Isaiah 35 – 11.6.09

Isaiah 35 is one of if not my #1 favorite chapter in this great book of Bible prophecy. That probably has something to do with the fact that the Lord blessed me with its truth and prophetic significance as I was reading through my Bible not long after I had gotten serious about studying and preaching God's word.

The chapter gives us a glimpse at some of the blessings of the kingdom that Jesus Christ will establish when He returns to this earth in a future day. Read through these 10 verses, then we'll note 4 of the blessings of the millennial kingdom.

Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

1. A NEW GEOGRAPHY

The chapter says that the deserts will blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The parched ground will become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water. Lebanon (inland mountains, forests), Carmel (hills, seacoast), and Sharon (plains, seacoast) will become even more glorious and excellent.

I don't know about you, but I've often been amazed at the glory and beauty and grandeur of God's creation – on this earth that is under a curse! On this earth that Romans 8 says groans and travails in pain waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can't imagine how beautiful and how perfect this place will be when that curse is lifted and creation is restored to Eden-like conditions.

Ezekiel 36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.

2. A NEW BODY

Weak hands will be strengthened; feeble knees confirmed; blind eyes opened; deaf ears unstopped; lame legs made to leap; the tongue of the dumb made to sing. Again, the Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), but what a day that will be when we exchange this vile body for one made like to the glorious resurrection body of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20-21)! What a day that will be when this corruptible puts on incorruption and this mortal puts on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)!

In Christ's millennial kingdom, we'll have no need for walking canes, reading glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, hospital beds, medicine cabinets, vitamin supplements, or doctor's offices. We'll have been made whole by the Great Physician.

3. A WAY OF HOLINESS

As Christians, there are 3 great enemies with whom we do battle on a daily basis: the world, the flesh, and the devil. According to Isaiah 35, all 3 will be eliminated and excluded from Christ's millennial kingdom.

Verse 9 says no lion (1 Peter 5:8) shall be there. Revelation 20 says that Satan will be bound for the duration of the 1,000 years. Praise the Lord! Then verse 8 speaks of a way of holiness, and it says the unclean shall not pass over it (the world). But in addition to that, the wayfaring men (you and me), though fools, SHALL NOT ERR THEREIN.

Today, I am a child of God. My soul is saved, but my flesh is not. No matter how hard I try, I constantly err (Romans 7:18-23). But when Jesus Christ returns my son-ship will be made manifest (Romans 8:19; 1 John 3:1-2) and I will receive the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body (Romans 8:23; Ephesians 1:13-14). Jesus Christ will deliver me from the body of this death (Romans 7:24-25) and walking on the way of holiness in Christ's millennial kingdom I couldn't sin if I tried!

4. EVERLASTING JOY

Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The wonders of the kingdom that Jesus Christ will return and establish: a new geography, a new body, a way of holiness, everlasting joy, world-wide peace – and more! But Isaiah 35:9-10 says it's only for the ransomed and redeemed. The glories of this kingdom are reserved only for those who have submitted to the righteousness of Jesus Christ and been saved from sin by His marvelous grace.

If you're part of that company, then REJOICE (1 Peter 1:3-6) and busy yourself in the service of THE KING (Revelation 19:11-16).

World Peace – 11.3.09

If the Bible is true (and it is), then there is a coming day in which the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this earth. Upon His return, He will destroy His enemies; He will establish His kingdom; He will sit on the throne of His father David at Jerusalem; He will right all that is wrong; and He will accomplish what no man has ever been able to accomplish (or ever will) – He will bring WORLDWIDE PEACE! And we will rule and reign with Him for 1,000 years.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

That's why it's important for us to place our hope and your faith not in political figures but in the Son of God. Recently, our president was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. It was openly acknowledged, even by our liberal news media, that the prize was not given as a reward for anything Mr. Obama has done but rather in hopes that the award will help him to accomplish something that would one day make him deserving of it. So they gave him the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing "hope to the international community," but the fact of the matter is that he doesn't have anything else to bring. Men can soothe their hearts with cries of peace (Jeremiah 6:14) as long as they want, but until this world repents of its wickedness (Isaiah 57:21) and gives glory to God in the highest (Luke 2:14) there will not be peace on earth.

