God is in Control Part 1

Pastor Mike will be speaking on God is in Control Part 1. He will be reading out of Isaiah 4:2-6.

And he is glorified in the presence at the right hand of the Father But the day is coming my friends where the brightness and the glory of Jesus Christ Will sit in the seat of David and will reign in the city of Jerusalem You say why do you say that Mike because the Bible says it Hello, this is pastor Mike Sanders Thank you for joining us today as we are sharing the Word of God and we’re looking forward to opening God’s truth And its impact upon our life. If you have your Bible, I want you to join us in Isaiah chapter 4 Isaiah chapter 4 as we are learning the incredible truth that God is in control I want you to take your Bible and join me in Isaiah chapter 4 and this morning We’re covering verse 2 through 6, which actually will complete chapter 4 in the book of Isaiah Now when you come to chapter 4 we Obviously as Americans we like to start in verse 1 But actually verse 1 belongs to chapter 3 and I know some of you are about ready to call me a heretic But it’s not the chapters and the verses relating to their addresses is not inspired by God It was actually added later. And so sometimes there are some mistakes that have taken Verse 1 of chapter 4 belongs in chapter 3 and in chapter 4 verse 2 is the Beginning of a whole new thought you remember that I taught you early at the outset That Isaiah goes back and forth.

It’s not that Isaiah is struggling It’s not that he has ADHD. He can’t stay focused or anything like that. But rather he is reminding us of Not only the current situation of Israel and Judah and Jerusalem and the judgment of God but he continues to infuse hope into the hearts of God’s people by reminding them of the future and So in chapter 1 we see that Isaiah starts out with this vision that he received from God It’s a vision of God’s judgment upon the people because they have not put God first in their hearts We jumped to chapter 2 and we see that now we’re launched into that Millennial Kingdom future Verse 2 of chapter 2 says now it shall come to pass in the latter days We understand that those latter days are referring to this dispensation of the Millennial Kingdom Some people do not like the word dispensation But it is in the Bible the Apostle Paul talks about different time periods and different ages if you will or different particular purposes that God has in Unfolding his ultimate will upon this earth And so we see in that Millennial Kingdom chapter 2 some beautiful things that we’ve already shared with you we come back to chapter 3 and again a warning to Judah a warning to Jerusalem a warning of what are the signs of the judgment of God a Few weeks ago when we walked you through chapter 3 I’m sure that maybe it felt like a heaviness and I’m sure there was some Wow, it seems like this is what we’re experiencing in America.

It’s true It’s exactly what we’re experiencing in America, and it’s not that America will be judged But when we look at Isaiah We see the signs in chapter 3 of the judgment of God upon Israel upon Judah upon Jerusalem And thus these signs are already being manifested in America and my friends It’s not that we will be judged, but we are being judged America is under the judgment of God And so please don’t be saying that we just feel like that’s something for the future. I Want you to know I really believe with all my heart. This is opinion.

Okay, this is opinion but I believe America has peaked out and Now we are beginning into those stages. We’re leading us to the rapture of the church and to the tribulation of the world But when we come to chapter 4 again Isaiah is switching from the signs of judgment To remind us of the future. I call it simply this I’ve entitled my message.

