Overcoming Unbelief: The Call to Focus on Jesus

 

Summary

Isaiah 53 is a profound chapter that reveals the necessity of a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the reasons behind humanity's unbelief. The chapter begins by highlighting our inherent need for Jesus due to our unbelief, which is the greatest effect of sin. The natural human heart is wired for unbelief, making it difficult for many to accept the things of the Spirit of God. However, the good news is that God saves us from our sinful unbelief through the strong arm of the Lord, a direct reference to Jesus Christ.

Unbelief often stems from being distracted by the wrong considerations. Jesus, described as a root out of dry ground, had no form or majesty that would naturally attract people to Him. His humble beginnings in Nazareth, His work as a carpenter, and His association with ordinary people were reasons for many to dismiss Him. People often look at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart. Therefore, we must focus on the true essence of Jesus rather than superficial distractions.

Moreover, unbelief is fueled by being drawn to the wrong priorities. Our lives are filled with interests and hobbies that consume our time and attention, leaving little room for Jesus. Isaiah points out that Jesus had no form or majesty that would naturally draw us to Him, yet He is the Savior we need. To believe, we must prioritize looking at Jesus and understanding His significance in our lives.

Lastly, unbelief is driven by the wrong desires. We often seek affirmation from others rather than the commendation that comes from God. Jesus challenges us to examine our desires and recognize that seeking glory from others can hinder our ability to believe. To overcome unbelief, we must take an honest look at ourselves and at Jesus Christ, recognizing our need for a Savior and His unparalleled beauty and sacrifice.

Key Takeaways:

- Unbelief and the Human Heart: Our hearts are naturally inclined towards unbelief, a profound effect of sin. This spiritual blindness makes it difficult to accept the things of God, but the good news is that God saves us through Jesus Christ, overcoming our unbelief. [01:04]

- Distractions and True Focus: Many dismiss Jesus due to His humble origins and associations. We often focus on superficial aspects, but God calls us to look beyond appearances and see the heart of Jesus, who is the Savior we need. [11:46]

- Prioritizing Jesus in Our Lives: Our lives are filled with distractions and priorities that draw us away from Jesus. To believe, we must intentionally look at Jesus, understanding His significance and prioritizing Him above all else. [21:23]

- Desires and Belief: Our desires can drive us away from faith. Seeking affirmation from others rather than God can hinder belief. We must examine our desires and seek the commendation that comes from God alone. [31:11]

- Honest Reflection and Faith: To move towards faith, we must take an honest look at ourselves and Jesus Christ. Recognizing our need for a Savior and the beauty of Jesus' sacrifice leads us to the faith we need. [36:21]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - Introduction to Isaiah 53
- [00:32] - Our Need for a Savior
- [01:04] - The Problem of Unbelief
- [02:04] - God Saves Through Jesus
- [03:18] - The Root of Unbelief
- [04:11] - Distractions from True Faith
- [06:04] - Jesus' Humble Beginnings
- [08:21] - Misplaced Priorities
- [11:46] - Looking Beyond Appearances
- [14:09] - Growing Like Jesus
- [18:23] - Living Before God
- [21:23] - Prioritizing Jesus
- [31:11] - Desires and Belief
- [36:21] - Honest Reflection and Faith

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Isaiah 53

Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 53:1-6
- John 1:46
- 1 Samuel 16:7

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Isaiah 53, what are some reasons people might dismiss Jesus based on His background and appearance? [03:18]

2. How does the sermon describe the natural human heart's inclination towards unbelief? [01:04]

3. What are some of the distractions mentioned in the sermon that can lead people away from focusing on Jesus? [21:23]

4. How does the sermon explain the relationship between our desires and our ability to believe in Jesus? [31:11]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might Jesus' humble beginnings and associations be a stumbling block for belief, according to the sermon? [06:04]

2. How does the sermon suggest that our priorities can impact our faith in Jesus? What might be some examples of misplaced priorities? [21:23]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that seeking affirmation from others can hinder our belief in Jesus? [31:11]

4. How does the sermon propose that an honest reflection on oneself and Jesus can lead to faith? [36:21]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any distractions or superficial considerations that might be hindering your focus on Jesus? How can you address these distractions this week? [11:46]

2. Consider your current priorities. Are there any interests or hobbies that might be taking precedence over your relationship with Jesus? What steps can you take to realign your priorities? [21:23]

3. Think about your desires for affirmation. Do you find yourself seeking approval from others more than from God? How can you shift your focus to seek God's commendation? [31:11]

4. Take a moment for honest self-reflection. What are some areas in your life where you might be driven by the wrong desires? How can you begin to change these desires to align more with God's will? [36:21]

5. How can you intentionally create space in your life to look at Jesus and understand His significance? What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with Him? [22:16]

6. Identify one specific way you can focus on the true essence of Jesus rather than being distracted by outward appearances. How will you implement this in your daily life? [11:46]

7. Reflect on the beauty and sacrifice of Jesus as described in the sermon. How can this understanding impact your faith journey and your interactions with others? [37:50]

Devotional

Day 1: The Heart's Struggle with Unbelief
Our hearts are naturally inclined towards unbelief, a profound effect of sin. This spiritual blindness makes it difficult to accept the things of God, but the good news is that God saves us through Jesus Christ, overcoming our unbelief. The human heart, in its natural state, is resistant to the things of the Spirit of God. This resistance is a direct result of sin, which blinds us to the truth and beauty of the Gospel. However, God, in His infinite mercy, reaches out to us through Jesus Christ, who is the strong arm of the Lord. Through Him, we are saved from our sinful unbelief and brought into the light of faith. [01:04]

Jeremiah 17:9-10 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? 'I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.'"

