\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Audio\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\tText: Isaiah 9:1-7<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. The prophet Isaiah told the people that the Messiah was coming. <\/p>\n
A. He would bring righteousness to all the nations and remove the burdens of sin<\/p>\n
B. He would establish a new government, one that would last forever<\/p>\n C. The people of Israel foolishly thought that the Messiah would just extend their\ngovernment to cover other nations\n
1. They expected an empire with Israel at its center<\/p>\n
2. Even after the resurrection, the disciples were expecting it – Acts 1:6<\/p>\n
D. How foolish was this concept, because the very next verses explains their failings.<\/p>\n
II. Why learn?<\/p>\n
A. Wasn’t this Israel’s problem? We’re not Israel.<\/p>\n
B. No, but people repeat mistakes because they forget the past – Ecclesiastes 1:9-11<\/p>\n C. It is only by realizing that we are no different – that we are vulnerable to the same\nmistakes – can we take steps to shield ourselves from sin. Otherwise, we will\nrepeat the same errors – I Corinthians 10:11-12\n
III. Israel’s faults<\/p>\n
A. Arrogance in thinking they could recover on their own – Isaiah 9:8-12<\/p>\n 1. They looked at the destruction God brought upon them and thought that\nthis wasn’t so bad because they would rebuild to something even greater\n a. Brick would be replaced with stone. Common sycamore would be\nreplaced by valuable cedar.\n 2. But no thought was given as to why they were destroyed – why God’s\nhand was against them\n
3. The need for God wasn’t considered at all – Isaiah 9:13<\/p>\n
B. Having false leaders and godless common people – Isaiah 9:14-17<\/p>\n
1. God would cut off the highest and the lowest, the noblest and the base<\/p>\n
2. The leaders because they are leading the people astray<\/p>\n
3. The lowest – the young and the poor – for their evil and foolish talk<\/p>\n
C. Infighting and no concern for their fellow man – Isaiah 9:18-21<\/p>\n
1. There was no mercy for their fellow country men<\/p>\n
2. They consume each other – Micah 7:2-6<\/p>\n
3. It is pure selfishness – everyone for their own wants<\/p>\n
4. Ultimately it is self-destruction<\/p>\n
D. Unjust government – Isaiah 10:1-4<\/p>\n
1. The concept of right and wrong is lost. <\/p>\n
2. Those needing protection the most are no longer protected – Amos 5:11-12<\/p>\n
IV. Repeats<\/p>\n
A. In the government<\/p>\n 1. Removing religion, Christianity particularly, from all aspects of life and\nthinking we are going to remain great\n 2. Following after politicians and false teachers who are trying to reshape\nsociety to the point that sin is accepted. And common people running after\nsin.\n
3. Artificial divisions by race and class<\/p>\n 4. Judges promoting social agendas and government adopting policies based\non monetary benefits instead of focusing on right and wrong\n
B. In the church<\/p>\n
1. Using gimmicks to seek growth instead of using God’s method<\/p>\n
a. Jesus sent his disciples – Matthew 28:18-20<\/p>\n
b. We teach and it is God who increases – I Corinthians 3:5-7<\/p>\n c. This is always the way the church has grown, one Christian\nteaching another\n d. But man never ceases to look for gimmicks: food, drinks, parties,\nmusic. \n
(1) Something that makes serving God seem fun in man’s eyes.<\/p>\n (2) Over time God and His teachings get left out, except in\nshallow vague references.\n
e. We are restricted because the credit belongs to God – I Peter 4:11<\/p>\n
2. Following after false teachers and leaders trying to reshape the church<\/p>\n
a. False teachers will ever be a problem in the church – I John 4:1<\/p>\n b. As well as the corrupting influence of sin that especially attacks the\nweak members – Ephesians 4:17-24\n
3. Infighting<\/p>\n
a. Jesus’ commandment – John 13:34-35<\/p>\n
b. Speaking evil of brethren – James 4:11<\/p>\n (1) We tend to be the harshest critic of those we should be\nclosest to\n
c. Hatred – I John 3:14-15<\/p>\n
d. It comes from not following God’s teachings – I Timothy 6:3-5<\/p>\n
e. Majoring in minors – Titus 3:9<\/p>\n
4. Injustice with biases toward the wealthy<\/p>\n
a. James speaks extensively toward this problem <\/p>\n
(1) Judges with evil thoughts – James 2:2-4<\/p>\n
(2) Talk and no action – James 2:15-16<\/p>\n
b. A lack of love – I John 3:16-19<\/p>\n
V. History repeats itself, but it doesn’t have to<\/p>\n
A. I Peter 2:9-15 – By our conduct, give glory to God<\/p>\n
B. God offers mercy – Ephesians 2:1-7<\/p>\n C. You can break the destructive cycle and build something glorifying God –\nEphesians 2:17-22\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Download Audio Text: Isaiah 9:1-7 I. The prophet Isaiah told the people that the Messiah was coming. A. He would bring righteousness to all the nations and remove the burdens of sin B. He would establish a new government, one that would last forever C. The people of Israel foolishly thought that the Messiah…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[1308,478,557,523,126,1363,179],"class_list":["post-63778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-falling-away","tag-false-teachers","tag-israel","tag-justice","tag-pride","tag-selfishness","tag-sin"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":53359,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/rituals-dont-cancel-sin\/","url_meta":{"origin":63778,"position":0},"title":"Rituals Don’t Cancel Sin","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 58:1-14 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Men get into their minds that they need to make God listen to them \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Like a child holding his breath, they believe that if they suffer, then God will listen \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There were false religions based on self-inflicted pain to gain their god\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":89583,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/my-servant-israel-or-jesus\/","url_meta":{"origin":63778,"position":1},"title":"My Servant: Israel or Jesus?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton The skeptic claims: \"Christian interpretations emerged over the centuries, often distorting the original meanings by selectively quoting verses and overlooking the nuances of Hebrew grammar. For example, in Isaiah 49:3, the servant is explicitly identified as \"Israel.\" Here, the skeptic took a verse out of its\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":61774,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/and-just-whose-fault-is-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":63778,"position":2},"title":"And Just Whose Fault Is It?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 2, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 9:14-24 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I received a note that I found disgusting \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A woman complained that her husband wasn\u2019t giving her the affection she deserved, so she kicked her husband out and brought in a boyfriend. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That sin doesn\u2019t justify sin apparently doesn\u2019t matter to her\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":22194,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-felix-manalo-the-last-messenger-of-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":63778,"position":3},"title":"Is Felix Manalo the last messenger of God?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 5, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day, I am a member of the Lord's church here in the Philippines, I have a question regarding Isaiah 46:11 and Isaiah 43:5-7. A religious group called Iglesia ni Cristo claims that their \"Sugo\" or messenger, Felix Manalo, from the islands mentioned in Isaiah 24:15; 59:19 and Psalms\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":82440,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-does-isaiah-433-4-mean\/","url_meta":{"origin":63778,"position":4},"title":"What does Isaiah 43:3-4 mean?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 25, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Can I please ask you to explain Isaiah 43:3-4 (NIV): \"For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":45961,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/gods-servant\/","url_meta":{"origin":63778,"position":5},"title":"God’s Servant","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 9, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Isaiah 49:1-9 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Several passages in the latter part of Isaiah discuss the role that a person, referred to as \u201cMy Servant,\u201d would accomplish on behalf of God. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As we read through the passages, we need to keep in mind that Isaiah was\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63778","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63778"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63778\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63778"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63778"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63778"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}