Jesus Saves: Part II

Okay, we can get our Bibles out now and turn to Isaiah chapter, 19. You always welcome to follow along with your own Bible if you would like to sometimes that use various translations in English and other languages but I'll just read them to you in English usually from the ESV version but your Pew Bible is an NIV version. They're very similar or you can just follow along on the screen behind me and whatever version I'm using for a particular. Verse will be reference there for you. Welcome back to our series and Isaiah today, sermon is part, two of what we started last week, which was Isaiah 19 in a sermon that I titled. Jesus saves an insufficiency of counterfeit God's. So this is part 2 of that message. As we look at the second half of Isaiah, 19 number, we looked at the first 15 verses and to remind you if you weren't here last week, or if you forgotten about those verses, they were about Egypt and they were pronouncements against Egypt in the form of oracle's that were concerned with judgement. That's coming upon a nation Egypt as they continue to rebel against the one true God by worshiping and trusting and their gods and the things of the earth. And so Isaiah pointed out, the insufficiency of the things of the Earth. To save them from the Judgment that was coming. And that is coming, Egypt's leaders, both the religious priest, and the diviners, and the advisors, and the Pharaoh himself would not be able to deliver them from the turmoil. That is coming from the internal strife. That would be coming upon the land from the water and security that he mentions, which resulted in the great crop failures, the Nile River in which they trusted in as their life source. But they found life less and dry. And then the third natural thing of the earth that they were trusting in was human, wisdom in the form of their own philosophy and religious worldview that they believed was nested in the power of their gods. And so we saw those three sources of really unreliable security, that could not give Egypt an everlasting, peace and salvation from, what is coming? That Isaiah's was referring to. And so instead of trusting in their leaders to include their dinners and magicians and the Pharaoh himself, instead of trusting in the Nile River for their livelihoods and commerce. And instead of trusting in the wisdom of the Egyptian way of life and religious world, you Isaiah was saying, no, instead you should be trusting in the Living, God the god of Israel because only he is the one who can save, only, he would be the one to save Egypt and give them an everlasting peace and a provision that can never be taken away. And, you know, that's the same truth. Is made available to anyone today who turns and surrenders to the Lord. Jesus Christ, the security, the eternal security that the Lord Jesus Christ. And give anyone who comes to him today. Receives the Forgiveness of sins as a result of their faith in Jesus. They're guaranteed and given an eternal security in Christ that can never be taken away.

Those other sources of security are illegitimate. They don't last And Israel and Judah would be foolish to follow in the ways of Egypt. Trusting in their own, human wisdom against the will of God and entrusting in their own power and strength, and Military might. And by making alliances with other nations, That's what he gypped was doing but that's what Israel and Judah we're doing as well. And so the Lord for Isaiah is graciously, warning them, don't do it.

