Let's take our Bibles once again
and turn to Isaiah 43. Isaiah 43. I'm so thankful that the Lord's
given us a heart to want to be here. Isaiah 43. I know that every man, every woman born
in Adam is ignorant. They're born ignorant of our need. I know we are. Isaiah, I'm sorry, Psalm, hold
your place in Isaiah. Psalm 14 summed up all of our
our thoughts, needs. Psalm 14, verse two and three.
This is what the Lord has said. Verse two and three, Psalm 14,
two and three. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children
of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek
God. And they're all gone aside They're
all together become filthy. There's none that doeth good.
No, not one. Well, knowing that, knowing that
if they leave this world without Christ, without a mediator, without
a savior, without a priest, they're going to die in their sins. There's not a believer in this
room today that doesn't desire for those that he knows, those
that he doesn't know, that they might know God. I want people to hear. I want
people to understand. I want them to. I want people to realize what
it's going to be like to leave this world without a savior. I want them to know. Well, the
scripture today, Isaiah 43, I want us to look at the first seven
verses. And I just, I want to hear again
what the Lord says to a people. And I want the Lord to cause
me Give me a heart that wants to hear this. I want to hear
it. I want you to hear it. The scripture declares Isaiah
43 verse 1, but now thus saith the Lord that created thee, not
merely created me, as he created me in my mother's
womb. I know that God Almighty is the
giver of life, physical life, spiritual life. Now thus saith
the Lord that created thee, created us, we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus. If we know him, he did it. We
didn't do it, we didn't add anything to it. He finds us dead, spiritually
dead. I wonder how many times, how
many times we've ever heard that statement. We're dead. And until
God gives life, a man that's dead doesn't know he's dead.
I mean, you hear it, but he doesn't believe it. He still believes
he can do something. He still believes there's something,
there's something. I don't know what he thinks he
can do. Dead animals, dead plants. You
know what they do? Nothing. They're dead. They're
dead. They're just dead. Now, thus saith the Lord that
created thee. Oh, Jacob. He that created thee. Oh, Jacob. You heel catcher. You supplanter. He that created thee, O Jacob."
This is what every man is in himself. He that created you, O Jacob,
and every believer will right now admit, that's me. I'm Jacob. I'm Jacob. The Lord wrestled with Jacob
in Genesis 32 and asked him, what is your name? He said, my
name is Jacob. My name is Jacob. I'm the trickster. I'm the huckster that created
thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel. Now, you know
the significance of that. What are we in ourselves? We're
Jacobs. What are we created in Christ
Jesus? We're Prince with God. Man, one
of these days, one of these days, by the grace of God, we're gonna
understand what that means. Prince with God. Now thus saith
the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, he that formed thee, O Israel.
Now listen to this, fear not. Wonder how far that goes, Fred. Fear not. Fear not now, fear not then. You're talking about when I Stand
before God. Can you just, I can't eat, I
can't, but I'll say it anyway. Can you imagine? There is coming
a day when the trumpet's gonna sound. We're all gonna hear.
I'll tell you who all is gonna hear. The dead are gonna hear
it. The dead are gonna hear it. The
dead shall hear the voice of God and be summoned up before
the great white throne judgment. How many people have been born
into this world? They're all gonna be there. They're
all gonna be there. Can you imagine a crowd of people?
What a crowd. He gonna separate the sheep from
the goats. Now this is when these two little
words are gonna really have some significance. Fear not. Fear not. Fear not. You have nothing to fear. Now,
wait a minute. Who has nothing to fear? All
the Jacobs that's been known, made known, that have been made
to know what they are. Let me tell you something. Jacobs, spiritually, they don't
have anything in themselves to trust in. I bet I've said that. I don't know how many times I've
said it, and Lord willing, I won't quit saying it. But I'm telling
you, because one of these days, all of us who need to hear it,
we're going to believe it. We don't have anything to trust
in. I need for the Spirit of God to come to me and make me
willing. Does God have people come because
they want to? They certainly do. They want to. But until He
gives a Jacob, a dead man, a trickster, a huckster, a supplanter, till
he gives him a new heart, I don't want to. I don't want to come. I get it. I know why a man by
nature doesn't want to come. Doesn't want to come here. I
get it. Why? Because he has no interest in
coming. He don't want to come. If he wanted to come, he'd come.
