1. Joy v.17-20
Session 13- Future HopeIsaiah 65:17-25Subject: HopeCentral Theme: Future Hope Objective Sentence: We can have hope today by seeing the results of God’s future plans for us.Keyword: Results1. Joy v.17-202. Abundance. V.21-243. Peace. V.25-26 Introduction:Connection:There are all kinds of worries that can steal your hope.? If you want to be worried, then watch lots of news and pay a lot of attention to the politicians.? Another way to worry is to pay a lot of attention to the stock market.? Social media can leave you with all kinds of tension as you compare entire life to the highlights of other people’s lives.? I would have you fill in the blank for what brings worry and fear into your life, but it is probably not good to dwell on these kinds of thoughts.? For many people these things are top of mind anyway.? Little effort is needed to develop this kind of list.Tension: If our future focus does not include what God tells us will happen for believers in the future, we will inevitably be without much hope.? Conversely, when we understand what God has planned as He has revealed it to us, we will have so much hope!? Jesus said it this way:Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ?(2)? In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ?(3)? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.? John 14:1-3? God sent Jesus to redeem us from our sins.? Because of this reality, those who trust in Him have an incredible future.? I want us to look at Isaiah 65:17-24 today for precisely that reason.? I want our future focus to be hopeful by seeing God's plans for us.?Now to give you some context, this text clearly speaks of the future kingdom of God.? It speaks of our future.? Isaiah is speaking to a Jewish audience. To fully grasp the future that this text is speaking about, you need to understand that whole of the teaching regarding God's future kingdom points to two aspects of this future kingdom.? There will be a temporal aspect, and an eternal aspect.Keep in mind the order of events: (1) the rapture of the church (1Th_4:13-18); (2) the rise of Antichrist (2Th_2:1-17); (3) the breaking of Antichrist’s seven-year covenant with the Jews (Dan_9:27) after three and a half years; (4) the pouring out of God’s wrath on the world (Mat_24:15-28) to judge the Gentiles and purify Israel; (5) the return of Christ with the church to the earth to defeat the nations (Rev_19:11-21, Armageddon)(6) the establishing of the millennial kingdom (Rev_20:1-6), (7) the release of Satan from the prison to deceive the nations and to ultimately be defeated in battle (Rev 20:7-10), (8) the Great White throne judgement (Revelation 20:11-15),? (9)and then the eternal state with the coming of the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21).The metaphor has been made that Isaiah sees the future the way we see mountains from afar.? We can see them in the distance, but we cannot tell the distance between them.? We see the peaks but not the valleys.? One commentator, speaking of both the millennial (temporal) kingdom and the eternal kingdom:"The prophet uses the eternal kingdom here as a reference point for both. Isaiah's prophecy does not make clear the chronological relationship between the kingdom's two aspects as does later prophecy (Rev. 20:1-21:8). This is similar to the compression of Christ's first and second advents, so that in places they are indistinguishable (cf. Isa_61:1-2)." (Macarthur)Essentially in the list above Isaiah speaks of some of life in both number 6 and number 9.? So, this particular passage gives some details that will all be true in the future for us.? Some of the details are true in the millennial (temporal) kingdom but not in the eternal kingdom.? Some of the details are true only in the eternal kingdom.? Some of the details are true in both.Either way, when we focus on this future that is described it will be bring us all kinds of hope.? Why?? Because of what will happen for us in this preferred future when we know Christ. ?Hope can be ours when we see the results of God's future kingdom, and by living in light of these results that are described in Isaiah 65:17-24.? When we know what our future will be, it will impact how we live now.? We can have hope today by seeing the results of God’s future plans for us.Result #1- Joy. V.17-20For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. ?(18)? But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. ?(19)? And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. ?(20)? There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.? Isaiah 65:17-20? Explanation:In today's text, verses 1-3, we see the first result of this future kingdom.? That result is joy.Why is there so much joy?? For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. ?In the future there will be a new heaven and a new earth.? This earth, although it is beautiful, has been cursed by sin.? God makes a new one that is free from sin, pain, and death.Look at all of the words of joy in verses 18 and 19.(18)? But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. ?(19)? And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. Notice the words spoken of Israel:"glad""rejoice""a rejoicing"Then the words spoken about God Himself"I will rejoice""joy in my people"Another reason for such joy is the sheer lack of sorrow spoke of in verse 19.? There will be no more weeping or crying.? Why?? The things that produced all of those sorrows are gone!Verse 20 explains it this way:??(20)? There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.? Isaiah 65:17-20?This verse is obviously true of the temporal kingdom, during the millennial reign.? In the eternal kingdom there will be no more death.? Even in the millennial kingdom, God will allow for length of life and a severely declining infant mortality rate.?Application:Imagine a world characterized by an abundance of joy with little to no hint of sorrow.? ? Imagine a world where God dwell with his people, where he will wipe all tears from our eyes.? This will be an incredible thing.? Paul spoke of it this way in Romans 8:18:(18)? For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.The intensity of the greatest sorrow that we feel down here is not worthy to be compared with the intensity of the joy that we will experience in the incredible future God has for us!? Response:Are you down and discouraged today?? Are you worried or anxious?? Hope in God!? Take some time to thank God for this incredible future He has planned.?We can have hope today by seeing the results of God’s future plans for us.Result #1- Joy. V.17-20Result #2- Abundance. V.21-24.And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. ?(22)? They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. ?(23)? They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. ?(24)? And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.Isaiah 65:21-24? Explanation:God's future plans for us include so much joy, as we looked at yesterday.? The second result of God's plans for us is abundance.? Meaningful work was instituted by God before the curse.? And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.? Genesis 2:15? Work was not a part of the curse.? Toil in work was part of the curse on this earth.? And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; ?(18)? Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; ?