THE ANCIENTS SPEAK INTO TODAY’S WORLD WITH HOPE AND GRACE
“A Great Deception and a Greater World Coming” Isaiah 28:1-35:10
Isaiah 28-35 1 An Introduction
• The second most deadly sin mentioned in the Bible is that of deception. • Deception = “the intentional act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.” • The Antichrist will be the master of deception – 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Isaiah 28-35 2 The Word of God Will Not Be Silenced – Isaiah 28:9-13 • Isaiah has just described Judah’s leadership as being drunkards.
• The leadership would not listen to the prophets, thinking that it was childish prattle.
• So God will have them listen to the prattle from the Assyrians.
Isaiah 28-35 3 • Truth: God’s Word will not be silenced through our ignorance or willful neglect.
• What God has said will happen, will indeed happen – no ifs, ands, or buts.
• “To reject the Word of God is not to escape it.”
• Isaiah 55:10-11
• The Word of God is life to those who read and pay attention.
Isaiah 28-35 4 God’s Plans Cannot Be Circumvented – Isaiah 28:14-18 • This text contains one of the great promises within the Old Testament.
• Its beauty is exposed because it rests upon a black canvas.
• The Jewish leaders had made alliances with both Assyria and Egypt.
Isaiah 28-35 5 • God gives an invitation to build upon God’s foundation, upon the cornerstone which He will lay.
• Who is this Cornerstone? – 1 Peter 2:6-7
• Jesus Christ is the One upon whom we are to build our lives, our dreams, our hopes.
Isaiah 28-35 6 The Dream World Is Not the Real World – Isaiah 29:6-8 • At times the dream world seems so life-like.
• But dreams are not the real world.
• The Assyrians dreamed of conquering Jerusalem, but God stepped in.
• Satan has dreamed of conquering Jerusalem, but God will step in once again.
Isaiah 28-35 7 Beware of the Deception of Religion – Isaiah 29:13-16 • The greatest form of deception is that of religious deception – playing the “game of religion.”
• The Pharisees played this game incredibly well.
Isaiah 28-35 8 • What happens when God shows up at a worship service? – Luke 13:10-17
• A synagogue service.
• Jesus does two radical things: - He invites this woman to enter into this room filled with men. - He heals this woman right there in front of them.
Isaiah 28-35 9 A New World Is Coming – Isaiah 35:1-6 • This chapter describes what we know as the Millennium. • The Millennium is a time for the Redeemed – Isaiah 35:10. • It will be a time of unprecedented prosperity. • Everywhere there will be expressions of joy and gladness.
Isaiah 28-35 10 • Why does this world exist? • Because the earth will be filled with the holiness of God. • The power of evil is broken – for at least 1000 years. • The curse has been lifted. • Christ will be King. • “There’s a new world coming with the Lord.”
Isaiah 28-35 11 • Question: Are you ready for that home Jesus is preparing?
• Don’t succumb to the deceitful pictures offered by the world.
• Be mesmerized by the world God has for you.
• It will be better than any dream world you could ever create.
Isaiah 28-35 12