Who's In Charge Here?
Notes
Transcript
Title: Who's in charge here?
Title: Who's in charge here?
Text:
Series: Book of Isaiah
Read:
Thus saith the Lord God,
It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
For the head of Syria is Damascus,
And the head of Damascus is Rezin;
And within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,
And the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son.
If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
Control is something all of us like to have a measure of....in my studies on counseling, one of the causes for anxiety is situations which are our of an individuals control.
In addition, part of the studies revealed that students who are experiencing uncontrollable abuse in their lives will resort to cutting themselves as a means to control their pain.
This lack of control can lead to anxiety which can lead to physiological complication with our hearts.
Our current text reveals that the circumstances surrounding the Kingdom of Judah were such that the heart of these people was moved. This means that it trembled.
Who was Ahaz?
Who was Ahaz?
He was the grandson of Uzziah.
He was a wicked king who:
led Israel into idolatry -
Burnt his children in the first -
burnt his children in the first -
whom God judged through Israel / Syria -
In spite of all of this, the Lord sends Isaiah with a message that is hopeful for Ahaz. It is a message that reminds Ahaz who is really in control.
It is a call to:
Proposition:
Proposition:
Believe that the Sovereign Lord is in control!
(1) There are enemy attacks (v. 1)
(1) There are enemy attacks (v. 1)
Though this confederate enemy did not ultimately prevail, they did have a measure of success against Ahaz -
The circumstances are enough to strike fear into the heart of any leader.
Principle:
Principle:
We need to believe in the sovereign Lord because there are troubling circumstances that will arise.
Illustration:
7163 Who is Enemy?
When World War I broke out, the War Ministry in London dispatched a coded message to one of the British outposts in the inaccessible areas of Africa. The message read: “War declared. Arrest all enemy aliens in your district.”
The War Ministry received his prompt reply: “Have arrested ten Germans, six Belgians, four Frenchman, two Italians, three Austrians, and an American. Please Advice immediately who we’re at war with.”
Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times (p. 1574). Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.
Application:
Application:
You will turn to something or something when circumstances get out of control physically: be these health issues, job issues, parenting issues, car trouble issues, Christian persecution issues....etc
The call of the Lord is to believe that he is in control.
(2) There are emotional affects (v. 2)
(2) There are emotional affects (v. 2)
When circumstances are troubling, we are typically impacted internally - our inner man.
Principle:
Principle:
The truth of God’s control, when this is believed, brings a peace and strength to the inner man.
Application:
Application:
Remember
Often times our emotions are ruled by anxiety, not because we do not know this truth; but because we are not actively believing and practicing this truth.
(3) There is an empathetic answer (v. 3)
(3) There is an empathetic answer (v. 3)
Of interest here is that the name “Shear-jashub” means that a remnant shall return. It was not uncommon for the Lord to have the prophet’s children named according to a message for the people. Hosea is another example of this.
Principle:
Principle:
When we recognize the sovereign Lord of the circumstance, we can receive this wonderful empathetic answer from Him.
Illustration:
Illustration:
Consider the persecuted brethren of Thessalonica and the message to them:
Application:
Application:
In these days, the Lord communicated through his prophets, but now he has communicated to us through his Son ().
Only those who have responded to the message of the Lord in Christ (seeing His preeminence) can experience the empathy that is offered.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
(4) There is an emphatic announcement (v. 4 - 8)
(4) There is an emphatic announcement (v. 4 - 8)
He first gives instruction to Ahaz (v. 4)
The Lord is showing how he knows the details of the enemies’ plans.
The Lord points out their plans to set a king upon this throne.
This cannot simply be seen as a threat to Ahaz but to God’s promise/covenant. SEE - house of David
They are not just speaking against Ahaz but against the Lord, and the Lord’s word cannot be broken.
Principle:
Principle:
We should believe in the sovereign Lord because He is faithful to His word.
Illustration:
Illustration:
Chris Watts was the husband of Shannon Watts. He was seen on national television as pleading for someone to help him find his wife....he did not keep his word....
Application:
Application:
Parents, you are not called to be the Lord of your child’s life. This is one of the tragedies of Christian families.
As parents, we should believe that the Lord is God alone.
We should point our children to a sovereign Lord.
Trying to control every outcome and every situation only shows how little we actually trust the Lord.
Illustration:
Illustration:
Helicopter parenting — hovering, smothering and generally not allowing a child to take on responsibility for life's experiences — is once again getting a bad rap.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota found that over-controlling parenting leads to a child's inability to manage his or her emotions and behavior. Researchers published their findings in a study in Developmental Psychology.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota found that over-controlling parenting leads to a child's inability to manage his or her emotions and behavior. Researchers published their findings in a study in Developmental Psychology.
You need no further call to believe God than what has been done in Jesus Christ.
(5) There is an expected acknowledgement (v. 9)
(5) There is an expected acknowledgement (v. 9)
The idea here is that if you are not firm in believing, you will not be firm at all.
It is a very ominous warning to Ahaz.
Here are the truths to keep in mind:
Regardless of Ahaz, God is going to keep his covenant with Judah.
Application:
Application:
If we truly believe that God is sovereign and faithful and his word cannot be broken, then our faith should be steadfast.
This does not change our circumstances, but it changes us in the circumstances.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
How does your response to God’s call in salvation reveal your belief in his sovereignty?
How does your anxiety reveal your belief in God’s sovereignty?
How does your parenting reflect the sovereignty of God?
How does your response to health problems reflect the sovereignty of God?
How does your response to rejection for Christ reflect the sovereignty of God?
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
WHO’S REALLY IN CHARGE HERE?
WHO’S REALLY IN CHARGE HERE?