Calm in the Midst of Chaos

Yesterday I was fortunate to preach at my home church, The New Hope Baptist Church, Newark, NJ at their 8 AM Worship Service because my Pastor, Joe A. Carter is dealing with a serious bout of stress and anxiety attacks that have left him absent from the pulpit for the last couple of months and he wanted me to cover for him at a few services. I was honored at the invitation and didn't have to think twice about standing up to deliver my convictions about the coming of the Messiah to both New Hope and the First Mount Zion congregations. I concluded my series on three prophecies of the coming king found in the book of Isaiah with an exposition out of Isaiah 11:10 entitled Calm in the Midst of Chaos. The first 10 chapters of Isaiah deals with God's judgment on Judah for their sinfulness and rebellion against God. He allowed their enemy the Assyrians to discipline Judah but they desired to destroy them, this caused God to bring judgment not only to Judah but also to Assyria. In all of this war and destruction going on, chaos ruled all over the land, and Judah, a once great place was now a mere shell of what they were. But God tells them through Isaiah that he will allow them to rise out of the ashes to become a great people once again, through the sending of his promised Messiah who will bring calm in the midst of chaos. Here is the sermon outline:

Thesis: when our world is filled with the chaotic, this prophecy proves to us that Jesus Christ is uniquely qualified to bring into our lives the peace that we need.

I. Supremacy of His Lineage

-verse 10...in that day the root of Jesse
-Jesse's lineage is royal because of his son David
a. Earthly Presence - Jesus is known as the Son of David
b. Eternal Past - in eternity past Jesus sat at the right hand of the Father who sat on the throne
c. Eschatalogical Position - this Prophecy refers not only to Jesus' first coming but also his second coming during the 1000 Millenial Rule found in Revelation 20

II. Standard of His Lifestyle
-verse 10...shall stand as a signal for his people...of him shall the nations inquire
-Jesus is the standard bearer by which all actions shall be held up against
a. Assemble the Righteous - stand as a signal for his people
b. Attract the Unrighteous - of shall the nations inquire

III. Splendor of His Legacy
-verse 10...and his resting place shall be glorious
-the resting place of Jesus is within his church