Our Verdict

Isaiah 53: 3

This chapter directs our gaze upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the fulcrum of the best news that has ever graced our world. Yet, despite its significance, humanity consistently exhibits a disbelief towards this gospel. Isaiah probes the roots of this pervasive unbelief, attributing it to misplaced focus, erroneous priorities, and misguided desires, which stand as barriers to faith.

In today’s sermon, Pastor Colin underscores the immeasurable value found in aligning our lives with Christ. Isaiah 53 illustrates Jesus’ humility and growth, devoid of worldly clamour—qualities we should emulate. Touching upon Jesus’ ministry, Pastor Colin shares why Jesus, brimming with joy, was acquainted with sorrow; it was the rejection by those He came to save. This message informs us of the spiritual verdict we pass on Jesus and examines the process of decision-making which can lead to either belief or unbelief.

1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,100 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,100 –> 00:00:15,060 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website OpenTheBible.org. 3 00:00:15,060 –> 00:00:17,760 Let’s get to the message. 4 00:00:17,760 –> 00:00:19,660 Here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,660 –> 00:00:23,780 Well, please open your Bible again at Isaiah chapter 53. 6 00:00:23,820 –> 00:00:30,219 This is one of the best known and best loved chapters in all of the Bible and in every 7 00:00:30,219 –> 00:00:35,900 verse Isaiah is inviting us to look at the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 00:00:35,900 –> 00:00:40,480 The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest good news that this 9 00:00:40,480 –> 00:00:42,419 world has ever heard. 10 00:00:42,419 –> 00:00:48,860 And yet across the world and in every culture, the dominant response to the good news of 11 00:00:48,860 –> 00:00:52,400 Jesus is one of overwhelming unbelief. 12 00:00:52,400 –> 00:00:58,619 And this is where Isaiah begins, who has believed what he has heard from us and to 13 00:00:58,619 –> 00:01:03,680 whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 14 00:01:03,680 –> 00:01:07,540 Why is it that the world is filled with unbelief? 15 00:01:07,540 –> 00:01:14,839 Well, we saw last time from verse two that we are distracted by the wrong considerations. 16 00:01:14,879 –> 00:01:22,559 We are drawn to the wrong priorities and we are driven by the wrong desires. 17 00:01:22,559 –> 00:01:27,540 And these are the things that lie behind unbelief. 18 00:01:27,540 –> 00:01:34,260 And you may find them therefore to be a useful guide for conversations with unbelieving friends 19 00:01:34,260 –> 00:01:35,980 and loved ones. 20 00:01:35,980 –> 00:01:38,980 Why do you not believe? 21 00:01:38,980 –> 00:01:43,360 Could it be that you have been distracted by the wrong considerations? 22 00:01:43,860 –> 00:01:47,360 Could it be that you are pursuing the wrong priorities? 23 00:01:47,360 –> 00:01:52,360 Could it be that you are driven by the wrong desires? 24 00:01:52,360 –> 00:01:59,519 So, Isaiah begins this marvellous chapter in which he invites us to look to Jesus by 25 00:01:59,519 –> 00:02:07,139 telling us that the primary problem from which we need to be saved is the problem of our 26 00:02:07,139 –> 00:02:09,460 own sinful unbelief. 27 00:02:09,460 –> 00:02:16,440 Who has believed what he has heard from us? 28 00:02:16,440 –> 00:02:22,220 So then the question is how does a person come to faith? 29 00:02:22,220 –> 00:02:28,779 And we ended last time by noting two things that you can do that will lead to faith. 30 00:02:28,779 –> 00:02:33,179 The first is to take a good and honest look at yourself. 31 00:02:33,179 –> 00:02:36,520 That’s what this verse helps us to do. 32 00:02:36,520 –> 00:02:42,759 When you take an honest look at yourself, you will see that you are a sinner who needs 33 00:02:42,759 –> 00:02:43,759 a savior. 34 00:02:43,759 –> 00:02:48,559 And when you see that, you will be well on your way to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 35 00:02:48,559 –> 00:02:54,559 And then as you take an honest look at yourself take an honest look at Jesus Christ, and when 36 00:02:54,559 –> 00:03:01,759 you do, you will see that Jesus Christ is the savior that you need. 37 00:03:01,880 –> 00:03:07,720 Now, the whole story of this chapter, the whole series, as we’re going through it together 38 00:03:07,720 –> 00:03:13,199 throughout this year, it is an invitation to look at the Lord Jesus Christ. 39 00:03:13,199 –> 00:03:16,960 That’s what Isaiah 53 is all about. 40 00:03:16,960 –> 00:03:22,440 And we saw last time that Isaiah begins by inviting us to look at the early life of Jesus. 41 00:03:22,440 –> 00:03:24,740 How did Jesus grow up? 42 00:03:24,740 –> 00:03:28,240 Well, He grew up like a young plant. 43 00:03:28,240 –> 00:03:31,320 In other words, He grew up very very quietly. 