Open your Bibles, if you would,
to Isaiah chapter 32. The name of the message is Righteousness,
Quietness, and Assurance. Righteousness, Quietness, and
Assurance. Isaiah chapter 32. And we'll read verses 9, and
then we'll read all the way to verse 2 in chapter 33, because
they're all connected. Rise up, ye women that are at
ease. Hear my voice, ye careless daughters.
Give ear unto my speech. Many days and years shall ye
be troubled, ye careless women, for the vintage shall fail, the
gathering shall not come. Terrible ye women that are at
ease, ye be troubled, ye careless ones. Strip you and make you
bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loins. They shall lament
for tears, for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine. Upon the
land of my people shall come up thorns and briars, yea, upon
all the houses of joy in the joyous city, because the places
shall be forsaken, the multitude of the cities shall be left,
the forts and towers shall be for dens forever, a joy of wild
asses, a pasture of flocks. And here's verse 15. Until the
Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be
a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted four forests,
Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness and righteousness
remain in the fruitful field. And the work of righteousness
shall be peace. And the effect of righteousness,
quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in
a peaceable habitation and in assured dwellings and in quiet
resting places. When it shall hail coming down
on the forest, the city shall be low in a low place. Blessed
are ye that sow beside all waters. that send forth thither the feet
of the ox and the ass. And then chapter 33, verses 1
and 2. Woe to thee that spoilest, and
thou wast not spoiled, and dealest treacherously, and they dealt
treacherously with thee. When thou shalt cease to spoil,
thou shalt be spoiled. And when thou shalt make an end
to deal treachery, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
O Lord, be gracious unto us, we have waited for thee, be thou
their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of
trouble. Now the reason I had us read
the first two verses in chapter 33 along with the verses in chapter
32 is that it's a continuous theme of salvation all through
these verses for the people of God. And we know that this only
comes to us in and through Christ Jesus our Lord. We know who the
key to the Scripture is, it's the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether
it be Old Testament Scriptures or New. He is the key to the
Scriptures. He is the key. The Old Testament
testify of Him and the New Testament proclaims Him. And this wonderful
book proclaims that salvation is only in and through Christ
Jesus our Lord. Only in Him alone. No other way. In the Old Testament, we see
types, shadows, and pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ. In
the New Testament, we see the substance. We see Him, Christ,
brought forth. And we see in this portion the
salvation of the elect of God and the sure destructions of
the enemies of God. In our great, sovereign, majestic
God, His enemies, our enemies, are His enemies. And you can
be sure that the enemies of our God and the enemies of his gospel
will be destroyed, will be destroyed, will be bought down. As I was studying this week for
First John, this portion of scriptures was one of the portions I found
in cross-reference the word assurance. The word assurance in our study
for assurance and confidence before God, which we looked at
in Wednesday night study. And I was blessed to read verses
16 to 20 here. Let's look at them again, which
declare the wonderful state of God's elect. And look at how
sure and secure the estate of those who are in Christ is. Then
judgment shall dwell in the wilderness and righteous and the righteous
remain in a fruitful field. And the work, note it's singular,
note it's singular, and the work of righteousness shall be peace.
Singular. And the effect of righteousness,
quietness and assurance forever. And my people shall dwell in
a peaceable habitation and ensure dwellings and in quiet resting
places. when it shall hail coming down on the forest, and the city
shall be low in a low place. Blessed are ye that sow beside
all waters that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
So truly for God's people who are born again by the Holy Spirit
of God, washed in the precious blood of our great Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ, we have truly tasted that the Lord is gracious,
haven't we? We've tasted that. We've tasted that the Lord is
gracious. We're partakers of the peaceable fruit of righteousness. We're partakers of that. All
because of what Christ did for us, all only in and through him,
not based upon anything in us, but all based upon him. And when
our Lord died in the room in place of his people on Calvary's
cross, he established peace for his people. He established it. He established eternal rest for
His people. He obtained eternal salvation.
