Justice Is Grace (Part 2): True Spirituality Isaiah 58

The Missing Link 1 “Cry out loudly, don’t hold back! Raise your voice like a trumpet. Tell My people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 They seek Me day after day and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not abandon the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” 3 They ask, “Why don’t you notice when we fast? Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?!” The L ORD says, “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers.” (Isaiah 58:1-3) 1 “Cry out loudly, don’t hold back! Raise your voice like a trumpet. Tell My people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins. 2 They seek Me day after day and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not abandon the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.” 3 They ask, “Why don’t you notice when we fast? Why don’t you pay attention when we humble ourselves?!” The L ORD says, “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers.” (Isaiah 58:1-3)

True Spirituality 6 Isn’t the fast I choose: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7) 6 Isn’t the fast I choose: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

True Spirituality 3 Thus says the L ORD Almighty, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the L ORD, the temple of the L ORD, the temple of the L ORD.’ 5 For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, (Jeremiah 7:3-5) 3 Thus says the L ORD Almighty, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the L ORD, the temple of the L ORD, the temple of the L ORD.’ 5 For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, (Jeremiah 7:3-5)

True Spirituality 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. (Jeremiah 7:6-7) 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. (Jeremiah 7:6-7)

True Spirituality 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:31-33) 31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:31-33)

True Spirituality 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17) 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17)

True Spirituality 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ (Matthew 25:41-43) 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ (Matthew 25:41-43)

True Spirituality 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:44-46) 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:44-46)

True Spirituality Religion that is pure and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27)Religion that is pure and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:27) “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:23-24)“Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” (Amos 5:23-24)

True Spirituality 4 Your fasting leads to contention and strife and striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the L ORD ? (Isaiah 58:4-5) 4 Your fasting leads to contention and strife and striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the L ORD ? (Isaiah 58:4-5)

True Spirituality 6 Isn’t the fast I choose: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7) 6 Isn’t the fast I choose: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

True Spirituality 7 … seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised… 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do. (Galatians 2:7, 9-10) 7 … seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised… 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do. (Galatians 2:7, 9-10)

True Spirituality Poor nutrition causes nearly half (45%) of the deaths in children under five million children each year - About 21,000 people die every day due to hunger or hunger-related causes -

Christ-Likeness “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38)“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38)

Word and Deed 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or talk, but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:16-18) 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love with word or talk, but in deed and truth. (1 John 3:16-18)

All People “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...” (Romans 12:20)“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink...” (Romans 12:20) So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10)So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (Galatians 6:10)

All People 12 … “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14) 12 … “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. 13 But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14)

All People Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:7)Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:7)

True Spirituality 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the L ORD ’ S glory will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the L ORD will answer; you will cry out and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you get rid of the yoke among you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking, 10 and if you pour yourself out for the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. (Isaiah 58:8-10) 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the L ORD ’ S glory will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the L ORD will answer; you will cry out and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you get rid of the yoke among you, the finger-pointing and malicious speaking, 10 and if you pour yourself out for the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. (Isaiah 58:8-10)

True Spirituality 11 And the L ORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry. 12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live. (Isaiah 58:11-12) 11 And the L ORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry. 12 Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the foundations laid long ago; you will be called the repairer of broken walls, the restorer of streets where people live. (Isaiah 58:11-12)

The Results 1.Light 2.Protection 3.Answered prayers 4.Guidance 5.Provision 6.Strength 7.Fruitfulness 8.Restoration

Opportunities 1.Refugee ministry 2.Deacon’s Fund 3.Tucson Homeless Connect 4.Prison Fellowship ministry 5.Angel Tree 6.Justice 4 All 7.Hands of Hope 8.Christian Family Care 9.Gospel Rescue Mission 10.Teen Missions 11.Visitation Team

Opportunities 12.Tutoring ministry 13.Vela Ministries 14.International Student Ministry at the U of A 15.Stephen Ministry 16.Meals for Widows (Helping Hands) 17.Widow’s Ministry 18.Preschool 19.Single Parent’s Ministry 20.Project Turkey 21.Church-School Partnerships

Opportunities 22.D.O.O.R. 23.Bible Translations for unreached people 24.Sheepfold of AZ 25.The Clintons, with First Love International 26.Corazon ministries 27.4Tucson 28.Salt and Light ministry 29.Tuesday Night Connect 30.Short-Term Missions trips 31.EndIt Movement