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced unbelief in your own heart, and how can you invite Jesus to transform those areas today?


Day 2: Seeing Beyond the Surface
Many dismiss Jesus due to His humble origins and associations. We often focus on superficial aspects, but God calls us to look beyond appearances and see the heart of Jesus, who is the Savior we need. Jesus' life on earth was marked by humility and simplicity, which often led people to overlook His true identity. He was a root out of dry ground, without form or majesty to attract us to Him. Yet, it is precisely in His humility that His divine nature is revealed. God invites us to look beyond the surface and recognize the profound truth of who Jesus is. [11:46]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: What superficial distractions in your life might be preventing you from seeing the true essence of Jesus?


Day 3: Prioritizing Christ Above All
Our lives are filled with distractions and priorities that draw us away from Jesus. To believe, we must intentionally look at Jesus, understanding His significance and prioritizing Him above all else. In a world full of competing interests and demands, it is easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Jesus calls us to reorder our priorities, placing Him at the center of our lives. By doing so, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of His love and purpose for us. [21:23]

Colossians 3:2-3 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to prioritize Jesus in your daily routine?


Day 4: Desires Aligned with God's Will
Our desires can drive us away from faith. Seeking affirmation from others rather than God can hinder belief. We must examine our desires and seek the commendation that comes from God alone. Human nature often seeks validation and approval from others, which can lead us away from the truth of the Gospel. Jesus challenges us to align our desires with God's will, seeking His approval above all else. By doing so, we find true fulfillment and strength in our faith. [31:11]

Galatians 1:10 (ESV): "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from seeking approval from others to seeking God's commendation in your life?


Day 5: Honest Reflection and Faith
To move towards faith, we must take an honest look at ourselves and Jesus Christ. Recognizing our need for a Savior and the beauty of Jesus' sacrifice leads us to the faith we need. Self-reflection is a crucial step in the journey of faith. By examining our hearts and acknowledging our need for Jesus, we open ourselves to the transformative power of His love. His sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate expression of His beauty and grace, drawing us into a deeper relationship with Him. [36:21]

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV): "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to invite Jesus' transformative power, and how can you begin that process today?

Quotes



The natural person the scripture says does not accept the things of the spirit of god for they are folly to him and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. Well with that being the case then the obvious question is well then what hope is there for the person who does not believe the person who cannot understand the things of the spirit and actually thinks that they are folly. [00:01:26]

Think about it god sent his son into the world this is the greatest good news that this world has ever heard and yet across the world in every culture the good news of jesus christ has been met with overwhelming unbelief now why is that that's the question that's before us why is unbelief the dominant response to the gospel of jesus christ why are so many people on the broad road to destruction and so few jesus says on the narrow way that leads to life. [00:02:38]

Isaiah tells us that jesus was like a root out of dry ground in other words there was nothing in the background of jesus that would lead anyone to expect anything remarkable from him think for example about jesus home where was it nazareth well of course jesus was born in bethlehem and you remember that soon after jesus birth he became as an infant a refugee he had to flee with his parents for his life to another country. [00:04:28]

The gospels make it very clear that other people dismiss jesus because of his work what was his work he's forever known as jesus the carpenter the family in which jesus was raised would have got by on a very very modest income joseph was a carpenter and jesus worked in the same trade and this too was actually held up as a reason for not believing in jesus a reason for unbelief. [00:06:49]

Why is it so hard for us to believe well one reason is because too often we are distracted by the wrong considerations we're looking at the wrong things scripture says man looks on the outward appearance but god looks on the heart so here's the question what then should we consider about the lord jesus christ and that of course is the focus of the whole of isaiah 53. [00:11:33]

Now isaiah is telling us why unbelief is the overwhelming response of the world to jesus christ and here he tells us that one reason for this unbelief is that people do not take the time to look at jesus he had no form or majesty that we should look at him so a great deal of our time and our attention and even our affection gets spent on on music and and food and pets and travel and sports and all of these are good things. [00:21:28]

The bible never gives us a description of the physical appearance of jesus of course artists throughout the years have tried to make an impression but the bible never gives us a description of the appearance of jesus when isaiah says here that he had no beauty he is simply telling us that there was nothing especially outstanding about the appearance of jesus he looked like any other person. [00:29:54]

The relationship between what we desire and what we believe is brought out very very clearly in some words of jesus recorded in the gospel of john jesus said to the pharisees who refused to believe in him how can you believe when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only god now you see what jesus is saying here. [00:31:34]

No one will be able to say on the last day it's god's fault that i didn't believe no one will be able to say on the last day i never had a chance you can't claim inability as a defense god sees behind that and god knows the reality if you wanted the praise and the commendation that comes from god alone you would seek him and if you really were to seek him you would find him. [00:34:26]

The first is to take an honest look at yourself ask yourself this question honestly why do i not believe could it be that i've been distracted by the wrong considerations could it be that in my life i have been drawn to the wrong priorities could it be that the reason that i do not believe is that i am driven by the wrong desires. [00:36:21]

Take an honest look at jesus christ ask yourself this question think about it if it is true that jesus christ is the son of god the lord of glory who has always been at the right hand of the father's side could there then be anything more beautiful than this that he should leave heaven and be born in a stable that as a young child he should become a refugee fleeing to another country. [00:36:24]

Look honestly at yourself look honestly at the lord jesus christ and here is what you will see you will see that you are a sinner who needs a savior and you will see that jesus christ is the savior that you need. [00:37:59]

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Transcript
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