First Baptist Church, Earlville, NY

May 27, 2018 10:30 AM
Rev. Jeremy B. Stopford, Pastor

TODAY’S FUNNY: “A Memories Funny”

An older couple was lying in bed one night. The husband was almost asleep when his wife started reflecting on all the love they had shared. The old gentleman is about asleep when she nudges him and says, “Honey, do you remember how we used to hug?”
The old gentleman says, “Yes, dear,” and rolls over and gives her a big hug.”
Then he was almost asleep again, when she nudges him and says “Honey do you remember how we used to kiss?”
“Yes, dear,” and he rolls over and gives her a big kiss.
He was almost asleep when she again nudges him again and says, “Honey, do you remember how you used to nibble on my ear?”
The old guy throws off the covers, somewhat frustrated, sits up in bed, and gets up. The wife says, “What are you doing?” In an exasperated tone he says, “I’m going to go get my teeth.”

INTRODUCTION:

As we celebrate this year’s Memorial Day, I was reminded recently of the definition of who a “veteran’ is: “A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount up to and including their life.” Pretty good!
But just a reminder, in case any of us needs reminding: We honor our veterans on Veterans’ Day in November; we honor our country on the 4th of July; but we honor those who have died for our freedoms on Memorial Day. This day is not for those who served. This day is for those whose blank check was cashed. That too, is even better.
And all that got me thinking. Is there any place in scripture where it tells that all of us can give a memorial to God? A sacrifice that might be honoring to Him? A “memorial sacrifice” if you will? Isaiah is the sharp-tongued major prophet of the Old Testament. He does talk about a “memorial sacrifice”, but not with the desire we would think. This Memorial Day Sunday may our hearts be surrendered to God’s true “memorial sacrifice.” PRAYER

#1 THE SPIRIT OF THE MAJOR PROPHET

You would think that, having written 65 chapters of Scripture, Isaiah would be ready to show heaven’s flying colors. (Please remember, this was probably all on one scroll, NOT in 66 chapters! That makes Jesus act in the synagogue that much more amazing. He opened the scroll right to the very passage that was being fulfilled at that very moment in the presence of those in His presence in Nazareth. Wow.)
Isaiah wrote of an invitation to “come” and reason sins can be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
While mourning for the passing of King Uzziah, he wrote about seeing the Lord enthroned in words of almost unimagined splendor (Isaiah 6)
He wrote about the birth of the Messiah in a passage where the king had refused the revelation of this grand part of history, in a moment revealing his heart’s hardness (Isaiah 7:12-14).
He wrote about the tempter being in the garden of Eden – yet eons before that being in God’s presence desiring to be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12ff).
And he wrote about the coming Messiah Whose first appearance would not be that of a King on a throne but of a Servant at the cross for the sins of the whole world (Isaiah 53 and surrounding chapters).
So you would think that by the time he got to the 66th chapter in his scroll, Isaiah would be ready to wrap up this majestic tale of divine insight into the history of God’s intervention in humanity.
But Isaiah had one more insight to share.

#2 THE HUNGER OF THE ALMIGHTY (66:1-2)

* Isaiah introduces God’s hurt by first sharing God’s hunger. (v. 1). God’s throne is in heaven. He is aware of the majesty – by human standards – of the temple on earth in Jerusalem. BUT that is not the throne He really wants!
* God wants the throne of the human heart (v. 2)! He gives a 3-fold description of His heart’s hunger: one who is humble, who is contrite in spirit, and who trembles at God’s Word.
He is to be “humble”: this is a poverty of self-spirit and a fullness of God in one’s life. He has an afflicted spirit because he realizes his only hope is in the Lord.
He is also “contrite”: this is a broken or wounded spirit. He has no hope in himself but is completely dependent upon the Lord and His intercession in his life. He is one who is sorry for his sins and has no human recourse for getting right with God.
He is one who “trembles at God’s Word”. “Tremble” is more than just being “frightened”. It is to have an holy awe, fear, or reverence. And even more so, it is to be responsive to everything that God says. He respects what God has to say. He hangs on every word of God and responds to it with an holy life.
And did you catch the beginning of the verse? The one who is humble, contrite in spirit, and who trembles at God’s word is the one upon whom God looks with esteem, with His favor (which is often translated in the New Testament as God’s “grace”). Isaiah begins his closure to his major revelation by first sharing the simple offer of God’s favor. But in order to show His favor, God has to show His hurt.

#3 THE HURT OF THE ONE WHOSE FAVOR IS SPURNED (v. 3)

The hurt of God is represented by the sacrifice chosen by the people. A memorial sacrifice! Truly God would highly esteem a sacrifice which is given in remembrance of Him!
The first part of the verse shares the different ways the people of Isaiah’s day were showing what they thought was “true worship”: sacrificing a bull, offering a lamb, making a grain offering, burning memorial incense. Why is Isaiah voicing God’s condemnation of such worship? Aren’t those things which outwardly show an heart that is dedicated to God? Wouldn’t God be pleased – show favor and grace – toward such a “memorial sacrifice”?
But Isaiah concludes this section by showing God’s true hurt. He words it this way: “they have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations.”
But those memorial sacrifices? Those are good, right? Like going to church! Like reading the Bible! Like giving money in the offering! Like showing kindness to those who are hurting! Like having great programs which minister to the poor in the community! Aren’t these good things that we often do true memorial sacrifices?
Isn’t God pleased with them?

CONCLUSION:

Let’s wrap this up on this Memorial Day Sunday.
Through his extended revelation – thus making him a “major prophet” due to the length of his writing – Isaiah shares an huge body of truth which points to one sole sacrifice, one true memorial sacrifice.
Remember Isaiah 53? “But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (vs. 5-6).
The writer of Hebrews gives the New Testament heart: “He [The Lord Jesus] did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (9:12-14).
As we recognize our freedoms because of the memorial sacrifices of many for our nation, on this Memorial Day Sunday let us remember that it was not an outward show but an act of love of the Savior which is the true “memorial sacrifice”.
And trust in that sacrifice causes an humbling, a contrite spirit, and a trembling at God’s Word.
Today, is Jesus your trust, your eternal hope, your reason for living?
Is He your “memorial sacrifice”?

Close in prayer