Get Up And Grow On (Isaiah 58:1-14)

Isaiah chapter 58 tonight and by the way if you're taking notes and I know many of you do chapter 58 now opens up with what now ends the the entire theme of the book from this moment on in fact you'll hear God tonight in Isaiah 58 challenging and rebuking yet again the nation of Israel Judah specifically but Israel as a whole about getting their worship and get in their faith right chapter 58 will now head on and as we get into the chapter 60 61 all the way up to 66 it's all now beginning to snowball quickly down to the actual millennial age and so from here on out it's really awesome stuff you're gonna be recognizing a lot of New Testament theology in these remaining chapters tonight we're gonna be looking at a message entitled get up and grow on I think if Isaiah would speak to us tonight he would say get up and grow on to mature in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ and thinking about that for a moment I was reading in a commentary and this one particular author brought up this rather true sad illustration listen to this and it's going to relate to the nation of Israel tonight he says this I I read of a man who after 25 years of working for the same company was still doing the exact same job and being paid the exact same pay finally he went to his boss and told him that he felt that he had been neglected after all he said I've got 25 years of experience my dear sir sighed the bus you haven't had 25 years of experience you've had the one same experience for 25 years can you feel the sting of meds ouch let's there's a lot of people in church they've gone to church for so many years or maybe all their life but they don't have 30 years of spiritual experience or maturity they've they may have been in church for thirty years but they seem to just be of the same one year experience that when they first came to Christ or when they first attended that church and that is a tragedy as well that's not a good thing it reminds me of the children of Israel who when they left Egypt you know they got called out of Egypt and it's amazing because if you've ever looked at the map that it's an eleven-day journey by the way people have done this you know they've done this actually by foot they walked from where the children of Israel were in Egypt and they walked into the Promised Land and it's an 11 day walk 11 days but church how long did it take him to get there forty years because of unbelief because they didn't obey God because they wouldn't listen they just circled in the wilderness for forty years that's something you never want to do and as a Christian you want to have listen experience under you that is more than your years in knowing Jesus and that's possible I believe that you if you attend this church you love the Bible you hear the Bible and you're growing in the grace of knowledge of the Lord Jesus that's what the Bible does that's what the Holy Spirit does in your life but the great thing is is to take the knowledge and to put it into practice church listen you'll never fail if you take what you know and say Lord now do what you want with me and you will you'll see God move in your life and I say that in our introduction because I I don't want you to do what Israel wound up doing they had the prophets they had the miracles they had the revelation of God but they wound up as you'll see tonight becoming very very religious to the point of becoming stale and they became bored and then ultimately unusable to God what's amazing to me is that the Ministry of the biblical prophet as Isaiah is tonight you're gonna you're gonna hear him in the opening verse the biblical prophet was was never sent to make friends and influence people the way that you might think they were sent by God and they're on fire these were men these were prophets that they were absolutely driven now you and I have no idea what those men must have been like but they seem to be loners they seem to be once God gave them the revelation it's almost as though they came out of the woodwork and they've proclaimed it and then they went back because what had been commissioned to them was so so out of this world so to speak that they themselves as the Bible says they didn't know exactly what they were saying or the meaning of it they prophesied but they did it under the power of the Holy Spirit and they didn't know what most of us know this far along we are now so many thousands of years down the road and we could look back and we can say oh I know buddy now I know what Ezekiel was talking about oh I know what Jeremiah was oh we saw what Isaiah these men spoke under the power of the Holy Spirit and what they delivered a lot of them got in big trouble for it Jeremiah was thrown in jail Ezekiel was horrific Lee made fun of and MOT Isiah was later cut in half their messages were not received and you're gonna see some of the reason why tonight is because they they pulled no punches they were commissioned by God their mouth and their heart was filled with the word Jeremiah said when God spoke to him can you imagine this happening in your life you're just tooling along you got your own thoughts and God speaks to you and it begins to burn in your chest it begins to burn in your heart and it comes out of your mouth and you know it's coming and then Jeremiah talks about God's Word being deposited him and he couldn't he couldn't hold his mouth shut and it came out the word burned within him until it came out and that's the power of God's Word and it's an awesome thing to think about and God wants us to grow in that word church there's no greater foundation than what you can have than the Bible today many of you know Jan Markell today I was on the radio with Jan Markell and we had a great time