CHRIST CREATIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
A SERMON PREACHED ON SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 6, 1998
BY
THE REV. DR. GEORGE ST. ANTHONY FERGUSON, SR.
AUTHOR: Isaiah
THEME: The Messiah of Israel
DATE: 8th Century BC
TEXT: Isaiah 65:24
Don’t you get tired of people calling you on the phone to solicit you on something? Don’t you get tired of people calling you on the phone to sell you something? Don’t you get tired of people calling you on the phone trying to get you to sign up to something? Although my questions highlight one of the abuses of the phone, phones are actually a means to communicate one with another. Phones are a means to communicate with your loved ones. Phones are a means to communicate with your friends. Phones are a means to communicate with your co-workers. Phones were invented by Alexander Graham Bell when he called to his Black assistant and said, "Watson, come quick!" AT&T or Ma’ Bell has been a fixture in our lives for over 80 years and with the Baby Bells, we still can reach out and touch someone. Phones work by modulating our vocal tones, passing them over phone lines and then remodulating our vocal tones so someone else can hear us. It works so efficiently that you almost get instant modulation and re-modulation. As of now, phones are voice delivery devices. We can talk locally or long distance. And if you have a phone you have a telephone number. Some of us have more than one phone and more than one phone line. Some of us have a phone line for our computer modem. Some of us have phone line for our faxes. Some of us have a cellular phone that doesn’t need a phone line. But no matter what type phone you have or how many phone lines you have, you have a telephone number. So today on this 5th Sunday, God told me to preach on the topic: If You Believe The Lord, Call Him Up.
Our sermon lesson is found in Isaiah 65. By way of introduction, you should know that Isaiah the Prophet wrote this the longest book of prophecy. The name Isaiah means salvation is of the Lord. Isaiah was one of the greatest prophets to ever write. He carried out his ministry in the Nation of Judah during the reign of four kings from 740 to 680 BC. He wrote for a period of about 60 years during which the Nation of Israel was carried away and the Nation of Judah was invaded by the Assyrians. The theme of Isaiah reaches all the way back to the eternal counsels of God and the creation of the universe and it looks forward to the time when God will create a new heaven and earth. No other prophet wrote with such majesty and eloquence about the glory of God. The book of Isaiah sets forth the great Messianic predictions in which are foretold the birth of Christ, the deity of Christ, the ministry of Christ, the death of Christ, and the millennial reign of Christ. By the time we get to chapter 65, Isaiah said behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah said unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Isaiah said the people who walk in darkness shall see a great light. Isaiah said He was bruised for transgressions. He wounded for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed. Beginning in Chapter 64, Isaiah begins to describe the prayers of the few remaining believers as they pray for their deliverance at the second coming of Christ. We are in what scholars call the eschatological section of Isaiah. Eschatology deals with the events that will lead to the second coming of Christ. Eschatology deals with the events that will lead to the Millennial kingdom. Eschatology deals with the events that lead to the creation of the new heaven and the new earth. Eschatology deals with the last days. And in Chapter 65, God answers the prayer of the saints in those last days. God said for I will create a new heaven and a new earth and the former things shall not be remembered nor brought to mind. In V18 God says, "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy." My first point is this: We Should Be A People Who Praise The Lord. God is telling us that in the Millennial Kingdom, God will recreate Jerusalem. In the recreated Jerusalem, people will be glad. In the recreated Jerusalem, people will rejoice. In the recreated Jerusalem, people will have joy. Christ Creative, God won’t have any crying people in the recreated Jerusalem. God won’t have any lying people in the recreated Jerusalem. God won’t have any dying people in the recreated Jerusalem. Why will God do this? God said because, I will rejoice in Jerusalem. God said I will rejoice in the joy of my people. When God recreates Jerusalem, He will be in the midst of the city. When God recreates Jerusalem, He will be in the midst of His people. When God recreates Jerusalem, He will be in the midst of the praises of His people. Didn’t David said God inhabits the praises of His people? And wherever God is, there is love. Wherever God is, there is peace. Wherever God is, there is joy. God said in the recreated Jerusalem, no more weeping will be heard. God said in the recreated Jerusalem, no more crying will be heard. God will wipe away all tears from our eyes. The song says
NO MORE CRYIN’ THERE WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE KING
NO MORE LYIN’ THERE WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE KING
NO MORE DYIN’ THERE WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE KING
HALLALUJAH, HALLALUJAH WE’RE GOING TO SEE THE KING
Jerusalem will be a city of praise. Say amen, somebody. If You Believe The Lord, Call Him Up.