44 00:03:31,320 –> 00:03:34,639 He did not attract attention to Himself. 45 00:03:34,639 –> 00:03:36,399 He grew up before Him. 46 00:03:36,399 –> 00:03:39,919 That is, He grew up before the Lord. 47 00:03:39,919 –> 00:03:45,860 He grew up with a profound awareness that the eye of God was on Him in everything that 48 00:03:45,860 –> 00:03:49,600 He said and everything that He did. 49 00:03:49,600 –> 00:03:55,740 And we saw that the Lord Jesus Christ is our model for growing up. 50 00:03:55,740 –> 00:03:59,000 Our students are under constant pressure. 51 00:03:59,660 –> 00:04:03,059 How am I going to stand out from the crowd? 52 00:04:03,059 –> 00:04:06,699 How am I going to make an impression? 53 00:04:06,699 –> 00:04:13,940 And we saw last time that if you follow the example of Jesus, you will be released from 54 00:04:13,940 –> 00:04:16,320 a great burden. 55 00:04:16,320 –> 00:04:18,339 You really will. 56 00:04:18,339 –> 00:04:23,119 Jesus did four things as He grew up. 57 00:04:23,119 –> 00:04:28,779 Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and with man. 58 00:04:29,160 –> 00:04:32,660 And here’s what God calls us to do as we are growing up. 59 00:04:32,660 –> 00:04:34,980 We follow the model of Jesus. 60 00:04:34,980 –> 00:04:36,380 What does that mean? 61 00:04:36,380 –> 00:04:43,140 You eat healthy food and you get good exercise so that you grow strong physically, you develop 62 00:04:43,140 –> 00:04:49,700 the capacity of your mind by studying hard, you form good friendships by being a good 63 00:04:49,700 –> 00:04:57,000 friend to other people and you get to know God and you live in a way that honors Him. 64 00:04:57,380 –> 00:05:05,859 Focus on these four things and you will be released from a whole world of anxiety. 65 00:05:05,859 –> 00:05:12,820 Now today we come to Verse 3, where Isaiah moves from inviting us to look at the early 66 00:05:12,820 –> 00:05:19,480 life of Jesus to looking at the ministry of Jesus. 67 00:05:19,480 –> 00:05:25,119 We’re then going to see later this year, his death and his resurrection and his triumph. 68 00:05:25,119 –> 00:05:30,299 Today we’re focusing in this verse on the ministry of the Lord Jesus. 69 00:05:30,299 –> 00:05:40,140 And we’re told here he was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with 70 00:05:40,140 –> 00:05:41,700 grief. 71 00:05:41,700 –> 00:05:52,059 And as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not. 72 00:05:52,059 –> 00:05:59,019 Now notice that Jesus is described here as a man of sorrows. 73 00:05:59,019 –> 00:06:05,899 Now that does not mean that Jesus was miserable or that he was unhappy. 74 00:06:05,899 –> 00:06:16,320 You may have heard this comment that is often quoted that the Bible records that Jesus wept 75 00:06:16,320 –> 00:06:20,739 but it never says that Jesus laughed. 76 00:06:20,739 –> 00:06:26,880 Now that statement, if you’ve heard it, is true it is also terribly misleading 77 00:06:26,880 –> 00:06:33,440 because it implies that Jesus was somehow an unhappy person 78 00:06:33,440 –> 00:06:38,920 and, therefore, of course, it implies that to follow him would be to join up with a 79 00:06:38,920 –> 00:06:43,239 small band of disheartened people who are constantly mourning and complaining 80 00:06:43,239 –> 00:06:47,899 about the state of the world and never have any fun. 81 00:06:48,079 –> 00:06:51,880 And who in the world would want to do that? 82 00:06:51,880 –> 00:06:58,519 But I want you to remember that Jesus spoke to the disciples about his joy. 83 00:06:58,519 –> 00:07:04,040 John chapter 15 and verse 11, these things I have spoken to you, Jesus says that my joy 84 00:07:04,040 –> 00:07:09,040 may be in you and that your joy may be full. 85 00:07:09,040 –> 00:07:17,859 Jesus preached good news and it is impossible to preach good news with a long face. 86 00:07:17,859 –> 00:07:20,880 The Bible says that God is forever blessed. 87 00:07:20,880 –> 00:07:29,519 He’s content in himself, he’s at peace in himself, he is full of joy in himself. 88 00:07:29,519 –> 00:07:37,839 And Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, and that means Jesus Christ is joy in the flesh. 89 00:07:38,000 –> 00:07:46,320 The things I have spoken to you, Jesus says, I’ve spoken them that my joy may be in you and 90 00:07:46,320 –> 00:07:48,880 that your joy may be full. 91 00:07:50,640 –> 00:07:57,440 So, why then was Jesus the fountain of all joy a man of sorrows? 92 00:07:58,079 –> 00:08:01,119 And this verse gives us the answer. 93 00:08:01,359 –> 00:08:08,559 The reason that Jesus was a man of sorrows is that he was despised and rejected by men. 94 00:08:09,660 –> 00:08:12,839 He was as one form whom man hide their faces. 95 00:08:13,959 –> 00:08:18,660 He was despised and we esteemed him not. 96 00:08:19,519 –> 00:08:29,079 Jesus came, the New Testament tells us, to his own, and his own received him not. 97 00:08:30,019 –> 00:08:36,340 We remember that when he came to his hometown of Nazareth, 98 00:08:36,340 –> 00:08:40,440 and he opened up the Scriptures and pointed out how he himself fulfilled them. 99 00:08:40,979 –> 00:08:43,280 What was the response of the people in the hometown? 