Divine Ability Isaiah 63 – 66 (Ch 65: 8-25, p. 692)

Living our faith ... God’s People Godly People The daily Experience of faith “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” (Eugene Peterson) My Experience of Obedience: The Point Grey Fiesta Our participation added to the event and linked us positively to our neighbours. God’s People (People who belong to God) Godly People (People who reflect God’s character) Our JOY is complete when these two come together! Eugene Peterson: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society Throughout this exposition of selected Psalms, Eugene H. Peterson encourages steadfast discipleship, focusing on the themes of worship, service, joy, work and community.

1. The Joy of a Mighty Saving God What I learnt from Isaiah – Ch 1-39: The Key to everything – TRUST GOD (and nothing else) TRUST is expressed in how we LIVE. Ch 6: Isaiah’s call – Speak even though no-one will listen! Be faithful; results are God’s Ch 40-66: God will rescue His people and enable obedience Ch 40-48: God is Willing and Able to Save ME! (No sin of mine can change this!) OBEDIENCE on God’s terms is still central to walking with Him. (ch 56-59) “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” ... is worth it! Because of who God is, and what He intends for His creation. Even though I don’t always feel like it (The heart is deceitful - Jer 17:9) Jeremiah 17:9-10 (TNIV) 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10 “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward everyone according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Faith & Actions: IF I really think something is worth doing, I do it.

2. The Joy of Faithful Obedience Isaiah 65: 8-16 There are only two Possibilities for Human beings The FAITHFUL My servants (v 8) My people who seek me (v 12) Will eat, drink, rejoice (v 13) Sing for joy (v 14) Will not be destroyed with the wicked (v 8) The UNFAITHFUL Forsake the Lord, forget (v 11) Don’t answer, don’t listen (v 12) Do evil, choose what displeases (v 12) Will be hungry, thirsty, shamed (v 13) Cry out in anguish, wail (v 14) Destined for the sword (v 12) Know God’s presence now, have a sure future of uninterrupted joy! Isaiah 65:1-2 (TNIV) 1 “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’ 2 All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations— The Road (Movie) Viggo Mortensen, Charlise Theron, Robert Duvall

3. The Joy of a Certain Future Isaiah 65: 17-25 A Wonderful New World A New Heaven and a New Earth (cf. Rev 21) The sorrows and troubles of the past will not be remembered (v 16, 17) No more weeping or crying (v 19) “Jerusalem” will be God’s delight and its people His “Joy (v 18, cf. v 5) No untimely deaths, everyone lives “to a ripe old age” (v 20) We will enjoy our labour and its fruit, no more labouring in vain (v 21-23) God will be answering our prayers before we utter them (v 24) All that we fear in nature (wolf, lion, snake) will be harmless (v 25) Isaiah 65:5 (TNIV) 5 who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me, for I am too sacred for you!’ Such people are smoke in my nostrils, a fire that keeps burning all day.

The Long Obedience ... Not a burden – Because it leads to Shalom (well-being) (48:18) Because we have an unimaginably spectacular inheritance (ch 60) Because God has acted and is acting on our behalf (43:1-2) Because God is who He is (43:10-13) We have every reason to be God’s Godly People. All we are called to is being faithful with our part – God will do the rest.