God through Isaiah went on in V21 and said, "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them." In order to understand how the Millennial Kingdom will operate, God told us some of the things that will happen and some of the things that will not happen. When Jesus comes back to earth He will set up his Millennial Kingdom. Jesus will rule for 1,000 years out of the city Jerusalem. In V19 God tells us that there will be no weeping in Jerusalem. In V19 God tells us that there will be no crying in Jerusalem. In V20 God tells us that there will be no babies in Jerusalem. In V20 God tells us that there will be no old men and women in Jerusalem. In V20 God tells us that children will live to be 100 years old in Jerusalem. In V20 God tells us that anyone who sins in Jerusalem will be accursed. Having a long life span and being able to sin applies only to those believers who lived through the Great Tribulation and survived. It does not apply to us Christians who will be in glorified bodies. And did you ever wonder where those who lived through the Great Tribulation will live in the Millennial Kingdom? God said and they shall build houses and inhabit them. They will build houses to live in but God will give us a house not made with human hands eternal in the heavens. And what shall they eat? God said and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. Christians who are raptured up to be with the Lord will live off the Word of God. But those believers who make it through the Great Tribulation will build buildings and plant food. God said they shall not build, and another inhabit. God said they shall not plant, and another eat. They will build and live in what they build. They will plant and eat what they plant. There will be peace in the Millennial Kingdom. God said just like the days of a tree so will be the days of my people. The days of a tree are long. There are trees that live for 100’s of 1,000’s of years. And so will be the life span of the those who make it through the Great Tribulation. God said and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. For 100’s of 1000’s of years, people will live on the earth. Matusulah lived to be 969 years old. Noah lived to be 500 years old. Abraham lived to be 125 years old. Moses lived to be 120 years old. Some of the oldest people in the world only lives to be 120 or 130 years old. Pauline’s Grand mother and Candice’s great grandmother lived to be 102 years old. But in the Millennial Kingdom, God said people will live 100’s of 1000’s of years. Not only will people be able to know their great grandmothers and great grandfathers, they will know there great great great grandmothers and great great great grandfathers. In the Millennial Kingdom, people who are not in glorified bodies will build their homes without opposition. You remember when the Jews rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. They had opposition from the Canaanites. But in the recreated Jerusalem, people will be able to build their homes without any opposition. People will be able to plant their own vineyards and eat the fruits thereof.
GOD SAID THEY SHALL BUILD HOUSES, AND INHABIT THEM
GOD SAID THEY SHALL PLANT VINEYARDS, AND EAT THE FRUIT OF THEM
GOD SAID THEY SHALL NOT LABOR IN VAIN
GOD SAID THEY SHALL NOT BRING FORTH FOR TROUBLE
GOD SAID THEY ARE THE SEED OF THE BLESSED OF THE LORD
GOD SAID THEY ARE THE OFFSPRING OF THE SEED OF THE BLESSED OF THE LORD
In the Millennial Kingdom, the Lord will protect you. The Lord will keep you. The Lord will make His face to shine upon you and give you peace. Can I get a witness? If You Believe The Lord, Call Him Up.
