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Three Things About Faith—Lessons from Isaiah

Three Things About Faith—Lessons from Isaiah. Judah’s problems stemmed from a crisis of faith. Five Reasons for America’s Moral Decline.

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Three Things About Faith—Lessons from Isaiah

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  1. Three Things About Faith—Lessons from Isaiah

  2. Judah’s problems stemmed from a crisis of faith.

  3. Five Reasons for America’s Moral Decline • Bill O Reilly Broadcast on Fox News May 27th, 2004: “According to a new Gallup poll, 82 percent of Republicans and 78 percent of Democrats say that moral values in the U.S.A. are only fair or downright poor. 40 years ago, only 33 percent of Americans felt that way.”

  4. Five Reasons for America’s Moral Decline • “First, secular forces have destroyed any rendering of Judeo-Christian philosophy in the public school system. Many teachers are now ordered not to make value judgments on behavior and not to push any specific moral standards. Thus children receive little if any moral guidance in class.”—Bill O’Reilly May 27th, 2004

  5. Five Reasons for America’s Moral Decline • “Second, with the rise of single parent homes, more and more American kids wind up unsupervised for long periods of time, left to the television set or the computer, where harmful material comes at them like rain in a thunderstorm.” Bill O’Reilly May 27th, 2004

  6. Five Reasons for America’s Moral Decline • “Third, major corporations now traffic in sex and violence to an extent never before seen in this country. Americans spend more than $10 billion a year on porn every year. And violent video games gross billions more for corporations.”Bill O’Reilly May 27th, 2004

  7. Five Reasons for America’s Moral Decline • “Fourth, peer pressure to actually reject immoral behavior is virtually non-existent in many places. The military criminals at Abu Ghraib never could have committed their crimes if other soldiers did not look away. The code of silence about bad behavior is an infectious disease among Americans.”Bill O’Reilly May 27th, 2004

  8. Five Reasons for America’s Moral Decline • “And finally, the decline of the Catholic church in America has dramatically harmed the U.S.A. According to a 1958 Gallup poll, 74 percent of American Catholics attended mass every week. Now the number stands at 25 percent. With 65 million members, the Catholic church in America is by far the nation's largest and used to set a moral tone that was taken seriously by society in general.” Bill O’Reilly May 27th, 2004

  9. Five Reasons for America’s Moral Decline • Rejection of Absolute Truth • Breakdown of the Home • Sex and Violence Is Advertised and Heavily Trafficked. • No Pressure in Society to Do the Right Thing. • Americans Are Increasingly Less Religious People.

  10. What Is the Biggest Problem Facing America Today? • 2011 Poll: • Jobs/Unemployment (27%) • Economy (20%) • Debt/Spending (9%) • Big Government (4%) • Moral Values (2%)

  11. Compare Ancient Judah (Isaiah’s Day) and Modern USA • Judah had enjoyed unparalleled economic and military achievement under the kings Uzziah and Jotham. (2 Chron. 26; 2 Kings 15:37) • Perhaps many Judeans felt their biggest problems as a nation were military threats and a declining economy. (Isa. 8:11-12) • Reminders to fear the Lord (Isa. 8:13-14) fell on deaf ears (Isaiah 6:9-10).

  12. Judah’s True Problem • A Crisis of Faith: • Judah did not know Jehovah • Isaiah 1:3—The ox jknows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does jnot know, my people do not understand.” • Ref. Judges 2:10; 1 Kings 11; • Judah despised Jehovah • Isaiah 1:4 —Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, koffspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have ldespisedmthe Holy One of Israel, they are utterly nestranged.

  13. Judah’s True Problem • A Crisis of Faith: • Judah did not know Jehovah (Isaiah 1:3; Ref. Judges 2:10; 1 Kings 11) • Judah despised Jehovah (Isaiah 1:4 ) • Judah despised Jehovah’s law • Isaiah 5:24—Therefore, bas the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks down in the flame, so ctheir root will be das rottenness, and their blossom go up like dust; for they have erejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and have fdespised the word of the Holy One of Israel. • At the end of the day Judah was an incorrigible, hard hearted people who refuse to listen to God’s word and God’s prophet. • Isaiah 6:9-10—And he said, “Go, and say to this people: d“ ‘Keep on hearing,3 but do not understand; keep on seeing,4 but do not perceive.’ 10 eMake the heart of this people fdull,5and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; glest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

  14. Judah’s True Issue • Assyria was a simply an effect of Judah’s problem. • Isaiah 10:15—Shall xthe axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood! • Isaiah 40:23-24—who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. 24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, eand the tempest carries them off like stubble.

  15. Judah’s True Issue • Judah Failed to Comprehend the Power, Greatness, and Sovereignty of God. • Ref. Isaiah 6:1-8;

  16. Because of Judah’s Faithlessness They Relied on Things that Could Not Save: • Judah would rely on idols. • Isaiah 45:20—“Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! cThey have no knowledge who dcarry about their wooden idols, eand keep on praying to a god that cannot save. • Isaiah spoke of the sheer stupidity of idolatry. (Isaiah 44:12-17) • Ref. Psalm 115:3-8;

  17. Modern Day Idolatry • Americans bow down at the altar of material possessions. (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5; Psa. 115:8) • Americans bow down at the altar of pleasure. (Hebrews 11:24-26) • Americans bow down at the altar of popularity. (Eccl. 4:13-16; John 12:42-43; Matt. 6:2) • Americans bow down at the altar of relationships. (John 6:35)

  18. The Truth About Idols • God wanted Israel to remember His deliverance and allow nothing to interfere with Israel’s devotion to Him. (Exodus 20:2) • God expressly forbid a carved image to represent a false deity or even Jehovah. (Deut. 4:9; 4:15) • How could man carve an image that accurately represents the glory of God? (Eph. 3:20) • Idolatry limits the glory of God.