He obtained it by His work, by the work of righteousness, which
is spoken of in our text here. And all through the shedding
of His precious blood, He purchased our eternal souls. And these
verses bring forth before the people of God, the blessedness
and the security of our salvation in Christ. We need to be constantly reminded,
don't we? I need to be. I know, we need to be constantly
reminded. I know that because we're all
the same. If we all got together in the room and started talking
about what we struggle with, we all struggle with the same
things, because we're all human. You may be strong in one place
where I may be weak, and I may be strong in a place where you're
weak. But we all struggle with the same things. Same things.
Because we're human beings. But oh, what security and what
peace the believer can find in salvation in and through Christ
alone. And we need to be constantly
reminded about what he's done for us because we daily, daily,
daily battle this flesh. And we need to be constantly
reminded of what Christ has done for us. And the preaching of
the gospel, what does it do? It brings forth the complete,
finished, perfect work of Christ for His people. And it brings
it forth right to us. Right before us. And you know what? We never grow
tired of hearing it. We never grow tired of hearing
it. Never. Never. We never grow tired of hearing
what Christ has done for us. We never grow tired of being
reminded of the great salvation that the Lord Jesus Christ has
wrought for us. We never grow tired of it. Tell
me more. Just keep telling me. Just keep
telling me. And we love to hear that eternal
life is sure. It's sure. Because it's in Christ. Because it's in Christ. Our salvation is finished. That's
what the master cried on the cross. Let us always remind ourselves
that. That he cried that when he finished the work, the work
singular of righteousness. He cried that. Turn to John,
1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3. He's done it
all. We looked at this on Wednesday
night in verses 18 to 24. I just wanted to read it again
in light of what we're looking at today. Our comfort and our assurance
is only found in Christ. Only in Christ. Nowhere else.
You look anywhere else for comfort, you go to anyone else for comfort
or assurance, you won't receive it. Who do I preach? Christ. I preach
the only one who can comfort you. The only one who can give
you assurance. The scripture says, comfort ye, comfort ye
my people. How? By preaching the gospel. by preaching the
gospel, preaching Christ. This is what he's done. And if
you're a believer, he did it for you. Oh, it's wonderful.
Keep telling me. Keep telling me. Look at this
in 1 John 3, verses 18 to 24. My little children, let us not
love in word nor in tongue, but in deed and truth. So not just
saying we love, but love in deed and truth. And hereby we know
that we are of the truth, which we believe the scriptures. We're
in him who is the way, the truth, and the life. Look at this, and
shall assure our hearts before us. We have assurance before
God because we're in Christ. We trust Christ in him alone.
Look at this, for if our heart condemn us, oftentimes our heart
does condemn us, right? Let's just be honest, it does. God is greater than our heart,
look at that. And knoweth all things, he knows,
he knows we love him. He knows we love him, beloved.
Look at that, beautiful. And whatsoever we ask in light
of when our heart condemns us, that's, you gotta keep the context
of the whole thing. The context of this is when our
heart condemns us, we cry out to our God. Oh Lord, give me
peace and assurance, Lord. If and whatsoever we ask we receive
of him because we keep his commandments and that's love in his word and
do those things that are pleasing in his sight and this is his
commandment that we should believe on who the name of his son Jesus
Christ and love one another as he gave us commandment and he
that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and and he in
him, and hereby we know that he abideth in us by the spirit
which he hath given us. Now, Christ kept all of God's
commandments for us. Isn't that wonderful? We just believe on him. We just
look to him. We just look to him. So our assurance
comes when we when we get our eyes off Christ. That's when
we tend to have doubts, and that's when we tend to struggle more.
But John and All through the Scripture, what does it do? It
points us to look to Christ. It points us to keep our eyes
on Him. And we have assurance before God in and through Christ
and Christ alone. And if our heart condemns us,
God is greater than our hearts. What does the Scripture say?
This is a Scripture that I love. I memorized, burned it to my
heart because it's so wonderful. There is therefore now no condemnation
to those in Christ Jesus who walk not of the spirit or walking
off the flesh, but after the spirit, no condemnation, no judgment,
none, none paid for. It's wonderful. So the truth
of that verse comes out when I look to Christ. See, keeping
my eyes on him. Because in chapter 7 of Romans,
that's in chapter 8, 1. But in chapter 7, Paul said,
oh wretched man that I am. Who can deliver me from this?
