Rsbc 01/03/98
Sunday Night
The Book of Isaiah Sermon # 2
Subject- "Visions In The Bible"
Text- Isaiah 1-1
Intro- I would like to verify by the Bible the Lord willing that Visions ended with the manifestation of Jesus Christ. There is no questions that many people who have come and gone since the days of John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ have claimed to have messages by vision from the Lord.
Religions have been born as the result of men saying and some women saying that God gave them a vision, and many have followed their leadership. Some of the more well known men have been ..
Joesph Smith...Whom the Mormon Church views as a prophet of God claimed to be the recipient of divine visions from God. And wrote the book of Mormons. He claims to do what no other man including Jesus Christ was able to do..keep what he calls the church together.
Numerous Pentecostal today under various groups claim they can and do have visions from the Lord. The outrageous cry’s that come from modern Pulpits in the churches and on the TV. and airways fill homes with erroneous information and people believe and take it in hook line and sinker. Despite what God says they persistently keep it up..
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
I. A NUMBER OF THINGS ABOUT VISIONS THAT GOD GAVE IN THE O.T. AS WELL AS THE N.T.
1ST. That he would reveal his will to a prophet through visions.
Psalm 89:19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people.
2nd. That he would reveal himself to some in visions..
Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream.
3rd. That a lot of the visions that were given often were accompanied angels.
Luke 1-11-22
4th. Often these visions that God would give would be either in a trance or in the night time when one was sleeping..
Genesis 46:2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here [am] I.
Acts 11:5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
5th. In some cases visions were very perplexing to those who received them.
Daniel 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of [my] body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel 8:15 And it came to pass, when I, [even] I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Acts 10:17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
So you can see the perplexing problem these had..what a blessing it is to have the completed word of God as a guide.
1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
II. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF VISIONS ..
1ST. They were given to communicate the intent of God concerning people and nations.
Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which [are] in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
2nd. They were given to announce the pending judgement of God.
Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I [am] the LORD.
III. THE VISION UNFOLDED BY ISAIAH TO THE PEOPLE AND LEADERS OF HIS DAY..
1ST. The goodness of God as a father to his people...vs 2 " I have nourished & brought up children"
The word nourish means to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise ,magnify, do great things This is indeed what the Lord had done for the nation of Israel. This is what the Lord told Abraham
Genesis 18:18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? This was the gospel that God preached to Abraham.. Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
a. As a father he has pity on his people.. Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
b. As a father he corrects us.. Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son [in whom] he delighteth.
2nd. They rebelled against the Lord.. vs 2
Nehemiah 9:24-26 So the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands, with their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would. 25 And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness. 26 Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations.