Untitled Sermon (5)

Open your Bibles with me, if you will, to Isaiah chapter 8

While you are finding your place, let me ask you, do you know any conspiracy theorists?

I have some friends and family members that are conspiracy theorists

The world is always about to end

The government, the ultra rich, and the powerful, are always out to get us

They usually send me several youtube videos a week that will substantiate their beliefs

It bothers my conspiracy theorist loved ones that I don’t jump into the bandwagon

I never make time to watch all or any of the videos, and so I’m uninformed

I’m not emotionally invested in these issues I should be worried because they will affect us all

We will die, the aliens are going to show up and we can’t stop them, our rights will be stripped from us

our guns and our money will vanish, our country will be ruled by another

There will be nothing to eat, Our kids will be brainwashed

And I’m not making fun of them. I believe in many instances they may be right.

I don’t think the United States is an eternal nation. It is likely that as Christians our rights will be stripped from us at some point. Disarming citizens is a massive agenda for a large constituency in our country. There is a definite push in our culture to shape and control how young people think. Covid showed us we are not immune to plagues, while also revealing just how quickly we can run out of food.

But I think that the bigger issue at play and the one that really bothers the conspiracy theorists is that I am not afraid-or at least I’m not afraid of what they fear.

What lies behind every conspiracy theory? Isn’t it fear? At the core of every hour long video about world dominance, death, and take over, there is a fear driving it all: “they” are coming for you.

And I certainly understand. There are lots of things in our world to be afraid of today.

But while it is important to be engaged in the world around us, to watch the signs and the times, and to engage in the conversation, can we just get real this morning and acknowledge that the real problem here is fear.

And as I stand before you this morning, the question that I must ask, the question that you must answer today is are you afraid? And if you are, what are you afraid of?

Isaiah was a prophet of the living God that lived in a day and age not unlike the one that we live in

He lived in a nation that had seen better days in every sense of the word

There were wars and rumors of wars. There was political infighting, upheaval, and abuse

There were racial tensions, international tensions, and strife

What’s more, the people of God were worshipping idols

They sought God when they had a problem, but the rest of theirs lives were centered around other things

They feared the powerful nations around them and so the lived like them instead of seeking God. You couldn’t tell the difference between God’s people and the nations around them!

Isaiah lived in a time not unlike our own. And it is with this context we enter into chapter 8 together this morning, starting in verse 11.

As we read from Isaiah 8 beginning in verse 11, I invite you to stand with me in honor of God’s Word:

Isaiah 8:11–17 NASB95

For thus the Lord spoke to me with mighty power and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying, “You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. “It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. “Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. “Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even be snared and caught.” Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait for the Lord who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him.

Would you pray with me? (pray)

Thank you, you may be seated

God’s message to Isaiah came at a time of great chaos and upheaval.

Conspiracy theories abounded. Wars and rumors of wars rang in their ears. Enemies were around them on every side

Even Israel made war against Judah

Yet in the midst of all that was facing God’s people, God's message was clear!

God told Isaiah to fear Him and not the chaos around them

I don’t know about you, but to me that seems like a really great message. In fact, brothers and sisters, God’s message for Isaiah and His people in chapter 8 is also His message for you and I this morning!

We need to fear God and not the chaos around us

I’m not here this morning to tell you not to fear!

Fear is a natural physical and emotional response

Fear is something that your body is hardwired to do

The man that tells you they fear nothing is lying to you

ILLUSTRATION: A hardened soldier once told me that every single person is afraid when the battle begins. The only difference is how they respond to that fear in the moment. Some run into action, while others freeze or run away. Often, it is those that think they’re the toughest that struggle with fear the most.

EVERYONE IS AFRAID OF SOMETHING!

This morning, I’m not here to tell you not to fear: I’m here to tell you who to fear!

In 1929, the stock market crashed and the U.S. banking system failed. Our country was hurled into what would be one of the darkest times in its history, The Great Depression. In the midst of the depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president. And during Roosevelt’s first Inaugural address, he said these famous words to the American people: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Since that hour, those words have been etched into our minds and hearts. They have become a part of the American ideal. This morning, it is my prayer that they would no longer ring true for us who are gathered here.

This morning, God’s Word is clear and I must declare to you that Mr. Roosevelt was wrong: The only thing we have to fear is the Lord, the God of Armies. God is all that you have to fear! What are you afraid of this morning?

