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Hello my “Walking with Jesus” friends on this last weekend in September.
Have you noticed the intensity of news making events from all over the world is rapidly increasing, as we approach the American election in early November? Do you get the sense that we are being carried along in a frenzied, swirling wave of near panic among political leaders, both in America and many other nations? These are times when our world, your city, your neighborhood, your social group, your church desperately needs the type of people we’ve been discussing this week. People whom God described in Isaiah 61:1-3. Today let’s consider the final phrase of the final verse: “They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His Splendor.”
Yesterday we discussed what type of people might have a reputation as “Oaks of Righteousness” and how desperately our world needs them! We also considered God’s global strategy of positioning His people in strategic places to live, work, study, and build influential relationships. I challenged you to consider if you see yourself as ‘a planting of the LORD’?
Now this weekend, let’s give serious consideration to how your life and mine might be lived “…for the display of HIS Splendor.” Of course we understand Holy God Almighty is the one referred to as “HIS” in this verse. He is the central focus in all of Isaiah 61:1-3, and for that matter the entire Bible, as He should be the central focus of your life and mine, right?
The phrase “for the display” is an action phrase, with great intention and even strategic purpose, isn’t it? Wherever you live you are surrounded by examples of intentional, strategic “displays”. Shop windows, billboards, store signage, decals on automobiles, tee shirts with pictures or sayings on them, etc. Of course all media is a continual, non-stop display of information, people, and marketing. So, what do you think it means that God calls us to consider that HE, the Almighty God, has intentionally and strategically PLANTED a person who loves and follows HIM, in a particular place, for the purpose of living Isaiah 61:1, and being a living “Display of His Splendor“? Let’s consider this remarkable concept and may I give you four things to ponder this weekend?
First. . .God calls His people to Display His Splendor as we live “HOLY CONTRAST”. Throughout the Bible God calls His people to live in obedience to His commands, His instructions, His guidance, His ways… and that lifestyle will cause us to live counter-culture, no matter what society you live in around the world!
Remember how Peter said it: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they will glorify God…” (1 Peter 2:9-12). Or remember what God said through the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel “Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show Myself HOLY through you before their eyes.” (Ez. 36:23)
Or here’s how John the disciple said it: “Whoever claims a relationship with God must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:2) So my friends,
What is the ‘holy contrast’ between how you communicate... your vocabulary, your tone of voice, even your body language, and how most all other people where you live communicate.
What is the ‘holy contrast’ between how you express yourself when you are frustrated or even angry, or in a disagreement with someone, and how other people where you live do so?
What’s the ‘holy contrast’ between your work ethic, your arrival on time or early to work or appointments and other people who live around you?
What’s the ‘holy contrast’ in your response to deceitfulness or injustice or prejudice or bigotry as compared to other people around you?
Now this is very practical stuff isn’t it my friends? Is Holy God being displayed in your life by contrast with the lives of those around you, who claim no relationship with God?
Now here’s a second significant thing to consider… how do God’s people Display the Holy Presence of God’s Splendor? Do you remember what Moses said to God at Sinai after the Golden Calf problem and God’s threat that He would send them into the desert but He would not go with them?
Moses said “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. What else would distinguish us from all the other peoples on earth?” (Ex. 33:15) That is just one of many examples of times when God’s people cried out to God, asking HIM to assure them of His Presence with them.
For us, as followers of Jesus Christ in 2020, if the Holy Spirit is alive and powerful IN God’s people, then wherever God’s people are, there should be a strong sense of God’s Holy Presence there… isn’t that logical? So, this weekend on Saturday morning there is planned a prayer walk in Washington DC called PrayerMarch2020. If this becomes a huge gathering of God’s people, praying as they gather and walk, should we expect to see the evidence of God’s Presence there? What will that be like?
I am reminded of another desperate time when God’s people gathered in a huge assembly for the purpose of crying out to God in confession of sin and asking for His intervention in the plight of their nation. You’ll find this remarkable “Ebenezer” event nd it in 1 Samuel 7:2-13. Or the time King Jehoshaphat led all the people of Jerusalem to meet with God, upon hearing the news that a vast army was coming to attack and destroy them, as it had other cities. You’ll find that prayer gathering, and the miracle which resulted, in 2 Chronicles 20.
But let me ask you my friends, should the Presence of God be actually ‘felt’ when you walk into a church where God’s people have gathered for worship? I’ve had that experience, have you? Or when a group of God’s people have gathered in someone’s home for a Bible study or prayer gathering… should there be some tangible evidence of a sense of the Presence of God? By contrast, what do you feel when you walk into a stadium for a ball game, or a concert hall for a concert, or in these days a political gathering for speeches, or even as you walk through the Walmart or an open air farmers market?
Now here’s a third way God’s people display God’s Splendor. . .God’s Holy Purpose accomplished through His people!
Is it fair to say that every organization, every business, every school, every hospital, every political group, has a purpose? Yes, of course it is! Even sitting in your lounge chair at the beach or in a local park has purpose… relaxation and rest!
We human beings do NOTHING without purpose. Even sleeping has purpose, right? That is built into us as humans because God is purposeful and we’re made in His image. God is always, at all times, in all places, looking to accomplish HIS purposes, which will bring Him glory and will benefit humanity, because He’s a Holy, loving God! So when God’s people live their lives with intentionality that is focus on GOD’s glory, not their personal enjoyment or benefit, then God is greatly glorified and He accomplishes His great purposes. Now think about that for a moment as you think about missionary work, or Christian education, or Christian media, or Christian parenting as you raise your family, or Christ honoring work ethic as you go to your job each day. What are you spending your life doing which has God honoring Purpose, and is Displaying the Splendor of God?
Now here’s a fourth and final one. . . God’s Splendor is displayed through His people when God does miraculous things that only God can do!
Have any of you experienced miraculous healings medically, and you gave God great glory as you told your doctor how people prayed for you and God did what only God could do? Or how many of you know an infertile couple who prayed earnestly and God opened the woman’s womb and they became pregnant and have a family by birth? Or how many of you know someone who actually died, but God brought them back to life, perhaps through the help of CPR or some other life saving technique, and they are now living life for God’s glory as a walking miracle. I know several folks like that! Or do you know someone God has rescued from the bondage of drugs or alcohol or a porn or gambling addiction?
My friends, God displays His Power in a wide range of ways through people who then have the opportunity to be a living advertisement for the Power of God. They have the privilege of living for the Display of God’s Splendor as they tell their story.
Now, what about you my friends, all over the world. How can you and I learn to live more strategically each day, as we live as “Oaks of Rightesouness, a planting of the LORD for the Display of His Splendor.” (Isaiah 61:3)
Oh Lord Jesus, thank you for modeling for us how to do this. YOU lived as a strategic ‘planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor‘ and with Your help, Jesus, we want to do the very same thing. We want to make a difference in our crazy world, please help us Holy Spirit!
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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