VIDEO RECORDING OF THIS SERMON
AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS SERMON
Is 45:5-6 says, “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me; That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.”
God is the Creator of the universe – Is 45:12, 18 – He made it. He runs it, the ordinances of the sky obey him. He cursed it. He alone controls its future. Before he returns all hell will break loose on earth, v7. When he’s here there will be peace. When he finishes his millennial reign, the heavens and the earth will be totally destroyed and made new. The arrogance of so-called scientists who profess that God didn’t make it and who pretend that they can control it, when, in fact, they just want to control you. The very thing they say they are against, men using religion to control you, is the very thing they are after, men using so-called science to control you. They strive with their Maker, v9-10. The Bible says, “Woe unto them.”
God is the Ruler of the nations – Is 45:1-4, 13-14, 17 – he prophesied of the coming of Cyrus. How did God know? He is the one who raised him up. He raised up Pharaoh. He raised up Nebuchadnezzar. He raised up Pilate. Men forget this. God had to teach Pharaoh that he was the Lord. Sennacherib was led by God to destroy nations. He thought that God was like the gods of those nations he destroyed. He found out that he was wrong. Nebuchadnezzar spent a few years in the field before he understood that “the most high ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will,” Dan 4:32. Even the devil doesn’t understand. In Lk 4:6-7 he said, “All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will give it.” He’s as proud as Nebuchadnezzar and Sennacherib were, and just as fooled by his pride.
God knows a thing about Israel: they will not get right with him until they go through affliction, Ps 107. They turn to him when they are in tribulation. In the Tribulation they will finally turn to him forever. While the devil is using the antichrist to set the world up to worship him, the Lord will be using the antichrist to get Israel right with God. And when they do, all the nations will be subject to them and under the Lord’s rule, when he returns.
God is the Savior of all men – Is 45:8, 15-17, 21-22 – men all over the world and throughout all ages have devised their own religions and invented their own gods. The world is full of them today. But v8 says that righteousness is from above. “Salvation is of the Lord,” Jon 2:9. “I the Lord have created it,” v8. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else,” v.22. “I, even I, and the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour,” Is 43:11.
God is the Judge of everything – Is 45:23-25 – every knee shall bow, Phil 2:10, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth. Everything. Is 45:24 “all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.” You cannot escape this judgment. But you can prepare for it. You might say, “I don’t agree with God’s judgment.” Then you are a fool. There is only one judge and he is it. He doesn’t ask your permission to judge, he doesn’t consult you in his decisions, he doesn’t flinch when you disagree. He is God and God does what he wants. It all makes perfect sense to him and is perfectly equitable to him, whether you like it or not. So, rather than try to get around his judgment or argue with his decisions, the best thing for you to do is say, “Yes, Lord.”
Conclusion: everything that is not of God is fabricated by man. If you follow the inventions of men, you will lose. If you follow the direction of God you will win, every single time. Go with God. Like he said, There is no God beside me.