100 00:08:43,280 –> 00:08:49,640 They took him to the brow of a hill because they wanted to throw him off a cliff. 101 00:08:49,640 –> 00:08:52,659 You remember that the Lord Jesus performed miracles – 102 00:08:52,659 –> 00:08:56,719 releasing people from evil powers that bound them, 103 00:08:56,719 –> 00:09:04,859 and the scribes said he is possessed by the devil? 104 00:09:04,859 –> 00:09:07,940 When Jesus restored a man who had terrorized a community 105 00:09:07,940 –> 00:09:11,059 so that he was in his right mind, 106 00:09:11,059 –> 00:09:15,380 and dressed, and at peace? 107 00:09:15,380 –> 00:09:21,179 Well, the community actually begged Jesus to leave their region! 108 00:09:21,179 –> 00:09:25,500 And do you remember that when Jesus was arrested and brought before Pontius Pilate, 109 00:09:26,080 –> 00:09:30,840 Pilate found him to be an innocent man, and so he wanted to release him, 110 00:09:30,840 –> 00:09:35,859 but the crowd called for the release of a notorious prisoner, 111 00:09:36,859 –> 00:09:44,179 Barabbas, a man of violence, the Bible tells us was a robber and a murderer. 112 00:09:44,179 –> 00:09:49,659 They would rather have him on the streets than Jesus, 113 00:09:50,159 –> 00:09:58,900 and they called for Barabbas to be released because they despised the Lord Jesus Christ. 114 00:09:58,900 –> 00:10:03,760 Now Isaiah anticipates all of this in our verse here today. 115 00:10:03,760 –> 00:10:08,859 Jesus was a man of sorrows, and why was he a man of sorrows? 116 00:10:08,859 –> 00:10:12,419 Because we despised him and we rejected him. 117 00:10:12,419 –> 00:10:16,099 Because we hid our faces from him. 118 00:10:16,099 –> 00:10:21,580 Because we esteemed him not. 119 00:10:21,580 –> 00:10:26,659 Now, the title of the message today is Our Verdict, 120 00:10:26,659 –> 00:10:32,820 and I want you to notice that this verse indicates to us the process 121 00:10:32,820 –> 00:10:38,760 by which a person comes to have a verdict about Jesus. 122 00:10:38,760 –> 00:10:45,960 In this verse, each line explains what went before. 123 00:10:45,960 –> 00:10:50,719 So if you look at it, he was despised and rejected. 124 00:10:50,719 –> 00:10:52,940 Well now, why was he despised and rejected? 125 00:10:52,940 –> 00:10:59,400 Well, here’s why, because we hid our faces from him. 126 00:10:59,400 –> 00:11:01,880 And why did we hide our faces from him? 127 00:11:01,880 –> 00:11:08,659 Well, we hid our faces from him, because we esteemed him not. 128 00:11:09,159 –> 00:11:17,400 This verse is telling us that unbelief is a decision in which the whole person is involved. 129 00:11:17,400 –> 00:11:22,260 The mind, the heart, the will. 130 00:11:22,260 –> 00:11:31,179 They’re all fully engaged in faith and they’re all fully engaged in unbelief as well. 131 00:11:31,179 –> 00:11:36,340 Now today we’re going to look at two very important things from this verse. 132 00:11:36,340 –> 00:11:47,380 The first thing is how we make decisions and the second, how God changes our hearts. 133 00:11:47,380 –> 00:11:56,299 First I want us to see here, how we make decisions and decisions begin when the mind calculates. 134 00:11:56,299 –> 00:12:05,380 And I say this because of the words of Isaiah here, we esteemed him not. 135 00:12:05,880 –> 00:12:17,080 And the word esteemed very clearly takes us into the world of the mind where an evaluation takes place. 136 00:12:17,080 –> 00:12:22,880 Alec Meteer, an esteemed commentator on the book of Isaiah says this and I quote, 137 00:12:22,880 –> 00:12:31,960 esteemed is an accounting word, a reckoning up of value. 138 00:12:31,960 –> 00:12:40,020 So when you see this phrase we esteemed him not, think about accounting, think about a ledger, 139 00:12:40,020 –> 00:12:47,219 think about columns of numbers, think about what is added to profit, 140 00:12:47,219 –> 00:12:54,080 think about what is listed under loss, that’s the world that we are in. 141 00:12:54,400 –> 00:13:06,239 And the first step in any decision involves the mind making a calculation, like accounting. 142 00:13:06,239 –> 00:13:13,760 What’s the value here? What’s the cost here? That’s what Isaiah is telling us. 143 00:13:13,760 –> 00:13:22,299 And when people looked at Jesus they did this accounting and they came to the conclusion, no value. 144 00:13:22,739 –> 00:13:26,659 And that of course is why he was crucified. 145 00:13:26,659 –> 00:13:34,960 Now, of course, there were various numbers, as it were, that went in on the plus and the minus side on this accounting. 146 00:13:34,960 –> 00:13:39,400 When Jesus did miracles, oh, well, that seemed like a big plus. 147 00:13:39,400 –> 00:13:45,179 Oh, well, then people said, wait, we must make him king and they wanted to take him by force and make him king. 148 00:13:45,179 –> 00:13:49,380 Maybe we can get his power used to fulfill our agenda. 