{"id":1208,"date":"2020-03-15T14:56:16","date_gmt":"2020-03-15T21:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1208"},"modified":"2020-03-15T14:58:16","modified_gmt":"2020-03-15T21:58:16","slug":"the-amazing-season-of-lent-gods-amazing-actions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/15\/the-amazing-season-of-lent-gods-amazing-actions\/","title":{"rendered":"The Amazing Season of Lent&#8211; God&#8217;s Amazing Actions!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt 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\/>   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\tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:11.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Calibri\",\"sans-serif\"; \tmso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \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-1208-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Lent-3-03-15-20.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Lent-3-03-15-20.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Lent-3-03-15-20.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 Third Sunday in Lent<\/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\">March 15, 2020<\/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 42:14-21<\/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 Amazing Season of Lent:<\/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 Amazing Actions!<\/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=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">&#8220;For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But those who trust in idols, who say to images, &#8216;You are our gods,&#8217; will be turned back in utter shame.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Who is blind but my servant, and deaf like the messenger I send?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Who is blind like the one committed to me, blind like the servant of the LORD?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.&#8221;<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It pleased the LORD for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious.<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\">(Pastor is setting a timer.)<\/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\">That was 15 seconds of silence.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did you wonder what I was doing?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did you wonder what I was waiting for?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Did you wonder how long the silence would last?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What if I had set this timer for one minute or two minutes?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>What if I had stood up here in silence for 15 minutes instead of 15 seconds?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How long would you have simply sat there and waited?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How long before you started asking what is going on.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How long would it have taken before you simply got up and went your own way?<\/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\">Our sermon text for today is like an alarm clock imbedded in the prophecy given to God\u2019s servant Isaiah.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God Himself has set the alarm.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God Himself knows when the alarm will go off.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God Himself has told us that His alarm is most certainly set\u2014 but He has not told us when the \u201ctime is up\u201d and the alarm will go off.<\/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\">Today, my friends, as we continue our sermon series entitled <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">The Amazing Season of Lent<\/i><\/b> let\u2019s see how this portion of Isaiah reveals to us that when the Lord\u2019s alarm goes off we will see:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">God\u2019s Amazing Actions!<\/i><\/b><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There are two amazing actions emphasized here in this text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First we see God\u2019s amazing action of justice.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then we see God\u2019s amazing action of salvation.<\/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\">A long time ago I came to the conclusion that the good Lord filled His holy Word with powerful pictures so that simple people like me could at least try to understand the deep truths of our God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We find one of those powerful pictures in the opening verse of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord says through His servant Isaiah, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFor a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Obviously, those of you who are moms understand this picture far better than I ever could.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>After a woman finds out she is pregnant she waits for the birth of her child.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then she waits some more.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Finally, after what may seem like forever the time comes for her baby to be born.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Especially back before the days of modern medicine once the birthing process started, once the labor pains began, there was nothing that could be done to stop it.<\/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\">In a similar way the Lord here says through Isaiah, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFor a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Like many of the other prophecies that the Lord revealed through Isaiah this prophecy is given without the benefit of chronology.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, the Lord reveals to Isaiah <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">what<\/b> is going to happen, but He does not reveal to Isaiah <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">when<\/b> it is going to happen.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And yet, when we look at the verse which immediately precedes our text it is clear that the prophecy which serves as our text for today needs to be understood in the light of the Lord triumphing over His enemies like a mighty warrior.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That helps us to understand what the Lord meant when He said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cFor a long time I have kept silent.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Ever since the Fall of mankind into sin the Lord was <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwaiting\u201d<\/i> to fulfill His promise of crushing Satan\u2019s power.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>From the perspective of God\u2019s people in the days of Isaiah the Lord had been <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cholding back\u201d<\/i> for thousands of years!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Therefore, the Lord reveals through Isaiah that when the time is right His perceived \u201cinaction\u201d will suddenly turn into an unstoppable \u201caction\u201d just as surely as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman.<\/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 first amazing action then that the Lord describes for us is found in verse 15 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I see in these words a very powerful picture of the justice of our God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In his second epistle the apostle Peter helps us to understand this picture of divine judgment.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter brings out in his letter that many people think that this world is simply going to continue on indefinitely.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They completely dismiss the reality that when the time is right the Almighty Creator will step into this world and put an end to this world because of the sin of mankind.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That is exactly why Peter reminds his readers that God\u2019s amazing action of justice has already been seen once on a world-wide scale\u2014 the Flood!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then Peter goes on to say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBy the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men\u201d<\/i> (2 Peter 3:7).<\/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\">Things have not changed dramatically since the days of Isaiah or the days of the apostle Peter.