JESUS : The Heart of HIStory Signs of Salvation .. HOPE

OPENING ILLUSTRATION

Signs of Salvation .. HOPE

OPENING ILLUSTRATION

We did a fair bit of travelling during our break .. travelling all over the place .. and sometimes all you have is an address

And as is the case in this day and age, maps are obsolete and SAT/NAV is all the rage .. punch the address in the device .. press GO .. and follow the ladies advice

Y’see it’s step by step .. you don’t get the overall route on display (like a map)

Sometimes Beate and I look at each other and say “Do you reckon this is right?” .. y’know .. is this device TRUSTWORTHY .. your confidence only increases when the results are good .. you get there!

You might have heard of the expression “History is HIS STORY” ie God leading humanity step by step. More importantly .. the Father reveals HIS story of SALVATION in the pages of the Bible .. Genesis to Revelation

It’s step by step and the challenge is to keep trusting God even when things seem HOPELESS

NOAH .. build a boat .. collect every animal .. there’s going to be a flood

ABRAHAM .. pack up and go where I direct .. no SAT/NAV .. AND … you will be the Father of nations even tho your wife is barren .. AND .. now you have a son kill him

MOSES .. challenge Pharaoh .. take my people out of slavery to the promised land .. just go .. yep through the Red sea .. through he desert

etc etc

The Father has a PLAN .. the SALVATION STORY .. it’s the story of great HOPE .. to bring us back to Himself but it’s step by step .. and we have to TRUST HIM even when things seem impossible

A Little HIStory …

This part of history sees what was the ONE nation Israel split into TWO regions .. one continued to be called Israel (10 tribes) and the other was called Judah (2 tribes) .. if you read through the books of 1 & 2 Kings you’ll get some of the history .. a few of the kings followed in the ways of David .. most of the others were wicked .. or start well enough but get sucked in the the world around them

Jerusalem was in Judah .. the house of David continued through these kings and the ministry through the temple

You can see in Ch.7 that the king in Judah is Ahaz .. the son of Uzziah …and he is facing a crisis (vv.1-2) .. the superpower of the day is ASSYRIA .. the king was Tiglath Pileser III .. Assyria was a war machine rolling over nations and adding them to their EMPIRE

Note the other personalities mentioned … in vv.1-2 Rezin .. who is king of Aram (Syria) and there is Pekah who is the king of Israel. (see map)

The situation is that Syria and Israel want Judah to join them to fight off Assyria .. but Ahaz in more inclined to roll over and join with the strength of Assyria to save his skin .. if Judah won’t join Syria and Israel then Judah will be their enemy too and they will fight against Judah

The international scene was pretty threatening .. a bit of a powder keg when Isaiah takes up ministry in Jerusalem

If you read the first 5 chapters of Isaiah .. you see that the backdrop that’s painted is pretty grim … rather depressing really .. lotta DOOM and GLOOM there is injustice, oppression, religious hypocrisy, self-indulgence and idolatry

Where is the HOPE?

Of course Isaiah is saying TRUST GOD .. and that’s the issue before Ahaz now .. who will he trust??

Signs of the time ………….

There are two children that get a mention here in the chapter. One is already born .. in fact it is Isaiah’s son Shear-Jashub and the other is yet to be born .. Immanuel

Shear-Jashub … means A remnant will repent (return)

The LORD tells Isaiah to meet King Ahaz .. pick it up in verse 3ff

Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman’s Field. Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm and don’t be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these—because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s son have plotted your ruin, saying, “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

“‘It will not take place, it will not happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people.

The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.

If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’”

Isaiah has taken his boy with him to see Ahaz .. who looks like he’s inspecting the aqueduct probably because of the coming siege

You can see the thrust of what God is saying through his prophet … don’t fear these guys .. Rezin / Pekah .. notice that God calls them two smoldering stubs of firewood (lumps of charcoal when the fire goes out) … two cigarette butts ... it’s all talk when they say they are going to tear you apart .. take over the nation … God, thro Isaiah, says .. it’s not going to happen .. TRUST ME!