And so Israel and Judah are going to experience a similar to feed. But now in chapter 19 in the verses that follow, there's a major transition things are going to change for Egypt in the future. These are things that have not come to pass yet, but will come to pass at a future future date. So there's this major transition that's going to happen, but things are not only going to change for Egypt. They're also going to change for a Syria and Israel, if you've been following along with us and coming to UBC for some time, we've been going through the book of 1st and 2nd Kings, and, and Isaiah. And so you're very familiar with these nations like a Syria and Egypt and Israel and Judah. And what's been going on between them But the time is coming, when this chapter is telling us a time is coming, when they're all going to be worshiping Yahweh. They're all all going to be worshipping. The Lord Jesus Christ together, under the reign of our Messiah through the end of chapter, 19. How the Lord after this time of judgment, he's going to lead both his people and those who were formerly called not my people. So that's like the Egyptians in the syrians at all other nations. He's going to start calling them his people. And you know, this should not be surprising to anyone of us because God is not a God. Who shows any partiality, the god of scripture makes no distinction among nations. Instead, what he does make a distinction among our those who surrender to him, and those who resist him. This is not a new attribute of God or a new teaching. God is eternal, which means so are his attributes. He's been like this from the very beginning, remember Abram or oblong? I'm among those who surrendered to him like Abram. He blessed. And so, we took this man to become a father of many nations changing, his name to offer him. Ane used on Abraham to be a father of many nations and in doing so blessing, the nation's and he provided for them, he cared for them, he gave them an eternal future. We actually see this throughout all the scriptures, it's not a new testament, teaching, it's rooted firmly in the Hebrew scriptures. Beginning with Abraham to looking for 6, verse 16 of chapter 19. Now, it says in that day, the Egyptians will be like women and tremble with fear before the hand of the Lord of hosts, the shakes over them, and the land of Judah will become a tear to the Egyptians everyone to whom. It's mentioned, will fear because of the purpose that the Lord of hosts has purposed against them? That's what he's talking about here is, he's continuing in this pronouncement of judgment that's coming upon Egypt. He's further indicating that because the Egyptians were trusting in their in the wisdom of their advisors and counselors in the, in the Pharaoh and their religious leaders as well, because they were trusting and these sources of Authority for those for their salvation, these problems are continuing to come upon their Kingdom and it's all as a result of their rejection of God. All as a result of their clinging to foolish advice and Mets turning away from the living, I got the Living God, in two illegitimate sources of security. So the Lord demonstrates his power over them and it says they're going to tremble and when they do they're going to know that it's the god of Judah and in doing so they're actually going to turn back to him or to him for the first time. And so, what's so amazing is what happens next? And this is the most glorious part is we see that God doesn't leave them in that state of fear and trembling because something happens that changes God's disposition towards them and he changes them as a result of what has come upon them in the form of discipline. Their hearts get changed in their hearts actually turn to Yahweh. They turn to the god of Judah, the god of Israel. Another words, they turn to Christ there changed and they're saved. Look what it says in verse 18. In that day, there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord of hosts. What just happened? They were just worshipping the gods of Egypt. Allegiant the pharaoh to the Nile River. The wisdom of the Egyptian worldview. Something happened. They're going to be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing Allegiance. The Christ, the god of Israel. And says, one of these will be called the city of the Sun. You may have no translation the city of Destruction and that's because 12 Hebrew letters. Look, almost identical. So it could be translated either way but it's almost certainly the most likely, the city of the Sun and take notice of the repeated phrase here, where it says in that day it's used six times in this chapter and this is usually a reference to the return of the Messiah throughout the prophets, it describes or precedes, a time when Messiah will return and these things will be the case. They ask you at I'm at the end or in the future and it says five cities within Egypt. So these are going to be influential cities. They're going to influence the rest of the nation as well as others. And instead of despising the Israelites and the inhabitants of the land of Canaan which historically they did despise. They did not appreciate the Canaanites nor the residents of Canaan that all they hated them but there's now a complete reversal instead of their former attitude against the inhabitants of Canaan, they're actually going to be coming to this land speaking. The language of Canaan, some type of Semitic language probably Hebrew or Aramaic. But it's not just going to be a new language that they're speaking in a new place. We're going to be speaking but it's also. It also says, they're going to be declaring or swearing allegiance to the Lord of hosts since you always about Play. This is a word that is a phrase that is communicating their entire trust. And loyalty is going to be to the Lord God of Israel, the god of the armies of Israel, or the host of angels. That's what that phrase means. The Lord of hosts. And one of the cities that they're going to be worshiping Yahweh in. So this is at the time of the Messiah, you're going to be worshipping. Jesus member, he and the father are one. It tells us that one of those cities is going to be the city of the Sun. Okay great. Why is that significant? Well I know that in your translation it and they say the city of Destruction but you should have a note in your Bible that describes why this is most likely the city of the sun. And the reason it's significant is because there was an ancient city in Egypt called the city of the sun emit was referred to as heliopolis which in Greek means the city of the sun and it was originally Built To Worship the sun. God raw, there was actually monuments that were built there to this sun. God raw. And there were large oval East monuments that were were built and some of them have been excavated and even preserve, you can see those, but what's so interesting about this heliopolis for city of the sun? Which is now going to be dedicated to worshipping the Lord God of Israel? The Lord Jesus Christ. This used to be a city. That was devoted to the Egyptian false, god of the sun who formerly oppressed, the people of Israel. And more significant than that, is that during the time of Exodus, if you if you're taking notes right down, Exodus chapter one because go back and read it. You go back to Exodus one. We read that the Israelites built store houses store cities that were named Pete, Tom, and Ramses and the route of their Exodus was going to pass through those cities in additional place that it says they built for the Pharaoh was heliopolis. It said, the reason why this is significant is because it's taking us back to a time when Israel was in Egypt, but under very different circumstances because during that time there was suffering, there was a pression by the Egyptian Kingdom. But now in this future time under the reign of the Messiah, the oppressors become their subjects. And the Revolt that the roles are sort of reversed. And the reason I say, sort of reverse, is because the roles aren't only reversed because Egypt is not only a subject, but their Heirs of the Kingdom together with Israel, under the leadership of Messiah will become not just subjects to be ruled, but they will become family members together with believing Israel. And so under the rulership of this Messiah whom we know, as the Lord Jesus, his people don't just become subject to be disciplined. And ruled with an iron Rod know that's what the nation's inherit in Rebellion to him, but not those who turn to him and not those who turn to him today either. That should become rulers themselves and family members of the Living. God, who will live in perfect peace together who will rule and reign in righteousness together with Christ. And so, we're as the former ruler of Egypt over Israel who oppressed and abused and mistreated God's people. Egypt will now be ruled in drained, by the Living God, and all will be blessed and cared for, and comforted and provided for Then it says in verse 19 in that day, just going to be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pillar to The Lord At Its border and said that Taylor. That's mentioned herein interest 19. It's a reminder of the pillar that was built to the sun, god raw, the reminder of heliopolis. But in this day, there's going to be a pillar to Yahweh to the Lord and noticed that it's mentioned going to be, its mention, that is placed at the border. And the reason that that significance is because it's telling us, it's communicating to us that all who would come to the Messiah to his land at this time, we'll know that they're coming to the land of y'all way. The land of the Living God. Verse 20 it says it will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt and when they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and Defender and deliver them.