together and and we were talking about she was asking about the times in the age in which we live in in the turbulent times of the world and I said Jan and maybe you can relate to this I said Jan you know what as long as we as Christians are standing on the Bible on the Word of God we can be like that guy somebody snapped that picture of that man who's in the lighthouse do you remember that lighthouse picture if you look real close the doors open he's got a cup of coffee at his hands and there's that massive wave that's wrapping around the lighthouse have you seen it has anybody seen it raise your hand okay there you go that is an awesome picture that guy doesn't look bother bothered he doesn't look scared I have a feeling he didn't know that wave was that big either though you know but he's stand-in there like this like a nice thing and this huge wave and yet that lighthouse stands firm and for the believer when you stand on the Word of God you don't have to worry about anything like that you don't have to you don't have to be biting your nails or fretting god knows what he's doing and Christian he has placed you right here right now in the 21st century for a time like this it's not an accident you know - you know if they get all freaked out about it so the first thing with your Bible open Isaiah chapter 58 verses one to three is that we learned this is that we need to get rid of some stuff regarding getting up and growing on God would say and he does to the nation of Israel he says to us tonight that we need to get rid of some stuff now listen what Isaiah says he says cry aloud spare not lift up your voice like a trumpet tell my people God is speaking to him depositing this word to him their transgression and the house of Jacob in their sins he's going to speak to them God says alright it's time Isaiah to tell them that they need to get rid of their transgressions and their sins and the transgression Church transgression is that word you see the word sins and transgressions sins are the things that you and I commit that people commit when we miss the mark of God's righteousness which by the way listen today you may have had a great day spiritually but you still sinned did you know that I send you send what it why can you say that pastor it's easy to say it to miss God's perfection in thought and indeed to be imperfect is to sin the word means to miss the mark so we're all sinners then you see the word transgression transgression if there's anything that can be worse than sin it's transgression transgression is to know what God has said you you heard it and you see the line drawn and you look at it and you know it's a sin to cross the line but you look at it and you look at God and you go right over to the line and you look like a five-year-old step right over it and look at God and basically say what are you gonna do about that that's what Israel did by the way that's what we can do God I know you do not want me to do this thing listen and you do it anyway that's transgression this is a very frightening thing some of you I know you've been brought up in a spiritual setting a church setting where you have been taught that you can sin as long as you go and make penance for that sin or somehow make a self atonement for those sins in other words I know it's a sin are you listening everybody you know it's a sin but you've been taught it's it's it's okay if you go do it as long as you go ask for forgiveness and do these things and and you're alright I want you to know tonight that that the Old Testament calls sins of the high hand I think the old King James mentions it as sins of the high-end it is blatant deliberate in theological terms it's called antinomianism it means this God is God God is holy I am me I am here now what I'm contemplating on doing is a sin against God I'm gonna go do it premeditatedly now mind you I've already planned on doing it I resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit I step over the line and do it with the intent that I'm going to go back over the line and then make a deal with God what do I need to pay for what I just did and that is antinomianism it is a sin against God which what is known as the high hand meaning God says I do not always forgive sins of the high end can you imagine tonight if if God would say to you you keep doing this thing over and over again and that's it God tells the Prophet cry aloud spare not lift up your voice like a trumpet the word imply to warn them warn them warn them what warning them to take this stuff out of your life don't go down that route when we all need to remember that the Christian life is a progressive experience I don't like to use the word progressive because it has negative connotations but in this context listen to this the Christian life you and I as a believer it's it's a progressive experience meaning this the night or the day that you give your heart to Jesus Christ you were saved and sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit and your name was written down in the Lamb's Book of Life from that moment on do you remember that day for you from that moment on you began walking with Jesus and you've been growing in a personal sanctification that's the word that I'm talking about a progressive experience in other words you got saved but now you're growing you're moving on as a believer and every day your life lived for Christ is an experience why because God is working in you both to will that is to do his will and to execute his good pleasure in your life that's how God works in the life of the believer and this is an exciting dynamic way of living and you want to do that and all along the way Christian God will say to you every day listen every day it will never stop it will never stop until you