S70E2 | GOD In Distress | When we are afraid, God is Present | Rev. Bella Mburu

Who did their homework? By a show of hands Honestly, and you didn't do it this morning in the parking lot Somebody said they saw me and they all of a sudden remembered homework. I represent trauma From your primary and high school teacher who did their homework who actually read chapter seven Through to twelve of the book of Isaiah proudly guys index ones, please Nice nice. I'm so proud of you club for yourself clack it There's more homework for next week we're becoming good at this guys We're becoming good at this so take out your diaries and write on the homework section homework for next week We're leveling up. It's not just one chapter per day now. It's two chapters per day miscar So next week you're reading Isaiah's chapters 13 to 27 You can do this you can do this those are two chapters per day and on two days because those are 14 chapters You might need to read three we're leveling up guys and here's the deal. Let me encourage you There was an African in the Bible Whom had his Bible open and he was just reading it and he did not understand it but God sent Philip to come to him and You know as he read it Philip then just asked him Do you do you understand what you're reading and he said no I don't how can I understand if nobody explains this to me? But here's the thing about that Ethiopian eunuch and if you've read of him in acts chapter 8 is he did not wait for full understanding before opening God's word He opened it up and he read it anyway So I know the book of Isaiah for some of you you started reading chapter 7 and you're like They don't have that anymore. That's just for millennials and above Gen Z's that is a signal tone for when It's not connecting. Yes So if it's not connecting you just open up God's word and read it anyway Take take comfort in the fact that just like the Ethiopian eunuch as he opened it up in his laps And he read it aloud even though he didn't understand it He kept reading it and God will send you that understanding keep reading read a simpler version If you're nga nga 9 with King James version my friend, this could be the problem Try and read a simpler by both version as well, but like a good teacher. Let's review What did we learn last week? We went our key phrase was when the world does what? Shakes what is God? God is holy and there was many different things We said that God is king when the world shakes what we realize is that those functional idols that we put in our hearts That we've been depending on and looking up to those kings fall off like King Uzair when he died and his people were left wondering What are we gonna do when our world shakes? We ought to still remember that Christ is still God is still on the throne God is still the Lord of Lords the King of Kings, you know, he is still sovereign on that throne So when your world shakes, please remember that God is still on the throne and he is king when our world shakes We were reminded that God is holy and that was an awkward connection But the reality is when these functional idols fall off that throne then we remember and we look upwards and we realize He is king and he is holy and his holiness then holds up a mirror before us And we see the sinful nature and the sin that we have in our lives and God doesn't leave us in a place of judging us And I know some of us normally feel like that's who God is He's this grumpy old man that sits in heaven and because he's perfect and he's king and he's holy He looks down on us and just judges us and loves punishing us. No Our God and our King who is holy is also gracious and merciful and when he holds up and he Exposes the sin in our lives. He doesn't leave us in that place. He then cleanses us He sent his son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and we can come and approach that throne of grace with confidence at any time And at any point but lastly we saw last week that when the world shakes when our world shakes just as God finally at the prophet Isaiah was finally asked, you know whom shall I send and he Confidently said here am I send me and that is the challenge We've put out to you not just for PPI. Please sign up for PPI But also into your marketplaces into your homes and into the different Setups that God allows you to go into. Please. Let us go and be sent. We are at church on mission And so that is where we got to up until last week And if you remember chapters one to three was a lot of judgment of a sinful people and after Isaiah had spent so much time Describing just the cutting down of Judah because of their sinful nature Suddenly in chapter four we were given a glimpse of what God was going to do after judgment And we were told that the branch of the Lord will be beautiful in Isaiah chapter four and verse two and that branch being one of Isaiah's most important messianic images that in a land and amongst the people who are cut down who've been punished That there was still hope it was a picture of new life emerging after destruction And then we went into chapter five and you know There was that country song and we're told of this vineyard that was given everything Everything nothing was held back for this vineyard But in the end it did not it only produced bad Fruit and then we moved into chapter six and we we didn't we didn't conclude with this But allow that I highlight this that at the end of chapter six after Isaiah proudly said here I am Sierra my send me in verse 13 of chapter six after all the chopping down We read that but as the terribinth and oak leave Stumps But as the terribinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down So the holy seed will be the stump in the land and so that imagery of that branch Continues and that is what it concludes with in chapter six that there will be a holy seed that there's still life Even though the tree has been chopped down and it's just but a stump the stump is not dead There is a holy seed and there's still life in it and there is remnant hope That is what we see if you if you were to just put a picture to it that and that imagery Let's jump together into chapter 11 So we'll start at the end and come back to the beginning and then go back to the end together that same Imagery of that stump and that branch is then carried forward into chapter 11 And it says in 11 verse 1 a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse from his roots A branch will bear fruit from that dry stump in that picture that you just saw up a green Shoot will emerge the Messiah that is he will step into a broken world And he will make all things right and that is what you see in chapter 11 