Finding Answers by Brother Duke Hansen

         If you will, turn to the book of Isaiah and go to chapter 53. This morning, the message is about finding answers. Man goes through great lengths and time to get to an answer to what he thinks are potentially unanswerable questions. The answers he seeks is in this Bible. Often the way we search for answers is only in support of our flesh. We don't want the correct answer to questions but what we want what satisfies us. When we think of iniquity, we tend to want to categorize it with sin in general. It's actually separate from sin. There are a couple of traits which run with iniquity. They are self righteousness and self justification. Whatever we take in for knowledge is passed through those two things. God is an open definition to the world as it has many different ideas and descriptions except for the actual definition of God and that is Lord. 

        In business there are procedures taught in training to better a new worker. In the Bible there are distinct procedures which were given to build a better Christian. We are going to start reading at verse 1 of Isaiah 53.

        Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

        2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

        If you look closer at the second verse Isaiah was giving a description of Jesus himself in prophecy.

        3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not.

        4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

        There are those who think that there is some revelation that it was man who had afflicted Jesus before the crucifixion. Jesus allowed it all though. He would live in Nazareth with his family growing up. The Nazarene's were not in the 12 tribes of Israel. They were a group which held to principles that the tribes did not. They did not cut their har, could not touch any dead thing, nor drink any wine down to not even eating a grape. The one figure in the Old Testament to look on from the nazarenes was Samson. Samson was hardly the best example of following the Nazarene code. He failed in all three areas. Jesus and his family settled into this area after leaving Egypt.

        Our flesh operating in iniquity will comb through scripture to find things it can dismiss as in the past or what is allowable today. We pick and choose what principles we want to follow in our flesh. The Nazarene code is a forerunner to the path of faith under the new covenant. Everything we do often is the opposite of what we should do. The things we should carry in our walk we will set to our side.

        The 53rd chapter of Isaiah is prophecy about Jesus, and the beginnings of Christianity. God gives us the choice of what to do in life. There is nothing in scripture that says don't do what your flesh desires. There are many times it recommends to turn or flee from things.

        Christianity means you are set apart and separated from the world. Hold close to the standard which is presented in the scripture. Let us go back to the Isaiah 53 and verse 5.

        5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.

        Jesus nailed sin to his cross but Jesus also said that you take up your cross and follow him. If you aren't drawn by God, this is an empty exercise. The word chastisement is another word for beat. It does bring peace but it is painful to your flesh. If you don't nail that iniquity to the cross in your life, don't be surprised when it carries over to the next life. We will all be judged for our deeds both good and bad.

        There are carnal sins which are numerous because they make the flesh feel better. Iniquity is the emotion set in the DNA which has been passed down generations from Adam. Iniquity isn't something that you can depart from with one simple prayer or the laying of hands. You can break iniquity through humility and patience. God wants you to get right and lined out in your relationship with him. He hasn't commanded you to meddle with your neighbor. You are commanded to perfect your life. You can do this. Let us continue reading in verse 6.

        6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

        7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opens not his mouth.

        If you want to, please read John chapter 3 and the account of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. In their dialogue there are profound truths spoken. Jesus didn't do away with the law but he fulfilled the law. We are to follow what Jesus spoke and did and not the law.

        Everyone suffers, gets hurt, and we do the same to others often with our flesh unaware of it. You cannot get better without dealing with the negative. Jesus took our suffering, our transgression and nailed it on the cross. Your suffering and struggles in your spiritual life is often due to something you haven't forgiven in your life.

        Who has believed your report? There are a lot of people who have not seen the hand of God move, let alone an example of God displayed in work in someone.