see Jesus's face God will be saying things to you Jack let's get victory over this area okay Jack let's let's take out the trash over here let's let's remove this stuff here let's get this done over here I want to rearrange this I want to reprioritize that can someone nod and say yes that's what God does that's that's how he works in our lives he'll not leave his sanctifying work undone in your life that's good news I want to remind some of you God wins in the end if you ever have any doubts go read the book of Revelation it's a great book to read to encourage you God wins in the end and we're with God we're on his team and remember God's not on your team we're on his team and he wins and we win with him and it's a very encouraging thing to do but he will never give up on a sanctifying work he's not going to release you from his grip and you know the old saying that in the sense of God working in your life and I mentioned it just the other day that he will not let sleeping dogs lie I like that in your life he will up and down every hallway every room God will work in your life and until he sees the face of his son in in your face and that is when you meet Christ and so God is at work it's a great thing but one of the great hindrances is we're gonna see here in verse 2 is the fact that hypocrisy is some of that junk that we need to just get that's that stuff out of our lives look what he says in verse 2 yet they seek me daily he's talking about the nation they seek me every day and delight to know my ways as a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the ordinances of their God they asked of me the ordinance of justice in other words everything sounds good right they take delight in approaching God look at verse 3 why have we fasted this is response why have we fasted there talking to God why have we fasted they say and you have not seen why have we afflicted our souls and you've taken no notice what are they saying what's going on watch this the stagnant routine of religion they they say they believe oh we go we go to church every Sunday look we go to look we go to church we read our Bibles every day we delight we say praise the Lord as it were I do good things they did righteousness um we didn't forsake God we're with God but we loved approaching God now look verse 3 says then they go to this question God we've done all these things and what's the deal we fasted and we've done these things and and we've afflicted our souls but you've not noticed church listen this is a dangerous thing but very common God is saying about his people you walked with me once and then you got bored with me you you worshiped with me and then you went on after other gods and other idols now you're at the condition you're in this state of hey we go we do all this stuff how many people do we know we're this I go to church I go to church every Sunday I am I'm read my Bible I'll listen I I'm telling you people who will say I do this but your life's not changed there is no progressive growth and experience in Jesus I go to church I read my Bible I approach God I say my prayers over the meal and then the worst thing of all the hypocrisy is we have fasted they said we fasted we've afflicted our souls so God how come you haven't done anything for us here the motive Wow approaching God like that like he's a like he's a rabbit's foot like he's a trinket we've gone through the motions listen now good you owe me you say I don't know anybody like that wait a minute are we not all tempted like this God why is this happening to me have we ever thought that this happened to me Oh what is the theological implication of that statements God haven't I been good to you haven't I put some money in the offering high even fast and once I read my Bible I go to church every Sunday come on do you hear that it's in the human hearts that stuff needs to be taken that needs to be out of here and it's in us good you know what I think you owe me no he owes us nothing and the nation of Israel had sunk to that low they they had been filled with this hypocrisy they've become routine in their relationship with God and that's not a good thing Jeremiah chapter 2 verse 1 says Jeremiah 2:1 says the Lord gave me another message he said go and shout this message to Jerusalem this is what the Lord says I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago is this tender talk how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness verse 5 this is what the Lord says what did your ancestors find wrong with me that led them to stray far from me do you hear God everybody got a say wait a minute where have you gone where you left me your heart's got full of stuff and it needs to be taken out because you've got the wrong view of me and God so sweetly says through the Prophet Jeremiah you used to get used to pursue me like a young bride you were amazing we were in love with each other what happened Revelation chapter 2 verse 1 - the angel of the church at Ephesus write these things this is Jesus speaking he who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands I know your works your labor and your patience and that you cannot bear those who are evil and you have tested those who say that there are apostles that are not they've exposed false teachers and have found them to be liars verse 3 and you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary nevertheless I have this against you by the way everything up until then you're like saying I want to be like that I want to be like that nevertheless I have this against you that you've left your first love verse 5 remember therefore from where you've fallen and repentance change your direction and do the first works or else I will come quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent