A Nation In Crisis

Isaiah 59:1-5, 12-15
(Program 2093, Airing on 4.5.09)

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. One by one, the lights of decency are being blown out in America.
   2. 1 Samuel 8:18
   3. The prophet Isaiah warned a sinful nation that their sins had created a barrier between them and God so that He would not hear their prayers.  (Isaiah 59:1-4)
2. THE SIN OF THE NATION DURING ISAIAH’S DAY
   1. Bloody hands  (Isaiah 59:2-3)
      1. America has bloody hands through the killing of pre-born babies.
         1. Since the 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, America is now killing up to 4000 babies each day.
   2. Lying lips  (Isaiah 59:3)
      1. America suffers from a decline in basic honesty, as cited by an article in US News and World Report.
         1. Matthew 5:37
   3. Wicked hearts  (Isaiah 59:4)
      1. Ecclesiastes 10:1
      2. Our society tells us that private morality can be disconnected from public service.
      3. In our society, public approval validates wrong behavior.
      4. Isaiah 5:20
3. WHAT CAUSES THESE CONDITIONS?
   1. A diet of deception  (Isaiah 59:5)
      1. Lies and philosophies hatched out through the incubators of:
         1. Materialism
         2. Humanism
         3. New Ageism
         4. Liberalism
   2. A web of wickedness  (Isaiah 59:5)
      1. Pornography
      2. Drugs and alcohol
      3. Immorality
   3. The trashing of truth  (Isaiah 59:12-15)
      1. When you stand for truth and against the deception and wickedness, you become the bad guy in the eyes of many.  (Isaiah 59:15)
      2. There is a traffic jam of sorts - judgment, justice and equity cannot enter because truth is fallen in the streets.  (Isaiah 59:14)
      3. Truth is not dead, but has fallen in America.
4. THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH
   1. God refers to the Bible as the Word of Truth.
   2. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Truth.
   3. God describes Himself as truth.
   4. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  (John 14:6)
   5. The church is called the pillar and the ground of truth.  (1 Timothy 3:15)
   6. The Apostle John said, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”  (3 John 1:4)
   7. The only way to defeat deception and wickedness is through truth.
5. WE MUST REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE TRUTH
   1. John 17:17
   2. Proverbs 23:23

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