I want to do good, but evil's in me. Because he's a sinner
just like you and I. He struggles just like you and
I. The Apostle Paul struggled just like you and I did. Isn't
that amazing? They're just men, saved by the
grace of God. Gifted men. given the ability
to preach and proclaim and the Holy Spirit had them write the
scriptures. Wonderful. But still just sinners
like you and I. Never of all Bible characters
above Brother Scott Richardson. I still remember what he said
and I love that. It's been burned into my heart.
The ground at the foot of the cross is level. We're all the
same. Sinners saved by grace. Period. Just keep them and just look
to Christ. That's what we're doing. We're all just looking
to him, looking to him. So with that in our minds, let's
go back to our text here. Let's look at Isaiah chapter
32, verse 15. It says here, until the spirit
be poured upon us from on high. In the wilderness be a fruitful
field, in a fruitful field be counted for a forest. Well, we
know from studying scripture that our Lord sent the Holy Spirit
to his people. And what? He's our comforter,
isn't he? He's our great comforter. And who does the Holy Spirit
teach us of? Christ. He says, if you do not speak
of himself, here, direct us to Christ. And he comforts us. How does he comfort us? By us
seeing the scriptures. There's therefore now no condemnation
to those in Christ Jesus. Praise be to God. And how that
warms and floods our souls. When we read, when the truth
of those scriptures are applied to our hearts by God the Holy
Spirit, it's wonderful. It's absolutely wonderful. Go
two chapters over to Isaiah chapter 44. Isaiah chapter 44. Two, or
not two chapters, over actually 12 chapters. Sorry. Isaiah chapter
44. We'll read verses one to five.
Look at this. In light of until the spirit be poured out upon
us from on high and the wilderness be a fruitful place and the fruitful
field be counted for a forest. Look at this. Isaiah 44 verses
1 to 5. Yet now hear, O Jacob, my servant
in Israel, whom I have chosen. Thus saith the Lord that made
thee and formed thee from the womb. Look at that. Formed us
from the womb. Which will help thee. Fear not,
O Jacob, my servant. And thou, Jezreel, whom I have
chosen. For I will pour water upon him
that is thirsty. Are you thirsty? Oh, I pray God
to make you thirsty. were the things of Christ. And
the floods upon dry ground. Well, we were dry ground, beloved,
in our natural state. We were like a wilderness, like
the scripture said. We're a wilderness. And remember,
our scripture said the wilderness will be a fruitful field. Because
floods are poured upon that dry ground. I'll pour my spirit upon
thy seed and my blessings upon thy offspring. and they shall
spring up among the grass as willows by the water courses.
One shall say, I am the Lord's, and another shall call himself
by the name of Jacob, and another shall subscribe with his hand
unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel. We are
all this in Christ, beloved, in Christ alone. He is the servant
spoken of, chosen. We're chosen in Him, beloved,
chosen in Him. And think how in our natural
state we're like a wilderness. We're like a barren wilderness
with no care for God, no care for the things of God, no care
at all. And think of all the Holy Spirit
has taught you. Think of that. Think of all the
Holy Spirit has taught you since you're born again. Marvel at
what He's taught you. We can't take any credit for
it. Because the scripture says we're taught of God. We're taught
of Him. But just marvel in what you know
about Him right now. Marvel in the fact that you know
He's your Savior. Marvel in the fact that Brother Tim brought
in the sovereignty of God, that you know that God is absolutely
sovereign. That He rules over everything.
