America – “Judgment or Salvation?”

Scripture Text Isaiah 65

In this chapter God was preparing to judge the nation of Israel. What happened to the nation of Israel is destined to repeat it’s self in our beloved nation if we don’t repent and turn to God. This nation cannot go unpunished if we continue to reject God and His word.

I. Vs. 1-7 The Lord said that although He had constantly been presenting Himself and His love to Israel time and time again, they had rejected Him and they continued to be stubborn, independent, and evil which made judgment necessary. They provoked God by;

(a) Worshiping idols in their pagan gardens offering sacrifices and incense to them.

(b) Being involved in necromancy (supposedly consulting the dead for advice about the future, while sitting among the graves. Witchcraft, fortune telling, palm reading, seances which is seeking to communicate with the dead, and Satan worship!

(c) Disregarding God’s dietary laws which He had given them to keep them healthy.

(d) Being religiously arrogant, holier than thou till they became as repulsive and irritating to Him as smoke in a person’s nose. Because of their sins, the Lord would judge them. The consequences of sin had to be faced; God would pay them back in judgment for their continual idolatrous worship in high places and for disregarding Him and His laws.

II. VS. 8-12 In God’s judgment, a remnant will be preserved.

Though judgment was addressed to the whole nation, it will not be total. As a few grapes are left when vineyards are gleaned, so a remnant will be left who will return to the land (possess My mountains) and cultivate it, and pasture their flocks there again. Those that loved the Lord, trusted Him and lived for Him would be spared.

III. V: 11-12 On the other hand people are destined for slaughter if they do not trust the Lord, and if they disregard the temple on God’s holy mountain. Fortune and Destiny were names of gods Israel worshiped in her attempts to know the future. Food and drink were set before those idols to seek to please them. Such people, God said, is doomed to die by the sword, for they refused to listen to Him and deliberately chose to go on sinning against God.

IV. Vs. 13-16 The consequences of righteous living differ from those of wicked living.

 Contrasts between people who are the Lord’s servants and those who have departed from Him are dramatically presented in these verses. His servants will eat... drink, and rejoice, while the rejecters will be hungry... thirsty, and shamed. God’s servants will sing for joy whereas the rejecters will wail, be cursed, and put... to death. God’s servants... will receive another name, that is, will be given a new character by a new birth, so that they will take oaths honestly (by the God of truth.) God will forget their previous difficulties and sins because of His grace. In that day, when the wrongs of earth are righted, people will use the name “the God of truth” when they bless themselves or when they take an oath. In other words, God will be acknowledged as the One who brings His plans to pass, who does as He says He will do.

V. Vs. 17-25 The Lord will establish a glorious kingdom in which peace and righteousness will flourish right here on earth. Throughout the chapter, as well as throughout the book, the prophet implicitly pleaded for the people to place their trust in the Lord, to worship Him, and to live righteously according to His word and they would be the recipients of a new heaven and earth. One in which no sin or evil exists.

The need for new heavens and a new earth is suggested in Isaiah 51:6. During the Millennium Jerusalem will be a place of joy (65:18). Also the Lord Himself will rejoice over it, for sorrow will be vanished (v. 19). Though death will still be present, life spans will be extended (v. 20) and people will enjoy safety and the produce of their vineyards (vv. 21-22). God’s blessing will be on their work and families (v. 23) and He will speedily answer their prayers (v. 24). Wild animals will lose their ferocity and harmony and safety will prevail under God’s good hand, On His holy mountain.

Invitation: Make sure you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you know Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord.

If you don’t know for sure make sure today before it’s eternally to late! Confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to save you and invite Him into your life to lead, guide, and direct you.

Why Prayer?

When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, the bible tells us the veil in the Temple was torn from top to bottom allowing God’s people to enter His presence. [Mark 15:37-38] We now have the privilege to enter God’s presence through prayer any time night or day with any petition or need. We don’t need a priest as in the O. T. Throughout the bible we see the power of prayer. All great moves of God begin with prayer. we receive blessings thru prayer. God works through His people’s prayers.

1. God invites us to come before Him in prayer.  Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV) ⁷ "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Present tense shows that the answer to prayer is more than just a promise for the future. The person who perseveres in prayer possesses the answer now. Perhaps the thing has not yet happened, but by faith the believer knows that God has heard his prayer.

2. Through prayer we receive God’s mercy and grace in time of need.

The bible says in Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

3. Through prayer we receive wisdom from God. Jeremiah 33:3 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' God invites us to ask of Him and He promises that He will answer us and show us great things, mighty things. Things we need to know about our situation!

4. Prayer proves our faith and trust are truly in God. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a (rewarder) of those who diligently seek Him.

5. Prayer keeps us dependent on God and not on ourselves or any human being. Prayer gives us confidence in God as we commune with Him.  Read Ps. 23:1

6. Through prayer God releases His power and strength. Acts 4:31 (NKJV)  And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Psalms 68:34-35 (NKJV) ³⁴ Ascribe strength to God; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds. ³⁵ O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places. The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV) He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.

7. Prayer keeps us from temptation. Matthew 26:41 (NKJV)
⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." The only cure for temptation to doubt and fear is prayer because we are weak in our flesh! In prayer we become strong!

8. Through prayer we are given peace and security. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

9. Through prayer we receive salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)
⁹ If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Invitation: Do you need salvation today? It is received by Asking Jesus to forgive your sins and confessing Him as your Savior and Lord, and believing in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead. God promises you will be saved!