WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.859 Isaiah chapter 6. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:33.219 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:36.200 The whole earth is full of his glory. 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:41.840 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:44.620 And the house was filled with smoke. 00:00:45.480 --> 00:00:50.379 And I said, woe is me, for I am lost. 00:00:51.060 --> 00:00:53.340 For I am a man of unclean lips. 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:56.859 And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. 00:00:56.859 --> 00:01:00.979 For my eyes have seen the king, the Lord of hosts. 00:01:02.460 --> 00:01:09.840 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongues from the altar. 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:15.359 And he touched my mouth and said, behold, this has touched your lips. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:19.500 Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. 00:01:20.900 --> 00:01:25.060 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send? 00:01:25.060 --> 00:01:27.000 And who will go for us? 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:30.260 Then I said, here I am. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:31.640 Send me. 00:01:32.579 --> 00:01:39.659 And he said, go and say to this people, keep on hearing, but do not understand. 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:42.840 Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:49.260 Make the heart of this people dull and their ears heavy and blind their eyes. 00:01:49.260 --> 00:01:56.439 Lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn and be healed. 00:01:57.219 --> 00:01:59.240 Then I said, how long, O Lord? 00:02:00.100 --> 00:02:06.520 And he said, until cities lie waste without inhabitant and houses without people. 00:02:06.780 --> 00:02:08.980 And the land is a desolate waste. 00:02:08.979 --> 00:02:11.859 And the Lord removes people far away. 00:02:12.359 --> 00:02:16.840 And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:21.099 And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again. 00:02:21.500 --> 00:02:25.780 Like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains when it is felled. 00:02:26.659 --> 00:02:29.099 The holy seed is its stump. 00:02:29.099 --> 00:02:29.219 Amen. 00:02:31.280 --> 00:02:31.799 Okay. 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:32.599 Thank you, Karen. 00:02:32.780 --> 00:02:38.280 God, won't you help us to hear and listen and respond to your word. 00:02:38.359 --> 00:02:42.240 Won't you speak to us this morning in your great name we pray. 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:42.919 Amen. 00:02:43.819 --> 00:02:52.919 If you are new with us this morning, we are in the third week, the third and the final week of looking at this chapter, Isaiah chapter 6. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:55.719 It's a very famous passage of Scripture. 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:57.580 It's a very wonderful passage of Scripture. 00:02:58.379 --> 00:03:05.120 And it documents Isaiah's vision of God and then his confession and then his commission, his sending out. 00:03:05.259 --> 00:03:10.860 And so two weeks ago, we looked at this vision that Isaiah has of God. 00:03:11.060 --> 00:03:17.599 And Isaiah sees something of the grandeur and the majesty and the sheer awesomeness of God. 00:03:17.680 --> 00:03:19.659 And it takes his breath away. 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:23.099 And Isaiah sees God how we all need to see him. 00:03:23.099 --> 00:03:26.299 He sees his holiness and his magnificence. 00:03:26.359 --> 00:03:29.259 He sees that God is on the throne of the universe. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:33.879 And we've just been looking at this chapter very, very slowly. 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:42.879 And the reason is because as human beings, certainly my biggest problem in life is that my view of God is too small. 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:48.719 I have this tendency to have a small view of God and I pray small prayers. 00:03:48.840 --> 00:03:52.500 My worship is small and restricted and my faith is small. 00:03:53.079 --> 00:03:55.280 But that's not the kind of people we want to be. 00:03:55.799 --> 00:04:03.840 We want to be people that have a big view of the big God and pray big prayers and trust God for big things and have big, bold faith. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:08.319 And people whose worship is expansive and whose obedience is bold. 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:12.379 And for that, we need to see God for who he is. 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:14.819 See the majesty and the bigness of God. 00:04:14.900 --> 00:04:17.159 We need the big God to be big in our hearts. 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:20.699 And so we've been thinking about this and reflecting over this the last few weeks. 00:04:20.779 --> 00:04:27.659 And then last week we saw that Isaiah, when he sees God, what that does is it causes him to see himself rightly. 00:04:28.420 --> 00:04:31.600 He sees God's majesty, God on the throne. 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:34.540 And suddenly he sees himself and he has this confession. 00:04:34.660 --> 00:04:36.580 He says, woe is me, I am ruined. 00:04:37.620 --> 00:04:39.520 And I'm lost. 00:04:40.140 --> 00:04:44.960 But last week we saw it didn't end there because confession always leads to assurance. 00:04:45.960 --> 00:04:50.140 And so in the last week, just we looked at three verses, three very simple verses. 00:04:50.260 --> 00:04:54.040 And we saw the entire gospel, the entire story of the Bible in three verses. 00:04:54.820 --> 00:04:55.900 Isaiah says, I'm lost. 00:04:56.379 --> 00:04:57.860 And God says, you are saved. 00:04:58.640 --> 00:05:00.620 Isaiah says, I'm a sinful man. 00:05:00.620 --> 00:05:03.399 And God says, your sin is taken away. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:04.740 Your guilt is atoned for. 00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.459 Amazing, amazing encounter with grace. 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:10.759 And that's what we celebrated when we did communion. 00:05:10.920 --> 00:05:11.879 Marco led us in communion. 00:05:12.420 --> 00:05:16.519 This is the story of Jesus because Jesus died on the cross and rose again. 00:05:17.079 --> 00:05:22.600 We can hear, those of us who trust in him and believe in him, we can hear those words spoken to us. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:24.259 That our sin is taken away. 00:05:24.360 --> 00:05:27.500 Our guilt is atoned for because of what Jesus did on the cross. 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:30.839 The whole gospel story in a couple of verses. 00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:35.720 And so today we come to the final section of Isaiah 6. 00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:38.600 We're looking at verse 8 to 13 that Karen read to us. 00:05:39.100 --> 00:05:40.920 And I must say, it's a difficult passage. 00:05:41.139 --> 00:05:44.459 I have really wrestled this week and gone round and round. 00:05:44.560 --> 00:05:46.899 It's a difficult passage of scripture. 00:05:46.899 --> 00:05:49.500 But let's see what it says. 00:05:50.379 --> 00:05:53.620 In this passage, God sends Isaiah out. 00:05:53.759 --> 00:05:54.819 He commissions him. 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:58.560 He sends him on a task, on a mission to go out. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:01.739 And to speak for him on behalf of him. 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:08.579 And if you think about it, if you're new to church or new to Christianity, or you're trying to make sense of the Christian faith, 00:06:08.620 --> 00:06:13.800 or maybe you've recently got baptized, like we've had a couple of people, this is actually a logical progression. 00:06:14.420 --> 00:06:15.600 Isaiah sees God. 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:16.900 He sees himself. 00:06:17.400 --> 00:06:21.199 And then he goes out and speaks on behalf of this God that he's encountered. 00:06:21.980 --> 00:06:23.819 And it's the same thing for us. 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:35.519 A Christian is someone who sees God, then sees ourself and our need for God, and then gets drafted into God's cosmic plan to go and make disciples and to speak for God. 00:06:35.819 --> 00:06:37.259 And we go out on mission. 00:06:37.420 --> 00:06:39.480 And so this is what we see in this chapter. 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:41.219 And this is what's happening with Isaiah. 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:49.019 And friends, one of the dangers for a church like ours, if I can say this, is that we are what's called a Reformed church. 00:06:49.159 --> 00:06:52.120 That's kind of the historical background we come from, Reformed. 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:54.860 And Reformed churches love the doctrine of God's sovereignty. 00:06:55.300 --> 00:06:56.379 God is king on the throne. 