Kingdom Attitudes
(Isaiah 56:1-12)
1. I collect humor, and Jewish jokes are among my favorites.
2. It was a sweltering August day in 1937 when the Cohen brothers entered the posh Dearborn, Michigan, offices of Henry Ford, the car maker. "Mr. Ford," announced Norman Cohen, the eldest of the three. "We have a remarkable invention that will revolutionize the automobile industry."
Ford was skeptical, but he was interested. "We would like to demonstrate it to you in person." They brought Mr. Ford outside and asked him to enter a black automobile parked in front of the building.
Hyman Cohen, the middle brother, opened the door of the car.
"Please step inside, Mr. Ford."
"What!" shouted the tycoon, "Are you crazy? It must be 200 degrees in that car!"
"It is," smiled brother, Max, "but sit down Mr. Ford, push the white button."
Ford pushed the button. All of a sudden a whoosh of freezing air started blowing from vents all around the car, and within seconds the automobile was not only comfortable, it was quite cool.
"This is amazing!" exclaimed Ford. "How much do you want for the patent?"
Norman spoke up, "The price is one million dollars, but there is something else: The name 'Cohen Brothers Air-Conditioning' must be stamped next to the Ford logo!"
"Money is no problem," retorted Ford, "but no way will I have a Jewish name next to my logo on my cars!'
They haggled and compromised, the Cohens' name would be left off. However, their first names would be forever emblazoned upon the Ford console in AC vehicles.
And that is why, even today, you will see those three names clearly printed on the air conditioning control panel: NORM, HI and MAX. [www.nopes.com]
Some Christians discriminate against studying end time prophecy, but it’s all over.
The church and New Testament doctrine are founded not only upon God’s past dealings with Israel, but also his future dealings. If you miss this, you miss much.
Main Idea: We are a preview of God’s Kingdom on earth, and we must embrace Kingdom attitudes. How is your attitude?
I. Living in Light of an Unexpected Return: The Lord Will Come SUDDENLY (1-2)
A. Revelation Suggests that Isaiah 55-56 are a STACKED deck.
1. What do I mean? God planted anchor information he would develop.
2. Revelation 22:17 with Isaiah 55:1
“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
B. The word “salvation” (yeshuah) might be a PLAY on words (Yeshua)
Revelation 22:12, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
C. The consistent attitude: Be READY
1. NT mystery: the coming of Jesus in two phases: his “at any time” coming to the clouds, and his return to the earth 2,520 days after the Antichrist signs a treaty with Israel….{all Israel repents and believes]
2. The ancient Jewish belief is still held by some orthodox jews: when all Israel repents, the Messiah will come…
3. I John 2:28-29, “And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.”
4. Many NT verses echo these words, for example Matthew 3:2; Luke 21:31; Romans 13:11
5. Jesus’ parable of the 10 virgins makes the point (Matthew 25:1-3)
D. Application: Do we keep short ACCOUNTS with the Lord?
• Confession
• Reconciliation
• Good intentions carried out
II. Wanting to Reach Out: The Harvest Includes GENTILES (3-8)
A. FOREIGN believers will not be second rate in the Kingdom
1. That gentiles would come to God in the Millennium was clear
2. That they would have Temple privileges was clear
3. But that, in the church — now, before the Millennium, they would be equal without observing Torah is a mystery
Ephesians 3:6, “This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
4. The first major controversy in the church: do gentiles have to become Jews first in order to be saved? (Acts 15)
5. Answer: No; the church is something different from the Millennium
Romans 14:5-6, “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
B. Eunuchs would have a LEGACY and place in the Temple, too
Revelation 2:16, “’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’”
5. a place] a monument; lit., “a hand.” There seems no reason to doubt that the promise is to be understood literally. An illustration of what is meant is found in 2 Samuel 18:18, where we read that Absalom, in the prospect of dying childless, erected the pillar to his own memory which was known as “Absalom’s hand” (cf. also 1 Samuel 15:12, R.V. marg.). The case of those here spoken of is precisely similar. They have “no son to keep their name in remembrance,” but their memory shall be perpetuated by a monument erected within the Temple walls; and such a memorial, testifying to the esteem of the whole community, is better (and more enduring) than sons and daughters. [Cambridge Bible Commentary]
C. The destiny of the Temple: house of prayer for ALL nations (7)
In Jesus’ day, the School of Shammai resisted the implications of these verses
D. Other SHEEP (8)
John 10:16, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.”
E. Application: Do we accept people UNLIKE us?
Metathesiophobia- Fear of changes.
Xenoglossophobia- Fear of foreign languages.
Xenophobia- Fear of strangers or foreigners.
How do we do at accepting others who are different from us? Taken aback is okay…
III. Discernment: I Must Shun False Teachers, False MESSIAHS (9-12)
It comes as a surprise to some people that many professional clergy do not believe the Bible is true, or they rely on authorities that they believe trump Scripture
…We are born naïve and gullible, but we must get in tune with reality …
A. Watchmen who are BLIND
Luke 6:39-40, “He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.”
B. Dogs who will not BARK
John 10:7-11, “So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
C. Being spiritually GULLIBLE is partly about attitude
You need to be well grounded in doctrine to recognize error… and willing to think
We occasionally offer a series on cults and false religions, but the people who need this instruction most don’t come…
Would you go to a pharmacist who didn’t look at the medicines? Why? Too important. But, somehow, spiritual truth is considered less important.
• I think we have lost a belief in hell
• I think we do not take seriously that wrong beliefs have consequences
• We would rather risk our souls if it means we have to think and learn
• We don’t know the difference between religion and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