God wants faithfulness to Him .. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all … ie TRUST or BUST

We have to realise it’s not just the POWER STRUGGLE .. my army is bigger than your army and we’re going to win .. Ahaz is the King of God’s people .. for Ahaz to join allegiance with Assyria it meant swearing allegiance to the pagan gods of this pagan king .. this would be ABANDONING the covenant promises made to God’s people .. reject God’s plan

God is giving Ahaz at this point the opportunity to clearly understand His will ..in fact if Ahaz was to read the history of Israel he would have read of God’s help in tougher situations than this …

God says to Ahaz .. well “ask me for a sign” .. be extravagant .. Ask me to divide the Red Sea? .. Ask for the sun to stop in the sky?.. a burning bush that is never consumed? .. done all that before .. BUT Ahaz has already made his mind up .. cf .. Ahaz has already made a treaty with Assyria .. strictly forbidden by God ! Yahweh is all the PROTECTION Israel needs

Y’see .. Ahaz has more confidence in the might of Assyrian chariots and archers .. and trots out a pious answer .. “I couldn’t possibly do that.. and put God to the test .. no no” .. not supppose to do that sort of thing .. and yep he could have quoted : .. BUT .. the test has been of Ahaz all along .. it is no sin to seek a sign when God offers!

The decision for Ahaz is .. will he put his confidence in the MIGHT and POWER and WISDOM of God .. will he trust the promises of God?

OR

Will he join the might and power of the war machine that is Assyria?

?

Where is the HOPE of a secure future?

So you see ... really this a question of where do you put your trust and faith .. and HOPE

Ahaz .. the leader/King of Judah .. the Lord’s annointed .. and he’s shaking like a leaf .. has no confidence in God .. He is a DUD! He is woeful

ILLUSTRATION

If you’re an Aussie the cricket has been pretty good!

It’s funny though .. so many in the sporting world are highly SUPERSTITIOUS .. Steve Smith will never eat duck the day before a match .. though apparently he absent-mindedly did at Lords in 2015 and scored a career best score 215 .. Steve Waugh never went out to bat without his red hanky tucked in his pads .. South African Neil McKenzie had to have all the toilet seats down and lights out in the dressing room (which he checked 8 times) before removing his bat he’d taped to the ceiling and go out to the crease

But then .. people trust in all sorts of things .. people are pretty superstitious .. they still say “touch wood” and tap their head .. or say “Bless you” when you sneeze .. coz the devil could steal your soul

I remember talking to a guy who took out a cross that was hanging on a necklace .. he said “Every since I’ve had this I’ve been really lucky .. I’ve had good karma” .. So as nicely and forcibly as possible I said that was a load of rubbish .. that only God was ordering life etc

Where is our confidence?

A lot of people believe something is controlling life .. crystals and rocks, potions, rabbit’s feet, 4 leaved clover, horoscopes, the stars and planets,

More rational people trust their logic or intelligence or their money .. or their political party

… and then say trusting God is stupid? How can we have confidence in what He says?

We’ll trust crystals and rocks, potions, rabbit’s feet, 4 leaved clover, horoscopes, the stars and planets, our own intelligence, our money .. and then say trusting God is stupid?

Application

Faith in God and His promises seems so passive .. we want to look for more spectacular solutions to our problems .. how many problems do we face and not bring them before the Lord trusting Him for guidance and direction and answers

How many times do we ignore HIS solutions to our problems .. I don’t want to TEST GOD .. I don’t want to worry Him .. I don’t want to read the Bible or ask others about solutions .. you see we’ve already got some way around it .. OUR WAY … e.g. a new job with more money BUT less time at home/church

Y’see the Father loves it when we keep coming to Him and saying “I’m really at a loss here .. BUT .. I know Lord you are trust worthy .. this seems a very impossible job, situation etc but you can help .. you can guide

God is attracted to our HUMILITY and He is opposed to our ARROGANCE and our PIOUS PRETENCES

Friends ... the Lord is delighted when we step out in FAITH and make some commitments

When we ASK !