Did you know that before? You didn't have a clue. I didn't have a clue. My! Think of how God the Holy Spirit has been so gracious to you that when you hear the Word of
God preached, He points you right to Christ. He points you right to Christ,
doesn't He? He's taught you, He's taught me, We who believe
the things of Christ. Things that we had no idea about. Now I had a god of my imagination
I worked up. But I found out he wasn't a real
god. He was a figment of my imagination. And then the God of the Bible
reveals himself to you and we go, oh my. Oh my. And then what happens? We grow
in grace, right? Now religion will tell you you
got to keep doing stuff, doing this, doing this, doing this
to grow in grace. I'm telling you what, only God the Holy Spirit
can help us grow in grace. And often times we do not even
see it in ourselves. I know I've said that a lot from
the pulpit. We do not see it in ourselves, but others see
our growth. That's how it is. We just see
ourselves as, oh my. Oh my Lord. And He's slowly conforming us
to the image of Christ. It's absolutely wonderful. And it's all a mighty work of
God. And we know from studying our scripture, studying the scriptures,
that in the Gospel of John, that God sent the Holy Spirit. Turn,
if you would, to John 16. He sent the Holy Spirit. And
our scripture says, until the Spirit be poured out upon from
on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful place, a fruitful
field, and a fruitful field be counted for a forest. Look at
this in John chapter 16, verses 7 Now keep your finger though in
Isaiah, because we'll be going right back there. Look at this. And again, I'll read the scripture
in Isaiah 32, 15. Until the Spirit be poured upon
us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the
fruitful field be counted for a forest. Look at this. In John
chapter 16, verses 7 to 14. Nevertheless I tell you the truth,
it is expedient for you that I go away. For if I go not away,
the Comforter will not come unto you." Where's the Comforter come
from? From on high. He's the Spirit from on high,
isn't He? Just like Isaiah said. He's the Spirit from on high.
But if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He has
come, He will reprove the world of sin. What does He do for God's
people? Did you know you were a sinner
before the Lord saved you? And I don't mean, I don't mean,
I mean did you really know? That's
what I mean. Because whenever people told me I was a sinner,
I'd always tell them I was a good person. I'm not that bad. Knowing you're
a sinner. From the top of your head to
the bottom of your feet. And what does the Holy Spirit
teach us? When He's drawn us to Christ, and when we're born
again by the Holy Spirit of God, He teaches us we're sinners.
He teaches us we're sinners. It says here, He reproved the
world. He reproved the world of sin and of righteousness and
of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on me. Of righteousness,
because I go to my Father and you see me no more. judgment
because the prince this world is judged I have yet many things
to say unto you but you cannot bear them now how bait when he
the spirit of truth has come but what he does he will guide
you into all true you see he's the one who's taught us
who God really is he's the one who's revealed to us who God
really he's the one who's Bought us to the one who is called the
way, the truth, and the life, the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's
the Holy Spirit who's revealed him to us. All by the grace and
mercy of God. And beloved, let this sink deep
into your souls. All because it was the will and
purpose of God for you to know. Oh my. Absolutely amazing grace. Look
at this. He'll guide you into all truth
for he shall not speak of himself. But whatsoever he shall hear
that shall he speak and he will show you things to come. Look
at verse 14 though. He shall glorify me. He'll glorify
Christ. He'll glorify Christ. For he
shall receive of mine and show it unto you. He's the one who
reveals the truth to us. He's the one. He's the one who
brought us from darkness to light. He's the one who took us from
deadness to life. We were dead in trespasses and
sins and now we're made alive in Christ. It's Him who's done
this, beloved. It's the work of God. Just what we looked at
in Sunday school. It's all the work of God. He
gets all the glory, honor and praise for it all. Let's go back
to Isaiah 32.15 and we see here that the work of the Holy Spirit
of God what we looked at in John chapter 16, He's poured out from
on high. Until the Spirit be poured out
from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the
fruitful field be counted for a forest. And we have revealed
to us by the Holy Spirit of God that the kingdom of Christ is
a spiritual kingdom. It cannot be known by natural man. It can't
be known by natural man. Scripture says this, and I will
pray the Father and He shall give you another comforter. Christ
again, speaking of giving the Comforter. That He may abide
with you forever. Listen to these words though.
Even the spirit of truth. Whom the world cannot receive. Now think of that. There's churches out there saying,
just come and receive Jesus. Just come. He's waiting for you.
I was thinking of how ludicrous it was that the sovereign God
of the universe Well, we don't do this in preaching, but it's
not even the same Jesus. I'm sorry, it's just not. I'm
not sorry, it's not the same Jesus. They would say that God is sitting
there and he can't do anything unless you let him. The natural
man can't receive the things of God. The natural man can't
receive the spirit of truth. He's given from on high. He's poured out from on high.
Upon who? Upon God's people. A people of
God's choosing from eternity. And that just magnifies the sovereignty
of God and puts us right in the dust, doesn't it? That's what
it does. That's the God of the Bible.
