August 31, 2009

• Isaiah 7:10-17 by Pastor Don Moore

  Do we really believe there’s a Heaven and it’s a better place as we are down here going through our go through?  Your expectations cause your disappointments.

  Pastor Don gave us a homework assignment regarding this Immanuel, God with us prophesy.  We were to look at this prophesy and look at our lives, to see where we are in the prophesy, and where we had come.  It was kind of hard to do that, until he gave us a sample from his life.  As you see this progress, I strongly suggest thinking about some of these questions for your life as well.

  Isaiah 7:10 Moreover, the Lord spoke again to King Ahaz, saying,

  Ahaz represents a non-believer or  a new believer.

  Isaiah 7:11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”

  Ask a sign for yourself.  Pastor Don wanted us to remember what we were like as a Baby Christian or a non-believer, asking God for signs.  Wanting God to do such and such, looking for a sign.  Some seek signs from stars, the occult, new age, not going to God as a believer.  Then asking God questions like, “Why don’t you ….”  Some tell you God doesn’t do those signs, miracles.  After you become a believer, you first have immature ideas of what God does and doesn’t do.  Signs you asked God to perform for you, to make you happy, and give you a reason to believe. 

  Signs do not always come from God.  Pastor Don shared about ouija boards and signs in the occult.  In fact, at one point, Pastor Don’s college roommates were asking questions on an ouija board, but whoever the familiar spirit was that was answering questions, refused to answer questions about Don.  The spirit told his friends that they did not like Don, but to tell Don his girlfriend was coming up the stairs.

  Pastor Don told us that as a young child, a Sunday School Baptist, child of a pastor and having a pastor as a grandparent, he would ask questions, wondering about God in the church, is God real, looking at the stars, etc.  Then one day, he went to a Baptist conference, mostly because a girlfriend was attending, but she didn’t show.  He was sitting in church during this conference and they were singing “Just as I am.”  Pastor Don got the hymnal out and read the lyrics of the hymn, and started crying, and gave his life to Christ. 

  So as a new believer and an unbeliever we want to ask God for signs, to have Him show Himself to us.  Did you ever do that?  What did you ask and why?  What did God do or not do?

  Isaiah 7:12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

  Ahaz sounds so spiritual saying that he will not test the Lord. 

  James 1:2-8 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

  No matter how filthy you feel, God will give you liberally in faith.  Don’t be double minded.  When we take a position of not wanting to ask God there is fear – fear He won’t answer, or pride which keeps you from asking God.  We should ask and God will give us any GOOD thing. 

  James 1:13-14  Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

  Patience and tests.  We ask in faith – believing.  God is not in the temptation business, but it doesn’t say that we won’t be tested.  God will not put something in front of you to tempt you to sin – for example alcohol in front of an alcoholic.  The koran says that allah sets a trap for a good man to destroy him.  God will test a man to show his goodness and bring out patience, good will and strength.  God will not put a hooker into a room to tempt a minister to fall. 

  Isaiah 7:12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

  We often don’t ask because we are afraid of asking wrong.  A religious spirit tells us not to ask God for stuff, but that is pride and a religious spirit that stops us.  Then Ahaz says nor will he test the Lord.  HOW can you the LESSER test God the GREATER?  It is not possible.  The book of Micah tells us to prove God in reference to the tithe, and see if God doesn’t open the windows of Heaven.  God has no problem setting a test before Himself. 

  James 4:2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet^proudmom87