Rsbc
March 17, 2002
Sunday Night
The Book of Isaiah
Subject: “THE DESCENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS”
Text: Isaiah 45:8
Intro: For last two Sunday evenings we look at the prophecy of Cyrus GOD’S appointed means of freeing his people from Babylon. We seen a little of his history and the means through which he would rise to rule and power through out most of the known world.
There is yet further information concerning Cyrus in this chapter as you will see when we get to it. But in this verse tonight is a wealth of information if GOD will allow us to show and preach about it . This is a plea from the prophet Isaiah in the midst of seemingly no freshness of the LORD among the people of GOD.
It is the heart of ever GOD called man to see the move of GOD among his people, to see his glory and power among us.
Psalm 63:1‑2 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; 2 To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
I... “ AN HONEST PLEA: VS 8
“Drop down” .. Literal means to rain down, it is not talking about a physical rain, but a spiritual rain...of righteousness.
1st. The direction from which the rein of righteousness... “ Heaven”
The language of the O.T. in a great number of places uses symbolic language to convey truth...
Joel 3:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
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2nd. The plea itself: “pour down righteousness”..
Psalm 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Again...
Psalm 72:1‑3 [A Psalm] for Solomon. Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. 2 He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. 3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
II... “ THE PERSON FROM WHICH THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS SPRINGS FORTH:
“It is the LORD JESUS CHRIST” He said in his preaching these words:
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
Our text says: I the LORD hath created it...
1st. The scripture declare his righteousness:
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2nd. John preached the way of righteousness:
Matthew 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen [it], repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
3rd. Paul said that it was his righteousness that secured our salvation:
Romans 3:25‑26 Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
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4th. This wonderful righteousness of Christ has eternal effects upon us:
a. Life from death:
Romans 8:10 And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.
b. Believing manifest that great righteousness of Christ to our accounts:
Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Abraham:
Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
It is the heart of the Kingdom...
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
That Christ was made unto us righteousness:
1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Christ is said to be sin so that we can be made righteous...
2 Corinthians 5:21 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.
WE should follow after righteousness
1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.