00:06:56.819 --> 00:07:00.420 We love talking about confession and repentance and assurance and the gospel. 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:03.660 But then we like to just stay at verse 1 to 7. 00:07:03.840 --> 00:07:04.899 Just camp there. 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:05.860 That's good for us. 00:07:06.699 --> 00:07:09.639 But actually, one of the dangers is we need to read verse 8 to 13. 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:15.259 We need God to not only, once we see God and we see ourselves, we need to be the church that then goes out. 00:07:15.340 --> 00:07:19.639 And we want to be outward focused, not just become introspective and inward looking. 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:27.019 And so the bigness and the grandeur of God is meant to compel us to go out with a compelling message of who He is and what He's done. 00:07:27.620 --> 00:07:33.159 The gospel draws us in to community and then sends us out on mission. 00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:33.819 Okay? 00:07:33.919 --> 00:07:35.939 So that's kind of the big idea of where we're going. 00:07:36.039 --> 00:07:38.079 So let's look at this today. 00:07:38.159 --> 00:07:40.399 We're going to see Isaiah's mission and our mission. 00:07:40.500 --> 00:07:41.479 And we're going to see three things. 00:07:41.919 --> 00:07:48.680 See, a good reason for mission, a difficult challenge of mission, and a wonderful promise for mission. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:48.920 Okay? 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:51.759 A good reason, a difficult challenge, a wonderful promise. 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:54.480 You could say the good, the bad, and the wonderful. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:54.939 Okay? 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:55.720 Something like that. 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:57.360 So let's look at it. 00:07:57.379 --> 00:07:58.180 Firstly, the good. 00:07:58.220 --> 00:07:59.319 A good reason for mission. 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:01.660 Look at verse 8 with me. 00:08:01.740 --> 00:08:01.860 Okay? 00:08:01.900 --> 00:08:02.960 So Isaiah sees God. 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:04.000 He sees himself. 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:05.519 He hears the gospel. 00:08:05.660 --> 00:08:06.720 Your guilt is taken away. 00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:07.840 Your sin is atoned for. 00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:08.480 Amazing. 00:08:09.019 --> 00:08:09.439 Verse 8. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:10.819 God says, or Isaiah says, 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:12.980 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:14.399 Whom shall I send? 00:08:14.800 --> 00:08:16.379 And who will go for us? 00:08:16.860 --> 00:08:17.699 And Isaiah says, 00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:18.819 Here am I. 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:20.079 Send me. 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:23.060 God has a plan and a purpose for the world. 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:25.339 God has a plan and a purpose for Isaiah. 00:08:25.779 --> 00:08:29.699 God has a plan and a purpose for you and for your life. 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.919 And so God draws Isaiah in. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:35.039 He allows Isaiah to see him. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:38.279 And now he's going to send him out as his spokesperson, his ambassador. 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:41.399 And he asked, God asks this rhetorical question. 00:08:41.500 --> 00:08:42.319 God's not confused. 00:08:42.459 --> 00:08:43.559 He knows what's going on. 00:08:43.839 --> 00:08:45.259 But he asked this rhetorical question. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:46.600 Who will go for us? 00:08:46.620 --> 00:08:48.000 Who will be our spokesperson? 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:49.779 Who should we send to the nation of Israel? 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:51.779 And Isaiah says, here I am. 00:08:51.899 --> 00:08:52.419 Send me. 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.500 That's a very good response. 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:54.819 Okay? 00:08:54.959 --> 00:08:55.939 Good thing to say. 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:05.100 One of the things that distinguishes the God of the Bible from every other deity or philosophy or moral philosophy or superstition 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:08.159 is the fact that the God of the Bible actually speaks. 00:09:08.839 --> 00:09:10.059 He is not silent. 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:13.819 God does not leave us to try and just figure out things on earth. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:14.919 God has spoken to us. 00:09:14.939 --> 00:09:16.039 He's spoken to us in his word. 00:09:16.459 --> 00:09:18.039 He's spoken to us through Christ, his son. 00:09:18.500 --> 00:09:20.100 He's spoken to us through the Holy Spirit. 00:09:20.759 --> 00:09:21.919 God speaks. 00:09:22.699 --> 00:09:28.500 And our lives work best when our lives conform with what he has said. 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:32.839 When God speaks and we bring our lives into alignment with what God says, 00:09:32.839 --> 00:09:34.879 that's when human flourishing happens. 00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:38.480 And so God here speaks and he says, I've got a plan. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:39.159 I've got a purpose. 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:41.220 I want my message to go out. 00:09:41.820 --> 00:09:44.659 And Isaiah conforms and says, I will go. 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:45.700 I will join you. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:49.419 God, what you have said, what you want to be done, I will do that. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:52.099 And so he says, here am I, send me. 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:56.579 Now the thing that interests me in this chapter, and I've read this many times before, 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:58.599 but I've never really thought about it before this week. 00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:00.539 But it's fairly obvious. 00:10:00.659 --> 00:10:02.219 I'm a little slow in that regard. 00:10:02.220 --> 00:10:06.340 God does not tell Isaiah what the assignment is. 00:10:07.300 --> 00:10:10.779 He says, I need somebody to go and do something. 00:10:10.920 --> 00:10:12.320 And Isaiah says, sure, here I am. 00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:12.840 Send me. 00:10:13.700 --> 00:10:17.180 But he hasn't told Isaiah what does the assignment entail? 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:18.460 What is the mission? 00:10:18.580 --> 00:10:19.920 What is the message he's to say? 00:10:20.200 --> 00:10:21.060 What must he do? 00:10:21.160 --> 00:10:21.980 Where must he go? 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:23.840 How dangerous is it going to be? 00:10:24.560 --> 00:10:25.840 And none of that is discussed. 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:27.660 And Isaiah just says, sure, here I am. 00:10:28.139 --> 00:10:31.620 Now I don't know about you, but when somebody comes to me and says, hey, I need some help. 00:10:31.659 --> 00:10:33.100 I need you to do something for me. 00:10:33.419 --> 00:10:35.299 I've got a lot of questions in my mind. 00:10:35.819 --> 00:10:37.379 Okay, how much is this going to cost me? 00:10:37.419 --> 00:10:38.980 How much time is this going to take? 00:10:39.659 --> 00:10:41.679 You know, can I fit this into my schedule? 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:44.719 But Isaiah is not asking any of those mental questions. 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.379 He doesn't do any of that. 00:10:46.819 --> 00:10:50.120 He doesn't know anything about the assignment or the mission that God's sending him on. 00:10:50.199 --> 00:10:53.339 He doesn't know how dangerous or costly it is or where he's going. 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:54.740 He simply says, here I am. 00:10:55.459 --> 00:10:55.799 Why? 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:58.159 Why does Isaiah do that? 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:07.240 I think the reason is because Isaiah has seen something of the glory and the majesty of God 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:10.079 and he's encountered God's grace. 00:11:11.439 --> 00:11:16.559 Isaiah has seen what it's like when the awesomeness of God, who is all-consuming, 00:11:17.019 --> 00:11:21.759 encounters his life and doesn't destroy him, but saves him. 00:11:22.299 --> 00:11:25.120 That's what the first seven verses of this chapter are all about, right? 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.039 Isaiah sees God. 