He speaks of how he's gonna rule with wisdom. He's gonna judge with righteousness He's gonna bring about justice and peace and really chapter 11 speaks of the Millennial Kingdom That Jesus will return and for a 1000 period of time Christ will physically return to this earth and he will rule and he will reign from Jerusalem to all over the world and it will be the most Amazing season when our when our savior returns and so there is hope that hope continues to be carried forward in Isaiah Despite the prophecies of judgment and doom There is hope and this is the hope of the gospel that it is not over until God says is it's over And that's the imagery that I pray you continue to keep in your mind that despite this book Just pronouncing judgment after judgment for a sinful people that God does bring out new life in what seems dead So now let's go back From this stump and from this shoot and this seed of hope we see in chapter 7 another distress and It begins last time it was Uzair who had died and we begin with another national crisis And let's read together Isaiah chapter 7 and verse 1 it says that when a has son of Jotham The son of Uzair was king of Judah king resin of Aram and Pekka son of remalia king of Israel Muched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it So we have crisis King a has has now taken over Uzair died He's actually the grandson of Uzair because Jotham was the father of A has Jotham ruled if you remember I mentioned last week that he had Leprosy that hit him and in that season for 13 years when he had leprosy In that period When Uzair had leprosy His son Jotham led the nation for 13 years and after he died He led for another three years and Jotham was a good king By the way pro tip if you're reading through the book of Isaiah context can be found in second Kings chapter 16 and Second Chronicles chapter 28 write that down So as you're reading through the book of Isaiah and you want more information about these different kings Go and read through second Kings chapter 16 and second Chronicles chapter 28 It gives you more background into these kings and so King Jotham was a good king But then his son my goodness the apple could not have fallen further from the tree His son was not a good king and here they are they're facing national crisis the northern kingdom Israel and Syria Aram that's what they're referred to have formed an alliance against Judah and they're coming Against them to overthrow a has that's what's happening in verse one and then we read in verse two that now the house of David was told Aram has a lead itself with f-rime Basically Syria and Israel have have formed an alliance And so the hearts of a has and his people were shaken as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind Here's our crisis. Here's our distress They were so shaken up that these two kingdoms have formed an alliance and they're coming at us some more context of what's happening In verse in verses five to six it says that a Ram a Ram f-rime and remalia son Have plotted your ruin saying let us invade Judah Let us tear it apart and divide it amongst ourselves and make the son of tabby'll King over it so basically they're coming against us and they're coming fast and furious to kingdoms Here's what had happened in those times the Assyrian kingdom was really growing and was aggressively taking over other kingdoms Under the leadership of Tiglath Pilesia the third who was one of King Assyria's King major regional powers in that time and so a serious slowly coming and taking over different kingdoms and Here's Syria and here's the northern Kingdom Israel and they're shaking in their boots and thinking oh my gosh They're gonna come at us and so they came to King Aram King of the southern Kingdom Judah and said let's form an alliance So that when Assyria comes to attack us will be stronger together as Kenyans Understand that things in the old and so they want to form an alliance, but for some reason King a has says Mmm No, I don't think I want to form an alliance and so these two kings are like this dude is not listening We are gonna therefore take over his kingdom by force and then we'll put another king in charge of it So that we can form an alliance that will withstand the Assyrian invasion. That's what's happening Okay, and so these two kingdoms are coming at him Syria and Israel are coming at Judah and a has were told was literally he was shook Okay, he was so scared that we are told He was shaken as the trees of the forests are shaken by the wind But King a has was a very wicked and ungodly king He Sacrificed his sons to idols He made idols for worshiping the bowels again go read second King 16 and second chronicles 28 It'll give you context and background into what sort of a king he was and Such an evil king is shaking in his boots and in my opinion God could have very well said Meh serves you right get attacked But not our God Not our gracious Merciful God Instead of just allowing King a has and this evil people to face the consequences of their actions God intervened and he sends Isaiah and his son who's called sheer jashub Which was a very prophetic meaning because that name means a remnant shall return Because he a prophet it was very hard I mean you had to name your children after certain things like who would name their children share jashub what work rash any takers Just to send a message that a remnant shall return But he sends this gracious God of ours sends a prophet and his son to a wicked King with a very clear message of reassurance and we read it in versus Verses four seven and nine this is what God sends Isaiah with this message to this wicked King who's shaking in his boots He says verse four say to him be careful Keep calm and don't be afraid Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering Stubs of firewood and love it that is vocabulary I have now adopted into my vocabulary the next time I encounter someone who's blowing hot fire But I'll just be like listen. You're nothing but a smoldering stub of firewood Like this is God saying they're blowing hot wind but listen This is a smoldering stub of firewood and sometimes some of us struggle with God that we're not understanding What he's saying but God couldn't have been any more clearer this language was understandable even for a four-year-old You're shaking in your boots. You're scared. Here's what be careful Keep calm and don't be afraid Don't lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood which are Syria and Israel I Couldn't I was just like Lord it felt like you are teaching a Sunday school class because that is as simple as it can be God was pointing out to a has that