{"id":1069,"date":"2018-10-21T15:57:58","date_gmt":"2018-10-21T22:57:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1069"},"modified":"2018-10-21T15:58:36","modified_gmt":"2018-10-21T22:58:36","slug":"gods-response-to-our-rebellion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/21\/gods-response-to-our-rebellion\/","title":{"rendered":"God&#8217;s Response to Our Rebellion"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><font color='black' size='2' face='arial'><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1069-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Pentecost-22-10-21-18.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Pentecost-22-10-21-18.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Pentecost-22-10-21-18.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">October 21, 2018<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah 53:10-12<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">God\u2019s Response to Our Rebellion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoBodyText\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">Yet it was the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">&#8216;s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the L<\/span>ORD<span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\"> will prosper in his hand.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>For he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">You find out that somebody you thought was your friend has been saying some very nasty things about you behind your back.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do you respond?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Someone posts a picture of you on Facebook that you consider to be extremely embarrassing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do you respond?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Somebody sabotages you at work and gets you in hot water with the boss.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do you respond?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Somebody does something to hurt your child or your grandchild.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do you respond?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Your child or your grandchild does something that hurts you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do you respond?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">We have all been in situations where we have had to choose how we are going to respond to something that someone has done to us or to someone we love.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How we choose to respond is oftentimes based on a variety of factors.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those factors can include things such as the seriousness of the offense and our relationship with the offender.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The more serious the offense and the more personal the hurt the harsher our response might be.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">If you and I were to take the most serious and the most personal thing that anyone has ever done against us or someone we love and multiply it a million times over we might\u2014 we just might\u2014 begin to understand how serious and how personal God considers each and every one of our sins.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While we can look back over the course of our life and see how we have responded when someone has done something against us, while we can look into our hearts and see how we would like to respond if only we had the power and the opportunity to do so, our text for today focuses our attention on a truth for which we sinners are to be eternally thankful.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That truth centers on:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">God\u2019s Response to Our Rebellion.<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we look at these three very powerful verses of Scripture we want to see two things. First we want to see how each of these verses reveals to us the mystery of God\u2019s response.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then we want to see how each of these verses reveals to us the blessings of God\u2019s response.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Isaiah chapter fifty-three is a very well known portion of the Bible that contains some of the best known passages of Scripture, such as, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cSurely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD <\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">has laid on him the iniquity of us all\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> (verses 4-6).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even though Isaiah lived some 700 years before Jesus was born, God the Holy Spirit enabled him to see the events of both Good Friday and Easter Sunday in miraculous detail.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This entire chapter\u2014 including these words of our text\u2014 is speaking about the Lord\u2019s Suffering Servant, our Lord Jesus Christ.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This entire chapter\u2014 including these words of our text\u2014 is speaking about God\u2019s response to mankind\u2019s rebellion against Him.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When Adam and Eve first chose to rebel against their loving Creator thereby bringing sin upon the entire human race, looking at the situation from our perspective God <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">could <\/b>have responded in a number of different ways.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">could <\/b>have responded by turning His back on Adam and Eve and simply letting the entire human race suffer eternally in hell.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">could <\/b>have responded by destroying Adam and Eve and just starting all over again.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">could <\/b>have responded by requiring us sinners to try and redeem ourselves, to try to earn His forgiveness by doing as many good works as we possibly could before we died.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Thankfully, God\u2019s response to our rebellion does <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">not <\/b>follow anything that makes sense to our limited logical minds!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Look at the opening verse of our text, Isaiah 53:10.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The mystery of God\u2019s response to our rebellion is found in the words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYet it was the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u2019s will to crush him and cause him to suffer\u2026the L<\/span><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> makes his life a guilt offering.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">God\u2019s love for you, my friends, God\u2019s love for all of mankind is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">so <\/b>powerful and <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">so<\/b> deep that He was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdetermined\u201d<\/i> to do everything that was necessary to save us from our sins\u2014 even though it meant <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccrushing\u201d<\/i> His own Son under the burden of our<b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"> <\/b>sin, even though it meant causing His beloved Son to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csuffer\u201d<\/i> in our place, even though it would require Him to sacrifice His own Son\u2019s life as a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cguilt offering\u201d<\/i> to pay the debt of sin that we owed to Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s the awe-inspiring mystery of God\u2019s response to our rebellion!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What is the blessing that we now enjoy because of the fact that God\u2019s response to our rebellion was to sacrifice His own Son in our place?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what Isaiah says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAnd though the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"> makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The blessing that you and I enjoy, my friends, the blessing that is freely given to everyone who believes and trusts in what God has done <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for <\/b>us (Pointing to the cross) is that we are now His <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201coffspring.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ working in His holy Word and His holy Sacraments we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are <\/b>the dearly beloved adopted children of God\u2014 with all the rights and all the privileges and all the blessings that come with that glorious status.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This includes the right to live forever in our heavenly Father\u2019s Home.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This includes the privilege of inheriting our heavenly Father\u2019s Kingdom!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s a blessing that is absolutely unparalleled!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Now look at verse eleven of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The mystery of God\u2019s response to our rebellion is found in the words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cAfter the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We dare not overlook or underestimate the fact that the physical suffering that Jesus endured <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for <\/b>us on the cross was only the \u201ctip of the iceberg.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Far more painful than having nails pounded through His hands and feet, far more agonizing than having to fight for every breath of air was the horrible hellish <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csuffering of his soul.