well grab your Bibles and turn to Isaiah
chapter 21 as we continue on in the book
of Isaiah Isaiah the
Evangelistic prophet of the Old
Testament no prophet of the Old
Testament has
more verses that are found regarding the
ministry of Jesus Christ in the New
Testament then the prophet Isaiah
remarkable and Isaiah continues on and
as we come to chapter 21 tonight we're
looking at a message entitled Night
Vision Night Vision I don't know what
comes to your mind when you think about
night vision but simply put night vision
is a type of apparatus that you would
wear uh that allows you to see uh into
the darkness in fact the darker it is
the better you can see with the right
type of visual aid night goggles or
night glasses for night vision and
Isaiah speaks about a time when we're
going to look at it that was future for
his day by the way not too far out
future in his day it was coming but he
was prophesying and then there's been
some subsequent fulfillments what are
called the near and far fulf
fulfillments but this is an amazing
chapter it's definitely hard to study
it's definitely hard to understand but
we'll go through it carefully because
the ultimate as many of the scholars my
goodness I read a I read a uh a scholar
today highly respected scholar he wrote
his commentary in Isaiah 21 in 1703 and
as remarkable as the man was speaking in
1703 this commentator uh mentioned how
there is no way that Isaiah 21 could be
true in history and for the future
unless there's a nation of Israel
recreated in the last days he said that
in
1703 or 1708 think of it he said it at a
time that many people believed Israel
was no
more and he was exactly dead
on this speaks about a future event as
well and by the way as we look at this
tonight you're going to be seen or you
some of you Bible scholars May recognize
hey I remember that from Matthew or I
remember that from The Book of
Revelation or from Luke's gospel and yes
you will so this is a very important
thing as we come now to a another
Prophet uh utterance about Babylon we
first heard about uh God's announcement
through the prophet Isaiah regarding
Babylon in Chapter 13 now we hear about
it again in 21 and it's a little bit
more elaborate so keep that in mind
Babylon Babylon Church a geographical
location in the Middle East in the area
predominantly of Iraq it's kind of
touches a little bit of modern day Iran
today uh and a little bit of the
northern part of Saudi Arabia but uh
Babylon
uh a
geographical fact and location
archaeologically confirmed then there is
the spirit of Babylon false worship the
Babylonian worship system uh the Bible
teaches us that all false worship all
cults by the way originate in one of the
360 gods that were worshiped in Babylon
in Antiquity it's the mother of false
religions but then there's the future
Babylon that is coming there's a Babylon
that the Book of Revelation 17 and 18
talk about there is a Babylon that is
coming again most scholars believe that
uh after the Ezekiel battle you'll hear
more about this in a moment after the
Ezekiel battle uh takes place where
there is a I think a five Nation Muslim
there Islamic Nations uh mentioned there
in Ezekiel 38 that will uh be brought
under the protective powers of Gog Gog
the leader of rash mesach and tubal uh
those are ancient tribal locations of
what is today Russia that in the last
days it's going to enter into his mind
to attack Israel and he's going to bring
with them five nations that are listed
there in your Bible Ezekiel 38 to attack
Israel and they won't even make it
they're going to get to the mountains of
Israel which are to the north and they
are going to be absolutely decimated by
the intervention of God you say when's
that going to happen could be any
time because there's the the the settle
uh the settlements of Nations that are
mentioned are in play today they're all
hostile towards Israel it's no longer
the Soviet Union it is Russia and it's
very interesting so that could happen we
don't know uh how soon but the amazing
thing is you and I live in a time that
is absolutely amazing but when that
happens a lot of scholars believe that
um when God intervenes and it's amazing
because if you've read that in detail
the Bible says that they're going to
launch their
Rockets they're Pro projectiles the word
in Hebrew is
projectile which is kind of amazing
thing about that because Ezekiel is
trying to describe what he he's just
trying to describe something almost
3,000 years ago wow this thing went up
in the air what was it he called it an
arrow in the Hebrew it's a
projectile and the Bible says that
they're going to launch it against
Israel and it's going to come back and
land right upon them how cool is that
what's going to happen little a little
bug in the program there'll be some sort
of glitch in the
deal but isn't that amazing I think
almost that prophecy speaks about the
malfunction of Technology of course
God's going to have everything to do
with
it so it's going to be amazing and some
people think that when that happens uh
then what will open up will be a a
Middle East that appears to be safe and
there may be great prosperity in the
Middle East and again a lot of uh what's
called
eschatologist those students of Prophecy
Say That Then Babylon will be rebuilt in
short order as the Bible talks about it
will become uh massively prosperous we
know that the Antichrist will be part of
that so as we look at this tonight we're
just going to kind of tredge along and
by all means I intend to finish this
chapter tonight so no don't laugh I
can't this is ridiculous I wanted to do
three chapters a week and I haven't I