Isaiah 2:1-4 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

That last bit about beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruninghooks is the theme of a statue at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City – and we all know what a wonderful job that organization has done at achieving that goal since its formation in 1945. Not surprisingly, they have lost the truth of the passage by lifting it out of its context (which is what always happens when you do so). The fact of the matter is that no one will start making farming equipment out of their weapons until the Lord comes to judge the nations; the mountain of God's house is exalted and established; and all people flow unto Jerusalem so that Jesus Christ can teach us of His ways.

Now, worldwide peace is not the only characteristic of this 1,000 year kingdom that is to come. Isaiah 35 gives us a one chapter summary of the glories of that kingdom. We'll take a look at that next time.

PRAISE THE LORD, I'M ON THE WINNING SIDE!

Attributes of Antichrist – 10.30.09

Bro. James brought a very interesting lesson last night on the person of the antichrist (click here to listen). Amidst the solid Bible teaching and the many reasons why it's NOT Barack Obama, there was a very practical note that really stuck out to me. Thought I'd pass it along.

2 Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The Bible teaches that the beast, in following the footsteps of his father (Isaiah 14), will EXALT HIMSELF. What 2 Thessalonians 2:4 teaches us is self-exaltation equals self-opposition.

The verse does not say that by exalting himself he opposes God. The verse says that he opposeth AND exalteth HIMSELF. By exalting himself he opposes himself.

Now, the reason that self-exaltation is also self-opposition is found in Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Compare the antichrist to the true Christ. Throughout the Bible we read of how the antichrist promotes and exalts and worships himself. And we also read of his ultimate end and how he will be DESTROYED by the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Daniel 7:8-10 …behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him…

Daniel 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

On the other hand our Savior humbled himself and became obedient unto death…Philippians 2:9-10 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Let THIS MIND be in you. Don't fall into the devil's snare of opposing yourself (2 Timothy 2:25-26). Humble yourself. Exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. Live for others. Either that, or manifest the attributes of antichrist.

Ecclesiastes 7:17 – 10.26.09

Here's one that I didn't preach but had ready just in case…

Ecclesiastes 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

1. Every man has an appointment with death (Hebrews 9:27; Romans 5:12).

2. Nobody knows when that appointment is.

3. The timing of that appointment is ultimately up to God (Ecclesiastes 8:8; Revelation 9:6).

4. There are some things one can do that can have an effect on the timing of that appointment (Ecclesiastes 7:17; Psalm 55:23; Proverbs 11:19).

I. OBEY AND HONOR YOUR PARENTS – Ephesians 6:1-3

A. Obey (your actions)

1. To comply with the orders or instructions of a superior; to do that which is commanded or required and to forbear doing that which is prohibited; to submit to the government of; to be ruled by; to submit to the direction or control of authority.

2. It is the duty of your parents, preacher, teacher, etc. to tell you what to do. It is your duty to obey.

B. Honor (your attitude)

1. To revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and perform relative duties to; to reverence; to manifest the highest veneration for; to entertain the most exalted thoughts of; to dignify; to raise to distinction or notice; to elevate in rank or station; to exalt

2. God requires both obedience and honor.

3. Rebellion will get you nowhere but an early grave.

II. FEAR GOD – Proverbs 3:1-2; Proverbs 3:13-16; Proverbs 9:10-11; Proverbs 10:27

1. It is a holy awe or reverence of God and his laws, which springs from a just view and real love of the divine character, leading the subjects of it to hate and shun everything that can offend such a holy being, and inclining them to aim at perfect obedience.

2. It is a RESPECT for God's holiness and a RECOGNITION of His judgment that RESULTS in my desire to please Him, which leads to length of days.

III. HATE COVETOUSNESS – Proverbs 28:16

A. It is an inordinate desire for the possessions of another (Exodus 20:17). It is making a god out of stuff (Colossians 3:5).

B. We must beware that we're not deceived into thinking this life is all about the pursuit of stuff – or that it will make us happy (Luke 12:15).

C. Covetousness stems from a heart that is not satisfied with God's provision (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-8).

Play the Men – 10.23.09

The children of Ammon saw that they stank before David b/c of what they had done to his servants (see the opening of chapter 10) so they hired 33,000 men to fight against Israel. Joab goes out to battle and finds himself surrounded by a strong and valiant enemy. Not sure if he has what it takes to defeat them, he divides the host with Abishai…

2 Samuel 10:11-12 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.

… and it seemed good to the Lord to grant the Israelites the victory.

