Sermon # 158             Series: Isaiah

 

Title:  Children of Light Walking In Darkness And Children of Darkness Walking In Light

Text:  Isaiah 50:10-11

Subject:  Struggling Faith And Confident Self-Righteousness.

Date:   Sunday Evening – August 1, 1993

 

Introduction:

 

Anyone can learn the letter of Holy Scripture.  A person can, by diligent study and repeated instruction grasp…

 

A person can learn these things and teach them to others, and never be affected by them.  But there are gems of living, spiritual truth’s hidden in the Holy Scriptures, like treasures in a deep mine, which no one can learn except by the experience of grace.

 

Our text tonight is one of those vast, deep mines.  As I read the text and begin to declare its message, some of you will find your very souls echoing what I say because you will know by experience what I am talking about.  Others will be either unconcerned or bewildered, or offended, because what the prophet says in this passage of Holy Scripture will expose the state and condition of their hearts.

 

The title of my message is a bit unusual, but you will see it clearly justified when we read our text.  This is my title – Children of Light Walking In Darkness And Children Of Darkness Walking In Light.  Read the text with me – Isaiah 50:10-11.

 

Here two distinct characters are traced out by the hand of God the Holy Spirit.  One is a child of God, an heir of heaven, a child of light.  The other is a child of satan, an heir of hell, a child of darkness.  The child of light is described as one walking in darkness.  But the child of darkness is said to walk in light.  The one walking in darkness is comforted.  But the one walking in light is warned.

 

Proposition:  These two verses teach us that True Believers Are After Distressed And Troubled About The State of Their Souls, While Mere Hypocrites Are Very confident And Full Of Assurance.

 

I.  Verse 10 describes Children of Light Walking In Darkness.

 

I will spend the bulk of my time here because my object is to help you whose souls are heavy; and a clear understanding of verse 10 will make the next verse perfectly clear.

 

A.  First, Isaiah shows us The Character of Every True Child of God.

 

1.  The believer is a person who fears the Lord.

·         Not a Slavish, Legal Fear.

 

2.  A child of God is a Person who Obeys The Voice of His Servant.

·         Christ His Servant (vv. 4-8).

  1. In matters of Faith.
  2. In matters of Doctrine.
  3. In matters of Duty.
  4. In matters of Conduct.

 

“Holy reverence within the heart, and careful obedience manifested in the life, these are the two infallible marks of the true man of God.” – Spurgeon.

 

That is the character of a true believer – He fears God and obeys him!

 

B.  Next, the prophet describes The Condition In Which Believers Often Find Themselves – Waling in darkness and having no light!

 

NOTE:  This is not the condition of all God’s children.  But it is the condition of many.  It is not the condition they are in all the time.  But it is the condition they are in much of the time.

 

1.  When Isaiah says these dear saints walk in darkness and have no light, he does not mean for us to understand that in an absolute sense – The word “light” here means “brilliance,” or “clear-shining light” -

 

  1. We always have the light of God’s truth, but not of his countenance – (Ps. 4:6; 80:3; Song. 5:2).
  2. We have the light of our duty always, but not of God’s favor – (Ps. 88:46; Lam. 3:1-18).
  3. We have the light of God’s goodness and grace in Christ always, but not of assurance.
  4. We have the light of God’s promises always, but not of his presence.
  5. The fact is, true believers often walk in darkness..

 

 

4.  Though we often walk in darkness, we are not excused or absolved from daily duty – The text speaks of those who walk in darkness!  True believers never quit, even when they cannot see!

 

C.  Third, notice The Counsel Isaiah Gives To God’s Children Walking In Darkness – “Let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.”

 

1.  Trust The name of the Lord – Jehovah.

 

2.  This is both a gracious invitation and a direct command.

 

a.  If you cannot trust God in the darkness, you do not trust him at all.

     Illus:  A Husband.

               A Father.

b.  If you trust God only in the light, your trust is not in God but in your experience.

c.  God’s promises were made for dark times!

 

3.  We all must learn to trust God in the darkness.

 

  1. Faith without support is God honoring faith.
  2. This is the way we grow in faith.

 

II.  Verse 11 shows us Children of Darkness Walking In Light.

 

A.  They Kindle a Fire of Self-Righteousness.

B.  God Leaves them to Walk in the Light of Their Own Fire; and they do so with great confidence and Peace.

C.  In the End God will Give Them Sorrow.

 

Application:

 

    1. To believe God is or Truest Wisdom.
    2. To obey God is our Truest Happiness.
    3. To find Rest and Peace apart from Faith in Christ is Man’s Highest Folly!