God is in control God is in control Church, whatever might happen in the future of this nation Whatever might happen in this world. God is in control. He is not let go He is fulfilling his will in This text of chapter 4 verse 2 through 6. We are reminded that there is something to look forward to That there is a positive view that Isaiah gives us of the end times which is in contrast to the negative signs of chapter 3 There’s a deliberate contrast From chapter 3 to chapter 4. I think that Isaiah through the work of the Spirit of God Inspiring Isaiah to pen down the very words and the breath of God understands that we can only take so much and so after we read a Chapter like chapter 3 of great judgment upon the nation of Israel Surely it is that the people of God need a hope They need something to look forward to So God is clearing all the wreckage of the people sin and he is building a perfect City the city of Zion in its place and we’ll talk more about that in the book of Revelation But I want you to see some things here, but let’s first pick up in verse 2 it says in that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped or been delivered and It shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem Will be called holy Everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem when the Lord was washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and Purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning Then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion and Above her assemblies a cloud and a smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for over all the glory there will be a covering and there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat for a place of refuge and for a shelter from storm and rain The first thing that I want you to see in this text is that we see a period of the day of that day Noticed again in verse 2. He reuses that phrase in that day Now the first two verses of this chapter Meaning verse 2 and 3 the prophet is trying to help us to understand that God is in control He’s in control of the times and the seasons that are unfolding on this earth And he is affirming to the people that yes, there is judgment but there is something to look forward to he reminds them that in that day this will be a period of vindication for the Lord note again that it says in verse 2 in that day the branch the Lord shall be Beautiful and glorious there’ll be vindication for Jesus the Messiah you see I want you to understand again Try to see this big scope and try to see this big picture if you will with me It’s very hard sometimes in a worship service to help you to see exactly what God is doing but it’s an assembly of all of what the scriptures teach, but I want you to know that Israel has rejected Jesus as their Messiah Jesus came to this earth offered himself to the Jews first the Apostle Paul when he preached the gospel He offered the gospel of salvation to the Jews first We’re commanded to take the scriptures and the gospel to the Jews first What was the Apostle’s strategy when he would go from place to place? He would first go to the synagogue He would go first to the gatherings of the Jewish Meetings and he would share the gospel of Jesus Christ But unfortunately in the ministry of Christ and the ministry of the Apostles overall the Jews rejected Jesus They rejected Christ as the true Messiah but in that day Look again the branch which is referring to Christ the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious there’s a vindication that is unfolding in that day a Vindication of what God has established his way his righteousness his word his truth is being Vindicated before all the Bible tells us in Romans 11 26 that all of Israel shall be saved And you see what is the tribulation period about some people think it’s about them but they need to get their eyes off themselves and on to the glory of God and Recognize that the tribulation is not for the believer but it’s for the Jewish people the nation of Israel that they would come to Recognize and to realize that Jesus Christ is The true Messiah.

He is the one they’ve been waiting for. He is the one that was promised by the prophet Isaiah He is the one that they are to be looking for and he is the one that they are to believe in and he will bring true salvation Jesus Christ came the first time to Save us from our sins he came as a lamb the Lamb of God who would die on the cross for our sins so that you and I could come by faith and believe in Christ and Experience the grace and the forgiveness of God in our life, but he’ll come the second time as a lion He’ll come as a lion who will rule he will reign and friends in that tribulation period just as The second coming of Christ is upon this earth The Bible teaches us in Zechariah that the people the nation of Israel they will mourn and they will grieve because they will Recognize that they have crucified Jesus Christ and that he is the true one that was sent by God and that he is the one that has come to deliver them from their sins and from their enemies and to establish a kingdom that will be a Thousand years upon this earth. How glorious would that be? That’s what I want you to see there in verse 2 that in that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious It’s a period of vindication.

It’s a period of vengeance in That day is referring to a time when God will bring judgment upon sin We go back to chapter 2 go back if you will with me to chapter 2 verse 12 for the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything that is proud and Lofty upon everything lifted up. It shall be brought low. God will humiliate the prideful God will bring down every king and kingdom of this world Jump to chapter 3 in verse 7 and you’ll note again that in that day What day this latter time in that day? He will protest Saying I cannot curve your ills for in my house and neither food nor clothing Do not make me a ruler of the people.

I told you one of the signs of the latter days one of the signs of the judgment of God upon a nation is That those who are competent and capable of leading will refuse to leave that’s what you’re seeing in verse 7 and Then in verse 18 of chapter 3 in that day The Lord will take away the finery the jingling Anklets and the scarves and the crescents and it goes on it just talking about people who are more interested in style than substance The women are all about making sure that they have their bling-bling going instead of having a relationship with Jesus Christ More concerned about the outward than the inward This is the signs of the times of a culture that is under the judgment of God It may seem like sin is ruling and reigning in our world that we live in It sometimes feels like the world is pushing out God. I saw this morning that 27% of Americans Have no religion no belief in God at all you can only imagine what that number is of people who have a warp view of God or Misunderstanding of who Christ is We live in complicated Confusing times this is part of the judgment of God But in that day God will Judge and he will bring a judgment upon this nation when God returns that second time Jesus Christ And he will defeat all the kingdoms of this earth. He will destroy Everyone that is high and lofty and he will make all evil to be banished It is in that day that Isaiah is reminding us that is to come and so he says in that day That the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious I Want you to see not only the period of that day, but the praise of that day in that Day, the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful.