To see clearly hear that Egypt at this time has turned to the lord, they're crying out for a messiah and where they're in Hebrew is Moshe, which is our is, our is the Hebrew Transit is the Hebrew word for the English Messiah. They're crying out for messiah. And the Lord is gracious, and he sends them the Messiah to deliver them. This is the work of the Messiah. He's a savior and a deliverer, and he's a Defender against those who want to harm his people. But now his people include here, former enemies of his people Egypt, In verse 21, it says in the Lord, will make himself known to the Egyptians and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and they will worship with sacrifice and offering. And they will make vows to the Lord and perform them and so as the Lord reveals himself to the Egyptians and they submit their lives to him and their allegiance to him, if you can to worship him and it says with sacrifice and with offerings, and no, these are not the types of sacrifices to atone for sin. And Merit, some type of righteousness, for themselves through offering an in sacrifice. Now, these are acts of worship It's about this time. Even though the people are not under the old Covenant, their continuing to bring sacrifices and offerings of praise. These are acts of worship and Devotion to the Lord. And so we do that today as well. When we bring tithes and offerings, or when we meet together and fellowship and make sacrifices for one another, in the Name of Christ and hopefully they're joyful sacrifices because when we do that, we're demonstrating in a very tangible way, that we love God. And we believe that he sovereign, we believe that what we have belongs to him first. Remember we are stewards of what he has given us and this is the rightful response that we see here in Egypt of what worship looks like among God's people for those who experienced God's Deliverance, his forgiveness, his salvation. This should be the natural outworking of God. Spirit at work in you and evidence of the sincerity of your faith that you actually want to serve the Lord, you want to give. Thanks to him. You want to worship him and make sacrifices. To the Living God because you're grateful in your heart for what he's done for you. You know, one thing that gets in the way of that, it gets in the way of our worship of the lord. It's not understanding. But I'm not talking about intellectual understanding as a concept. Know, I'm talking about allowing the truth of God's word and the truth of what God has done for you through the Forgiveness of sins to confront you The Boombastic Invictus of our sins so that we can see the depth and the depravity of our sin. But then be all the more grateful for what he's done for us for his forgiveness and is full acceptance of us. The pride gets in the way of that cuz when we don't see the ugliness of our own pride and our own sin and the own destructiveness of our own sin, we miss out on the feeling and the understanding of the greatness of God. We miss out on really grasping his forgiveness and the depth of his salvation and intern. Responding and faithfulness gratitude serving the lord. Making sacrifices offering this as well to him until the more we realize just how sinful we really are and what God has done for us. The more gratitude we can express in our worship, But the opposite is true as well. The less we understand our own depravity and sinfulness the less. We will joyfully be serving the lord ingratitude and faithfulness So we can learn from Egypt here regarding the rightful response that they had before the Living God. This is the way that every single person can come to the Lord and be forgiven of their sins. Have a great reason to celebrate and praise him. So, it's a beautiful model of the faithful response to the work of Christ in your life. And a 22A tells us how God does that, how he produces that in your heart. Says, the Lord will strike, Egypt, striking and healing and they will return to the Lord and He will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them.

