GOD'S GIFT OF LOVE

INTRODUCTION

THE PROBLEM: MISPLACED TRUST

[FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE]. HEY ISAIAH, NEED TO TALK TO YOU FOR A SECOND…COME ON BACK. AS YOU KNOW WE’VE BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEMS WITH MY BRIDE, JUDAH, ONE OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL. WHICH IS HOW SHE ENDED UP IN THIS MESS. WHEN ARE MY PEOPLE GOING TO LEARN TO TRUST ME? REMEMBER THE ASSYRIANS, THE BIG BAD AND BRUTAL ASSYRIANS? WELL THEY START GAINING MOMENTUM AND START HEADING JUDAH’S WAY AND ALL ALONG I’M LIKE TRUST ME, I’VE GOT YOU, BUT DOES SHE? NO! MY PEOPLE GET NERVOUS WHEN THE ASSYRIANS GET ABOUT EIGHT MILES OUTSIDE OF JERUSALEM SO THEY TAKE THEIR EYES OFF OF ME AN ENTER INTO AN ALLEGIANCE WITH THE ASSYRIANS CHOOSING TO TRUST THEM OVER ME. THEN THE ASSYRIANS EVENTUALLY BREAK THE TREATY AND I’M LIKE GOOD, NOW MAYBE MY PEOPLE WILL TRUST ME, BUT DO THEY? NO ISAIAH, THEY THEN LOOK TO THE EGYPTIANS FOR SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE AND ENTER INTO AGREEMENT WITH THEM. AND WHEN THAT FAILS DO THEY TURN TO ME? NO, THEY LOOK TO THE BABYLONIANS FOR SALVATION AND DELIVERANCE, PLACING THEIR TRUST IN THEM. AND THEN THE BABYLONIAN’S LET THEM DOWN AND CARRY THEM OFF TO EXILE. SO MY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN BONDAGE IN BABYLON. REALLY SAD. WHEN WILL SHE EVER LEARN TO STOP TRUSTING OTHER PEOPLE AND THINGS AND FALSE GODS OVER ME? THE THING ISAIAH THAT FRUSTRATES ME MOST ABOUT MY PEOPLE IS THEY JUST DON’T TRUST ME!

APPLICATION: CAN I STOP AND COME TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD REAL QUICK? JUDAH AIN’T THE ONLY ONE WITH TRUST ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO GOD. NO THERE MAY NOT BE LITERAL ASSYRIANS, EGYPTIANS AND BABYLONIANS THAT WE ARE TURNING TO, BUT WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO TRUST OTHER SOURCES. FOR SOME OF US WHEN LIFE GETS TOUGH OUR REFLEX REACTION IS TO RELY AND PUT OUR TRUST IN OUR ABILITY TO NETWORK…SO WE ARE ON THE PHONE, IN THE MEETING…WE DONE MET WITH EVERYONE ELSE BUT GOD. AND GOD IS SAYING HANG UP THE PHONE AND GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND LET’S JUST STOP AND PRAY AND MEET WITH ME. OTHERS OF US IT’S OUR MONEY, OUR SAVINGS, OUR 401K. THOSE ARE OUR ASSYRIANS, THE THINGS WE’VE MADE TREATIES AND ALLEGIANCES WITH TO FIND A SENSE OF PEACE AND EQUILIBRIUM. OTHERS OF US IT’S THAT PERSON WE HAVE PLACED OUR TRUST IN. SOME OF YOU YOU’RE TWENTY OR THIRTY SOMETHING AND IT’S STILL MAMA AND DADDY…THAT SPOUSE OR RELATIONSHIP…THAT’S WHERE WE TURN.

POINT: WE OFTEN TURN TO GOD WHEN OUR FOUNDATIONS ARE SHAKING ONLY TO DISCOVER IT’S GOD WHO’SE SHAKING THEM, BECAUSE HE WANTS TO REVEAL WHO ARE WE REALLY TRUSTING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. WHERE’S YOUR TRUST. JUDAH REVEALS THERE CAN BE NO LASTING SECURITY IN THIS WORLD OUTSIDE OF AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WHERE HE BECOMES YOUR ULTIMATE SENSE OF TRUST!