As Christian men, we must recognize that we are in a real battle with a real enemy; that there is much at stake (Ephesians 6:10-12; 1 Peter 5:8) and that we have a duty to our God, to our families, and to our churches. And in order to stand firm in this fight, there are times when we will have to take courage and PLAY THE MEN.

I. FROM THE BIBLE, WHAT "A MAN" IS SUPPOSED TO BE/DO

A. A hard worker who provides for the needs of His family

1. Work is not a part of the curse. God gave man a job to do in the garden (Genesis 2:15).

2. Hard labor was made a part of the curse for man's benefit (Genesis 3:17-19). A man is not afraid to break a sweat, get his hands dirty, and go out and break his back to put food on the table (Psalm 104:23).

3. Nothing worth having comes in the absence of hard work. It is good to work with one's hands (Ephesians 4:28). In all labor there is profit (Proverbs 14:23).

4. A man that won't work and provide for his family is worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8) and is not fit to be in fellowship with God's people (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12).

B. Protect, nurture, and love his family

1. A real man is a gentleman. He loves his wife and isn't ashamed to admit it or to show it. He follows Christ's example in giving of himself for her (Ephesians 5:25-33).

2. He treats her with honor as the weaker vessel (1 Peter 3:7).

3. He diligently strives to please his wife (1 Corinthians 7:33).

4. He doesn't leave the child rearing completely to the wife, but takes an active role in the raising and disciplining of children (Ephesians 6:4).

C. Leads his family

1. Being the head of the home does not mean that the man is superior to the man anymore than Christ's submission to the Father makes Him inferior to the Father (1 Corinthians 11:3).

2. It does mean that he is ultimately responsible for the spiritual, physical, emotional welfare of his family and will give account to God for his handling of that responsibility (Hebrews 11:17).

3. A man should be willing to make the final decision in a given matter and must take initiative to lead his family in the right direction.

II. WHY IT WILL TAKE A REAL MAN TO SERVE GOD

A. To do right despite the inevitable opposition

1. Self-denial is essential in following Christ (Luke 9:23; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27)

2. We are commanded to endure hardness (2 Timothy 2:3)

3. We are promised persecution (2 Timothy 3:12; Matthew 5:11-12)

B. To focus on what's truly important

1. Too many men don't do what they're supposed to do because they're too distracted with toys, hobbies, games, sins, the pursuit of material wealth, etc.

2. A real man will establish the proper priorities in his life (2 Timothy 2:4; Matthew 6:33).

C. To keep doing right no matter what

1. Men don't quit (1 Corinthians 16:13).

2. God is searching for a man to stand in the gap (Ezekiel 22:30).

Henry Varley once said, "The world has yet to see what god will do with and for and through and in and by the man who is full and wholly consecrated to Him."

When DL Moody heard that, he answered in his heart, "By the grace of God, I will be that man."

What It Means To Be A Christian – 10.21.09

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

I. A BELIEVER ON JESUS CHRIST

Acts 11:21 – These people had turned from all else and believed on Jesus Christ ALONE for the salvation of their soul

A. Someone who denies the deity of Christ is not a Christian (1 John 2:22; 1 John 4:3; 2 John 1:7-11)

B. Someone who is trusting their works – on any level – is not a Christian (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 3:19-28; Galatians 2:21)

II. A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST

Acts 11:26 – They were called Christians. The fact that they believed on Jesus Christ was evident in their day to day lives (assembling, learning the scriptures, exhorting one another, preaching the word (vv. 19-26).

One cannot be a Christian without being saved, but one can be saved without being a Christian. A Christian is a saved person who lives like it.

This is what the world needs. There are enough religious people who claim to be Christians and aren't. And there are enough saved people who claim the name of Christ but bear no resemblance to their Heavenly Father.

Galatians 1:4 – The Bible never says that Jesus came to save me from hell. The Bible says Jesus came to save me from my sin, so I could be delivered from this present evil world. Missing hell and gaining heaven is a glorious blessing that's included.

