GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

ISAIAH SERIES

BLESSEDNESS, RESTLESSNESS, CURSEDNESS

The Peace and Turmoil of Sin
Isaiah 57:19-21

Don Fortner

Introduction:

Augustus Toplady wrote –

"Oh may I never rest
Until I rest in Thee,
Until by pardon here possessed
I feel Thy love to me!

Turn not Thy face away,
Thy look can make me clean;
Me in Thy wedding robes array,
And cover all my sin.

Tell me, my God, for whom
Thy precious blood was shed;
For sinners? Lord, as such, I come,
For such the Savior bled.

Then raise a fallen wretch
Display Thy grace in me;
I am not out of mercy's reach,
Nor too far gone for Thee!"

I pray that some of you have come here tonight seeking peace with God. If you have, "I have a message from God for thee." My text is Isaiah 57:19-20.

In these three verses the Lord God describes three states of existence – Blessedness, Restlessness, and Cursedness. Which one describes you?

I. Verse 19 describes A State of Blessedness.

What tongue can describe the blessedness of peace? Benjamin Franklin once said, "There never was a good man and there never was a bad peace." And he was certainly right about that. But I am not here to talk about civil peace and social peace. I am here to talk to you about spiritual peace, heart peace, everlasting peace with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

NOTE: Be sure you understand this – This peace is the creation of God himself and the fruit of his lips. It cannot be had until God says, "Peace, peace!"

This peace which God creates as "the fruit of thy lips" must be viewed in four ways.

A. This Is The Cry of Every Awakened Sinner.

When sinners are awakened to a true consciousness of their lost, ruined condition, they see themselves at war with God and at war with their own consciences and begin to cry for peace – "Peace, peace!" is the cry of their hearts.

B. Read the words again – "Peace, peace!" This is The Answer of Christ our Savior.

C. This Is The Song of Every Believer – "Peace, peace."

D. This Is The Benediction of God's Saints – "Peace, peace!"

Happy are those whose lives are blessed with Peace! Those who live in peace live in a state of blessedness! But very few people in this world ever know the blessedness of peace.

II. Most people live in A State of Restlessness described in verse 20.

Like the troubled sea, disturbed by winds, storm, hurricanes, and upheavals, when its waves rise, rage and beat angrily against the shore, so are the wicked. As the waters of the sea cast up mire and dirt, so the hearts of wicked men cast up the mire and dirt of sin, envy, malice, and blasphemy – I am talking directly to some of you – You are restless and troubled, in a state of agitation that you cannot settle. I know the cause of your agitation. I've been there.

III. Verse 21 tells us that this state of restlessness is A State of Cursedness.

A. There is No Peace to the Wicked in This World.

B. There shall be No Peace to the wicked in the World To Come – What tormenters you will have in hell!

Application:

There is only one way to obtain peace – "Be ye reconciled to God!" (II Cor. 5:20-21).

In Philippians 4:4-8 Paul tells us how to live in this world in peace.

Don Fortner, Pastor
Grace Baptist Church
Danville, Ky.

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