Digging Deeper - Leader’s Guide Session 8: I Will Pour Out My Spirit Isaiah 44 v 1-5 (from Sermon of 2 March 2014)

Purpose: To reflect on how God longs to pour His Spirit into our lives and the difference it makes to us

It can be disappointing when someone breaks their promises. When you promise something to someone important and then do not deliver, the next time you make a promise they won’t believe it. By always keeping the promises we make we build bridges of trust between us and others. Being someone who keeps their promises can have a transforming and vital effect on others and our relationships. In this passage we will look at some of the promises God makes to his people – and the difference these promises make to the lives of believers.

Getting to Know You1. What is the hottest or driest place you have visited?

Leader’s Note: We are going to think about some of the differences the Holy Spirit should make in ‘dry’ lives in need of God’s living waters.

Read Isaiah 44: 1-5

Into the Bible2. What realities and promises does God speak over his people (44:1-3)?

3. What are the consequences of these promises (44:4-5)?

Leader’s Note: We see a picture of fruitfulness, life, abundance and confidence in the LORD. There is no longer fear, failure and rejection hanging over his people.

4. Spend some time looking at the following passages:Romans 8:16-17; 2 Cor 1:22; 2 Cor 5:5; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14 How do these passages help us understand the difference the Holy Spirit makes and how we should view ourselves?

5. How would you describe the blessings of the Spirit from verses 4-5 to someone who is not yet a believer?

Questions Relating To Our Lives6. Why is it so important in our spiritual life to know that we are ‘the Lord’s’ and that we belong to Him?

7. When in your life have you felt furthest from God? What has helped or is helping you re-find your assurance of salvation?

8. What things in the past have stopped you believing that you belong to Him?

9. How might you encourage a believer who says ‘I don’t feel that I belong to the Lord’?

10. What things/spiritual disciplines might you pursue to help you truly know that you belong to Him?

11. Why are we sometimes hesitant to let others know that we belong to God?

Praying It In12. Spend some time writing a prayer using any of the passages you have studied above – thanking the Lord for his work in your life – and asking him to deepen your assurance of your salvation.

Spend some time praying through what you sense the Spirit wants to do in your life

Sermon Notes on Isaiah 44: 1-5Peter Nodding – 2 March 2014

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

There are some similar thoughts in today's passage which we have already covered, like being a servant, chosen, and the Lord helping us, but several new themes.

1. Names of Jacob. There are three names for Jacob. Jacob, of course, Israel and Jeshuran. They describe Jacob's journey into maturity.

Jacob means schemer, which was his nature for most of his life. You may remember he was the younger of twin boys, who first of all stole his brother's birthright and then his Father's blessing. His character would have remained unchanged but he met his match in his scheming father-in-law, Laban. He was cheated out of his chosen wife Rachel after seven years' work by being given the older sister Leah. He then worked a further seven years for Rachel. His wages were changed ten times. Amazingly God was with him through all these years working on his character.

Encounters with God at Peniel. He had a previous major encounter with God at Bethel where he discovered that 'Surely God was in this place' but the Peniel encounter was deeper. It is described as a wrestling match with the Lord and as a result his name was changed to Israel. Israel means someone who strives with God. At last Jacob learns brokenness before God and he becomes someone who co-operates with God.

Some of us need more deeper encounters with God - they can be life changing. So often we are like Jacob and we refuse to be broken. God is certainly on our case but rather than wrestling with him we keep him at arms length. There have been several times in worship recently when the Lord has been inviting you to take that risk of deeper encounter, one thing is for sure - he won't force you. Take every opportunity that God gives to you.

Finally he is called Jeshuran - what does this mean? It means upright. The transformation has had full effect - he has changed from being the schemer to the upright one. How God delights in these transformations. God certainly accepts you as you are, but he doesn't want to leave you as you are.

2. The Outpoured Spirit. I will pour my Spirit upon you. This is an important 'WAY' of the Lord. It is the way his Kingdom functions. What was promised to all of God's people through the prophet Joel came to fruition at Pentecost. 'In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on everyone' - no exceptions; men, women, children, rich, poor - the list goes on. Poured out literally is like very heavy rain not a light shower. Is our present weather prophetic? God has committed himself to pouring out his Spirit because it affects the essentials of the Kingdom. What are the essentials of the Kingdom?

You becoming like Jesus. Essential number one. God's plan is that when people interact with you, especially those who don't know him, they see love, patience, kindness, humility and so much more. Being changed to be like Jesus may not be on the top of our agendas - but it is on God's. Perhaps a couple of stories which will hopefully challenge and inspire. Often we are aware that our patience levels are poor. A man asked his Pastor how he could become more patient. The Pastor said that this was not too difficult to solve and began to pray, 'Lord I want you to give this man some big troubles and suffering. Give him weeks of tribulation.' The man said, 'I am sorry but I think you must have misunderstood, it is patience that I want - not suffering.' He pointed out the verse in Romans 5:3, 'Suffering produces perseverance or patience.'