.. like building a building .. employing a second worker ... will it be tough .. yep .. but God is SUFFICIENT .. there’s a great verse in Ephesians

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! 3:20-21

To Him be the glory .. and in all the tight situations .. study course ahead .. job .. raising kids .. handling tricky relationships etc .. and all others too really .. keep tabs with where the Lord is leading ... what He is working in us as we TRUST Him

Back to the passage Look where this goes .. Ahaz was content to put confidence in the muscle of Assyria .. a good skirt to hide behind and so what if he had to compromise his Jewish ways and Yahweh Himself

Maybe at some stage Ahaz looks down when he’s taking to Isaiah and says .. “Cute kid Isaiah .. what’s his name?” And Isaiah thunders “His name is Shear-Jashub

Ahaz might have looked up a bit bewildered .. if he didn’t know he soon would

This name is a sign .. and it’s double edged .. it’s a warning and an encouragement

To faithlessly go after Assyria and her gods Ahaz and Judah would feel the full extent of God’s punishment .. Judah would be no more .. the rebellion would be squashed … in the end Assyria would desolate Israel .. and ultimately Babylon will completely destroy Judah and the nation will go into exile … BUT .. and here is God’s GRACE .. “a remnant would return” .. there would be no final snuffing out

The KINGDOM OF GOD IS UNSTOPPABLE .. This Jewish nation may disgrace itself with it’s spiritual prostitution .. it’s spiritual adultery but God’s promise was to bless and make them a blessing to others

Isaiah’s son’s name reminds them that some will be saved from destruction .. some would return to continue to be a blessing to others

And here’s the sign

Ahaz might not want a sign BUT God is going to give him one .. Isaiah is a bit furious at the moment .. look at v.13-14 “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? 14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah is a bit red in the face .. his patience is growing thin .. let alone God’s!

The HOUSE OF DAVID is doomed .. BUT the Lord will never finally abandon them and the sign is another child .. a son .. born to a virgin .. and his name would be IMMANUEL .. “God is with us”

Obviously for most of us .. having the background that we have …. Christmas time .... virgin birth … Immanuel … we read back into Isaiah at this point, Jesus born to Mary etc .. which is good .. Matthew does just that as he talks of Jesus .. fulfilling this prophecy .. BUT put yourself in Ahaz’s shoes .. what were others thinking as Isaiah talks of this sign? Nothing in the OT records a child of a virgin birth coz this sign has an immediate application too .. the word “virgin” 7:14 can equally be translated “young woman”

Did Isaiah have a particular child, son in view? .. How is this sign going to work? Flick over to 8:3

3 Then I made love to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. 4 For before the boy knows how to say ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria

I take it the prophetess is Isaiah’s wife .. no miracle but another son .. Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz? Sort of doesn’t sound like Immanuel?! .. this name means “PLUNDER hurries , LOOT rushes” .. which points to the immediate FULFILMENT of the sign

The rest of the chapter speaks of DESOLATION .. POVERTY .. eating curds and honey .. not the fruit of the land under cultivation … and rather than being SAVED Judah will be SHAVED ... humiliated by Assyria (v.20) and thrown away

The point is that by the time a few months have passed and the girl has had her baby, the crisis that preoccupies Ahaz will be over. It will have been proved that “God is with us,” ... Immanuel

Isaiah for Everyone Stand Firm, or You Won’t Stand at All (Isaiah 7:1–17)

The point is that by the time a few months have passed and the girl has had her baby, the crisis that preoccupies Ahaz will be over. It will have been proved that “God is with us,” and she will be able to call her baby God-is-with-us, Immanuel

HOWEVER .. a son .. the faithful remnant .. the ones who the Lord is with .. will come out from the devastation .. Isaiah is building on the ideas already mentioned .. out of Jerusalem will come a small community .. a remnant .. HOLY SEED (6:13) and they will be the ones with God ..

. the son is the faithful remnant that will come out from the devastation to come .. Isaiah is building on the ideas already mentioned .. out of Jerusalem will come a small community .. a remnant .. HOLY SEED (6:13) and they will be the ones with God .. in 8:16-18 the name Immanuel belongs to the small community who gather around the prophet

You can trust God .. he can defeat enemies .. He can protect and keep you safe .. and more than that .. the FUTURE will be seen in a leader that is TOTALLY reliable .. one who is RIGHTEOUS .. one who has our best intertests at heart .. one who OBEYS God implicitly .. one who is the Lord’s annointed

The HOPE of Israel the nation is the Lord’s Messiah .. in fact, the hope of the WORLD is in the Lord’s Messiah

Application

Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

Application

Friends we live in a similar world to Isaiah .. a cloud of chaos and darkness .. there is terror and uncertainty, we are wars .. strife .. financial disaster looming .. and what’s happening to our climate .. we’ve been acutely aware how vulnerable we are .. drought .. bushfies and the impact on our lifestyle and economy .. even if we get good rain tomorrow it will take years to recover

And we get a bit sick and tired of the politics .. where are the leaders .. across the globe people are looking at people in the top job and saying .. “we deserve better than this … they are so SELF ABSORBED .. they need to get over themselves .. they need to get on with the job and help us” … there are record levels of disappointment and mistrust in political leaders Who are the leaders we feel safe about? the ones with our best interests at heart?

And what about China! North Korea .. they seem to be the “Assyria” of today .. military machine set to dominate the world

political unrest

what’s happening to our climate political unrest

And then there is a moral mess .. everyone does what is right in their own eyes .. esp when it comes to our sexuality and our freedoms to express our religious views .. esp at Christmas time .. the best that Aust Post can do is prod us to “Spread the Merry”

Let’s not lose HOPE!

As we move into this Christmas season again refresh yourself in where true hope lies .. If you know the Lord you have no reason to despair coz all that Isaiah pointed to has finally come true

We know that one day an angel from God told a faithful virgin teenage girl, Mary, that she would have a child by the Holy Spirit .. really?? And then as the months went on there was morning sickness .. swollen ankles .. mood swings .. swollen tummy .. how can this be??

God has not deserted us! His plan .. His story is working out .. here is a sign .. a clear sign that GOD IS WITH US .. a virgin birth ..

A swollen tummy (and mood swings) are very noticeable .. especially to a finace .. Joseph is devasted, his betrothed has betrayed him and being a godly man, and knowing the child is not his, he seeks to divorce Mary quietly .. and an angel comes back to explain

Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

Now .. if you are struggling with with God .. if you are not sure about Christianity .. not sure about this Jesus guy, please have a read of a gospel .. even this one, Mathew’s gospel .. read it in ONE sitting .. get the flow of the gospel writing and what Matthew wants us to understand about this historical figure Jesus

If you’re still waiting for some political or church leader to come into the world that will uphold justice .. love us .. and someone who will have our best interests at heart .. please have a read of a gospel .. even this one, Mathew’s gospel .. read it in ONE sitting .. get the flow of the gospel writing and what Matthew wants us to understand about this historical figure Jesus

Maybe your a disciple of Jesus .. serving Christ seeking to live a faithful authentic life in this messed up world .. here’s what I’d love you to do .. please have a read of a gospel .. even this one, Mathew’s gospel .. read it in ONE sitting .. get the flow of the gospel writing and what Matthew wants us to understand about this historical figure Jesus

What you see is a WONDERFUL LEADER .. of staggering proportions and nothing like the WOEFUL king Ahaz in Isaiah

