A message influenced by Isaiah chapter 28.
Psalm 11:5 says “The Lord tests the righteous”.
A couple verses prior the psalmist writes “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Today we must first and foremost believe that the Lord is our Lord, our Savior, and our King. If we have not done that yet, then we will become to epitome of the following verses and topics discussed here today.
CS Spurgeon once wrote “All events are under the control of Providence;consequently all the trials of our outward life are traceable at once to the great First Cause.”
What is the first great cause in your life? Is it drugs and alcohol? Surely not unless you were born drunk, which is certainly possible, and if you are a child of such a mother and father I am truly sorry and pray the Lord’s best blessings over your life. However, for most of us that is not the case, and for those that are overcome with wine, the Lord has in the past said “woe to you”.
If all of our life events are trials that the Lord has purposed in our life, and they can all be traced back to one first cause, they surely our surly attitude can be traced back to a first drink. Those first times, weren’t they so great? Doesn’t sin always tempt us into believing that it is always better than it actually is?
“Men may be drowned in seas of prosperity as well as in rivers of affliction. Our mountains are not too high, and our valleys are not too low for temptations: trials lurk on all roads”.
Isaiah 28 speaks much about those who were given into wine. And the Spirit speaking through the prophet doesn’t mince any words, He tells it like it is. So if you are still being deceived by drinking and other such sins and think it is pretty and not a problem. Think about the roses, even those beautiful flowers in all their mercies, still have their thorns.
V. 7 “But they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgement. For all tables are full of vomit and filth; no place is clean.”
Pretty ugly description. And one thing I noticed here is that it affects both priests and prophets. No one is immune. So our congregation here, be not fooled that we are all pure and clean, that is not the case. We must therefore show grace and mercy to those who need our help. Because if we don’t our fellow believers will have their foundation destroyed, and as the psalmist again writes “what then can the righteous do?”. It is our duty to help those in need.
What do the ones that are hiding behind drugs and alcohol think about this help?
Isaiah 28:9,10,13 states that they assume everything is on the “up and up”. But so easily are they deceived.
“Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message?” – there is no one that will understand their message, and their testimony is marred by their self centered behavior. For them, they just keep piling precept upon precept, line upon line, here and little, there a little. They try to be a good witness for Christ, but they keep piling on rules for themselves to follow, lines that they need to tow, and eventually they give in again and sway back and forth, here a little, there a little, unless the end state of them is worse off then the first state at which they begun (See Jesus parable of the dirt being swept out of the mans house)
Verse 13 says “but the word of the Lord was to them, “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little,” That they might go and fall backward, and be broken and snared and caught.”
Don’t be that person Christian! Take the Word of God seriously. When the Lord calls you to repent, repent immediately!
“For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts, a destruction determined even upon the whole earth.” But you know what, “This also comes from the Lord of Hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance”. – Faith and Works
Verses 27-28 in Isaiah speak of the work that needs to be done in order to prepare black cumin, and flour for making bread. It’s hard work, it’s a process, just like our life. And if we are just sitting back enjoying life and thinking that we will make the righteous decisions just before we die, I warn you to watch out. This is not the instructions of the Lord and He wants the best for your life today. So believe in Him today.
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