The Call to return home

The Call to return Home

“Turning from sin and receiving God’s forgiveness”

(Is.1:10-20)

George Barna Research says this:

• 93 percent of the households in the U.S contain a Bible and more than 60 percent of the people surveyed claim to be religious, but we would never know this from the way people act.
• One protestant church exist for every 550 adults in America, but does all this religion make much of a difference in our sinful society?
• Organized religion hasn’t  affected the nations crime rate, the divorce rate, or the kind of entertainment seen in movies and on T.V.
• The Avg church allocates about 5 percent of his budget for reaching others with the Gospel, 30 percent for building and maintenance.

A few things to think about as you listen to this sermon.

• When we walk in sin, what effect does that have on our relationship with God?
• Repentance should be every day in the life of the believer.
• For those who come to Christ through the Gospel call, Regeneration, Repentance and faith. We need to stay away from easy believism.

 

1. 1.    The rebellion of God’s people leads to fake worship (10-13)
   1. a.    God called Israel “Sodom and Gomorrah” They had become wicked like these sinful cities that God had destroyed (Gen.19:23-29). Israel had become corrupt. (Read 1:4-6). This shows how rotten it can be, when God’s people turn in rebellion. The word rebelled in v.2 carries the idea of breaking a contract. At Sinai, Israel had entered convent with Jehovah (Ex19-20), but unbelief and turning to other God’s, growing corrupt in all things. Thinking only of self.

Note: Can’t we become the same way, running from God. Sin will eat you up! I have been there. God’s call was for them to hear the word of the Lord and to give ear to the teaching. Something we do not do when we are running from God. (2 Tim.4:3-4, talk of a turning from truth, we see that today)

1. b.    The danger here is the people were still bringing sacrifice. They were going through the motions. Their hearts were not in the right place. Fake repentance (look at v.11-13). This is not what God wants. Look at Ps.51:16 “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.”

Note: God does not what us going through the motions, playing church! Showing up for everything, but our hearts are far away! We will be like the church at Ephesus, read Rev.2:4-5.  When we play church it is like “Trampling of my courts, and” vain offerings”

1. 2.    The rebellion of God’s people leads to separation from God, because of sin. (14-15)
   1. a.    God hates sin (Read Prov.6:16-19)
   2. b.    God will not listen to us till we get rid of the sin in our life. (v.15). And read prov.1:28-31.

Note: we see a picture of this In Is. 59:3 “For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness.” We can be the same way holding on to sin and play the game. But till we get it right it is all falling on deaf ears.

1. 3.    True repentance leads to God’s promise of forgiveness (16-20)
   1. a.    When we see sin as sin and that we have sinned against a holy God, there will be this desire to turn from sin and turn to God, and seek to do His will. Look at what it says in 1Pet.3:11 “Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”
   2. b.    This is what God wants. Ps.51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
   3. c.    Then we see God’s invitation for forgiveness “Come now” that is what God wants for us to come home. Through the work of the cross we can have forgiveness of Sin. Read 1Jon.2:1-6.
   4. d.    Look at what it says in Prov.28:13 “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” God is full of compassion! (we see God’s grace and mercy) Eph.2:4-10
   5. e.    Also we see God is Just to punish Sin. (19-20)

In closing: We see that God wants us to live for him in true worship. God does not  want our fake worship. Let us repent and come home.