TURNING TO GOD IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT DECISION

Isaiah 30-31 proclaims, “Don’t go down to Egypt!” Here’s the running logic of the book: In chapters 13-23, the nations are under judgement for their compromise. In Isaiah 14, we learn that the nations are empowered by the Original Compromiser - Satan himself. Therefore, in chapters 30-31, we emphatically conclude - SO DON’T TRUST IN THE NATIONS! Yet, the people of Judah compound their compromise, “add sin to sin,” and look to Egypt to find safety from the incoming Assyrian army. In so doing, they are foolishly and tragically “undoing” the exodus and recreating the captivity of old! This should be unthinkable, but if we’re honest, we do the same kind of thing when we’re under pressure and beginning to experience the consequences of our compromise. We find ourselves in situations where we indulge in sin and give into the backslide, seek counselors who will only tell us what we what to hear, and look in vain to idols of all kinds instead of the God who is our only hope. But even as we persist in pursuing our own personal “Egypt,” God patiently waits to be gracious to those who’ve doubled-down in their sin.

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JESUS CHRIST WILL DELIVER HIS PEOPLE

The pressure to compromise that comes from without is not only fueled by nations, peoples, and cultures that oppose God, but spiritual rebellion. The pressure out there is a pressure that comes from earth and heaven. Satan, the Original Compromiser – the very first creature who was not willing to receive God’s ideal for him – tempts the world to compromise just as he did and does. But on that day, he will be defeated. Predicted in Genesis 3, awaited by Isaiah’s generation, and received by us in the Messiah, the Branch, the Suffering Servant himself, Jesus Christ will cast him down and deliver His people from the original compromiser forever. As a result, we can be happy warriors! Satan is real and he’s really at work in a time when it’s harder than ever to be an ordinary Christian. But Christ is greater.

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A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN FROM ISAIAH

In last Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Kyle preached from Isaiah 24-27 - a passage known as Isaiah’s Apocalypse, where Isaiah has end things; ultimate things; last things in view. In chapter 24, he foretells of the day of the Lord, when not only the nations will come under judgment, but all compromise everywhere will finally and ultimately be judged by God Himself. But in the next three chapters, the tone changes, dramatically to what follows the final judgment - namely, heaven. And not a disembodied spiritual heaven, but a physical new heavens and new earth. It’s a glorious future Christians look forward to. But the best part? We don’t just have to look forward to it. We can experience a taste of it today. Listen to the sermon to learn more.

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WE CAN’T COMPROMISE ON OUR MISSION

Not only Judah, but all mankind is compromised. Turning from words of judgment and hope to Judah (Isaiah 1-12), Isaiah speaks words of judgment (Is 13-23) and hope (Is 24-27) to the nations "out there." And here's what we can't miss: The world “out there” can be “dangerous” and scary, but nothing is scarier than what’s coming to those who don’t know Christ. The reality of this danger teaches us many things. That the good news of the gospel comes with the bad news of judgment. That everyone is accountable to God. That Jesus is not one valid option among many. That there is no neutral way of living in this world. And, most importantly, that we cannot compromise on getting the whole gospel to the whole world.

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DO NOT LET YOUR HEART BE FAINT

It's 6 years after Isaiah's call, a new king is on the throne, and the nations that were signaled in Isaiah 5:26 are knocking on Judah's door in the form of an Israel-Syria alliance (7:1-2). It's a dangerous time to be God's people. But in the midst of this danger, God speaks a word of promise (7:14). In this moment, and in our own moments of "danger," we are faced with the options of responding in fearful compromise or courageous faith in the promises of God (8:11-13). The first option takes us down the road of complaining, complacency, and compromise. The latter leads us forward in confident faith that God will keep us, sustain us, and deliver us from every "danger" that comes our way. Why? Because God himself is with us, and this places courage within us (9:6-7). 

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CLEANSED FOR SERVICE

In order to be an uncompromising church, we must be holy as God is holy. Separated from sin and devoted to God's purposes. Yet, all too often, when it comes to holiness, we focus only upon what we shouldn't do. What doesn't belong in the house. But that's only half the story of holiness. As Isaiah 6:8-13 demonstrates, we've not just been cleansed from sin but cleansed for service. In other words, God wants us to really live in his house. He wants us to enjoy life in his presence. To feel at home with holiness. And to have Christian lives not simply marked by the absence of sin, but the fullness of giving ourselves to God’s purposes. Honoring what he honors, loving what he loves, living in glad reception of his good gifts, and eagerly offering ourselves as his instruments to bless and build up our families, our church, and our neighbors, and to be witnesses to the gospel.

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CAST ALL YOUR HOPES AND CARES ON HIM

On Sunday, we were joined by guest preacher Jackson Tran who encouraged us to rest our souls in Christ. As we've been reflecting on in our Isaiah sermon series, we live in a cultural moment where it's harder than ever to be an ordinary Christian. Where can we look to find peace for our troubled times and peace for our troubled souls? Luke 19:28-44 tells us to look no further than Jesus Christ. The humble King who not only announces, but has achieved, true peace. A peace he offers to the weary Christian who is tossed around by the waves of the world and the temptations within. A peace he extends to our neighbors who still remain under the wrath to come.

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HE IS A GOD LIKE NO OTHER

Why does God take our sin so seriously? Because he is uncompromisingly holy. Like no other. Perfect in all of his ways. Never compromising upon what it means for him to be him. But we are filled with compromise and our sin causes us not to belong before him. In Isaiah 6:1-7, we are confronted by the raging fire of his holiness. Which shines forth a light that exposes all that is dark, dirty, and unlike himself within us. And gives off a heat which burns up every impurity that comes into his presence. So how can people like us stand before a God like him? We must be cleansed from sin. Listen to the sermon to learn how we are meant to respond to the holiness of God.

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THE FUTURE HOPE IN OUR PRESENT MOMENT

We all experience the pressure to be on the “right side of history.” Right now, it’s hard to maintain unpopular convictions. Easier to soften the blow of the “bad news” of the gospel, shy away from taking the good news into the world, and take matters into our own hands to find peace as we look toward an uncertain future. But Isaiah comes to us with a message of hope as we look to the days ahead. A Day is coming, and has already dawned, in which God’s peace will cover the earth, his Law will be the law of the land, and his people will be set free from every trace and stain of sinful compromise - forever. He won’t fail to accomplish everything that he’s promised and sustain us until that Great Day. So let’s live now in light of that hope.

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CHAPTERS 1-66

The book of Isaiah is like a mirror. In it, we see Israel’s compromise as well as our own. Through it, we behold God’s unwavering commitment to his weak and wayward people. But it’s also like a maze. It’s difficult to journey through. Filled with ancient hallways, shadowy corridors, and passages that challenge and, if we’re honest, confuse us. But, if we want to be an uncompromising church and take in all we can of God’s uncompromising faithfulness to us, we need to understand how the story of Isaiah works. How it all fits together from chapters 1-66. This sermon is like a roadmap to guide the rest of our time in Isaiah. Make sure to give it listen to be ready to go where the Lord is taking us.

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