God went on in V24 to say, "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." My final point is this: God Will Hear And Answer Your Prayers. Have you ever heard of such a thing? God said in the Millennial Kingdom before you call, He will answer your prayer. God said in the Millennial Kingdom while you are yet speaking, He will already hear what you are asking for. God hears and answers prayers. You ought to watch and pray. You ought to pray without ceasing. You ought to know that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man or woman avails much. Most of know that usually when we pray, it takes time for God to answer our prayer. He may answer today, tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year. God may not come when we want Him to but He’s always right on time. And when God answers prayer, He may say yes. He may say no. Or He may say wait. Isaiah said but they that wait upon the Lord… But in the Millennial Kingdom, while you are praying, God will answer. In the Millennial Kingdom, while you are yet speaking, God will already have heard every thing you are praying for. Just imagine, someone in the Millennial Kingdom getting down on their knees and praying, "God I want to ask you to…" and God immediately answering you saying, "I am blessing your home financially and healing your daughter right now." Just imagine someone in the Millennial Kingdom bowing down and praying, "God I come to you today…" and God saying I have already heard your prayer from your heart and your prayer is already answered. So go in peace and sin no more. People in the Millennial Kingdom will have instant communication with God. Today, some people wonder if their prayers go any higher than the ceilings. Today, some people wonder if their prayers are just bouncing of the walls. But in the Millennial Kingdom, you won’t have to wonder. Your prayers will go higher than the ceilings. Your prayers will not just bounce off the walls. God will instantly hear your prayers. God will instantly answer your prayer. God has a telephone number and that number is Isaiah 65:24. God has a telephone number and that number is ISA-6524. You can reach out and touch God at ISA-6524. God has reached out and touched you at ISA-6524. God has reached out and touched you at I-LOVE-JESUS, I Love Jesus. The song says if you need a little lovin’, call on me. The song says if you need someone to hold, call on me. The song says if you’re lonely and blue all you have do is pick up the telephone and call 6-3-4-5-7-8-9 that’s my number. But God says if you need my love, call on me. God says if you need me to hold you, call on me. God says if you’re lonely and blue just pick up my prayer line and call me at I-S-A-6-5-2-4. That’s Isaiah 65:24. God said This remains me of a story about God’s telephone number. Think about it! What if God had an answering machine? Imagine praying and hearing this: Thank you for calling My Father's House. Please select one of the following four options:
Press 1 for requests
Press 2 for thanksgiving
Press 3 for complaints
For all other inquiries, Press 4
What if God used the familiar excuse: All of the angels are helping other customers right now. Please stay on the line. Your call will be answered in the order it was received. Can you imagine getting these kinds of responses as you call on God in prayer?
If you'd like to speak with Gabriel, press 1
For Michael, press 2
For any other angel, press 3
If you want King David to sing you a psalm, press 6
To find out if your relative is here, enter his/her date of death and listen for the list that follows
For reservations at My Father's House, simply press the letters J-O-H-N on the keypad, followed by the number 3-1-6
For answers to nagging questions about dinosaurs, the age of the earth and where Noah's ark is, wait until you get here
Our computers show that you have called once today already. Please hang up immediately
This office is closed for the weekend. Please call again Monday. End of message.
