Isaiah 19:1 (KJV) The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

Isaiah 19:18-25 (KJV) In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. [19] In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. [20] And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and He shall send them a Savior, and a Great One, and He shall deliver them. [21] And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. [22] And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. [23] In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. [24] In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: [25] Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

Audio of Sermon:

8:30 AM 

11 AM 

There is a wonderful prophecy, part of which was fulfilled and part which is yet to come, found in our text today. God spoke through Isaiah and prophesied that the LORD was to ride upon a swift cloud and come into Egypt. God was coming to destroy the idolatry, the worship of false gods and goddesses, in that place. And God would take the heart of the Egyptians and cause the heart of Egypt to melt. He would soften their hearts after He destroyed their idols.

God sent Assyria into Egypt, and Assyria overthrew this world power. In verse 22 we see the reason for the destruction of Egypt:

the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

The reason that God strikes a person or a nation is not to primarily destroy, but to heal them. God brings tragedy into the arrogant life to cause us to look upward, to trust Him, to love Him. We become so self focused at times that we forget that life is but a gift from God, a stewardship that He has placed in our trust.

Ecclesiastes 5:19 (NKJV) As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor—THIS IS THE GIFT OF GOD.

We do not earn nor deserve the lives we have. It is God Who has given us life. The Lord says

Ezekiel 18:4 (NKJV) Behold! All souls are MINE; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine!

We belong to God. We forget this. Nations belong to God. Nations, composed of people, forget this. God raises up nations, and God causes nations to fall. The Apostle said:

Romans 13:1-3 (NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For THERE IS NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, AND THE AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

President Obama was in office 8 years because the Lord granted it. President Trump is in office now because God granted it. We vote, and should vote, but God is in control. Everything we have and are as a nation is because God has allowed it. He – in the words of the Old King James – suffered us. And God suffers much because of us. He owns everything. Your bank accounts are His, for your souls are His, and He controls what happens to us. And God, like He did with Egypt, can bring or allow to be brought tragedy into a nation. But His intent is not raw destruction, but the desire to draw us back into a sane relationship with Him.

Egypt fell under Assyria, but God had another prophecy in this text that has yet to be fulfilled, a Millennial Kingdom where Grace reigns. God speaks in our text of a time when the Lord is acknowledged and Christ rules, a time when peace is restored to the land.

Where Grace reigns, and people turn to the Lord, wonderful things happen. That’s what our text now focuses on. Oh that God would melt the hearts hardened against Him today. Oh that you would love Him as He loves you. Oh, that you would call upon Jesus, and trust Him to live your life through. Oh that you would see life as a stewardship of God! Oh that you would see life as a stewardship of God!

Where Grace Reigns The Hardest Hearts – and Tongues – Are Changed

Isaiah 19:18 (KJV) In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts …

In the history of the Bible there was no more hardened heart than the hearts of the Egyptians. The first nations mentioned in the Bible are Havilah (Arabia), Cush (Ethiopia), and Assyria (Genesis 2:11). Egypt is not mentioned until the calling of Abraham by God. The Egyptians looked upon Abram’s wife Sarai and Abram told them she was his sister to protect his own life. When the Pharaoh of Egypt took Sarai to himself the Lord judged him by sending plagues to his house (Genesis 12:17). The first Pharaoh that God encounters quickly repents, and returns Sarai to her foolish husband Abram.

The future Pharaoh would not be so soft hearted.

Egypt was a land where, the philosophers said, “people grew gods in their gardens”. Joseph would be sold into slavery to Egypt, and the nation of Israel would become slaves to Egypt for over 400 years. God would raised up Moses and demand through him to Pharaoh “Let My people go, that they can worship Me in the wilderness” (Exodus 5:1). But Pharaoh would harden his heart until ten plagues nearly destroyed all of Egypt. Pharaoh’s heart was so hard that he led his army to destruction into the parted Red Sea. Egypt is a picture of idolatry. But

Isaiah 19:18 (KJV) In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts …

When the Lord touches the heart with His Grace He changes the language of a person. Before I knew Christ my language was foul, cursing, evil. I followed the pattern of my masters, the flesh, the world, and the devil. But God put a new word in my mouth, and a new song in my heart. We who are saved may have been hard hearted as Pharaoh before meeting the Spirit, but God melted that heart with His Grace. God says to us:

Isaiah 51:16 (NIV) I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand– I who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.'”

