Sermon Central
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We Have Freedom! What Is Our Response? Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Jul 4, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Study of the book of Isaiah, Chapter 9. On Independence Day 2010, we compare the issues Isaiah had in the people he was living amongst, and how America is seeing the very same challenges. Our response, as believers of Christ, must be to follow the Lord
We Have Freedom! What is Our Response?
(Independence Day, 2010)
Introduction
- Today, we celebrate our nation’s birth; as well as look forward …
- Title: We Have Freedom! (So, What is America’s Response?)
- God is calling us to respond; and His people we must obey Him: Always
- On Wed night, we discussed the response of God’s people to His word
- Importance to understand the mindset here (Read verses Isaiah 9:9-10)
- We have a revelation of a prophecy of Hope to be given to us
- Sadly though, the response from the people contains pride and arrogance
-- The people proclaim that the bricks have fallen down, but we’ll rebuild
-- The fig trees are taken out (food & shade), so we’ll just plant cedar
- The pride seeping out of these verses is immense and we have to see this to grasp the impact of God’s response
-- Prov 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
- APP: When the Lord speaks to us, our response has to be to move; we must respond to changing our own course (most important app)
- So, we see word being sent; but nothing in their lives changes
- Have they not seen God’s power? Have they not seen God’s strength?
- Were these same people brought from captivity by God’s mercy?
- QUOTE: Abraham Lincoln said almost 150 years ago: “We’ve grown in numbers and wealth and power as no other nation has grown…We’ve vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our own hearts that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient…, too proud to pray to the God that made us.” (p. 80, as quoted in “America, Return to God”; edited by Thomas Wang)
- This morning, I hope we can leave here with a renewed sense of purpose
- Our country needs the Lord; today more so than ever
- It is God’s people who will impact it & set the example to follow
- Stand and Read Isaiah 9:13-21 / Pray
Point 1 – No Vision brings Confusion
- There are several things to see here; prayerfully we can see ourselves in it
- The people were experiencing confusion; a sense of no direction
- V16 says “Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray” … and V19 repeats this same confusion and says “… and the people will be fuel for the fire; no one will spare his brother.”
- The confusion and anarchy here is paramount that we grasp and understand
- Without direction, without vision and purpose, success is impossible
- This confusion Isaiah writes of is the cause of one thing: poor leadership
APPLICATION:
- Hear me, don’t miss this: it is not a matter of Republican or Democrat
- No pastor of any church should EVER tell someone how to vote
- Don’t miss: But, it is a matter of understanding that everyone has a leader
- 20 years of military service has taught me that everyone has a boss
- Who that person follows guides their own direction and choices
- And this is what we have to focus in on and observe; then choose to follow
- Understand your own morals/values; choose a leader who represents you
-- The Bible is the plum line of our lives; it is the standard that we have
-- If our lives do not match God’s Word; then we must change our lives
-- So, if your beliefs line up with Biblical truth – the choice is simple
- Isaiah speaks of mass confusion because there is no order; no discipline
- When you follow God you get Godly direction; when you don’t you get …
- Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
- What is the vision for our nation? What is the vision of “Isaiah’s people”?
- I tell you that if it seems unclear; then confusion and chaos follows
- TRANS: We must listen, hear, and respond to God’s calling
Point 2 – Heed the Warning
- The people Isaiah preached too were ignoring the warning signs from God
- When we are about to have a hurricane, we get warnings from everywhere
-- Fisherman are advised to stay in port; residents told to leave, etc
-- The red flags hit the beaches and it is impossible to miss what’s coming
- Isaiah proclaims the warnings here; as believers are commanded to do also
- And the response? V13, “But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.”