haven't done that yet and so I'll be
happy to get one down here tonight so
night vision number one look at verses 1
and two the burden against the
Wilderness of of the sea Circle that
that's a that's a nickname for Babylon
you can research that in the
Encyclopedia Britannica or anything else
it's a nickname for Babylon the
Wilderness of the
sea as whirlwinds in the South pass
through so it comes from the desert from
a terrible land so something's coming
against Babylon verse two a distressing
vision is declared to me Isaiah says the
treacherous dealer write down in your
notes check it out later but write it
down the treacherous dealer that's
Persia deals treacherously and the
plunder plunders who's that the mes the
median or the mes or the Mido Persian
Empires they go up he says go up o ilam
that's another name for Persia or Iran
today besiege om Media or the median
Empire all it sign that's listen the
Jewish people that are signed under the
Captivity of Babylon I have made to
cease so verses one and two write it
down in your notes what do we get out of
this number one night vision Isaiah's
speaking about something that is coming
to the Future and he's speaking now
watch everybody Isaiah's been preaching
and prophesying to the the southern
Kingdom of
Judah God's got other prophets
prophesying to the north that would be
Israel the kingdom is divided right now
Israel to the north 10 tribes two tribes
to the South Judah Isaiah is working the
South however he's such a prominent
Prophet that his message engulfs the
nation in total he's now speaking about
the
future uh Israel to the north and Judah
have not yet have not yet been taken
away captive it's coming but Isaiah
looks way ahead and says oh
Babylon who's going to take Judah
captive you know Babylon do you remember
a kid that lived in Judah do you know do
you remember a kid by the name of uh
Daniel that Daniel's not been taken
captive yet so think of Daniel's
families living in Judah at this time
there's going to come a time when
Babylon under the
general Nebuchadnezzar not yet King
Nebuchadnezzar is going to come in he's
going to take Judah captive and he's
going to take prisoners to
Babylon and the most four of the most
famous are haniah mishel Azariah and
Daniel the four Hebrew boys they're
going to be taken captive and they're
going to go to Babylon Isaiah is
prophesying watch this Isaiah is proping
way prophesying way before Daniel is
everborn he's going out into the kingdom
that will take Daniel's people captive
Israel and the Jews and he he starts to
address them he's speaking into the
future isn't that
amazing see you and I living on this
side of the whole thing is we we're not
even even moved by that it's like oh
whatever from our perspective we get to
Snoop back into history and look at the
exactness of the Bible I think it's
awesome can you trust God to keep the
promises that he's made to you Bible
prophecy is the only reason why you can
a lot of people don't want to talk about
Bible prophecy oh Pastor you're going to
talk about the book of Isaiah I'm not
going to come until you're all done I'll
come back when it's done because it's a
book of Prophecy it scares me wait a
minute you can't know God keeps his
promises without prophecy prophecy is
when God tells something in advance and
then he does it and you can trust his
word we love God's promises listen the
only reason why you can accurately love
God's promises is because God keeps his
word how do you know because he keeps
prophecy so we look at this number one
here in verses 1 and two night vision
causes us to see Justice God is bringing
Justice to the Babylonian nation and
he's going to punish them he's going to
punish them for for invading and God is
for not only the Jewish people God is
for all those who suffer he is for all
those who are being vanquished by
wrong he's going to vindicate his people
they're going to be taken captive Isaiah
is talking about that they're going to
be delivered and God is going to deal
with the nation of Babylon and this is a
great lesson for us in a window into the
21st century because as I was mentioning
a moment ago God's ancient word says
he's going to reintroduce himself back
into the Middle East Church technically
he's just moving the pieces around right
now even though Israel is a nation right
now as prophesied in scripture God is
right now just uh moving Nations around
he hasn't shown up yet when he shows up
you won't have to wonder if he has shown
up he is going to he is going to appear
in moving the chest pieces around in the
Middle East in short order I Believe by
the way things are going you're going to
see amazing stuff we're going to to see
amazing things I'm convinced of it in
the Middle East by the way this is a
side note all the
military Geniuses from Israel to
Washington to London right now you know
what they're wondering right now there
everybody was completely caught off
guard by something that happened this
week anybody know say it again Russia
pulled out to the Middle
East even caught Russians off guard no
I'm
serious families were told your son
won't be back for a while all of a
sudden they coming back
home Global intelligence you can read
some of those go search go look at them
they're out there you have something
they have to pay for it's worth it go
find out what they're talking
about it's quite amazing Russia for some
reason has packed up and heading out of
town in a in a
hurry and it's scaring
people Russia doesn't leave anywhere
why are they
leaving somebody are some are are
wondering is something very nasty about
to
happen we don't know but it's happened
