PLASTIC SURGERY
Isaiah 64:4-8
Text: verse 8
Song: Amazing Grace (page 132)
1. Amazing grace - how sweet the sound - That saved a wretch like me!
- I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.
2. Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved;
- How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
3. Thru many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
- Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
4. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun,
- We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun.
Prayer:
Father the task of preaching your Gospel 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, and 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 Gospel. Right now Lord I ask that you remove self, I ask that you remove pride -- increase in me and I decrease in you; hide me behind your cross. Lord, I pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart are acceptable in thy sight. Oh Lord you are my strength and my redeemer. This is my prayer.
Acknowledgements:
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is truly an honor to have this opportunity to stand in proxy for Pastor Hudson and be granted this privilege to stand behind this sacred desk to preach God’s unadulterated Gospel. Make no mistake about it, for I am truly unworthy ... but with God’s help -- and an Amen every now and then -- we can and will make it through. Amen.
NOW -- LETS PREACH
For our scriptures this morning let us consider Isaiah, chapter 64 in its entirety, but for our text let us focus in on verse 8 only.
We will deal with the preceding and precluding scriptures in a minute but for now, I want us to focus our attention on verse 8 only. Let us read it together [read]:
[Verse 8]
“But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work of thy hand.” [Repeat]
You may be seated. [Repeat scripture]
I would like to use as a subject or theme this morning: PLASTIC SURGERY [Repeat]
Turn to your neighbor and look them DEAD in the eye and say NEIGHBOR: I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU -- BUT I NEED PLASTIC SURGERY.
[Text]
“But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work of thy hand.” [Repeat]
[*] Ushers -- thank you -- you may be seated
Well preacher, what is this plastic surgery theme you talking about?
Well -- I’m not in the habit of building sermons around Webster’s definitions, but I took the liberty of looking up the word plastic and was instantly intrigued by the definition.
According to Webster, the word plastic [by itself] means: Something that is capable of being formed or shaped. Relating to or dealing with shaping or modeling. It means giving form or shape to a substance. Easily influenced. Impressionable. Having sculptural qualities. Webster went on to define plastic as: forming, growing and developing.
Now that’s all good -- so I dug a little further and discovered that the two words together [plastic & surgery] means to remodel, repair, or restore something lost, injured, or defective. It means to make right, to correct, repair, to improve or reform, heal, to correct errors and to set right.
Based on those definitions -- that was all I needed to read ... to understand that I needed plastic surgery! Then -- instantly it became clear to me what God is prepared to do in the life’s of people who ain’t ashamed to admit that they need some help, [you ain’t got to say Amen, I know I’m right] it became clear to me what God is prepared to do for people who ain’t ashamed to admit that need some cosmetic [spiritual surgery].
Now I don’t know what requires reconstruction in your life -- but there is one thing I do know. God can fix whatever is ailing you, and He will do it week after week, month after month, year after year, until the soul -- that once rejected Him looks JUST LIKE HIM.
Repeat subject: PLASTIC SURGERY
Walk with me [Verse 8]
“But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work of thy hand.”
[*] As we look throughout scripture we will find that our God, is known for taking what we humans may describe as ordinary -- and somehow miraculously making what we may define as a bad person, or bad situation and turn it around for our good.
Yeah -- read your Bible and you will discover how God used ordinary brothers like a murderer name Moses and a little Shepard boy name David -- Yeah he used sisters like Ruth, Tamar and even a prostitute name Rahab and shaped them and molded them and developed them into the statures that he wanted them to be.
NOW THIS IS GOOD TO PREACH RIGHT THERE
Shank your neighbor’s hand and say NEIGHBOR -- I don’t know about you -- but I am ready -- FOR SOME PLASTIC SURGERY.
But before we can get to that stage -- I must explain to you that there was two things that separated theses brothers and sisters of old from the brothers and sisters of this day and time.
You see each man and woman that God used back then had two things in common. First thing -- they both had a responsive heart [you know responsive: receptive, open, approachable, reactive, quick to respond and alert] a responsive heart ready to hear God.
