Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Isaiah 65. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- God’s description of the children of Israel, given in our text, is quite interesting. Let’s see: they were enjoying all kinds of pleasures in life; they were living “politically correct” lives – not distinguishing “their” god from others, or calling themselves distinctly by His Name; they were pious – paying homage to all the “gods” around them; and they had a very high opinion of themselves, viewing themselves as “too holy for others.”
- Perhaps our first inclination is to see all of this as being quite different from how we are, how the Christian church is today. However, we might want to reconsider this once we look more carefully at the realities involved. Are not these same temptations, these same tendencies apparent in the lives of many Christians living in America today: enjoying good things, the pleasures in life, just as others do; careful not to identify other “gods” as false, as demonic in nature; equating our “success” in life with “piousness” and “holiness,” looking at ourselves as “too holy” for others – especially too holy for God’s true prophets and for genuine Christians, truly repentant believers in Jesus.
- We don’t really appreciate being told that there are really only “TWO CHOICES” in all matters of life and being – either knowing, honoring, and obeying God, the only True and Living God, OR being under the influence of, honoring, and serving demons. Rather, like these ancient Israelites, we want a lot of “gray” areas in life – so that we can just get along with everyone, so that we can do the things that our sinful nature desires, and still look at ourselves as being “decent,” “good,” “pious and holy” – in fact, better than most other people. So we need to think carefully about God’s will, and especially His will for us, for:
I. God Offers Himself As An Escape From The Demons
Text: “I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ to a nation that was not called by My Name. I spread out My hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices; a people who provoke Me to My face continually.”
A. He Is Ready And Eager To “Be Found” In Chirst
Gal. 3:26 “In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. “
B. He Is Full Of Grace And Love Toward us
1. To redeem us from all sin and guilt
Gal. 4:3-5 “When we were children, we were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
2. He seeks to justify us through faith in Jesus Christ
Gal. 3:23,24 “Before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”
3. And He brings us to this blessed faith and into restored relationship with Himself through Baptism
Gal. 3:27 “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. . . . And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
Statement: Stop to think about how Christ is treated by so many people who still think of America as a “Christian” nation. They do not honor Him as our only Savior – by constant repentance and complete dependence upon His forgiveness. Many despise His baptism. Many think they do not need His redemption and atonement, accomplished in His bitter suffering and death on the cross. Many do not hear or heed His Word – they do not come to church, do not belong to a church, do not humbly receive His Sacrament in faith – His body and blood, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of sins. Many think of His “religion” as man-made, and little different than other religions of the world. And still, they think of themselves as being “holy,” in fact as being more “holy” than true believers in Christ – so that when confronted by Christians they in essence say to us: “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”
Application: And such thinking rubs off on Christians – slowly eroding our faith and trust in Christ. When told that all of this rejection of Christ is in fact rejection of the only True and Living God, and the embrace of the demonic, such people are shocked and deeply offended, and become angry with us. And much of the conflict within the church is of such a nature – people refusing to honor Christ and His Word, and fighting when they are confronted with God’s Word.
We are not immune to such temptations – living as we do in the midst of such paganism and self-righteous rejection of the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the Heavenly Father. So we must beware – lest we slowly and indiscernibly drift into the same comfortable “acculturation” and conformity to this demonic delusion around us. For it is clear from our text that:
II. All Rejection Of God And His Word, All Denial Of Our Utter Need For Jesus Our Savior And For God’s Gracious Word And Sacraments, Is Embracing And Holding Fast To Demons
Text: “They provoke Me to My face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks. . . . Behold, it is written before Me: ‘I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will indeed repay into their bosom both your iniquities and your fathers’ iniquities together.”
Yet God continues to offer escape from this alluring temptation – in Christ Jesus, and He assures us that there will always be a remnant of His own faithful people:
Text: “As new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,’ so I will do for My servants sake, and not destroy them all. I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of My mountains; My chosen shall possess it, and My servants shall dwell there.”
Statement: We understand that the enemies of God, the demons, would disguise themselves and their work, and make themselves as alluring and pleasing as possible to sinful human beings. So it is to this day – but this does not make the idolatries and rejection of God of our own time any less demonic and evil.
Application: And perhaps most insidious of all is the indignation that they inculcate in people against those who identify them and their demonic idolatry – their rejection of God, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of His precious Word, the Holy Scripture. Let us be aware, that this is in fact all around us, and let us surely see it and understand it for what it is – that we always be among those who do belong to God!
Conclusion: Just as Jesus was eager and willing to cast the demons out of the wild man living among the tombs, so He is eager and willing to remove all demonic influence from people today, especially within His church. Let us take care that we are attuned to His will, and allow Him to help us with this. And in our own lives let us be willing to stand with Him – and apart from what is so common around us, so that we remain His dear chosen ones forever! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.