Sermon
#10 Series:
Isaiah
Title: Let
Us Walk In the Light of the Lord
Text: Isaiah 2:5
Subject: The
Walk of Faith
Date: Sunday Evening - May 21, 1989
Tape #
Introduction:
“O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us
walk in the light of the Lord.”
Throughout the scriptures we are called upon repeatedly to “walk in the
light of the Lord.”
· Matthew 5:14, 16
· John 8:12
· Ephesians 5:8-16
· I John 1:5-9
Proposition: Our
Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the world; and all who live by faith in him
“walk in the light of the Lord” (John 1:4-5; 9-14).
“The path of the just is as the
shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Pro. 4:18).
Now, I want you to turn back with me
to our text (Isa. 2:5). May the Spirit
of God be our Teacher, as I show you the meaning of these words and the message
they contain - “O house of Jacob, come up, and let us walk in the light of the
Lord.”
Divisions: Here
are five questions I want to answer in my message tonight:
1.
To Whom are These Words Spoken?
2.
Who Issues this Call?
3.
What is the Light of the Lord?
4.
How Can I Walk in the Light of the Lord?
5.
Why Must We Walk in the Light of the Lord?
I.
TO WHOM ARE THESE WORDS SPOKEN?
“O house of Jacob, come ye” - I do not
have to tell you that our text is not addressed to the Jewish nation, the
physical seed of Abraham. Our text is
addressed to “The Israel of God,” The House of Jacob,” which is the church of
God’s elect.
A. These words
are addressed to all who are, by profession, the sons of Jacob.
The text speaks to you and me. It is a call issued to the church of God at
anytime in this world. In this dark
world we, who are the children of light, are called upon as the sons of Jacob
to walk in the light of the Lord.”
1.
The sons of Jacob are men and women chosen by God in
eternal, electing love (Rom. 9:11-13).
2.
The sons of Jacob are those people in this world who have
come to know Christ by special revelation (Gen. 32:24-31).
·
“What is thy name?” -
Jacob!
·
“I have seen God!”
3.
The house of Jacob is a nomadic, afflicted, suffering
household in this world - (Jacob’s trials).
4.
The house of Jacob is kept and preserved by God’s almighty,
immutable grace (Mal. 3:6).
B. The words of
our text are addressed to you and me personally - “Come ye.”
This call goes out to all the house of
Jacob. It goes out to the whole
church. But it is personal. Hear me, now, I’m talking to you - “Come you
- and let us (you and me) walk in the light of the Lord.”
1.
If you will hear me, I am talking to you (Heb. 2:6-8).
2.
If you are a part of this blessed house of Jacob, I am
talking to you.
II.
WHO ISSUES THIS CALL?
A. This is a call
from God’s prophet to God’s people.
God’s servants never say to his
people, “Go ye and walk in the light of the Lord.” God’s servants lead the way.
The prophet of God says, “Come ye - let us walk in the light of the
Lord.”
B. This is a call
from men and women who once hardened their hearts against the call we now
issue.
·
A Sympathetic Call.
·
An Urgent Call.
·
A Passionate Call.
·
A Personal Call.
C. This is a call
from young converts, with burning zeal for the glory of God, to older believers
who have become less fervent and zealous.
The younger members of Jacob’s house
need and want their older brethren to lead the way. But the older often need the urging and prodding of the younger.
D. This is a call
from the sons of Jacob to one another.
It is a mutual call. Here are brethren calling one another to
walk with God - “Come ye - let us walk!”
III. WHAT IS THE
LIGHT OF THE LORD?
Without question all men, by nature, have the light of
conscience, for which they are responsible (John 1:9; Rom. 1:19-20;
2:14-15). But this is not the light of
nature. This is the light of special
grace given to the house of Jacob in regeneration and conversion.
The Light of the Lord is . . .
A. The Lord Jesus
Christ himself (John 1:14, 18).
B. The Gospel of
God’s free grace in Christ (II Cor. 4:5-6).
C. The word of
God - “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my pathway.”
D. The revealed
will of God - “This is the way; walk ye in it (See Pro. 3:5-6).
E. The spirit of
God (I Cor. 2:11; Rom. 8:14).
F. The example of
Christ.
This is the light God has given
us. And it is our responsibility to
walk in it. Christ is the sun of
righteousness, the light of the world.
His Gospel, His Word, His Will, His Spirit, His Example are all beams of
light from the sun. They never
contradict one another, or shine apart from one another.
IV. HOW CAN I WALK
IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD?
What does it mean to walk in the light of the Lord? How can I do it? I know this, if I would walk in the light of the Lord . . .
A. I must own and
acknowledge that Christ is my Lord.
B. I must believe
the light he gives.
C. I must obey my
Lord, following the direction of the light.
D. I must imitate
the example of my master (Eph. 4:32 - 5:1).
E. I must
persevere to the end - I must keep on walking in the light.
V. WHY MUST WE
WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD?
“O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of
the Lord.”
A. In the light
of the Lord our minds find certainty.
Reason makes guesses.
Fanaticism is spasmodic, unstable, and superstitious. Feelings are as deceiving as they are
varying. Only the light of the Lord is
absolute, certain, infallible, and unalterable.
B. In the light of
the Lord our hearts find rest.
·
In the light of His
Blood.
·
In the light of His
Righteousness.
·
In the light of His
Providence.
C. In the light
of the Lord we find direction for judgment.
“He that is spiritual judgeth all things.” The believer sees things in their true
light, in the light of the Lord.
“Perishing things
of clay,
Born but for one brief day,
Pass from my heart away,
Jesus is mine!”
D. In the light
of the Lord our souls find satisfaction.
·
In the Purpose of God
(Rom. 8:28-30).
·
In the Fullness of
Christ (Col. 2:9-10).
·
In the Hope of Life.
E. In the light
of the Lord we have fellowship with God and one another (I John 1:3, 7).
Application:
This is my message to you - “O house of Jacob, come ye, and
let us walk in the light of the Lord.”
1.
To you who have walked in darkness for so long.
2.
To you who are languishing and fainting in the way.
3.
To you who are going through dark storms.
4.
To you who are young - strong - near the grave.