Rise Up! Series

Rise up!

Isaiah 8:9-10

Introduction

- Last time in Isa. 7, the key to this chapter was God telling us NOT to worry

- If you remember because of the threat of war they were ready to give up

- Because the enemy had come knocking, the people feared & doubted God

- The key for us is to be encouraged by Isaiah’s words to TRUST in Him

- In the beginning of Isaiah 8 we begin to see how God will use another Army to get His people’s attention; because they have continued to disobey

- Tonight, we pick up this with 2 verses in Isaiah chapter 8 for our focus

- Stand and read Isaiah 8:9-10 / Pray

Point 1 – RAISE UP! (v. 9)

- This is being written to the enemy, but I feel it speaks to us immediately

- Men of God … Women of God … Allow me to be straight to the point

- It’s not often you get the purpose of the message right at the beginning

- Here it is: Will you take the energy to RISE UP and stand against sin?

- This command, this is a call to action that means we have something to do

- RISE UP! This war cry is to all the churches today to take a stand

- Most have heard the story of Jericho (Book of Joshua) and how it fell

- When they had marched around 7 times they were to blow the trumpets

- Joshua 6:5 says, “When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."

- What could have become of the people had they not obeyed?

- Of Joshua’s leadership had he not listened to God?

- Both have the same answer … they’d be on the outside looking in!

Analogy?

- This same battle cry that Joshua ordered and obeyed, is referred to here

Church, we are commanded to cry out to God, to call foul ball when it is

- Because of the cry from God … we are called to move

- We are to prepare for battle, to be ready “in season and out”

- What then church, should we be doing? How should we be acting?

- This is not a time to be self-righteous and look down your nose at others

- Time to stand tall, to gird your loins (expound), and WALK into battle

- Eph 6:14 (KJV), “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness …”

-- To gird your loins means to draw up your garments around your mid section to increase agility and mobility – this prevents the loose garments from becoming entangled around your legs and tripping you

-- It literally means to secure anything that would cause you stumble

- Being prepared means to get rid of baggage (sin) and stand up

- APP: But, where is the battle? 1 Peter 1:13-16 (KJV), “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

- Would you be shattered for God? Would you allow yourself to be broken?

- Isaiah is writing to the enemy here, but I feel that the true enemy is sin

- Would we take this kind of stand against sin and call it out to obey God?

- TRANS: Would we seek to stand against sin’s strategies and plans

Point 2 – God will prevail (v. 10)

- Job 5:12 also calls out to us in similar fashion, “He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.”

- No matter what the cause, not matter the enemy, God will be victorious

- Sometimes we wonder about God’s plan and how He works in our lives

- Funeral on Monday – God’s purpose is not known; but His glory is shown

- We do not understand why, we cannot reason it, but God will prevail

- The same is what we must focus on today; that God knows what we need

- Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

- We all have our desires and our wishes for how we think it should be

- No matter the cause or the circumstance, we want that driver’s seat