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:27.279 He then sees himself. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:29.000 He says, woe is me, I'm undone. 00:11:29.340 --> 00:11:30.539 And God doesn't destroy him. 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:32.019 God rescues him. 00:11:32.840 --> 00:11:37.360 And having seen God's awesomeness and encountered the majesty of God and encountered his grace, 00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:43.960 Isaiah so trusts God that he says, okay, God, whatever you want, wherever you say, I will go. 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:46.320 Now, what does that mean for us? 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.360 Well, it means two things. 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:59.320 Firstly, it means true motivation for Christian mission and Christian witness is always the glory and the majesty of God. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:01.620 Friends, why do we reach out to people? 00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:02.700 Why do we share the gospel? 00:12:02.840 --> 00:12:04.320 Why do we run an alpha course? 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:09.840 Why does a young run a Bible study in the bars of Wan Chai or Temple Street? 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:12.140 Why do we go to other countries? 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:14.360 Why do we read the Bible with our neighbor? 00:12:14.780 --> 00:12:17.720 Why do we reach out to our colleagues and live out our faith in our workplace? 00:12:17.860 --> 00:12:19.040 Why do we do these things? 00:12:19.039 --> 00:12:29.759 If there's any other reason than having seen God and being in awe of him, that mission will get twisted and become very weird very quickly. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:38.699 Wanting an adventure or an excitement or wanting to do something meaningful with your life or wanting us to build a big church or build a big brand name 00:12:38.700 --> 00:12:49.700 or trying to earn God's favor or feeling guilty for your sin and trying to earn God's love, those things will become twisted and coercive and manipulative and warped. 00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:57.879 Christian mission is not done because we love mission, but because we love the God that has saved and rescued us. 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:02.720 Out of a deep love and awe for God for who he is and what he's done, that's why we go on mission. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:07.860 Friends, at Watermark Church, we want to be a highly missional church. 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:10.100 We want to send missionaries all over Asia. 00:13:10.560 --> 00:13:13.000 We want to reach out to more people that don't know the gospel. 00:13:13.620 --> 00:13:18.060 Our biggest passion is for more people that don't know Jesus to know Jesus. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:22.379 We want to be missionary all over our city. 00:13:22.820 --> 00:13:25.560 We want to become more outward focused and outward looking. 00:13:26.019 --> 00:13:33.720 But it must be not out of a sense of adventurism or let's build a big church or let's try and grow our church or let's become a famous church. 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:35.600 None of those things are good at all. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:42.139 But because we've seen something of the grandeur and the majesty of God and our hearts have been blown away. 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.340 Does that make sense? 00:13:43.860 --> 00:13:45.159 That's incredibly important. 00:13:45.740 --> 00:13:47.000 And that's what we see in Isaiah here. 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:51.480 Before he knows the assignment, before he knows the mission, before he knows what the purpose is, 00:13:51.779 --> 00:13:53.639 he's so encountered God. 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:55.540 He's been changed by God. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:57.220 He says, my life belongs to you. 00:13:58.040 --> 00:13:59.100 My life belongs to you. 00:13:59.139 --> 00:13:59.840 Here I am. 00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:01.480 God sent me. 00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:04.800 Here's the other thing we need to think about this. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:09.200 Friends, if you're a Christian, if you consider yourself to be a Christian this morning, 00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:15.800 and there's no outward emphasis in your life, no missional impetus, 00:14:16.340 --> 00:14:20.399 no natural desire or sense of wanting to share God and his purposes, 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:24.659 no desire to join God in what he's doing in the world, 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:27.759 it might be worth asking the question, 00:14:28.199 --> 00:14:31.299 do you really know the God that you proclaim to believe in? 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:36.059 Friends, if, and I'm not saying you need to be the greatest missionary, 00:14:36.319 --> 00:14:40.079 but if it doesn't cross our minds that our lives belong to him, 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:43.879 that our lives have been grafted into his cosmic plan, 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:48.059 is it possible that maybe our lives haven't been grafted into Christ at all? 00:14:48.059 --> 00:14:50.879 Have you encountered his grace? 00:14:51.819 --> 00:14:54.000 Have you ever come to the place where you say, 00:14:54.219 --> 00:14:56.299 God, I love you and I'll do whatever you want? 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:00.579 Isaiah sees God's glory and he encounters God's mercy 00:15:00.579 --> 00:15:05.379 and he knows that he's forgiven and it changes the motivations of his heart. 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:06.719 It changes what he lives for. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.119 It changes how he approaches his life. 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:12.099 A good motivation for mission. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.159 We want to be missional. 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:14.479 Why? 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:19.139 Because God is awesome and majestic and worthy of our lives. 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:20.220 Okay. 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:23.200 Secondly, the bad, the good, the bad. 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:26.279 Now, a difficult challenge for missions. 00:15:26.740 --> 00:15:29.039 Now, this is where things start to get difficult in this passage. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:32.360 Look at verse 9 to 13 with me. 00:15:32.580 --> 00:15:36.200 Isaiah volunteers himself and God gives him some bad news. 00:15:36.300 --> 00:15:37.560 And the bad news is this. 00:15:37.659 --> 00:15:39.560 You are going to go and speak to my people. 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:42.680 You're going to call them to listen to me and to trust me 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:45.120 and they are not going to listen to a word that you say. 00:15:45.699 --> 00:15:47.519 In fact, the more you speak to them, 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:51.239 the more they're going to reject you and curse you and tell you that you're stupid. 00:15:51.859 --> 00:15:54.799 Your speaking to them is going to be like speaking to a brick wall. 00:15:55.239 --> 00:15:55.379 Okay. 00:15:55.419 --> 00:15:56.139 Look at verse 9. 00:15:56.799 --> 00:15:57.219 God says, 00:15:57.220 --> 00:16:18.180 God is sending Isaiah out on this mission. 00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:21.000 But it's a mission that is doomed to fail. 00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:24.839 And Isaiah is being sent to call God's people to trust in him, 00:16:24.919 --> 00:16:26.039 to come back to him, 00:16:26.439 --> 00:16:28.539 to put their hope in him, 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:30.979 not to put their hope in the political alliances 00:16:30.979 --> 00:16:33.579 or the military alliances or the nations around them. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:35.259 And how do they respond? 00:16:35.939 --> 00:16:37.239 They respond very badly. 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.319 They say, 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.039 No, Isaiah, 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:39.839 don't worry. 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:40.819 We're not going to trust God. 00:16:41.379 --> 00:16:42.459 The Syrians, 00:16:42.740 --> 00:16:44.179 the people above us, 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:44.740 our neighbors, 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:47.039 they will save us in the time of difficulty. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:50.539 And because they refuse to trust in God, 00:16:51.179 --> 00:16:53.099 things are going to end very badly. 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:56.339 God's people are going to block their ears. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:57.419 They're going to close their eyes. 00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.659 They're going to harden their hearts 00:16:58.659 --> 00:17:02.599 because they're more in awe of the nations around them than awe of God. 00:17:02.699 --> 00:17:05.299 They're more afraid of the nations around them than afraid of God. 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:06.559 And so if you go to your Bible, 00:17:06.639 --> 00:17:08.639 look at just the next chapter in chapter 7. 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:10.740 We see a great example of this. 00:17:11.139 --> 00:17:11.799 There's this king. 00:17:11.899 --> 00:17:12.659 His name is Ahaz. 00:17:12.740 --> 00:17:13.579 He's the king of Israel. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:16.539 And he is very scared 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:18.019 because the Assyrians, 00:17:18.159 --> 00:17:18.940 the people in the north, 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:20.599 are threatening to come and attack him. 00:17:21.539 --> 00:17:23.259 And so he's very scared 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:24.559 and he's petrified. 00:17:25.139 --> 00:17:25.759 And God says, 00:17:26.099 --> 00:17:27.019 Isaiah, 00:17:27.259 --> 00:17:28.720 go and talk to Ahaz 00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.480 and tell him, 00:17:29.899 --> 00:17:31.759 don't worry about those other kings. 00:17:32.099 --> 00:17:33.180 Just trust me. 00:17:33.539 --> 00:17:34.359 Hold on to me. 00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:35.460 And so verse 3, 00:17:35.639 --> 00:17:36.480 the Lord says to Isaiah, 00:17:36.639 --> 00:17:37.879 go out and meet Ahaz. 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:38.799 Verse 4, 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.539 he said, 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.259 be careful, 00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:41.839 be quiet, 00:17:42.460 --> 00:17:43.359 do not fear, 00:17:43.799 --> 00:17:45.480 do not let your heart be faint, 00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:48.460 because these two smoldering stumps are firebrands. 00:17:48.460 --> 00:17:50.279 He's talking about these two kings that are threatening him. 00:17:50.859 --> 00:17:53.079 Here are two kings who are threatening Ahaz 00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:57.119 and trying to bring their military against them. 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:58.159 And God says, 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:58.740 Ahaz, 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.180 don't do a thing. 00:18:00.819 --> 00:18:01.980 Don't worry about them. 00:18:02.059 --> 00:18:02.940 Don't listen to them. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:04.039 Don't care about them. 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:07.099 Just block out the noise. 00:18:07.639 --> 00:18:08.159 Verse 9, 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:10.220 if you are not firm in faith, 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:11.720 you will not be firm at all. 00:18:12.539 --> 00:18:14.500 So God sends Isaiah to speak to the king 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:15.839 and to call him to trust 00:18:15.839 --> 00:18:16.799 and to believe in him 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.700 and hope in him. 00:18:18.139 --> 00:18:19.079 And what does Ahaz do? 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:20.980 He totally ignores Isaiah. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.940 And God sends Isaiah to go to the nation of Israel 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:24.200 and say, 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.059 trust in God, 00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:25.700 hope in him. 00:18:25.940 --> 00:18:26.960 He will get us through. 00:18:27.059 --> 00:18:27.779 And what do they do? 00:18:28.299 --> 00:18:29.619 They totally ignore him. 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:31.099 They reject him. 00:18:31.460 --> 00:18:33.019 And the more Isaiah speaks, 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:34.519 the more that they laugh at him 00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.299 and they scoff him. 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:36.700 And Isaiah's message 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.240 is going to fall on deaf ears 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:40.740 and be utterly doomed to failure. 00:18:41.619 --> 00:18:43.299 And this is the challenge of mission. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.680 That often, 00:18:45.139 --> 00:18:45.960 we go out and we say, 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:46.980 city of Hong Kong, 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:48.000 the great city of Hong Kong, 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.299 there is a God, 00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:50.079 there is a king 00:18:50.079 --> 00:18:50.940 and he's glorious 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:52.079 and he loves you 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.220 and he died on the cross for you. 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:54.160 And what does our city say? 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:55.579 Get out of here. 00:18:56.099 --> 00:18:56.900 They don't want to listen. 00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.700 And often, 00:18:59.779 --> 00:19:01.720 it seems that the message is rejected 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.759 and nothing's happening. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.099 It's all been so worthless, 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:05.200 so futile. 00:19:06.779 --> 00:19:07.819 And Isaiah says to God 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:08.359 in verse 11, 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:08.640 he says, 00:19:08.759 --> 00:19:10.099 how long must I do this? 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:10.319 I mean, 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:11.039 is this a week? 00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:11.799 Is this two weeks? 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:12.500 Is this a month? 00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:14.119 How long must I go on like this? 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:15.400 And God says, 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:16.200 verse 11, 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:39.259 God has terrible news. 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:41.440 And the message that Isaiah is to give 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.039 is he's going to say to these people, 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.180 if you don't listen, 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.799 bad news is coming your way. 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:47.539 God loves you. 00:19:47.579 --> 00:19:48.599 He wants to save you. 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:49.879 He wants to rescue you. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:52.019 But if you can't listen to him, 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:55.680 the very people that you're fearing 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.079 are going to come your way. 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:59.460 And that's what happened. 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:00.960 Judgment is going to come upon them. 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:03.019 The very people that they were trying to avoid 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:04.920 because they don't trust in God 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:06.059 is going to come upon them. 00:20:06.059 --> 00:20:08.599 And the Babylonian army comes 00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.859 and he decimates, 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:11.200 they decimate Israel. 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:13.200 And it's going to be very terrible. 00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:14.519 Judgment comes their way. 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:16.559 And just look at the imagery here. 00:20:16.619 --> 00:20:17.679 Look at verse 12. 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:18.019 It says, 00:20:18.599 --> 00:20:20.919 until the cities lie waste without inhabitants, 00:20:21.099 --> 00:20:22.799 until houses are without people, 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.940 and the land is a desolate waste. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:25.480 Friends, 00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:27.740 just think of the pictures we see on the news 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:29.700 of war zones around the world. 00:20:30.299 --> 00:20:31.079 It's terrible. 00:20:31.720 --> 00:20:32.940 These buildings that are crumbling 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:35.000 and people's lives are suffering 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:36.859 and cities are desolate, 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:37.299 wasteland, 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:38.759 and nobody lives there anymore. 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.059 And God says, 00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:42.240 this is what's going to happen 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:45.819 because you do not listen to Isaiah's message. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:48.460 Isaiah is going to call you to trust in God 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.740 and you refuse. 00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:52.599 And so judgment is going to come upon you. 00:20:53.319 --> 00:20:55.279 And God says that the nation of Israel 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:57.339 is going to be like a tree stump. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:00.440 Think of this once beautiful big oak tree, 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:02.420 this magnificent glorious tree 00:21:02.420 --> 00:21:03.680 that's been cut down. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:04.980 It's like a tree stump. 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:07.460 And there's nothing that remains. 00:21:07.620 --> 00:21:09.720 And then after the tree stump is cut down, 00:21:10.140 --> 00:21:11.960 a fire ravages through 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:13.640 and burns it all up. 00:21:14.120 --> 00:21:15.680 And now what was just a tree stump 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.880 is now a charred, 00:21:17.120 --> 00:21:19.299 burnt out piece of ash. 00:21:19.860 --> 00:21:20.539 Nothing left. 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:20.960 God says, 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:23.820 this is what Jerusalem is going to look like. 00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.980 It's going to get burnt. 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.779 It's going to be terrible. 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.900 It's such bad news. 00:21:28.560 --> 00:21:29.400 This is what's happening 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:32.180 when they reject God's word and his ways. 00:21:32.180 --> 00:21:35.900 Friends, life is found in conforming to God's will 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:37.840 and death is found in rejecting him. 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:42.060 And God says that because Israel is going to reject Isaiah's words, 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:44.920 this severe judgment is going to come upon them. 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:47.060 And it's not just going to be a slap on the hand 00:21:47.060 --> 00:21:48.299 or go to the naughty corner. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:50.160 This is going to be terrible. 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:53.680 Now you may be and think, 00:21:54.080 --> 00:21:55.279 oh boy, here we go again. 00:21:55.380 --> 00:21:56.900 Old Testament fire and brimstone. 00:21:57.120 --> 00:21:57.300 Okay. 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:59.680 They're just, you know, trying to make me feel bad. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:02.640 But actually, this actually happened. 00:22:03.380 --> 00:22:05.220 This is historical fact. 00:22:05.320 --> 00:22:06.740 This is historical reality. 00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:11.120 120 years after Isaiah lived and spoke this message, 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:15.080 the Babylonian army came through and decimated Israel. 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:17.819 And they burnt Jerusalem to the ground. 00:22:17.960 --> 00:22:19.119 They ransacked the temple. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:21.259 They destroyed all the houses. 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:25.240 And they marched 90% of the people out of Israel 00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:26.779 and took them as slaves to Babylon. 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:30.859 And the nation of Israel was like a smoldering wasteland. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.819 Only about 10% of the people remained. 00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.859 And it was terrible. 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:36.359 This is historical fact. 00:22:36.619 --> 00:22:39.579 And the nation of Israel was in Babylon for 70 years. 00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:42.240 For 70 years, they were slaves to Nebuchadnezzar the king. 00:22:42.699 --> 00:22:44.599 Remember the story of Daniel in Babylon? 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:45.480 How does he get there? 00:22:45.819 --> 00:22:48.919 Well, Nebuchadnezzar comes and takes them away in 605 BC. 00:22:50.019 --> 00:22:52.179 And Jerusalem is destroyed. 00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:58.639 The challenge of mission is that often we speak 00:22:58.639 --> 00:22:59.799 and nobody wants to listen. 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:01.919 And it falls on deaf ears. 00:23:02.779 --> 00:23:04.119 The challenge of mission. 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:07.279 Now, before we get to the good news, the wonderful part, 00:23:07.859 --> 00:23:09.519 friends, there's something we need to think about here. 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:12.379 And I want us to reflect on this, just one or two things here. 00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:17.700 Now, the New Testament actually quotes this passage five or six times. 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:21.540 In every one of the Gospels, Jesus quotes this passage, 00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:23.980 and Paul quotes it in the book of Acts and later on in Romans. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:29.200 And each time, this passage is quoted to explain what happens 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:33.240 when people hear God's Word and the message of the Gospel and reject it. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:36.940 And the Bible says that when God's Word comes to us, 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:39.160 our response is never neutral. 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:43.339 It's never that God's Word comes and it just has no effect. 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.940 God's Word is living and active. 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:48.299 And what that means is it always has an effect on us, 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:51.120 either positively or negatively. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:56.759 God's Word comes and if we'll hear it and listen to it and respond to it, 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:59.619 it'll grow faith in our hearts and life in our hearts. 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:02.919 But if we reject it, we don't just stay neutral. 00:24:03.099 --> 00:24:06.599 Actually, it hardens our hearts and our eyes get glazed over 00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:08.939 and our ears get blocked up even more. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.279 Okay, does that make sense? 00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:12.659 When God's Word comes, it's never just neutral. 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:16.419 It always has an effect, positively or negatively. 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.560 God's Word is living and active. 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:21.180 It either softens our hearts and builds faith 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:25.200 or it hardens our hearts and solidifies the judgment that's coming. 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:31.019 And because Israel couldn't care less about God or His Word, 00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:33.580 His Word is going to fall on deaf ears. 00:24:34.180 --> 00:24:35.380 But it's worse than that. 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:37.680 It's actually going to harden them even further. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:40.160 And so as you read the book of Isaiah, 00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:42.420 the people become more and more hostile. 00:24:43.240 --> 00:24:44.279 It's not just that they say, 00:24:44.360 --> 00:24:45.640 oh, we don't really believe it. 