149 00:13:49,739 –> 00:13:58,239 But then when Jesus began to speak about the significance of the miracle in which he fed 5,000 people and he said, 150 00:13:58,239 –> 00:14:04,979 I’m the Bread of Life, and whoever feeds on me will live forever. 151 00:14:04,979 –> 00:14:07,760 Well, then they very quickly lost interest. 152 00:14:07,760 –> 00:14:10,080 That was a big, big negative. 153 00:14:10,080 –> 00:14:18,280 And in the end, they saw zero value in Jesus. 154 00:14:18,280 –> 00:14:21,599 The mind calculates. 155 00:14:21,599 –> 00:14:26,880 Then we make decisions as the heart directs. 156 00:14:26,880 –> 00:14:33,080 Notice what Isaiah says here, as one from whom men hide their faces. 157 00:14:33,080 –> 00:14:38,659 Now, as esteemed takes us into the world of the mind, 158 00:14:38,799 –> 00:14:45,880 these words about hiding our faces clearly get us into the world of the heart. 159 00:14:46,739 –> 00:14:57,140 Isaiah is describing an intense emotional reaction as one from whom men hide their faces. 160 00:14:57,140 –> 00:14:59,940 There’s revulsion here. 161 00:14:59,940 –> 00:15:01,440 There’s turning away. 162 00:15:01,440 –> 00:15:05,200 These people can’t bear to look. 163 00:15:05,280 –> 00:15:12,580 And the whole point of this chapter, remember, is that Isaiah is inviting us to look at the Lord Jesus Christ 164 00:15:12,580 –> 00:15:17,880 and now he’s telling us but this is something actually that the human heart doesn’t want to do. 165 00:15:18,739 –> 00:15:26,919 Isaiah has already told us in verse 2 as we saw last time that Jesus had no form or majesty that we should look at him. 166 00:15:26,919 –> 00:15:31,619 Now he’s telling us that we actually resist looking at him. 167 00:15:31,619 –> 00:15:33,979 That’s what the sinful heart does. 168 00:15:34,000 –> 00:15:41,960 People actually put their hands over their faces so that they don’t look at the Lord Jesus Christ. 169 00:15:41,960 –> 00:15:45,640 We hid our faces from him. 170 00:15:48,159 –> 00:15:57,840 Now we may think that the normal response to God from the sinful human heart is simply apathy. 171 00:15:58,700 –> 00:16:05,260 But do you see that Isaiah is telling us quite clearly here that the problem goes deeper. 172 00:16:05,260 –> 00:16:10,739 It’s not just that people don’t want to look at Jesus. 173 00:16:10,739 –> 00:16:17,419 It’s that the sinful heart can’t bare to look at Jesus. 174 00:16:18,739 –> 00:16:23,260 Now you might wonder is that really true? 175 00:16:23,260 –> 00:16:26,679 Well listen to these words of the Apostle Paul. 176 00:16:26,880 –> 00:16:28,780 Romans 8, verse 7. 177 00:16:28,940 –> 00:16:39,979 The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God for it does not submit to God’s law, 178 00:16:39,979 –> 00:16:44,580 indeed it cannot. 179 00:16:44,580 –> 00:16:47,919 Why do people not believe? 180 00:16:47,919 –> 00:16:51,479 Is it really that the evidence in the scripture is insufficient for faith? 181 00:16:51,479 –> 00:16:55,119 No, it’s not that at all. 182 00:16:55,200 –> 00:17:05,380 Men do not believe, the apostle says here, because the flesh is hostile to God. 183 00:17:05,380 –> 00:17:07,260 Hostile. 184 00:17:07,260 –> 00:17:13,760 Now that doesn’t mean, of course, that all people are constantly walking about seething 185 00:17:13,760 –> 00:17:21,640 with resentment towards God, but what it does mean is this, that unbelief is a decision 186 00:17:21,640 –> 00:17:26,260 in which the mind, the heart, and the will are all actively engaged. 187 00:17:26,260 –> 00:17:34,099 And that’s why only the arm of the Lord can save us from it. 188 00:17:34,099 –> 00:17:40,160 So we’re looking at how decisions are made and Isaiah is particularly pointing us to 189 00:17:40,160 –> 00:17:42,439 how unbelief is formed. 190 00:17:42,439 –> 00:17:46,239 The mind does a calculation, doesn’t see value in Jesus. 191 00:17:46,239 –> 00:17:47,459 It’s weighed up. 192 00:17:47,680 –> 00:17:52,859 The pluses and the minuses and it’s come out to a zero. 193 00:17:52,859 –> 00:17:58,719 The heart then directs and, of course, then the will decides. 194 00:17:58,719 –> 00:18:06,119 And here look at Isaiah’s words, he was despised and rejected by men. 195 00:18:06,119 –> 00:18:12,500 Well, you can see as the word esteemed takes us into the world of the mind and men hiding 196 00:18:12,540 –> 00:18:19,260 their faces, takes us into the world of the heart and of the feelings of revulsion, the 197 00:18:19,260 –> 00:18:25,500 word here despised and rejected clearly takes us into the word, world of the will. 198 00:18:25,500 –> 00:18:31,979 We’re speaking here about a decision about a determined refusal. 199 00:18:31,979 –> 00:18:39,619 So do you see that in these three lines we have a description of the way in which we 200 00:18:39,619 –> 00:18:41,599 make decisions. 