this week we'll find out we'll see we'll
watch the
news but at some time after something
takes place in the Middle East and
certainly The Babylon of the future is
dealt with or I should say before it's
dealt with there's going to be a rise so
that a Babylon can take shape the Book
of Revelation talks about a Babylonian
system that is spiritual that is
governmental and the Bible says it's
going to be one of the head bases of
this one that is called the Antichrist
be honest have you have you heard of the
Antichrist have you have you heard of
this stuff going on have you heard of I
saw I kid you not it's hilarious you
know when you think about this stuff the
Antichrist the Bible says he's coming uh
the first John talks about it Book of
Revelation Daniel talks about I saw a
guy go down the street in a car
yesterday literally with his license
plate with
666 and I thought man I would actually
love that license plate to have on my
car for witnessing purposes because the
Bible says he's going to be number 666
his name is going to equal a number and
a lot of people's names equal that
number in the Hebrew
language but the point is this guy will
be a governing leader that will
seemingly arise out of nowhere and part
of his Global stick is to re uh build
Bon and seems crazy doesn't it but the
the Bible's never been wrong yet but the
scripture is very clear about when this
man does this that three and a half
years into his peace treaty with Israel
as Babylon is is established Uh
something's going to happen and where
would we go to take a look at that grab
your Bibles and look over at Daniel
chapter 7 Daniel 7 now we talked about
Daniel a moment ago keep this in mind
Bible student Isaiah's prophesying and
the Book of Daniel and Daniel himself
will not come along for over 240
years so Isaiah's 240 years ahead of his
time in this prophecy and now we read a
prophecy of Daniel himself Daniel 7
who's he talking about the Antichrist in
his coming Kingdom but God judges
Nations keep that in mind he said he
raises them up and he brings them down
Daniel
7:20 Daniel says I also wanted to know
about the 10 horns circle the word horns
you'll see in a moment the word horns is
an ancient Middle Eastern term for Kings
it's used in all kinds of Fashions but
the word horns or horn is king or Kings
so I want to know about the 10 Kings or
the 10 horns on its head he saw a beast
with 10 horns and about the other horn
that's the 11th horn that came up so one
is added before which three of them fell
the horn that looked more imposing than
the others and that had eyes and a mouth
that spoke
boastful or boastfully verse 21 as I
watched this horn was Waging War against
Market the holy people this is the NIV
version which in this case is most
accurate some of your Bibles raise your
hand if some of your Bibles say Saints
okay you can write this down in your
margins uh Saints you can write there
tribulation Saints write that down
tribulation Saints all who believe in
the Lord are Saints David was a saint
Noah was a saint Isaiah is a saint but
they are of the Old Testament dis uh uh
order uh there's three basically three
categories of saints there's the Old
Testament uh Saints there is the church
age Saints which known as the bride of
Christ and then there is the tribul
ation Saints so watch this as we read
this and you'll be all the smarter for
it it's quite simple actually remember
who Daniel is he's he's a Jew talking
about the Jewish people and he's a
prophet to the Jewish Nation so against
the holy
people and defeating them verse 22 until
the Ancient of Days that's the Lord came
and pronounced judgment in favor of the
Holy people of the most high that's the
Jewish people and the time came when
they possessed the kingdom he gave me
this
explanation the fourth
Beast is a fourth Kingdom that will
appear on Earth it will be different
from all the other kingdoms and it will
devour the whole earth that's never
happened before of any Kingdom trampling
it down and crushing it the ten horns
are 10 Kings who will come from this
Kingdom after them another king will
arise
different from the early ones this is
what Daniel refers to as the 11th king
or another place he's referred to as the
little horn he will subdue three kings
he will speak against the most high and
oppress his people and try to change the
set times and the laws the holy people
will be delivered into his hands for a
Time watch this everybody times and a
half a Time guess what that
is
1,260
days which is 3 and 1/2 years the Bible
by the way from Genesis to Revelation
never does its math on a 365 day
calendar the Bible from Genesis
Revelation counts one year as 360
days three and a half years is 1,260
days it's a time times and a dividing of
time is that amazing
God's word so accurate verse 26 but the
court will sit that is in heaven and his
power will be taken away and completely
destroyed forever notice it's a personal
pronoun his power he him then the
sovereignty power and greatness of all
the kingdoms under heaven will be handed
over to the holy people of the most high
this is the Millennium his kingdom
that's the Lord's Kingdom look at the
capital H his kingdom will be an
everlasting in Kingdom and all rulers
will worship and Obey him God judges the
Nations so Isaiah looks far ahead to the
Judgment of Babylon both Babylon of the
past the spiritual Babylon and the
Babylon of the future that the Book of
Revelation speaks about number two let's
look at verses 3 through five regarding
night vision we would see the wrath of
God to come therefore Isaiah says my
that's Isaiah speaking my loin
his uh
