Open your Bibles, if you would, to Isaiah chapter 35. Isaiah
chapter 35. Isaiah chapter 35. The name of the message is, The
Way of Holiness. The Way of Holiness. This chapter is full of blessings. Full of blessed promises to God's
church. The chapter before this was full
of threatenings to God's enemies. But in this chapter, we see some
of the blessings which are found in the coming Messiah. We see
that the redeemed of the Lord walk the highway called the way
of holiness. The way of holiness. We know
from our previous studies that the only way we who are unclean
by birth, the only way we're holy is in Christ. And in Christ alone. Now Isaiah
53 tells of the Messiah who came and accomplished the work that
He was sent to do. And Isaiah 35 tells of the coming
Messiah. And the blessings which will
come to His people through Him. All because of His work. All
because of what He does as our substitute. And because He came,
we have all these blessings. And remember that all spiritual
blessings come to every believer only in and through Christ and
Christ alone. They're found nowhere else. They're
found nowhere else. The Lord's people are blessed
in Christ and in Christ alone. So any blessing God has for a
sinner, comes in Christ, comes through Christ, and Christ alone. With that in mind, let us read
this chapter. We'll read the first two verses
here to start. It says, the wilderness and the
solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall
rejoice and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly and
rejoice, Even with joy and singing, the glory of Lebanon shall be
given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall
see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God. Now here before us, under the
figure of a barren land in the wilderness, is set forth the
ruined state of man by nature. And this all came about by the
fall. What a desolate picture is here
painted before us, the wilderness and the desert. Again, this is
our natural state before God. We are like a desert. We're like
a wilderness, spiritually devoid, just like a desert. But take note of the wonderful
change which is brought forth here before our eyes. And think
of what happens when a believer is born again by the Holy Spirit
of God and granted faith to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Look
at this again. The wilderness, which is a desolate
place and the solitary place, shall be glad. shall be glad,
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly.
It won't just blossom, it'll blossom abundantly, beloved,
abundantly, even with joy in singing. the glory of Lebanon
shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall
see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God. Now the coming of Christ to his
people is as the sun which rises in the morning. He comes with healing in his
wings, doesn't he? For every believer. He brings
fruitfulness where there was desert. He brings gladness and joy where
there was sorrow and heaviness over our sin. And all these things take the
place of barrenness and poverty and despair and desolation. The
desert shall rejoice. One writer brings forth, see
there it says, in the desert shall rejoice and blossom as
the rose. One writer brings forth that
the Hebrew expression is very strong. It shall flourishing
flourish or blossoming blossom. So think of this in light of
the blessings which the church has and receives in and through
Christ Jesus our Lord. And it's all from our union with
Him, isn't it? It's all from our union with
Him. He's the branch, and we're the vines. And what joy this
should bring we who were once barren, who were once a barren
wilderness in the desert, spiritually speaking. That's what we were. That's what we were. We've been
made alive in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit works
within us, now conforming us to the image of Christ. He brings
forth the fruit of the Spirit. See, in religion they tell you
that you gotta bring forth the fruit of the Spirit, but we can't
bring any fruit forth. But God works in us, doesn't
he? He works in us. And we are being conformed to
the image of Christ. And beloved, this is God's work
alone. Look at this. It shall blossom abundantly and
rejoice, verse two, even with joy and singing. The glory of
Lebanon shall be given unto it. The excellency of Carmel and
Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency
of our God. This is God's work alone. This
is not man's work. We're like that desert. Desert
can't fix itself. It's barren. It's a wasteland. So we see that this is God's
work and God's work alone. We see His glorious hand at work.
