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SM1162: On-Line

Teaching Notes

MORNING BY MORNING

ISAIAH 50:4-7

Some of you may have heard of the story that took place in the 1929 Rose Bowl game. It was in this game that football's "Wrongest Run" occurred.

In the game California was leading Georgia Tech 7-6 when Roy Riegels of California took the ball. The problem developed when his teammates began blocking Georgia Tech players behind him. And thus, he became confused, turned himself around and began running in the wrong direction.

The crowd stood and roared in amazement at what they saw. People were shouting "Wrong way! Wrong way!" Benny Lom, a fast Cal halfback, started after Riegels who was headed straight for the wrong end zone. Benny cried out to him "Roy, Roy, stop!"

But the noise was so great that Riegels thought the crowd was cheering him on. And just before he reached the goal line, one of his teammates tackled him to the ground.

With the ball now on their own 1 yard line, California tried to punt the ball away. But Georgia Tech blocked the kick and pounced on the ball in the end zone, getting a two-point safety out of it and it provided the margin of victory for Georgia Tech over California.

Now as funny as that story is, if your not a California fan or the player himself, I think we as Christians do the same thing many times. We begin to run in the wrong direction, things may seem okay, but the reality is, God is calling out to us, but because of all the noise around us, all those things that are competing for our attention, all those things that are drowning out His voice, we don't even realize it until its too late that we are going in the wrong direction!

This morning I am going to show you one of those secrets to that victorious Christian life that will help us to move in the right direction, the direction that God wants us to move. Now it is not earth shattering but I do believe it can be life changing. And so, if you would, please turn to Isaiah chapter 50, and lets begin reading in verse 4.

ISAIAH 50:4-7

In this portion of Scripture Jesus is speaking. In fact, beginning in chapter 49 of Isaiah we move from the Messiah's birth, life and by the time we reach chapter 53 we see His death for our sins. It is, in a sense, like the ascent up a mountain. You begin in the foothills and slowly make your ascent upward as you move from Isaiah chapter 49 and climax in chapter 53, on the mountain top.

Now in saying that this is Jesus, we get some very interesting insights to His life. You see, when we think of Jesus we tend to focus on His deity, which of course is very important. In fact you can't be saved unless you believe that Jesus is God, for how could any man die for your sins? But as important as His deity is, we many times forget about His humanity. We don't think about Jesus getting thirsty, feeling pain, feeling rejection, being lonely, getting tired. But He did. Yes Jesus was 100% God, but He was also 100% man. And I may not be able to fully comprehend or understand that with my finite mind, but that is what the Scriptures teach.

When God became flesh and dwelt among us He didn't cease being God, but we must also remember that He did not do whatever He wanted to do. He was not doing His own thing. In fact, He did not know all things during His earthly ministry. Now that may sound like a radical statement, and I guess it is, but it is also very true. When Jesus walked on the earth He freely gave up some of His Godly attributes. In fact, in John 5:19-20 we read "...'Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.'"

Now that is a very interesting statement for it places Jesus in subjection to the Father, and during His earthly ministry that is exactly what He did. Jesus is not less than the Father, but they are equal, and yet He came to do the will of the Father and freely submitted Himself to the Fathers leading in His life here on this earth.

Let me explain by showing you what Paul had to say regarding this issue in Philippians chapter 2, beginning in verse 6. I am going to read from The Amplified Bible because you will see much clearer the point that Paul is making. Here Paul is speaking of Jesus "Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained. But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like man and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!" Philippians 2:6-8.

Paul is saying that Jesus did not have to hold on to or grasp after Godhood, for He was fully God. But, when He became flesh He freely emptied Himself of some of His Godly attributes, and submitted Himself to do the Father's will. One example of Jesus not knowing all things while He was born of the flesh, we find in Matthew 24:36, where Jesus said "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." You see, at this point Jesus did not even know the day of His return. And notice what Jesus said in John 17:5, "And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was."

Now when Jesus died and rose on the third day He returned to the glory He had with the Father, He regained His Godly attributes. Remember when Jesus walked this earth He was not Omnipresent, He was limited to being at one place at a time, just as we are. And the same is true of the other attributes, He freely emptied Himself and became a servant, but why?

One of the reasons He became flesh was He needed to be related to man to be a kinsman redeemer, to pay the penalty for our debt of sin. But the other reason He emptied Himself, I believe, was to give us an example for us to follow. As Jesus began His ministry He was baptized and empowered by the Spirit of God to complete the task before Him, as our example. Of course He didn't have to do this, but He was trying to show us that if we submit ourselves to the Father, to do His will, nothing is impossible.

Now I think the secret of His success, if you want to call it that, maybe a better word would be obedience, is found in Isaiah chapter 50 beginning in the middle of verse 4 we read, "...He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear To hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened My ear; And I was not rebellious, Nor did I turn away." Isaiah 50:4-5.

Jesus is telling us that His day started out when He was awakened by the Father, and during that quiet time the Father directed Jesus, showing Him where He was to go and what He was to do. You see, His day started off on the right foot, and He was moving in the right direction. In John 8:28-29 we read "Then Jesus said to them, 'When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.'"

