Isaiah

Isa_3:4-5

When God is pronouncing judgment on Israel and Judah he threatens to give them children and babes as their rulers. That is to say, young men with no experience and no wisdom

would be put in charge who would surely lead the people to destruction. When a novice (I Tim 3:6) is lifted up in God's work on the mission field to a place of leadership on his own he will most likely ruin his name and the work of God as the result of the inevitable mistakes of youth. The result of untested and unbroken man in leadership is:

1. Condemnation

       -Until a man is broken and knows that God is the one who does anything, anything he does will make him prideful. The Bible is very clear about a man lifted up with pride will fall into the condemnation of the devil.

2. Multiplied damage

        -When a man leads 10 his mistakes may affect just that few. But when a man is on a pedestal where hundreds view him, his mistakes are multiplied and affect thousands. (Jer 10:21)

The best a young man aspiring to missions work could do is go work in a controlled environment where the mistakes would all get out of his system. The two extremes of

training are under training and wasted time training. An under trained man will go out without only a degree to start his own ministry. The second man will spend years

wasting time under a ministry that is not preparing him for effective ministry. So what does effective preparation look like? What kind place should a young man look for?  Such was a place that Timothy worked under Paul for many years. What type of training was it?

1. A training of with-ness

      -The training must be life on life, a young prophet literally living with the old prophet. He learns to abound in ministry and suffer defeat as a man of God. Nothing is hid from him.

      -Acts 16:3 "Him would Paul have to go forth with him" Acts 20:4

      -Phm 1:1 "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy"

2. A training of sonship

      -Paul truly loved Timothy. He did not use him. He trained Timothy because his desire was that God use Timothy. He invested time in him as selflessly as a father does a son.

      -I Cor 4:17, I Tim 1:2, II Tim 1:2

3. A training of imitation

      -A young man must observe an effective man of God and learn to copy his strength and habits

      -Acts 18:5, I Cor 16:10 "he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do"

4. A training of service

      -Young men must learn first to be servants

      -Acts 17:15, Rom 16:21 "Timotheus my workfellow"

5. A training in knowledge

      -The doctrine must never be ignored for the practical. This will lead to a very organized and powerful heretic. Paul instilled into Timothy a knowledge of God's Word

      -II Tim 2:15

6. A training with close supervision and instruction

     Ex: Both books of I and II Timothy are instructions to a young man now just being given wings in his own ministry.

7. A training of empowerment

      -A young man must be allowed to stand alone and fall under the ministry of a seasoned man. He must be trusted after he is trained and sent out on short jobs that test his ability.

      -Ac 17:14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

      -Acts 19:22, I Thess 3:2

8. A training of perpetuation

      -Timothy was intrusted the truths of God's Word and it's ministry. He was then exhorted to keep it (I Tim 6:20) and then pass it on to faithful men (II Tim 2:2)

ALB

Isa_8:16

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God for the
living to the dead? (Isa_8:19)

In other words: Should not a people seek their God? Should not they seek the living by going through the dead?

In verse 17 God hid his face from his people because of  their rebellion. He did this by binding up the testimony or, in other words, hiding the Words of God.

The people then began to seek familiar spirits and wizards. That is the natural result of anyone around the world that doesn't have the Word of God. They seek after:

1. Dead people
            -Saints, Mary, Muhamed, etc.

2. The living dead
            -Those people who preach philosophies of man who are yet dead in their sin like Darwin,    Neitche, Marx, etc.(Joh_3:18)

3. Dead Gods
            -Hinduism, Shintuism, Taoism, etc

They need to consult with the living God.
1. Christ is the only one who has tasted death and yet lives

 
2. He affirmed his life by many witnesses

3. He so loves that he desires that all know his forgiving message (II Pet. 3:9)

What are you doing so that they don't have to seek life amongst the dead?

ALB

Isa_10:15

Let us ever be aware of the fact that we are only instruments in His hands.  If anything is accomplished in our lives it is He that does it.  Sometimes when things are going good we want to think of how great we are and how greatly used we are but when things aren't going well we complain that God isn't being fair with us.  Let us humble ourselves and remember that we are but His tools and then humbly allow ourselves to be eagerly used of Him.  WAG

Isa_12:5

He surely hath done excellent things.  And the whole earth should know that.  Isaiah could say that God was his salvation.  He could speak of drawing water from the well of salvation.  Isa_12:3.  But most of the world can not speak these things.  Isaiah said that we were to declare His doings among the people.  We are to make mention that His name is exalted.  Isa_12:4  Is this not a call to carry the message of our God to the world?  We mention his goodness in our testimony meetings inside the four walls of our church or maybe even in the work place with other Christians but what is being done to get this message to the Muslims, the Chinese, the pagans of this world.  They need to know that they can live without fear.  Isa_12:2  They too need to be able to draw water out of the wells of salvation.  Who will go for Him?  Isa_6:8

Isa_20:2

Isaiah was willing to pay the price of dishonor in order to seek the greatest goal: limitless obedience to his God. For 3 years he walked around the people naked and barefooted as a sign of their coming destruction.

