Isaiah 12

Isaiah 12

Hello Project Ezra!  This week the suggested reading is Isaiah 12, and this passage is a song of praise to God.   How much time every day to you spend simply praising God for His goodness, His majesty, His holiness, and the other amazing truths of His character that make up who He is?  In my case, not nearly enough time.  And what’s more, those truths don’t make their way into my evangelism nearly enough either.  I find it easier to focus on the repetition of my law and gospel presentation.  Having a well memorized gospel framework is not bad in itself, of course.  But since the message of salvation cannot be seen in isolation, but must be seen in relation to God’s character, shouldn’t we be sure to emphasize, and to give glory to God for that as well?  I tend to emphasize His justice and holiness, but don’t spend enough time praising the positive aspects of His character, such as His goodness, grace and mercy.  So this week and this chapter offer an opportunity to do that, and I am praying that I will be more faithful in exalting more of who and what He is when I share the gospel.  I pray this will be as encouraging and convicting to you as it is to me.  Remember, evangelism should be an act of worship.  As Christians, EVERYTHING we do should be an act of worship.

All for His glory,
Dan

INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THE PROJECT

READ ISAIAH 12

We are here today/tonight to give thanks to the LORD, and to worship Him

We are here to call upon His name, for as His word says, He has done gloriously

This chapter tells us to let His glory be known, in all the earth.  And we are here with the aim of doing just that.

We will shout and sing for joy, for great is the Holy One of Israel!

You may ask, what does holy mean?  What is holiness?  And why does it matter?

Holiness is at the heart of who and what God is.  Holiness means perfect moral purity, and an “otherness” that is indescribable. 

Though we reflect some of God’s attributes, since we are created in His image, He is not like us.

For while the Bible says we are dead in our sins, and by nature children of wrath, it also tells us the God is good.

This is both a wonderful and a terrifying truth.  God is good, and we are not.

God’s goodness means He must punish sin and insure complete justice. 

Any good judge must see that the guilty are punished, and we should praise God for His justice. 

But we must also realize that justice should be directed as us, for we are guilty.

It is good for God to punish murderers, those who take lives that belong to Him. 

But His word says that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you and I have hated.

It is good for God to punish a rapist, one who forces physical intimacy on another. 

But He tells us that anyone who looks with list is an adulterer, and adulterers will not inherit the kingdom of God.  All of us have looked with lust.

It is good for God to punish the cult leader who uses the false claim of God’s favor and authority to use and abuse those who follow him or her.

But you too have created a false view of God, and idol, in your mind.  And all idolaters, those who break the first of God’s commandments, deserve nothing but the eternal fire of hell.

God has been incredibly gracious not to pour out His wrath for sin already.  For the soul that sins shall die, and we deserve death 10,000 times over.

But though we deserve God’s wrath, His goodness is also displayed in His mercy, and His patience.

He has provided mercy through the blood of Son, Jesus Christ, God in human form.

Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life before the Father, and then willingly took on Himself the sin of mankind.

He took that sin, and on the cross the penalty for that sin was poured out on Him by His Father.

God’s goodness, His holiness, crushed His Son for our sake.  Jesus Christ allowed Himself to be crushed for our sake, because of His love and His mercy.

Jesus died, but rose again on the third day, proving His power over death, and proving who He was.

He now sits in majesty at the right hand of God the Father.

If we will turn from sin and trust in Christ alone, then He, our only mediator with God, will stand for us on the Day of Judgment.

And instead of experiencing the terror of God’s justice, we will experience the joy of a soul washed clean by His blood, and know that an eternity in heaven awaits us.

True joy only comes through a right relationship with the God who created you.

The greatest joy is the joy found in God’s salvation

It is the joy of a debtor freed from his debts, for we all owe a sin debt.

It is the joy of a slave freed from bondage, for outside of Christ we are all slaves to sin.

The joy of a prisoner freed from prison.  Without salvation we are prisoners under a death penalty, waiting for justice to be served.

Isaiah 12 says with joy we draw water from His wells of salvation

We pray that today you will draw from Christ’s wells of salvation, through turning from sin, and trusting in Him.

Turn to the only God who can save you.  Turn to the God.

Come to His throne today.  Come in humility, and cry out to Him. 

He will save you!  He is mighty to save!

Then you too will know the joy of a right relationship with your creator.

You too will someday be with Him in heaven, and know the joy of fulfilling your purpose, in giving eternal praise and glory to Him!

USE BIBLE VERSES TO BOLSTER YOUR GOSPEL PRESENTATION, AND USE AS MANY AS YOU CAN.  I WOULD SUGGEST KEEPING A NOTEBOOK HANDY WHEN DOING YOUR DAILY BIBLE READING, SO YOU CAN WRITE DOWN GOOD VERSES AS YOU COME ACROSS THEM.  YOU MIGHT EVEN TURN IT INTO A POCKET CONCORDANCE, AND CATEGORIZE THEM AS YOU GO.