[1] #281, He’s Still Looking, Sunday, 07-01-2007

Text: Isaiah 5:1-7
Theme: What is God saying to American believers?

Introduction:

1. I wonder what God thinks about America?
   1. Does God have expectations of us?
2. There are amazing similarities between America today and Israel of the Old Testament.
   1. In 740 B.C. a young man was called to be a prophet.
   2. Isaiah lived in Jerusalem in the time of the divided Kingdom.
   3. Israel to the North had about 20 years left.
   4. Judah was prosperous, but in moral decline.
3. I wanted to preach about America, but I must speak to God’s people in America.

What is God saying to American believers?

1. *God is saying “I have been good to you” (vv 1-2)
   1. How was He good to Israel and Judah?
   2. He planted a vineyard.
   3. “The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the house of Israel …” – Isaiah 5:7
   4. He took a people from among the nations to a special place.
   5. He planted the vineyard on a “fertile hillside” (Israel is at the crossroads of three continents.)
   6. He provided everything for the vineyard.
   7. He dug it up and cleared it of stones.
   8. He provided the “choicest” vines.
   9. He cut out a winepress.
   10. He protected the vineyard.
   11. He built a watchtower.
   12. He built walls and hedges.
   13. “What more could have been done for my vineyard?” (Isaiah 5:4)
2. *God is saying, “I expect good from you.” (vv2b-4)
   1. He looked for a crop of good grapes. (v2)
   2. What God found was bad fruit.
   3. “And He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.”
   4. The Six Woes and Judgments
   5. “Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field till no space is left.” (5:8)
   6. “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks.” (5:11)
   7. “Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness as with cart ropes.” (5:18)
   8. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness …” (5:20)
   9. “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.” (5:21)
   10. “Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks” (5:22)
3. God is saying “I am looking for a response from my people.”
   1. Will we live in sin and produce bitter fruit?
   2. He will take away the hedge and the wall. (v5)
   3. He will allow our life to become a wasteland.
   4. “I will command the clouds not to rain on it.” (v6b)
   5. Will we live in Christ and produce good fruit?
   6. We are “the garden of His delight” (v7)
   7. God wants to make us a beautiful vineyard.

Conclusion:

We pray for America to change.
He is looking for us to change.
“The goodness of God leads you to repentance.” Romans 2:4