I have to admit that when I got saved I thought Jesus had it made. He was God, and therefore did what He wanted when He wanted to do them. Nothing was difficult for Him. He knew everything, and yet the Scriptures indicate that He emptied Himself of some of those Godly attributes, still being God, and became a servant to man. In fact, the Scriptures speak of Jesus being taught, learning things, growing in wisdom and stature. And as He grew and the more He learned from the Father, He continued to be obedient to do the Father's will!

Let me show you what I mean by showing you what Mark has to say in Mark chapter 1. Jesus had just completed a long and very busy day ministering to the needs of the people. And now the sun was going down and you would think it was time to take a break, to kick back and relax for awhile before calling it a night. But not for Jesus. The people flocked around Him to be healed by Him from all kinds of diseases and demon possession. And after a day and night like that you would think He would have slept in a couple of extra hours to get the rest He needed, but not Jesus.

We read in Mark 1:35 of what Jesus did that next day. We read "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place [or deserted place]; and there He prayed." You see, Jesus began His day in prayer, in fellowship with the Father so He could be directed in where He was to go and what He was to do that day.

Now as the boys woke up, Simon went out looking for Jesus because the people began to gather around, seeking to be healed by Jesus, and their numbers were growing. You would think by seeing the crowds that revival was breaking out and they better find a place to stay for Jesus would remain in this town a long time, ministering to the people. From a human perspective that is what we would do, it seems logical, why move now when things are happening?

But instead, Jesus said "...'Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.' And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons." Mark 1:38-39.

Now why or how did Jesus know to move on when everything pointed in the direction for Him to stay? He was awakened early in the morning and was directed by the Father. What an important lesson for us to learn. Start your day off with the Lord, let Him speak to your heart and direct your day.

Now how come we can't hear God speak? Maybe it is because we don't take the time to listen! There are so many things jockeying for our time, our attention that we get 5 seconds for God to speak to us, and then we are on our way, out the door, starting our day without hearing from God. Maybe we have developed that warped idea that many have got us to believe with our children and the time we spend with them. You know the saying, "It may not be quantity time, but it sure is quality!" Garbage, and your kids understand that! The same is true with God, you need to spend quantity time with Him and He will take that and make it into quality time!

We also need to turn down all the other distractions that are competing for our attention. Imagine if I was speaking in a room where we had all kinds of music playing loud, train noises, plane noises, kids playing and yelling, people talking, it would be very difficult to hear what I was saying. The same is true when we come before the Lord, all that noise prevents us or distracts us from hearing Him speak to us. Take some quiet time to be alone with Him, be it day or night, which ever works out for you, but always start your day with Him, by either reading some Scriptures or going through a devotional. Something to jump start your spiritual engine!

It is as God said in Psalm 32 to David. Beginning in verse 8 we read "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you." Psalm 32:8-9.

God desires to direct you, gently and easily as you look to Him. That means you have to be paying attention, be in His Word, be in fellowship with Him. The other way God will direct us is like a wild animal, with bit and bridle, and by inflicting some pain the animal turns in the direction he is suppose to go. God does not want to direct us that way, He would rather instruct us, teach us, guide us in the way we should go gently, but if we refuse, He will get our attention!

Now it is not just hearing God, but being obedient to what He is telling us. What Jesus endured was not always easy but He gave His life to free us from our sins and to complete the task that was set before Him. And as we study the life of Jesus and see what He endured, there would be nothing more difficult that God would ask us to do. Remember the pain that Jesus had in the garden of Gethsemane, as he cried drops of blood as He agonized over the task that was before Him, the cross! We read, "He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.'" Matthew 26:39.

Now you can be rebellious and fight what God wants you to do, but it will only be destructive for you. I remember one story of a couple from the midwest who got saved and a short time later they desired to move to California. So they put their house up for sale and nothing happened. Houses all around them were selling, so they kept lowering the price on their house till they were practically giving it away, and still no sale. And it seemed that everything they tried to do to move to California God was closing the door on. Till one day the wife threw a temper tantrum with God and demanded that God would sell their house so they could move to California. And you know what happened? Their house sold, they moved to California and within a year they were divorced! It is so much better to listen and obey the voice of God than to think we know better than God does! Don't rebel against what God is showing you, submit to it and take that step of faith in it.

Now out of spending time with the Lord, we see that Jesus said "The Lord has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary..." Isaiah 50:4

It is easy to speak words out of season, we don't really need to learn that, but to speak a word in season, something that will meet that person where they are at, that comes from God and it comes from spending time with Him. It is as Proverbs 15:23 says, "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" How refreshing it is to hear words of comfort, encouragement, counsel, even words of reproof and warning are important to our lives, even though we may not like them.

Also, in Proverbs 25:11 we read "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver." Words that are spoken correctly can be valuable and attractive as they minister to our hearts and lives.

The words that Jesus spoke were not always easy and they were not always well received, but they were the right words to say. They were words spoken in the right season or at the right time. We need to be careful that we don't allow words out of season to flow from our hearts and cause pain, hurt, destruction in peoples lives. Sometimes the words we say may be cold and heartless, but may that not be the case.