201 00:18:41,599 –> 00:18:48,000 The mind calculates, we esteem to him not. 202 00:18:48,000 –> 00:18:54,079 The heart directs, we hid our faces from him. 203 00:18:54,079 –> 00:19:02,040 The will decides he was despised and rejected. 204 00:19:02,040 –> 00:19:11,880 The Apostle John says in John 3 and verse 19, this is the judgment. 205 00:19:11,880 –> 00:19:23,199 The light has come into the world and people loved darkness rather than light. 206 00:19:23,199 –> 00:19:30,920 See, we like to think that the head rules the heart, but the reality is that we are 207 00:19:30,920 –> 00:19:34,219 ruled by what we love. 208 00:19:34,219 –> 00:19:40,060 Your heart rules and your mind is its servant. 209 00:19:40,060 –> 00:19:44,239 And the natural state of the human heart is that we are lovers of self. 210 00:19:44,239 –> 00:19:45,880 We are lovers of money. 211 00:19:45,880 –> 00:19:52,000 We are lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God. 212 00:19:52,000 –> 00:19:56,939 And so here is how unbelief is formed. 213 00:19:57,079 –> 00:20:01,819 Here’s how that decided commitment is made. 214 00:20:01,819 –> 00:20:10,339 I like to think of it this way, there’s a memo from the mind to the heart. 215 00:20:10,339 –> 00:20:18,619 Dear heart, you have trusted me to give you intelligence and I am happy to serve you in 216 00:20:18,619 –> 00:20:19,619 this way. 217 00:20:20,500 –> 00:20:27,180 I have taken initial soundings regarding faith in Jesus Christ and I have to inform you that 218 00:20:27,180 –> 00:20:35,420 he may pose a threat to certain affections that you cherish. 219 00:20:35,420 –> 00:20:41,140 What will heart do when heart receives that memo? 220 00:20:41,140 –> 00:20:44,900 Well heart will send another memo to will. 221 00:20:45,160 –> 00:20:52,520 Dear will I have received intelligence from mind to the effect that further engagement 222 00:20:52,520 –> 00:20:59,180 with Jesus Christ may pose a risk to certain affections that we cherish. 223 00:20:59,180 –> 00:21:08,599 I am therefore instructing you that we should resist any further movement in the direction 224 00:21:08,599 –> 00:21:11,000 of faith. 225 00:21:11,000 –> 00:21:17,500 Now you see this is very simply the normal way in which we make decisions. 226 00:21:17,500 –> 00:21:24,979 The mind calculates, the heart directs, and the will decides. 227 00:21:24,979 –> 00:21:32,760 And you know you can see it in the great evil that is the focus of the entire world’s attention 228 00:21:32,760 –> 00:21:34,520 today. 229 00:21:34,520 –> 00:21:39,579 The army of one nation invades another country? 230 00:21:39,599 –> 00:21:43,540 How could that happen? 231 00:21:43,540 –> 00:21:47,199 And the answer is along these lines, surely. 232 00:21:47,199 –> 00:21:51,479 That the mind made a calculation? 233 00:21:51,479 –> 00:21:56,680 We have a vast army, we can roll our tanks over the border. 234 00:21:56,680 –> 00:22:00,459 It’ll all be over in a few days. 235 00:22:00,459 –> 00:22:06,719 And the heart then says, oh, well, that sounds fairly straightforward. 236 00:22:07,619 –> 00:22:12,800 And I am set on having these cities as my own, and so the command is given, and will 237 00:22:12,800 –> 00:22:18,479 is loosed to bring great destruction. 238 00:22:18,479 –> 00:22:21,280 But you see the question? 239 00:22:21,280 –> 00:22:28,239 What if the intelligence given by the mind to the heart is faulty? 240 00:22:28,239 –> 00:22:35,160 Well then the loss would be very great. 241 00:22:35,160 –> 00:22:38,920 Now that brings us to the second thing that’s really important here. 242 00:22:38,920 –> 00:22:41,439 We’ve seen how we make decisions. 243 00:22:41,439 –> 00:22:49,199 This is the normal natural process by which making all kinds of decisions all of the time. 244 00:22:49,199 –> 00:22:52,119 The heart reigns. 245 00:22:52,119 –> 00:22:56,800 And so how can the heart be changed? 246 00:22:56,800 –> 00:23:01,199 how does God change the heart? 247 00:23:01,199 –> 00:23:09,000 And here is what I want us to grasp from our reflection on this remarkable verse today. 248 00:23:09,000 –> 00:23:20,020 That the heart will be changed when the mind does a new calculation based on a new discovery. 249 00:23:20,020 –> 00:23:26,540 And our Lord Jesus told a marvelous story that illustrates this perfectly. 250 00:23:26,560 –> 00:23:35,540 Matthew chapter 13 in verse 44 Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. 251 00:23:35,540 –> 00:23:50,380 Which a man found and covered up then in His joy He goes and sells all that He has and buys the field. 252 00:23:50,380 –> 00:23:55,260 Now think about this field, just been lying there. 253 00:23:56,199 –> 00:24:02,219 It hasn’t provoked any interest from this man before. 254 00:24:02,219 –> 00:24:06,619 In fact he has walked over the field for years never really given it a thought. 255 00:24:06,619 –> 00:24:14,739 But in some way He has come to discover that there is treasure buried in this field. 