(19)? In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.? Genesis 3:17-19? So in the millennial and eternal kingdom work will continue.? Because of the limits of sin in the millennial kingdom, and the absence of sin in God's eternal kingdom, there will be a lack of corruption.? Injustice will be a thing of the past.? In the new kingdom there will be work, but the work will be enjoyable (v.22).? Work will bring about an abundance of things to enjoy because the efforts will be "blessed of the Lord" (v23).? This is much like what work was like before the curse happened.? Consider Genesis 2:4, 5,9:These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, ?(5)? And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. ? (9)? And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.Genesis 2:4-9? In this time God will be quick to respond and listen to His people.? He will take joy in blessing them and will freely do so (v.24). (24)? And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.Verse 24 makes it sounds like he wants to answer them as soon as they begin asking.? It makes me think of a loving Father who cannot wait to bless his kids with things that will be really good and enjoyable for them.Here is the point:? In that day there will not be a lack.? There will be an incredible abundance.? We will have everything we need, and we will enjoy God's blessings in a way that is good for us.? The blessings of God will not be what we worship, but will be what we enjoy.? His blessings will cause us to love and enjoy Him more.? Application:We can have hope today because of the incredible future of abundance that God has planned for us.? We may have to endure lack on this earth, but the truth is that everything on this earth is going away anyway.? The only thing that will last on this earth is the Word of God and the souls of people.? This is why Jesus told us to live for that future instead of this present circumstance:Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ?(20)? But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ?(21)? For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.Matthew 6:19-21? Response:What is one way you can invest in eternity today?We can have hope today by seeing the results of God’s future plans for us.Result #1- Joy. V.17-20Result #2- Abundance. V.21-24.Result #3- Peace. V.25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD. (Isaiah 65:26)Explanation:The number one worry of a lamb is a predator like a wolf or a lion.? At least that is how it is now.? It is so obvious that we should be scared of certain parts of the animal kingdom that it barely needs to be taught to our children.? Wolves and lions are dangerous.? Most of the animals in Australia can kill you. (I'm kidding. Kind of.)But in the future that God has planned for us, there will be a suspension of these kinds of worries.? God will provide nourishment for animals without the need for predation.? Can you imagine a child walking their pet tiger down the street and no one thinks anything of it?? Application:In this incredible future there will be no need to fear.? That will be a former thing. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. ?(2)? And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ?(3)? And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. ?(4)? And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.Revelation 21:1-4? God will be with us, and we will have nothing to fear!? The sorrows and dangers of this life will be former things.? This should give us all kinds of hope today.? The worst that can happen to us is to send us to a place where we will experience these kinds of amazing realities!So, how should we live? 2 ResponsesThe question that believers should ask in response to these future results is this: How should we live now because of what will happen then? How shall we then live? This question is expressed by Peter when he says,"(11)? Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (12)? Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?"The first response is one of expectation.Peter tells us that "the day of the Lord" will come "as a thief in the night". Thieves do not like to come when they are expected, but when they are unexpected. A thief comes at night because he wants to be covert. He doesn't want to be seen by the neighbors. He also comes at night because He doesn't want the people in the home that he is robbing to be awake and catch him. We cannot attribute these motives to God. Why? Because He has revealed Himself and tells us that He is coming back. He commands us to tell everyone about the death, burial, resurrection, and imminent return of His Son Jesus.Yet at the same time, what is the comparison? When Christ comes back many will not expect it. For those who know Him as Savior we should expect Him to come back. We should show that expectation through living a life of holiness and godliness.We should live looking forward to the "coming of the day of God".How should we live? We should live like every material thing on this earth is going to go away, because that is exactly what will happen. Peter reminds us that "the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat…". And to replace it, we look for the coming promises of God. We "look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." That sounds a lot like God's promise in Isaiah 65:7 where he said, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."The second is one of endurance.? (14)? Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.2 Peter 3:14Notice the word "wherefore".? It speaks to what has previously been said.? He says "seeing that ye look for such things" . This refers to their expectation of Christ's return and the end to this earth and the beginning of the next.? He is saying that since they have an expectation of Christ's return, there should be a response.? What is that response?? Endurance.? He says "be diligent".? Be intentional. Work hard.? Endure.? Work hard at what?? So that when Christ comes back you may be found "in peace, without spot, and blameless."? We should live in a righteous and holy way when we expect that Christ could come back.Application:As a teenager there were times that my parents would leave my brother and I alone at home.? They would give us a list of chores to do and tell us that they would be back soon.? We knew that if we didn't get the chores done before they got back we would get in trouble.? Too often we would wait late into the day before we started on that list.? Too often we would hear the sound of the garage door going up and not have the list done.? If we expected our parents to be back in just an hour or so we would be more diligent to get the list done.It is a simple illustration, but the principle is the same.? If you knew that Christ was going to come back sometime today, how would you live today?? Who would you speak to about the Gospel?? Would you behave the same way you did yesterday?? Christ could come back today.? Let's live expectantly.? Let's endure by diligently living every day like we will go to be with Jesus.Response:Jesus could come back today.? Are you ready to meet him?C.T. Studd said it this way:Only one life, yes only one,Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;And when at last I’ll hear the call,I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;Only one life,’twill soon be past,Only what’s done for Christ will last.C.T. StuddConclusion:We can have hope today by seeing the results of God’s future plans for us.Result #1- Joy. V.17-20Result #2- Abundance. V.21-24.Result #3- Peace. V.25 ................
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