:17-22, God reveals His future plans for the people of Judah. While the near-term prognosis looked bleak, with judgment hovering over their heads, the people of Judah could rest in the promise that God had something remarkable in store for them. Their immediate prospects were less-than-ideal, but His long-term plans were better than they could have ever hoped or imagined. The future would feature a complete reversal of fortunes, turning the circumstances surrounding Judah and Israel on their heads. God was going to do great things for them. But the events described in this passage are still yet to be fulfilled. They remain on the distant horizon – a part of His end times strategy that will bring His redemptive plan for mankind and the world to a final dramatic conclusion. While it can be easy to look at the current state of affairs in the world and lose hope, we must always remember those three po

Ep 856 – Isaiah 60:17-22

It’s amazing how we will demand justice from God but refuse every opportunity to extend justice to those around us. We find it easy and justifiable to berate God for His lack of deliverance when we call, but when someone we know begs us for assistance, we’re quick to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. In Isaiah 59:9-15, the prophet is going to do what no one else in Judah seemed ready and willing to do: accept personal responsibility for the sad state of affairs in Judah. While Isaiah was not complicit in the sins of his people, he saw himself as culpable. After all, he was a member of the tribe of Judah and knew that, together, they stood before God as a community guilty of abandoning Him through their repeated acts of unfaithfulness. Isaiah had the guts to admit that God was in the right and fully justified in bringing judgment upon His disobedient children. And they had no reason to complain about unfulfilled justice or delayed deliverance. After all, they were the ones who were guilty of refusing to dispense justice and offer deliverance to the poor and needy among them. And God had had enough.

It’s amazing how we will demand justice from God but refuse every opportunity to extend justice to those around us. We find it easy and justifiable to berate God for His lack of deliverance when we call, but when someone we know begs us for assistance, we’re quick to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. In Isaiah 59:9-15, the prophet is going to do what no one else in Judah seemed ready and willing to do: accept personal responsibility for the sad state of affairs in Judah. While Isaiah was not complicit in the sins of his people, he saw himself as culpable. After all, he was a member of the tribe of Judah and knew that, together, they stood before God as a community guilty of abandoning Him through their repeated acts of unfaithfulness. Isaiah had the guts to admit that God was in the right and fully justified in bringing judgment upon His disobedient children. And they had no reason to complain about unfulfilled justice or delayed deliverance. After all, they were the ones who were guilt

Ep 853 – Isaiah 59:9-15

It’s difficult for most of us to admit when we have a need. We have been hardwired to be self-sufficient. And we’ve been trained to believe that any confession of need is an admission of weakness or failure on our part. But when reading the Bible, it becomes increasingly clear that God tends to pour out His favor on the weak, the needy, the helpless and the hopeless. He has a soft heart for the down-and-out and the underdogs of society. Even Jesus, during His earthly ministry, tended to spend much of His time with those whom the world considered outsiders and outcasts. He was accused of befriending prostitutes, tax-collectors and sinners of all kinds and He was more than willing to plead guilty as charged. And in Isaiah 57:14-21, God is going to call on the people of Judah to admit their need for Him. He wants them to humble themselves, confess their sin, and admit their need for His help. They could turn to their false gods, but it would not turn out well. Or they could humbly turn to God and trust that He would do what was best. They were sinners. That was non-debatable. But were they willing to confess it and place their hope and trust in the only one who could save them?

It’s difficult for most of us to admit when we have a need. We have been hardwired to be self-sufficient. And we’ve been trained to believe that any confession of need is an admission of weakness or failure on our part. But when reading the Bible, it becomes increasingly clear that God tends to pour out His favor on the weak, the needy, the helpless and the hopeless. He has a soft heart for the down-and-out and the underdogs of society. Even Jesus, during His earthly ministry, tended to spend much of His time with those whom the world considered outsiders and outcasts. He was accused of befriending prostitutes, tax-collectors and sinners of all kinds and He was more than willing to plead guilty as charged. And in Isaiah 57:14-21, God is going to call on the people of Judah to admit their need for Him. He wants them to humble themselves, confess their sin, and admit their need for His help. They could turn to their false gods, but it would not turn out well. Or they could humbly turn to

Ep 850 – Isaiah 57:14-21

We love having choices. While dining at our favorite restaurant or shopping online at our favorite retailer, we prefer having a wide range of items from which to choose. To a certain degree, it gives us a sense of control. We can customize our meal or our outfit to fit our tastes at that particular moment in time. But when it comes to choosing a deity, God has a fairly strong opinion that options are out of the question. He is a jealous God and He will not tolerate the worship of anything or anyone other than Him. And since He is the one and only true God, there really are no other options. Yet, in Isaiah 57:3-13, we will see God hammering the people of Judah for their seemingly insatiable need to have options when it comes to deities. God Almighty was just not enough. They wanted more. And God is going to give them an ultimatum. He was going to challenge to make their final choice. Which god were they going to serve? If they wanted options when it came to which god to worship, God was willing to let them, but they were going to have to live with the consequences of their choice.

