The Misdirection of Misconception by Brother Duke Hansen

         Good morning. There are a lot of misconceptions we have today in the world. Let's address the definition of a misconception before we move forward. A misconception is a view or opinion that is incorrect because based on faulty thinking or understanding. One misconception is that the image of Santa Claus was invented by Coca Cola to sell sodas. In dealing with misconceptions in the book of Isaiah, you see the Hebrews enthralled as being blessed and highly favored. Isaiah was struggling with trying to impress the truth to them. By chapter 64, Isaiah was being raised up by God and he's praying to God for God to show a visible sign of his power to the people.

        Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,

        2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence.

        It is safe to say that Isaiah has become a little tired and frustrated with the people in the opening verses of this chapter. He's advocating for God to appear.

        3 When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou came down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. 

        4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.

        We cannot imagine, perceive, or even actually see what the next world is going to look like. 

        5 Thou meet him that rejoiceth and worth righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.

        Even those who confessed their sin will be saved. We are all born into sin.

        6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; as we do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

        Our self righteous nature is but a filthy set of rags before God. When you come to God, you aren't bringing any good to the table. You bring junk, sin, and shame to the table. God will forget your sin and put it into the sea of forgetfulness however the trails you blazed before your salvation are still burning with hurt, pain, suffering, and animosity. You have to see the areas of your life that need fixing and repair it. Our iniquities have taken us from God. Misconceptions we believe can hurt our relationship with the Father.

        7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

        There's a reason some people get to not call on God's name in times of trouble or despair. When they don't get a quick answer on something, they grow mad at God. In their anger or frustration of not receiving an instant blessing, they wonder aloud why the Lord has forsaken them. You know the type of person. If you want to get the notice of God, you will get improper with the flesh as you stir the Holy Spirit up. 

        A reminder to you that this book is in the Old Testament and God hid his face because of the Hebrews iniquity. Did he change his position when he came as Jesus and walked with men? No, he's still the same today as he was thousands of years ago. 

        8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou art the potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

        In one of the letters the apostle Paul wrote, he spoke of vessels of honor and dishonor. God made all the vessels. Which vessel do you want to be? Your actions and behavior dictate the design of your vessel.

        Growth occurs in your prayer closet, your one on one time with God in the study of the Bible and in fasting. Growth is not limited to a Sunday morning service. 

        9 Be not wroth very sore, O Lord, neither remember iniquity for ever; behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people. 

        The Hebrews are upset and mad at what they are going through in this time period, and Isaiah is calling out to God if they would see his face again. The cities and synagogues had been ruined and desolate due to their sins and iniquity.

        The presence of God alters things in our life. God can forgive, even lighten the load sometimes, but there will always be judgement. When you read the account of judgement in the book of Revelation, the sheep and the goats are already separated on the right and the left side. You cannot outrun judgement. 

        Now, people will often twist a scripture to suit them personally. One the world loves to put on the believer is Judge not lest ye be judged. The scripture says to judge rightly. Judge in righteousness. After you die there is no redemption. There's another common misconception people use they think is scripture. Have you read someone put online or say in person "God won't put more on you than you can bear". Go to the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 10 and verse 13.

        13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

        The beginning of the scripture is about temptation. This isn't anywhere near what people tell one another. In the scripture, are able, notes that you are already in sin. God hasn't tempted us! Our flesh is weak to temptation! There are many misconceptions we use on one another to make our flesh satisfied, or bring an air of haughtiness to ourself around others. 

        Ask yourself this week what are you doing to contribute your day being different tomorrow? If your week begins and things seem dire and poor by your standard, seek God and pray. You can't control your environment or even other people. You are to confess your faults to one another as believers. It's a misconception of just merely confessing your faults to God and leave it at that. It is so easy to go through life in an oblivious state of how terrible you are in the world, yet rejoice in the sanctuary as if you are truly blessed and highly favored. 

        There are many misconceptions that are rooted in the scripture but are twisted or interpreted to elevate the flesh. God won't change a mind but will lead you to a decision to do so. It is not in his character to change your mind. He leads you to it and either you do or don't. God is not some superhero out there righting wrongs and fighting injustice. He's not going to make your crooked path straight. He will guide your path. Patience will get rid of stress and anxiety. That's why it is called the perfect work. It was created to get your flesh under subjection. Often times we are guilty of waiting on God to move, when he's been waiting on us much longer. Patience is as equal to every gift God has given us. 

        Think of this analogy as we close. You are putting up dishes from the sink and you drop a glass. The glass hits the hard wood and shatters everywhere. What is it you do? You clean up the shards that you see as to not step on any. As much cleaning and sweeping you do though, you may still step on a sliver when you least expect it. God wants you to keep contributing to the clean up process of your soul and in your life. Your walk with God should be consistent and based in the scripture and not on your opinions or theories.