  19. Because of Judah’s Faithlessness They Relied on Things that Could Not Save: • Judah relied on Foreign Powers. • Isaiah declared oracles against: • Babylon (13:1-14:23; 21:1-10) • Assyria (14:24-32) • Moab (15:1-16:14) • Damascus (17:1-14) • Ethiopia (18:1-7) • Egypt (19:1-25) • Edom and Arabia (21:11-17) • Tyre (23:1-18) • Isaiah 26:20-21—Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves afor a little while until the fury has passed by. 21 bFor behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of cthe earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain. • Isaiah 30:15—For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In kreturning3 and lrest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling,

  20. Some people because they love their country will engage in politics and strategize as to what international alliances we should engage in, etc. • If you love your country and want to preserve the society we have for your children. Then teach your children and neighbors the Gospel of Christ. • John 8:24 -- I told you that you mwould die in your sins, for nunless you believe that oI am he you will die in your sins.”

  21. ISAIAH ILLUSTRATES FOR US THE FOLLY OF FAITHLESSNESS AND THE DELIVERENCE FOUND THROUGH FAITHFULNESS.

  22. Ahaz and Hezekiah • Similarities: • Both kings faced an international crisis and impending battle. • Both kings were given a supernatural sign to confirm the promises of God. • Both kings received divine intervention in their battles. • Contrasts: • Hezekiah was delivered from a personal crisis (sickness). (Isaiah 38:3) • Ahazwas not. • Hezekiah believed that Jehovah could deliver. (Isaiah 38:3) • Ahaz did not. (Isaiah7:9; 7:12-13) • Hezekiah accepted his sign. • Ahaz did not. (Isaiah 7:12)

  23. AhazIllustrates the Folly of Faithlessness • Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king (2 Chron. 28:1) and Judah enjoyed great prosperity (Isa. 2:7). By the end of his reign things changed. • Ahaz worshipped Baal like the kings of Israel. (2 Chron. 28:3) • He engaged in child sacrifice (2 Chron. 28:4) • He worshipped in the high places. (2 Chron. 28:4) • As a result the enemies of Judah lined up and defeated Ahaz. (2 Chron. 28:5 ff.) • The Syrians attacked, defeated and carried away some of Judah. (28:5) • Israel attacked, defeated and carried away some of Judah (28:6-15) • 120,000 valiant men were killed. (28:7) • 200,000 women, sons and daughters were carried off. (28:8) • Edom and the Philistines attacked and defeated Judah (28:16-17) • 2 Chron. 28:19—For the Lord humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made yJudah act sinfully3 and had been very unfaithful to the Lord.

  24. AhazIllustrates the Folly of Faithlessness • Assyria oppressed him (28:21) • In this time of great distress Ahaz has the opportunity to turn to God in repentance. • 2 Chron. 28:22-23—In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. 23 For bhe sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, c“Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. • 2 Chron. 28:24-25 —And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and dcut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made himself ealtars in every corner of Jerusalem. 25 In every city of Judah he made high places to fmake offerings to other gods, provoking to anger the Lord, the God of his fathers. • 2 Chron. 28:27 —And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for hthey did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

  25. Ahaz Was a Failure • Ahaz was a failure as a son. • Ahazwas a failure as a king. • Ahazwas a failure in worship. • Ahazwas a failure as a warrior. • Ahaz was a failure in death.

  26. Hezekiah Was a Success • He reopened the temple doors. • 2 Chron. 29:3 • He starts cleansing the nation from the top. • 2 Chron. 29:4-5 • He cleansed the temple of all the uncleanness in it. • 2 Chron. 29:15-16 • He restored true worship. • 2 Chron. 29:27-29 • He observed the Passover feast. • 2 Chron. 30:1-27

  27. Hezekiah Was a Success • Hezekiah decides to rely on God and not pay tribute to the king of Assyria. (2 Kings 18:7) • Assyria invades. (2 Kings 18;) • Hezekiah attempts to pay tribute, but the king of Assyria is not appeased. (2 Kings 18:14-17) • The king of Assyria sends correspondence disparaging Jehovah and demanding surrender. (Isaiah 37:8-13) • Hezekiah appeals to God in prayer. (Isaiah 37:14) • God delivers Judah. (Isaiah 37:36) Hezekiah Relied on God in Times of Strife and Personal Crisis and GOD DELIVERED!

  28. GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS NOT CHANGED BY MAN’S INFIDELITY

  29. God’s Faithfulness • God made great promises to David and Abraham. (Gen. 12:3; 2 Sam. 7:12-13) • How would these promises be fulfilled if Judah is carried into exile? (Isaiah 39:6) • God would keep His promises despite Judah’s infidelity. • God would overturn the effects of exile by the hand of His servant Cyrus. (Isa.44:24-28) • Through this returning remnant, the God’s Servant would come. • The Servant would establish God’s kingdom (2:1-4) and overturn the effects of sin. (52:13-53:12). • Through this Anointed One God would establish a new (spiritual) order, heal mankind, and free them from sin. (Isaiah 61:1)

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