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:47.900 They actually become antagonistic towards Him. 00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.759 Their hearts are really hard. 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:52.720 God's Word comes to them and it alienates them, 00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:54.280 pushes them away even further. 00:24:55.140 --> 00:24:59.120 In the third century, a theologian called Origin of Alexandria said this, 00:24:59.680 --> 00:25:04.840 the same sun that melts the wax also hardens the clay. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:06.200 Think about that. 00:25:06.220 --> 00:25:07.000 I've often thought about that. 00:25:07.020 --> 00:25:07.500 How does that work? 00:25:07.540 --> 00:25:09.620 You put something in the oven, something melts, 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:11.020 but something else you put in the oven, 00:25:11.280 --> 00:25:13.060 it gets hard and crispy, right? 00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:16.960 But the same sun that melts the wax also hardens the clay. 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.579 And what he's saying is this. 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:21.960 The same gospel, the same message comes to one person, 00:25:22.059 --> 00:25:26.059 their heart is receptive and it softens them to trust Jesus. 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:30.740 But it comes to someone else that is hard and they're pushing God at a distance 00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:32.880 and it just pushes them further away. 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:35.779 And just think about the people in Jesus' day. 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:39.460 Jesus speaks the gospel and some people fall down and worship and say, 00:25:39.539 --> 00:25:40.279 this is the Messiah. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.960 And what do other people do? 00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:46.039 They turn away and they plot how to kill and destroy Him. 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:49.420 Now, friends, here's the lesson we need to take from this. 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:53.680 Be careful how you respond to God's word. 00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:56.759 Friends, when God's word comes to you, 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:58.940 maybe you read your Bible in the mornings, 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:01.980 or maybe you're in a CG and you're discussing it, 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:04.259 or a friend reads the Bible with you one-on-one. 00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:08.319 Maybe you come to church like this morning and someone reads the Bible, 00:26:08.420 --> 00:26:09.799 someone tries to explain it. 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:12.039 Be careful how you respond. 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:15.220 It will change you one way or the other. 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:18.799 And if our hearts are soft and open, we say, God, speak, I'm listening. 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:21.000 God will build faith and life. 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:24.339 But if our hearts think, who cares? 00:26:24.579 --> 00:26:25.440 I've got my plan. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.360 I'm on my own trajectory. 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:28.700 Actually, it will alienate you and push you further away. 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:33.519 In the New Testament, the book of 2 Timothy, chapter 4, 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:36.160 the apostle Paul, he's an old man. 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:37.420 He's on his deathbed. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:39.940 It's the last letter he writes in the Bible. 00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:42.019 And he writes this young man called Timothy. 00:26:42.879 --> 00:26:44.819 And he says, 00:26:44.940 --> 00:26:46.900 Timothy, preach the word. 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.859 Do the work of advantages. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:49.539 And he says, 00:26:49.599 --> 00:26:52.319 there are many people that won't want to hear what you have to say. 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:55.019 They will gather around them other teachers 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:57.339 who will tell them what their itching ears want to hear. 00:26:57.700 --> 00:26:58.119 So they'll say, 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.319 we don't want to listen to you, 00:26:59.420 --> 00:27:01.139 but this guy's going to say what we want to hear. 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.059 We'll listen to him. 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:04.240 So what is Timothy to do? 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:06.700 What should he do in that circumstance? 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:07.740 Should he just give up and say, 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:08.619 oh, there's no point? 00:27:08.619 --> 00:27:09.939 Paul says, 00:27:10.299 --> 00:27:11.919 Timothy, keep going. 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:13.099 Don't stop. 00:27:13.639 --> 00:27:14.299 Preach the word. 00:27:14.479 --> 00:27:15.419 Do the work of advantages. 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:16.379 Fulfill your ministry. 00:27:16.959 --> 00:27:18.439 Keep on preaching the word. 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:18.819 Why? 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:20.279 Because the word is power. 00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:23.379 And there will come a time when some people will turn and say, 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.919 okay, God, speak. 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:27.259 Friends, the challenge of mission 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:30.939 is that it doesn't always look like it's working. 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:32.919 What are we to do? 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:34.539 We be like Isaiah. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:36.559 You just keep on going. 00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:40.359 Keep on going because God is at work in the world. 00:27:41.399 --> 00:27:43.559 Finally, the promise, 00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:45.679 the wonderful promise of mission. 00:27:47.319 --> 00:27:48.799 As we come to a close, 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:52.579 look at the very last sentence in Isaiah chapter 6. 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:54.599 So I read verse 13. 00:27:54.720 --> 00:27:55.859 Verse 13 says this, 00:27:55.859 --> 00:27:58.419 And though a tenth of the people remain, 00:27:59.139 --> 00:28:00.399 it will be burnt again. 00:28:00.439 --> 00:28:02.159 He's talking about the city of Jerusalem. 00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:05.039 Like a terebinth or an oak, 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:07.019 whose stump remains when it is felled. 00:28:07.039 --> 00:28:08.359 And it's the end of the quotation marks. 00:28:08.459 --> 00:28:09.839 And the last sentence is this, 00:28:10.419 --> 00:28:12.619 The holy seed is its stump. 00:28:13.139 --> 00:28:14.099 Now that's a very weird thing. 00:28:14.159 --> 00:28:15.240 What on earth does that mean? 00:28:15.819 --> 00:28:18.319 It's a strange but a poetic way of saying this. 00:28:19.079 --> 00:28:20.559 Israel's going to face God's judgment. 00:28:20.559 --> 00:28:23.700 They're going to be cut off like an oak tree that is cut. 00:28:23.799 --> 00:28:25.679 And then a fire comes through and it's burnt. 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:28.480 And it's just this little stump that remains. 00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:31.579 But there is life in the stump yet. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:34.619 There is hope in the stump yet. 00:28:35.319 --> 00:28:38.899 There is like a little shoot that's going to come out of that stump 00:28:38.899 --> 00:28:40.679 and grow and produce life. 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:44.880 That thing that looked so hopeless and like it was dead and buried, 00:28:45.080 --> 00:28:47.299 that thing is going to produce life again. 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:53.580 In fact, it's only because it's died that new life can grow. 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:57.000 Because in God's economy, in God's way of operating, 00:28:57.660 --> 00:29:01.560 things often need to die before they come alive again. 00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:04.259 Before they can encounter life, 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:07.080 often things need to come to the end of themselves. 00:29:07.580 --> 00:29:09.180 They die and dead and buried. 