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ROUTE 66 EP 028

Sermon Summary: Route 66 - The Book of Isaiah

Introduction: The Role of a Prophet

The sermon begins by transitioning from the books of poetry (Psalms through Song of Solomon) into the Major and Minor Prophets, starting with the book of Isaiah.

  • Major vs. Minor Prophets: The distinction between "major" and "minor" prophets is not about their importance or relevance, but simply the size of their books. Major prophets like Ezekiel have many chapters, while minor prophets like Micah or Obadiah are much shorter.

  • The Prophet's Role: A prophet in the Bible was God's spokesman, declaring, "Thus saith the Lord." While prophecy often involves foretelling the future, its primary function was proclaiming God's Word.

  • Prophecy Today: The pastor clarifies that the "sign gifts" of prophecy, like those seen in the book of Acts, are not active in the same way during the current Church Age. Today, believers "walk by faith and not by sight." Therefore, any believer who proclaims God's Word can be considered a "prophet" in a general sense, but we should be cautious of those who claim a special, supernatural prophetic office.

  • Historical Context: The events in the book of Isaiah chronologically align with the period of the Kings and Chronicles, particularly 2 Chronicles.

A Panoramic View of Isaiah: The Bible in Miniature

The pastor presents the book of Isaiah as a "microcosm of the Bible," highlighting its remarkable structural and thematic parallels to the 66 books of the Holy Bible.

  • The Central Theme: The overarching message of the book of Isaiah can be encapsulated in a single phrase: God’s kingdom established. This is the most important truth, superseding any individual's importance.

  • A Difficult Book: Just as the Bible can be challenging to understand, Isaiah is also one of the more difficult books in Scripture, often requiring multiple readings to grasp its meaning.

  • A Book of Prophecy: Both the Bible and Isaiah are books of prophecy, revealing future events. Much of Isaiah's prophecy has a "double fulfillment," meaning it had an initial, literal fulfillment in its time but also points to a greater, future fulfillment that is yet to come.

  • Shared Themes:

    • Indirect Theme - Sovereignty and Salvation: Both the Bible and Isaiah consistently reveal that God is sovereign and in control, even when circumstances suggest otherwise. They also highlight His deep love for humanity and His desire to save us. The name "Isaiah" itself means "Jehovah is salvation."

    • Direct Theme - The Day of the Lord: The most direct theme in both is "The Day of the Lord." This phrase, or the related term "that day," appears 45 times in Isaiah. It refers to the future time when God will judge the world and establish His kingdom on earth through the second coming of Christ.

  • Non-Chronological Order: Both the Bible and the book of Isaiah are intentionally arranged thematically rather than chronologically.

The Structure of Isaiah: Condemnation and Consolation

Isaiah can be divided into two main sections that mirror the division between the Old and New Testaments.

Part 1: Condemnation (Chapters 1-39)

This section is comparable to the 39 books of the Old Testament.

  • Theme of Judgment: These chapters are filled with messages of condemnation and judgment against God’s rebellious people (Israel and Judah) and the Gentile nations who were their enemies.

  • Parallel to the Old Testament: This focus on prophecy and history concerning Israel and her enemies mirrors the general content of the Old Testament.

  • Ending with a Curse: Just as the Old Testament ends with the word "curse" (Malachi 4:6), Isaiah 39 ends on a note of impending doom.

    • Example: After God miraculously delivered Judah from the Assyrians (where one angel killed 185,000 soldiers), King Hezekiah foolishly showed all his treasures to envoys from Babylon. This act of pride invited future judgment and captivity, representing a "curse" that would befall the nation.

Part 2: Consolation (Chapters 40-66)

This section is comparable to the 27 books of the New Testament.

  • A New Tone: The tone shifts dramatically from judgment to comfort and hope.

    • Isaiah 40:1-2: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins."

  • Theme of Consolation: The key themes are redemption, restoration, reconciliation, and God's grace.

  • The Forerunner of Christ: This section immediately points to the coming of the Messiah.

    • Isaiah 40:3: "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

    • This is a direct prophecy of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. It is no coincidence that this appears in the 40th chapter of Isaiah, corresponding to Matthew, the 40th book of the Bible, which introduces John the Baptist.

Divine Fingerprints: More Parallels

The pastor shared several more "divine coincidences" that show God's perfect design in the structure of Isaiah and the Bible.

  • Isaiah 1 & Genesis: Both books begin with a focus on the "heaven and the earth" and a central theme of rebellion.

  • Isaiah 66 & Revelation: Both books end with the promise of a "new heaven and a new earth."

  • Isaiah 43 & John: The 43rd chapter of Isaiah contains eight "I am" statements from God. This directly corresponds to the Gospel of John (the 43rd book of the Bible), where Jesus makes His famous "I am" statements (e.g., "I am the bread of life," "I am the living water").