And we who are the redeemed of the Lord, we glory in who He
is, and we glory in what He's done in our lives. And we rejoice
and are filled with joy and sing praise to He who alone is worthy
of our praise. We don't glory in ourselves,
we glory in He who's done all the work. It's marvelous. If you're saved,
you're a miracle of grace. You're a miracle. And it's Him
who's done this. It's marvelous. Turn, if you
would, to John 15, verse 4 and 5. And truly, we see the words
of our Master in John 15 brought to life here in this prophecy
of the coming Messiah. Because he alone can make the
desert bloom and the wilderness fruitful, right? Only the Lord
can. But look at what it says in John 15, verses four and five. In light of this, it shall, the
desert being, blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy in singing. Look at this in John 15, four. And may this always be at the
forefront of our minds, okay? That, I love verse five, but
we gotta read verse, Verse 2, Abide in me, Christ is saying
this to his people, and I in you, as the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself. Note that right there. We can't
muster up the fruit of the Spirit, beloved. We can't. There's a whole lot of people
trying to do that, aren't they? We cannot muster up the fruit
of the Spirit. A branch cannot bear fruit of
itself except it abide in the vine, right? No more can ye except
ye abide in me. Look at this in verse five. I
am the vine, ye are the branches. We have a picture in front of
us of the trees all around us of our union with Christ. You break a branch off one of
these apple trees, right? And any leaves that are on it
are gonna die because it receives all its nourishment from the
vine, from the trunk, doesn't it? Look at this. I am the vine,
ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I
in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit. This last part is,
I absolutely love this. For without me ye can do nothing. That puts us in a spot where
he does it all. Isn't that wonderful? The old
timers used to say, let us rest and repose in Christ. You all
are reposing right now. This means you're trusting these
benches to hold you up. You're reposing. You ceased from
your labors right now. It's wonderful, isn't it? For without me, you can do nothing. That destroys religion and workspace
religion, doesn't it? That's marvelous. Let's go back
to Isaiah. We'll read verses 3 to 6 now. Actually, we'll read verses 3
to 7. Isaiah 35, verses 3 to 7. Straighten ye the weak hands
and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful
heart, be strong. Fear not. There's those two little
words again. Fear not. Behold, your God will
come with vengeance, even God with a recompense, he will come
and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall
be opened. Now note, it says he will come and save you. Then
the eyes of the blind shall be opened. In the ears of the deaf
shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap
as a heart, and the tongue of the dumb sing. For in the wilderness
shall break, or in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams
in the desert. Now these were places that were
desolate. Now there's waters breaking out and streams in the
desert. And the parched ground shall
become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water, and the
habitation of dragons, where each lay shall be grass with
reeds and rushes. So what a comfort this would
be to the Old Testament saints as the prophet points them to
the coming Messiah. He's pointing them right to Christ.
And this was the source of comfort for the saints of old, just as
it is the source of comfort for us, for we who are the blood-bought
saints of the Lord, because we know that the Messiah is none
other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. Turn,
if you would, to Matthew chapter 11. Now, the Old Testament saints
were waiting for the consolation of Israel. Beloved, God has come. God has
come. Notice it says, God will come
with vengeance. Even God with a recompense, He will come and
save you. Look at this in Matthew chapter 11. God has come. God
incarnated in the flesh. This is who the prophets spoke
of, the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 11, verses 2 to 6. Now
when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent
two of his disciples and said unto them, Art thou he that should come,
or do we look for another? Now remember what he said in
Isaiah, the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears
of the deaf shall be unstopped. The lame man shall leap as an
heart. Look at this in Matthew 11, verses four to six. Jesus answered and said, go and
show John again these things which you do here. The blind
received their sight. The lame walked. The lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the
poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he whosoever
shall not be offended in me." My, oh, my. There's the Messiah. Right there. Right there, beloved. Let's go back to Isaiah 35 and
look at what occurs as a result of the Messiah's coming. Just
what the Lord said was happening in Matthew 11 there. Look again
in Isaiah 35, 5. In the eyes of the blind shall
be opened. The ears of the deaf shall be
unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap
as in heart. In the tongue of the dumb sing.
For in the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the
desert. Now think of that, too. Think of how those who are redeemed
by our Lord, how they sing praises to him. There was a time when
we didn't. And now we sing, don't we? We sing, beloved. In the
parched ground shall become a pool, in the thirsty land springs of
water, in the habitation of dragons, where each lay shall be grass
with reeds and brushes. Now think again of the words
of our Master, which we just read in Matthew 11. And that
happened right before their eyes. Right before their eyes. And
we who proclaim the gospel, we still point sinners to the same
refuge that the Old Testament saints pointed people. They pointed
people to the Messiah, we point people to Christ, who is the
Messiah. God incarnate in the flesh. Our
Lord, our Master, told the woman at the well, think of this too,
look at verse 7 there. or that latter part of verse
six, for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams
in the desert, and the parched ground shall become a pool, and
the thirsty land springs of water, and the habitation of dragons,
where each lay, shall be grasped with reeds and rushes. Our Lord
told the lady at the well, whosoever drinketh of this water shall
thirst again, talking about the well, and the water in the well,
but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him,
shall never thirst, shall never thirst. But that water that I
shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up
into everlasting life." It's wonderful. It's wonderful. Christ is the Messiah. And then
in Revelation 22, 17, I'll read it. It says, come and let him
that hear it say, come, and let him that is a thirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take
of the water of life freely." Have you taken of the water of
life freely? Oh, my. Has it become a spring of water
rolling up in your soul? In that which used to be a desert
land? Oh, it's wonderful, isn't it?