What I am hearing some Christians say really troubles me. You see, when I hear the words people are saying, I try to picture Jesus saying them, and I can't. I shared this with you before but I feel it portrays what I am saying in a very tragic way. When Dennis Shephard, a gay college student was brutally murdered several months ago, the response by some Christians was very sad. Time magazine reported "While his family prepared for his burial and spoke of Shephard's gentleness and tolerant ways, a Kansas minister with a web-site called godhatesfags.com made plans to do a grave dance at the funeral." Imagine, a man of God, leader of a flock of people, is behaving in a manner not of God! How sad. Another protester held a sign that said "AIDS CURES FAGS". Is that where we as Christians are today, like the world in our behavior! It should not be the case!

When I read the Scriptures I see Jesus as a man of compassion towards people. Yes he was hard on the religious leaders, but the common sinner He showed them compassion. I do not support that kind of hate, nor do I support the killing of abortion doctors, even though some feel there is nothing wrong with this kind of activity. "They are killing the innocent and so we should kill them!" is the way they think. How wrong and how foolish!

Paul, in Romans chapter 12 said this. "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:18-21. You see, vengeance is not ours, it is the Lord's! We are to love and not to destroy people. We are to speak a word in season, but if you don't spend time with the Lord, chances are you will speak words out of season! Don't rebel against what God is showing you.

I love the way that Paul puts it in II Corinthians chapter 1, as he speaks of the comfort that God has given to us and what we are to do with that comfort. He says beginning in verse 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ." II Corinthians 1:3-5.

Notice what Paul is saying here. As we go through difficult times, troublesome times, tribulation in our lives, God will comfort our hearts. Now understand that the word "comfort" does not speak of consoling someone in sorrow or sympathy. In fact, it is the same Greek word that is used of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John and it means "to come alongside and help".

God loves us and encourages us, He exhorts us as we go through those difficult times. And yet, when others go through those times we become hard on them. God was not hard on us, then why are we hard on others. For example, if someone is down because of the death of a loved one, it is not appropriate to tell them, "Get over it, at least they are with the Lord!" Now we may not use those exact words, but the meaning of what we are saying is the same. Christians understand that truth, all they need at that point is someone to hold on to them, to love them, to comfort them. Sometimes the best counsel doesn't include words we speak!

Also, God will use people who have gone through a similar experience to help others out, to share with them what God showed them when they went through it. You see the comfort that God has given to us is not for us alone, it is for others as we minister to them. As Pastor Chuck has said, "The greatest capacity of man is not to be a container to hold God, but to be a channel from which God can flow through!"

Yes, it is not always easy, but as Jesus said in Isaiah 50:7 "For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed." No matter how difficult things may get, no matter how hard a situation may be, God will help you. Remember what the Psalmist said in Psalm 121:1-3, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills; From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber."

The Psalmist is not saying that his help is coming from the hills, but within the shadow of those hills lies the city of Jerusalem and the temple of God. That was the destination of the Psalmist as he made his ascent up to the city of God. Thus, his help is from the Lord, the one he is on a pilgrimage to worship. And as he travels on this journey, he has a correct perspective of who God is and the power He has. Thus, He will keep our feet from stumbling, we will not be moved, for God's eyes are always upon us.

If you are doing the will of God, no matter what comes your way, don't be shaken. Do what Jesus did - He set his face like a flint. That doesn't mean He was a stone face or stoic, but He was focused on completing the task that was set before Him and nothing was going to get in His way.

May we do the same in whatever God has called us to do. Stay focused, don't let anything get in our way and stop us from completing the task before us, as difficult as it may seem. The secret, of course, is the way we start our day. If we start our day with the Lord our coarse will be set no matter how difficult it is. If we don't our life will be chaotic, moving in all kinds of directions, not sure which way to go!

As I bring this study to a close, listen to this story told by Walter Baxendale. We read:

Admiral Sir Thomas Williams, a straight-forward and excellent man, was in command of a ship crossing the Atlantic. His course brought him in sight of the island of Ascension, at that time uninhabited, and never visited except for the purpose of collecting turtles.

The island was barely visible on the horizon, but as Sir Thomas looked at it he was seized by an unaccountable desire to steer towards it. His desire became more and more urgent and distressing, and foreseeing that it would soon be more difficult to satisfy it, he told his lieutenant to prepare to "put about ship" and steer in that direction. The officer respectfully remonstrated that changing course would greatly delay them. This only increased the Admiral's anxiety, and the ship was steered towards the island.

All eyes were fixed upon it, and soon something was perceived on the shore. "It is white - it is a flag - it must be a signal!" When they neared the shore they discovered that sixteen men, wrecked on the coast many days before, and suffering hunger, had set up a signal, although almost without hope of relief.

What made the Admiral steer his ship in the very opposite direction to what he and his crew wanted was but the superhuman Spirit of God.

The only way you are going to hear God is when you are listening for His voice. Take the time each day to listen to His direction, and then be obedient to the way He is leading, for if you do, you will never be ashamed!