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Church… lean in for a moment.
Let me talk to you.
Israel — God’s chosen people, God’s covenant people, God’s “brought-you-out-of-Egypt-with-a-mighty-hand” people — had the nerve… the audacity… to start acting regular.
I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. ~ Exodus 6:7
Yes Lord…
Instead of lifting their eyes to the hills from which cometh their help…
Let me tell you something right now — REAL callings are uncomfortable.
And every now and then, God won’t just make you say the truth… He’ll make you LIVE IT.
Israel refused — REFUSED — to put their hope in God
Even after they had sworn an oath and allegiance to Christ. They had made covenant with God to be His people.
Today you have proclaimed that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in His ways, keep His statutes and commandments and ordinances, and listen to His voice. / And today the LORD has proclaimed that you are His people and treasured possession as He promised, that you are to keep all His commandments ~ Deuteronomy 26: 17-18
because they rejected the Rock that carried them,
The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it. Provers 19:22
God raised up His prophet Isaiah to PREACH a sermon without ever opening his mouth.
You might say in your heart, “The power and strength of my hands have made this wealth for me.” “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. - Deuteronomy 8:18
Yes sir, yes sir…
That’s why Isaiah ended up walking through the streets naked and barefoot, not for a moment, not for a minute, but for THREE. WHOLE. YEARS.
…if you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you. Deuteronomy 8:19
Because God said, “If My people won’t listen to My voice, then maybe they’ll pay attention to My visual.”
Mmm, help us God.
Israel was out here drooling over — those Cushites — because yes, from a natural standpoint? Whewww, they looked GOOD.
Tall...
Strong men.
Warriors built like they were carved out of mountains.
Armies that made nations tremble.
Prestige, power, gold, influence — everything that looks like security.
And Israel said,
“If we partner with THEM, ain’t nobody gone mess with us.”
Oh but hear me!
Just because something looks strong…
Just because somebody looks stable…
Just because a situation looks safe…
Does not mean it’s God.
See, Israel forgot WHO THEY WERE.
God didn’t choose them to be normal.
He didn’t call them to be regular.
He didn’t anoint them to blend in, bow down, or buddy up with…. The culture.
No, no, no — He chose them to be a STAGE,
a divine model,
a living billboard of what happens when a people chose Jehovah God and TRUST their God.
But instead of standing in their calling, Israel started acting cute.
Acting common.
Acting comfortable.
Acting like the….Cushites
Instead of trusting the Almighty who parted seas, they trusted what was impressive.
They leaned on human muscles And swing swords.
And God said,
“THIS is what impressive will lead to….”
And Isaiah’s nakedness PROVE IT.
Oh, hear me today, Saints —
You can’t live REGULAR when you serve a God like ours.
Now I imagine God felt disrespected.
Every time Israel’s back was against the wall —
from Pharaoh’s army,
to Jericho’s walls,
to Goliath’s roar,
to Assyria’s threats —
God showed up and showed OUT!
Not because Israel is strong… but want to be… regular.
THE DECLARATION PART — SAY THIS WITH YOUR CHEST!
Being a Christian is NOT easy.
Being chosen is NOT comfortable.
Being set apart will NOT make you popular with the world.
But I’d rather be UNCOMFORTABLE and FAVOR-FILLED
than comfortable and spiritually out of relationship with God.
I’d rather stand ALONE with God
than blend in with a world that can’t save itself.
I’d rather walk my calling FULLY
than live REGULAR and miss my destiny.
So here is your preacher’s declaration:
I refuse to be regular.
Refuse to shrink to fit culture.
I choose God’s way — even when it separates me,
even when it costs me —
because GOD. ALWAYS. COMES. THROUGH.
for the ones who trust Him.
