The Way-An in-depth study of God's Word with Paul Orr

Send us Fan Mail We now have a wonderful universal invitation to the abundant life found in Christ alone. This life cannot be purchased. It can only be entered into through repentance and faith. True satisfaction can only be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We do this by seeking and calling upon the Lord. By forsaking our evil ways and unrighteous thoughts. By returning to the L...

Send us Fan Mail We now see the wonderful consequences that resulted from the brutal sacrifice of God's Servant, Jesus. The outcome is glorious. It brings salvation to the Jews. It brings salvation to the whole world. Isaiah describes for us a city whose builder and maker is God. A place where righteousness will be established. A place where oppression, terror and fear will not exist. It will...

Send us Fan Mail We now come to the conclusion of this great passage that began in 52:13. In this passage we have the complete picture of Calvary and all that God accomplished through His Servant, Jesus. We see clearly what was accomplished on behalf of Israel, what was accomplished on behalf of the whole world. The death of Jesus at Calvary satisfied God's righteous demand for judgment again...

Send us Fan Mail In this study we were presented with several challenges. Do we have the mind of Christ? Are we willing to live in obedience as Christ did? Obedience to the point of death! Is the work that Jesus accomplished on the cross central in our daily walk with Him? Great and important questions. Our response to these questions will have great impact on our growth in Christ and our effectiv...

Send us Fan Mail We continue this great passage that runs from Isaiah 52:13 through Isaiah 54:12. This along with Psalms 22 gives such a clear picture of the work of Christ at Calvary. This passage as the heart of the gospel in the Old Testament. As we come to these next few verses, I refer to them as the heart of the heart. These verses show us so clearly that all sin, iniquity and transgression...

Send us Fan Mail We now transition from the summary of the Servant's vicarious sacrifice to the details. The transition is done with a rhetorical question expecting a negative response. Who has believed our report? There is great astonishment at the response. How could so many reject the wonderful loving gospel? We learn that Jesus had no earthly advantage at all.  He was tender and vulnerabl...

Send us Fan Mail We now begin a passage of scripture that has been referred to as the Mount Everest of messianic prophesy. In this passage we have the heart of the gospel. It brings us to an amazing accurate description of Jesus in His finished work at Calvary. We cannot truly know Jesus, see Jesus, apart from His finished work at Calvary. It is impossible to know Jesus high and lifted up until we...

Send us Fan Mail As we enter into the last of the last days as the return of Christ looms on the near horizon, what is the greatest danger the church faces? While there are things we are to be aware of and should be aware of; what is the greatest danger we face? And in light of this great danger, what is our certain defense against it? I pray this message will give perspective as we move out of 20...

Send us Fan Mail This week's passage reminds us of the faithfulness of God. God's faithfulness to Israel throughout the scriptures is amazing. God delivered Israel from the bondage of Egypt. He defended them against the crushing Assyrians. God delivered them from Babylonian captivity allowing them to return to their ancestorial land and become re-established as a nation. This has once ag...

Send us Fan Mail The righteous remnant in Babylonian captivity know that God is about to deliver them from their 70 years of bondage. Yet in spite of their knowledge and faith, God commands them in the strongest of terms to wake up. Why? Because our tendency is to sleep. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. The righteous remnant of today knows according to the scriptures that the return of...

Send us Fan Mail Our passage begins with the righteous remnant in Babylonian captivity crying out to God in prayer. Their cry of prayer results from the word of God as does all prayer. Their prayer is not typical, nor are their circumstances. Their prayer is consistent with the word they just heard. They remind God of His past faithfulness while looking ahead with faith to the promises of God. The...

Send us Fan Mail The passage we look at now brings both comfort and encouragement from the LORD. It was written to the remnant in Babylonian captivity. Yet it applies to the remnant in all generations. It applies most certainly to the remnant today. Three times the remnant is told to, "Listen to Me". How important that we, as the remnant of Jesus, listen to His word with a determined int...