  • Isaiah 26 & Ezekiel: The 26th chapter of Isaiah speaks of a national resurrection, which corresponds to the book of Ezekiel and its vision of the valley of dry bones coming to life.

  • Isaiah 60 & 1 Peter: Isaiah 60 describes the physical blessings Israel will experience during Christ’s millennial reign. The book of 1 Peter (corresponding to the 60th chapter) describes how believers in the Church Age already possess these same blessings in a spiritual sense (e.g., joy, inheritance).

Isaiah's Calling and Commission: Isaiah Chapter 6

The sermon then focused on Isaiah chapter 6, which introduces the prophet Isaiah and details his profound encounter with God. This chapter serves as a foundational model for salvation, cleansing, and commission for every believer.

The Vision of God's Holiness (Isaiah 6:1-4)

  • Context: The vision occurs in a specific historical moment: "In the year that King Uzziah died..." (Isaiah 6:1).

  • God's Sovereignty: Isaiah sees the Lord on a throne, "high and lifted up" (Isaiah 6:1). This image, along with the presence of the seraphim, immediately establishes God's supreme authority and sovereignty.

  • God's Holiness: The seraphim cry out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3). This declaration causes the very foundations of the temple to shake, illustrating the immense power and purity of God.

The Conviction and Cleansing of Man (Isaiah 6:5-7)

  • Human Response to Holiness: When confronted with God's absolute holiness, Isaiah's immediate reaction is one of conviction and unworthiness. He cries, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5).

    • Application: The Bible acts as a mirror. When we spend time alone with God, it reveals His holiness and our own sinfulness, leading to repentance.

  • A Picture of Salvation: A seraph takes a live coal from the altar and touches Isaiah's lips, declaring, "Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged" (Isaiah 6:7).

    • Application: This is a beautiful picture of what happens at salvation. Only Jesus Christ can take away our sins. This act of purging is not something we can do for ourselves; it is a divine work.

The Commission for Service (Isaiah 6:8-10)

  • The Call: After salvation comes a commission. God asks, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah, now cleansed, willingly responds, "Here am I; send me" (Isaiah 6:8).

    • Application: Every saved person has a commission. We are all called and sent by God, though the specific course of that calling may differ for each person.

  • The Difficult Task: God gives Isaiah a seemingly impossible task. He is told to preach to a people who will hear but not understand, and see but not perceive (Isaiah 6:9-10). God tells him outright that the people of Israel are blinded and will not respond.

  • The True Measure of Success: The pastor emphasized that the true measure of success in ministry is not results (attendance, number of prayers prayed) but obedience. Our job is to do what God has called us to do.

    • Application: There is freedom in this truth. Our responsibility is to present the Bread of Life—the Gospel—and make it look appetizing through our lives. What people do with it is between them and God.

The Obedience of the Prophet: Living as an Object Lesson

The pastor highlighted Isaiah's radical obedience as an example for believers today.

  • Example of Radical Obedience: In Isaiah chapter 20, God commanded Isaiah to go naked for three years as a sign to the people, showing them they would be carried away into captivity. Isaiah obeyed, sacrificing his reputation and comfort.

  • God Uses Object Lessons: God is "big on" using object lessons and word pictures to communicate His message.

    • Example: The prophet Hosea was commanded to marry a prostitute to passionately understand and communicate God's heartbreak over Israel's unfaithfulness.

  • Application for Today: When we go through trials and difficult situations, we should consider that God may be preparing us to be object lessons. He uses our experiences to equip us to passionately and effectively minister to others who are going through similar things.

Key People and Events in Isaiah

  • The Prophet Isaiah: The central human figure, whose obedience to the Lord is paramount.

  • The Nation of Israel (Specifically Judah):

    • Historical Context: The sermon is set during the time of the divided kingdom. The northern kingdom of Israel had already been captured by Assyria due to their sin.

    • Isaiah's Mission: God used Isaiah to warn the southern kingdom of Judah, which was following in Israel's footsteps, to repent or face a similar, if not worse, judgment.

    • God's Unfinished Plan for Israel: The pastor emphasizes that an honest reading of Isaiah reveals that God is not finished with the nation of Israel. The church has not replaced Israel; confusing the two leads to doctrinal error.

  • Israel's Enemies:

    • The book contains many prophecies of judgment ("Woe unto...") against nations like Moab, Babylon, and Tyre.

    • The Ultimate Enemy: The true enemy behind these nations is Satan (Lucifer). The book of Isaiah is the only place in the Bible where the name "Lucifer" is mentioned (Isaiah 14).

    • Babylon: This entity is mentioned 13 times in Isaiah, a number associated with rebellion. Isaiah chapter 13 describes Babylon as the world system in complete rebellion against God.