guts I'll explain this in a second I
guess and it's amazing to me that Isaiah
is going through this feeling remember
who's being destroyed Church you paying
attention who's going to be destroyed
for how they dealt with Israel Babylon
God is going to use the MEO Persian
Empire to punish Babylon any historians
in the room anybody remember what what
nation Alliance destroyed the Babylonian
Empire the m Persian Empire who says
history says every book on history says
isn't it neat that the Bible said it
before any books on history said
it Isaiah though is interesting he's he
must have a very tender
heart because he's he gets he's sick
when he sees the Judgment that comes
against Babylon he has compassion for
them wow would you have compassion if
God smacked down tonight Isis
Would You Weep over the death of Isis
Warriors that are beheading children I
wouldn't I apparently Isaiah would maybe
we should be more like Isaiah H you said
no man why why well because Isaiah sees
people for what they really are that
they're lost
souls created in the image of God lost
they're lost but created in the image of
God
nonetheless it's hard for us isn't
it to see some horrific Lawless Renegade
person and God loves them he hates what
they're doing but he loves
them Isaiah says in verse three
therefore my loins are filled with pain
it means his guts are sick to the point
where he his his stomach he wants to
vomit pains have taken hold of me like
the Pains of a woman in labor oh my
goodness I was distressed when I heard
it I was dismayed when I saw it
my heart
wavered fearfulness frightened
me the night for which I longed he the
lord it's God turned into fear for me
verse 5 prepare the table set a Watchman
in the tower eat and drink arise you
princess anoint the shields amazing
statement the battle is coming they
don't even know it's
coming they eat but the war is at their
feet the the Babylonians are are live in
absolute wealth and and power and they
have no idea they're about to be taken
away and Isaiah is grieved by that it's
remarkable sitting in absolute the power
of the world and they had no idea that
they were about to be completely
destroyed they had no
idea you say Jacki I don't like history
that's my whole point tonight this may
not be history for
us what if think of it
Babylon No in fact go later and see and
study how the MEO Persian Empire
conquered Babylon guess how how many
shots do they fire zero they snuck
in somebody literally left the gate
unlocked they were so powerful they
thought they could never be
conquered who who will take us on who's
got the guts to punch Us in the nose as
a country we can whip
anybody
oo they were the wealth they were the
power they had all the land they were
the standard of the
world and they were defeated without a
shot they were surprised it was a
surprise attack the invading generals of
the MEO Persian Empire they damned up
the UR frates River the water went down
because part of the Babylonian the the
Euphrates flowed right in the middle of
the city of the massive
famous Babylon
City the river they dried up the river
the river went down and they just walked
down the riverbed and walked right into
the
place in fact some people reported in
history it's reported it's it's recorded
in history that some people because it
was so massive some people didn't know
they had been conquered for three days
after they were
conquered
surprise
attack have you noticed that America's
number
one surprise attack issues
are are is are times that we never
thought would ever happen it's not
happen to us Pearl
Harbor Pearl Harbor we never thought it
could happen to us first of all nobody
could reach us out there in Hawaii
never
happened and then
911 that's not that can't happen to
us wow Babylon said that can't happen
us and it
happened and how it happened by the way
there was a prophecy going on not only
Not only was Babylon had been warned in
other ways but you guys uh the grandson
technically belshazzar the the grandson
of Nebuchadnezzar not his son but
grandson you know if you've read the
Bible Daniel chapter 5 he's having a
drunken party right with all the the
Region's political
leaders and they're all having a party
and they have women dancing and they've
got implements from the temple in
Jerusalem that they're drinking out of
in in origy party banquet by the way
archaeologists have found the room they
have found the room it's 135 ft by I
think 75 fet it's been
archaeologically dug
up the Bible tells us that while they
were
parting and belzar was sitting there on
his
throne the Bible says that a hand
appeared on the wall in front of him and
all the guests and it began to write a
hand began to etch into the
wall I guess it's etched into the wall
it says it was wrote on the
wall many
tearson they brought in the translator
nobody could figure it out so they
brought in the translator you know who
the translator was old man Daniel he was
banished from the King they said there's
a there's an old famous smart old Jewish
guy in captivity he was able to decipher
dreams bring him in here see if he can
figure it out Daniel walks in there
looks at it and by the way he goes like
this oh yeah
hey uh your grandpa he was a king
in other words you're not he was you
should have listened to him more he says
yeah you know what that says says that
you have been weighed in the
balances and you have been determined to
be a
lightweight you've been waiting the
balances and you ain't got nothing to
you you're a straw man you have no you
have no Authority you're just a big
mouth in a robe driving a big Kingdom
and you ain't got nothing in you