The branch is already stated as Jesus Christ We know this Jeremiah taught us this in verse 5 behold The days are coming declares the Lord when I will raise up for David a righteous branch What he’s been saying is that a righteous branch shall come out of the lineage of David Out of the heritage of David out of the family tree of David That’s why Matthew took time to help us to see that Jesus did come from the lineage of David That’s why he walked back for us in those beginning chapters. You say what’s the big deal pastor? Why do I got to read about who begat who? What’s it matter because the Jews were particular about this but also because it was the fulfillment of prophecy It was the fulfillment of what God had always promised Jesus would come from That lineage of David a righteous branch chapter 23 of Jeremiah and he will reign as a what church Look up he will reign as a king right before you. He will act wisely I think it is and he will do Justice and righteousness in the land a Church, please again I’m trying to help you sometimes look closely and I’m trying to help you to step back and look at this 30,000 foot view of the Bible and prophecy and what it teaches us So again, why does pastor Mike believe in the rapture of the church before the tribulation because the tribulation is not about? Me or the church or believers it is about the nation of Israel coming to grips that Jesus is the true Messiah and so then What is the Millennial Kingdom about it is about the fulfillment of the prophecies of? Jeremiah and Isaiah and Zechariah and Amos who continued to proclaim That there’s coming a day when this King Jesus Christ Will rule and reign look at verse 5 again of Jeremiah put it back up there on that screen that he will reign as king he will act wisely and do justice and Righteousness in the land the Bible tells us when Christ comes that second time at the end of this seven year Tribulation period that we will come back with him His Saints will come back with him and will rule and reign with Jesus Christ and he will fulfill all the prophecies That were given and it’ll be in the seat of David in the city of Jerusalem And he will rule with righteousness and get that underscore that bookmark it in your in your device He will reign and act wisely.

How about that? There is a lot of common sense that has left, Washington DC, man You say how did you get Washington DC out of that verse? It’s just a contrast Thank God Jesus will make great decisions awesome decisions Thank the Lord that Jesus will reign. He will be our leader not just spiritually but politically He will act wisely. He will do justice and righteousness in the land That’ll be in the Millennial Kingdom so after this seven-year tribulation Then Christ will come and he will defeat all the kingdoms of this world All those who are anti God he will defeat the Antichrist He will destroy the kingdoms of this world Daniel tells us all about that You can read about it in Daniel 2 and Daniel 4 and Daniel 7 and you can see it in Daniel 12 But the point being is I want you to understand that this will be a beautiful day It’ll be a time where Jesus is not only vindicated, but it’ll be a time where we will rejoice and We will give glory to God and we will give praise to God Hebrews 1 I want you to just go to Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3 real quickly Go ahead get your Bible out come to church with your Bible Because this will help you to be a student of the Word of God you’re already scrolling on your Facebook page you’re already scrolling on what Amazon deals are out there forget all that and Recognize you’re in the presence of God It’s a holy presence of God and open the Holy Word of God and look at verse 3 of chapter 1 of the book of Hebrews and Referring to Jesus Christ said who being in the brightness of his glory and the express image Of his person that’s the phrase I wanted you to see that in that day Christ will be exalted in glory and honor.

He already is Exalted and he is glorified in the presence at the right hand of the Father But the day is coming my friends where the brightness and the glory of Jesus Christ Will sit in the seat of David and will reign in the city of Jerusalem You say why do you say that Mike because the Bible says it? That’s why I say at church and you could come up with all of your different eschatological Philosophies that you want but friends. I’m just sticking with the Bible in That day Christ will be glorified He will be beautiful and glorious in that day All of his enemies will be humiliated and destroyed and they will eat the dust of this earth You say what do you mean? First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 25 says referring to Jesus. He must reign Until he has put all his enemies under his feet Jesus will reign my friends.

He will come as a lion and he will rule and reign all the agony and the suffering and the slander and the false Accusations will be nullified in the glorious way when Christ the great prince is praised in that day because he is beautiful and he is glorious Now as Christians as we live in this day Not that day that is to come we look forward to it. I Recognize that many times in Christians we have seasons in our life where we feel that we are never going to be able to escape sin The Bible tells us that we wrestle with sin We wrestle with it that this body is still dealing with the temptations of sin When you came to Jesus Christ and received him as your Lord and Savior You were delivered from the penalty of sin the penalty of sin that is that Jesus took that penalty on the cross the wrath of God that the holiness of God that had to punish sin was Taken care of in the cross. That’s why we glory in the cross Church That’s why we rejoice that our Savior died for us But I also want you to know that as we are growing in our faith as we’re plugged into Bible studies as we’re plugged into mentoring relationships as we’re plugged into the worship service as we are under the teaching and the feeding of the Word of God We can obtain power over sin The power of the Holy Spirit the power of the Word of God that helps us to be able to say no to sin and yes to Jesus Christ that’s why it’s so important, but yet the presence of sin is still here and We will not be delivered until that day In that day you and I will eventually be delivered from the presence of sin And we will live in a place where there is no sin.

