Hope Is Already Ours! Series

Hope is Already Ours!

Isaiah 9:1-7

Introduction

- This morning, we concluded Chapter 8 with hope and strength to follow

- Because God has called us; because He stands WITH us; we have victory

- We were challenged to examine who we listened too; whom we followed

- And we examined the problem with following ourselves and our desires

- Tonight, let’s examine the truth of WHY we cannot follow ourselves

- Read Isaiah 9:1-7 / Pray

Point 1 – A great light is given (v1-3)

- NEVERTHELESS!! (Expound)

- Even with all these things going on; even with the rebellion and dishonor

- God still shows His love by giving us hope, a future; promise of tomorrow

- What love is this? (John 15 – Greater love has no man …)

- But it is SO much more than that (remember the order of love): Jesus said in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”

- APP: God loved; Jesus loved; and now we are called to obey

- How shall we live then? Are we to continue riding in the driver’s seat?

-- Romans 6:1-3 instructs, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

- Will we continue to sin and disobey God at every turn, or will we surrender

- God has given us a light of hope to follow, to see, to recognize

- The shadow of death (v2) brings gloom; it is not where we need to live

- God calls us to come out, to stop running and ducking; to live rightly

- But with sin in our life, we live in this shadow’s snare; lying to ourselves

- TRANS: With Christ in our lives, we are no longer slaves to sin!

Point 2 – There is no more slavery (v4-5)

- The Jews were delivered from the yoke of many oppressors

-- Exodus 18 talks of their deliverance from Pharaoh

-- Isaiah talks of the freedom to come from following God

-- Disciples taught of the freedom from sin and restoring of Grace

- This shadow’s lifting is the believer's deliverance from the yoke of Satan

- We each have this yoke around our neck until we ask for its removal

- Why is it then, that we continue to ensure it fits so snugly around us?

- APP: It is the Holy Spirit’s fire that removes this yoke of slavery

-- There is nothing else that takes it off, no other force or action can

- Isaiah 8:10 saying, “Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, FOR GOD IS WITH US.”

- So with this thought in place, ask yourself, “Who are you a slave too?”

- APP: Anything that takes focus off of God is a master (hobby, work, etc.)

- We all have this syndrome, it affects us all daily – so what will we do?

- It is done by giving it to the One who already paid it all; Jesus Christ

- TRANS: So what then; if we are to release this guilt/sin – how is it done

Point 3 – Because a child is born (v6-7)

- Isaiah was granted a vision of this child to be born

- Many had been waiting for this child to be born; many had been watching and hoping; and sadly though – many did not realize when He came

- This Child was born for the benefit of all, from the beginning to the end of the world.

- Jesus is to be called Wonderful, for He is both God and man to us; perfect

- He is the perfect Counselor; who has bore all your grief’s and burdens

-- Ever been sold out by a friend? Jesus had Judas Iscariot

-- Ever felt like you had no one to testify for you? Jesus had Simon Peter

-- Ever been left alone and helpless? Jesus had every disciple run and hide

- No one can ever teach you like Christ can; and we need His counsel today

- The outline for living here is simple and yet so much is lost in translation

-- We will be given a mediator, because we cannot earn God’s forgiveness

-- As the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us to God; we could never finish it

-- He is the Giver of peace in the heart and conscience; and when his kingdom is fully established, men shall war with God no more.

- The government shall be upon him; he shall bear the burden of it.