you ever meet people like that they're
all
talk
wow and inside there's nothing to
you and he says your kingdom is going to
be taken from you
tonight and you're at the end of your
life while Daniel was speaking that the
invasion was
underway and the Bible says in Daniel
chapter 5 that when the king heard that
this is the King James way of putting it
so polite it says his hips or his loins
became
loose translation there was no
pamper there was no diaper big enough to
handle what was going
on and it says at that his knees began
to Smite
together think of it he became so
terrified and sick with fear and he died
that night it's in the Bible you got to
read the Bible more it's very
exciting right absolutely
amazing absolutely
amazing but the truth of the matter is
church that the prophet speaks about
God's coming wrath God does things like
this he's going to intervene in Nations
again and just don't think because it's
so slowo that he never gets involved it
seems slow and it is slow I guess to our
time but when he gets involved you know
it you won't have to wonder about it and
I find that
fascinating suddenly they were attacked
suddenly it was overthrown Jesus is in
Luke
17:26 and as it was in the days of Noah
so shall it be at the days of the son of
man they ate they drank he's talking
about the world they ate and they drank
they were they got married they were
given in marriage until the day that
Noah entered the Ark and the flood came
and destroyed them all and likewise as
it was also in the days of lot they ate
they drank they bought they sold they
planted they built life life is usual
right but on the day that lot went out
of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone
from heaven and destroyed them all verse
30 Jesus this is Jesus speaking he says
even so will it be in the day when the
son of man is revealed wow people caught
off guard imagine right now if Jesus
showed up today would people will get
caught off
guard now look you guys studied the
Bible and we and it's not uncommon for
for us to talk like this and even when
we're on a Sunday morning on a totally
different topic we can still pray or
mention a verse that will apply to the
fact that the Lord could come back at
any time but think about this you know
that I know that Generations have known
that but isn't it strange um I Heard a
pastor recently say my goodness when's
Jesus coming back things are getting so
obvious in the world in light of Bible
prophecy that if he doesn't come back
soon no one's going to be surprised
think that through it's brilliant
but it's you know it's funny that he
said that and it is brilliant but the
truth of the matter is it's so obvious
to people who know the
book if you don't know the book you're
going what what are you talking about
I'm still caught back there in that
Ezekiel thing you
said know the book the book knows the
future it's absolutely amazing night
vision is it dark
outside well listen in the spirit God
God is leading us the Holy Spirit lives
in you he gives you the ability to
discern times and
Seasons you're able to look into a
culture you're able to look into and you
discern things I mentioned this a couple
weeks ago but listen as a Christian have
you ever been somewhere and you just
know you know what I think we should
leave and you don't know
why and you will find out later or
whatever that it turned out to be a very
very dark environment or very
spiritually depressed res in situation
have you ever been grieved that's the
that's the holy spirit in you saying um
time to go I don't want to be here isn't
it amazing that's God in
you well you have to come back on Sunday
for more of that in Philippians we'll
talk more about that about how that
works wow thank you Lord for that I'm
grateful for that you what's the deal
and you can almost drive through cities
and you can Fe feel it you think I'm uh
goofing around with you we ought to take
a a little trip down to Hollywood and
Vine and feel it you know what I mean
there's a
Darkness wow oh I'm going to confess
something to you in town There's a palm
reader and I've tried to go there three
times I said I tried to go there three
times because I wanted to walk in there
like a prophet like share the gospel
just walk in there and just look right
at the Palm
Reader because you know they're
spiritual people right so that that
hurdle's already been hurdled so I was
just going to
say God's eyes are upon you he sees what
you're doing is absolutely an
Abomination to him because that's
Deuteronomy 13 and8 it's true and you
need to repent now to accept Jesus
Christ as your lord and savior look
everything I said is exactly right but
every time I've thought about pulling
over to go do it I sense that don't do
it but I want to do
it but you know what we're not you know
maybe maybe my heart's not right or
maybe the Lord doesn't want me to share
at that moment I don't know what the
deal is but three times I intended to do
it and each time no you're
not oh come on dad you
know night vision look at the third
argument verses 6 to9 is seen and saying
seeing and saying what he
sees Isaiah is seen with night vision
into the future into things that no man
could know and he says it what does he
say he tells them what he sees he speaks
he writes down what he sees now watch
verse six for thus says the
Lord said to me that's Isaiah go said a
Watchmen let him declare what he sees so
in other words put Judah and Israel on
guard warned
them and he this is now back to Babylon
saw he saw a chariot with a pair of
Horsemen the first set a chariot of
donkeys the Persians I don't know why
but they did they're definitely powerful
