VOTProphet #6 - FINAL SERMON!

Isaiah 52-53
May 24, 2009
with Adam Waters


INTRO
• Have you ever left a job? Left it and wondered (whether you found another job right away or not) “why did I stay there so long?” I was in a miserable situation! Tell a brief story about leaving for the possibility of God’s future...
• Life before marriage? Children? How did we ever live that way? Tell of my experience…
• Brief testimony about my life before Jesus and my conversion day… every day since then has been a growing experience…

THE Prophet’s VOICE
 Put your old life behind you! - 52:1-12
o Snap out of it.
o Remember God’s STRENGTH is with you… it’s not about your power.
o Rejoice for the Father returned long ago to ransom YOU.
o Leave your captivity and purify yourself.

 Follow the man of sorrows.
o Highly exalted in heaven but not on earth. (52:13-15)
o Beautiful in heaven’s eyes but not man’s. (53:1-3)
o Innocent in heaven’s eyes but condemned in life. (53:4-9)
o Fulfilled in heaven’s sight but anguish is all the world sees. (53:10-12)

 It’s time to live as people who have been purified by God’s perfect holiness.
o Isaiah 54:4-8
o No longer full of fear and shame!
o No longer divorced or widowed but married and in love!
o The great compassion of God filling up our hearts!

 Holiness has produced in us a great hope for all the world to witness!
o 52:6 ~ God’s voice is calling us to action (chapter 6).
o 53:2 ~ God’s presence is the foundation for our growth (John).
o 54:10 ~ God’s love is big enough for all of our sins.
o 55:8-9 ~ God’s plan is just crazy enough to work!
o Romans 10:13-17

YOU ARE THE PLAN!
 To be the “sent-ones” just like Isaiah.
 To be the people who take God’s message of hope…
 he is perfectly holy… he is perfectly grace…
 TURN from your old life!
 FOLLOW the man of sorrows!

Wrap it up: Time of challenge and prayer.