here Jesus is talking to a church by the way we need to look at those seven letters to the seven churches upon our own lives in our own hearts at any given time dear friends those seven letters to those seven churches would apply to our lives in our hearts and Jesus is saying you were right on your awesome you guys are amazing my goodness isn't it horrible he could say that about this church he could say it about me he could say it about you you are so right on you love the Word of God you serve the Lord everything spot-on the only problem is you've left your first love you could drive by a church you can be in a church full of activity full of stuff like that like the church at Ephesus this ministry that way this event this thing all of this stuff going on and yet it doesn't necessarily speak of the heart does it well you know you and I live in an age and in a part of the world where it's just not good in America period we are just out of control regarding time constantly on the go cons we think that if we relax we sin in fact there's a book written when I relax I feel guilty and author wrote that book that describes the American culture what if what if God were to say to us you know you're busy about that you're busy about you doing all these good things but when's the last time you you pursued me with love like a brand-new bride when he says you left your first love the terminal is that crazy reckless love that you had for me at the beginning where to go listen Christians are in danger of this we all are remember when you first became a Christian you were just crazy you didn't care what anybody thought you went and told everybody you were just out there and Jesus saying give like that again go back to those first things and what did you do back then oh I remember when I would I would put on crispy praise music or I had the hymns plain or add you know whatever and I was and that would be reading or I'd be singing I just did these things well do you do them anymore I don't got any time there's no time for that but if Jesus was to say come on by the way we talk about about revival in America how much we need revival that's revival just just being in love with Jesus again and it's crazy crazy love crazy love young love talking with God falling to sleep talking to God waking up talking to God remember when you had your first girlfriend or boyfriend and you were you always thinking about you that's thinking about you too it's amazing so what are you doing nothing what are you doing mathaa it's thinking of you I'm thinking about you too so what are you doing tomorrow I don't know what are you doing tomorrow you remember that and then you know you hang out it's time to go sleep no you hang up first remember no you no no no you hang up first no you hang up first remember that Jesus is saying I want it like that again I want it like that again but we got to get some stuff taken out of our lives got some junk in there there's some stuff in there oh come on God you know what no no no wait wait wait wait then when you're in love it does it doesn't matter it doesn't matter Jesus it can be pork and beans from here on out right we don't need we don't need steak we've got Jesus remember that no lordy this is great this is just just like this perfect and he's saying let's do that again we need to take out the stuffed Church in our lives it's something that nobody can do for you I've got to do it for me you've got to do it for you before the Lord Lord you got to rip this at ma eye I mentioned that old saying a moment ago but it's in my head ringing because where I'm at right now in reading some books I'm reading a book by CS Lewis and another book by Ravi Zacharias right now and and I love the fact both of them wanted to saying the same thing so CS Lewis talks about God will not allow Sleeping Dogs to lie in other words he's gonna he's gonna get in the mess he's gonna get in the mix and shake it all up and I think I mentioned this on Sunday but CS Lewis talks about he would never want to tell his mother that he had a toothache because if his mother knew he took did a cube she would take him to the doctors or to the dentist and the dentist would poke the bad tooth and all the other teeth trying to find out if there's something wrong with all the other teeth and he said that dentist was not willing to just let sleeping dogs lie he's gonna stir him up somehow that Dennis was gonna find something wrong and ravi zacharias mentions the same thing and how jesus when he comes into a life he's he's not gonna stop on you he's gonna keep going he's gonna keep working in your life listen new believers you should be encouraged by that Oh pass through this I just man I accepted the Lord last week and I just thought that's it and two days later the old man came back in a rage of course he did the Bible says do you got a reckon that old guy dead you got to tell him to get back where he belongs that your new creation in Christ you got to preach that guy out of your face the old man by the way so you're looking at me I'm nothing about you I'm talking about your old nature Express is one your old nature the old person comes back really quick if you noticed just pops right back up and you got to preach that guy back to where he belongs I've got to put him in his place and the beautiful thing is God the Holy Spirit will not stop working on your life that way so how do we do that what's happening when that takes place James chapter 1 James 1 verse 12 says this James 1:12 listen everybody boy do we know this blessed is the man who endures temptation we could just stop right there blessed is the man that puts up a fight against the flesh I don't need Satan to bug me I don't need I don't need anybody to trouble my life you're