You remember Christian Barnard, the man who successfully performed the first heart transplant? He was talking to Philip Blaiberg his first patient and asked if he would like to see his heart. Barnard showed him the glass container and he saw the heart that had caused him so much trouble. Blaiberg gave it back and left it forever. This is what the poured out Spirit does - he give us a new heart which has the nature of Jesus. 'A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you.' Ezekiel 36:26

You Serving like Jesus. Essential number two. The Spirit poured out on you and his gifts flowing from you resulting in people starting to follow Jesus in salvation, hearing his voice through prophecy and having their bodies touched through healing. An up to date story.

Wider Purposes of the Spirit.

Several pictures:

Pour out water on thirsty land causing it to spring into life again.

God's purpose was always to bless people with his Spirit. The plan from the beginning in Genesis 12 when God called Abraham promising that he would bless him and his descendants. I will come back to this point in a moment.

The text says that they will spring up like grass in a meadow and poplar trees by flowing streams. (Various pictures shown.)

But as I said, it is mainly about people being blessed with the Spirit of God. It is talking about Israel's descendants and also the gentiles who will be embraced by the Kingdom. It is talking about us as believers and our descendants as well. I imagine that all of us long that our children, (our offspring), are blessed in the Spirit of God and there is a sadness when they are not. When you pray for God to pour out his Spirit on your children it is a prayer in the will of God.

The world attracted to God's people and wishing to belong to the Lord. One will say, 'I belong to the Lord, another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's', and will take the name of Israel.' 44:5

Why are unbelievers attracted to the Lord?

Emptiness of life. Apparently Wayne Rooney who has all that he could want materially tuned into the God channel at 2am one morning - not sure where it went after that. The truth is that no one or nothing can fill a space that only Jesus Christ can fill. So expect this to be the case for some people and be ready to offer Jesus Christ.

Crisis in life. It might be illness, or financial problems, or broken marriages, and the person's resources are not enough to cope. They suddenly discover that there is someone who can help and save.

Their questions. What am I doing here? Is there a meaning to life? From such honest questioning they are led to believe.

Impressed by another Christian or the ministry of a local church. They have watched you and are surprised how your faith affects your life so deeply. They want the relationship with God that you have. Or they see what a local church is doing and are impressed that the church is God centred.

God simply gets hold of them and they find that they are drawn to him. I love reading these stories. Story of the Muslim who moved from Iran to the USA and found a Bible in the street.

BASIC COMMENTARY NOTES - ISAIAH 44:1-5

GAMBLING ON GRACE

At the close of Isaiah 43, God had rested His case against Israel. In the court of divine law, every shred of evidence pointed to the verdict guilty and justified the sentence of exile in the land of Babylon“But now, listen,” God says. In one short phrase, the contrast of the ages is drawn. From the heights of divine justice we see the depths of divine love.

Like the father of a prodigal son who receives the son home with open arms, God sums up His forgiving love in the names, “O Jacob, My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen.” Jacob is the esteemed family name that God still honors. But with even greater honor, He still claims the house of Jacob as “My servant.” Despite their sin, God is willing to risk His witness of servanthood in the world upon the lineage of a redeemed scallywag. And God is not yet done. He also reclaims their national name “Israel” and dares to add “whom I have chosen.”

Carl F.H. Henry, the prominent theologian, once said that God is history’s greatest gambler. He staked the salvation of the world upon a carpenter and twelve fishermen. Centuries before the Incarnation, however, God shows us His willingness to gamble upon a rebellious people who are still capable of being redeemed. To call the rebel house of Jacob “My servant,” and claim the exiled nation of Israel as the one “whom I have chosen” is a gamble against all odds—until you consider the intervention of divine grace.

POURING OUT HIS BLESSING

God’s generosity can never be matched. For the fear-filled people of Israel, He repeats again and again the assurances that He created them, shaped them, and will help them (v. 2a). To seal this vow, God calls Israel by the name that He gave to Moses along with His original promise to His people but has held in reserve until this time. The Lord says, “Fear not O Jacob My servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen” (v. 2b). In Moses’ valedictory address to the whole assembly of Israel just before he died, he recited the words of the song that traced God’s relationship with Israel from promise to punishment and back to promise again Jeshurun is a name of endearment that God gives to His people whom He nourished and enriched with His love. But alas, “Jeshurun grew fat and kicked, you grew fat, you grew thick, you are covered with fat; then he forsook God who made him, and scornfully esteemed the Rock of his Salvation” (Deut. 32:15).

Only one hope remains. After Moses blesses the tribes of Israel in his final words, he leaves them with a promise:

There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,Who rides the heavens to help you, …The eternal God is your refuge,And underneath are the everlasting arms; …Then Israel shall dwell in safety,The fountain of Jacob alone,In the land of grain and new wine; …Happy are you, O Israel!Who is like you,people saved by the LORD,The shield of your help

And the sword of your majesty!—Deuteronomy 33:26–29

How many times had the children of Israel in exile wistfully sung this Song of Moses? The name “Jeshurun” would be an instant cue that God had a special message for them. Like a hymn, song, or chorus that is given to us by the Spirit of God in moments of deep distress, the children of Israel would begin humming the tune and singing the verse with new hope for their deliverance.