Only when Christians in America stop mumbling Mat_28:19-20 to themselves in conferences and monthly checks and start obeying it will a condemned world ever see the reality of their condemnation and the hope found in Christ. God needs some men who will not live for the honor of this world and the comfort of finances and live passionately only for Him. Obedience to the command, not
preaching about the command, is what God requires.

I. God wants your obedience
II. God wants your example
III. God wants to honor you
-Only through death can we live. Only through give can we receive. Only through dishonor among men can we be honored in Christ.

1Co_1:25-29 

ALB

Isa_26:3

In the storms that will come in your life on the mission field only one thing will keep you going and that will be if you learn to think on these things.  Phi_4:8 We are to stay our mind on Him.  He then gives perfect peace.  That is a strong modifier.  Perfect peace is the peace that passes all understanding.  Phi_4:7 We are to set our affections on things above Col_3:1-2 Anybody can have peace when all is going right but only God gives peace when all is going wrong.  Stay your mind on Him and trust Him.  WAG

Isa_26:7 

If the way of the just is upright then there must be one who determines what is upright. That One must be upright
himself. In this we find such a simple truth that it is God, the Just One, who determines who is just. It is the
Faithful One who determines who is faithful.

Are you faithful with the gospel he has given you? Are you just with what you have been given by God? Not according to man's standard but Gods?

Now before you get prideful and self-righteous about that thinking that you don't have to live up to other people's
standards, don't you think the standards of God are higher?

1. God's standard of righteousness
-Mat 5- God's standard is one of the heart that goes beyond the law that governs the actions.
-Do you think that just because you are doing right that God is pleased with you?

2. God's standard of fruitfulness
-Mat 25:21-23 God finds the servants who multiplied their talents faithful. In vs. 24 God comes to face the
one who only buried his talents. He is found "wicked" in vs 24.
-Just to "hang in there" is not what God requires. He requires that a faithful servant multiply the gospel. When
was the last time you multiplied the gospel?

3. God's standard of faithfulness
-I Cor 4:1-2 It is required of a steward that he be faithful. Faithful in what? Verse one says faithful to multiply the gospel as a minister of Christ. A man cannot meet God's standard of faithfulness if he is not faithful by following Mat 28:19-20 and taking the gospel to the ends of the world.
-A missionary fully supported and holding the keys to the gospel who is not working, training, and multiplying
God's ministry is guilty of unfaithfulness with what has been entrusted to him. What are you doing as a steward?

ALB

Isa_28:10

Discipleship, pastoring, and the ministry are based on this principle.  People grow slowly.  They must learn little by little.  The missionary often makes the mistake of trying to say too much in his message.  Remember that for people to grow they need to learn a little at a time.  As a child I was taught "inch by inch it is a chinch but by the yard it is hard".  Each message give them something that they can take home with them.  All they need is a little today but if they keep getting a little soon it will be a lot.  That is what we teach in "life on life" discipleship. If you spend a lot of time with people you will be able to give them a little each day that will soon become life changing.  Too often we try to cram a lifetime of preparation into a few years of college.  Children, our own that is, grow because we share with them each day and never even realize that we were giving them a lesson but soon we begin to see the changes that God is making in their lives. WAG

Isa_29:13

What a condemnation?  We draw near Him with our mouths but not our hearts.  We talk the talk but do not walk the walk.  How often do we sing the battle cry of the church yet do so little to get the gospel to the world.  Our churches have become bastions of the faith.  We have it, we hold it, we hide it and have forgotten our purpose.  We no longer step out on nothing to get the gospel to the world and so see little of His power in our lives.  WE teach by precept not by practice.  We have words but not wisdom.  We have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.  It is not too late to change this in our generation.  Will you rise up and obey Him Will you decide to get the gospel to the world.  Will you risk it all to obey Him?  WAG

Isa_29:22-24

God is promising that the house of Jacob will not be ashamed because his children will sanctify God's name and fear the God or Israel. Paul said that his children in the faith were the proof or seal of his apostleship (I Cor 9:2). He said that he really only truly lived if his children stand fast in the Lord (I Thes 3:8). His children in the faith were his crown and joy (Phil 4:1).

Do you realize as a missionary you are ashamed without young men (children) in the ministry who were produced by your ministry? Do you know that the end of your term will end with crowns and joy? If we really want to live we must invest our lives, time, and resources in young men who will fear God and sanctify His name. ALB

Isa_37:20

The battle today is to show which is the one true God.  Can you hear the Muslims as they boast about the power of their God.  As they talk about how no one can stand before them.  Hezekiah takes the letter from the enemy.  He goes to the Lord and just spreads out the letter before Him.  He says God I want the world to know that thou art God and that you are the only God.  God hears his prayer and answers.  We must remember to always have the only correct motive.  Our goal is not to help people that is only a result of our goal  Our goal is not to build our denomination or mission.  Our goal is that the kingdoms of all the earth know that He is God. 

