The LORD's All-Inclusive Servant

Isaiah 48:12-50:11; Psalm 69:1-18; Proverbs 24:5-6

 

Funny. People say that Christians and their God are exclusivists. Jesus Christ, the only way? How dare we say there’s only one way?!?

 

There may be only one way, but Christians are not exclusivists. All may come. There are no class distinctions, race distinctions, or nationality distinctions. All who believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord may come and be saved, receiving eternal life. So Christians are inclusivists. We’ll include anyone, just like our God calls us to do.

 

And this inclusiveness is not merely something that is permitted. It’s encouraged! God Himself initiates inclusiveness. God is the One who first decided to send His servant beyond the boundaries of Israel’s territory and race to invite non-Jews to pledge allegiance to Him. Read what Isaiah wrote:

 

And now the LORD says--he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength--he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." – Isaiah 49:5-6

 

Does that sound like an exclusivistic God? I don’t think so! He’ll accept anyone! He’ll accept you, so long as you are willing to confess that He is the one true God. Which is pretty reasonable, since He is the one and only true God. It’s simply admitting the truth.

 

Father, may people realize that Your invitation is for them, no matter what religious background they were brought up in or what culture raised them. May people realize that they can find salvation through Your Son’s life, death and resurrection. May the world stop rejecting the fact that Jesus Christ is Lord of all—Lord over all people on earth, whether American or Asian or African or European or Australian, whether rich or poor, whether weak or powerful, whether ruled or ruler. May people see that one day even our Presidents will bow before Your Son and call Him Lord, whether they do now or not. And may they willingly confess their rebellion and their realization that Jesus Christ is Lord while they may still confess, be pardoned, and be saved. Thank You for being inclusive enough that this is an option for us!

 

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: You're Saved, So Work Joyfully.

The message covered Philippians 2:12-18, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. You have been saved from sin and you’re free to obey the King of all Creation. So obey. And don’t fight it, grumbling or arguing. Discover the glorious work of God through obedience. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

 

That Men May See What Kings Will Not

Isaiah 43:14-45:10; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 24:1-2

 

In yet another instance where God used a pagan king to accomplish his will, Isaiah looks forward to the day when God will move a king called Cyrus to the throne to set up His temple. But we might not want to assume that Cyrus knew God simply because he decided to build God’s temple:

 

This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of

to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD,  the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.   I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. – Isaiah 45:1-6

 

God knew, well before Cyrus was ever born, that His people would be in captivity and would need a King who set them free to return to the promised land. He knew before Cyrus had uttered a sound that Cyrus would not have a heart for God. And yet he still exalted this pagan boy to be a pagan king for the glory and honor of God’s own name.

 

Why? “So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.”

 

Father, please help me to remember that you are in control, and you call me to trust in You no matter what else people may say

 

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Adopt Christ's Attitude.

The message covered Philippians 2:5-11, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Whether humbling Himself and obeying to the point of death or being exalted by God the Father, Jesus Christ aimed for God’s glory. We must do the same. Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.

 

The Celebrated Battle

Most of the time fights are bad, right? And most of the time we don’t think of God as a fighter or conqueror. But when He comes to vanquish evil men and save His people from every oppressor, He is coming as a fighter, a conqueror, a champion. And when that day comes, His fight won’t be bad. His fight will be good, and those who love God will celebrate His fight. We’ll cheer every blow He lands on His enemies.

 

Every stroke the LORD lays on them

    with his punishing rod

  will be to the music of tambourines and harps,

    as he fights them in battle with the blows of his arm. – Isaiah 30:32

 

Father, in justice You will fight Your enemies—our enemies. Help me to wait patiently for that day, seeking to be a man of peace until then, extending Your offer of peace to Your enemies. But when they frustrate me, when they hurt me, when they harm me and mock me and oppress the people I love, may I remember that You are not a weak God. One day You are coming, and You will fight, and Your fighting will be just and right and good. And You will win.

 

Wounding and Healing

Isaiah 19-21; Psalm 59; Proverbs 23:13-14

 

I can’t think of many situations in which a loving human would deliberately wound a loved one enough that he/she would need healing. Obviously, there are disciplinary circumstances where parents bring pain to their children in one or another, but they don’t hurt their kids in a way that will require healing.

 

God does.

 

In Isaiah 19, God promises to hurt the Egyptians. And He’s going to hurt them pretty seriously. They will need healed. Who will heal them? God. After describing His plans against the Egyptians, God says through His prophet Isaiah:

 

In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them. – Isaiah 19:19-22

 

Sometimes we begin to think we’re wise, powerful and invincible. We don’t believe anyone can touch us, and we forget that we need God because we don’t feel needy or weak. The Egyptians seem to have forgotten that they needed God. They thought their idols were powerful enough to take care of them, and they neglected God’s appeals to them to put their trust in Him instead.

 

So God said He’d send other, stronger humans to Egypt to show them that they weren’t as tough and powerful as they thought, that their gods weren’t capable of saving them. And then God would save them Himself. He would wound them, but He would heal them when they finally called on God to save them.

 

Do you feel pretty good about yourself? Do you feel like you don’t need God’s help very often, or perhaps at all? Beware. You are weaker than you pretend to be, and God doesn’t have to look very far to find someone to teach you how much you need Him.

 

Father, may I not need to learn this lesson the hard way. May I remember that I need You. May I be aware of my weaknesses, my temptations, my sins. May I call on Your name! You are the only God, the only Lord, the only Savior who can save completely! I need You.

 

Weekly Sermons in Swanton: Lift Up a Banner of Joy.

The message covered Philippians 2:1-4, and it can be heard via streaming audio at http://www.swantonalliance.org. Paul endures suffering joyfully and lives for others because he has Jesus Christ and every benefit that the Father gives through Him. Join Paul in that joy! Note: Past sermons can be accessed through the resources page.