The second thing-- was they had a life that was available [you know available: obtainable, accessible, on hand, to be had, existing, offered, presented, vacant, open, unfilled, untaken and free] a life that was available to obey God without delay. [Repeat]
Well preacher -- why is that important. It is important because even in the midst of all of your troubles. [Oh I wish I had some help] Even in the midst of all of your circumstances -- in spite of your current situation.
God is still able and ready to perform plastic surgery and mend your broken heart. I stop by to tell you that God is ready to perform the surgery and transform your life ... into the men and women that He wants you to be.
BUT MY QUESTION to you today is -- Are you ready for surgery [Repeat]?
“But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work of thy hand.”
WATCH THIS -- [Verse 8] scripture say But now -- notice the conjunction but. Well, I don’t know about you -- but I been taught that whenever a scripture begins with BUT -- it just might behoove you or shall I say, It just might be a good idea to go back a scripture or two -- that is if you want to get the big picture or real meaning of what is going on. So lets go back to verse 4.
Oh by the way -- I forgot to mention that before ... the surgery -- I have a few forms that I need you to read over. So as we go over the forms and if you understand the statement ... then I need to put your initials in the box.
ARE YOU READY -- WALK WITH ME
[Verse 4]
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, besides thee, what he hath prepared for him who waiteth for him.”
[*] Well -- we all know what happens to those who wait upon the Lord. For the scripture tells of over in Isaiah the 40th chapter that “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Well you doing good -- you are almost ready for the surgery. If you fully understand, then I need you to put your initials in the block.
Come on -- and walk with me
[Verse 5]
“Thou meetest him who rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those who remember thee in thy ways, behold, thou art angry; for we have sinned; in those in continuance, and we shall be saved.”
Well -- this simply means, no matter what the other doctors may have told you. No matter how bad the test results may be. Even though you have sinned and been in your sin for a long time -- there is still hope. You see -- I know the best doctor in the land and His word tells me in spite of -- that you shall be saved.
Guess what -- you see that is the grace of surgery. Yeah -- the grace of the surgery, you see, in spite of how low the valley may seem, in spite of how high the mountain me seem to climb, in spite of how long the road to recovery, in spite of how dark the night -- my Doctor says ... you shall be saved.
Well -- you doing well -- you are almost done, don’t give up yet -- only a few more questions to answer. If you fully understand everything thus far -- Then I need you to put your initials in the box.
ARE YOU READY [Repeat] -- WELL WALK WITH ME
[Verse 6]
“Be we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a left, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
WATCH THIS -- Isaiah is using terms like unclean thing. Well preacher what are the things? Things here are defined as an entity [you know entity: a body, or unit, thing or article] the existence of something considered apart from its properties, an idea, or quality perceived, known, or considered to have a separate existence.
What is the Prophet Isaiah saying preacher -- well ... he is saying that Isreal was unclean like a leper who had been cut off by their unbelief or by God’s judgments from the congregation of the saints.
Just like Israel of old -- our country is just like that unclean leper -- who has been separated ... because we separated ourselves from the one who created our very existence. Isaiah says that we are filthy rags.
Know I don’t know about you -- but I may have been able to brush the unclean thing -- off of my shoulder -- but it is something about this filthy rags analogy that I just can’t seem to turn a blind eye too.
You see -- it troubles me because when I think of the word filth.
I said -- when I think about the word filthy. I think of things like obscene [child pornography and homosexuality], I think of things like despicable, disgusting; when I think of the word filth I am reminded of words like foul, words like mean, nasty, words like repugnant, rotten, sorry and words like wretched.
You see we are just like Israel -- we are being justly punished and brought down to our knees, because we have provoked God to anger, and even though He will save us, even though he will heal us and forgive us, our righteous to him is that of a filthy rag and our sins and our iniquities are like leaves -- blowing in the wind drifting further and further away from God.
How you doing are you felling Okay -- are you feeling dizzy. Well you’re doing good -- just a couple more questions and I will have you out of here.
[Verse 7]
“And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hidden thy face from us and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”
WELL -- what is he talking about preacher? You see -- here in the book of Isaiah, chapter 64 ... we see a plea from the great prophet for a revival among the people of God.