What you see is a LEADER who is RIGHTEOUS .. who is GODLY .. who LOVES you .. who does everything for you that will bring you peace .. you can have perfect peace in Him .. perfect rest .. confidence for your future

Why? Coz this child was born to save us .. NB the little phrase because he will save his people from their sins. We can’t think of the cradle without the cross .. this leader loves us so much He went to Calvary .. absorbed the punishment we deserve, hell itself so that we will be right with God .. and each other

Love to see a world where Irish catholic and protestant could hold hands and sing carols

and we long for the day when the middle east would be a place where Arabs and Jews love each other .. Love to see a world where Irish catholic and protestant could hold hands and sing carols

Peace on earth ... is that just a pipe dream .. will it ever happen in this world ?

Remember Bob Geldof’s dream of raising money with a song “Do they know it’s Christmas” accompanied by BAND AID .. rock groups from around the world uniting for the one cause.. stop the hostilities .. down weapons and feed the world .. it’s Christmas for goodness sake!

Great idea … but it will always be a BAND AID .. a token .. and can no way bring the PEACE we crave .. in fact it’s quite ironical that there were fights in the groups about who’ll sing the main lines .. a few hissyfits .. Hmm did they know it’s Christmas??!!

The truth is our world is doomed .. there’s a bigger problem than the might of Assyria .. or the Middle east .. or China .. etc ..

Our world is dysfunctional .. we are people that need a Saviour because we can’t save ourselves .. our history proves that!

We are always at war .. and we look within us and we see further strife .. pain, we see our jealousies ..our pride ..our greed … our covetousness … we don’t want to trust God we want to run our own life .. we have a touch of the Ahaz in us

BUT .. here is the sign .. we can have PEACE WITH GOD .. and we can change under the influence of God’s Spirit .. the sign is UNMISTAKABLE

Application

Faith in God and His promises seems so passive .. we want to look for more spectacular solutions to our problems .. how many problems do we face and not bring them before the Lord trusting Him for guidance and direction and answers

How many times do we ignore HIS solutions to our problems .. I don’t want to TEST GOD .. I don’t want to worry Him .. I don’t want to read the Bible or ask others about solutions .. you see we’ve already got some way around it .. OUR WAY … e.g. a new job with more money BUT less time at home/church

Y’see the Father loves it when we keep coming to Him and saying “I’m really at a loss here .. BUT .. I know Lord you are trust worthy .. this seems a very impossible job, situation etc but you can help .. you can guide

God is attracted to our HUMILITY and He is opposed to our ARROGANCE and our PIOUS PRETENCES

Friends ... the Lord is delighted when we step out in FAITH and make some commitments

When we ASK !

.. like building a building .. employing a second worker ... will it be tough .. yep .. but God is SUFFICIENT .. there’s a great verse in Ephesians

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! 3:20-21

To Him be the glory .. and in all the tight situations .. study course ahead .. job .. raising kids .. handling tricky relationships etc .. and all others too really .. keep tabs with where the Lord is leading ... what He is working in us as we TRUST Him

Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”

Conclusion

Friends we need to sit back again today rejoicing in the clear signs that we have that God has met us in our greatest need .. our need for forgiveness and PEACE with God .. and the Father gives us one clearly labelled .. it’s all in the name IMMANUEL .. God with us … JESUS .. Saviour .. CHRIST .. King a name that perfectly sums up who he is

JESUS is the heart of HIStory .. He is the FOCUS of history .. and you can have complete confidence in what Jesus has achieved

No other could save us .. He is the Prince of Peace ,.. not of this world but the next

All the signs point to him .. and one day, when HISTORY STOPS .. every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord

We must be firm in our faith .. or we are not firm at all

The Kingdom has come .. let’s rejoice and let’s share this good news again this Christmas .. of the ONLY way that we can love the Lord .. glorify Him and enjoy Him forever