Unforeseen Events and the Transformation of Hearts

Last week:Something came over Isaiah • Something like: • 1 Sam 10:6 The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.

This week: Unforeseen events • How this sermon came about: • Lidia, Christian Formation director came • Desire to lead children in making windows • Change the way we do Advent wreath • Great? Which order will you do themes in? • Here are the order of the themes 8-29-17 • Then went to internet searched advent scriptures • Is 2:1-5 assigned as a text

Is 2:1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains;it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. • 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

This week: Unforeseen events • President of the United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of the country of Israel • Israel formed in 1948 • A highly politicized issue • I am not commenting on the rightness or wrongness of this decision: only on the fact of it • In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; …The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem

1. Jerusalem was highlighted in the last days before Judah was overthrown • 2 In the last days • the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains;it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. • Israel captured by Assyrians in 722 BC • Isaiah writing around that time • Judah and Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586 BC

2. Jerusalem will be highlighted as a place of significance in the “last days” • But notice, Jesus made another prophecy about the city in the same speech: He said, “Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21: 24b). The Romans were followed by the Byzantines, and they were succeeded, in order, by the Muslims, the Crusaders, the Mamelukes, the Turks, the British, and the Jordanians. • Just as Jesus prophesied, the city suffered under a long period of Gentile control until June 7, 1967, when — for the first time in 1,897 years — the Jews regained sovereignty over the city. It was on that day that Rabbi Shlomo Goren went to the Western Wall and cried out: “I proclaim to you the beginning of the Messianic Age.” Messianic website

1 Thes 4:13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

2. Jerusalem will be highlighted as a place of significance in the “last days”

3. In the last days people will experience transformed hearts that will love people instead of hate • They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. • 5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. • It has never really happened • Nothing is able to stop war except the transforming of the hearts of people

4. Nothing transforms the heart of a person except the forgiveness of Jesus • The issue is not belief; it is transformation • Head • Heart • Transform your heart • A transformed heart results in a changed life

4. Experiencing the forgiveness of Jesus transforms the heart of a person Romans 12: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV

2 Cor 3:15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplatethe Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. NIV

4. Experiencing the forgiveness of Jesus transforms the heart of a person • The issue is not belief; it is transformation • Head, Heart, Transformed heart, Changed life • Transformation is the ongoing theme of the Christian life • Whatever sin you know of, surrender it • Whatever sin you are not yet aware of; be willing to surrender it when God lays it on your heart • When God whispers (your name) it is time…

Phil 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. NIV

1. Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown, when thou camest to earth for me; but in Bethlehem's home there was found no room for thy holy nativity. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee. 2. Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming thy royal degree; but in lowly birth didst thou come to earth, and in greatest humility. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee. • 5. When heav'ns arches shall ring and its choir shall sing at thy coming to victory, let thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room, there is room at my side for thee!" And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, when thou comest and callest for me.

They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. NIV • 4 and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. KJV

I’m gonna lay down my burdens Down by the riverside Down by the riverside Down by the riverside Ain’tgonna study war no more Ain’tgonna study war no more Ain’tgonna study war no more Ain’tgonna study war no more (repeat) I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield I’m gonna try on my starry crown

So What? • Say no to hatred • Where is your wall? Identify it. • What is God whispering about to you? • What needs transformed? • Resistance until now • Turn it over • Get ready for the end

Unforeseen Events and the Transformation of Hearts