God’s people learn the language of Canaan. We learn His Word as He teaches us. Just as a parent takes his newborn and begins to speak love to the babe, God takes us and through His Word teaches us to speak. We who are saved learn and love the language of Canaan, the Promised Word. And we speak His Word regardless as to the lesser word of the world. As God said in Jeremiah …

Jeremiah 1:9-10 (NKJV) Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

God’s Word is pure and holy and right. “Every Word of God is pure: He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him” (Proverbs 30:5). It is a such a shame that so many alleged believers have compromised His Word. I have heard the oft repeated statement “Times are changing, but the Bible doesn’t change with the times.” Beloved, when has right ever changed with wrong to be part of the darkness. What God has said is true. “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).

Our Master has said: Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) … “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

The Father teaches His children the language He speaks. A parent who speaks English teaches his child English, not Spanish. A parent who is German teaches his child German, not Portuguese. The Father of Heaven teaches His Children the language of Canaan, the language of the promised Land above. Though you may have been as hard hearted as the Egyptian, you are now His Beloved Child by Christ’s Blood. Though once you spoke the ga ga goo goos of the world, the nonsense of futile darkness, you now speak His language. Your marching orders are to:

Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may IMPART GRACE TO THE HEARERS.

Furthermore, whereas we once cursed God, making His Holy Name a joke and a mockery, those born into His Family magnify His Name.

Isaiah 19:18 (KJV) In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts …

Our tongues called upon His Name to be saved. Our tongues now exalt Him Who loved us,

Titus 2:14 (NKJV) … Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Galatians 1:4 (NKJV) Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

We were given the language of Canaan because that is our destination, that glorious Beulah Land where love reigns. We are not darkness, but we are light in the Lord. The dog no longer barks, the pig no longer oinks, but we sing a new song to our Master as we ascend to glory!

Where Grace Is, The Savior Is!

Isaiah 19:19 (KJV) In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.

Egypt is the land of pyramids and stone gods. When people think of the capital city of Egypt, Cairo, they think of the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids. These were great monuments not to God, but to death and falseness. But where Grace comes, death does not dominate, but worship of the Lord does. Whereas the middle of Egypt used to be an altar to a Great Pyramid, now there is an altar to the Great God Who created all things. Whereas there were pillars where people clung to, now people worship at the pillar of God. Our trust was in other things, but now the saved Child trusts in God our Father.

Psalm 62:7 (NKJV) In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.

Psalm 18:2 (NKJV) The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

We worship the Lord because He has saved us. What has He saved us from? God sent unto us a GREAT SAVIOR. Our text says:

Isaiah 19:20 (KJV) And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a Savior, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.

For years we tried living our lives in this sad, dark world. We tried doing it our way. We made brick to please the masters, but then the masters took away the straw and demanded more and more. The devil cannot be pleased. For every inch you give the world, it will demand another. The flesh cannot be satisfied. We tried it our way, and were miserable. Like the Egyptians we sat by the fleshpots and ate. We made up gods to follow.

So we cried out.

Romans 7:24 (NKJV) O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Sin and death oppressed us, so we cried out. And the Father sent us a Savior, a GREAT Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus came with but one mission in mind, to seek and to save the lost.

In a crowded mall a mother and her small daughter were shopping for Christmas presents. As she became frustrated by the crowd and the long lines at the register she turned, and in irritation asked her daughter “What is the reason we do all this? What is the reason for this season?” Her daughter smiling said “Jesus”. Jesus is the reason for not just Christmas, but every day.