Absolutely wonderful. Psalm 46.4, the scriptures declare,
there is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city
of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
And so we see the blessings of the Holy Ghost beautifully set
forth here under the picture of rivers and streams of water
in our text. And let us also remember that
when the Holy Spirit came down, all according to the Lord's promise
on the day of Pentecost, and ever since, He comes down on
the souls of His people, and is not the Spirit poured out
from on high upon God's regenerated, born-again people. And every plant in the garden
of Jesus flourishes. flourishes. Turn if you would
to Psalm 46.4, we'll read that again. Look at this. There's
a river, and that river, the streams of that river shall make
glad the city of God. Remember he said, out of him
flows living water. Living water, beloved. Look at
this in Psalm 46.4. There is a river, the streams
whereof shall make glad the city of God. holy place of the tabernacle. Tabernacles are the most high.
Now turn to John 7, if you would. These streams make glad the city
of God, but let us not forget that it is God in his threefold
character, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, from whom is a mighty
ocean all the streams of spiritual life. All the streams of spiritual
life, grace, comfort, consolation, flow to God's elect in and through
Christ and Christ alone. Look at this in John 7 verses
37 to 39. In the last day, that great feast,
day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man
thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth
on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers
of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit.
which they that believe on him should receive, for the Holy
Ghost was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified. Remember the spirit and bride
say come. The Old Testament proclaims this
truth. Oh, everyone that thirsts, come
ye to the waters. Come ye to the waters. Who's
that? That's Christ. That's Christ. And he that hath no money, Come,
poor and bankrupt. Don't bring any works. They're
no good. Come, empty-handed, beloved. Empty-handed. He that hath no money, come,
yea, buy and eat. Yea, come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price, Isaiah 55. Christ alone is that living water. He is the one who makes the parched
ground in the thirsty land full of springs of water. And He alone
can make the desert lush and green. And what a picture of
the believer. Before salvation, we're like
that desert, like that wilderness. And after, lush. Lush. And all we can say is glory to
God. Glory to God. We have no credit.
We don't want to. But we can't take any credit
at all. And what strength this gives the weary Christian pilgrim. Because we're all on a pilgrimage.
We are pilgrims and strangers passing through this world. And
what strength this gives the weary Christian pilgrim. And
we get weary. We struggle. We get weary and we struggle.
So what strength this gives the Christian pilgrim, struggling
through this world, and what comfort through the trials of
life this can be. We are not to lean on our own
understanding. We're not to lean on our own
understanding. We're not to lean on our own
strength. But we're to lean on He who performs
this wondrous work. He who makes the desert lush. We lean on Him for salvation,
don't we? We're to keep leaning on Him. All the way to glory. All the way to glory. I need
to remind myself that all the time, do you? Because we tend
to take things into our own hands sometimes, don't we? No, we just
lean on the Lord. Just lean on all my And marvel
in the wondrous work of grace which he's performed in you.
You who are born again, you who are his people. And he performed
that miraculous work, didn't he? And here keep us and carry
us all the way home to glory. All the way home, beloved. All
the way home. Oh Lord, help we who are your
people to rest and repose in you alone. And let us always
remember that God is our refuge and our strength, the very present
help and trust. I need to be reminded of that. And so we see that Jesus, the
Lord of life and glory, accomplishing wonders in nature and grace,
both on the bodies and souls of his people. Let us now consider
the last three verses. Look at verse 8. And in highway
shall be there... Oh, this is marvelous. And in
highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way
of holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall
be for those the wayfaring men, though fools shall not err therein."
Now note here in verse 8 we see salvation's highway. And note
it's not many highways. Take note of that. It's called
the way of holiness. Know how this speaks of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He's the only way. He's the only
salvation. He's the way, the truth, and
the life. And He said, you shall know the
truth. And God's people know that He
is the truth, don't we? He's taught us that. He teaches
us that. Remember He said, I am the way. Singular. There's only one way,
and this verse here before us tells us that. In highway, note,
singular, shall be there, and a way, singular, and it shall
be called the way of holiness, singular. Isaiah 62.10, the scriptures
declare this, go through, go ye, or go through the gates,
prepare ye the way of the people. Cast up, cast up the highway,
gather out the stones, lift up the standard for the people.
God's preachers, we just move stones, stumbling off the highway. We don't even know we do it sometimes.
But the Lord takes the preaching of the word and ministers to
God's people. And it's absolutely wonderful.