00:29:09.180 --> 00:29:11.240 And in that state, God says, 00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:13.160 now I can work and bring life. 00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:16.180 This is why so many of you had to come to the end of yourselves. 00:29:16.740 --> 00:29:17.580 You had to hit a wall. 00:29:17.700 --> 00:29:18.799 You had to suffer terribly. 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:21.279 You had to come to the very end of yourself and say, 00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:23.200 okay, God, I've got nothing left. 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:26.460 And then God says, okay, now I can produce life in you. 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:27.700 Now I can work with you. 00:29:28.279 --> 00:29:29.080 Jesus said this. 00:29:29.820 --> 00:29:31.860 He says, actually in John chapter 12, 00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:33.960 John quotes this passage. 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:35.660 And then Jesus says just before that, 00:29:35.660 --> 00:29:37.980 truly, truly, I say to you, 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:40.840 unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.920 it remains alone. 00:29:42.640 --> 00:29:43.360 Nothing happens. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:46.060 Think of a grain of wheat falls on some concrete. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.980 Nothing's going to happen. 00:29:47.060 --> 00:29:47.700 It's going to die. 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:49.920 But if it gets buried in the ground, 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.759 if it dies and falls into the ground, 00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.360 what happens? 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.860 Life starts to form. 00:29:54.600 --> 00:29:55.540 Fruit starts to grow. 00:29:56.040 --> 00:29:57.400 It starts to produce fruit. 00:29:58.100 --> 00:30:00.240 And that's exactly what's going to happen to Israel. 00:30:00.740 --> 00:30:01.640 The nation of Israel, 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.180 Isaiah speaks to them. 00:30:03.280 --> 00:30:03.580 He speaks. 00:30:03.660 --> 00:30:04.019 He speaks. 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:04.720 They don't listen. 00:30:05.100 --> 00:30:05.780 And what's going to happen? 00:30:05.960 --> 00:30:07.259 Ultimately, they're going to get judged. 00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:09.980 The Babylonians are going to come and wipe them out. 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:11.000 They're going to decimate them. 00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:13.680 They're going to take 90% of the people back as slaves to Babylon. 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:15.840 But that's not the end of the story. 00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:18.240 Because in that broken state, 00:30:18.300 --> 00:30:20.200 when Israel at the very worst, 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:22.040 when it feels like there is no hope 00:30:22.040 --> 00:30:23.019 and nothing is happening, 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:25.360 and Isaiah's words just fall on deaf ears, 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:27.459 in that place, God is going to say, 00:30:27.879 --> 00:30:29.299 now I can bring fresh life. 00:30:29.919 --> 00:30:31.019 And 70 years later, 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:33.459 God is going to bring the Israelites back from Babylon, 00:30:33.619 --> 00:30:34.399 back to Jerusalem. 00:30:34.500 --> 00:30:35.919 They're going to rebuild Jerusalem. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:37.019 And they won't be perfect, 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:38.919 but new life is going to be formed. 00:30:39.279 --> 00:30:40.219 They're going to be reformed. 00:30:40.240 --> 00:30:41.959 They're going to become the people of God again. 00:30:42.119 --> 00:30:44.219 And they're going to start to listen to God's word. 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:46.959 And out of this dead, useless stump 00:30:46.959 --> 00:30:48.819 that looked like it was dead and buried, 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:50.619 the Messiah is going to come. 00:30:50.979 --> 00:30:52.379 A savior of the world, 00:30:52.500 --> 00:30:54.899 who's going to rescue and redeem all people. 00:30:55.359 --> 00:30:58.740 Friends, when things look like they're at their worst 00:30:58.740 --> 00:31:00.179 and there is no hope, 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:04.159 in that place, God starts to bring life and hope. 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.579 It's what happened to Israel. 00:31:06.719 --> 00:31:08.039 It's what happened to Jesus, isn't it? 00:31:08.679 --> 00:31:11.539 Jesus, the savior of the world, he died. 00:31:12.179 --> 00:31:14.299 And yet out of his death came life. 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:17.799 Out of his death came not just his own resurrection, 00:31:18.299 --> 00:31:19.719 but life for us as well. 00:31:19.959 --> 00:31:22.439 Because Jesus died and rose again. 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:25.039 Sinners like me, sinners like us, 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:26.759 can find new life. 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:30.839 Jesus' road to glory passed through the horrors 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:34.819 of Calvary first on the way to resurrection life. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:36.799 Friends, it happened to Israel. 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:38.259 It happened to Jesus. 00:31:39.019 --> 00:31:40.639 It can happen for us as well. 00:31:43.539 --> 00:31:46.960 Two implications for our lives as we come to a close. 00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:48.259 First one is this. 00:31:48.259 --> 00:31:52.839 The Bible says again and again that the way to life passes through death. 00:31:53.059 --> 00:31:59.240 If you want to experience new life, new hope, new start, new peace, new joy, 00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:02.480 you must first come to the end of yourselves. 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.460 You must die to yourself. 00:32:05.120 --> 00:32:07.279 The way up is firstly to go down. 00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:10.960 The only way to find life is to lose it. 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:14.180 To come to the end of trying to make life work on your own terms. 00:32:14.759 --> 00:32:17.440 To come to the end of trying to be your own success. 00:32:17.940 --> 00:32:19.799 To acknowledge I don't have what it takes. 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:21.059 God, rescue me. 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:25.480 To embrace the painful exercise of confession and repentance. 00:32:25.480 --> 00:32:29.039 And though that feels like death, actually it leads to life. 00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:33.380 And God tells Isaiah here that though judgment and death is going to come, 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:36.380 through that new life is going to come to Israel. 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.599 They're going to be reformed. 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:38.299 They're going to be renewed. 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:39.519 They're going to be born again. 00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:42.019 Because new life comes through death. 00:32:42.740 --> 00:32:46.559 Friends, if we will embrace Jesus' judgment on our behalf, 00:32:46.660 --> 00:32:48.519 that Jesus went to the cross for us, 00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:51.160 died the death that we deserve to die, 00:32:51.240 --> 00:32:52.640 we can find new life. 00:32:53.440 --> 00:32:54.720 But here's the second implication. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.339 The life of mission. 00:32:58.740 --> 00:33:00.079 God says to Isaiah here, 00:33:00.240 --> 00:33:01.200 Who will go for us? 00:33:01.220 --> 00:33:01.880 Who will I send? 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.720 And Isaiah says, 00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:04.360 Here I am, send me. 00:33:05.319 --> 00:33:06.920 Friends, for some of us who are Christians, 00:33:07.140 --> 00:33:09.259 the idea of witnessing for God, 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.920 being God's ambassador, 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:12.779 being God's spokesperson, 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:15.360 might feel like the very worst thing in the world. 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:18.860 You might rather that the ground open up and swallow you up 00:33:18.860 --> 00:33:20.920 and you die before you have to speak for Him. 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:24.800 I wonder if in some ways Isaiah felt a bit like this 00:33:24.800 --> 00:33:26.700 when he found out what the mission was, right? 