REFLECTIONS ON REFLECTIONS ON THE JUSTICE OF GODTHE JUSTICE OF GOD

01 : Home for the Homeless01 : Home for the Homeless

FGA Genesis Cell GroupFGA Genesis Cell Group2727thth February, 2009 February, 2009

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REFLECTIONS ON REFLECTIONS ON THE JUSTICE OF GODTHE JUSTICE OF GOD

01 : 01 : Home for the HomelessHome for the Homeless 02 : Justice for All Nations02 : Justice for All Nations 03 : God’s Economy03 : God’s Economy 04 : Christian Stewardship04 : Christian Stewardship 05 : Christian Care & Compassion05 : Christian Care & Compassion 06 : Christian Hospitality06 : Christian Hospitality

Video Clip : In Our Own Backyard

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Isaiah 58:6-8 (ESV)

8Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,   and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you;    the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

6"Is not this the fast that I choose:to loose the bonds of wickedness,to undo the straps of the yoke,to let the oppressed go free,and to break every yoke?

7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry   and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him,   and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isaiah 58:3-53 'Why have we fasted,' they say,' and you have

not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'

   Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in 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 LORD?

6”No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; Lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free and remove the chains that bind people.

7Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8”Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

See verse 6 – stand in the gapSee verse 6 – stand in the gap To break the chain of injustice.To break the chain of injustice. Get rid of exploitation in the work Get rid of exploitation in the work

place.place. Free the oppressed.Free the oppressed. Cancel debts.Cancel debts.

What does the text suggests the kind of fast What does the text suggests the kind of fast that the Lord requires of us? Put it another that the Lord requires of us? Put it another way, way, what is God looking for whenever we what is God looking for whenever we fast and prayfast and pray??

A Change of HeartsGod opposes the kind of fast

that is not accompanied by a change of heart

What are some of those practical What are some of those practical things we are required to do in things we are required to do in order to see the oppressed order to see the oppressed experienced freedom?experienced freedom?

See verse 7See verse 7 Share your food with the Share your food with the

hungry.hungry. Give shelter to the homeless. Give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need Give clothes to those who need

them. them. Do not hide from relatives who Do not hide from relatives who

need your help.need your help.

What What does verse 8 suggests that does verse 8 suggests that we we will seewill see when we show kindness and when we show kindness and compassion to those around us? compassion to those around us? THENTHEN … …

Isaiah’s vision

1. our light break forth like the dawn.

2. our healing shall spring up speedily.

3. our righteousness shall go before us;the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

- Continually Growing -

What do you understand by each of those phrases?

“Our light break forth like the dawn.”

God radiates his presencethrough us

so that others might see something in us that makes them

stop and consider and turn towards God.

Not light of personal celebritybut

Light that points to God

“our healing shall spring up speedily”.

Restores what has been lost

This kind of restoration comes only from

efforts that exceed obligations.

“Rearguard” – a separate troop to guard the rear of a moving troop or delay the pursuit of main military body.

Isaiah 52:12 “The Lord will go before you,

the God of Israel will be your rearguard.”

“our righteousness shall go before us; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard”

“our righteousness” NOT “self-righteousness”

Our righteousness in Christ – godliness.

APPLICATIONAPPLICATION

1.1. Being aware of the needs of Being aware of the needs of people around us.people around us.

Isaiah 58:6-86"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

8Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,   and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you;    the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

GOD BLESSGOD BLESS