We love having choices. While dining at our favorite restaurant or shopping online at our favorite retailer, we prefer having a wide range of items from which to choose. To a certain degree, it gives us a sense of control. We can customize our meal or our outfit to fit our tastes at that particular moment in time. But when it comes to choosing a deity, God has a fairly strong opinion that options are out of the question. He is a jealous God and He will not tolerate the worship of anything or anyone other than Him. And since He is the one and only true God, there really are no other options. Yet, in Isaiah 57:3-13, we will see God hammering the people of Judah for their seemingly insatiable need to have options when it comes to deities. God Almighty was just not enough. They wanted more. And God is going to give them an ultimatum. He was going to challenge to make their final choice. Which god were they going to serve? If they wanted options when it came to which god to worship, God was

Ep 849 – Isaiah 57:3-13

In our day and age, everyone is concerned about security. You can’t even get on an airplane anymore without first going through “security.” For most of us, it is just a necessary inconvenience and a sign of the times. And while we might complain about the delay this kind of security creates, all of us recognize the need and most of us prefer that the TSA agents doing the screening do their job well. After all, what use is the process if those in charge of it don’t take their job seriously? And in Isaiah 56:9-57:2, God is going to level some serious charges against the security forces of Judah – namely the spiritual shepherds of the flock of God. These men had a God-given responsibility to care for God’s people, but they were like night watchmen who made a habit of falling asleep on the job. They were unreliable and failing to warn the people of Judah about the coming judgment. While Isaiah was preaching a message of repentance, these men were saying that all was well, there’s nothing worry about. Claiming to speak for God, they were actually lying in the name of God. Something God takes quite seriously.

In our day and age, everyone is concerned about security. You can’t even get on an airplane anymore without first going through “security.” For most of us, it is just a necessary inconvenience and a sign of the times. And while we might complain about the delay this kind of security creates, all of us recognize the need and most of us prefer that the TSA agents doing the screening do their job well. After all, what use is the process if those in charge of it don’t take their job seriously? And in Isaiah 56:9-57:2, God is going to level some serious charges against the security forces of Judah – namely the spiritual shepherds of the flock of God. These men had a God-given responsibility to care for God’s people, but they were like night watchmen who made a habit of falling asleep on the job. They were unreliable and failing to warn the people of Judah about the coming judgment. While Isaiah was preaching a message of repentance, these men were saying that all was well, there’s nothing w

Ep 848 – Isaiah 56:9-57:2

You’ve probably heard someone refer to history as His story, the story of God and His relationship with mankind. And the Bible is a record of that story, beginning with God’s creation of the first man and woman and spanning across the generations to His call of Abram and His choosing of the people of Israel as His chosen possession. And if you fast-forward to the end of the book, you come to the literal end of the story, where God sends His Son to bring judgment to the nations and restoration to His chosen people. And in Isaiah 50:4-11, God reveals to the people of Judah that He has plans to send His servant, the Messiah, to shine as a light in the darkness brought on by own their sin and rebellion. But there is a sense in which the Jews were going to have to embrace the light that God was sending, refusing to live by the dim glow of their own self-righteousness. The arrival of the servant was centuries away, but they were expected to take God at His word and trust His promises. God had already told them, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light,” but they were going to have to believe that it was true.

You’ve probably heard someone refer to history as His story, the story of God and His relationship with mankind. And the Bible is a record of that story, beginning with God’s creation of the first man and woman and spanning across the generations to His call of Abram and His choosing of the people of Israel as His chosen possession. And if you fast-forward to the end of the book, you come to the literal end of the story, where God sends His Son to bring judgment to the nations and restoration to His chosen people. And in Isaiah 50:4-11, God reveals to the people of Judah that He has plans to send His servant, the Messiah, to shine as a light in the darkness brought on by own their sin and rebellion. But there is a sense in which the Jews were going to have to embrace the light that God was sending, refusing to live by the dim glow of their own self-righteousness. The arrival of the servant was centuries away, but they were expected to take God at His word and trust His promises. God ha