The prophet is pleading with God -- and asking that He declare His love towards His people by miracles and mighty power, just as he had did at Mount Sinai.
The Prophet Isaiah is asking God to burst forth from Heaven and execute vengeance, and descend on His people’s foes. You see Isaiah cries out to God, “Oh that thou wouldest rend the Heavens and come down.” He was proclaiming this prophesy to God’s people who would be in bondage in Babylon 120 years later. You see -- they were in exile. The Temple, God’s house had been trodden under the feet of the Babylonians. They were carried away captive.
Why -- just like today, they were suffering because they were shallow [you know shallow: superficial, trivial, petty, small-minded and silly]. Their eyes were burning to hear the false prophets, burning to hear gossip and stripe. They are in bondage, shallow, no sense of the presence of God.
But my question to you in morning is -- don’t all of this -- sound familiar?
I’m reminded of a story:
You see -- there was a little boy ... who went to church with his father one Sunday morning. That night ... before he went to bed ... he go down on his knees said his prayers. This is what he said. He said, God you missed it, we had a great time in church today -- wish that you could have been there. Please try to come next Sunday.
Clean it up preacher --Well [Verse 1]
Isaiah cried out on the behalf of the children of Israel and said “Oh that thou would rend open the heavens and come down ... and visit your people. Brothers and sisters, the prophet Isaiah is in effect praying for a revival.
And this prayer for a revival ... is not only intended for the use of the captive Jews, but may also serve for direction to the churches in our current time of distress as to what to ask God ... and how to plead with Him. If there has never been any other time, that was warranted, in the history of our great nation ... for a request for a revival -- now is that time.
Our Country is in need of a revival; our churches are in need of a revival, our schools are in need of a revival, our homes are in need of a revival. We are in need of a revival.
And I would like to refer to this revival ... from hence forth as plastic surgery. So I would say that Isaiah is lamenting and praying that God would stretch forth is hand and perform some plastic surgery on His people.
This is revival time -- this is plastic surgery time.
Two week ago, Time magazine had a picture of T.D. Jakes on the cover and its caption read, “Is this man the next Billy Graham”
But my I submit to you this morning ... that is exactly what this country does not need. Far to often we have look to man ... instead of praying like Isaiah for God to rend open the heaven. Far to often ... we have like to man to solve all of our problems. Far to often ... we have looked to the Pope, far to often ... we look to the Blessed Mary, far to often ... we look to mere men like Jesse and Al -- instead of asking God ... to perform the surgery.
You see -- revival is the presence of God among His people once again. This is the definition of revival. It is not about a slick haired evangelist from out of town -- it is not about some baldhead preacher with good orator skill, but it a about a divine visitation from God. Far to often churches hold revivals and try to find the best preacher in town -- trying to hear a word from God. But I got a word from the sponsor ... by way of Isaiah ... who shows us that if we want a true revival -- the kind that will last when the visiting preacher has gone home ... if you want a true revival ... then we better be praying and asking for a visitation from God.
This is revival time -- this is plastic surgery time.
Why -- because and as we discovered earlier that Isaiah says that we are unclean things. He even describes us as filthy rags. The book of Leviticus defines these filthy rags ... as sanitary napkins -- so now you can get a true picture of your righteous in the eyes of God.
So -- we see Isaiah crying out on their behalf ... to God, [verse 1]
“Oh that thou would rend open the heavens and come down...and visit your people.”
Well -- that my friends is called a revival -- I like to refer to it as an appointment with the plastic surgeon.
ISAIAH -- IS CALLING FOR A REVIVAL.
Now -- Isaiah didn’t have theological problems here. He knew that God was everywhere. He knew that God sat on the circle of the universe; he knew that no temple could house his presence. But what we see here is ... Isaiah pleading with God ... to manifest His presence among His people; and to make Himself known and real again.
ISAIAH IS CALLING FOR THE CHIEF PHYSICIAN.
And brothers and sisters -- I stopped by to tell you that if we truly WANT TO BE OPERATED ON BY THE HANDS OF GOD -- you must be willing to experience the presence ... of God in your life again.