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The innocent Son of God was being punished for <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">our <\/b>sins.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The beloved Son of God was forsaken by His heavenly Father because of <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">our <\/b>selfishness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The perfect Son of God endured the full fury of God\u2019s justice in the deepest recesses of the fires of hell because of <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">our <\/b>unfaithfulness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s the unfathomable mystery of God\u2019s response to our rebellion!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What is the blessing that we now enjoy because of the fact that God\u2019s response to our rebellion was to cause His own Son to endure the suffering we deserved?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what Isaiah, says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201c\u2026by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The blessing that you and I now enjoy, my friends, the blessing that is freely given to everyone who believes and trusts in what God has done <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for <\/b>us (Pointing to the cross) is that we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">are <\/b>justified!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Judge of all mankind has \u201cDeclared us:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Not Guilty!\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We no longer need to fear His condemnation!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We no longer need to fear being punished for our sins!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the words of Isaiah, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe will bear their iniquities\u201d<\/i>!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">All <\/b>of our iniquities, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all <\/b>of our transgressions, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all <\/b>of our sins, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all <\/b>of our rebellious ways were placed upon our Savior who carried them to the cross and bore the punishment that we deserved!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s a blessing, my friends, that is absolutely astounding!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Finally, look at the closing verse of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The mystery of God\u2019s response to our rebellion is found in the words, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201c\u2026he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the opening verse of our text Isaiah revealed to us that <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cIt was the L<\/i><\/span><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"layout-grid-mode:line\">ORD<\/span><\/i><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">\u2019s will to crush him and cause him to suffer.\u201d<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Those words remind us that the heavenly Father\u2019s love for us led Him to send His Son into this world to serve as our Savior.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Here in the closing verse of our text we see that because of His love for us the Son of God was <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">willing <\/b>to come into this world as our true Brother and fulfill His Father\u2019s Plan of Salvation for us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, Jesus was <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">willing <\/b>to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cpour out his life unto death\u201d<\/i> in order to pay for our rebellious ways.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Jesus was <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">willing <\/b>to be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cnumbered with the transgressors\u201d<\/i> so that His perfect life and His innocent suffering and death could be credited to our account.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s the majesty of the mystery of God\u2019s response to our rebellion!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">What is the blessing that we now enjoy because of the fact that God\u2019s response to our rebellion is that the Son of God Himself was <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">willing <\/b>to become our true Brother and <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cpour out his life\u201d<\/i> for us on the cross?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at what Isaiah says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFor he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The blessing that you and I enjoy, my friends, the blessing that is freely given to everyone who believes and trusts in what God has done <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for <\/b>us (Pointing to the cross) is that as our great High Priest Jesus now <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cintercedes\u201d<\/i> for us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time that wretched accuser called Satan charges us with rebellion against God because of the sins that we have indeed committed, our Brother Jesus <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cspeaks to the Father in our defense\u201d<\/i> (1 John 2:1, 2).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter how often Satan accuses us, Jesus holds up His hands and says, \u201cFather, I have already paid that debt.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter what the sin might be, Jesus holds up His hands and says, \u201cFather, I have already paid for that one too.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s a blessing, my friends, that is absolutely priceless!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When we look at the mystery of God\u2019s response to our rebellion and see the many wonderful blessings we enjoy because of His response, our hearts are filled with praise and thanksgiving.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But how does this text apply to the way we live our day-to-day lives?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, what does this portion of Scripture lead us to do after we leave God\u2019s house today?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>Look at it this way:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Hardly a day or a week goes by when someone does not sin against us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It is something that we have to deal with on a regular basis.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">How <\/b>we deal with these situations is critical!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As Jesus\u2019 brothers and sisters (Pointing to the cross) we <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">need <\/b>to follow not only the example that He has set for us, but we also need to follow the commands that He gives to us here in His holy Word.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In the Lord\u2019s Prayer our Savior Himself taught us to pray, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cForgive us our debts <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">as we have forgiven our debtors<\/b>\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 6:12).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In His parable of the Unmerciful Servant Jesus Himself warns us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThis is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from the heart\u201d<\/i> (Matthew 18:35).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And through His servant Paul our Savior-God says to us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBe kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you\u201d<\/i> (Ephesians 4:32).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our old sinful nature would like nothing better than to have us nurse a grudge against the person we think has sinned against us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Our old sinful nature is a genius at coming up with ways that we could \u201cget back\u201d at the person who has sinned against us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whenever that happens we would do well to lift up our eyes to the cross and remember God\u2019s response to our rebellion against Him.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If we choose not to forgive someone who has sinned against us we not only disrespect the cross of God\u2019s Son, but we also risk forfeiting God\u2019s forgiveness for the sins that we have committed against Him.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Somebody does something or says something to hurt you or someone you love.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How do you respond?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>While we can look back and see how we have responded in the past, while we can look into our hearts and see how we would respond if only we had the power and the opportunity to do so, as mortal sinful human beings we are eternally grateful that portions of Scripture such as our text for today so clearly and so powerfully proclaims to us:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">God\u2019s Response to Our Rebellion.<\/i><\/b> My prayer this morning is that we will always marvel at the mystery of God\u2019s response and that we will always treasure the blessings that we enjoy because of God\u2019s response.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<p> <\/font><\/p>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Pentecost-22-10-21-18.mp3\">Pentecost-22-10-21-18.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost October 21, 2018 Isaiah 53:10-12 God\u2019s Response to Our Rebellion &nbsp; Yet it was the LORD&#8216;s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1069"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1069\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}