Ep 840 – Isaiah 50:4-11

Sometimes we think of the gospel as being relegated to the pages of the New Testament. But the good news of God’s redemptive plan for mankind is found throughout the Bible, from the pages of Genesis to the closing chapters of the book of Revelation. God’s plan for the world and its inhabitants is redemptive in nature. God created all things for His glory, including man, and He will not be satisfied until all creation worships Him for who He is: The One True God. And in Isaiah 45:14-25, God reveals that a day is coming when all men will acknowledge Him as God. In the meantime, the world continues to reject His Lordship and substitute Him with a wide array of false gods and unreliable saviors. The people of Judah had turned their backs on God and were suffering His judgment as a result. But God wanted them to know that He would remain faithful to them in spite of their unfaithfulness to Him. He was going to redeem them and restore them to a right relationship with Himself. And He wanted them to know that the day was coming when all nations would honor Him as the one true God.

Sometimes we think of the gospel as being relegated to the pages of the New Testament. But the good news of God’s redemptive plan for mankind is found throughout the Bible, from the pages of Genesis to the closing chapters of the book of Revelation. God’s plan for the world and its inhabitants is redemptive in nature. God created all things for His glory, including man, and He will not be satisfied until all creation worships Him for who He is: The One True God. And in Isaiah 45:14-25, God reveals that a day is coming when all men will acknowledge Him as God. In the meantime, the world continues to reject His Lordship and substitute Him with a wide array of false gods and unreliable saviors. The people of Judah had turned their backs on God and were suffering His judgment as a result. But God wanted them to know that He would remain faithful to them in spite of their unfaithfulness to Him. He was going to redeem them and restore them to a right relationship with Himself. And He wanted 

Ep 832 – Isaiah 45:14-25

No one likes to be forgotten. Whether it’s remembering our birthday or noticing when our presence is missing, we all want to be remembered. But there are those times when we can feel neglected or simply taken for granted – as if we don’t really matter. But in Isaiah 44:21-28, God wanted the people of Judah to know that He had not forgotten or forsaken them, in spite of all that was happening to them. It was only natural for them to assume that the presence of the Assyrian army in their backyard was a sign that God had abandoned them. It appeared as if He had turned His back on them. But He wanted them to know that He was there and that He cared. Yes, He was punishing them for their sin and rebellion, but He was not giving up on them. And in these verses, we have a series of powerful statements from God, designed to remind His people of His persistent presence in their lives throughout the centuries. The same God who created the heavens and the earth had formed them into a nation. And while defeat and exile was in their immediate future, restoration and redemption were part of God’s long-term plan for them

No one likes to be forgotten. Whether it’s remembering our birthday or noticing when our presence is missing, we all want to be remembered. But there are those times when we can feel neglected or simply taken for granted – as if we don’t really matter. But in Isaiah 44:21-28, God wanted the people of Judah to know that He had not forgotten or forsaken them, in spite of all that was happening to them. It was only natural for them to assume that the presence of the Assyrian army in their backyard was a sign that God had abandoned them. It appeared as if He had turned His back on them. But He wanted them to know that He was there and that He cared. Yes, He was punishing them for their sin and rebellion, but He was not giving up on them. And in these verses, we have a series of powerful statements from God, designed to remind His people of His persistent presence in their lives throughout the centuries. The same God who created the heavens and the earth had formed them into a nation. And w

Ep 830 – Isaiah 44:21-28

There’s something about newness that appeals to all of us. Who doesn’t love that new-car smell or enjoy seeing a newly released movie you’ve been dying to see? And while some of us don’t mind the status quo or business as usual, most of us would prefer the new-and-improved over the tried-and-true every time. And in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah, verses 14-28, God is going to tell the people of Judah about something new He is going to do. They were mired in their same old habits of sin and rebellion. As a result, they were suffering the righteous judgment of God. In other words, they were going through the same old thing their ancestors had experienced. It was a case of déjà vu. But God was letting them know that He had plans in store for them that they would never have guessed. He was going to do something new. This merry-go-round of sin, rebellion, judgment, and restoration was going to one day come to an end. Their treadmill-like existence, running fast but never getting anywhere, was about to be replaced with something new and exciting. Something they didn’t deserve, couldn’t earn, and would hardly believe when it happened.