GOD’S COVENANT-

EXPLANATION: ISAIAH IT PAINS ME THAT MY PEOPLE DON’T TRUST ME…AND YOU KNOW I SENT YOU TO PLEAD WITH THEM TO TURN FROM TRUSTING OTHER THINGS AND PEOPLE AND TO TRUST ME, BUT BECAUSE THEY REFUSED WE ARE IN THIS MESS, AND NOW THEY’RE IN EXILE TO BABYLON, AND YOU KNOW HOW MISERABLE AND SAD THEY ARE. SAYS THAT WHEN THEY GOT TO BABYLON THEY SAT DOWN BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON AND WEPT. ISAIAH, MY PEOPLE ARE HURTING. SO HERE’S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO VERSE 1- COMFORT, COMFORT. THE WORD MEANS TO BREATHE, AND IT’S A PICTURE OF A PERSON WHO IS SO DISTRESSED, SO DOWN SO BEATEN UP AND MISERABLE THAT THEY ARE HEAVING AND SOBBING, AND SOMEONE COMES ALONGSIDE OF THEM AND RUBS THEIR BACK TELLING THEM TO BREATHE…ISAIAH THAT’S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO…IN FACT THE WORD COMFORT IS A COMMAND. HE’S COMMANDING ISAIAH TO BE AN EXTENSION OF GOD WHO RUBS THE BACK OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS MESS BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND GOD IS NOT BEATING THEM UP WHILE THEY’RE DOWN…THERE’S NO SEMBLANCE OF I TOLD YOU SO HERE… HE’S COMFORTING THEM.

ILLUSTRATION OF WHEN I WAS SIX AND DAD TOLD ME TO GET HIS SHAVING KIT AND NOT TO TOUCH THE RAZOR AND I DID AND WAS BLEEDING…WAS NOT MET WITH ANY I TOLD YOU SO’S ONLY MET WITH COMFORT.

APPLICATION: ALL OF US KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO MAKE A MESS OUT OF OUR LIVES. GOD IS SAYING I SAW YOU WHEN YOU HAD THE ABORTION AND NOW YEARS LATER YOU SEE THAT CHILD AND HOW THE CHILD YOU ABORTED WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME AGE AND YOU BEAT YOURSELF UP…I’M NOT HERE TO GREET YOU WITH A BAG OF I TOLD YOU SO’S…I’M HERE TO COMFORT YOU! NOT TO ENDORSE THE SIN, BUT I SEE YOU…YEH, I SEE YOU, YEH YOU THE ONE WHO BROKE UP THAT MARRIAGE. I’M HERE TO COMFORT YOU. YEH I SEE YOU, THE ONE WHO JUST CAN’T KICK THAT ADDICTION…I’M HERE TO COMFORT YOU!

EXPLANATION OF “MY PEOPLE”: THE MOST POWERFUL WORD IN VERSE 1 IS NOT COMFORT, HOWEVER…HE DOESN’T SAY COMFORT “THIS PEOPLE,” BUT “MY PEOPLE”. I IMAGINE ISAIAH SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE GOD, LET ME REMIND YOU, THIS PEOPLE DIDN’T JUST MESS UP ONCE, LIKE I’VE BEEN A PROPHET THROUGH FIVE DIFFERENT KINGS AND THEY’VE SINNED THROUGH JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM. THEY SINNED WITH THE ASSYRIANS, EGYPTIANS AND BABYLONIANS. IN FACT GOD, IF YOU WANT TO REWIND THE TAPE THESE PEOPLE BEEN SINNING SINCE BEFORE I GOT HERE. THEY SINNED IN EGYPT, IN THE WILDERNESS LEAVING EGYPT, IN THE PROMISED LAND. AND YOU STILL WANT TO CALL THEM MY PEOPLE. YEP, GOD SAYS. BECAUSE THAT’S MY BRIDE AND NOT MY GIRLFRIEND. I’VE TAKEN VOWS. WE’VE ENTERED INTO HESED WHICH IS COVENANTAL LOVE. SHE’S MINE.

POINT: WHEN DISTRESSED, REMEMBER GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER THAN YOUR MESS!

JACK AND JILL ILLUSTRATION…HE KEEPS TAKING HER BACK…LOOKS FOOLISH, AND GOD LOOKS FOOLISH!