Thank God, you can't call Him too often!!! You only need to ring once and God hears you. Because of Jesus, you never get a busy signal. God takes each call and knows each caller personally. When you call, the Lord will answer. When you cry for help, He will respond. And when you call God: Use these Emergency Phone Numbers:
WHEN IN SORROW, CALL JOHN 14
WHEN MEN FAIL YOU, CALL PSALM 27
IF YOU WANT TO BE FRUITFUL, CALL JOHN 15
WHEN YOU HAVE SINNED, CALL PSALM 51
WHEN YOU WORRY, CALL MATTHEW 6:19-34
WHEN YOU ARE IN DANGER, CALL PSALM 91
WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY, CALL PSALM 139
WHEN YOUR FAITH NEEDS STIRRING, CALL HEBREWS 11
WHEN YOU ARE LONELY AND FEARFUL, CALL PSALM 23
WHEN YOU GROW BITTER AND CRITICAL, CALL 1 COR. 13
FOR PAUL'S SECRET TO HAPPINESS, CALL COL. 3:12-17
FOR IDEA OF CHRISTIANITY, CALL 1 COR. 5:15-19
WHEN YOU FEEL DOWN AND OUT, CALL ROMANS 8:31-39
WHEN YOU WANT PEACE AND REST, CALL MATT. 11:25-30
WHEN THE WORLD SEEMS BIGGER THAN GOD, CALL PSALM 90
WHEN YOU WANT CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE, CALL ROMANS 8:1-30
WHEN YOU LEAVE HOME FOR LABOR OR TRAVEL, CALL PSALM 121
WHEN YOUR PRAYERS GROW NARROW OR SELFISH, CALL PSALM 67
FOR A GREAT INVENTION/OPPORTUNITY, CALL ISAIAH 55
WHEN YOU WANT COURAGE FOR A TASK, CALL JOSHUA 1
HOW TO GET ALONG WITH FELLOWMEN, CALL ROMANS 12
WHEN YOU THINK OF INVESTMENTS/RETURNS, CALL MARK 10
IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED, CALL PSALM 27
IF YOUR POCKETBOOK IS EMPTY, CALL PSALM 37
IF YOU'RE LOSING CONFIDENCE IN PEOPLE, CALL 1 COR. 13
IF PEOPLE SEEM UNKIND, CALL JOHN 15
IF DISCOURAGED ABOUT YOUR WORK, CALL PSALM 126
IF YOU FIND THE WORLD GROWING SMALL, AND YOURSELF GREAT, CALL PSALM 19
Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines are open to Heaven 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! Feed your faith, and doubt will starve to death! You need faith to move mountains. Faith to unlock doors. Faith to get the attention of God. Abraham become the father of the faith by faith. Moses parted the Red Sea by faith. David slew Goliath by faith. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came out the firey furnace by faith. Now faith... Without faith... We walk by faith... Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Am I right about it? If You Believe The Lord, Call Him Up.
Well, as I am about to sit down, let me tell you that in the Millennial Kingdom, the wolf and the lamb shall feed together. In the Millennial Kingdom the lion shall eat straw like the bullock. In the Millennial Kingdom the dust shall be the serpent's meat. The wolf shall not hurt nor destroy anything at all my holy mountain, says the Lord. The lion shall not hurt nor destroy anything at all my holy mountain, says the Lord. The serpent shall not hurt nor destroy anything at all my holy mountain, says the Lord. There will be peace in the valley for me. And let me tell your something. Sometimes God calls us audibility. Sometimes God calls us in our hearts. Sometimes God calls us with a still small voice. God said and it shall come to pass, that before you call, I will answer. God said and while you are yet speaking, I will hear. God wants us to know that before we call to Him in prayer He will answer our prayer. God wants us to know that while we are talking to Him in prayer He will have already heard what we want. God hears and answers prayer. God knows what you’re gonna say before you say it. God has the answer to your prayer before you pray it. The Lord will make a way somehow. Everything is open to God. You can’t hide anything from God. You ought to praise God for His love. Praise God for His mercy. Praise God for His grace. Praise God, Praise God, Praise God from whom all blessing flows. And Jesus died… And I came by to tell you that you need call God today. The song says if you believe the Lord call, Him up. If you believe the Lord, call Him up. If you believe in the Father and Son and the Holy Ghost, call Him up and tell Him what you want. Can’t stop praising His name, I just can’t stop praising His name, I just can’t stop praising His name Jesus. Jesus, Hallelujah, Jesus praising His Holy name. Jesus Hallelujah Jesus praising His Holy name. Jesus is on the main line tell Him what you. Call Him up and tell Him what you want. Jesus is Alpha and Omega. The Beginning and the End. The First and the Last. He’s the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star. He’s the wheel in the middle of the wheel. He’ my load sharer and my burden bearer. And I just want to ask you one question, "Have You Called God On His Telephone Number Today?" The doors of the church are now open.
© 1998 drsax989238@msn.com
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