There’s something about newness that appeals to all of us. Who doesn’t love that new-car smell or enjoy seeing a newly released movie you’ve been dying to see? And while some of us don’t mind the status quo or business as usual, most of us would prefer the new-and-improved over the tried-and-true every time. And in the 43rd chapter of Isaiah, verses 14-28, God is going to tell the people of Judah about something new He is going to do. They were mired in their same old habits of sin and rebellion. As a result, they were suffering the righteous judgment of God. In other words, they were going through the same old thing their ancestors had experienced. It was a case of déjà vu. But God was letting them know that He had plans in store for them that they would never have guessed. He was going to do something new. This merry-go-round of sin, rebellion, judgment, and restoration was going to one day come to an end. Their treadmill-like existence, running fast but never getting anywhere, was a

Ep 827 – Isaiah 43:14-28

I sometimes refer to myself as being in God’s remedial school for slow learners. It just seems that God keeps holding me back, not allowing me to move on to the next grade level because I haven’t quite picked up the lessons He wanted me to learn. Sometimes, this is just a case of stubbornness on my part, not stupidity. And the nations of Israel and Judah suffered from the same tendency. As we read the Old Testament history of God’s interactions with His chosen people, we can’t help but notice that they seemed to go through the same painful lessons over and over again. But they never seemed to learn. And the book of Judges provides one of the greatest illustrations of the cyclical tendency of the people of Israel. They would sin and then suffer the consequences. That prompted them to cry out to God, who would send them a rescuer in the form of a judge. God would redeem and restore them. But, in a matter of time, the people would rebel again and the cycle would repeat itself. Ad nauseum. And in Isaiah 42:18-25, we have the serial unfaithfulness of Judah juxtaposed with the faithfulness of God.

I sometimes refer to myself as being in God’s remedial school for slow learners. It just seems that God keeps holding me back, not allowing me to move on to the next grade level because I haven’t quite picked up the lessons He wanted me to learn. Sometimes, this is just a case of stubbornness on my part, not stupidity. And the nations of Israel and Judah suffered from the same tendency. As we read the Old Testament history of God’s interactions with His chosen people, we can’t help but notice that they seemed to go through the same painful lessons over and over again. But they never seemed to learn. And the book of Judges provides one of the greatest illustrations of the cyclical tendency of the people of Israel. They would sin and then suffer the consequences. That prompted them to cry out to God, who would send them a rescuer in the form of a judge. God would redeem and restore them. But, in a matter of time, the people would rebel again and the cycle would repeat itself. Ad nauseum.

Ep 825 – Isaiah 42:18-25

Hezekiah has been healed by God. His physical infirmity was gone and he had a guarantee from God of another decade and a half of life. But the king had another problem. Pride. Which manifested itself in an inordinate love affair with power, possessions, and prestige. In Isaiah 39:1-8, Hezekiah’s pride problem gets put on full display for all to see. And it’s not a pretty picture. Here was a man who had been given a second chance by God, but rather than living in humble gratitude and singing praises to God in the temple like he promised to do, he sang his own praises and flaunted his own glory. Never a good move for any God-appointed leader. And it shouldn’t be overlooked that in chapter 38, Hezekiah had been just days from death and faced with the possibility of losing everything he held near and dear. But now that he had received a reprieve from God and an additional 15 years to enjoy life, he reveals what he loved the most: Power, possession, and prestige.

Ep 818 – Isaiah 39:1-8

Let’s face it, It’s easy to sing God’s praises when everything is going your way. When all is right with your world, praise comes naturally and effortlessly. It’s only normal. But what about those times when things don’t turn out quite the way you expect or desire them to? Does your praise for God flow quite as easily when the going gets tough? In today’s passage, Isaiah 38:9-21, we have recorded a song of thanksgiving, written by King Hezekiah in response to God’s announcement that, rather than immediate death, he would enjoy an additional 15 years of life. The king is ecstatic and expresses his gratefulness to God. He also shares the range of emotions he experienced while waiting to see if God was going to answer his prayer. In these verses, Hezekiah displays a natural human reaction to suffering and pain. He wanted deliverance from it. But the real lesson to be learned from this story is whether we are ready, willing, and able to praise God, even when the circumstances of life give us no reason to do so.

Let’s face it, It’s easy to sing God’s praises when everything is going your way. When all is right with your world, praise comes naturally and effortlessly. It’s only normal. But what about those times when things don’t turn out quite the way you expect or desire them to? Does your praise for God flow quite as easily when the going gets tough? In today’s passage, Isaiah 38:9-21, we have recorded a song of thanksgiving, written by King Hezekiah in response to God’s announcement that, rather than immediate death, he would enjoy an additional 15 years of life. The king is ecstatic and expresses his gratefulness to God. He also shares the range of emotions he experienced while waiting to see if God was going to answer his prayer. In these verses, Hezekiah displays a natural human reaction to suffering and pain. He wanted deliverance from it. But the real lesson to be learned from this story is whether we are ready, willing, and able to praise God, even when the circumstances of life give 