256 00:24:14,739 –> 00:24:16,339 And so what does he do? 257 00:24:16,339 –> 00:24:21,339 He does a new calculation in regards to the field. 258 00:24:21,339 –> 00:24:24,020 Based on his new discovery. 259 00:24:24,020 –> 00:24:26,420 And here’s the calculation it’s very simple. 260 00:24:26,420 –> 00:24:31,219 There is treasure that is buried in this field. 261 00:24:32,260 –> 00:24:38,500 If this field was ours, we would be rich beyond measure. 262 00:24:38,500 –> 00:24:42,819 Therefore we must buy this field. 263 00:24:43,780 –> 00:24:46,500 And Jesus says the man then goes with joy. 264 00:24:47,140 –> 00:24:48,420 He sells all that he has. 265 00:24:49,380 –> 00:24:55,219 in order to buy this field that is going to make him fabulously wealthy. 266 00:24:56,900 –> 00:24:58,339 Now you see how this works. 267 00:24:59,060 –> 00:25:01,859 There’s a memo from the mind to the heart. 268 00:25:03,140 –> 00:25:08,739 Dear heart, you have instructed me to provide you with intelligence 269 00:25:08,739 –> 00:25:10,819 and I am pleased to inform you 270 00:25:11,619 –> 00:25:15,459 of a new opportunity that has opened up for us. 271 00:25:15,459 –> 00:25:20,900 I have identified a field in which treasure is buried 272 00:25:20,900 –> 00:25:24,979 and this field is available for our purchase. 273 00:25:26,660 –> 00:25:28,099 Now what’s the heart going to do? 274 00:25:29,219 –> 00:25:33,060 Well of course the heart is immediately going to send another memo to the will. 275 00:25:33,060 –> 00:25:35,300 Well dear Will 276 00:25:36,339 –> 00:25:40,500 I have received intelligence from mind regarding treasure 277 00:25:40,500 –> 00:25:42,900 that is buried in a field. 278 00:25:42,900 –> 00:25:45,780 The field is available for purchase 279 00:25:45,780 –> 00:25:50,420 therefore I am directing you to buy it at any price. 280 00:25:52,180 –> 00:25:53,619 At any price 281 00:25:55,459 –> 00:25:57,140 and armed with that memo 282 00:25:57,140 –> 00:26:03,939 Will has the strength to pursue this purpose. 283 00:26:06,020 –> 00:26:14,979 Now Jesus is like a field in which treasure lies buried 284 00:26:16,339 –> 00:26:17,699 If you get the field 285 00:26:18,900 –> 00:26:19,939 You get the treasure 286 00:26:21,060 –> 00:26:24,420 And it’s a 53 is really a display of the treasure 287 00:26:24,420 –> 00:26:29,540 is telling you all that is yours if you have Jesus Christ 288 00:26:31,859 –> 00:26:36,020 This chapter tells us everything that we need to know in order to make a proper 289 00:26:36,020 –> 00:26:40,900 evaluation of Jesus, who he is, what he has accomplished 290 00:26:41,540 –> 00:26:43,939 What it is that he offers to us 291 00:26:44,020 –> 00:26:45,140 And here’s the thing 292 00:26:46,099 –> 00:26:49,619 Knowing the treasure will change your heart 293 00:26:51,140 –> 00:26:54,339 And when your heart gets set on the treasure 294 00:26:54,739 –> 00:26:55,859 you will have the will 295 00:26:56,660 –> 00:27:03,380 You will have the desire to make Christ your own, whatever it costs you 296 00:27:03,939 –> 00:27:04,979 Here’s the principle 297 00:27:06,099 –> 00:27:11,459 Your heart will be changed when your mind makes a new calculation 298 00:27:11,459 –> 00:27:14,739 based on a new discovery 299 00:27:16,660 –> 00:27:18,339 Now in our last few moments today 300 00:27:18,339 –> 00:27:21,699 I would like then to apply this principle 301 00:27:21,699 –> 00:27:26,900 that we’ve drawn from Isaiah chapter 53 and verse three 302 00:27:26,900 –> 00:27:31,140 and I’d like to apply it in four distinct ways 303 00:27:32,500 –> 00:27:35,380 First, you can use this wonderful truth 304 00:27:35,380 –> 00:27:37,380 that the heart will be changed 305 00:27:37,380 –> 00:27:40,500 when your mind does a new calculation based on a new discovery 306 00:27:40,500 –> 00:27:45,859 You can use this in your fight against temptation 307 00:27:47,380 –> 00:27:48,099 Temptation 308 00:27:48,739 –> 00:27:51,619 think of the ledger again, think of the accounting 309 00:27:52,660 –> 00:27:56,979 Temptation gains power in your life 310 00:27:56,979 –> 00:28:01,540 when what it offers seems to outweigh what it will cost 311 00:28:03,300 –> 00:28:05,619 Temptation always has its allure 312 00:28:05,619 –> 00:28:07,060 That is true of any temptation 313 00:28:07,060 –> 00:28:08,819 that’s what makes it a temptation 314 00:28:09,780 –> 00:28:11,300 So, the question is always 315 00:28:11,300 –> 00:28:15,219 how do you build the strength to resist it? 316 00:28:16,099 –> 00:28:17,859 And the answer is 317 00:28:17,859 –> 00:28:21,859 you show your heart the treasure 318 00:28:23,619 –> 00:28:27,780 you begin to list all that is gained 319 00:28:27,780 –> 00:28:30,579 by saying no to ungodliness 320 00:28:31,939 –> 00:28:33,140 peace with God 321 00:28:34,819 –> 00:28:36,420 A clear conscience 322 00:28:38,180 –> 00:28:39,780 the joy of worship 323 00:28:39,780 –> 00:28:46,500 being filled with the Holy Spirit 324 00:28:46,500 –> 00:28:51,219 