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Sermon #11 Isaiah Series
Title: ÒLet Us Walk in the Light of The Lord.Ó
Text: Isaiah 2:5 Subject: The Walk of Faith Date: Sunday Evening — September 25, 2016 Readings: Lindsay Campbell and Mark Daniel Introduction:
My text is Isaiah 2:5. LetÕs begin reading at verse 1 — Isaiah 2:1-5.
(Isaiah 2:1-5) The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. (2) And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. (3) And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (4) And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. (5) O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
ÒO house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LordÓ (Isaiah 2:5). I take the words of our text for the title of my message. — ÒLet us walk in the light of the Lord.Ó
Throughout the Scriptures we are called upon repeatedly to Òwalk in the light of the LordÓ (Matthew 5:14-16; John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8-16; 1 John 1:5-9)
(Matthew 5:14-16) Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(John 8:12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
(Ephesians 5:8-16) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. (12) For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. (13) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. (14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
(1 John 1:5-9) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Proposition: Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the world; and all who live by faith in him Òwalk in the light of the LordÓ (John 1:4-5, 9-14, 16-18).
(John 1:4-5) In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (5) And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
(John 1:9-14) That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (10) He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
(John 1:16-18) And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. (17) For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (18) No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
The wise man, writing by Divine inspiration tells us that — ÒThe path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect dayÓ (Proverbs 4:18).
Now, I want you to turn back with me to our text (Isaiah 2:5). May the Spirit of God be our Teacher, as I try to show you the meaning of these words and the message they contain. — ÒO house of Jacob, come up, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.Ó
Divisions: Here are five questions I want to answer in this message: 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?
To Whom
1st — To whom are these words spoken? — ÒO house of Jacob, come ye.Ó — I must remind you that our text is not addressed to the Jewish nation, the physical seed of Abraham. Our text is addressed to ÒThe Israel of God,Ó The House of Jacob,Ó which is the Church of GodÕs elect.
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 any time in this world. In this dark world we, who are the children of light, are called upon as the sons of Jacob to Òwalk in the light of the Lord.Ó 1. The sons of Jacob are men and women chosen by God in eternal, electing love (Romans 9:11-13). 2. The sons of Jacob are those people in this world who have come to know Christ by special revelation (Genesis 32:24-31). á ÒWhat is thy name?Ó — ÒJacob!Ó — ÒIsrael!Ó á ÒI have seen God!Ó 3. The house of Jacob is a nomadic, afflicted, suffering household in this world. — (JacobÕs Trials). 4. All in the house of Jacob walk with a limp. 5. The house of Jacob is kept and preserved by GodÕs almighty, immutable grace (Malachi 3:6).
The words of our text are addressed to you and me personally — ÒCome ye.Ó — This call goes out to all the house of Jacob. It goes out to the whole Church ofGod. But it is personal. Hear me, now, IÕm talking to you. — ÒCome you, and let us (you and me) walk in the light of the Lord.Ó
á If you will hear me, I am talking to you.
(2 Corinthians 5:17-6:2) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (18) And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (20) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (21) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (6:1) We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (2) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
á If you are a part of this blessed house of Jacob, I am talking to you.
Who Calls
2nd — Who issues this call? Who is it that calls us to Òwalk in the light of the Lord?Ó
This is a call from GodÕs prophet to GodÕs people. GodÕs servants never say to his people, ÒGo ye and walk in the light of the Lord.Ó GodÕs servants lead the way. The prophet of God says, ÒCome ye, let us walk in the light of the Lord.Ó
This is a call from men who once hardened their hearts against the call we now issue. á A Sympathetic Call á An Urgent Call á A Passionate Call á A Personal Call
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 JacobÕs house need and want their older brethren to lead the way. But the older often need the urging and prodding of the younger.
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. — ÒCome ye, let us walk!Ó
The Light
3rd — What is Òthe light of the LordÓ? Without question all men, by nature, have the light of conscience, for which they are responsible (John 1:9; Romans 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 isÉ. á The Lord Jesus Christ himself (John 1:14, 18). á The Gospel of GodÕs free grace in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:5-6). á The Word of God — ÒThy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my pathway.Ó á The revealed will of God. — ÒThis is the way; walk ye in it.Ó — (See Proverbs 3:5-6). á The Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11; Romans 8:14). á 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.
HOW
4th — How can I Òwalk in the light of the LordÓ? — 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 LordÉ. á I must own and acknowledge that Christ is my Lord. á I must believe the light he gives. á I must obey my Lord, following the direction of the light. á I must imitate the example of my master (Ephesians 4:32-5:1). á I must persevere to the end. — I must keep on walking in the light.
Why
5th — Why must we Òwalk in the light of the LordÓ? — ÒO house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.Ó
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.
In the light of the Lord our hearts find rest. á In the light of His Blood. á In the light of His Righteousness. á In the light of His Providence.
In the light of the Lord we find direction for judgment. — ÒHe that is spiritual judgeth all things.Ó — The believer sees things in their true light, in the light of the Lord. ÒPerishing things of clay, Born but for one brief day, Pass from my heart away, Jesus is mine!Ó
In the light of the Lord our souls find satisfaction. á In the Purpose of God (Romans 8:28-30). á In the Fulness of Christ (Colossians 2:9-10). á In the Hope of Life.
In the light of the Lord we have fellowship with God and one another (1 John 1:3, 7).
(1 John 1:1-7) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (2) (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) (3) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. (4) And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. (5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (6) If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: (7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Application
This is my message to you: — ÒO house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.Ó á To you who have walked in darkness for so long. á To you who are languishing and fainting in the way. á To you who are going through dark storms. á To you who are young. á To you who are strong. á To you who are near the grave.
Amen.
Don Fortner
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Pastor FortnerÕs
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