APPLICATION: THIS MAYBE YOUR FIRST TIME BACK AT CHURCH IN A LONG TIME, AND YOU’VE BEEN OUT DOING YOUR DIRT AND DOING LIFE ON YOUR OWN TERMS. YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS MORNING GOD STILL SAYS OF YOU, THAT’S MY DAUGHTER. THAT’S MY SON. THAT’S MY CHILD. HE CLAIMS YOU THIS MORNING! WHEN DISTRESSED, REMEMBER GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER THAN YOUR MESS!

GOD’S CALL-

EXPLANATION: NOW I KNOW WHAT I JUST SAID MAY SOUND SCANDALOUS, OR THAT IT LOOKS LIKE I OR GOD AM NOT TAKING SIN SERIOUSLY. THIS IS NOT THE CASE. GOD TAKES SIN SERIOUSLY. WE KNOW THIS BASED ON VERSE 2. GOD SAYS LET’S CALL IT WHAT IT IS, WHAT MY PEOPLE DID IS SIN (INIQUITY)…AND YET, I WANT HER TO KNOW THAT HER SIN HAS BEEN PARDONED. THE WORD PARDONED IS VERY INTERESTING, IT MEANS TO RECEIVE WITH PLEASURE. IT’S A TECHNICAL TEMPLE TERM WHICH WAS USED OF THE PRIEST WHEN A PERSON BROUGHT A SACRIFICE THAT MET THE STANDARDS OF PERFECTION. IF IT MET THE STANDARD THEY WOULD RECEIVE IT WITH PLEASURE AND THEN SACRIFICE IT AS A PAYMENT FOR YOUR SIN. GOD SAYS THAT HE CAN CLAIM JUDAH AND YOU AND I AS “MINE” BECAUSE HE’S PAID OUR DEBT…AND NOWHERE IN THE TEXT DOES IT SAY THEY EVEN ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS. THAT’S RIGHT, GOD PAID IT.

ILLUSTRATION: BEING AT PF CHANGS…BILL WAS LIKE 30 BUCKS. ASKED FOR THE BILL SHE REFUSED TO GIVE IT TO ME SAYING SOMEONE HAD ALREADY PAID IT. I LOOKED AROUND AND DIDN’T SEE ANY FAMILIAR FACES…I KEPT LOOKING AND LOOKING AND LOOKING AND FINALLY LEFT.

POINT: IF YOU’RE IN CHRIST, GOD’S ALREADY PAID YOUR BILL ON THE CROSS. YES WE CONFESS AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS, BUT THE BILL HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID. SO STOP LOOKING AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND, AND START LOOKING UP, BECAUSE I’LL TELL YOU WHERE TO FIND THE PERSON WHO PAID YOUR BILL- IT’S GOD IN CHRIST ON THE CROSS! GOD CLAIMS YOU AS MINE NO MATTER WHAT WE’VE DONE BECAUSE THE BILL HAS BEEN PAID AND THE WAR HAS BEEN SETTLED. HIS ANGER HAS BEEN SATISFIED!

WHEN DISTRESSED REMEMBER GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER THAN YOUR MESS! HE FORGIVES US!

EXPLANATION OF THE CALL: BUT THERE’S MORE. “PREPARE” “STRAIGHT” IMPERATIVES/COMMANDS. GOD SAYS ISAIAH, I’VE GOT WORK FOR MY PEOPLE TO DO. RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF FORGIVING THEM, HE TELLS THEM I’VE GOT WORK, I’VE GOT A CALL ON THEIR LIVES. IN FACT …DO YOU KNOW THAT’S GOD TALKING TO JUDAH WHILE THEY ARE IN EXILE TO BABYLON BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN. GOD SAYS YOU’VE MESSED UP, AND I’M IN COVENANT WITH YOU SO YOU’RE MINE…BUT NOT ONLY THAT THERE’S MORE, I’VE GOT A CALL ON YOUR LIFE!

ILLUSTRATION: IMAGINE THIS PERSON WHO PAID MY BILL AT THE PF CHANGS CALLED ME AND SAID HI I LIVE IN PITTSBURGH AND I’M THE ONE WHO PAID YOUR BILL. CAN YOU FLY TO PITTSBURGH AND BABYSIT MY KIDS? I’M GOING TO BE LIKE SLOW YOUR ROLL…IT WAS ONLY 30 DOLLARS, I’M NOT FLYING TO PITTSBURGH. I’LL WRITE YOU A THANK YOU NOTE AND MAYBE GET YOU A FIVE DOLLAR GIFT CARD TO A COFFEE SPOT. BUT NOW IMAGINE THIS PERSON PAID MY MORTGAGE…I’M ON THE NEXT FLIGHT OUT AND I’M LIKE I’LL WATCH YOUR KIDS, AND POOKIE’S KIDS FOR A WHOLE MONTH…WHY?