animals they're not as Noble as a horse
but they're stronger than the horses the
Persian Persian use these types of
donkeys which was unique to them so if
you say why would somebody use a donkey
well good question but the Persians used
donkeys almost like tanks in battle very
powerful and armor-plated donkeys kind
of amazing and a chariot of camels
that's the MEO pers the mes used camels
in
Warfare uh I it's terrible but I saw on
YouTube Isis North Africa using camels
right now uh with
their scimitars
swords I know on camel back
um and he listened earnestly with great
care and then he cried a lion my Lord I
stand continually on the Watchtower in
the daytime I have set at my post every
night and look here comes a chariot of
men with a pair of Horsemen then he
answered this is Isaiah speaking and
said Babylon has fallen is fallen and
all the carved images of her gods or
Idols he has broken to the ground who
broke the idols to the ground well God
did but he used the MEO Persian Empire
to do it listen up everybody God used
another Nation or two Nations to bring
down Babylon right that's what it says
what did Isaiah recognize went down the
idols were knocked to the ground
remember I said earlier in the
introduction 360 different gods of
Babylon it was the it was the source of
what is known as Babylonian ISM cult
worship first thing that goes down are
the are the Pagan Idol Gods
boom look in the Bible when God deals
with Nations or when God God sends
Revival to uh a a a state or a nation or
a people in the Bible look in the book
of Acts when Idols are found what what
are what what are done to the idols
they're they're ground to dust and and
burned or destroyed isn't that amazing
you see but it's an idol it's a stupid
Idol exactly it's just a dumb Idol isn't
it but Paul tells us in his Epistles
that Idols are habit are areas of
habitation for
demons you see it's just a carved image
you know it's a carved image I know it's
a carved image and the person bowing
down to it knows it is a carved image
image but when they do that they invite
demons into their presence who says
Bible says I don't believe it oh they
they got you half duped right
there think about
it pretty bizarre huh pretty
amazing there's a lesson here for us too
it's much easier to
stand and defend what is
right what is good what is
valuable than to fight to get it back if
the Babylonians would have
repented maybe God would have done
something with them the ninevites
repented God did something with
them the
nation Judah will be taken captive
Isaiah looks ahead to the Future they
will be delivered at Great expense mind
you but why give up your freedom in the
first
place Church listen I'm serious
it's next to impossible to get something
back that you hand
over we need to learn this old
lesson we need to fight for what we have
to keep it free oh you would are you
talking about our country again Hey
listen every country every citizen
fights for their country God put it in
the human heart but that's not what I'm
talking about I wrote down what I'm
talking about your personal experiences
with Jesus in a day-to-day walk with
God it's worth fighting for it's much
easier to stay Walking With Jesus and
fight for your devotional time fight you
have to fight you know what I'm talking
about somebody say Amen you think just
devotional time is it comes naturally
comes easy you know what I'm talking
about devotional time if you don't know
getting up and praying and talking to
God before you go to work your whole day
is different you know you have to fight
to do that it's hard work you know
what's harder than that
leaving your devotional life months go
by maybe years go by and then trying to
get back to it fight to keep it it's
easier than fighting to get it
back what else I wrote this down your
family life
family well this nation's going to hell
in a hand basket I don't know what's
going on you know what maybe it is but
what about your
family your family doesn't have to go
like that does it hey if everybody
forsakes God what about your family you
don't have to you got to fight for your
family seriously fight for your family
hey wake up if you got some stupid
thoughts on your mind well you know my
secretary wooo she whoow wow really you
going to throw your family away for
her are you going to throw your family
away for
him think of it it's a lie it's all a
lie fight for it hey it's a lot easier
to fight for it than it is to fight to
get it back if it's
possible fight for it don't quit well
she made me upset well you know what you
make me
upset fight for
it
friendships I forget what verse it is
it's coming to my head right now I just
don't know the address but the verse
says in Proverbs that you ought to know
your neighbor for in the day of Calamity
he's your friend think of that isn't
that brilliant right we've got the
luxury of of not talking to anybody in
our neighborhood because we don't need
anybody long as the neighbor stays over
there and that neighbor stays over there
it's a wonderful life we have I pull up
to my driveway press a button my house
opens up it eats my car the door
shuts and I walk in the house and nobody
sees me it's a wonderful life until
until something happens and you don't
know your
neighbors and you know you you need a
Band-Aid or you're bleeding you cut your
hand off and you go to your neighbor's
door and knock with the other
hand I need help and then who are
you we need neighbors
friendships we need
them as the Bible says for the day of
Calamity you're going to need your
neighbor we need to nurture those it's
easier to maintain them than it is to
