Isaiah 66 God's Ultimate Victory Series

Isaiah 66

God’s Ultimate Victory

True Worship vs. 1-2

False Worship vs. 3-4

Persecution for God’s People vs. 5-6

Prosperity for God’s People vs. 7-14

The Final Judgement vs. 12-24

Intro:

We are in the last chapter of the book of Isaiah

66 chapters done in 45 messages over 54 weeks

What a wonderful ride and look into the depths of God goodness and comfort

Throughout his book, Isaiah has presented us with alternatives:

Trust the Lord and live, or rebel against the Lord and die.

He has explained the grace and mercy of God and offered His forgiveness.

He has also explained the holiness and wrath of God and warned of His judgment.

He has promised glory for those who will believe and judgment for those who scoff.

He has explained the foolishness of trusting man’s wisdom and the world’s resources.

The prophet calls the professing people of God back to spiritual reality.

He warns against hypocrisy and empty worship.

He pleads for faith, obedience, a heart that delights in God, and a life that glorifies God.

There is no peace,’ saith the Lord, ‘unto the wicked’ for in order to have peace, you must have righteousness.

The only way to have righteousness is through faith in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah’s message has been, “Be comforted by the Lord!”

But God cannot comfort rebels!

If we are sinning against God and comfortable about it, something is radically wrong.

That false comfort will lead to false confidence, and that will lead to the chastening hand of God.

Read Isaiah 66:1-4

Transition:

True Worship vs. 1-2

Vs 1 has to be one of the most humbling verses in the Bible

Heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool

We get that God’s throne is in heaven.

Rev 4-5 gives us this wonderful picture of what it will be like

It’s the picture of earth being his footstool that shows us how really small we are

A footstool is a small piece of furniture that supports the tired feet of its owner

And it’s not that we are his footstool but this big blue marble we live on is the footstool

We are a minuscule speck that exists on earth

This verse shows the majesty of God and our smallness

Is it done to belittle us? Maybe a little, but it is really done to show us who deserves our worship

He gives us a picture of how big God really is

The danger is when we try to bring God down to our size

God does not live in buildings; He dwells with those who submit to Him

1 Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!”

This is the amazing miracle of God

He is too big for our buildings but first perfectly in our hearts

Is 57:15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

He inhabits eternity and our hearts at the same time

Where is the house that you will build Me? . . . But on this alone I will look: on Him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word:

We may want to serve God - but serve Him our way.

We may want to build God something, but what can we build that is worthy of God?

Instead, what God really wants from us is a poor and a contrite spirit, and to tremble at His word.

Contrite is literally “‘lamed’ or disabled, here used with spiritual significance: one who is aware of the damage wrought by sin, of personal inability to stand upright before God.”

Ps 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit

A humble and contrite person isn't impressed with themselves and are aware of their sin

Are you one of those who trembles at God’s word?

Spurgeon says “They tremble at the searching power of God’s Word. Do you never come into this place and sit down in the pew, and say, ‘Lord, let your Word search me and try me, that I may not be deceived’?

Many people in the church today are unaffected by the word of God

Trembling is not just hearing, or even applying, but when we hear it shakes our world

It shows us our sinfulness and desperate need for a savior

False Worship vs. 3-4

In Isaiah’s day, were God’s people trembling at His Word? No, they were not.