Proverbs 9:10 NASB95

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

What are you afraid of, my brothers and sisters?

As God’s people, we are to fear the Lord and Him only! But how can we do that? How can you turn from all of your other fears and learn to fear the Lord? Well, there are three things in our passage this morning that will help us with this. Let’s look together at verse 12:

Isaiah 8:12 NASB95

“You are not to say, ‘It is a conspiracy!’ In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.

If you desire to live your life in fear of the Lord, the first thing you have to do is to make a choice, and the choice is this:

Choose not to fear the chaos

There are so many things in our world that we choose to fear

We Fear war

Turn on the tv, and we are waiting for WWIII to start this afternoon

We Fear division

Just across the state line, people in Oregon keep voting to leave Oregon

Racial tensions are at an all-time high

Cancel culture wants us to forget where we came from and self-inflict ourselves for our past

We are divided by politics, race, economics, culture, region, city, and rural

We fear non-conformity

You can think differently than everyone else, just keep you opinion to yourself

In our society today, having a unique viewpoint makes you stand out and those that stand out are ostracized

Social media has given the anonymous vipers of the world the power to topple CEO’s and sway public opinion against anyone that doesn’t tow the line of popular thought

We fear invisibility

You are judged by the number of followers and the strength of the influence you have over them

The only thing worse than being noticed for sticking out is not to be known at all

We have FOMO- The fear of missing out

This chronic fear is paralyzing people to the extent that many people end up missing out because the effort to keep their options open left them without options in the end.

We fear the conspiracies

Big government, Big business, Big foreign powers, Big power and wealth is coming to get us and the talking heads of news networks make billions off of our fear

And this list of fears only scratches the surface of all the things we spend our time being afraid of

More people suffer from anxiety issues that at any other time in history

But what I want you to see this morning is that these fears are nothing more than an ocean of chaos that God is calling you to rise above

I’m reminded of a story from Matthew 14

The disciples are in a boat in a storm and are fighting strong winds. Jesus comes to them in the middle of the sea, walking on water. The disciples freak out when they see Him, until Jesus identifies Himself. Peter asks Jesus if he can come to Him, and Jesus says “Come.”

Peter steps out of the boat and starts walking on the water, but as he steps, he takes his eyes off of Jesus. The winds and the waves are all too much, and he becomes afraid. Listen to this, from Matthew 14:30:

Matthew 14:30–31 NASB95

But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

What Jesus was saying to Peter here is the same thing that God is saying to Isaiah, and it is the same thing that you and I need to hear this morning: stop fearing the chaos!

Take your eyes off of all of these problems, rumors, troubles, and distractions the world around us is afraid of.

Don’t be like them, because you know that God is in control of all of those things

Do you know what happened when Peter and Jesus got back in the boat? The wind died down and the disciples worshipped Jesus, acknowledging who He is!

It isn’t until we take our eyes off of the chaos that we can put our focus where it belongs

Peter wasn’t going to die! Jesus was always in control, and He is in control of the circumstances in your life

Jesus is in control of the circumstances in our world today, so stop fearing what the world fears. Focus on Jesus

Look at verses 13-15 with me

Isaiah 8:13–15 NASB95

“It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. “Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem. “Many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even be snared and caught.”

If you desire to live your life in fear of the Lord, you need to choose not to fear the chaos. Secondly, you need to

Fix your gaze on the God who can save or destroy you

These verses tell us that we should fear God because He alone is holy!

Do you see what it says happens when you fear God?

It says that He becomes your sanctuary-He becomes the very definition of safety and security and protection

Do you see what is says happens when you don’t fear God?

It says that God becomes a trap, a snare, and a stumbling block that will break and tear you down.

Do you know what people trip over? They trip over what they don’t see. What is your gaze fixed on?