looking at the biggest trouble in my life I am my biggest problem but the thing is if I just dig down and hang on to Jesus he's promised that he's given me the power to fight temptation temptations not a sin hang in there and fight for when he is has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him notice you love Jesus yep then you're gonna fight temptations look at verse 13 let no one say when he's tempted I'm tempted by God okay God is not gonna tempt you with dark stuff he doesn't do that it's coming from some other other direction believe me for God cannot be tempted by evil nor does he tempt anyone but each one that is let's make it personal each one of us is tempted when he is drawn away notice first step drawn away so there's notation the temptation happens you entertain it first thing that happens in the negative you're drawn away the word is a hook you know a fishing hook notice when you catch a fish you need to put bait on the hook so the the hook is a hook the bait on the hooks the temptation I'm sure the fish ship never sees a hook and just goes what a dumb fisherman that's just a hook but when the hook is there when the worm dancing on it the fish is going hmm now it looks like that worm is hanging on to a hook but maybe I can bite it in such a way I can kind of work my my fish mouth doesn't say lips but around that hook and get enough of that worm off and I can escape the hook and get the worm so he's thinking about it how can I do this he's starting to go down the wrong path it's starting to be drawn away by sin so drawn away by his own desires I want that thing and enticed now it's burning in his chest verse 15 then when desire is conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death that's how it happens the progression and the more stuff that you and I Harbor in our lives the more opportunity there is for temptation to rise up and ultimately become sin and so God would have us take it out very important before we move on to the second consideration one more verse here Revelation chapter 3 verse 14 revelation 3:14 on this and to the Angel of the church at Laodicea write these things says the Amen the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God that's Jesus himself the creator I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot by the way every Laodicean when Jesus said that understood exactly what he was saying I could wish that you were cold look at that carefully Jesus is saying I wish you were called or hot so then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will vomit you out of my mouth Wow I don't know if you understand and if you if you haven't before heard this you need to recognize this Laodicea is a graphical spot it's at a location where two waters come together and next or near Laodicea is colossi and hierapolis in hierapolis there are something you should look at them online not now look at him later they're still awesome incredible natural hot pools very therapeutic very healing people from Europe still go there today for healing that hot water flowed out of those pools and down in a riverbed and met up at laodicea on the other side near Calais a the very ice-cold waters of those mountains issue forth spring water still to this day ice-cold water Jesus is it's awesome what he's saying he's speaking to Laodicea and allow me to exaggerate it watch me personally he's speaking to Laodicea and he says like this I wish you were cold look at all those people filling up their skins and filling up their buckets with ice-cold water being refreshed oh I wish you could refresh me well like the waters that are coming out of that River near Colossae or wish you're hot oh I could be really comforted and refreshed by that their therapy of that hot pot water oh it's so good but when it came together listen those those two locations when the water came together and met at Laodicea you couldn't drink the water and it smelled kind of like eggs like sulfur and it was terrible and it was polluted and Jesus said I'd spit you out of my mouth why because they allowed things Laodicea did to steal away push Christ away look at verses three to five it says in fact in that day of your fast so your religious duties Israel would always fast they've added fast upon fast by the way you should know that the Jews were only required one fast annually but the religious leadership kept creating fast after fast after fast so in fact in that day of your fast you find pleasure and exploit all your Labor's your employees mistreat them indeed you fast for strife and debate and to strike with the fist of wickedness watch this you will not fast as you do this day to make your voice heard on high verse 5 it is a fast that is this the fast that I've chosen a day for a man to afflict his soul is it to bow down his head like a bulrush and spread out sackcloth and ashes would you call this a fast God is saying to them he's challenging them an acceptable day to the Lord he's saying to them you know what you have done all of this religious stuff you've got all these fasts and why you're fasting you smite your employees those that you associate with your mouth is mean to them you strike at them and yet you're in a fast and you watch this everybody you're saying Israel is saying it doesn't matter how we act it's what we do and our religious X that's what we do in our religious duties as long as we do these religious things we can do and live how everyone live great danger God says this is not a fast it's not gonna work and we want to watch out for that he said Jack that can't be possible in our lives I'm just saying that anytime we get caught up in religious performance that doesn't alter who we are internally we're running the risk of missing Jesus we're running the risk of