The Centrality of Jesus Christ in Isaiah

The pastor highlights that Jesus Christ is the central character of the entire Bible, and He is prominently featured throughout the book of Isaiah.

  • Prophecy of the Virgin Birth:

    • Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

  • Prophecy of Christ's Deity and Kingdom:

    • Isaiah 9:6-7: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

    • Application: This passage encapsulates the message of Isaiah. The first part ("a child is born, a son is given") refers to Christ's first coming. The second part ("the government shall be upon his shoulder") refers to His second coming.

The Mountain Peaks of Prophecy

The pastor used an illustration from 1800s architect Clarence Larkin to explain how Old Testament prophets saw the future.

  • The Two Peaks: The prophets, like Isaiah, could see two "mountain peaks":

    1. The First Coming of Christ (Calvary): Prophecies like Isaiah 53 describe His suffering and atonement.

    2. The Second Coming of Christ: Prophecies about His future reign and judgment.

  • The Valley: Between these two peaks lies a "valley" that the prophets could not see: The Church Age. This is the current 2,000-year period we live in. It is called a "mystery" in the New Testament, which is why it is not detailed in the Old Testament.

  • Significance: This explains why prophecies about the first and second comings of Christ often appear together in the same passage (e.g., Isaiah 9:6). A single comma can separate events by thousands of years.

Main Message for Today: The Sovereignty of God

The core takeaway from the book of Isaiah is the absolute and unrivaled sovereignty of God.

  • God is in Control of All Things:

    • Example: God refers to the most powerful man on earth at the time, the king of Assyria, as a mere "ax in his hand"—an instrument He uses to chastise and redirect His people.

    • Scripture: Isaiah 37:29

      • Content: "Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come into mine ears, therefore will I put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way which thou camest."

      • Application: Only God has the power to control large, seemingly untamable "beasts" in our lives. This could be a difficult situation or even the hardened heart of another person.

  • God's Power Over Idols:

    • Modern idols are things that take God's place in our hearts: money, sex, education, family, sports, business, etc.

    • Scripture: Isaiah 19:1

    • Content: "Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it."

    • Application: All human idols are worthless in God's eyes because they cannot deliver or save the way He can.

  • God Has No Equals:

    • Scripture: Isaiah 40:13-15, 17: "Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? ... Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket... All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity."

    • Scripture: Isaiah 40:25: "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One."

    • Application: We must be careful not to elevate anything—even good things—to the same level as God. He is in a category all by Himself.

Who God Is: The Everlasting, Unwearied Creator

  • Scripture: Isaiah 40:28

    • Content: "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding."

    • Application: God is eternal and does not get tired or weary like humans do. He is God Almighty.

    • Pastor's Note: While God does not get physically weary, in Isaiah chapter 1, He expresses that He is "weary" of His people's sin. This is not a contradiction but an expression of His heart and love for them, showing how their rebellion grieves Him.

Our Response: Wait Upon the Lord

  • Scripture: Isaiah 40:29-31

    • Content: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

    • Application: Our primary calling is to "wait upon the Lord."

  • The Meaning of "Wait": This is not passive waiting, but active service and dependence, like a waiter "waiting on" a table. It means tending to the Lord, serving Him, and resting in Him.

  • Example of the Eagle: Eagles are heavy birds that don't often flap their wings; instead, they soar by using the wind currents. This is a picture of the Christian life. We are to let the "wind" of the Holy Spirit carry us. We rest in God and let Him rule and reign, rather than striving in our own strength.

The Promise of Perfect Peace

  • Scripture: Isaiah 26:3-4

    • Content: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."

    • Application: The key to overcoming anxiety and worry is to have "perfect peace." This peace is available to anyone whose mind is "stayed on" (fixed on) the Lord. It is that simple.

Rejoicing in the Desert

  • Scripture Context: Isaiah 35

    • This chapter speaks of the wilderness and desert blossoming and rejoicing. While this refers prophetically to the future Millennial reign of Christ, it has a present application.

    • Application: We can experience this "blossoming" and abundant joy now, even during "desert seasons" of life—dry, difficult times of trial.

    • Pastor's Example: The pastor shared that during a difficult "desert season" for the church, some of his sweetest and most fruitful times with God occurred. God uses these difficult seasons for our growth.

Final Charge: Who is on Your Throne?

  • The central question is: Who is ruling from the throne of your heart? Is it God, or is it you, your family, your job, or something else?

  • When Christ is on the throne, your strength is renewed (Isaiah 40:31).

  • The Meaning of "Christian":

    • The pastor breaks down the word: Christ + IAN.

    • IAN can stand for "I Am Nothing."

    • The key to Christian victory is recognizing that "He must increase, and I must decrease." It's not about us; it's about the Lord Jesus Christ.

    • Final thought: Let Him rule. Let Him reign. He wants to, we just have to let Him.