That's the God of the Bible, beloved. Listen, it says, whom
the world cannot receive because it seeth him not. Neither knoweth
him, but ye know him. You know him, because he's revealed
himself to you. Because he's been poured out
on high to you. You know him. For he dwelleth
with you and shall be in you. And so we who are born again
by the Holy Spirit of God have revealed to us by the Holy Spirit
the kingdom of Christ. It's a spiritual kingdom. It
cannot be known naturally. And the result is that the born-again
believer who was a barren wilderness, like we see in the scripture,
who is a barren wilderness, and do you know that all that works-based
religion can produce is a barren wilderness? Is a barren wilderness. But that which the Holy Spirit
produces takes the wilderness and turns it into a forest. as
a work of God. It's a work of God. Oh my. And works-based religion produces
a false confidence, and the field is still barren. But all praise
be to God. Those who are born again by the
Spirit, and not by anything we do, are made a fruitful forest,
all by the work of the Holy Spirit of God. Look at verse 16, then
judgment shall dwell in wilderness and righteousness remain in the
fruitful field. This wonderful verse speaks of the preaching
of the gospel of God's free grace in Christ is referred to judgment
as it judges the world of sin and sets forth the one acceptable
sacrifice. The one acceptable sacrifice
before God, that being the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn if you would
to Isaiah chapter 51, Isaiah chapter 51. Look at verses 1 to 8. Isaiah 51, verses 1 to 8. Hearken to Me, ye that follow
after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord. Look into the
rock which ye are hewn, into the hole of the pit whence ye
are digged. So this verse is telling you,
never forget the rock you were hewn from. Don't ever forget
where you came from and don't ever forget the pit that you
were in when the Lord pulled you out. Don't ever forget that. Look
unto Abraham your father, unto Sarah that bare you, for I called
him alone and blessed him and increased him. For the Lord shall
comfort Zion, that's the church. He will comfort all her waste
places. He will make her wilderness like Eden. We were a wilderness. made like Eden. In her desert
like the garden of the Lord, joy and gladness shall be found
therein. Thanksgiving in the voice of
melody. Well we have joy and gladness, don't we? Because of
our great Savior and what He's done. Thanksgiving, well we give
Him all the thanks and praise for what He's done for us. It's
absolutely wonderful. He gets all the glory. He gets
all the glory in the voice of a melody. Oh, we sing praises
to our God, don't we? Hearken unto me, my people, and
give ear unto me, O my nation, for a law shall proceed from
me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of my people.
My righteousness is near. My salvation is gone forth. It's
gone forth, and it goes forth in the preaching of the gospel.
In mine arms shall judge the people. The isles shall wait
upon me, and on mine arms shall they trust. Lift up your eyes
to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath, for the heavens
shall vanish away like smoke. And the earth shall wax old like
a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. But my salvation shall be what? Forever, it says in the scripture.
My salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not
be abolished. Now think of that. We're clothed
in the righteousness of Christ. It shall not be abolished. Hearken
unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is
my law. Fear not the reproach of men,
neither be ye afraid of their violence. For the moth shall
eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like
wool. But my righteousness shall be forever." Forever. And my salvation from generation
to generation. God has a chosen people, right?
In every generation, beloved. Every generation. So the gospel
declares that the judgment which was due the elect fell upon Christ.
