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.