Skip to content God's Universal Call: Insights from Isaiah 65 Jan 16 · 15 min ...more
God's Universal Call: Insights from Isaiah 65
January 16, 2025 · 15 min
A deep dive into Isaiah 65's message on the rebellion and redemption, and how it echoes inclusive invitation to salvation.
Series Stand on the Word - Video On Demand January 16, 2025 · 15 min · Stand on the Word - Video On Demand
A deep dive into Isaiah 65's message on the rebellion and redemption, and how it echoes inclusive invitation to salvation. ...more Show the full description Show less A deep dive into Isaiah 65's message on the rebellion and redemption, and how it echoes inclusive invitation to salvation.
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The Promise of a New Creation 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. It is still very early. The sun is not yet up here in our nation's capital, but I trust it will be. Verse 17 of chapter 65 of the book of0:22 Isaiah, which, Isaiah chapter 65 is our focus today. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.0:34 As we look at Isaiah 65, we are in the final 2 chapters of this pivotal book of prophecy, which directs us to the millennial kin kingdom and on into eternity. That's what0:46 we're looking at in these last couple of chapters. In these final chapters, god responds to the people's plea that we've been looking at in chapter 63 and 64. And as we'll read, god's response was0:57 probably not what they wanted to hear. Remember that this prophecy is focused on the nation Israel. Word is directly to them, and it it's as they were coming out of captivity,1:09 but but that is a type, a shadow of what is and what is what will unfold. So we have to look at this these prophecies really in1:21 in 3 horizons. What was immediate, the intermediate, and then the final fulfillment which comes, in the millennial kingdom. Verse 1 chapter 65, I was sought1:33 by those who did not ask for me. I was found by those who did not seek me. I said, here I am. Here I am to a nation that did not call that that that was not1:45 called by my name. I have stretched out my hands all day long to a rebellious people who walk in a way that is not good according to their own thoughts. Okay. This is pointing1:57 directly to the gospel invitation that was open to all Gentiles, that sought the lord and he allowed them to be2:09 found by him. In fact, he says, here I am. Now this is in contrast with Israel who had stated in their plea to God that we are your people.2:20 God says he reached out and he invited them, but they were rebellious and they chose evil. Paul quotes this passage in Roman Romans 10 as he discussed the universal call to salvation2:33 and how in part it was to provoke Israel to jealousy bringing them back to God. That's God's purpose. Right? For again, underscore for those who think that the church has2:45 replaced Israel and god has done with Israel, you're not reading the the bible. You're not in the word of god because god's word does not say that. It says the opposite. Then as the lord does, he provides the basis for2:57 his statement here. Verse 3, I mean, he he leveled this charge, and now he brings the the evidence. So people who provoke me to anger continue to my face, who sacrifice3:09 in the gardens and burn incense on the altars of brick. Right? That's their idolatry. Who sit among the graves and spend the night in the tombs, who eat swine's flesh3:20 and the broth of abominable things is in their vessels, who say, keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than thou. These are smoke in my nostrils,3:33 an irritant, a fire that burns all day, their hypocrisy. Here's here's what they did in response to his stretching out his hands and hit to to god's initiation to reach3:44 them. They blatantly provoked god with their idolatry, their sorcery, and their really, their entanglement with demonic3:56 activity. They rejected god's law. Swine were sacrificed to the idols, and then they would eat it as a part of the ritual. I mean, isn't it interesting that what god has called us4:08 to, the devil calls us from, and what god calls us from, the devil calls us to? He's the polar opposite. There really is not. And this is something that that that this is the great deception4:20 of our day that somehow there's this middle ground that, well, I don't wanna be, you know, I'm just gonna be in the middle. You know? I'm I'm I'm not we don't need the religion, and and we're4:32 not gonna do evil. There's no middle ground. There's no deep spiritualized zone. Either you are for God or you're against him. That's what Jesus said. Either you gather or you scatter. And4:44 then it's the hypocrisy. They continue to go through the rituals of worshiping God, But instead of their sacrifices being as a sweet aroma, which we read4:55 that the burnt offerings were, it was an irritant to god. See, god's not god is not interested in ritual. God has entered in in interested in5:07 relationship based upon the righteousness, not of ours, but of his son, Jesus Christ, that we're clothed in his righteousness. Verse 6, behold, it is5:19 written before me, I will not keep silent, but will repay, even repay into their bosom. Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together, says the lord, who have burned incense on the mountains5:31 and blasphemed me on the hills. Therefore, I will measure their former work into their bosom. The sin had been growing from generation to generation, and payment5:43 with compound interest was coming in the way of judgment. And and, again, we we see this theme throughout scripture that, you know, do not do not think that5:55 and and I think this is a message for us today. Do not think that god's mercy and long suffering is approval of sin nor is it6:07 the indifference to our sin. God is is merciful and but there's coming a point that he will not keep silent. He will repay6:19 into their bosom, meaning it the the judgment will be upon them. Verse 8, thus says the lord, as the new wine is found in the cluster6:31 and as as and 1 says, do not destroy it for a blessing is in it, so will I do for my servant's sake that I may not destroy them all. I will bring forth descendants from Jacob and6:42 from Judah, an heir of my mountains. My elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. Sharon shall be a fold of flocks in the valley of Achor,6:54 a place for herds to lie down for my people who have sought me. Now this this great verse here, great passage. God's mercy is seen in his judgment as he speaks7:06 to this godly remnant. It's all about a