A Holy Nation (part 1)

A Holy Nation (part I) – “Do not walk in the ways of this World”

Do not walk in the ways of this people

Do not walk in the ways of this people

Ever since God set aside a people we were told to be different.

Have a different moral compass

Verse 12: Have a different moral compass

Isaiah 8:12 ESV

“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread.

Isaiah 8:

Do not call conspiracy what they call conspiracy

conspiracy - a secret plan to do something unlawful

They - plan against human law, affecting our way of life

Israel & Syria

God - make plans against ME

Do not fear what they fear

They fear losing station in life

They fear losing their freedom

Or be in dread

They dread the authority of man instead of God

IRONY: By not being commited to God, they have developed a lifestyle with a warped sense of morality. (conspiracy) Yet THIS is the life they are so very afraid of losing.

It is strange what can become our “norm”

losing freedom of speech vs freedom to openly witness

What if I love my job? (closes it’s doors)

What if I lose my church? (closes it’s doors)

When the church gets caught up in problems of the word, it finds itself fighting for things of this world instead of the things of God.

(BUT) verse 13:

Isaiah 8:13 ESV

But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

The Lord of Hosts:

· Him you shall honor as holy – as opposed to their warped sense of conspiracy

· Him you shall fear – instead of fearing losing their “home” fear losing their relationship

· Him you shall dread – instead of the authority of man dread the authority of God.

WHEN THE WORLD BECOMES YOUR HOME, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF FIGHTING TO KEEP THINGS OF THIS WORLD AND REJECTING THINGS OF GOD.

All Hope Is in Christ

Isaiah 8:14–15 ESV

And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

Verse 14-15: “And he will become …” this prophecy is fulfilled in Christ. (SEE )

Verse 14-15: “And he will become …” this prophecy is fulfilled in Christ. (SEE )

“Put away all malace, deceit, hypocrisy, envy & slander

“DO NOT WALK IN THE WAYS OF THIS WORLD”

Sanctuary

place of security and refuge

A stone of offense

A rock of stumbling (to both houses of Israel)

A trap and a snare (to house of Jerusalem)

What does he mean by this?

Read

1 Peter 2:1 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

1 Peter 2:1

() “… Do not walk in the way of this people (world)”

1 Peter 2:5–6 ESV

you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

() “He will become a sanctuary”

What is this sanctuary?

God is our sanctuary - (refuge) - but how?

We (the church) are being built up as a spiritual house

Christ is the cornerstone

The church is supposed to be so radically different that when you are with a group of believers you can feel the presence of God.

BE AWARE of the contrast God

stone of offense, rock of stumbling, snare & trap

1 Peter 2:7 ESV

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

1 Peter 2:7

We cannot forget that things of God are in opposition to the things of this world (devil)

What the world rejects (namely Christ) is the very thing God basis is plans on.

1 Peter 2:8 ESV

and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Perhaps the best summary of Isaiah’s word is what Peter tells this people in his letter

READ

“Put away all malace, deceit, hypocrisy, envy & slander

“DO NOT WALK IN THE WAYS OF THIS WORLD”

= Isaiah 28:16

1 Peter 2:1 ESV

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

1 Peter 2:6–8 ESV

For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

1 peter 2:

Isaiah 8:16 ESV

Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples.

Verse 16: “Bind up this testimony and seal the teaching among my disciples.”

· Bind up what I just said as proof of this prophesy

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

· Seal my teachings (to them this was the Torah)

It may not all make sense now but one day it will.