We need to be like Jacob and cry out: “...surely the Lord was in this place and we knew it not.” You see -- all to often ... our worship to God is dry and ritualistic, and just like in the little boy’s prayer there’s no presence of God, and no life.
Well, what do you mean -- WATCH THIS
Oh by the way -- you are still looking good, one more scripture and you will be ready for the surgery.
[Verse 7]
“And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hidden thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”
WATCH THIS -- Isaiah is saying ... even when we are living in our worst situations. Even when we are obscene, despicable, and disgusting -- he is saying that even when we are foul, mean, and nasty, even when we are repugnant, rotten, sorry and wretched. That God is willing to save us.
WATCH THIS -- Isaiah is saying that we have gotten so bad [Verse 7] that there is none that calleth upon thy name. He saying that we have gotten so bad that we wont even get down on our knees and pray.
Isaiah is saying ... that we have gotten so bad ... that we wont even thank him for waking us up in the morning. He is saying that we have gotten so bad -- we want even stop to thank for the food that he has giving us. Isaiah ... is saying that we have gotten so bad, so foul, so mean, so nasty, and so repugnant, that we are like leaves -- blowing in the wind drifting away from God.
SO THE PROPHET ISAIAH IS CALLING FOR SURGEON
WATCH THIS [Verse 7]
“And there is none that calleth upon thy name...”
Let’s stay right here for a minute ... because there are many of you here today -- who are suffering from a little word that is inside of you and eating you alive like a leech. Sucking the blood of you very existence. Many of you here today need surgery ... because you have been diagnosed with the EGO Disease. Just like AIDS is a small word with a deadly meaning ... so is a man’s ego. The only difference is -- that the scares of a man’s ego are internal.
Many of you today are suffering from the pride of life. Whereby can’t nobody tell you anything? You walk around saying things like, I’m grown, I’m my own man -- I don’t need anybody to do anything for me. Well I stop by to tell you that ... that is exactly why the prophet Isaiah is calling for the surgeon.
[Use Clay Example]
You see ... the surgeon wants to take your old ego ... and perform plastic surgery. The surgeon wants to take your pride ... and perform plastic surgery and replace that old ego with His love and joy... he wants to replace that pride in your life with a peace that passes all other understanding.
Well preacher ... why do I need this surgery -- WATCH THIS [Verse 7]
“And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hidden thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”
Why do we need an operation ... everything appears to okay on the outside. We need an operation because there are many of us who refuse to call on the name of Jesus.
Then Isaiah tells us that we need an operation ... because [verse 7] “there is none ... that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee,”
Which means that it is time for us to wake ourselves up ... the prophet says we must “stir ourselves, or wake ourselves up”.
Many church members ... sit and wait for a preacher ... to stir them up with a fiery sermon, or a wonderful testimony, or a moving song. God says, quit waiting to be moved, and move yourself, wake yourself up. Wake up out of the lazy state of our sleepy Christianity.
You see -- we need to lay hold on God. How do we do that? Easy! Do what you know to do. Just make a bold move toward God and discipline yourself to pray and seek God even when you don’t feel like it. Go to Church even when you don’t feel like it, repent and confess your sin, even when you don’t fell like it. The book of James says if you “draw near to God, He will draw near to you.” [James 4:8]
Why do we need an operation [verse 7] “... for thou hast hidden thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”
We need plastic surgery -- because God, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the creator of the end of the earth has hidden His face from us because of our sins.
When He tried to save you -- you rejected Him, and now you have gotten so bad that He has hidden His face. You have gotten so bad that He cant even look at you.
Well preacher -- I’m ready for the surgery ... will God be willing to operate me?
Well -- that is where the grace comes in -- WATCH THIS
[Verse 7]
“...For thou hast hidden thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.”
Watch the face -- hidden thou face. Not hidden your face, but hidden thou face. WATCH THIS -- watch the face -- not so you cannot see him -- but so he cannot see you.
Why -- The Book of James tells us that we “have been drawn away by our own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
We have been drawn away ... but by our own lust -- so God hinds His face.
That is the grace of the text [verse 7] ... you see He could have consumed you. Which means He could have sent you straight to hell.