That brings up a few questions.  Do we earnestly desire to build His name?  Are we living and serving in such a way that the outside world will know that God has to be doing a work in our lives and ministries?  Are we concerned about the millions of people that have not heard the gospel and so do not know of the power and glory of our God?  We must be a about the Father's work.  WAG

Isa_43:1-10

No more clearly in the Old or New Testament could God's purpose for his redeemed be laid out.

 
I. His Propitiation- In Is. 43:1-3 Jehovah declares Himself to be Israel's Creator, Redeemer, and Savior. He
has called Israel by name and put his name of ownership on them. What beautiful and merciful love!

 
II. His Presence- In vs. 2-5 He promises them in return the care and companionship of the Almighty. Who but God could let a man not drown under water? Who but God could keep a man in the fire from burning? What a powerful presence!

 
III. His Purpose- In vs. 6-10
"I have created him for my glory!" God's purpose for us as his creation was for His glory and His praise. Though all the nations of the world were to gather together none could be found in truth except for God's redeemed people. We are his witnesses for the purpose that all nations may know and believe and understand our God! What a great and weighty responsibility!

Are you giving God maximum glory with your life? Amongst all the nations it is God's desire that his redeemed give testimony of his propitiation and of his presence. We have been chosen for this purpose. If you are not getting His name and His message to the nations, God is not being glorified in your life like He wants. Do something great for God today somewhere in the world! ALB

Isa_43:2

Israel has great and rich promises from the Lord.  I believe that these same promises have a secondary application to us.  As we do His work we have His protection.  He is looking for those who would by faith step out and do great things in His name.  We need not concern ourselves with our safety because He will be with us.  This promise accompanies the Great Commission in Mar_16:15 and following.  WAG

Isa_43:11

There is only one answer for the entire world.  He is the Lord.  He is God. There is no other.  John 14:6 makes it clear that no one gets to the Father but by Him.  We must share the news.  There will be no salvation to the millions that live in darkness if we do not tell them.  WAG

Isa_51:23

Build a Bridge to World Evangelism

Isaiah 51:23

I.  Literally a bridge of defeat, discouragement, and death Jos_10:24

     a.  The verse is a promise of how God will remember his people

     b.  Those who have placed their feet on them will get the same treatment

     c.        Victory is coming to the people of God

Peruvian National Anthem

          We are free; let us always be so,

         And let the sun rather deny its light

        Than that we should fail the solemn vow

        Which our country raised to God.

       For a long time the Peruvian, oppressed,

       Dragged the ominous chain;

       Condemned to cruel serfdom,

       For a long time he moaned in silence.

       But as soon as the sacred cry of

       Freedom! was heard on his coasts,

       He shook off the indolence of the slave,

       He raised his humiliated head.

II.  No one can be a bridge to others unless he is dead to himself

     a.  Jesus laid down his life to become the street or way by which we can get to heaven John 14:6

      b.  John the Baptist knew that he must decrease and Jesus must increase John 3:30

     c.  Paul was willing to spend and be spent to get the gospel out II Corinthians 12:15

     d.  Paul didn’t even count his life dear to him to accomplish the task of World Evangelism Acts 20:24

III.  Examples of bridge building—laying down your life and dreams that others may accomplish great things for God

     a.  David prepared all for Solomon to build the temple I Kings 8:17-19

     b.  Barnabas the son of Consolation helping Paul become one of the most used men of God in history Acts 9:27. 11:25,

IV.  How you can be a bridge personally

      a.  By being an encouragement like Barnabas was

      b.  Being an example

      c.  Train your children to be used of God Psalms 127

     d.  Give and send others on the ways III John 2-8

     e.  Pray that the Lord will send forth laborers to His harvest Matthew 9:38

     f.  Training others II Timothy 2:2

V.  What is necessary to be a bridge

      a.  You must die to yourself, your ego, your pride for Him and His causes

      b.  You must seek a ministry that you can do, a way that you can be involved in getting the gospel to the world

      c.  You must model what you want to see in their lives

WAG

Isa_55:8-11

God's thoughts are so far above the thoughts of a nation founded on Christian values that the distance is compared to the distance between the earth and the place beyond the reach of the most powerful telescope. If that be true how far must God's thoughts be from a people who know nothing of God's Word and His ways. How distant they are from knowing God. In their evolution and false god's they deny their creator and would ask, "Who is God", and get no
response if no man who knows God will go and tell them. For this reason God says in vs. 11 that his Word will go out of his mouth and not return void. What are you doing to take the Word to a people who don't know Him? ALB