you know the problem that you're facing right now Is not those two great armies that are coming at you and waiting for you outside of Jerusalem The greatest problem that you're facing right now is the fear that you have inside of you And so here comes our statement when We are afraid Then what should we do? When we are afraid what should we do and God was saying to King a has that don't be afraid friend. Just trust me Just trust me. Let's put up those statements one more time. He said be careful Keep calm and don't be afraid. Can it be any more simpler? There's what a stab a smoldering stab of a firewood looks like it looks like And that's it. It's died out. It's not coming to do anything to you And so God is speaking into a has his fear and he's saying be careful. Keep calm Don't be afraid. Don't lose heart. Just trust him. Could it be any more simpler than that? That don't fear trust in me because I am the one who has the final word When you are afraid trust in me I have the final word and let me contrast this to a couple of kings down the road before King a has in Second Chronicles chapter 20. We actually encounter another king of Israel King Jehoshaphat And some of you may know him and he too faced a situation similar to this one He too had the Moabites the Ammonites and the Mayunites coming towards him in Judah And we're told in second Chronicles chapter 20 that he was alarmed another word for he was shook He too was alarmed that these guys are coming at us But what did King Jehoshaphat do? We're told that he first inquired of the Lord and then he proclaimed a fast over all of Judah and he had meted in second Chronicles chapter 20 and verse 12 that we We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us When he was afraid he fell before the Lord and he cried and he inquired of him and they Fasted and he said we don't have the power to face this vast army. We do not know what to do but Our eyes are on you King a has on the other hand God has told him so simply be careful don't be afraid don't fear these two smoldering Stubbs of fire would are not going to attack you put that slide up one more time because I feel like this meme We'll just get it home for some of you guys perhaps the Gen Z's in the house. I feel like God was literally just saying to him Be careful keep calm like it's that simple. It's that simple guys Keep calm. Don't be afraid. Don't lose heart God didn't appear to King Jehoshaphat through a prophet to reaffirm him God appeared to this evil king to reaffirm him He even gave him a sign and he invited a has to say okay Ask me ask me for a sign and King a has not enough at a very nice way He said I will not ask for a sign I will not put the Lord to the test not because he was a good King. It was actually very hypocritical love him So God even says ask me then ask me for a sign so that I can show you that I am with you that you can Trust me just be careful. Keep calm. Don't be afraid and don't lose heart but Despite our merciful God graciously giving a has an opportunity to ask for a sign and him declining it He said I'm still going to give you a sign and Comes this beautiful passage in Isaiah 714 and he says that the Lord himself will give you a sign That the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel which means God with us This was a prophecy for them and that's the thing about prophecy. There's a near far fulfillment It was for them then it was to be fulfilled 700 years later And it continues to be true and fulfilled for us even today That God gave this wicked King not a righteous King like King Jehoshaphat God gave this wicked King a sign and he gave this beautiful Promise of hope to a wicked King why King a has I can't help but think and wonder that perhaps because in all of his Wickedness and as undeserving as he was King a has represents you and I That we would know that Jesus didn't come back for the perfect God didn't wait for them to say okay get your act together and then I'll send my son Jesus Christ That while we were still sinners Christ died and gave himself for us That we are not the ones who loved him first. He's the one who loved us and gave his all his son Jesus Christ to die for us and Sadly, even though a has did not trust God We know that this fulfillment of this promise did come to pass and King a has despite all of these signs despite the prophet Isaiah with his son Despite God saying okay. No, I'm gonna give you a sign and a promise He still looked and went to something else to save himself now Here's the thing about us and our sinful nature this dude King a has see remember the two kingdoms that are coming against him Syria and Israel they wanted an alliance to fight against a Syria and where does King a has go for help he goes to a Syria and you're just like Face palm what is that that he even stole silver and gold from the treasury of the Lord and Went and took it to get help from the king of Assyria You're running to your enemy to get help that when he went there He saw these idols in Assyria and he took a picture Okay, he didn't take a picture, but he sent instructions and said I want you to build a nice idol like this one that I've seen over here in Assyria and unfortunately they did they went ahead He told you right to make that God and replace the worship of God in the temple King a has wicked as he was Even though God was telling him no no no I got you I'm even giving you this promise and this sign Despite all of that and despite the fact that God did give him a warning in chapter Seven and verse nine and said that if you do not stand firm in your faith You will not stand at all this dude still went ahead and went at it at his in his own way Fear pushes us to do things that are contrary to God's word fear pushes us towards counterfeit saviours Fear pushes us to try and control things in our own strength and we try and find safety and security in other things And I don't know what fear you could be facing because you might be afraid of something that's coming at you right now But we need to put our trust in this holy God because you remember we reasoned together last week that if God is holy Then he cannot do what he cannot sin and if God cannot sin then he cannot sin against you and I and Isn't that therefore the most trustworthy person you could ever know? When you know someone cannot sin against you they cannot hurt you this person loves you this person is faithful This is the person you should be trusting But King A has instead went to his enemy and put his trust in his enemies and Some of us may be facing some very difficult situations that has us in fear right now Let us be mindful that we're not gonna