Outward works are only honourable when the heart has been converted by grace through faith. All else is man centred idolatry.
Isaiah 57: Israel's Futile Idolatry
1 The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
2 he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.
3 But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit,
5 you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?
7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness.
9 You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol.
10 You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, "It is hopeless"; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.
11 Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?
12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you.
13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain.
Comfort for the Contrite
14 And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.
17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near," says the LORD, "and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
Isaiah 58: True and False Fasting
1 "Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.
3 'Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?' Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers.
4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
6 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.
12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
13 "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honourable; if you honour it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly;
14 then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
Things to think about…
What a terrible thing when ‘the righteous’ are referred to as people who lived in the past, while the present generation are referred to as sons of sorcery and adultery, Isa 57:1-3. Is this the case for Australia do you think? I certainly hope not. Rather than be like our fathers, may this be the Joshua generation who go in and take the land which has been promised to us. It starts with the Lord’s people as we humble ourselves and seek after the Lord then the land will be healed, 2Chr 7:14, Isa 58:11, 12.
The promises don’t change. The Lord’s people will always be blessed. Though there are those who trust in this world (idols) will be swept away, “he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain”, Isa 57:13. We are praying for a revival in this land. The promise is that it will happen as we take refuge in Him.
Look at Isa 57:14 “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way”. May the only stumbling block to faith be Christ and nothing else we would put in the way. If we are saying or doing things as Christians or as a church that is stopping people from accepting Jesus as their Saviour then we need to move it out of the way. We can be pretty weird as Christians let’s face it. We have our own language, songs and friends. While these things are not wrong, we must always assess to see whether the focus remains on us or for the spiritual good of others.
Isaiah being a good preacher repeats himself, he says again in Isa 57:21 “There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked.". He said this back in Isa 48:22. We need to be reminded of truth – even painful truth. Hell is real and the wicked will be there forever. Never be afraid of reminding others about this. This is Isaiah’s counsel as well. Look at Is 58:1 “Cry aloud, do not hold back”.
Isaiah says that they were doing all the religious stuff like fasting, Isa 58:3, but God was not answering. There is a message here. We might fast, pray, read our bibles, go to church and yet not see the Lord answer our prayers, why? Because there is no humility, Isa 58:3, 5. A fast that the Lord chooses involves the heart being engaged, without hypocrisy Isa 58:6,7. Christians should be known for their grace, compassion and care. Is this true of us at CBC? In what ways can we improve? I think we look after those we enjoy being around, but what about those we struggle to appreciate? Pray for a Christ centered care for all. Then the Lord will answer, Isa 58:8-12.
Isaiah says honour the Sabbath. Our Sabbath is not Sunday, but Christ. Although there is a principle here, church should be a place and time of joy and delight, Isa 58:13, 14 as we hear God’s word and enjoy seeing others encouraged. Pray for our Sundays that continue to know the Lord’s presence and blessing.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
For Cell Groups.
Reading was from Isaiah 40 Title “There’s a comforting thought”
1. What is a period in your life where you were at the end of yourself. Jay shared what had happened with their eldest son Josh as a2 yo, but also friends that lost their 4yo to drowning. What tragedy has the Lord taken you through and given you comfort. Perhaps you are still in the midst of it and needing comfort as the trial is not over.
2. The voice of the one crying in the wilderness says that we are like grass and he prepares the way for the Lord, Isa 40:3-9. We know this was perfectly fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist. How did he prepare the way for Jesus?
3. We can take comfort that the Lord will do what he says because “the Word of God will stand forever”, Isa 40:8. Jay mentioned Emperor Diocletian and Constantine as well as Voltaire and the Geneva Bible society and how God’s Word prevailed. What is your understanding of the endurance of God’s Word? What makes you so confident?
4. Pray for each other, our church and the prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
2. New families as they settle into church.
4. Church finances to meet our new staff and to put a roof over our café.
5. Getting drawings into council.
6. Next Sunday’s business meeting..
7. Sunday’s message “O, what a Saviour” – Isa 53 – Jay.
Praise Points.
1. Praise the Lord for Caleb – Recharge, keep praying the Lord reveals His will.
2. Praise the Lord for the Kids@church ministry. Thankyou Maddison.
2. More new folk on Sunday – Praise God.
3. First Café roof drawings have been completed.
4. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
Announcements
1. Members meeting Sunday 28th Feb after the morning service.
2. Recharge youth – Water works night, this Friday 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
3. Bon Fire night Friday 5th March. We will get rid of the fire pile at church.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