There is no sadness. There is no sorrow There is no curse of sin upon this planet We will live in a day where not only all of creation is groaning for and even that the people of God are groaning for and even the Spirit of God is groaning for that day when the Presence of sin is absent in our life and we can live in this utopia Society where God is honored and Christ is glorified every day. Won’t that be beautiful church? That is the hope that Isaiah wants you to have We’ve seen the period of that day in the praise of that day.

Let’s see the prosperity in that day I’m still in verse 2 in that day. The branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious that branches Jesus You say Mike, why do you keep saying it? Because half of you’ve been sleeping I’m trying to wake you up But look at this and the fruit of the earth Shall be excellent and Appealing It shall be excellent and appealing when Jesus Christ is honored when righteousness is exalted and embraced it will Impact this land and the prosperity of this land. It will bear fruit.

Even broccoli will taste good. Amen Yes, broccoli needs salt and cheese to make it taste good But the fruit of the land will be wonderful it’ll be beautiful it’ll taste good You and I We watch a world that thinks they’re prospering a world that’s so upside down a world that has said that right is wrong and wrong is right a World that thinks it can just spend its way out of any problem that they have A world that is in trillions of debt and will never be paid back You’re kidding yourself And any politician who promises you is only lying to you The prosperity of the world is only poverty. It’s only poverty and Certainly it is most of all spiritual poverty but in that day The true prosperity of God will be upon the land as the curse of sin is gone and God will ultimately restore this beautiful place as we live in this millennial kingdom and Everything will be so glorious and wonderful in the reign of Jesus Christ We won’t be hyped up About who’s against who and who’s against what? But we will just enjoy That we are blessed and there’ll be so much prosperity doesn’t mean that you’ll have everything that you want It just simply means that the blessings of God will be upon this place in the millennial kingdom you will be given assignments and Responsibilities you’ll have a job to do you’ll wake up every day not groaning that you have to go to work But you’ll be rejoicing Because you will be working in accordance to your giftedness your passion Your abilities that God has equipped you with You won’t be in a dead-end job.

You’ll have an assignment from the Lord and it will be beautiful and it’ll be Wonderful and you’ll enjoy every moment why because the Bible teaches us that we’ll have the energy of the Lord We wake up and we’re tired We wake up and our bones are cracking We wake up and we’re looking for our wheelchair but you know, there’s coming a day with our age won’t matter and our bodies will be renewed and Isaiah will talk about that later in that we will be like Young people again and we’ll have the energy of the Lord and the strength of God But the day is coming where God is going to restore our youthfulness It’s going to be beautiful church It’s why there’ll be so much prosperity, but I also want you to see the people of that day the people of that day I’m still in chapter 4 and verse 2 in that day The branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel Who have escaped? Or been delivered some translations put it like that they have been Escaped or delivered this speaks of those who will truly experience This glorious time those who have been Saved Those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ again Remember, what are they escaping or what are they being delivered from they’re being delivered from this particular? tribulation time period Jacob’s trouble the prophets would call it We have quite the contrast of chapter 3 to chapter 4 the book of Isaiah Isaiah 3 is talking about judgment and what God is going to do to a nation that has turned their back on him But here in Isaiah chapter 3 God is showing us the future of what it’s going to be like when God brings everything full circle Redeems his people fully and we are walking in the joy of the Lord and enjoying all that he has for us So it’s wonderful to know that God is in control Even in the negative or the positive God is in control of the valley or the mountain God is in control of the past As well as the future and so we continue to worship him and I hope that’ll be your focus This week as you worship the Lord and live for him each and every day We encourage you to check us out on social media We’re on Facebook YouTube and we provide material and encouragement and ways for you to learn and to grow and I hope you’ll take advantage Of that this is pastor Mike Sanders reminding you that in Christ. There is hope worth having