becoming religious in practice and God is saying that is not that's not the kind of fast I would dare accept I'll paraphrase this for times sake we need to begin to wrap this up quickly but you remember in Matthew chapter 6 Jesus told the Pharisees he says you know what you bunch of hypocrites you guys fast you do this and that you you do all of these things but you're you're wicked on the inside you do all these things on the outside and on top of it when you fast this is actually if it wasn't so sad to be very funny he said when when new religious leaders fast you get a sad face you've you appeared to everybody that you are fasting jesus said I tell you what when someone is fasting to the Lord they don't go around tell people about it you you wash your face you don't you don't you don't tell people oh it's very grueling following the Lord you know fasting what are you fast and yes I'm fat I didn't want to tell you I'm fasting didn't want to say Jesus says you've had your reward no listen and a fast listen be careful about fast fast throughout the Bible again Israel had one annual fast a year that that was required of them in Scripture but by the time Jesus came along they had stacked one fast requirement upon another what you want to be careful about biblical fasts are usually generated by God revealing something to somebody's heart or an issue takes place you're grieved a biblical fast you don't just say well you know I think it's just time I should take it I'm gonna fast you are struck with concern God shares his heart with your heart and all of a sudden you have to fast you didn't want to eat you just you just want to seek the Lord and that's the kind of fast that God is interested in verses 6 through 7 we see here that God wants us to do the right thing he says in verse 6 is this not the fast that I have chosen oh so here's the fast that God wants to loose the bonds of wickedness Wow to undo heavy burdens to let the oppressed go free and that you break every yoke is it not to you to share your bread with the hungry and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out this is the kind of that God's talking about when you see the naked that you cover him and not hide your face from your own flesh God says I don't want to hear it I don't talk about food I want to talk about doing the right thing he goes this is this is the results of the right kind of fast isn't that precious God so just do the right thing Israel you've missed it you didn't do this he wants us to go about doing the right thing and you guys know this church you guys are awesome but when we decide I'm gonna do the right thing that God opens up doors for you and opportunities I'm gonna I'm gonna honor Jesus and whatever watch what God does he opens things up to you and for you again the book of James chapter 1 verse 27 says pure and undefiled religion before God and the father is this here it is everybody listen this is true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ visit orphans to orphans where do I visit an orphan you know what in a sense in a sense there's there's orphans think of think about how many kids today don't have dad's or mom's or one parent and it's not going well but you know what there's orphans you can find orphans think of it Jesus the Bible God is saying visit orphans and widows in their trouble and keep yourself unspotted from the world don't be like the world look for widows and love on them and find a child that is in need of being led and that sweet I don't know about that I just go to church every day of the week that's pathetic don't go to church go do something good we're to do the right thing Israel did not do the right thing and God called them out on it the fourth thing is in verses 8 through 9 he says regarding the Lord that we need to watch for him what to show up and to be active in our lives in verse 8 then your light shall break forth like the morning so everybody watch this God is saying do the right thing and you can be expectant listen do the right thing watch me move God is saying Christian obey me and watch this then your light shall break forth like the morning your healing shall spring forth speedily and your righteousness that is your right doing shall go before you the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard then you shall call and the Lord will answer you shall cry and he will say Here I am this is God's Word church can you all hear me this is God's Word saying to the believers do the right thing and you can expect me to move in your life do the right thing you can expect me to answer I like that confidence in your walk because you're doing the right thing see pastor I thought we're not saved by works we're not saved by works but because we know the Lord Jesus and we are saved we get to do good works those good deeds those good works that righteousness is an awesome way to live you become I like to look at you this way I'd like to look at us this way as we walk with them you become resilient to the attacks and critiques or the the things that people would say it doesn't matter because you're doing it for Jesus you're living for him as well what about this woman it doesn't matter doing this for the Lord and and it's awesome it's encouraging when we follow him God shows up in a great way it's almost as though God is saying to us this is a spiritual law you do you follow me and I'm gonna bless your life how does he bless I don't know it's however he decides the Bible says in psalm 32 verse 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go I will guide you with my eye in that a great verse I'm going to instruct you and I'm gonna teach you in the way that you should go and I will guide you with my I love that because there's other verses in scripture