It's absolutely wonderful. Again, our Lord said in John
14, 6, we're all familiar with this, I am the way, the truth,
and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. Singular. Singular again. Turn, if you
would, to Hebrews chapter 10 with this in mind. With this
in mind, and highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall
be called the way of holiness. Keep that in mind. With this truth of one way of
salvation, one highway, let us turn to Hebrews chapter 10 verses
19 and 20 look at this and keep your finger in Isaiah because
we'll be going right back there look at this so in Hebrews 10
verses 19 and 20 having therefore brethren boldness to enter into
the holiest by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way singular
singular which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that
is to say his flesh a new and living way that was spoken of Way back there in Isaiah. And highway shall be there, and
a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness. The way
of holiness. So we see that it's not many
ways to God. Not many ways to God, as the
world says. But one Savior. One high priest. One suitable sacrifice. put away
the sins of God's people. One mediator between God and
man. Just one. One Lord. One gospel. One faith. One baptism. And only one way
of salvation. Only one. And that is in and
through the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone. He alone is the
highway spoken of. Right here. The way of holiness. That's Christ, beloved. That's
Christ. And you who are hearing this
message or will hear this message, take a look over in Isaiah 43,
11. Turn right over there. Look at this. It can't be any plainer. Isaiah 43, 11, look at the, I,
even I am the Lord and beside me, what? There is no savior. One way, one highway, way of
holiness, Christ and Christ alone. My goodness. And in the latter
part of verse 21 in Isaiah 45, it said, there is no God else
beside me, just God and the Savior. There is none beside me. Singular. Singular, beloved. Just one way of salvation. The
Lord makes very clear. And then remember, It also says,
look unto me and be saved. Who are we to look to? Christ,
and Christ alone. All the ends of the earth, for
I am God and there is none else. One God, one Savior, oh my. Let's turn to Matthew chapter
seven, but keep your finger there again, in Isaiah 35. Matthew chapter 7, and we see the contrast here with the many ways which lead
to destruction. The world says there's many ways
to God, but we know those ways lead to destruction. There's
many false religions in this world. And self-righteous men
see no need for the Savior. They think that they can earn
their way to glory. Contrast the many ways which
lead to destruction of a man or woman's soul with this narrow
way. Or as Isaiah says, the way of
holiness. That's Christ. Again, that's
Christ. Look at Matthew 7, verses 13 and 14. Enter ye in the straight
gate. For wide is the gate, and broad
is the way that lead to destruction. And many there be that go in
thereat. There's many on that path. And
I tell you what, I praise God, and I praise His holy name that
I was once on that path. And He took me off, and He did
the same for you, didn't He? We were on that path. Oh, He
took us off it. And look at this, because straight
is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it. Oh, He reveals Himself to us,
beloved. It's wonderful. So let's go back
to our text in Isaiah. 35 and verse 8, it says, and
highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way
of holiness. I ask you this, can a holy God
have anything to do with anything that is unholy? Well, we're unholy by birth. Can our holy God have anything
to do with that which is unholy? We know that He can't have anything
that is unholy in His presence. Can a holy God have any other
way of salvation than that which is holy? Our God is holy, therefore His
salvation is holy. Holiness is one of the attributes
of our great God. Take note here in verse 8 again,
let's read it again, that the unclean shall not pass. And a highway shall be there,
and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness. The unclean
shall not pass over it. But it shall be for theirs, the
wayfaring men, the fools shall not err therein. Now here before
us is a problem for all of mankind. The unclean shall not pass over. The unclean shall not be upon this
highway. The unclean will not be found
on the highway, beloved, because it's the way
that is holy. But praise be to our great God
and King. Praise be to our Savior, that
we who are His blood-bought people, we who are born again by the
Holy Spirit of God, have been made holy in Christ. We've been
made holy in Christ, beloved. And this is a work of God. Just as we saw the desert blooms,
the unclean are made clean, are made holy. Only in Christ. Only in Christ and Christ alone. And this is a work of God. Because only God could make that
which is unclean, clean. Only God can do this. There's
none righteous, no not one. There's none that seeketh after
God. There's none that understandeth. But all of a sudden the unwilling
are made willing. Oh, praise His name. Praise His
name. What a great God we have. What
a great God. Jesus is the highway, the way
of holiness. For the holiness of his redeemed
is in him and by him. So he's not only the highway,
but he's our holiness, beloved. And we are made holy in him. Remember the vine and the branches?