I cried out as a young man, seeking purpose in life. I wondered why we die. I lay in bed at night frightened of death, and wondering what the next life would bring. Then one day I heard the preacher speak of life and Christ, and I realized that I did not have to stay imprisoned. Jesus Christ is the Savior sent of God, and a GREAT Savior. I needed a GREAT Savior, and so do you.

I still need a GREAT Savior, for I am a GREAT Sinner!
And so are you!

Praise God that Jesus came. Jesus Christ was sent to save the chiefest of sinners. The Apostle said:

1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

When I was lost I compared myself to others, and thought “I’m not that bad”. But the day I was saved God the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and made me realize that I am not to compare myself to others, but I am to compare myself to God. Compared to God I am a great sinner. Compared to God I fall far short of His standard. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. ALL HAVE SINNED and FALL SHORT of the GLORY OF GOD.

We are GREAT Sinners, but we have, praise the Lord, a GREAT SAVIOR!

The Pharisees thought and think today that they are above sin. I have heard of preachers preaching on women wearing open toed shoes or slacks. Listen preacher, we have no time for foolishness and falderal. We have no time to preach silliness or novelties. We need to preach a Great Savior. We need to preach what Jesus said:

Mark 2:17 (NKJV)… “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

I have heard people say “I don’t want to go to Church with those hypocrites”. Well do you want to go to HELL with them, because you will, if you do not come to Christ and obey His Word. The Church is Christ’s Church, and it is filled to the brim with sinners saved by Grace. Praise His Holy Name! If you are a sinner Jesus came looking for you. He said:

Luke 19:10 (NKJV) … for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost, but once saved we are of His flock and of His Church. He gave His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28) and has told us:

John 10:10-11, 14-16 … I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. … 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Christ saves His people, His sheep, then brings us into His flock. That is His Church, His flock, the Family of God. The Savior is building His Kingdom, and every local Church is the place where Christ rules and reigns.

Love is spoken here.
Forgiveness is spoken here.
Grace is spoken here.
Not license, but GRACE!

Jesus is King of His people.

Where The Savior Is, Love Is The Order Of The Day

Isaiah 19:23-24 In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. [24] In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land

There were never three more people who hated one another as much as Egypt, Assyria, and Israel hated. The Egyptians are cousins to the Israelites, both formed from the loins of Abraham. One by Isaac the child of promise, the other by Ishmael the child of the bondswoman. The Assyrians were cousins to neither Israel nor Egypt, but loved power and the flesh.

But where the Great Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ is, there is peace. Under the banner of His love, a Great Love:

1 John 4:10 (NKJV) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God loved US, US all. Red and yellow, black and white, we are PRECIOUS in HIS SIGHT. God sent His Son for us all. And though we may have been enemies in our unsaved life, now in Christ we are God’s Children. Where Christ is, peace is.

Listen Beloved, the world would have you believe that you can legislate morality. You cannot. The liberal would have you believe all people are inherently good. This is experientially untrue. The lawyers got together and make two layers of crime, standard crime and hate crimes, and said they would penalize the hate crime the more. Did this stop racism and hatred? No, not at all. The Klan marches in Tennessee have solved nothing. The Gays march in San Francisco and solve nothing. African Americans march in on Washington and solve nothing. The confused burn American flags and solve nothing. Others fly a Confederate flag and solve nothing. We tear down statues and solve nothing. We have placed into the Presidency of the United States both white and black men and solved nothing. Our Congress, Supreme Court, and Schools are desegregated, and nothing is resolved. As a nation we are confused. What is our hope?

Our hope is Christ. Your hope is Christ. My hope is Christ. And where Christ is, there is real solution. Where Christ is your skin color does not matter, but rather “What think ye of Christ?” You are my brother, former Assyrian, if you love Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior. You are my sister, former Egyptian, if you love Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

Isaiah 19:25 (KJV) Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

Peace will not return to our homes, our communities, our cities, our states, and our nation until Christ reigns in every heart. In Him there is no confusion. In Him is peace and the blessing of God forever more.

May God lead you to Him today! Holy Spirit, please touch our hearts.