Pastor Bob DuPar
September 8, 2008

Journal Entry



Scripture

Isaiah 1:1-2:22; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 22:26-27

Observation

I really liked Isaiah 2:16b-18,

“Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

Isaiah 2:22 is pretty blunt and to the point,

“Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 is a great reminder and call to action,

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I found 2 Corinthians 10:10 humorous as it is the predicament of many a writer and speaker,

“For some say, ‘His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing.”

Finally, I thought that 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 was great counsel,

“Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

Application

When Isaiah talks about doing “right” he gives these examples: Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. I try and do right; but, to be honest, it’s been awhile since the “right” that I do involves any of these things. This list sounds similar to James’ description of pure religion in 1:27, “…to visit orphans and widows in their distress…”

I need to work on taking every thought captive and making it obedient to Christ. Spiritual warfare often begins in the mind.

Prayer

“Lord, thank You for equipping me with ‘divine power to demolish strongholds’ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Help me to use this power more often.”