rebuild them right what else
what else is of course your
marriage and you know what even as a
church serving together praying together
Waring together upstairs on Wednesday
nights praying for the persecuted church
around the world praying for our
national leaders according to First
Timothy Paul's command praying for one
another prayer teams that when I'm
teaching on Sundays there's a prayer
team praying for every service think of
it and listen the the Frontline Prayer
Ministry when you're in trouble and you
call the church at 2:00 in the morning
to get a prayer request on it goes to a
network of people that are Prayer
Warriors and then likewise like we said
in the announcement uh greeters and
visitors for Resurrection Sunday
morning could we hire people to do it of
course we could would that break the
heart of God yes would that be
disgusting as a church hey I hope our
hope our people were nice to you we're
paying them pretty
good what an abomination
that's a form of prostitution think of
it no we're in this together listen it's
easier to fight for a church than to
fight to get it
back we need to do that we need to fight
number four night vision verse 10 I love
this verse verse 10 this is awesome
seeing discipline for what it is
discipline Isaiah says oh my people he
cries out threshed and
winnowed I have told you everything the
Lord of Heaven armies has said
everything the god of Israel has told me
oh Circle that verse that is a
pastor's commissioning that verse is a
pastor verse 10 Isaiah 21:10 that is a
Christian Minister's mandate right there
that's what he's to do I'm telling you
everything God has said to do notice
he's not saying I'm I told you
everything that you wanted to
hear huh he's saying I'm telling you
everything that you need to hear God
told me to say it I'm telling you
everything that you need to hear we
don't like it God he said I'm telling
you what God said to
say the disciplines of God God
disciplines us does not God say things
to you that you don't want to
hear because he loves you Proverbs 3:11
says my son do not despise the
chastening of the Lord don't get upset
when God spanks you nor detest his
correction when he puts you in the
Penalty
Box
right For Whom the lord loves he
corrects just as a father the son in
whom he Delights you ever seen a kid
that doesn't get disciplined they're
disgusting you see them all the time
it's very pitiful you want to you want
to you want to go take another field
trip after you go to Hollywood and Vine
then go to Toys R Us that's the place
you take your take your GoPro and and
watch watch what goes on in a Toys R
Us there is so much parent abuse going
on in there it's all there should be
police in there to protect the
parents they need little squad cars out
in the front with
like no I'm Mommy I want this you can't
have that I said I want it no no not not
today maybe tomorrow but not today I've
seen have you seen kids slap their
parents in Toys R Us it's the end of the
world and the Bible says you leave a kid
alone like that and that kid will grow
up to terrorize your life the Bible says
when that kid grows up up they'll be a
reproach to the family to the parents
you know what they are they'll be little
they'll be criminals in life because you
want to know why nobody tells me what to
do and they're
Lawless don't do listen when God spanks
us the Bible says receive it he loves
you my goodness the Book of James says I
think it's the Book of James book of
Hebrews tells us that if God doesn't
discipline you for what you're doing
you're actually not his
child I've been getting away with it for
years
you're not his that's
why but look what he's been doing God
says I I don't I don't look at him I
don't even know
him
wow the comforting part is when you
cross a line have you ever had God spank
you look you can cross the line in your
thoughts and he'll spank you it all
depends on how close you are to him it's
kind of interesting please don't confuse
this don't mess this up when you're real
close to him if you're walking tight
with God you can think the thought and
he says hey come over
here because he knows what you're
thinking but if you're not walking so
close with God you may be put your foot
over here you may be dabbling and this
there and just
like you know it's
wrong and it's like okay
then right and then it's just like
this in a trap ah listen this is as
pastors this is what we hear it
happens
ow hello I need to come in the church I
need to talk to somebody okay come on in
yeah I got this i got this thing on my
foot is is she's bear trap where'd you
get that well I mean I I I don't know
what God's doing to me man I just don't
get it why would he do this well it
looks to me it looks to me like you
you're one of his kids and you went
somewhere you ought not to be
going and you can thank him for that see
what's going to leave a mark and you can
thank him every time you look at that
Mark that's serious number five verses
11-
12 night vision is seeing the signs of
the
times the burden or the Oracle is the
word against Duma that's Edom Jordan
today the
Edomite Kingdom Jordan today he calls to
me out of
sier Watchmen what of the night Watchmen
what of the night The Watchmen said the
morning comes listen and also the night
if you will inquire inquire return come
back said what is he talking
about this is what he's
saying the future prophecy tells us that
the kingdom of Jordan will be witnessing
what they hear and listen this is what's
going to be said as they see what's
going
on there's going to be a cry that comes
out of
Jordan like this it's really dark it's
really dark what's happening in the
