REFLECTIONS ON THE JUSTICE OF GOD 01 : Home for the Homeless FGA Genesis Cell Group 27 th February, 2009 Welcome

REFLECTIONS ON THE JUSTICE OF GOD 01 : Home for the Homeless 01 : Home for the Homeless 02 : Justice for All Nations 02 : Justice for All Nations 03 : God’s Economy 03 : God’s Economy 04 : Christian Stewardship 04 : Christian Stewardship 05 : Christian Care & Compassion 05 : Christian Care & Compassion 06 : Christian Hospitality 06 : Christian Hospitality

Video Clip : In Our Own Backyard Share the emotional feelings that run through your vein when you view the clip.

Isaiah 58:6-8 (ESV) 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 6 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isaiah 58:3-5 3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,' and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 4 Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?

6”No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; Lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free and remove the chains that bind people. 7Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 8”Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

See verse 6 – stand in the gap See verse 6 – stand in the gap To break the chain of injustice. To break the chain of injustice. Get rid of exploitation in the work place. Get rid of exploitation in the work place. Free the oppressed. Free the oppressed. Cancel debts. Cancel debts. What does the text suggests the kind of fast that the Lord requires of us? Put it another way, what is God looking for whenever we fast and pray? A Change of Hearts God opposes the kind of fast that is not accompanied by a change of heart

What are some of those practical things we are required to do in order to see the oppressed experienced freedom? See verse 7 See verse 7 Share your food with the hungry. Share your food with the hungry. Give shelter to the homeless. Give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them. Give clothes to those who need them. Do not hide from relatives who need your help. Do not hide from relatives who need your help.

What does verse 8 suggests that we will see when we show kindness and compassion to those around us? THEN … Isaiah’s vision 1. 1.our light break forth like the dawn our healing shall spring up speedily our righteousness shall go before us; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. - Continually Growing - What do you understand by each of those phrases?

“ Our light break forth like the dawn. ” God radiates his presence through us so that others might see something in us that makes them stop and consider and turn towards God. Not light of personal celebrity but Light that points to God

“ our healing shall spring up speedily ”. Restores what has been lost This kind of restoration comes only from efforts that exceed obligations.

“Rearguard” – a separate troop to guard the rear of a moving troop or delay the pursuit of main military body. Isaiah 52:12 “The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rearguard.” “ our righteousness shall go before us; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard” “our righteousness” NOT “self-righteousness” Our righteousness in Christ – godliness.

APPLICATION 1. Being aware of the needs of people around us.

Isaiah 58:6-8 6 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

GOD BLESS GOD BLESS