The judgment that was due us fell upon Christ, we who are
His people. Our sins were imputed to Him, and then His perfect
spotless righteousness, which is forever, is given to us. And the work that Christ did
in our place, fulfilling the law of God in our place, and
having our sins imputed to Him, And having the wrath that was
due us fall upon Him, we see in the next verse is called the
work of righteousness. Singular. Take note of that. Look at verse 17 in Isaiah 32. Look at this. And the work of
righteousness, singular, shall be peace in the effect
of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. I was thinking
about this this morning. Thinking about the message and
thinking about this, the work of righteousness and the singularity
of it. And I got thinking, everything we do is tainted with sin. So therefore, we could never
do what's called a work of righteousness, could we? No, not one. But think of who accomplished
the work singular of righteousness. He who was absolutely sinless
in life and in death. It's amazing. It's amazing. And it's only the Lord who could
accomplish this. He accomplished the work of righteousness. The perfect, spotless Lamb of
God, who knew no sin, who knew no sin, is the only one who can
accomplish the work of righteousness. The only one. So what a wonderful verse we
have here before us. In the work of righteousness
shall be peace. In the effect of righteousness,
quietness and assurance forever. Again, note the singularity of
this. It's a work that can only be accomplished by Christ. The
work of righteousness. In the work of righteousness
shall be peace. Well, who's, what's one of the names for the
one who performs this mighty work? The Prince of Peace. The Prince
of Peace, isn't it? Prince of Peace. And what's a
result of Christ having done this mighty work in our place? What's one of the, what's, there's
so many results, we have justified, we can go through a whole list
of things. But one of the results of the mighty work of Christ
is we have peace with God. We have peace with God's people,
have peace with God. Only because of what Christ has
done. The perfect man completed the
work of righteousness. The perfect man, the Lord Jesus
Christ, the prince of peace. And this peace flows in and through
our souls. Knowing that the salvation we
have in Christ is full and free. And knowing that there is therefore
now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, because he performed
the work of righteousness. He did that, which is impossible
for us to do. Let's look at the verse again
in the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness,
quietness and assurance. quietness and assurance. It's
Christ and Christ alone who has completed this work of righteousness. He performed it. He lived and
died as our substitute. It's all by His life and by His
death that we have peace with God. For it pleased the Father that
in Him should all fullness dwell. And having made peace through
the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto
Himself, by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things
in heaven, and you, Paul's writing to believers,
and you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now have you reconciled.
Praise be to God. Yet now hath He reconciled in
the body of His flesh through death to present you holy and
unblamable and unreprovable in His sight. Colossians chapter
1 verses 19 to 22. Wonderful, isn't it? All because
of the work of righteousness. And then we see the effect of
this mighty work of righteousness which the Lord has done for His
people, we see the effect in this verse is quietness and assurance
forever. Quietness and assurance forever.
Now the Hebrew word for quietness is defined as this, repose. Repose. It means to be still. To be still. What does the Lord do? Be still
and know that I am God. He tells us that. It also means to be undisturbed.
The primary meaning of the verb is the state or condition of
tranquility. That's what assurance means in
the Hebrew. A sense of safety and security. Inactivity or passivity. All we are is receivers. It means we've ceased from our
labors. It also means keeping silent,
which gives us an inner confidence or peace, which only comes from
God. So we repose in our wonderful
Savior. We rest and repose in Him. And
then we see the word assurance in our text. It means security,
a refuge in Him. So the text declares quietness
assurance forever. This is an effect of the great
work of righteousness which Christ has done. And the believer in
Christ has what? True rest in Him, don't we? We
have true rest in Christ. And we are safe and secure in
Him only. Nowhere else. Nowhere else. And then when we
hear the gospel preached and proclaimed, it brings forth the we who struggle
every day With the flesh, that we are just to keep looking to
our wonderful Savior. Or just to keep looking to Him.
Looking to our wonderful, merciful Savior. Because it's in Christ
and Christ alone that we have all our sins forgiven. That we
have true rest. True security. Then look at verse 18. And my
people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation. and in sure dwellings
and in quiet resting places. Again, we see the effect of the
wonderful work of righteousness, which God has done. The Lord Jesus Christ is God
incarnate in flesh. And the result of this perfect,
and I'm going to keep saying this, this perfect, complete
work of righteousness, because it's perfect and it's complete.
Oh, it's wonderful. That's good news to sinners,
isn't it? That's good news to sinners. Perfect and complete.
We who are the people of God shall dwell in a peaceable habitation.
Now we struggle with sin all the time, we do. But we dwell
in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet
resting places. What is it that men most seek?
Peace, rest, and shelter. These are three things that men
everywhere seek. They want to just be peaceful.
They want to live their life in peace. They want a place to live. Shelter. And they want to just rest. Well, the believer in Christ
has all these things in him. All these things in him. All
because of the great work of reconciliation which Christ has
done in our place. The work of salvation is accomplished.