world Watchmen tell me you're on the
wall tell me it's so dark what's
happening and the Watchman announces
this the morning's coming at least
that's what time it shows on my
Sund
dial but it's still
dark go think about
it when you've thought about it come
back with a new mind come back with a
new heart I'll as a Watchman I'll figure
it
out I'm waiting I'm watching you go back
maybe when you come back I'll be able to
announce that it is the morning and it
is light but right now it's the morning
and it's still dark it's an amazing
statement we should be living there
should be life there should be Joy but
it's dark outside it's funny huh we're
at this verse and we just had a time
change what's going on it's lighter and
darker and it should be darker and
lighter what's this what's the story
that kind of thing on a spiritual scale
hey we should be having fun hey it
should be wonderful but it's
dark and the Watchman who scans The
Horizon
another work of a spiritual leader
what's what's coming I'll tell you in a
moment I'm looking I'm looking and he
announces you know what it should be
light but it's dark I'll keep looking
something's
wrong isn't that amazingly
powerful and the remainder of it is an
argument I would say number six is
seeing God speak through his word is
verses 13 to 17 for time sake we'll have
to wrap this up but it's the burden
against
Arabia Arabia today we you know it as
Saudi
Arabia
and The Descendants I'm just going to
paraphrase as you go down you look at
verse 13 the
deit those are the descendants of
Abraham and
coutura interesting huh The
Offspring all this leads to Middle
East tribes warn against each other you
keep looking down and within a year the
prophecy verse 16 according to the year
of a Hired Man all the glory of kidar
will fail uh teema and Kadar the
descendants of Abraham through
Hagar and The Descendants which would be
of
ishmael's lineage and the remainder of
the number of archers the Mighty Man of
the peoples of Kadar will be diminished
for the Lord God of Israel has spoken
it
remarkable night vision prophets of God
seeing into the distant future the
things that are in the hearts and the
minds of men and God knows what's in the
hearts and the minds of us there's no
hiding from the god of the
Bible he has night vision as it were
into our
souls what an amazing God you know the
scripture says because of his Mercy
we're not consumed isn't that
amazing thank God you know tomorrow
morning when you wake up the Bible says
there's new mercies every
morning and I as we end this I want you
to be than about just some things that
are happening right now with
us the remarkable and I I I may mention
this on on Sunday the
remarkable pictures that God shows us as
a
people it's been as it were the Dark
Night of the Soul so to speak with
winter the days are lengthening the air
is warming the flowers are blooming the
birds are singing There's a wedd
weddings are being
planned why there's almost like a
renewed life in the spring Jesus rose
again from the grave in the
spring you wake up in the morning it's
been as it were the Dark Night of the
soul but the morning comes and whatever
was bothering you today there it doesn't
seem as bad in in the morning does
it wise Ben Franklin said sleep on
it why because it's different in the
morning
and tonight you may have brought a
truckload of burdens in here in your
heart this church this week deaths and
births isn't it strange babies coming
into the world and people
dying and between those two things a
generation
lives stories to tell things
experienced all of it is speaking just
think for a moment friend all of it is
speaking about God's promises the fath
faithfulness of his word and his
commitment to you he loves you Jesus
Christ died on the
cross to release from you the grip of
sin and once he was dead on the cross he
was taken down from that cross and he
was laid in a nearby tomb there in
Jerusalem and I think three weeks we're
going to be in
it we're going to see it it's
empty you're the only group of people in
the world that can go to its Founders
faith and there's nothing
there he's risen from the dead to
guarantee you eternal
life how do I
know how do I know CU this book says
so and the beautiful thing is you and I
live in the 21st century where history
has confirmed such
things and if if I didn't have any of
that I have the fact that I have a new
life
there's nothing you can tell me that can
Trump this Jesus Christ has given me a
new life he'll do the same thing for you
tonight father we thank you for your
word we thank you for your truth we
thank you for your
life that you give and father tonight if
there's any man or woman boy or girl in
this house that would say yes to Jesus
Christ that friend whoever you are right
now you would say that's the prayer of
my heart God will you forgive forgive me
of my sins will you wash my sins away I
want to have a new life I want to know
God the Living God and I want to walk
with
God I want to be taken in I want to be
adopted by
God if that's you tonight right where
you're at you tell him that you just
tell him that he's listening he can hear
you and if you're telling that to
him I'd love to hear about that please
you grab me you tell me you come by you
write me a note you just you get it to
me I want to
know I want to know you because you're
going to be in heaven with us
forever I want to know you because God's
going to do amazing things in and
through your life I want to know you
because your life is just about ready to
begin
finally thank you God for being so
awesome in Jesus name and all God's
people
[Music]
said