Summary: The words of Isaiah offer hope because it shows us that we don’t have to suffer sin’s consequences! However, God is prepared to judge if we are unwilling to repent and come to Him, through Jesus, for the forgiveness of our sins.

Isaiah, Part 24

God’s Wisdom to the Wicked

Isaiah 59:1-21

- Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you’ve come to worship today

- Last week, we saw Isaiah amplify that obedience to God brings God’s blessings

-- God was so serious about His commitment to humanity He provided rescue

-- His rescue came through a Messiah who brings peace to us: Messiah is Jesus

-- Personal: What will we do with this knowledge? Will we accept or reject it?

- Today, Isaiah continues this teaching as we near the conclusion of this series

-- My prayer: These past 6+ months have strengthened your faith to share!

-- What I want to call out in advance, is the juxtaposition of two main topics

-- Sin and it’s results VS. the promises of God (IF we will repent of our sins)

-- OBV: Heaven is the result, but what about here and now? Is any hope here?

- PRAY

Point 1 – The problems that sin causes

- Read Isaiah 59:1-8

- Need to see the problems that sinful behavior brings into our life (vv1-2)

• The is unmistakable: God could save the wicked and hear their prayers

• His power (“Lord’s arm”) is able to save us from our sinful lives

• He is able to hear our cry for rescue; but we deny Him (today problem)

- Why? Sin separates humanity from having access to God (obstruction; wall)

• He must turn His face from sin; which means we become separated

• RE: The first sin was committed in Heaven – the sin of PRIDE

• This was later repeated by our denial to obey God’s commands!

- Sin’s payment is why Jesus cried out on the cross (Matt 27:46) – He became SIN

-- MEANING: All of the weight and judgment FOR our sin was placed on Him

-- RESULT: The fellowship He once had with His father was broken (abandoned)

-- Sin is a trap: See the result of desiring it over fellowship with God: Psalm 66:18

- Many wonder why God cannot be with sin; Why: b/c His glory outshines it!

-- He calls us to be holy; to come out of our sin; to reject the filth that it is!

-- When you compare the offensiveness of sin to His majesty -- no comparison

- Our sinful behavior ruins us; Look at what we do and who we are (see vv3-8):

• Hands of murders; fingers filthy w/ sin; lips full of lies;

• Mouth spews corruption; we conceive deadly plans of deceit

• Violence is our trademark; we are vipers and snakes bent on pain

• We deceive ourselves in trying to hide sin; we plot schemes of malice

• We flood our minds with evil thoughts, we become what God hates

• We even (deadly) mislead others and become a stumbling block to them

- Just looking at these verses is enough to convict every one of us today

-- Universal conclusion: We are all guilty of sin; b/c our hearts are selfish/corrupt

-- And from it, we are shown the path before us that leads to destruction

Point 2 – The ruthless impact of sin

- Read Isaiah 59:9-15

• V9: Lawlessness: Become people who show no justice

• V9: Disappointment: darkness, gloom, despair, hopelessness

• V10: Spiritual blindness: grope for support and direction (as a blind man)

• V10: A life of death: No spiritual growth or true life to be found

• V11: Anger and suffering: desperation for justice yet finding none

- Now, see what Isaiah does here on behalf of the people He loves …

-- He understands who the people are, and so on their behalf He confesses & prays:

• They need to confess their sin (v12a)

• They need to confess their hypocrisy and rebellion (v12b)

• They need to confess their oppressive behavior (v13b)

• They need to confess their unrighteous and dishonest conduct (v14)

• They need to confess their persecution of the righteous (v15)

- BIG: Want to know why people won’t listen to call to repent and come to God?

-- Take a look at verse 15a … PREACH: see results of pride/self-righteousness

Point 3 – God’s promises: Judgment and Salvation

- Read Isaiah 59:15b-21

- KNOW: choosing evil: will face a holy and righteous judge (God; Creator)

-- He will not allow us (world; created) to continue to rebel and live/love our sin

-- If we continue then we will reap what we have earned: Romans 6:23

See God’s preparation: (v17)

• He clothes Himself in righteousness (justice) and salvation (redemption)

• He clothes Himself in vengeance (revenge) and zeal (passion)

See God’s judgment: (v18)

• He will execute perfect justice; will repay exactly what is due to each sinner

• He will judge all enemies of the Earth who oppose Him (b/c of our sin)

- HOPE: For those who repent: we are given a magnificent promise (vv19-21)

-- CHALL: See the result of the Messiah’s kingdom as our reward (gratefulness):

1. The people will honor the name of the Lord; they will worship His glory

2. The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem (Zion) to buy back the repentant

3. The Lord will then fill the repentant with His Spirit and His Words

Romans 8:18 comes to mind here when we consider what God will do for us!

BIG IDEA

- Last week, heaven rejoiced because another gave their life to Him here

-- A few weeks ago, we had another willingly pray to receive and repent of sin

-- This morning could be the day for you to come and find relief from your sin

- The words of Isaiah offer hope b/c we don’t have to suffer sin’s consequences!

- We can receive relief and release because of what God has already done (cross)

-- But we must surrender ourselves because the only way is through Jesus

Pray