cluster of grapes. So the these grapes were they were bad, but there were a few7:18 good grapes in there. Don't destroy don't throw it all away because there there are some grapes in there that are redeemable that can be used. And so God7:30 will spare for the sake of a remnant. This again underscores that God is not finished specifically to Jewish people. The Gentile church should be grateful and humble7:42 that God has invited us in, and and we should join him in prayer and in our work to see the restoration of his people, Israel. That is coming. It will come, and we need to to pray7:53 into and be a part of of doing that. But grateful that god does recognize a remnant, and I would say that has application to us from a principle that that biblical principle that8:06 even in our nation, as we careen near and potentially off the cliff, that what is preserving this nation is a righteous remnant that does not give8:18 in to the ways of the world. And so do not lose heart. God sees that in his hand that mercy is often extended because of the remnant. Alright. Verses, 11 through8:29 16, the lord is speaking to the judgment that will pursue those who were people of god in name only, contrasted with the blessing that will be upon those who serve him. He8:41 sees these things. Now, you know, we may often think, well, you know what? As David says, why do the righteous or why do the why do the wicked prosper? Well, sometimes we get8:53 disheartened. You know, there are those that go through the motions, but they're not serving the lord. Leave that to the lord. Leave it to the lord. Look at verse 11. But you are those who9:05 forsake the lord, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for Gad, and who furnish a drink offering for many. Therefore, I will number you for9:17 the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter because when I called, you did not answer. When I spoke, you did not hear, but did evil before my eyes and chose that in which I do not delight.9:29 Therefore, says the lord god, behold my servant shall eat, but you shall be hungry. Behold, my servant shall drink, but you shall be thirsty. Behold, my servant shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed. Behold,9:41 my servant shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart and wail for grief of spirit. You shall leave your name as a curse to my chosen, for the lord god will slay you and call9:53 his servants by another name so that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth. And he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth because of10:05 the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hidden from my eyes. Now verses 17 through 25, the prophet Isaiah is directed specifically these10:17 words are specifically to the millennial kingdom, which precedes the eternal new heavens and earth. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and10:29 the former shall not be remembered or come to mind, but be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing and her people a joy. I will10:40 rejoice in Jerusalem and joy in my people. The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her nor the voice of crying. Now this clearly has not happened yet. That's why this is in the10:52 millennial kingdom. This is to come. Verse 21, they shall build houses and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build in another inhabit. They shall not plant in another eat.11:04 For as the days of a tree, so shall the days of my people and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain nor bring forth children for trouble, for they shall be11:16 the descendants of the blessed of the lord and their offspring with them. There there will be safety, security, and permanence. Now this is this is the millennial11:28 kingdom sin sin is bound for a season, and we see that it's just really interesting when you see the description of what the millennial reign of Christ will be like.11:41 It's amazing what would happen if sin were restrained. And that is the mission of the church empowered by the holy spirit right now. In fact, we read that in11:52 Thessalonians that as long as the 1 who restrains is here, the the the son of perdition, the the son, the antichrist, that spirit that is already at work is12:04 restrained by the presence of the holy spirit through the church. And and so I would argue that as we see evil coming, it it is going to happen. It's12:16 going to spread, but it doesn't have to have to happen today if the church if believers being filled empowered by the Holy Spirit were living out the mission that the church12:28 has. We would be restraining evil. And we see the effects of that when evil is restrained in the millennial kingdom, safety, security, and permanence.12:40 They'll be living longer. They'll be secure. They won't have their things taken from them. It will be a great time preceding the eternal12:52 kingdom of God. Verse 24, it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer. And while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together. The lion13:03 shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt and destroy in all my holy mountain, says the lord. Even the animal kingdom will be at peace,13:16 and the the world, creation itself, will no longer groan under the weight of the sin of mankind. That's what we have for to to look forward to and and,13:28 you know, we need to be praying into and join God in what he is doing. Father, we thank you for your word and this word of encouragement of what is to come.13:40 And we pray, Lord God, that you would, through the Holy Spirit, open our eyes to see this moment in which we are living. Lord, that you have entrusted to13:52 us that we might join you in what you're doing. Praying, Lord, for the fulfillment of your promises. And and and, Lord, strengthen us in our walk with you, and give us joy14:04 and peace. Lord, even as we see as a precursor to the kingdom becoming the fulfillment in the physical, lord, we walk in the spiritual today, and may we walk in the joy and the peace that14:16 comes from knowing you. We pray and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for being with me this morning. Until next time, keep standing on the word.14:27 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at frc dot org slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you14:39 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:10 The Promise of a New CreationComments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
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