RSBC
August 15, 1999
Sunday Night
Series- The Book of Isaiah
Subject- “When God Gave Great Hope”
Text- Isaiah 9-1-7
Intro- To leave a nation of any kind without hope is to sink that nation into the deepest of despair. This is true then when our text was written, and it is true in our most advanced society. As we study this 9th chapter I wish that you would indeed pray for me and for yourselves that God would give clear understanding to me and to you.
We closed the last chapter with the condition of Judah her King, it was one in which the whole nation with but a few had forsaken the Lord. It also seen that when one forsakes the Lord there is darkness and despair.
But the God of all grace always in the midst of great darkness and despair, in the midst of sin and when Gods people forsake him he shows grace and promises. This is what we have in these verses tonight....
This particular prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus Christ first coming into the world can be seen in the fact that Matthew quotes this as being his day and his people....
Matthew 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
No one who has study the previous chapters can doubt that Jesus Christ has been the focus of Isaiah ‘s Prophecy concerning hope and grace and light. This is true through out the whole book as we shall see each time we come upon it in our studies...
I.... “LIGHT PROMISED”...VS 1-2
Nothing is more beneficial to any one whom darkness has so overtaken than to find light, to have light provided for them. There are a number of reason for this.
1. Because light gives illumination.
2. Because light gives understanding.
3. Because light shows the path clear to take.
4. Because light drives away fear.
5. Because light reveals what is in the darkness.
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This light and this darkness in this text has not to do with real physical darkness or light but rather the condition of the souls of these sinners..Through out the Bible it compares these physical things to spiritual things..
Jesus said concerning the heart of the lost..Matthew 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness!
Eternal punishment references darkness...Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
II... LIGHT EXPERIENCED”...VS 2
Just as the former things that I have spoken about are spiritual realities, the Lord provides a remedy for this darkness it is his son...
1st.. He is the light that gives the great hope of our text...
Luke 1:78‑79 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
2nd. The claim of the saviour...
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.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
3rd. This light has in reality came into the hearts of everyone that is saved..
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
4th. That we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness...into his light...
Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
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1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Conclude this portion of this message tonight with a few practical remarks that I feel is derived from such a text...
1. With such a blessing that was to be bestowed upon a people, and with such a blessing that has been bestowed upon great numbers comes the responsibility bestowed also.
Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
2. What are some of the things that we should be doing as children of Light?
a. Walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
b. Display that light so others can see Christ in us..
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.
c. Shew forth his praises...
Psalm 79:13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
3. When should we start? The answer is right now.
Make our minds tonight in light of what Christ hath done for us that we are willing to go home to our friends, our neighbors, our love ones and spread the good news of Jesus Christ and what he hath done.....