When I was a kid, I lived out in the country. We used to play these games of hide and go seek in the dark on teams with our friends. And we didn’t play nice. We would set traps so that if we were being chased, we could get away even if the other team was faster. One trap we used often used sewing thread. And the way it worked is that you run thread between two small trees about ankle height. Then, you set another set just a few feet ahead about eye height. And what happens is that when you are being chased, you jump the first string and duck the second, but the person chasing you will stumble as they break the first chord, and then they’ll get knocked over when their head breaks the second, because you trip and stumble over what you don’t see

Fix your eyes on the Lord

You cannot begin to know Him until He becomes your sole pursuit

Once you begin to really know Him, to see His holiness, His righteousness, His power, His glory, you will know what it means to fear the Lord. Look with me, if you will, at Isaiah 6:

Isaiah 6:1–8 NASB95

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord. He saw God in all of His magnificence and his response is fear! Why?

Because when we focus on God, we see ourselves in light of who He is

When we fix our eyes on God, our chaos falls away and we realize that all that matters is what He has created us to be.

When we see ourselves in His light, all of our shortcomings are apparent, our sin is clear, and we realize that what we deserve is destruction, and this is huge because this humility and confession leads us to repentance and healing

Do you see that it is only after Isaiah’s confession that God cleanses him of his sin and makes Him useful for Kingdom service

The chaos keeps our eyes focused on all the wrong things, and we start worrying about money, security, power, popularity, social standing, and things that we are not promised and cannot only control

But when we allow the fear of the Lord to bring us to humility, through Christ we can enter into His salvation, and He reveals to us the glory of who He is and we will fear nothing else

Matthew 10:27–31 NASB95

“What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is the One who can save or destroy you, and that is the only thing that matters. When you understand who God is, you realize that He is in control of everything. From the number of hairs on your head to the troubles you are facing, and if you belong to Him, there is nothing for you to fear. Let’s look at verses 16 and 17of our passage.

Isaiah 8:16–17 NASB95

Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. And I will wait for the Lord who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him.

These are the last two verses in our journey to learning the fear of the Lord this morning. But what do they mean? If you desire to live your life in fear of the Lord, you need to choose not to fear the chaos. Instead, you must fix your gaze on the God that can save or destroy you, and finally,

You must trust that judgment and salvation are sure things

When something was bound and sealed in the presence of witnesses, it was a finalized transaction. God was telling His people that these things were sure things that were going to happen. What are you afraid of?

When I was a child, I was told that only death and taxes are sure things, but God tells us here that His judgment and salvation are sure things!

And notice that Isaiah says that knowing this: He was going to wait eagerly for the coming of the Lord

Isaiah, who had stood in the Lord’s presence

Isaiah, who learned the fear of the Lord, first-hand

Isaiah, who was humbled in light of his sin

Wanted the coming of the Lord, believed the truth of what God promised, and was waiting eagerly for it! Why?

Because fear in a world torn apart vanishes in the salvation Christ brings

Romans 8:31–39 NASB95

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah had seen with His own eyes, he had experienced who God is. And once you know who God is, you also know that you can rely on His promises

Paul had experienced the Living Savior. He also learned first-hand what it meant to truly fear the Lord. It was enough to completely reshape him from a Gospel persecutor to a Gospel proclaimer! He knew that in Christ, there is nothing for us to fear because only God can save and destroy.

I don’t know what you are afraid of, friend. There is a world of chaos around us that can give you a million answers to that question, but in the end, there is only one that matters: Fear the Lord.

Fear the Lord, and you will have no fear of anything else.

Maybe you are here this morning, and you have never known the love, power, glory, and majesty of our God, but this morning you realize that like Isaiah you deserve destruction and you are ready to surrender yourself into the hands of the only One who can save or destroy you.

Maybe you are already a follower of Christ, but if you are honest with yourself, you don’t yet truly know or understand the fear of the Lord and this morning you are ready to step away from the chaos to fix your eyes and your life on Jesus.

However God is working on your heart today, don’t let this day pass without acting on it. God’s people always thought they would have tomorrow to find their fear of the Lord, and then His judgment came. Won’t you learn from them this morning, and seek the God that can save you? In your bulletin, there is a tear off card. It has some places where you can indicate that God is calling you to a decision today. Maybe you want to use one of the options there, or maybe you want to write down a different response, but I want to encourage you, if God is talking to your heart this morning, mark it on that card, tear it off, and drop it into the wooden box in the back where we leave our offerings. Pastor Clint would love the opportunity to connect with you, to answer any questions, and to pray for you as you seek the fear of the Lord in Your life.

Paul is going to come, and lead us in a song, as you spend a moment with the Lord. But as he comes, let me pray for you this morning:

PRAY