So this is rehearsing the means by which the Lord will draw Egypt to himself and save them. It will be a result that says of his discipline. But then also not only his righteous discipline, He'll he'll do respond to him as a father in the repentance and then in faith will be healed.

Our God is merciful. He listens to our pleas for Mercy. Our God is a God who heals scripture says that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. And in this verse here, we're reminded of the need for God to discipline us, the need for the Lord to strike us so that he can heal us. We need God to discipline Us in love to show us where we're wandering in a relationship with him. We were wandering off, living in sin, following the desires and patterns of The Flash in Rebellion to him.

The Lord wakes us up. Alarcon rebuked Us in his word as we're reading a scripture and sends come to mind that. We know, we need to repent of. It can be through another fellow believer. These are all gracious instruments of God's healing but they involve a little bit of pain because it has to confront a cancer. Something that is disease within us that has to be removed. It can be painful. But the Lord shows us the consequence of our sin and he wants to show us how sin affects our lives in ways that are not pleasant. Yes, no one wants to be struck in that sense, but God is merciful and he does it so that he can heal us so that we would repent that, we would return back to him and faith that we would. Learn that, yes, there are consequences for my sin. But the lord loves you and he wants to heal you. And so this is necessary. A good father. Disciplines his son scripture says that

Looking for 23. Now, it says, in that day, there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. And Assyria will come into Egypt and Egypt into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. Read that closely friends. The nation's. That came against Israel who came against the Living God to destroy them. Have been born again from above They repented, they've turned to the Lord and have been saved and have become members of the kingdom of God. And as members of the kingdom of God at this point, they're traveling freely to worship the Living God, and to have fellowship with the god of Israel and with one, another former enemies of Israel and former enemies of each other Israel against Syria or you think of Syria against Israel. Syria against Egypt, Egypt against the Syria, all the former enemies. Now United in a perfect, peace with one Messiah, one God in their midst.

A 24. This is the fifth repetition of the phrase in that day. Israel will be third with Egypt and Assyria a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of host. Has blessed saying Blessed. Be Egypt my people. And Assyria the work of my hands and Israel. My inheritance. So here we see a beautiful 2 verses that honor Israel as a third together with Egypt and Assyria being a blessing to the entire Earth. And it's at this point that we're reminded of God's promise to Abraham and Isaac and the Jacob that all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. That means through Abraham Any reiterates that through Abraham's son. Isaac. And then to Isaac son Jacob and Jacob Sons All Israel. So, at this time, the fullness of time has come the time of the Messiah is upon the Earth. And when this happens, Israel has fulfilled her Covenant purposes in the plans and purpose of God. For what? And bringing the nation's to know, the Living God and introducing the Nations to their God, who were former who they were former enemies against. And the result of this encounter, as we've seen, is a Salvation and a unity in the Messiah. There's one God and there's one people under the Living God and Israel it says his blessed to have been the first born The Inheritance. It says, do the ones to whom that mission was initially given to make known the greatness of the Salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so now all of them, the Israelite nation and then the non-israelite Nations there under one kingdom of God, and it should not be missed that. I'm do. These nations are one under the kingdom of God. They're also still distinct. Did you see that? Their distinctiveness has not disappeared. They still have a land and an identity and a name as does Israel but their citizens together of the kingdom of God. God wants you. He wants us as followers of the one true God to be a blessing to the nation's by introducing and inviting them to the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's his kingdom. And God's ultimate goal. As we've seen in this chapter is not to destroy people, not the former enemies either. His purpose is always, rent has always been to bring them to worship him together and he does that here with Egypt and Assyria and Israel. The purposes of God are to save and not to destroy. Our God is Lord of all the Earth and he's not like the other false gods. The false gods are self-serving and their Petty. Our God is self-giving and his gracious. And since he's the only God, he will treat all people who repent even Egyptians and Assyrians and Israelites. The people of Judah, the same way as he treats his own, he shows no partiality. And so is Egypt will learn at this time that trusting and anyone or anything apart from God. For their salvation is self-defeating, these false hopes were found to be inadequate. They were found wanting after being tried for centuries, but it's a lesson for all of us. It's a lesson for all of humanity because Humanity usually turns to these three things. These three veneers of trust when it comes to making sense of life, especially under dire circumstances. And so what we read about here, concerning Egypt is really pointing out to all of humanity. The way of all of us. When we turn away from the Living, God place our faith and trust in illegitimate sources, that cannot save. And those three things that you Manatee is tempted to trust in when running running away from God. Human wisdom, the natural environment in the spiritual world. And the problem with placing your trust in these three things, is that each of those three things are, derived from the created world, I saw the source of your salvation cannot come from within creation itself but must be outside of creation. Namely, the one who created it all and in whom all things are held together. Want to leave us with what Paul says in Colossians, 1 verse 15 and describing the Lord Jesus Christ. He says he is the image of the invisible. God, the firstborn of all creation for by him. All things were created in heaven and on Earth, visible and invisible, whether Thrones our dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through him. And for him, He is before all things and in him all things, hold together.