Ep 817 – Isaiah 38:9-21

You’ve probably seen the bumper sticker that says, “Prayer changes things.” But the real question is whether prayer changes God – His mind that is. When we pray, do we have the capacity to alter the will of God? There are more than a few cases in Scripture where we seem to see it happen. And Isaiah 38:1-8 appears to contain one of them. Hezekiah has been given a message from God by Isaiah, telling him to get his affairs in order because he has only a short time to live. This bad news comes as Hezekiah was having to deal with the presence of the army of Assyria, camped outside the walls of Jerusalem. But upon hearing this shocking report, Hezekiah doesn’t panic, he prays. And we’re told that God hears his prayer and tells the king he will live an additional 15 years. In grateful response, Hezekiah writes a song of thanksgiving to God. But the question remains: did Hezekiah change God’s mind or was it the other way around. It’s a matter of perspective. And a case of the sovereignty of God.

You’ve probably seen the bumper sticker that says, “Prayer changes things.” But the real question is whether prayer changes God – His mind that is. When we pray, do we have the capacity to alter the will of God? There are more than a few cases in Scripture where we seem to see it happen. And Isaiah 38:1-8 appears to contain one of them. Hezekiah has been given a message from God by Isaiah, telling him to get his affairs in order because he has only a short time to live. This bad news comes as Hezekiah was having to deal with the presence of the army of Assyria, camped outside the walls of Jerusalem. But upon hearing this shocking report, Hezekiah doesn’t panic, he prays. And we’re told that God hears his prayer and tells the king he will live an additional 15 years. In grateful response, Hezekiah writes a song of thanksgiving to God. But the question remains: did Hezekiah change God’s mind or was it the other way around. It’s a matter of perspective. And a case of the sovereignty of Go

Ep 816 – Isaiah 38:1-8

God is the god of the impossible. There is no challenge too great, no problem too large, and no enemy too powerful, that God is not greater, larger, and more powerful. He is incomparable. He is unconquerable. He is all-powerful. And in Isaiah 37:21-38, King Hezekiah is given an up-close-and-personal glimpse of just how great God really is. After he took the problem of the Assyrian siege to God, Isaiah gave King Hezekiah a message from God. He was going to deal with the Assyrians quickly and effectively. Despite all their arrogant boasts, they would never breach the walls or get beyond the gates of Jerusalem. God would deal with Sennacherib and his mighty army. In fact, He would delegate the job to one of His angels, revealing just how sovereign He really is. And, for all this to happen, Hezekiah simply needed to turn to and trust in God. In response to Hezekiah’s simple, yet passionate prayer, God answered and brought about a salvation that had to have left the people of Judah slack-jawed and awe-struck. Practicing humble faith when faced with trouble unleashes the God of the impossible.

God is the god of the impossible. There is no challenge too great, no problem too large, and no enemy too powerful, that God is not greater, larger, and more powerful. He is incomparable. He is unconquerable. He is all-powerful. And in Isaiah 37:21-38, King Hezekiah is given an up-close-and-personal glimpse of just how great God really is. After he took the problem of the Assyrian siege to God, Isaiah gave King Hezekiah a message from God. He was going to deal with the Assyrians quickly and effectively. Despite all their arrogant boasts, they would never breach the walls or get beyond the gates of Jerusalem. God would deal with Sennacherib and his mighty army. In fact, He would delegate the job to one of His angels, revealing just how sovereign He really is. And, for all this to happen, Hezekiah simply needed to turn to and trust in God. In response to Hezekiah’s simple, yet passionate prayer, God answered and brought about a salvation that had to have left the people of Judah slack-ja

Ken Miller Videos

Ep 884 – Sanctification – Leviticus 11:44-45

Ep 877 – Sanctification – Leviticus 11:44-45

Ep 874 – Sanctification – 1 Corinthians 15:44-49

Ep 868 – Isaiah 66:7-14

Ep 865 – Isaiah 65:8-16

Ep 862 – Isaiah 64:1-7

Ep 856 – Isaiah 60:17-22

Ep 853 – Isaiah 59:9-15

Ep 850 – Isaiah 57:14-21

Ep 849 – Isaiah 57:3-13

Ep 848 – Isaiah 56:9-57:2

Ep 840 – Isaiah 50:4-11

Ep 832 – Isaiah 45:14-25

Ep 830 – Isaiah 44:21-28

Ep 827 – Isaiah 43:14-28

Ep 825 – Isaiah 42:18-25

Ep 818 – Isaiah 39:1-8

Ep 817 – Isaiah 38:9-21

Ep 816 – Isaiah 38:1-8

Ep 815 – Isaiah 37:21-38

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