Rsbc
January 12, 2003
The Book of Isaiah
Sermon # 107
Subject: “ Works That Profit Not, That Which is Profitable”
Text: Isaiah 57:12-21
Intro: Last week we concluding with GOD calling the Idolatrous practices of his people and the heathen to his bar of justice. We seen that it is futal to say the least to go after other gods.
It none other than “spiritual adultery” that GOD will ultimately judge one day. That men will stand and give an account before the eternal and everlasting GOD. That he will judge the world by the standard of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
The Lord is always longsuffering... first he warns and then waits and then judges listen to what these verses say:
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
In this text we shall see of the longsuffering of the LORD:
I.. “ WHAT HE REVEALS ABOUT THEIR WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: VS 12-13
1st. The profitlessness of their works: vs 12
Through out the Bible men are warned over and over again of this very thing, that is they cannot please GOD with works of righteousness which they have done. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
In the Book of Revelation the finality of it is declared: Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
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2nd. The destruction of their works and their idol gods: vs 13
It will be a time when they realize that is some of them that what they have done, the gods that they have worshiped, the illicit immoral actions, now will fail them at last. They will cry but to know avail.. It will be useless and they will be able to view it.
A. No false god now to help.
B. Their works are vain and vanity.
C. That which they have trusted is carried away.
God through the Prophet David said these words ...Psalms 4:2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
Solomon said... Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
II... “ THE WONDERFUL PROVISION OF GRACE”...VS 13-15
This my friends is that which is profitable. God showing his wonderful grace to hell deserving sinners. Yet in the midst of all what GOD has said concerning their judgement he shows a way out of it...
1st. The exception: “ he that putteth his trust in me”..vs 13
Great benefit in trusting the LORD: Psalms 125:1 <<A Song of degrees.>> They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
This word means to have complete confidence in the Lord and his grace and abilities. It is the ones that have the grace to trust the in the Lord that will inherit the LORD’s Holy mountain...
It is the purpose of GOD that he have a people that will in purity worship him and fear him and cleave only unto him all the days of their life on earth. That is our lot in life and that is what our purpose in life should be.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
2nd. Those that cry out for the LORD’S people shall have the grace of GOD..vs 14
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This is talking about a way that will be prepared for the lord’s people out of Babylon and back to the LORD. God is saying I will heap up the way and I will show you the way to righteousness..
III.. “ THE GREAT AUTHORITY OF THE TEXT: VS 15
There is a number of thing in this text I wish to show:
1st. The position of the LORD: “ high and lofty one”
a. The LORD has been viewed by Isaiah in this position: Isaiah 6:1 ¶ In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
b. This position is a position of heaven and earth: Psalms 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. Psalms 97:9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.
2nd. The habitation of of the Lord: “inhabiteth eternity”
Psalms 90:1-2
3rd. The name of the Lord: “ who’s name is holy”
Solomon in the building of the Temple said these words about the Lord’s name: 1 Chronicles 29:16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.
4th. The promise of the Lord: “I will dwell with him that is broken”
True godly sorrow worketh repentance. This is an age of non repentant people. People who do not see that they have offended GOD. It is also a day in which we the people of GOD no doubt have offended the LORD and yet we don’t seem to see it neither do we repent of our wrongs against the Lord.
The Lord promises a revived spirit of those that are truly repentant and broken over their sins.. David was after he committed the sins he committed. He said that his sins were against the LORD... until you see that you have sinned against the LORD you will never have a revived spirit in you.
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the brothers of Joesph had done him wrong and when they were confronted with their sins of having sold him Joesph forgave them and they were very repentant, and broken. This is a picture of a contrite and broken spirit.
Note like Judas who sold the LORD and then cried out I have betrayed innocent blood and went out and hung himself, but like Peter he denied him and wept bitterly over it..
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. This my friends is profitable for us to do..the Lord must break us or we will not break down...
Lamentations 5:21 Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
5th. The explanation of the LORD: vs 16-21
a. He will not always be wroth: vs 16
b. I will heal..vs 18
c. I will lead..vs 18
d. I will create..vs 19
Conclude: vs 20-21