Isaiah’s Warning To Today’s World Series

Isaiah, Part 2

Isaiah’s Warning to Today’s World

Isaiah 2:1-22

Introduction

- Welcome to Seasons! We are so glad that you’ve come to worship with us!

- Last week, we discussed the revelation of Isaiah to God’s people

-- If there was any encouragement we must takeaway it was this:

• Faithfulness to God is more than performing ceremonially, ritualistic stuff

• It is an eagerness to live for, to worship freely, and to testify about … Him!

-- Isaiah unashamedly gives us great insight into what irritates God – “warning”

- Beginning this week, we will look at a further breakdown of Chapter 1

-- Chapters 2 to 5 contain encouragements/wisdom for present and future Judah

-- FACT: Judah’s residents were being forsaken by God because of their rebellion

- Simply stated: Judah preferred the world’s “things” over following God

-- Lesson: God will allow you to make dumb choices and hold you accountable

-- The application of God’s ways are found in the way Isaiah presents this to us

-- Isaiah is not an easy book to study; but it is necessary for right here and now

- Will do this in a read & unpack format instead of reading all at once / Pray

- TR: Let’s start with undeniable wisdom – are you ready?

Point 1 – We must understand: God is always in charge

- Read Isaiah 2:1-4

- Setup: This is intro to prophecy; this will happen “in the last days” (v2)

-- What? God will establish His house, and it will be exalted above ALL things

- APP: The House is the Heavenly realm, the place where His authority is

-- We will see this more in Chapter 6, but we’ve also seen this in Revelation 4

-- Isaiah refers to a time when people will go “up” there and seek wisdom (v3)

- Why? Because there is knowledge to be had, instructions on how we must live!

-- Isaiah is seeing a time when God will call His children to fellowship with Him

-- He sees God’s wisdom going out to all lands and nations, even settling wars (v4)

-- This is a great word: God’s wisdom will be what leads nations to draw to Him

-- FACT: But in order to gain wisdom you have to be teachable - must desire it

- Preach: We must see the truth of God’s authority – it’s still in place today

• God’s commands are not undone by “feelings”; we cannot hide from them

• Our feelings and preferences will never replace God’s authority over us

• This means that not liking it doesn’t mean it undoes it; that is pride talking

• Meaning? Sin must still be repented of and abandoned in order to follow

• APP: We cannot choose the things we like over God and call ourselves His

- TR: This becomes evident because of a very simple truth for all time …

Point 2 – Proclamation: God will be the only one exalted!

- Read Isaiah 2:5-9

- Look at the description of the people that Isaiah lives among:

-- (It’s ~700 BC) Must see their condition and note: God has rejected their things

• They are in love with pagan symbols, their customs and rituals (v6b)

• They value their status and possessions over faithfulness to God (v7)

• Their land is filled with idols to god’s that are not to be worshiped (vv8-9)

• CHALLENGE: What are we exalting today that is not of God?

- Read Isaiah 2:10-18

- Understand the warning to all people who choose their ways over God:

• When He comes, enemies will crawl into the caves; they will hide in the dust

• Human pride (haughtiness) will be brought down (humbled before God)

• Even the mountains will be brought down; cities laid to waste (crushed)

• Yes, even our pride in all of our accomplishments will not stand before God

• Only God will stand on day of His judgment (He will still be praised)

- Preach: You might ask, why does this matter today?

• Must realize: Only He is worthy; only God can truly be called “good”

-- Let me give you some homework (not now): Go home and read Mark 10:17-31

-- See if you can identify what is truly “good” in view of, in the eyes of, Heaven …

• Have to see the warning for the future (v11): It is God who will be lifted up

• ANS TO QUES: We must live like this now; must turn our hearts to Him

- Yes, our works will be rewarded – but it is God who will be exalted!!

-- Ref bottom of handout, these are the only “rewards” promised in Heaven:

-- But the glory of the rewards is still the Lord’s; it is God who is worshiped!