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we look around in our own society we still see people who are living as though this world will never end.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>As we look around in our own society we still see people who are living as enemies of the one true God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They openly defy God\u2019s holy Law by the way that they live their own life.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They openly defy God\u2019s Law by their support, acceptance and promotion of actions and attitudes that God has deemed unnatural and unacceptable.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, all too many people today are living their lives completely oblivious to the fact that one day they will see and experience God\u2019s amazing action of justice.<\/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\">But even we, my friends, yes, even we cannot lose sight of the fact that the God of heaven will one day spring into action with His divine justice.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We all have that old sinful nature which tries and tries to convince us that we can defy God\u2019s Law, that we can go out and enjoy all the things that this world has to offer because there is plenty of time for us to \u201cclean up our act\u201d and repent of our sins when we are \u201colder.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Whenever our own sinful nature starts bombarding us with that type of temptation we would do well to ask ourselves\u2014 how long?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How long will we anticipate that God will keep <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201csilent\u201d<\/i>?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How long will we expect God to be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cquiet\u201d<\/i> and hold Himself back from triumphing over His enemies?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How long until God\u2019s timer goes off and we see His amazing action of justice\u2014 first hand?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Yes, even we need to take God\u2019s Law to heart so that we are not caught by surprise by God\u2019s amazing action of divine justice.<\/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\">At the same time the prophecy which serves as our text for today also contains a powerful picture of God\u2019s amazing action of salvation!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Look at verse 16 of our text.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.\u201d<\/i><\/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 I read these words I cannot help but see the salvation that the Lord God has secured for us!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature we were all born \u201cspiritually blind.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been given the eyes of faith.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By God\u2019s grace we are able to see and follow that narrow path that leads us home to heaven.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature we were born engulfed in the \u201cdarkness of sin.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now through the power of the Holy Spirit we have been brought into the glorious \u201clight of faith.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See I Peter 2:9-10)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>By nature our sins caused God to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cforsake\u201d<\/i> us just as mightily as our sins caused our Savior to cry out from the cross, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cMy God, my God, why have you forsaken me?\u201d <\/i>(Matthew 27:46)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now, through the power of the Holy Spirit our sins have been washed away and we have been adopted as the dearly beloved children of God\u2014 children to whom God promises on oath here in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI will not forsake them.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/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\">But how?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did all of this come to be, my friends?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did we go from being spiritually blind to having spiritual sight?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did we go from being hopelessly lost in the darkness of sin to basking in the warm light of saving faith?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>How did we go from being an enemy of the Almighty Creator to being a dear friend of our loving Savior God?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In other words, how did God\u2019s amazing action of salvation become our personal possession?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">The<\/i><\/b> answer to all those questions is found in our text when the Lord says, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThese are the things I will do.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span>God\u2019s amazing action of salvation was accomplished <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">for<\/b> us right there\u2014 on the cross of Calvary\u2019s hill.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(Pointing to the cross)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>God\u2019s amazing action of salvation was then given <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">to <\/b>us purely by His grace and purely by His power\u2014 not ours\u2014 as God the Holy Spirit used His precious Means of Grace, the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it comes to us in Word and Sacrament, to create the gift of saving faith in our hearts.<\/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 these amazing actions of our God\u2014 both His amazing action of justice as well as His amazing action of salvation\u2014 as the beloved children of God we also need to ponder in our hearts what impact these amazing actions will have on our day to day lives.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Sadly, God\u2019s people in the days of Isaiah did not let the amazing actions of the Lord have a powerful positive impact on their lives.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In verse 20 of our text the Lord says concerning the people of Israel, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cYou have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">Do not follow<\/b> this example, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let God\u2019s amazing action of justice lead you to kneel at the foot of the cross and plead, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cGod, have mercy on me, a sinner\u201d<\/i> (Luke 18:13).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Once God\u2019s Law has worked repentance in your heart let God\u2019s amazing action of salvation lead you to look up at that very same cross so that you can hear your Savior lovingly say, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cPeace be with you!\u201d<\/i> (John 20:19)<\/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\">(Pastor is holding the timer once again.)<\/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\">There is no doubt that the good Lord does indeed have His \u201ctimer\u201d set, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When His timer goes off\u2014 whether that is at the end of our own personal life or at the end of this world, whichever comes first\u2014 we will see God\u2019s amazing actions firsthand.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>May God grant that we will always stay close to Him through regular study of His holy Word and regular reception of His holy Sacrament so that our hearts and our lives will always be ready for that amazing day!<\/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<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<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Lent-3-03-15-20.mp3\">Lent-3-03-15-20.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Third Sunday in Lent March 15, 2020 Isaiah 42:14-21 The Amazing Season of Lent: God\u2019s Amazing Actions! &nbsp; &#8220;For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back.&nbsp; But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.&nbsp; I will lay waste the mountains and hills [&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-1208","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\/1208","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=1208"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1208\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1208"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1208"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1208"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}