Is it any wonder that Isaiah 44:3–4 has inspired memorable songs of hope throughout the centuries. Even now, if Isaiah is quoted, “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground,” we start to hum the familiar tune of the chorus and add the verse, “Open your heart for the gift I am bringing, while you are seeking Me I will be found.” With the promise of the outpouring of the Spirit, the water of salvation can still turn the dry ground of sin into a field of green grass with willows beside the coursing streams (v. 4).

NAMING HIS CHILDREN

In response to God’s blessing, the children of Israel will reclaim the names that identify their special relationship to God. What is in a name? A name not only gives us our identity, it tells to whom we belong. After the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon them, the Israelites would proudly take four names that linked them to God.

First and foremost, they would take the spiritual name, “I am the LORD’s.” No doubt remains. To say, “I am the LORD’s” is to tell the whole world whom you trust, whom you obey, and whom you serve. Second, the Israelites will reclaim the parental name of their father Jacob. No longer will they be ashamed of their parentage. As members of the family in the house of Jacob, they will confess at a time when, like their father, they were deceitful and unredeemed. But also like their father, during the exile they had wrestled with God and met Him face to face. Now, with pride, they announce to the world that they too are part of redemptive history and lineage through which the Messiah will come. Third, the Israelites will take the relational name of “love” and write it on their hands. In the cultural context of Isaiah’s time, young lovers printed the name of the one they loved on the palm of their hand with indelible ink. Today, young lovers wear halves of gold hearts around their neck with the name of their lover inscribed on the back so that all will know to whom they have given their heart. Likewise, the Israelites would be equally quick to identify with the lover of God who opens the hand to reveal the name “The LORD’s.” Although tattoos are distasteful to most of us, we might imagine an Israelite having the name of the Lord etched in the skin to show the permanence of his love. Fourth, the exiles in Babylon would reclaim their national name as “Israel.” During their captivity, they had become a people without a name. Their history was almost forgotten, their homeland was gone, and their future appeared to be hopeless. To retake the name “Israel” is to reclaim their identity as the servant nation chosen by God to be the “light of the world.”

All of God’s promises come into focus in these four names. By returning to God and trusting in Him, a hapless and hopeless people will be restored in spiritual faith, parental pride, relational love, and national purpose. The same promises are open to any nation, church, or person wallowing in the dust of decline. With the outpouring of God’s spirit, there will be water for the thirsty and floods upon the dry ground.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTARY NOTES - ISAIAH 44:1-5

44:1. But now: see 43:1. What is the logical consequence of the accusation of age-old and contemporary sin and rebellion in 43:26–28? How does the decision at law reflect on 43:25 with its promise of a full (blots out) and final (remembers … no more) dealing with sin? Was the wonder of 43:25 put first in order that we might know what we have lost by sin? No, for now in 44:2–5 a parallel promise is given: not the negative ‘blot out’ but the matching positive, the gift of new life—and to the same people, for note how the ‘Jacob … Israel’ of 43:28 is repeated in 44:1. The Lord never deserts his mercy towards us.

2. Made … womb: just as 43:26–28 traced the fact of sinfulness back to the first father, so now Isaiah traces the entail of divine creative oversight back to the womb. Divine paternity antedated sin and is not knocked off course (will help) by our sin. Hence the status of the Lord’s people, servant … chosen (1–2), remains unchanged. The gifts and calling of God are irreversible (Rom. 11:29). Afraid: the fear in question is not that of life’s adversities but of the consequences of sin; not fear before people but fear before God. The promise to ‘blot out’ and ‘forget’ stands; cancelled sin leaves no room for fear (Luke 5:8–10; 1 John 4:17–18). Jeshurun: see Deuteronomy 32:15; 33:5, 26. The ending ‘-un’ is a diminutive of affection. The name may be related to yasar, ‘upright’. This is what the Lord wished his people to be. Used here, it emphasizes that, though they have failed to match his ideal, this is still his will for them.

3–5. The ground of fearlessness is now positive: the gift of my Spirit, the Agent of ongoing blessing (offspring … descendants), the vitality of new life (4), personal assurance of fellowship with the Lord among his people (5). In verse 3 new life is imparted; in 4–5 new life is displayed. On the Lord’s Spirit, see 11:2; 30:1; 31:3; 40:7; 42:1. On the ‘outpoured’ Spirit, see 32:15. The parallel between Spirit and blessing indicates that it is by imparting himself that the Lord brings new life to his people. In verse 5, the renewing activity of the Lord’s Spirit becomes evident in individual response and the creation of a people bound together by a common confession. Twice over Isaiah makes turning to the Lord (5ac) inseparable from turning to the Lord’s people (5bd). The reference here is not to Gentiles coming into membership of the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16)—that would be totally against the context (contrast 45:22–25)—but to ‘formal’ Israelites becoming ‘true, assured’ Israelites. Three things combine to bring this about: sin finished (43:25), new life imparted (44:3–4) and personal response (45:5). Hand: the organ of personal action. To write on his hand symbolizes the commitment of personal, active life to the Lord (cf. Deut. 6:8). If we translate ‘with his hand’ the meaning is the same: personal commitment.