A Nation's Deliverance Series

Series: The Rise Or Fall Of A Nation [#3]

A NATION’S DELIVERANCE

Obadiah 1:17-21

Introduction:

As we begin our 3rd sermon in this series, I want to remind you that Obadiah wrote this shortest book of the Old Testament probably soon after the armies of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. Our text shows that God will deliver His people.

Obadiah 1:17 (NIV)

17But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and Jacob will possess his inheritance.

God’s children will…

1. Receive their inheritance.

Mount Zion has been known as the City of David and the City of God. Mount Zion was right outside of Jerusalem and it is Mount Zion that there will be deliverance.

Romans 9:33 (NIV)

33As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

1 Peter 2:6 (NIV)

6For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

Our deliverance comes through the cornerstone, Jesus. Jesus delivers us from the enemy’s grasp. Our deliverance is holy- It is set apart. Our inheritance as Christians is the same as Jesus Christ receives.

Obadiah 1:18-21 (NIV)

18Jacob will be a fire and Joseph a flame; Esau will be stubble, and they will set him on fire and destroy him. There will be no survivors from Esau.” The Lord has spoken. 19People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will possess the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead. 20This company of Israelite exiles who are in Canaan will possess the land as far as Zarephath; the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad will possess the towns of the Negev. 21Deliverers will go up on Mount Zion to govern the mountains of Esau. And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.

God’s children will…

2. Receive victory.

Listed in our text is the many nations that had taken advantage of Israel. They will burn through their enemies with no problem because God is giving them the victory. It is God’s Kingdom.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (NIV)

54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our victory comes through Jesus Christ. Sin, death, Hell, and Satan have been defeated by Jesus. Part of our victory is spending eternity with God in Heaven.

Conclusion:

You must be thinking, “I thought this sermon was about Nations and not individuals”. The bottom line is a Christian Nation is made up of Christian individuals. We must lift up Christ to our community. Jesus is the difference between eternal destruction and deliverance.