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WELCOME
HYMN Behold the mountain of the Lord
Behold, the mountain of the Lord
in latter days shall rise,
on mountain-tops, above the hills,
and draw the wondering eyes.
To this the joyful nations round,
all tribes and tongues, shall flow;
up to the hill of God, they’ll say,
and to his house, we’ll go.
The beam that shines from Zion’s hill
shall lighten every land;
the King who reigns in Salem’s towers
shall all the world command.
Among the nations he shall judge;
his judgments truth shall guide;
his scepter shall protect the just,
and quell the sinner’s pride.
No strife shall vex Messiah’s reign
or mar the peaceful years;
to plowshares men shall beat their swords,
to pruning-hooks their spears.
No longer hosts, encountering hosts,
shall crowds of slain deplore;
they hang the trumpet in the hall,
and study war no more.
Come then, O come, from every land
to worship at his shrine;
and, walking in the light of God,
with holy beauties shine.
PRAYER
Children’s Address. PEACE
I think you know about the beautiful world God made for us! Unfortunately, sometimes there is sadness, anger and fighting. God’s ideal and dream is to see a peaceful World where all people are happy, filled with love and kindness.
- You may know the song that goes like this: “Let there be Peace on Earth and let it begin with Me!”
- Thumbs Up or Down – I want you to do a THUMBS UP when the word I say reminds you of peace & a thumbs down when it does not. So… “Is happy peaceful?” … happy, sad, angry, calm, stars, river, hugs, hitting, sharing, taking turns, rainbow, a tornado, being selfish, Saying mean words, a compliment, cleaning up, making a mess ?
- What does a peaceful world look like? Everyone is kind and gets along. Everyone loves each other, God and takes care of Creation.
- Why is the world not always peaceful? People make selfish choices that hurt others.
- What does Peace Feel like? A hug, embrace, warmth, calm, relaxed…
- What does Peace Look like? A smile, working together, helping, sharing…
- What does Peace Sound like? Calm, like a running river, laughter, lovely music…
- Show Slides – PEACE IS;
- https://onetimethrough.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/PEACE-Is-Book-Small-Size.pdf
- Sharing. Saying king thing. Helping each other. Compromising. Accepting that we are all uniquely made by God. Making amends. Loving each other.
Song Peace is flowing like a river
Peace is flowing like a river,
flowing out from you and me,
flowing out into the desert,
setting all the captives free.
Joy is flowing like a river,
flowing out from you and me,
flowing out into the desert,
setting all the captives free.
Love is flowing like a river,
flowing out from you and me,
flowing out into the desert,
setting all the captives free.
Hope is flowing like a river,
flowing out from you and me,
flowing out into the desert,
setting all the captives free.
READING Isaiah 2:1-5
2 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.
SERMON God’s (truly) amazing plan
God has a truly amazing plan for the world – a plan that He is working out as we sit here this morning. It may surprise you to discover what God’s plan is – keep listening.
We are still in Isaiah’s introductory section (chapters 1-6).
Chapters 2-4 are contrasting the will of God for His people Israel… with how Israel is actually living and their lack of commitment to God’s plan.
Isaiah understood that his prophecy of all nations streaming to the “mountain of the Lord’s house” as people coming to the Jerusalem Temple. Of course, we know that Jesus re-interpreted this when He spoke of His body as being the Temple (John 2:19). We now see this as people coming to Christ and finding their place in human history as members of God’s family.
“The mountain of the Lord” has become, in the Lord Jesus, a symbol of the coming Kingdom of God. When Isaiah speaks of the “latter days” we should understand that to mean all the time from Pentecost to the Day of the Lord’s return in glory. And we see that this prophecy is coming true in our day and generation. The Christian religion is the largest in the world – i.e. it is chief among the mountains.
In a short series on Isaiah, why would we include these verses from chapter 2? Well, this is where God is telling us about His great plan for history, the DNA code to which he is working.
It is both a promise of success and a star by which to steer In essence: we are to be PEACE-People; we are to be a PEACE-Church.
You may know that Argentina and Chile share the world’s third-longest international border, which is 3,300 miles long and runs from north to south along the Andes mountains. Although both countries gained their independence during the South American wars of liberation, during much of the 19th and the 20th century, relations between the countries were chilled as a result of disputes over the border in Patagonia. Despite this, Chile and Argentina have never been engaged in a war with each other. In recent years, relations have improved dramatically.
There is a statue which stands on the border of these two great countries which bears an inscription, speaking of:
“This peace which at the feet of Christ the Redeemer they have sworn to maintain. ”.
So – what is Isaiah saying to us here? He is telling us that God will, through the exaltation of His house and the spreading of His Word, bring PEACE to the nations. Isaiah has real confidence that God will make this happen.
So – what is he saying about world history?
Firstly, he speaks about The exaltation of God’s house, in verse 2. Isaiah is telling us that the Church gathering will be the mosteminent of all the world’s prestigious places. God has kept this promise. It’s happening!
Secondly, in verse 3, Isaiah speaks of The ministry of God’s word. This is HOW God is making these things happen in the world – by the PREACHING of the Gospel throughout the world.
Thirdly, in verse 4, we read of The coming of God’s reign, As verse 3 happens, God’s values do and willincreasingly inform international values and personal behaviour, leading to the beating of swords into ploughshares.
Fourthly, in verse 5, we read of The response of God’s people. They will say: Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. This is speaking of a wonderful revival.
In the light of what Isaiah says – we need both Confidence and Commitment.
We need the Confidence that God will achieve this. And this will expand from chapter 2 to chapter 3 and to chapter 4.
We also need the Commitment to live this way, v. 5. We need to walk in the light of the Lord.
PRAYER
Hymn The Spirit lives to set us free
The Spirit lives to set us free,
Walk, walk in the light.
He binds us all in unity,
Walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light of the Lord.
Jesus promised life to all,
Walk, walk in the light.
The dead were wakened by his call,
Walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light of the Lord.
He died in pain on Calvary,
Walk, walk in the light.
To save the lost like you and me,
Walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light of the Lord.
We know his death was not the end,
Walk, walk in the light.
He gave his Spirit to be our friend,
Walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light of the Lord.
The Spirit lives in you and me,
Walk, walk in the light;
His light will shine for all to see,
Walk, walk in the light.
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light,
Walk in the light of the Lord.
Benediction
Urquhart & Glenmoriston Parish Church 