Calling His Shot

Listen to Me! God Will Make a Way for His People, AGAIN!

When i think about Holy Week, i think about the unbelievable.

I have spent a fair bit of time reading on the different events that took place, and it shines a whole new light on how real this was.

It’s easy for us to hear these stories, and to store them away in a separate folder in our brains, away from the world that we experience each day.

Let’s look back at Holy week for a second, but let’s look at it like we’re looking at our own week’s schedule, like we were one of the apostles.

Schedule

Sunday - Have a parade for Jesus as He enters town.

Monday - Go with Jesus to Kick bad guys out of the church.

Tuesday - Debate scheduled between Jesus and the local preachers

Wednesday (Tonight) - Free-time, We’re all going to Gilliam Springs for OneWednesday, all except Judas. He said he had already made plans with some local friends? “Not sure what that’s about…”

Thursday - Staff Meal with Jesus. Said he has something big to tell us.

Friday - Sunday - Jesus told us to keep these days open. That it would be a busy weekend…

When we look at Holy week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, we each have our own experience, our own rhythm.

For some, you have family events

For others, they will travel

and for many, they will treat it like it’s any other weekend.

But for the Christian. This is the event. The completion of prophecies told from the creation of the world.

We’re going to hear about the crucifixion on Sunday, but one of the things that make God so Awesome, is not only that He came back from the dead, not only that He sacrificed Himself for us on the cross. To me, one of the coolest things, is that He “called his shot!”

Any dude perfect fans in the room?

These trick shot guys are wild! I’ve videos where they make trick shots from the tops of stadiums, from moving vehicles, and even from miles away.

but you know the major difference between youtube trick shot guys and God is?

I’ve seen blooper videos on youtube, where it takes some trick shot hundreds of tries. God calls His shots, and never misses.

We call these “shots” prophecies in the Bible.

These are places where God speaks through people to tell the world what He plans to do.

One of the most famous prophecies is found in Isaiah 52 and 53.

In this passage, Isaiah has a “vision” from God, and begins to write from the perspective of God. From Chapter 49 to here, we hear God speaking of this “Suffering Servant”.

A person who

is from the Line of Jacob

will Restore Israel

will redeem the world, and bring Hope.

The book of Isaiah was written somewhere between 740 - 700 B.C. So keep that in mind as we read starting in Isaiah 52.

Isaiah 52:13–14 ESV

13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

Isaiah 53:2–3 ESV

2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:5–8 ESV

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?

Isaiah 53:12 ESV

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

God Called His shot with Jesus. He told us exactly what was going to happen.

Jesus was from the family of Jacob

He restored Israel, though maybe not in the way they expected

He brought redemption and hope to our world!

So if we will slow down, we will see that”

Easter is about Trusting, Remembering, and Hoping for the future.

Let’s back up for a second. Go back with me to Isaiah 51.

I would guess that most of you in this room are going through something hard. You are tired, your are depressed, you are worried. Fill in the blank.

Whatever it is your going through, if you have accepted Jesus as your savior, you can:

Trust God for Today

Each day is going to bring new challenges, but our God, who “call’s his shots perfectly”, is able and willing to walk with us every single day!

Check out verses 7-8 with me.

Isaiah 51:7–8 ESV

7 “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. 8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.”

God’s salvation will outlast all of today’s struggles!

Wake up, and Trust Him with everyday!

“But matt… how can i know for sure that He will do it?”

Great question!

Remember what God did Yesterday

Look at vs. 9-10

Isaiah 51:9–10 ESV

9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon? 10 Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over?

The “Sea Monster or Dragon” Rahab is a poetic reference to the arrogance and pride of Egypt, and how God split the Red sea to rescue His people from her hand.

Remember that story from Exodus?

Just like that, there are countless stories of God’s faithfulness to His people.

God has done stuff in my life and your life that can only be explained if He’s involved.

People have survived cancer

People have come back from addiction

Walked away from devastating car wrecks.

and Just this morning, News broke that a Missionary Pastor in South Africa had been rescued, just days after he was abducted.

The world tells us that Cancer and car wrecks are a death sentence

That we should give up on drug addicts

That Josh Sullivan, a faithful man of God should be dead in a creek somewhere.

But GOD!! gives us example after example of how good and loving that He is!

Awake, O Lord! Do again what you did before.

Trust God today, because of what He did yesterday.

and When we trust Him. We will:

Live a life filled with Hope for tomorrow!

Vs. 11 says

Isaiah 51:11 ESV

11 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The ransomed will sing eternally.

On Good Friday, we remember how Jesus came to our rescue. We were hostages, but He stormed the gates of sin and death to give His life for our Ransom.

And on Sunday, He walked out of those gates, Alive!

That’s who I want protecting me! That’s who i want to follow! A man who fearlessly and selflessly ran into the danger to rescue me. A man who gave me an way of Escape, while He was still fighting. A man who gave everything, because He loves me.

On Easter, We celebrate Jesus. My Protector, My Savior, My Lord.

Is He yours?

He Calls His shots, and He never misses.

Choose to Follow Jesus tonight. Ask Him to save your life.

Trust, Remember, and have Hope.