God Is Not Confused About This War. Are You?

GOD IS NOT CONFUSED ABOUT THIS WAR. ARE YOU?

Primary Text: Isaiah 1:1–20 (ESV)

Supporting: Psalm 2:1–6 | 2 Chronicles 7:14–15 | Isaiah 40:28–31 (ESV)

Rev. Kelvin L. Parks, M.A.

C3PT Kingdom Culture Ministries | Apopka, Florida

This sermon was born in a dream. Isaiah 1 was given in the night season.

This preacher fell asleep to Isaiah 1 ... and woke up in Isaiah 40.

LITURGICAL OPENING — PSALM 34:1–8 (ESV)

(v1) I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

(v2) My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

(v3) Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

(v4) I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

(v5) Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

(v6) This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

(v7) The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

(v8) Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

(Psalm 34:1–8, ESV)

GREETING

Good Morning ... and too, God be the Glory!

I greet you in the matchless name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

And there is a Word from the LORD ...

So let us turn our hearts and our Bibles to the prophet Isaiah ... chapter 1, beginning at verse 1. As we move through the sermon today we will also be visiting the Psalms ... chapter 2 ... Second Chronicles ... chapter 7 ... and before we are done ... the Lord is going to carry us to Isaiah 40. But we begin in Isaiah 1.

When you find it ... please say Amen.

PRIMARY TEXT — ISAIAH 1:1–4; 10–20 (ESV)

(v.1) The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

(v.2) Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: "Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.

(v.3) The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand."

(v.4) Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged.

(v.10) Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

(v.11) "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" says the Lord; "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats."

(v.15) When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood.

(v.16) Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,

(v.17) learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

(v.18) "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord: "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

(v.19) If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

(v.20) but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

Turn to your neighbor and say ... Neighbor — GOD IS NOT CONFUSED ABOUT THIS WAR. ARE YOU?

You may be seated ...

GOD IS NOT CONFUSED ABOUT THIS WAR. ARE YOU?

PRAYER

Father ... the task of teaching Your Word is once again in my keeping.

I commit myself to do the very best that I can. Clear my mind of distractions. Warm my heart with compassion. Fill my soul with faith in Your goodness and power.

Speak to me ... that I may speak for You. Speak through me ... that I may speak to those who wait to hear Your unadulterated gospel.

Right now, Lord ... remove self. Remove pride. Increase in me and I decrease in You. Hide me behind Your cross.

Lord ... the world is shaking. Wars are being started. Bombs are dropping. Refugees are fleeing. People are hungry. And the men who claim Your name are spending billions on weapons while millions cannot eat. Your people need a Word that is bigger than what the news can give us.