Come On Up

When Piety Hides Pride

Send us a note! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558759/fan_mail/new] A king is shaking with fear, an enemy coalition is closing in, and God offers help so direct it almost feels unfair: ask for a sign. What happens when a leader refuses, not with honest doubt, but with polished religious words that protect his pride? We walk through Isaiah 7 with Pastor Carl as he unpacks King Ahaz, the house of David, and the moment where “looking godly” becomes a cover for not trusting God at all. We also zoom out to the bigger story behind the crisis: Israel’s long line of kings, the split between the Northern Kingdom and Judah, and why alliances and power plays never deliver the security they promise. Along the way we look at the warning that still lands today: “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.” Fear pushes us to grab control, but Isaiah calls Ahaz to be quiet, to stop scrambling, and to trust the Lord instead of his own plans. Then the episode turns toward hope that reaches far beyond Ahaz’s lifetime: the prophecy of the virgin who will conceive and bear a son, and the name Immanuel, God with us. We talk about what this promise means for the coming Messiah, why judgment and refining fire are not empty threats, and how God preserves a remnant even when a nation chooses its own way. If you’re searching for Bible teaching on Isaiah, the Immanuel prophecy, King Ahaz, and what real trust looks like under pressure, this one is for you. Subscribe so you don’t miss future teachings, share this with someone facing a hard decision, and leave a review to help others find the show. What part of your life most tempts you to rely on control instead of trust? Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com [https://themountaincross.com].

When God Stops Speaking - Isaiah 6 & 7

Send us a note! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558759/fan_mail/new] If you’ve ever caught yourself saying, “I don’t want to hear that,” this message lands close to home. We sit with a sobering reality from Isaiah: a heart can resist God so long that hearing becomes harder, humility becomes optional, and pride starts to feel normal. Pastor Carl challenges us to stop fighting the direction of the One who leads us to good pasture and to let the Lord take the reins for real. From Isaiah 6, we step into the throne-room vision where God’s glory fills the temple and the seraphim cry, “Holy, holy, holy.” Even these powerful beings cover their faces and feet in reverence, and their worship shakes the foundations. That scene exposes what pride can’t survive: the holiness of God. Isaiah immediately confesses his sin, calling out his “unclean lips,” and we talk about why our words reveal our hearts and why genuine repentance is more than a moment of emotion. Then grace breaks in. A live coal from the altar touches Isaiah’s mouth and his guilt is taken away, pointing us to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that cleanses, purifies, and makes prayer acceptable before God. Only after cleansing does Isaiah hear the call, “Whom shall I send?” and respond, “Here I am, send me,” even when the assignment is heavy and the people are hard-hearted. We also move into Isaiah 7 and the real-world fear around King Ahaz as nations plot war, showing how God speaks into political chaos with a clear command: do not fear, trust Me. The episode ends by lifting our eyes toward Isaiah’s promised new heaven and new earth, where God’s justice outlasts the headlines. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com [https://themountaincross.com].

When Pride Rewrites Worship: King Uzziah And Isaiah 6

Send us a note! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558759/fan_mail/new] The fastest way to spot pride is to watch what happens when someone hears “no.” We take that test into Scripture by walking through King Uzziah’s shocking turn in 2 Chronicles 26 and Isaiah’s throne room vision in Isaiah 6. Uzziah starts with decades of strength and blessing, then lets success convince him he can rewrite the rules of worship. The result is severe: separation, isolation, and a life marked by what pride always produces when it refuses correction. From there, we step into Isaiah’s encounter with the Lord “high and lifted up” and the breathtaking picture of God’s holiness. We talk through the train of his robe filling the temple and why the hem matters across the Bible, from David and Saul to Ruth and Boaz, pointing to covenant covering and redemption. We also wrestle with a personal question: if we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, are we actually letting God’s authority shape our choices, or are we still trying to shape God around our preferences? The seraphim’s cry of “Holy, holy, holy” leads to Isaiah’s honest confession and the burning mercy of the live coal from the altar, a vivid pointer to sacrifice, cleansing, and the saving work of Jesus Christ. Once Isaiah is purified, he finally hears the call and answers without delay: “Here I am, send me.” If this stirred your heart, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share this with a friend who needs courage to surrender, and leave a review that helps more people find the show. Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com [https://themountaincross.com].

When A Nation Calls Evil Good

Send us a note! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558759/fan_mail/new] Grace can feel like a set of keys, and that’s exactly where people get confused. If God has forgiven me, does that mean I’m free to do whatever I want? We push back on that dangerous idea and get painfully honest about what God actually saves us from: sin, slavery, and the slow self-destruction that comes from celebrating darkness. We spend time in Isaiah’s “woes” and connect them to real life today: chasing comfort through greed, building our own little kingdoms, and exploiting others while calling it success. We talk about intoxicants and addictions of every kind, not as easy targets but as substitutes we run to when we’re trying to fill a hole only God can fill. Along the way, we draw a bright line between having information and having wisdom, because you can “know” plenty and still miss God’s work happening right around you. We also zoom out to Israel’s story, the modern reality of Israel’s return, and why we don’t buy the claim that God is finished with His people. Romans 11 gives us a surprising perspective: Israel’s stumbling opens the door for Gentiles, yet God’s plan still moves toward restoration. We close with a Spurgeon gut-punch: God’s woes are better than the devil’s welcome, because discipline is sometimes the mercy that pulls us back into the light. Subscribe for more teaching through Isaiah, share this with a friend who needs clarity on grace, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What’s one “harmless” habit that might actually be pulling you away from God? Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com [https://themountaincross.com].

Isaiah 5 - Wild Grapes

Send us a note! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2558759/fan_mail/new] God doesn’t need a résumé. He wants a heart that’s honest, humbled, and ready to be changed. We open with a simple cry that cuts through religious noise: Lord, save us, revive us, shine upon us. From there Pastor Carl leads a verse-by-verse Bible teaching through Isaiah 5, where God sings a Song of the Vineyard. Everything is prepared for good fruit, yet wild grapes show up instead. The hard turn is the point: the people invited to “judge” the vineyard realize they are the vineyard, and the issue is not God’s lack of care but our refusal to walk in His ways. That theme deepens in Psalm 80 with the repeated prayer, “Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved.” We talk about God’s mercy, the Shepherd of Israel, and why real spiritual renewal can’t be self-manufactured. The connections keep building into the New Testament: Jesus as the true vine, the vineyard parable, and Christ as the cornerstone in Matthew 21. The question lands personally, not theoretically: will we fall on the Rock in repentance and be broken so healing can begin, or hold out until pride turns into ruin? We also touch Romans 11, Israel and replacement theology, and why God’s purpose is bigger than our categories. Isaiah’s “woes” bring it into daily life with warnings about greed, exploiting others, and intoxication that blinds us to God’s work. If you’re tired of striving, this teaching points to surrender, fruitfulness, and the grace that actually changes us from the inside out. Subscribe for more Bible study teaching, share this with a friend who needs restoration, and leave a review. What would it look like for you to stop striving and ask God to revive you today? Come On Up is the radio ministry of The Mountain Cross in Waynesville North Carolina. To learn more about us please visit: TheMountainCross.com [https://themountaincross.com].