00:33:26.920 --> 00:33:27.320 He says, 00:33:27.380 --> 00:33:28.360 Here I am, God send me. 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:29.000 And God says, 00:33:29.340 --> 00:33:31.120 Okay, you're going to go and you're going to fail. 00:33:31.840 --> 00:33:34.300 And they're going to reject you and they're going to kill you. 00:33:34.740 --> 00:33:36.400 You know, church history, church tradition, 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:38.280 tells us that the way Isaiah died 00:33:38.280 --> 00:33:40.880 is they arrested him and they sawed him in two 00:33:40.880 --> 00:33:42.040 with a saw. 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:43.880 That's how his life ended. 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:46.300 I wonder if Isaiah felt a bit like that. 00:33:47.019 --> 00:33:48.460 Saying, God, you've got to be kidding. 00:33:48.580 --> 00:33:49.840 You've got to choose somebody else. 00:33:50.880 --> 00:33:52.600 Friends, living for God and His purposes, 00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:55.060 being a witness and speaking for Him, 00:33:55.640 --> 00:33:57.120 knowing you may face rejection, 00:33:57.420 --> 00:33:58.400 you may be ridiculed, 00:33:58.560 --> 00:33:59.900 you'll certainly lose face, 00:34:00.120 --> 00:34:03.519 may feel like dying a slow and painful death. 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:06.240 Not quite as slow and painful as crucifixion, 00:34:06.379 --> 00:34:07.940 but pretty slow and painful nonetheless. 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:11.780 But friends, out of your dying to yourself 00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:13.860 will come fresh life. 00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:15.780 Life for your friends, 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.460 life for your family, 00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:19.480 life for the people of Hong Kong, 00:34:20.320 --> 00:34:21.599 life for your loved ones. 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:24.000 Out of your dying to yourself 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:25.300 will come fresh life. 00:34:25.759 --> 00:34:27.360 But not only life for them, 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.699 life for you as well. 00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:32.420 Because as you die to yourself 00:34:32.420 --> 00:34:33.960 and embrace the messy, 00:34:34.220 --> 00:34:36.260 difficult mission of saying yes to Jesus, 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:38.680 as you come to the end of yourself, 00:34:39.240 --> 00:34:41.139 God will birth new life in you 00:34:41.139 --> 00:34:42.599 that will change you 00:34:42.599 --> 00:34:44.680 and reform you forever. 00:34:45.639 --> 00:34:47.380 Friends, is your spiritual life a bit dry? 00:34:48.200 --> 00:34:49.180 Do you feel like spiritually 00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:51.639 you're in a dark, dry place? 00:34:52.200 --> 00:34:53.659 Maybe the one thing you need to do 00:34:53.659 --> 00:34:54.619 is die to yourself 00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:56.039 and embrace the mission of God. 00:34:56.740 --> 00:34:57.760 Friends, we want to become 00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:59.579 a more missional and outward-looking church. 00:34:59.579 --> 00:35:01.259 We want to be a church that says, 00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.880 here we are, God, send us. 00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:05.179 Because we've seen His glory. 00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:06.659 Because we love God. 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:08.539 Because God is big in our hearts 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:09.759 and we've encountered His grace. 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:12.519 Friends, let the glory of God 00:35:12.519 --> 00:35:13.900 and the joy of the gospel, 00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:16.900 let it compel us to speak for God, 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.239 to live for God, 00:35:18.319 --> 00:35:19.519 to bear witness for God, 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:20.880 to lay down our lives 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.980 and die for Him 00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:23.960 even when it seems difficult. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:26.480 For life comes through death 00:35:26.480 --> 00:35:28.760 and joy comes through obedience 00:35:28.760 --> 00:35:29.840 to the King. 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.579 Let me pray for us 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:33.420 as we do that now. 00:35:33.960 --> 00:35:34.679 Let's pray together. 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:37.599 Well, Jesus, 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:39.740 you sent Isaiah on a difficult message, 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:40.699 a difficult mission, 00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:43.039 and yet that mission 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:44.340 is difficult 00:35:44.340 --> 00:35:47.880 and as futile as it seemed at first, 00:35:48.460 --> 00:35:49.380 God, you used it. 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:50.699 You used Him. 00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:53.199 And God, you will use us as well. 00:35:53.980 --> 00:35:55.199 God, we pray for ourselves 00:35:55.199 --> 00:35:56.539 and we pray for Watermark. 00:35:56.619 --> 00:35:57.639 We pray that we will become 00:35:57.639 --> 00:35:58.719 an outward-looking church, 00:35:58.819 --> 00:35:59.619 a missional church. 00:35:59.939 --> 00:36:00.859 We pray we'll become 00:36:00.859 --> 00:36:01.500 the kind of church 00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.599 that You want us to be. 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:04.199 But God, we know that 00:36:04.199 --> 00:36:06.219 that's going to come at a cost. 00:36:06.960 --> 00:36:08.279 We know that we are going to need 00:36:08.279 --> 00:36:09.460 to die to ourselves 00:36:09.460 --> 00:36:10.539 and our own agenda, 00:36:10.779 --> 00:36:12.739 our own comfort and convenience, 00:36:13.439 --> 00:36:16.379 maybe our own plans for our lives. 00:36:17.019 --> 00:36:19.500 But Jesus, as we embrace You, 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:22.519 we know that You will reform us. 00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:23.920 We know that out of that death 00:36:23.920 --> 00:36:24.659 will come life. 00:36:25.219 --> 00:36:26.320 Out of that difficulty 00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:28.440 will come a new hope. 00:36:29.139 --> 00:36:30.280 And so, God, we pray for us. 00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:31.199 I pray for myself. 00:36:31.340 --> 00:36:32.559 I pray for every one of us here. 00:36:33.139 --> 00:36:34.259 Lord, I pray for those of us 00:36:34.259 --> 00:36:35.500 that don't know You, 00:36:35.579 --> 00:36:37.239 that have never encountered Your grace. 00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.980 Lord Jesus, I pray, 00:36:39.139 --> 00:36:40.579 won't You help us 00:36:40.579 --> 00:36:41.759 to come to the end of ourselves? 00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:43.420 Help us, God, 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.960 to get on our knees. 00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:46.300 Help us, God, to surrender, 00:36:46.460 --> 00:36:48.000 knowing that life is found in You 00:36:48.000 --> 00:36:49.099 and You alone. 00:36:49.659 --> 00:36:50.639 I pray these things 00:36:50.639 --> 00:36:52.699 in Your great and wonderful name. 00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:53.719 Amen. 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:56.900 Friends, let's take just a minute or so 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:58.739 before we sing this last song. 00:36:59.619 --> 00:37:00.019 I want us to, 00:37:00.420 --> 00:37:01.280 just two questions 00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:03.199 for you to reflect on. 00:37:04.199 --> 00:37:06.119 What has God been wanting to say to you 00:37:06.119 --> 00:37:07.139 through His Word this morning? 00:37:07.659 --> 00:37:09.719 This tricky passage that says 00:37:09.719 --> 00:37:10.239 you're going to go 00:37:10.239 --> 00:37:11.500 and it's not going to work at first. 00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:13.199 You're going to have to die to yourselves. 00:37:13.279 --> 00:37:14.699 What has God been wanting to say to you? 00:37:15.439 --> 00:37:15.980 And then secondly, 00:37:16.119 --> 00:37:16.960 what would it look like 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:18.539 to respond to that? 00:37:21.019 --> 00:37:21.879 Let's think about that 00:37:21.879 --> 00:37:22.639 for a minute or two 00:37:22.639 --> 00:37:24.699 and then Matthew will lead us 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:25.239 in the song.