But -- THANKS BE TO GOD -- for His Son Jesus -- now when he looks at us he does not see us as repugnant -- by he see us as one of his own who has been washed in the blood of the lamb.
You see even when you turned your back on God, even when you rejected Him, even when you were out there committed some the worst sins imaginable.
[Verse 5] tells us that even then -- “...we shall be saved.”
While you were out there still clubbing, still drinking, still gang banging, still slinging still running around trying to sleep with every women in town -- he could have sent your soul to hell; but He said in His word that “...we shall be saved.”
WATCH THIS
[Verse 8] But now ... But now
See that’s good to preach right there -- [Verse 8] BUT NOW
Not then ... when you were out there in the streets
BUT RIGHT NOW -- not then ... when you out there running around
BUT RIGHT NOW ... is the time for operation.
You see -- God wants to operate on your broken relationships. He wants to operate on your broken relationships with momma and daddy. He wants to operate on your relationships with sister and brother. He wants to operate your relationship with son and with daughter. He wants to operate right here ... right now.
But this is not any old kind of surgery ... for any old body. Isaiah is talking to the twelve tribes of Israel. He is not talking to the Canaanites, or the Hittites, or the Hivites, or the Perizzites, or the Girgashites, or the Amorites, or the Jebusites ...he is talking about the elect the God. [Hello]
So before you can take part in this surgery -- there is an insurance form that needs to be filled out ... it is the form of Salvation, commonly known as form number 3:16.
You see -- the Surgeon needs to know before He performs the surgery... if you believe in His darling Son Jesus. And if you do ... believe please but your initials in the box. He needs to know if you believe that He sent Jesus on the die on the cross for the remission of your sins ... if you believe ... then put your initials in the box.
He need to know before He performs the plastic surgery ... that you believe that He raise His Son on the third day ... if you believe then put your initials in the box.
He needs to know before He performs the operation ... if you believe ... that His Son is sitting by His right hand side and that you believe that He will return one day with a shout ... if you believe then print and sign your full name right above the statement that says: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
Anybody ready for the surgery? [Repeat]
Well -- let me tell you about my surgery.
You see -- But before He performed the operation -- He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me a brand new mind.
But before He performed the operation -- He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me ... brand-new ears.
But before He performed the operation -- He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me ... a brand new tongue.
But before He performed the operation -- He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me ... brand-new lips.
But before He performed the operation -- He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me ... a brand new heart.
But before He performed the operation -- He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me ... brand-new legs.
But before He performed the operation -- He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me ... a new mind; things I use to think about ... I don’t think about no more.
He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me new ears; the gossip I use to listen to ... I don’t listen anymore.
He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me ... a new tongue; the cursing that I use to say ... I don’t curse no more.
He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me a new lips; the gossip I use to tell ... I don’t gossip bout no more.
But before He performed the operation -- He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me ... a new heart; the jealousy, bitterness and anger that I use to have ... I don’t have no more.
He dipped His hands in the blood of Jesus ... and created in me new legs; the places I use to go I don’t go no more.
And now that the surgery is complete [repeat] ... the sins of the world no longer have a strong hold on me ... you see -- I shed my will and allowed the Lord to replace it with His will ... and now I can rejoice that God has changed my:
All of my Burdens ... into blessings,
God has changed ... my shame ... into His sunshine,
He has changed ... my loneliness ... into His love,
He has changed ... my guilt ... into His glory,
He has changed ... my sorrow ... into His joy,
God has changed ... my torments ... into His triumphs,
He has changed ... my weakness ... into His strength,
God has changed ... my heartaches ... into His hallelujahs [repeat]!
But my question to you is ... are you -- ready for the surgery?
Closing statement
[Read] James 4:8-10
If we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord -- he will lift us up and revive us and reconstruct us and mold us into the structures that He wants us to be. So I encourage you to invite God into your life ... and allow Him to perform that plastic surgery that we talked about today ... Seek His face and allow Him to make you into a NEW CREATURE -- WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE -- HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE UNTIL HIMSELF.
And that brothers and sisters is the only revival that will stand the test of time.
Benediction
Hebrews 13:20