It's accomplished. And we now, who are the people
of God, have a peace that passes all understanding, keeps our
hearts and minds on who? Christ. And Christ alone. And again, this is why it's so
important for us to hear the gospel. To keep hearing it. Because it keeps our eyes focused
upon He who is our rest. He who is our security. He who
is our peace. He who is our Redeemer, the Lord
Jesus Christ. And peace with God only comes
through Him. And what do we do? We rest from our labors, don't
we? I remember in religion, oh my, I was constantly laboring. It was horrible. It was horrible. And don't get me wrong. When
the Lord saves us, we want to serve God, don't we? What's the
one thing you wish you could stop doing? Sin. Don't you wish you could just
stop sinning? We all wish that, don't we? One day we will. One
day we will. One day we will. But we desire
to serve the Lord. We desire to have his name proclaimed.
We desire to hear the gospel now. Because we have rest in
and through Him. And Him alone. And so we desire
the Gospel to go forth. We desire to hear it. We praise
God when the Gospel is proclaimed. When Christ is proclaimed. And we've ceased from our labor.
We've ceased from trying to work our way to save ourselves. Because
we know we were like a wilderness when we were doing that. Unfruitful. And we just rest in Him. And
it's God and the Holy Spirit, again, that has us grow in the
grace and knowledge and truth of the things of Christ. He's our resting place. We've
ceased from our labors. We've ceased trying to establish
our own righteousness, haven't we? And if you're trying to establish
your own righteousness, stop. Flee to Christ. May God make
you willing to flee to Him. Oh my. He's a wonderful Savior. He's a merciful Savior. And Scripture says the gates
of hell shall not prevail against this church. Why? Because she's like a garden enclosed. She's protected. She's a gated
garden. And it's Christ who protects
us. He watches over us. He's our
shelter. He's our security. He's our hope.
And think of this, the one who's fenced us in, the one who's enclosed
the garden, is the one who never slumbers nor sleeps. Never. Even when we're sleeping, we're
in His hand. All the time. God's people are
in His hand. Look at verses 1 and 2 of this
chapter in Isaiah 32. What a quiet resting place we
have in Christ. He's a shelter in the time of
storm, isn't He? Look at this. Behold, a king shall reign in
righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. And a man shall
be in hiding place from the wind. Well, that's Christ. And a covert
from the tempest. as rivers of water in a dry place
as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. Have you ever thought that when
Christ died on the cross and when He endured the wrath of
God and the judgment of God that was rightfully due us, He was
like a great rock and we were sheltered behind Him? And all
the fury fell upon that rock. That's what Christ did for His
people. All the wrath and judgment of God that was due us, fell
upon Him. And He's our hiding place, beloved.
He's our shelter in the time of storm. What a Savior. Can we do anything
but praise Him? Knowing that He's done these
things for us? It fills our hearts with joy, doesn't it? The wondrous
things He's done. Let's look at verse 18 and 19
in the same chapter, Isaiah 32, verses 18 and 19. My people shall
dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in
quiet resting places, when it shall hail, coming down on the
forest, and the city shall be low in low place, in a low place. Note in verse 19, we see that
judgment will fall upon the wicked as hell in this verse is a picture
of God's judgment and the wicked upon the wicked and it'll fall
upon but praise be to God that God's people will escape it.
They are safe in Christ. And note the verse says the city
shall be in a low, shall be low in a low place. This represents
the people of God. Reprobates are here compared
to forest or tall woods. They shall be hell beaten and
grievously plagued. Remember the Egyptians? All them
plagues fell upon the Egyptians, but nothing touched the Israelites.
Nothing. Nothing touched the Israelites.
Not even a dog barked against the Israelites. It shall be well with the people
of God. There's a city that stands in a low bottom, safe and secure
in Christ. Safe and secure in Christ. And remember that all our afflictions
upon this earth, although we can't see it all the time, they're
working for our good and for God's glory. Because always remember, His mercy endureth forever. Forever. Look at verse 20. Blessed are ye that sow beside
all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
This wonderful verse speaks of the preaching of the gospel.
And that will not return void. It successfully accomplishes
that which it was sent forth to do. And the elect, the elect of God are in this
world. We don't know who they are. Therefore, the Gospels preach
to all. The Gospels preach to all. Like
cast and seed. And it's God who makes it grow. Listen to what Brother Tim James
brings forth about this ox and the ass here. He says, the employment
of the ox and the ass was not permitted under the law, but
under the gospel. Both Jew and Gentile, saved by
grace, will carry the gospel to the world because the Lord
hath broken the middle wall between and of the two hath made one
man. In Christ, the ox and the ass
are made the same. He says it represents the Jews
and the Gentiles being brought together in the gospel. Wonderful. Turn if you would to Colossians
chapter 3. And let's look at verses 10 and 11 in light of
that. In light of both Jew and Gentile.