you know by the way the next verse after that he says I want to teach you I want to guide you to my eye the next verse after that says do not be like the horse or the mule where you gotta yank on the reins and be tough with it God God wants to guide us with his eye how gentle is that how sweet is that and he wants us to follow him Matthew 6:33 great great verse of assurance seek first the kingdom of God this is great for young people great for all of us but seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you God is gonna lead you in life verses 9 to 12 we need to let the light out I think God would be saying to us in verse 9 if you if you take away the yoke from your midst the noose around your neck the pointing of the finger and the speaking or the speaking of wickedness if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul then your light shall dawn in the darkness look at that your your light shall dawn in the darkness and your darkness shall be as the noonday this is a remarkable promise of God that the Holy Spirit working in your life is going to use you and I personally believe now church this is one this is my opinion on this when it talks about that your light is going to shine even in darkness your light will shine I personally believe and it's been my experience that one of the meanings of that verse is this as a human we have a tendency to get fixated on our own situation never a good thing but when we begin to allow ourselves to be used by God God will always use you this way he will put you in the place of helping other people the moment that happens you start to experience a strange release and a departure from a burden that is on you and that burden on you is you the burden that's on you is this thought of you know what things haven't been going well and I lost my job or I lost that person or this thing or that or whatever it may be or whatever and what's the fix for that what's the fix get involved with Jesus in the lives of other people and when you begin to do that the darkness that's around you becomes light try it and see he just shows up and he begins to do that wonderful work I think it's awesome it says in verse down to verse 11 listen to this the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in drought and strengthen your bones you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail verse 12 those from among you shall build the old waste places you shall rise up the foundations of many generations and you shall be called the repairer of the breach the restorer of streets to dwell in what a remarkable promise all of this is God's Word that when we follow him these kinds of things transpire and take place and then finally he ends saying to us in verses 13 to 14 and in this we need to be a blessing to the Lord Jesus he says in verse 13 if you then turn away your foot from breaking that the word is meaning to break if you if you turn away from breaking the Sabbath from doing your pleasure on my holy day in other words put God first and called the Sabbath a delight the holy day of the Lord honorable and shall honor him not doing your own ways nor finding your own pleasure nor speaking your own words then you shall delight yourself in the Lord and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father the mouth of the Lord has spoken this what amazing amazing word father tonight we ask you Lord God this is so basic this is almost a tuneup kind of a chapter for us Lord tonight we're here and we we know the name of Jesus we know the word we know that your Bible has proclaimed to us and we've responded that Christ died on the cross for our sins rose again from the grave that Jesus is the Living Lord and Savior and Lord we worship you we sing and praise you we have Bibles we come to study we we honor you Lord but father all of us tonight can take away from this admonition this exhortation from Isaiah that we need to be a little bit more careful have we reached out to the widows that are in our path is there some widowed woman or man that we can reach out to chances are I believe Lord there is in each and every one of our lives is there a child in need of a role model father forgive us tonight for at times being so busy and in such ways Lord that I don't think all of our busyness is of you Lord that you would speak to us individually that we might search our hearts and remove those things that have distracted us things that might be hypocrisy perhaps Lord an attitude we might have had where how come God we've been tempted to think or ask or to speak Lord as a church we pray tonight that we would have a renewed passion to just Love You Lord to rededicate our lives tonight to that first love to this evening proclaim the simplicity of being a Christian it's simple to love God and to love others Lord I pray that you would in your mercy in in your grace that you'd fill us afresh with the power of your Holy Spirit Lord received from us a heart of renewal and every dedication father we praise you and thank you for Jesus and until you come for us as individuals or as for the church Lord may there be a renewed sense of simple love for Jesus maybe all about Jesus maybe for Jesus may we live our lives as we grow under your grace of knowledge that's praising for he alone is worthy amen god bless you let's sing

Channel: Real Life with Jack Hibbs

Views: 23,284

Rating: 4.9022803 out of 5

Keywords: Holy spirit, Christianity, bible, Christian, god, sanctification, jesus christ, jack hibbs, prophet Isaiah, gospel, the book of Isaiah, Isaiah, messiah, holiness, salvation, old testament, old testament prophets, old testament books of the bible, biblical prophet, bible study, calvary chapel

Id: 3DJVgkyipGM

Length: 50min 11sec (3011 seconds)

Published: Thu Sep 13 2018