All of us do what we want to do. That's what I do. I do just
exactly what I want to. Well, sometimes. Sometimes maybe
some, you know, something. But basically, I'm gonna pretty
well do what I wanna do. But the scripture says, to all
the Jacobs that's been made to know that they're a prince with
God, not in themselves, because God was pleased to make them
what they are. I created you, I formed you, like a potter forms. I told you this before, I took
a few art classes I never did throw a pot, make one, but I've
watched them do it. And I mean to tell you, I mean,
they're just doing that thing. It just all depends what they
do with this finger or this or do, they just, they made it just
exactly the way they want to. I created you and I formed you. I formed you. Fear not. Why? Why do I have nothing to
fear? if I have been made by the grace
of God to willingly cast myself upon the mercy of God. Why do
I have nothing to fear? He said, well, because I've redeemed
you. Don't fear because you're mine by purchase. Paid for you. I bought you. I paid your debt from the bondage
and the curse of the law. purchased, paid the penalty for
your sin. He says also, I've called thee
by thy name. He knows I'm a Jacob. By the
grace of God, he knows what he's made me in Christ. I call thee
by thy name. I affectionately addressed you
As to who I say you are, I can readily see me as a Jacob.
But let me tell you something, you don't know the half of it.
I've told you that before. But to say that I am a prince with
God, that's just one I'm just gonna have to believe by faith
and be thankful for. To say this, that if I have no
reason to fear, it's because he's made me what I am. I redeem thee, verse one, I call
thee by thy name. And that word called, I looked
it up a few minutes ago just to make sure, called, specifically. When he called, was standing
before the tomb of Lazarus, who did he call? Lazarus. I wonder how many people were
in that area that did or in that, I don't know, I don't know. Lazarus,
come forth. Who came forth? One man, Lazarus. I called you, a word that speaks
of God's sovereign power and right to do what he will. I have redeemed thee, I've called
thee by thy name. And listen to this, those last
three words in verse one. Thou art mine, you're mine, you're
mine. Don't be afraid, you're mine. I'm the one that set my affection
on you, you're mine. Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Verse two, don't be afraid because
you're a preserved people. You're redeemed people and you're
a preserved people. Verse two says, when thou passest
through the waters, I will be with thee. Through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the
fire, thou shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee. When Israel crossed over the
Red Sea, how did they walk across? Dry land, dry land, that's the
answer. How'd they walk? The waters parted. How'd they go across? God opened
up the way for them. Whenever the people of God came
to the Jordan River, and the priests that were bearing the
ark on their shoulders, when they came and when their foot
touched that water, the water backed up and stood up in a heap. You believe that? I believe it
did. I believe it did. And they walked
across on dry land. When Nebuchadnezzar said, But
Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego, boys, I'm gonna give you one
more shot at it. Now, I don't know if y'all heard me correctly,
but now you listen to what I'm saying. Whenever the harp and
the psaltery and the psychic button, all those instruments
start playing, you bow down and worship this idol that I've set
up right here, this image of me. You bow down, what'd they
say? Well, we're not afraid to answer
you. Let me tell you something, we're
not gonna bow down. He said, you don't bow down,
we'll throw you in that burning furnace. We ain't bowing. Fire it up seven times hotter.
Fired it up, threw them in, three men. What did the king say? Didn't
we throw three guys in there? I see four, and one of them,
is like to the Son of God. Scripture says, when thou passest
through the waters of affliction, the rivers of trial, they're
not gonna overflow you. It doesn't mean that even believers
can't drown physically, but spiritually. When thou walkest through the
fire of tribulation, trials, resentments and hatreds of this
world, Thou shalt not be burned eternally. They're not going
to affect you. Don't be afraid. It's not going
to kindle upon thee. Why is this? Why shall we not
be eternally overtaken? Verse 3 says, For I am the Lord
thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. I gave Egypt for
thy ransom, Ethiopia and Sheba for thee." Here's what the Lord
is saying. The covenant God will deal with
and use whoever He is pleased to sacrifice of the enemies of
God's people to accomplish His will and purpose toward their
redemption and salvation. Don't be afraid. God's people, by the good pleasure
and will of God, were put into Egypt years before. Whenever
Joseph was sent over second in command to Pharaoh, and he was
over the corn and everything, that's how all the people of
God got there. But they increased and increased and increased,
and eventually another Pharaoh came up. Pharaoh that didn't
know Joseph. And they realized something.