a fresh experience of the love of God 325 00:28:51,219 –> 00:28:52,500 bearing fruit 326 00:28:53,859 –> 00:28:55,780 being delivered from fear 327 00:28:57,300 –> 00:28:59,939 Show your heart the treasure 328 00:28:59,939 –> 00:29:05,140 Show what is to be gained by resisting temptation 329 00:29:05,140 –> 00:29:09,060 And you will be strengthened in that battle 330 00:29:10,099 –> 00:29:11,699 Your heart will be changed 331 00:29:12,420 –> 00:29:15,699 when your mind does a new calculation 332 00:29:16,819 –> 00:29:18,420 based on a new discovery 333 00:29:20,500 –> 00:29:25,780 And then, use this principle in reaching out to others 334 00:29:25,780 –> 00:29:28,099 All of us have friends and loved ones 335 00:29:28,099 –> 00:29:32,660 who we long to come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 336 00:29:32,660 –> 00:29:36,020 Sometimes they seem to have very, very little interest 337 00:29:36,979 –> 00:29:38,339 There may be someone in your life 338 00:29:38,339 –> 00:29:41,140 who just seems determined not to believe 339 00:29:42,739 –> 00:29:45,140 And we’re exploring in this series 340 00:29:45,140 –> 00:29:47,380 some practical ways to help 341 00:29:50,260 –> 00:29:54,660 We looked last time at questions 342 00:29:54,660 –> 00:29:55,300 You can ask 343 00:29:55,300 –> 00:29:59,699 what lies behind unbelief for you? 344 00:30:00,660 –> 00:30:06,420 Have you been distracted by the wrong considerations? 345 00:30:07,380 –> 00:30:10,660 Have you been drawn to the wrong priorities? 346 00:30:10,660 –> 00:30:12,979 Are you being driven by the wrong desires? 347 00:30:12,979 –> 00:30:17,780 These are helpful questions to open up conversations 348 00:30:17,780 –> 00:30:19,780 in what lies behind unbelief 349 00:30:20,500 –> 00:30:23,619 But here’s the greatest thing that you can ever do 350 00:30:24,420 –> 00:30:26,579 to help someone who does not yet believe 351 00:30:27,219 –> 00:30:28,660 Show them the treasure 352 00:30:30,660 –> 00:30:33,619 Show them what could be theirs in the Lord Jesus Christ 353 00:30:35,380 –> 00:30:38,260 Show them the great things that Jesus Christ offers 354 00:30:38,260 –> 00:30:42,900 He’s like a field in which there is buried treasure 355 00:30:44,339 –> 00:30:45,699 And when you have the field 356 00:30:45,699 –> 00:30:50,900 you are infinitely rich in Jesus Christ 357 00:30:52,420 –> 00:30:53,619 Point them to the treasure 358 00:30:54,819 –> 00:30:58,260 Pray that God will open their eyes to see it 359 00:30:58,339 –> 00:31:03,219 And the heart of your unbelieving friend or loved one 360 00:31:03,219 –> 00:31:09,300 will be changed when he or she makes a new calculation 361 00:31:09,300 –> 00:31:12,339 based on a new discovery 362 00:31:14,500 –> 00:31:16,500 And then here’s a third way 363 00:31:16,500 –> 00:31:19,540 in which we can use this very important principle 364 00:31:19,540 –> 00:31:21,939 that the heart is changed 365 00:31:21,939 –> 00:31:23,859 when your mind does a new calculation 366 00:31:23,859 –> 00:31:25,300 based on a new discovery 367 00:31:26,180 –> 00:31:29,459 Use this when you suffer 368 00:31:31,619 –> 00:31:35,060 Jesus was a man of sorrows 369 00:31:36,660 –> 00:31:38,979 and the reason that he was a man of sorrows 370 00:31:38,979 –> 00:31:41,459 was that we esteemed him not 371 00:31:42,420 –> 00:31:44,260 He was despised and rejected 372 00:31:44,260 –> 00:31:45,219 He was unwanted 373 00:31:46,339 –> 00:31:48,739 We hid our faces from him 374 00:31:50,660 –> 00:31:53,699 Now, have you known what it is 375 00:31:53,699 –> 00:31:55,859 to suffer loss? 376 00:31:57,619 –> 00:31:59,219 to suffer injustice? 377 00:32:00,339 –> 00:32:02,739 to be pushed to the margins? 378 00:32:03,699 –> 00:32:04,900 to be despised? 379 00:32:05,939 –> 00:32:06,979 to be rejected? 380 00:32:08,260 –> 00:32:12,500 Do you know what it is to really feel unwanted? 381 00:32:14,420 –> 00:32:16,660 You will find great comfort 382 00:32:18,020 –> 00:32:21,219 in knowing that Jesus Christ himself has been there 383 00:32:21,219 –> 00:32:26,500 Think about it, Jesus was a man of sorrows 384 00:32:27,619 –> 00:32:30,660 He was despised and he was rejected 385 00:32:31,780 –> 00:32:34,020 We hid our faces from him 386 00:32:34,020 –> 00:32:35,540 we esteemed him not 387 00:32:35,540 –> 00:32:38,339 Have you been disrespected? 