Ephesians 2:8-10 – I am not saved by my works, but I am saved in order to do good works. Religion gets this backward. Religion says grace > good works > salvation. The Bible says grace > salvation > good works.

Titus 2:11-14 – Again, the grace of God means I have a blessed hope of entering heaven, but in the meantime it teaches me to live right. Jesus Christ gave himself to redeem us from iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.

2 Timothy 1:19-22 – Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ (Christian) depart from iniquity. Why did the angel tell Mary to call His name Jesus? "For he shall save his people FROM THEIR SINS" (Matthew 1:21). A Christian must depart from iniquity / flee youthful lusts AND follow after righteousness. Because righteousness is elusive (I have not attained so I press toward the mark, Philippians 3:12-14) and iniquity is in pursuit of me. If I'm standing still, I'm losing ground. I am not a Christian.

Purpose In Your Heart – 10.19.09

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel was an intelligent, talented, attractive young man who was taken away from his parents, his people, and his temple by a nation who gave him a new name, taught him a new language, and placed him in the court of a heathen king. Yet he stayed clean and pure and true to God throughout his entire life because early in his life he made a decision not to defile himself.

Likewise, if we are going to be blameless and harmless as the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom we shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15), we must recognize that is not going to happen by accident or default. If we want to be used of God (2 Timothy 2:19-22), we must purpose in our hearts not to defile ourselves with…

I. Sexual immorality

Hebrews 13:4

God created marriage and is the designer of the blessings that go with it (i.e. the physical relationship between a husband wife, Genesis 1:28). But He has established some very definite boundaries in which that relationship can be enjoyed – one husband and one wife committed to each other for their entire lives – and gives a sure and certain promise of judgment to any who step outside of those boundaries in any way.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

To step outside of the boundaries God has established is to sin against one's own body. Again, if you get involved with something God has said to save for marriage, you're only going to get hurt. So FLEE fornication. The best way to keep from falling off a cliff is to stay away from the edge. The devil would have you get as close to the edge as possible, telling you all the while that you'll never "go too far," and all so he can push you off and laugh when you crash on the jagged rocks below.

1 Corinthians 7:1-2

God's idea for making sure that you keep yourself pure is HANDS OFF.

Romans 13:14

Make no provision for the flesh. Don't pack a lunch for lust. You CAN'T handle the temptation. If you think you can, that just proves how close you are to falling over the edge of that cliff (1 Corinthians 10:12).

II. Alcohol

Proverbs 20:1

You're stupid ("not wise") if you think drinking is cool. You're stupid ("not wise") if you think one drink won't hurt. You're stupid ("not wise") if you think it's OK as long as you don't get drunk. The devil laughs at your ignorance.

Proverbs 23:29-32

It's pretty hard to drink something you're not even supposed to look at. But everybody's doing it…it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. But they'll make fun of me if I don't…it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. But I know when to stop…it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder.

III. Music

1 Corinthians 15:33

Music is a powerful thing, and you're deceived by the devil if you think the music you listen to doesn't have a major effect on your life.

Ephesians 5:18-19; Colossians 3:16

A Christian has no business listening to anything but music that glorifies God and encourages him/her to do what's right. A Christian has no business singing anything but music that glorifies God and encourages him/her to do what's right.

IV. Money

1 Timothy 6:9-10

Money is not the root of all evil – it's necessary for love. But if you LOVE money, if you make it your goal in life to get rich, then here's what you have to look forward to: temptations; snares; foolish and hurtful lusts; drowning in destruction and perdition; piercing yourself through with many sorrows.

Riches are uncertain (1 Timothy 6:17). They make themselves wings and fly away as an eagle toward heaven (Proverbs 23:5). So labor not to be rich (Proverbs 23:4). The richest man in the world said it was empty and meaningless (Proverbs 30:8-9; Ecclesiastes).

Life isn't about what you can get (Luke 12:15). It's about God and the people He puts in your life and relationships and memories and making a difference in eternity. So invest your time and effort into those things – not making another dollar – because godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

So work hard and provide for yourself. Work hard and provide for your family. If God gives you riches then praise Him for it and use that money for Him. But don't be deceived and defiled by the love of money.

It's important that you make up your mind about these things ahead of time. Daniel would have never survived in Babylon had he not purposed in his heart from the outset that he would not allow himself to be defiled.