Colossians chapter 3. Let's start in verse 10, "...and
have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after
the image of him that created him, where there is neither Greek
nor Jew, circumcision nor armed circumcision, barbarian, Scythian,
bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all." One in Christ,
both Jew and Gentile. One in Christ. Let's read Isaiah chapter 33
now, verses 1 and 2. Woe to thee that spoilest, and
thou wast not spoiled, and dealt treacherously, and they dealt
not treacherously with thee. When thou shalt cease to spoil,
thou shalt be spoiled. And when thou shalt make an end
to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.
O Lord, be gracious unto us. We have waited for thee. Be thou
their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of
trouble. We see here that judgment will
fall upon the wicked. We see the response of how God
treats the enemies of his people, which are his enemies. Which are his enemies. Judgment
shall fall upon them. Turn if you would to Matthew
chapter 25. Matthew chapter 25. Matthew chapter 25. Matthew chapter 25. Look at verse 41, but let's move
up actually, let's move up to Verse 34. Actually, we'll read verse 33.
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats
on the left. Then shall the king say unto
them on his right hand, Come ye, blessed Lord, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Just let that sink in. Prepared for you from the foundation
of the world. We're chosen in Christ. before
the foundation of the world. For I was hungered and you gave
me meat. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger
and you took me in. Naked and you clothed me. I was
sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came
unto me. Now remember in Matthew 7 there's a group of religious
folks and they say, Lord, Lord, we did all these things for you. We cast out demons in your name,
we did all this stuff, and the Lord said, I never knew you.
Now here we see God speaking to the elect of God, right? And
he says, you've done all these things, and look what they say.
Then shall the righteous answer saying him, Lord, when saw we
thee and hungered and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in, and naked and clothed
thee? When saw we these sick or in prison and came unto thee?
So they have no clue when they've done these things. Sure the opposite of the religious
world, right? It is. Grace changes everything. Grace changes everything. And
the king shall answer and say unto them, verily I say unto
you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Why? Because he's the
head and we're the body. Now he turns to the goats. Then shall he say unto them on
the left hand, depart from me, ye cursed in the everlasting
fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungered
and you gave me no meat. I was thirsty, and ye gave me
no drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me not in. Naked, and
ye clothed me not. Sick, and in prison, and ye busied
me not. Then shall they also answer him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee in hunger, or thirst, or stranger,
or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
When did we not do these things? Then shall ye answer them, saying,
Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the
least of these, those on his right hand, the elect of God. He did it not unto me. And these shall go away into
everlasting punishment, but the righteous unto eternal life. Oh my. Undeserved. unmerited, eternal life in and
through Christ and Christ alone. The Lord's people have peace,
shelter and rest in Christ and Him alone. And we know that the
Lord has been gracious to us. We know He's been gracious to
us. And look at verse 2 of Isaiah 33. Oh Lord, be gracious unto
us. We have waited for thee. Be thou
their arm every morning. Our salvation also in the time
of trouble. And he is, isn't he? Praise his mighty name. What
a great God we have. What a great Redeemer we have.
In and through Jesus Christ our Lord. Heavenly Father, we thank
Thee for allowing us to gather together. O Lord, what a wonderful
Savior You are. What wonderful rest and peace
and assurance the believer has in and through Thee, O Lord.
We praise Your name. We thank You for drawing us here,
for giving us a heart that hungers and thirsts after righteousness,
which we know is You, Lord Jesus. We thank You for We, who are
your people, thank you for giving us ears to hear and eyes to see
thee, Lord, to look upon thee. And we thank thee for the marvelous
grace and salvation that we've received in and through thee.
O Lord, we pray that you'd make it effectual to those who do
not know you here. If they're your lost sheep, that
you draw them in, O Lord. That's our hope, that you'd save
your lost sheep, O Lord. All for your glory and honor
and praise. In Jesus' name, amen.