Send us Fan Mail Here we have a twofold message to the remnant in Babylonian captivity. There is a message for the believing remnant and there is a message for the unbelieving majority. Remember that it is never the overwhelming consensus of the majority that confirms truth. Truth is found in Jesus Christ and His word alone. The message is given by three speakers. First God speaks to them. Then Hi...

Send us Fan Mail In this study, we see that Israel felt as though God had forsaken and forgotten them. God lovingly, patiently, assures them this is not true. He declares a wonderful promise sealed with an oath. However, Israel somehow thought that this promise was too good to be true. Once again God assures them. He lets them know that He is their Savior, Redeemer and the Mighty One of Jacob. Her...

Send us Fan Mail What a timely passage for the days we are living in. It is such a great reminder of God's faithfulness and the fact that Jesus is coming again. God has given to Israel and to all those who belong to Him unconditional, unchanging promises. The world at this time seems uncontrollably chaotic. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. This passage speaks of mountains that lie...

Send us Fan Mail As we begin this chapter, we see the severe chastening hand of God upon His people. Yet His chastening is never separated from His love, grace, mercy and longsuffering. Israel then, as we today, had every reason to know that God alone is God. The proof found in predictive prophesy and in creation is indisputable. Therefore, they had every reason to live in obedience to Him.  God l...

Send us Fan Mail In this chapter we see God's judgment that came upon Babylon and will come upon Babylon in the days before us.  The language used is filled with sarcasm and mocking toward Babylon. It is graphic and leaves nothing to the imagination. As God's judgment unfolds, His people break out into a shout of praise. What other response can there be. Their captors have been cruel and...

Send us Fan Mail There are two commands in this passage that stand out. Two commands that are critical to the walk of every believer. First, we are commanded to listen to God. This is stated many times over in the book of Isaiah and throughout the scriptures. The importance of listening to God's word cannot be overstated. God speaks to us through His word by the power of the Holy Spirit. All...

Send us Fan Mail In this study, we continue to look at familiar themes. We see the sureness and certainty of God's word. We are reminded again that God is the infinite almighty creator. We hear again that God is God alone and there is no other. These themes are repeated often because they are so critical to the foundation of our relationship with the LORD.  But then we come to verse 22 and fi...

Send us Fan Mail In these past few studies, we have taken a look at the incredible prophesy concerning Cyrus the great. First, we see that Cyrus is a type of Christ. Cyrus, as God's shepherd and anointed was raised up by God to deliver His people and bring judgment upon the evildoers. Cyrus returned God's people to Jerusalem in order that they would rebuild the temple. This was done not...

Send us Fan Mail This week we continue to look at this amazing salvation prophesy that declares Cyrus by name as the one who will deliver those in Babylonian captivity. What makes this so amazing is that Cyrus will not be born for more than 100 years, and this conquest is more than a century and a half away. The passage begins with thus says the LORD. This oft repeated statement throughout the bib...

Send us Fan Mail This week, we continue to look at the absolute absurdity and foolishness of idols and those who make them. Isaiah, as he presents to us God's view of idolatry, does so with sharp sarcasm. There is no respect given to idols whatsoever. His warning against them and how not to get caught up in idolatry is crystal clear. We wrapped up the study with a look at the incredibly clear...

Send us Fan Mail As we ended our last study, we ended with a warning of judgment from God. But now through Isaiah, God declares to Israel, "Yet hear Me now". It is an urgent call for Israel to listen as God proclaims the wonderful blessing He will pour out on them. Yes they are backsliders and have drifted into apostasy, but they are God's chosen children. They continue to be the ob...

Send us Fan Mail In this passage, we have set before us the fact that Israel was and continues to be God's witness to the world. What God has done for Israel and through Israel in the past; what God continues to for Israel today; what God will do in and through Israel in the days before us declares definitively that Israel is God's witness to the world. While God had done and was doing w...

Send us Fan Mail Our passage begins with, "But now". Israel did not know, nor did they take to heart the loving chastisement of God. In spite of their obstinance, God would graciously continue to work through Israel demonstrating to the whole world that He alone is God.  But now is followed by thus says the LORD. The answer will always be found in the word of God. Every work of God begin...