How foolish it is to trust in created things for our Salvation. The Roman poets used to make fun of the Egyptian religion and their writings and Roman poet rights concerning the Egyptians that they worship Gods, which they grew in their backyards. I'd ruin their own Gardens, But the irony is that the Roman religion was no better. They accommodated the Greek religious views of the gods. They gave them their own names and essentially did the same things that the Egyptians were doing. You can read about Paul's response and Acts chapter 17. When he's walking through the streets of Athens says he got so vexed in his Spirit. Seeing at the rampant idolatry, in the worship of created stone images of false gods, And trinkets that were being sold in the marketplace out of silver. He got so vexed that he had to speak out. And so he goes to the areopagus which was a place to do just that it was a public place where official matters could be discussed publicly regarding religion or political Affairs, he goes. And he gives a speech. You can go read it later this week and acts 17, but he basically says, To the Athenians. It says you guys are so religious. as I was walking through the marketplace, I even saw among all of your gods and Idols that you worshipped and created You were even afraid of not offending one God, whom you thought you might be ignorant of. So you build a statue to an unknown God and labeled it just that And Paul says, we know what you're right. To the one, you missed him, I declare unto you and he shares the gospel with them. And the result of that. Speech, cause significant mockery. but it also says that many were saved many listen to him and wanted to hear more It's a God calls us as Believers to be at work in history and inviting the nation's to know him. God wants us to be used as instruments of his Blessing to All Nations.

I wonder how willing we are to be God's instruments of blessings to the nation's.

because what we've been studying are examples of Nations, we're called by the name of the Lord, Israel and Judah but also those Who are former enemies of the god of Israel, all of which were not interested. Making the nation's understand and know the love and power and forgiveness and Covenant blessings of the one true God.

As we come to prayer. Now, I want us to make this personal and we can Call Verizon and talk to the Lord. Now, and we can say father

We confess that we have failed in our own lives. By refusing to acknowledge that having received your forgiveness that you have a plan and a purpose for us to share the gospel with the nations, with the neighbor co-worker were to have compassion for Those whom right now. We feel like our enemies could be someone. We consider, so ungodly aligned with a political party or a people group or something that we just despise and Lord we just feeling anger and resentment in our chest gets tight than our mind thinks evil thoughts about them. But Lord, this was Egypt. And your word says that you have the power to discipline. Enemies and make them your own family members. So who are we to think that we should not have that same love in our hearts for the Nations for those who reject you In no small way. Who are your declared enemies? Father, we pray that you would turn their hearts to the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray. Lord that you would heal them that they would cry out to you for forgiveness. And we pray, Lord that even in our prayer life, we would stay watchful with Thanksgiving and remember the purpose for which you called us. Or we want to be used, introduce the nation's to Jesus. So we pray for more of your love, in our hearts, to compel us to speak the truth in love. It's not to be deceived by our flesh and Lord be praised that if there's anyone here this morning, who doesn't know you, who wants to turn their hearts to the loving and perfect father of all creation. That today would be the day of salvation. They returned to the Lord Jesus and be saved confess their sins to you. Say yes. Lord. I want to be a member of your kingdom. I want to receive your forgiveness. I believe that I'm deserving of the Judgment. That Egypt was deserving of butt in your kindness and mercy. I called out to you. And you will save me cuz your word says you will do that. It's a father. We also pray for the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit to encourage and strengthen Believers here. This morning to resist sin and to follow Jesus Lord, we honor you with our lives today in this week, as we consider the relationships and opportunities, you give us to declare the truth of your word. And if your kingdom to those around us, in Jesus name, we pray. Amen.