These people are getting out of control. We've got to put a thumb on them.
God knew where they were going to be. God put them there. And scripture says that God sent
Moses and Aaron. He said, you go tell Pharaoh
to let my people go. You tell him. Now we ain't letting
them go. The Lord said, I am the Lord
God, I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel. I gave Egypt
for your ransom. People of God walked out of Egypt
and Egypt was in shambles. I gave Egypt. I gave Ethiopia
and Saba for you. Fear not. Why? Look at verse four. Since thou
was precious in my sight. Thou hast been honorable, I've
loved thee. Therefore will I give men for
thee and people for thy life. Because you are precious, you're
highly esteemed and valuable, prized, you're prized in my sight. Let me ask you this, what does
it matter, whatever the world thinks of God's people, if we're
precious in his sight? Because of us being precious
in His sight? What is that? Is it because of
something that He valued and saw in us that was worthy of
putting His love and affection upon us? No! I just read He looked
down from heaven. How many did you see that sought
Him? None! We were dug out of the same lump.
There's no difference. It's by his good pleasure that
we found grace in his eyes. Scripture says in Genesis 6,
God looked and saw that every imagination of the thoughts of
men was only evil continually. God said, I'm going to destroy
what I've done. He repented the Lord. Not that he changed his
mind, but He gonna deal with man now, the way that he sees
fit. Never insinuate that God changes
his mind. He never changes his mind. He
said, I don't change, I change not. Therefore, you sons of Jacob
are not consumed. He doesn't change his mind. One man, Noah, found grace in
the eyes of the Lord. I'm gonna show mercy and grace
to him. His wife and his family benefited from it. I am the Lord thy God. Verse
four says, thou was precious in my sight. You've been honorable,
I've loved thee. Therefore will I give men for
thee, and people for thy life. Don't be afraid. Verse five and
six, fear not, for I am with thee. I will bring thy seed from
the east and gather thee from the west. I will say to the north,
give up. To the south, keep not back.
Bring my sons from far, my daughters from the ends of the earth. I, the word, the am is in italics. It says, verse five, fear not
for I with thee. I with thee. The Lord is with
us. I will bring thy seed. Not I
hope I will, I hope I can. If you let me, if you decide
to give me your free will, I will bring you. I'm gonna bring you.
Don't worry. We're gonna make it. By the grace
of God, we're gonna make it. Why? Kept by the power of God.
Through faith. Christ laid down his life for
the sheep. The Holy Spirit is going to regenerate
every one of them. That's what John 6.37 says. All
that the Father giveth me, thou come to me. If a man or woman
willingly comes to Christ, why do they come? According to the
word of the Lord, they were given unto the Lord Jesus Christ by
the Father. All that the Father giveth me, John 6.37. shall come
to me. Now let me ask you this. If someone
dies in sin and unbelief, if they die in sin and unbelief, if they never knew God, based
on the word of the Lord, based on the word of the Lord, when
he says all that the Father giveth me shall come to me and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. If someone leaves this
world, They didn't come. They left this world an unbeliever.
There's only one conclusion that you can make according to the
scriptures. Now I'm not talking about our
opinion. I'm not talking about our feelings. I'm not talking
about, I'm talking about what God says. If someone does not
come and the scripture says that all that the Father giveth me
shall come. Then what does that mean? You
can only come to one conclusion. I'll go ahead and say it. They
weren't the Lord's. They weren't the Lord's. They
weren't given unto the Lord Jesus Christ in electing grace. That's
all you can conclude. And I know what the natural man's
gonna say, according to Romans 9. Romans 9, you know what he
says? Thou wilt save then, old man. Why does he yet find fault? Well,
how do you find fault with me? Now, I'm gonna answer that question
according to the scripture. Turn there. Turn your Bibles.