388 00:32:38,900 –> 00:32:41,699 You have not been given the honour that was due to you? 389 00:32:43,060 –> 00:32:44,180 Think about Jesus 390 00:32:45,219 –> 00:32:48,339 We esteemed him not 391 00:32:49,300 –> 00:32:52,339 I’ve been greatly helped 392 00:32:53,219 –> 00:32:55,780 by an insight of C.H. Spurgeon 393 00:32:56,420 –> 00:32:58,979 who battled terrible depression 394 00:32:58,979 –> 00:33:00,780 amongst other things 395 00:33:00,780 –> 00:33:03,060 often during his life 396 00:33:03,060 –> 00:33:04,260 And he says this 397 00:33:05,219 –> 00:33:10,660 That the afflicted don’t look for comfort so much 398 00:33:11,380 –> 00:33:14,500 to Jesus as he will come a second time 399 00:33:14,500 –> 00:33:17,540 when He returns in power and with glory 400 00:33:17,619 –> 00:33:18,900 No, says Spurgeon 401 00:33:18,900 –> 00:33:22,260 The afflicted look for comfort first 402 00:33:22,260 –> 00:33:25,380 to Jesus as He came the first time 403 00:33:26,819 –> 00:33:27,859 A man of sorrows 404 00:33:29,219 –> 00:33:30,339 A man weary 405 00:33:31,540 –> 00:33:34,020 A man full of woes 406 00:33:35,619 –> 00:33:38,579 Now, there’s a profound insight there 407 00:33:40,420 –> 00:33:42,260 It is a marvellous thing 408 00:33:42,260 –> 00:33:44,979 to know that all will be well in heaven 409 00:33:45,540 –> 00:33:48,099 But when you really suffer 410 00:33:49,300 –> 00:33:51,380 and when you’re going through great pain 411 00:33:52,500 –> 00:33:56,099 heaven can seem a very, very long way off indeed 412 00:33:57,540 –> 00:33:59,859 And what will help you most 413 00:34:00,739 –> 00:34:02,420 in the hardest of times 414 00:34:03,699 –> 00:34:08,100 is that Jesus knows sorrow too 415 00:34:09,379 –> 00:34:10,419 He’s been there 416 00:34:11,780 –> 00:34:13,379 And because He’s been there 417 00:34:13,620 –> 00:34:17,699 He is able to walk with you 418 00:34:19,620 –> 00:34:24,179 And then here’s one more way in which we can use this very important truth 419 00:34:24,179 –> 00:34:26,979 that we’ve been learning from this remarkable verse today 420 00:34:26,979 –> 00:34:31,540 Use this to overcome the power of unbelief 421 00:34:32,260 –> 00:34:35,620 Isaiah 53 is telling us what we need to know 422 00:34:35,620 –> 00:34:39,300 in order to make a right evaluation of Jesus 423 00:34:39,860 –> 00:34:41,300 And what we need to know is that 424 00:34:41,300 –> 00:34:44,820 there is treasure in the Lord Jesus Christ 425 00:34:45,379 –> 00:34:49,459 And that this treasure that is in Christ can be yours 426 00:34:50,020 –> 00:34:55,300 Listen, Jesus offers to forgive your sins 427 00:34:56,419 –> 00:35:02,260 to save you from the ultimate judgment of God against sinners 428 00:35:02,260 –> 00:35:05,939 and to reconcile you to God as your own father 429 00:35:05,939 –> 00:35:09,300 That’s why he was pierced for our transgressions 430 00:35:10,419 –> 00:35:12,659 He was crushed for our iniquities 431 00:35:13,939 –> 00:35:22,100 and the chastisement was on him so that we would enter into peace 432 00:35:23,219 –> 00:35:28,020 He’s the one who will make many to be accounted righteous before God 433 00:35:28,020 –> 00:35:32,020 and forgiveness can be yours in and through the Lord Jesus Christ 434 00:35:32,020 –> 00:35:44,659 You felt yourself pushed to the margins Jesus wants to bring you into the family 435 00:35:44,659 –> 00:35:48,899 of which God himself is the head The Lord Jesus Christ 436 00:35:50,179 –> 00:35:52,340 wants to bring you into his own body 437 00:35:55,459 –> 00:36:00,419 He’s gathering a family of people from every background and tribe and country 438 00:36:00,419 –> 00:36:05,060 and these people will live forever as Jesus himself will live forever 439 00:36:05,060 –> 00:36:07,620 and he wants you to be one of them 440 00:36:09,620 –> 00:36:14,659 and Jesus offers that you will be able to share in his triumph 441 00:36:14,659 –> 00:36:17,939 He will divide the spoil among the strong 442 00:36:19,139 –> 00:36:23,379 I’m saying to you from this verse and from this wonderful chapter today 443 00:36:23,379 –> 00:36:28,260 there is treasure in the Lord Jesus Christ and that treasure can be yours 444 00:36:28,820 –> 00:36:33,139 if you will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ 445 00:36:33,939 –> 00:36:35,540 if you will embrace him 446 00:36:36,580 –> 00:36:42,739 if you will do a new calculation based on what you learned in Isaiah 53 447 00:36:42,739 –> 00:36:44,500 about all that’s in Christ 448 00:36:44,500 –> 00:36:48,659 the treasure will be yours because Christ will be yours 449 00:36:50,820 –> 00:36:54,820 When you know the treasure that’s hidden in Jesus 450 00:36:54,820 –> 00:36:58,340 you won’t hide from him 451 00:37:00,260 –> 00:37:02,580 you won’t reject him 452 00:37:03,459 –> 00:37:04,899 you’ll look at him 453 00:37:06,500 –> 00:37:08,179 and as you look at him 454 00:37:09,780 –> 00:37:13,459 faith will be formed in you 455 00:37:14,739 –> 00:37:15,620 Let’s pray together 456 00:37:15,620 –> 00:37:25,620 Father we pray that through the entrance of your word our hearts 457 00:37:26,979 –> 00:37:35,939 may be changed and the changed hearts will lead to changed lives 458 00:37:37,540 –> 00:37:42,340 for these things we ask in jesus name amen 459 00:37:42,340 –> 00:37:47,060 You’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 460 00:37:47,780 –> 00:38:02,260 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365. or visit our website openthebible.org

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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