December 28, 2025
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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The profound beauty of Isaiah 63 becomes clear once we remember what we find in Isaiah 62. In 62:6 the Anointed One speaks. "I have set watchmen…You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest…" Now in 63:7 Isaiah (one of the watchmen) speaks. "I will recount (lit. bring to remembrance) the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD". The watchmen's task is to tell the Lord about his own steadfast love without ceasing. But why does God need a reminder or need us to tell him that his steadfast love brings him praise? Has the Lord forgotten who he is? Is that how we turn him back from his wrath?
Isaiah experienced profound discouragement. God's chosen nation had cast off its holy calling and was suffering a very preventable consequences of its rebellion. The godly knew that the sovereign God could have prevented disaster and had the power to let righteousness flourish. But he didn't. The godly were baffled by how God reigns over the world.
Discouragement is the enemy of prayer. They were disheartened by pain and suffering, and disappointed because their good hopes and dreams were denied them. This is why God commands "take no rest, and give him no rest" and Isaiah says "I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD…". Recounting God's steadfast love / covenant mercies / his promise to treat us with kindness we have not deserved or can imagine is the only cure against the discouragement.
So Isaiah remembers God's past faithfulness during Exodus: "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them, in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old." The "angel of his presence (lit. face)" is the one who made God's face clear to his people. At times he spoke as though he were himself the LORD, and at other times as someone other than and disctinct from the LORD. So the OT anticipated Jesus Christ in whom we will meet God face to face. During Exodus the pre-incarnate Christ shared in all their affliction. He made the sufferings of his people his own suffering. This is the same Christ who would later say, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Whatever we suffer, he makes it his. Whenever our hearts break, his heart breaks also. This is how faithful Jesus is. He does not leave us when we suffer or forget us when we hurt. Jesus is with us when we are crushed. This is the encouragement that keeps us praying in darkness. So tell God about his steadfast love. That is how God restores our hope.
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Growth Resources
This year: Please see the full list of 2025 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
In January we are reading "Union with Christ: The Blessings of Being In Him" by Sinclair Ferguson.
Everyday: Noted pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson posts a short reflection every day, each around 5 minutes long. "Things Unseen" cover various aspects of the Christian life, worship, and theological topics in a very accessible and edifying way. We encourage you to incorporate this into your daily life. Please see this page for more information. There you will find links to various podcast platforms as well as YouTube page.
Announcements
1/11 (Lord’s Day): Fellowship meal.
1/14 (Wednesday 7PM): Esther Zoom Study.
1/18 (Lord’s Day): Sunday School resumes.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).
This Week's Prayers
Please email your prayer request by Thursday to include it in the list for the upcoming week — info@gracefallbrook.church