We have a vital union with Christ. We have a vital union with him. But if we walk in the light as
he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. And the blood
of Jesus Christ's Son cleanses us from all sin. But all I am is sin. Everything
I do, even after I'm served, is tainted with sin. But God
sees me in Christ, and he sees you, who are his blood-bought
people, in Christ. the unclean are made holy." Isn't
it wonderful? It's absolutely wonderful. Now
we still struggle with sin, and we will until the day we get
home. We're sinners, but God sees us in Christ, in Christ
alone. The believer in Christ has been
put in this one way of salvation. He's the head, The unclean has been made clean
by the precious blood of Christ, and is now clothed in the perfect
spotless righteousness of Christ. We've been put in the holy way,
which is Christ. And by His blood, and by His
sacrifice, we are accepted in the blood. Accepted in the blood. And notice this way is a select
way. Look at what we read in verse 8 and note the words. But
it shall be for those. And then highway shall be there,
and way, and it shall be called the way of holiness. The unclean
shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those. The wayfaring men, though fools,
shall not err there. Who are the those spoken of? Well, they're spoken of in verse
6. The lame man leap as in heart the tongue of the dumb sing. And they're also spoken of as
the wilderness and desert that breaks out. Streams in the desert. Beloved,
we are lame from a fall. We are lame from a fall, and
dumb, which means we could not praise our Lord with the lips
of praise before he saved us. We were deaf, and God gave us
hearing ears to hear the voice of the great shepherd through
the preaching of the gospel. We were blind to the things of
God, and he gives us sight to look unto him and live. It's
wondrous. It's absolutely wondrous. He
gives us sea and ice. What is another name of those
spoken of in verse 8? Well, it's found in verse 9.
They're called the redeemed. They're called the redeemed.
No lions shall be there, nor any ravenous beasts shall go
up therein. It shall not be found, but the
redeemed shall walk there. They're walking the way of holiness.
We walk in Christ, don't we? Trusting and resting in Him.
The redeemed here are the redeemed of the Lord. Those who have been
purchased by Christ, bought with His precious blood. They've been
redeemed from among men. And they've been redeemed unto
God. And they've been redeemed from
all their sins. All their sins. They've been
redeemed from the law and the curse of the law. and praise
God from the condemnation of the law. They are redeemed. They are purchased
by the precious blood of Christ. And they walk in Christ. And their salvation is holy by
Christ. And they shall walk in the way
of holiness because they're redeemed by Christ. Again, they were once blind,
but now their eyes are open to see this way. They've been made
willing and they've been given strength to walk in this way.
And God will guide their feet and order their steps, beloved. They may stumble and fall, yet
they shall rise again. They shall keep on walking to
the end. Because it's God who puts them
in this way and guides them in this way and picks them up when
they fall while they are traveling in this way. And then they will one day see He who is the way. Face to face. Face to face. And note in verse 10, they're
also called the ransomed of the Lord. And the ransomed of the
Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting
joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness,
and Saul and Sion shall flee away. Note they're called the ransomed
of the Lord. These are the ones who will be
converted By birth they're in the same state and condition
as other men, but because of their being ransomed by Christ
at Calvary's cross, and that's when He purchased us, beloved. They, by the grace of God, are
turned from darkness to light. Born again by the Holy Spirit
of God. Delivered from the power of Satan
unto God. and they are returned from the
paths in which they had been strained to the way of holiness, which is Christ, who is the shepherd
and bishop of their souls. Let's finish with the latter
part of this verse Isaiah 35, 10, and the ransomed of the Lord
shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy
upon their heads, and they shall obtain joy and gladness, and
Saul and Zion shall flee away. Turn, if you would, to Revelation
chapter 7. One perpetual song belongs to
the redeemed. And the scripture brings forth
this wonderful song, and it's sung by all the elect of all
the ages in glory. Revelation 7 verses 9 and 10,
And after this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude... We know
that that's a number that no man can number. which no man could number, of
all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before
the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and
palms in their hands, and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation
to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb." Oh my. Note, they proclaim in glory.
They sing in glory. that salvation is of the Lord,
is of the Lord. Everlasting joy and gladness
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away on that great day when
we join that innumerable company and we will sing salvation to
our God which sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb. Glory to His name, beloved. Glory to His name. Heavenly Father,
again, we thank you for allowing us to gather together. Oh, we
thank you for this wonderful portion of Scripture where we
see the desert, the desert blossoms and blooms. and water flows,
and we know that thou art the water of life, Lord Jesus, and
we see the way of holiness, which we know is Thee, Lord Jesus,
and we have been taken from the broad road of destruction and
placed upon the way of holiness, the narrow way. Oh Lord, we thank
Thee, and we know it's You who's put us on that path, and we thank
Thee and we praise Thee, oh Lord. Glory to Your name. In Jesus'
name we pray.