The God of Purpose - Mark Fitzpatrick Sermon

The God of Purpose - Mark Fitzpatrick Sermon

Isaiah 45:18-25 English Standard Version (ESV)

1For thus says the Lord,

who created the heavens

    (he is God!),

who formed the earth and made it

    (he established it;

he did not create it empty,

    he formed it to be inhabited!):

“I am the Lord, and there is no other.

19 I did not speak in secret,

    in a land of darkness;

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,

    ‘Seek me in vain.’

I the Lord speak the truth;

    I declare what is right.

20 “Assemble yourselves and come;

    draw near together,

    you survivors of the nations!

They have no knowledge

    who carry about their wooden idols,

and keep on praying to a god

    that cannot save.

21 Declare and present your case;

    let them take counsel together!

Who told this long ago?

    Who declared it of old?

Was it not I, the Lord?

    And there is no other god besides me,

a righteous God and a Savior;

    there is none besides me.

22 “Turn to me and be saved,

    all the ends of the earth!

    For I am God, and there is no other.

23 By myself I have sworn;

    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness

    a word that shall not return:

‘To me every knee shall bow,

    every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me,

    are righteousness and strength;

to him shall come and be ashamed

    all who were incensed against him.

25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel

    shall be justified and shall glory.”