Romans 9. Romans 9. I'm not going to say
it without having us look at it. Verse 15, Romans 9, 15. Everybody
there? For he saith to Moses, I will
have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I will have compassion
on whom I'll have compassion. So then, it is not of him that
willeth. If somebody tells you that a
man has a free will, turn over to Romans 9, please, 16, and
read this. Does God's people come because
He has given them a new heart to do so? Yes. What will they
do if God doesn't give them a new heart? They will not come. How do you know that? The Lord
told the Pharisees, you will not come to me. You will not
come to me, that you might have life. But if God gives a new
heart, they come then. That's when they come. So then
it's not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, working
and establishing and doing. I've done so much for the Lord, but of God that showeth mercy.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose
have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, that my
name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore, hath
he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will? He hardened. What does that mean? Leave him alone. Leave him alone. Nay, but, O man, verse 20. No,
no, no, no, no. Verse 19. Thou wilt say then
unto me, why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted
his will? Not my fault. It's God's fault. If a man or woman doesn't come,
it's God's fault. But it's God's fault because
he left you to do what you wanted to do? Listen, I'm not trying
to be mean. I'm not trying to be hard. I'm
just trying to be truthful. I told people, When I stand before
God, you know what's gonna matter? This. I can sit there and argue
all day long and say, no, no, no, no, no, no. I said, I'm telling
you what's gonna stand. He said, my word's gonna stand.
Lord, give me heart to bow to it. Thou wilt say unto me, why
doth he yet find fault? Who hath resisted his will? Verse
29, hey, but old man, who art thou that applies against God?
Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, why hast
thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over
the clay of the same lump to make one vessel under honor and
another under dishonor? What if God, willing to show
his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering
the vessels of wrath fitted, made up to destruction, that
he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of
mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory. The problem today is that men
don't realize who they're dealing with. He said, I'm a just God
and I'm a Savior. Resist Him and you're going to
die. You're going to die eternally.
Bow to Him. Cast yourself upon God's mercy.
Nobody's ever come to the Lord by the grace of God, ever came
to the Lord and was pushed away. Nobody, nobody. The problem is
nobody left to themselves wants to come. They don't want to come.
I mean, if I could shake somebody
and say, listen, you don't realize what you're doing here. You don't
realize, you're going to die. You're going to die. Until God
does something for them, they don't care. They don't care,
I think. That breaks my heart. I got people, I told you, I got
people in my family that I love. I don't want them to perish,
but I can't save them. If I can be truthful with them,
I'll be truthful. Fear not, verse five. I'm with
you. I'll bring thy seed from the
east, gather thee. I will say to the north, give up. To the
south, keep back. Keep not back. Bring my sons
from far, my daughters from the ends of the earth. You bring
them, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Even everyone, verse seven, that
is called by my name, for I've created him, now listen to this,
for my glory, for my glory. In closing, turn to Ephesians,
Ephesians chapter two, it's what David just read. I think this is it. Oh, yeah, Ephesians 2, verse
4, and following for a few verses. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. By grace ye are saved. and hath
raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus. And here's the reason. Here's
the reason. He did it for His glory. That in the ages to come,
He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Don't resist
him. Don't resist him. Somebody said,
well, that's not the God. That's not the God that I want
to serve. Well, God have mercy on your
soul. Because that's the God of this
Bible. He's a just God. But he's a savior. He delights
to show mercy. I've had people tell me, it sounds
like you're talking out of both sides of your mouth. I said,
well, no, I'm just trying to be honest with what the scripture
says. I'm trying to be honest. Don't
be afraid. I've redeemed you. I've called
you. You're mine. I'm going to have
you. If the Lord's given anybody in this room a heart that wants
to bow to this God. Lord, save me. I don't want to
trust any more than myself. I want to trust you. If anybody,
if God's given a heart and he gonna have to, confess him in
baptism. Say, this is the God I serve.
This is God I believe. For his glory and your eternal
good and my good.