THE GREATER THE REDEMPTION THE GREATER THE RESPONSE.

POINT: GOD’S FORGIVEN US ALL OF OUR SINS, AND NOW HE’S SAYING, I’VE GOT A CALL ON YOUR LIFE. YOUR MAMA MAY HAVE SAID YOU’RE NOTHING, BUT I SAY YOU’RE SOMETHING. YOUR DADDY MAY HAVE ABANDONED YOU, BUT I’VE ADOPTED YOU. PEOPLE MAY HAVE TREATED YOU LIKE DIRT, BUT I’M TREATING YOU LIKE A MASTERPIECE. I’VE GOT A CALL ON YOUR LIFE AND IT’S BIGGER THAN A JOB, MONEY, PRESTIGE, OR ANYTHING THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER.

WHEN DISTRESSED REMEMBER GOD’S LOVE IS GREATER THAN YOUR MESS!

(WELL WHAT IS THAT CALL? LET’S GO HOME ON THIS ONE)

GOD’S CHRIST-

EXPLANATION: READ THE VERSES…WHENEVER A KING IN ANTIQUITY WOULD COME TO A PART OF HIS KINGDOM FOR THE FIRST TIME HE WOULD NEVER TAKE PREVIOUS ROADS, BUT A NEW ROAD SPECIALLY MADE FOR HIM. WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS THE BUILDING OF A ROAD FOR THE KING, BUT IT’S A SPECIAL ROAD, A ROAD IN WHICH MOUNTAINS ARE BEING BROUGHT LOW AND VALLEY’S BEING LIFTED UP AND ROUGH PLACES BEING PLAIN. IN OTHER WORDS, HERE’S THE POINT BEHIND ALL THE IMAGERY- THIS IS A ROAD WHICH WILL NOT GO INTO ANY TROUBLESOME SPOTS, BUT WILL BE BUILT ON LEVEL STRAIGHT AND EVEN GROUND, GUARANTEEING THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING. ISAIAH’S POINT IS CLEAR: THIS KING IS COMING FOR SURE ON LEVEL GROUND, IT’S GUARANTEED. AND WHO IS THIS KING? IT IS JESUS! 750 YEARS IN ADVANCE HE IS GUARANTEEING AND PROPHESYING THEN COMING OF JESUS, AND INVITING PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF THAT. AND GOD IS SAYING TO SINFUL JUDAH WHO HAS REBELLED ALL OF HER LIFE, I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON YOU, BUT AM CALLING YOU TO BE A PART OF MY BIGGER PLANS, BY PREPARING FOR THE KING TO COME.

ILLUSTRATION: PALM BEACH AND MARA LAGO. A BIT OF A NUISANCE. WHEN AIR FORCE ONE COMES WITH THE PRESIDENT AIR TRAFFIC STOPS, ONLY THE PLANE CAN LAND. NOT ONLY THAT BUT ROAD BLOCKS GO UP, ROADS GET SHUT DOWN, TRAFFIC IS STOPPED. HE HAS A FRIEND WHO SERVES WITH THE POLICE THERE AND ONE OF HIS JOBS IS TO SET UP ROAD BLOCKS AND DETOUR SIGNS. IF YOU WERE TO ASK HIM WHAT HE’S UP TO HE’D SAY WE’RE GETTING READY TO RECEIVE THE PRESIDENT.

POINT: AND BOY DID JESUS COME. 750 YEARS LATER HE CAME. HE CAME IN THE MOST UNUSUAL OF WAYS. BORN TO A TEENAGED MOTHER, IN A MANGER NORMALLY USED BY ANIMALS

APPLICATION: THAT’S WHAT OUR LIVES ARE ALL ABOUT…THAT’S THE CALL. TO LABOR IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE ARE PREPARING PEOPLE TO MEET KING JESUS. HE CAME TO TOWN ONCE, AND HE’S COMING BACK AGAIN! HE WILL COME TO RESCUE HIS PEOPLE! AND WHEN HE COMES THE TRUMPET WILL SOUND AND AIR TRAFFIC WILL STOP!!!