Standing Strong, Political or Spiritual? Part 3

Isaiah 10:1-5
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?4 Without me they shall bow down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.

As we continue our study into spiritual warfare, let us begin with God’s message in Isaiah 10.  It is important that we understand that God has always used the unjust to judge his people when they forsake Him.  It has never changed, even with His church.  Let’s look at these verses as a way of introduction for today’s message.

1. A woe is pronounced – against unrighteous decrees.
2. False judgements will be the norm. – courts will begin to exalt the criminal at the expense of the lowly victim.
3. Without Him the evil man takes charge.
4. NOTE: The rod of my anger – God uses other nations to discipline His own people. His anger was at His own people. He used the unrighteous to judge the righteous.

Parallel this with today’s church and our nation.  There is spiritual wickedness in high places both in the church and in the government. The church was once the light on a hill here in our country.  It stood for that which was right and holy and pure.  Our government once stood upon righteous principles and governed based upon God’s holy word,  Both in the church and in our nation, imperfect men ruled based on a perfect book.  What we see today is far removed from the righteousness of the past. 

Acts 9:1-6 –   And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

1. There is an instant transformation to those who come to Christ.
2. An encounter with Jesus Christ will change you.
3. A true encounter with Jesus Christ will change your direction. II Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
4. God loved Paul just the way he was, but loved Him too much to leave him the way he was.
5. God does not save you to leave you to sin. He saved you to deliver you from your sin. John 8:10-12 – 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. 12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
6. Our attitude toward the sinner should never be one of acceptance of their sinfulness, but compassion toward their condition. We should love them enough to share God’s glorious truth. Salvation does not only change one’s eternal destination, but it also changes one’s attitudes, actions, and desires while here. “LORD, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ME TO DO!”

Hard look at Romans 1

1. The concept of servanthood is of utmost importance. Romans 1:1 – Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
   a. Christianity is all about serving.
   b. Christianity is all about sharing the good news. We are set apart for a purpose. Separated means to be removed from one thing and joined to another. We are removed from Sin and joined to Jesus Christ.
   c. All Christian share the same purpose – Make Jesus known.
   d. How can we make Him known if we condone the sinfulness of man?
2. Our faith should be spoken of. – Romans 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.
   a. How is your faith spoken of where you work?
   b. How is your faith spoken of at home?
   c. How is your faith spoken of at church?
3. Faith means I am depending on someone to do what I cannot do.
4. We owe the unsaved a huge debt. – Romans 1:14-15 – I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
5. We are the way God has chosen to share the message of Salvation with the Lost.

I Peter 2:1-11 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

• We are to lay aside the ways of the world.
• We are to desire the teaching of His word.
• We are priests – holy, sacrificial, and accepted by God.
• He is precious – I wonder how precious He is to the church today.
• We are light called out of darkness.

II Corinthians 6:14-18 – Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We are to abstain from that which will lead us back to the sin that had so entrapped our soul.