with me to the book of Isaiah
chapter 4. Isaiah chapter 4. Now what I'd
like to do, I'm going to plan to preach both messages this
morning out of Isaiah chapter 4. There's only six verses in
this chapter, but I'd like to deal with verse 1. in the first
message and then two to six in the second message. only let us be called by thy
name to take away our reproach." The Scripture declares, and every
believer believes this, that God's Word is not going to return
unto him void, empty, useless. But it shall accomplish that
which he pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto
he sent." Now this verse of Scripture, verse 1 and look at verse 2,
they start off basically the same. First four words in chapter
4, verse 1, and in that day. Verse 2 says, in that day. Now that day, I'm going to deal
with this This issue here, in that day, you're going to see
this, there's two different groups of people being spoken of in
that day. The Scripture here does not explain
exactly what day it is, but just the context of these verses. You'll see this before the second
message is over, Lord willing, that I believe that that day
is talking about from the time of the creation of man until
the second coming of Christ in that day. This passage right here deals
with every period of time that mankind has been upon this earth,
living creation to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
And ever since man's fall, it's been that day. And these things
that are spoken of in these passages is concerning that day. Now,
I want us to look. There's going to be two groups.
I'm going to look at the first group in the first message. I want
us to see this first group of people, who are they? That's
always around in that day, every period of time. Now look, it
says, this first group, it says, and in that day, seven women,
many, many women, many women, many, shall take hold, shall fasten
to, shall seize upon one man that they perceive to be their
security. And I want you to notice what
they're doing. In that day, seven women shall take hold of one
man, saying, We'll eat our own bread. We'll wear our own apparel.
Just let us be called by your name to take away our reproach. Now, to this first group of people,
this one man that they seize upon, take hold of, is one with
whom they feel they can negotiate. They can make a deal with him.
Now, just listen to what they've said. We'll eat our own bread,
we'll wear our own apparel, but just all we want to do is we
want to be called by your name. We'll take care of all the particulars.
We just want our reproach taken away. Now, there's many writers
that have written concerning all the reproach of not having
a husband back in the Old Testament. I don't doubt that a bit. But
I want us to get right to the heart of the matter. What is the very heart of what's
being spoken of here? Let me tell you what it is. These
women, these seven women that take hold of one man, try to
negotiate with him, is a picture of this world's perception of
reconciliation before God by their own works and their own
merit. Now, this right here, I'm going
to show you this. This right here, and it doesn't
matter, as I've said before, which shingle you hang out in
front of their front door. You know, we're this, that, or
the other. But I'm telling you, every one of them falls under
this category right here. They're all associated with their
works and their marriage. Now, the one man, who is that
one man? Well, I'll tell you, it's who
they think the Lord Jesus is. 2 Corinthians 11, Paul says,
if someone comes preaching, another Jesus. Another Jesus. There is but one Lord Jesus Christ. But the world's perception of
Him is what's being spoken of here. This world knows at least
in their head that there is a Messiah. The world knows at least in their
head Call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from
their sins. They know that at least in their
head. The devils know that there's a Jesus. They know that. They know that historically.
But these women, these seven women, think that He's one with
which they can bargain. They say, now listen. Let us
be called by thy name to take away our reproach." Now, here's
another thing that every person born in Adam knows. That they
have reproach. That they've got a reproach.
Turn to Romans 2. Romans 2, verse 14-15. Romans
chapter 2, verse 14-15. Born has got a conscience. Every person, the scripture bears
this out, Romans 2, verse 14, 15. For when the Gentiles, which
have not the law, the written law of God, they don't have the
written law, the Gentiles, it was sent to the Jews. OK, but
the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things
contained in the law. The law, what the law did was
it exposed us for what we are. It showed us that we're sinners. By the law is the knowledge of
sin. The law was never given to justify,
somebody keeping the law. The law was given to show us
Almighty God's holiness and man's inability. But listen to what
he said. When the Gentiles which have
not the law do by nature of the things contained in the law,
these having not the law, or a law unto themselves which show,
now look at the wording, which show the work of the law written
in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness in their
thoughts, the mean while accusing or else excusing one another. Listen, by nature there's a conscience
in every person born in Adam, there's a conscience that knows
right from wrong. Go back and look at any of the
civilizations. Somebody wrongs this person.
This person knows they've been wrong, and they're going to make
it right, and so they're going to go back and get them. There's
a right and wrong when the work of the law is written in their
hearts. So these seven women, they know
that there's a reproach. I've told you about going to
Mexico, going to those Mayan tombs and seeing all the sacrifices. Those Mayans, they knew that
their God I think Moloch, I think is what they call it. But their
God had been offended. And they'd take those sacrifices,
those people, whether it was captured soldiers, virgins, whatever
it was, they'd cut their hearts out. Blood was going to have
to be shed. A debt was going to have to be
paid. They knew it was in their hearts. They had the work of
the law written in their hearts. So they know that they have a
reproach. But listen to what they're saying. to take hold of one man, our
perception of God's Messiah, and we'll eat our own bread,
wear our own apparel, only let us be called by thy name. We
want to be called Christians. I want a name. I want a name
that God's going to accept. Whoever is God's Messiah, I want
to be called a Christian. You know, everybody and their
brother is a Christian today in their mind. in their perception. I just want to have your name
to take away my reproach. But here's what they'll say. Faith is not an issue with us. We'll eat our own bread. They'll
take coal and they'll say, we'll eat our own bread. Well, they've
heard, at least with that carnal ear, that God's Messiah, read
the scriptures, the bread which cometh down from heaven and giveth
life unto the world is the Messiah, the bread of God. But they say
in their hearts, no thank you, we don't really
need what God supplies. We don't, you know, we'll eat
our own bread, we'll feast upon the Messiah of our own taste.
We'll make Him according to our own ingredients and ability. The Lord Jesus Christ came into
this world, the revelation, the revelation of God Almighty, God
in flesh. and declared himself to be who
he is, God Almighty. And he set forth who he is as
being sovereign. I lay down my life for the sheep. No man, no man could stay his
hand. No man could stop God. And here
is what man by nature says, Oh, the sovereign of the universe,
the sovereign He that, as Nebuchadnezzar says, doeth as he will in the
army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. And
nobody, nobody, nobody can say his hand or saying to him, what
doest thou? You're talking about God that
has mercy and compassion. That's what the Lord told Moses
back in Exodus, show me your glory. I will have mercy on whom I'll
have mercy. I'll have compassion on whom
I'll have compassion. And whom I will, I'll harden. Oh, no. No, thank you. We'll eat our own bread. That'll
be fine. The Christ who died only for
His sheep, the one that prays only for those that the Father
has given Him? And He doesn't pray for the world? No, I think we'll just eat our
own bread. All we want is we just want to
take hold of you and be called by your name. We want to be Christians.
But I don't want to eat of that bread. No, thank you. And besides
that, We'll wear our own apparel. We'll weave ourselves a covering
of our own making. One that will hide our nakedness
before God. That's what Adam and Eve did.
This is where it started. What did they do? They took some
fig leaves and sewed them together. Why? Because when Adam rebelled
against God, they knew that they were naked before God. With man's self-righteous works,
he thinks that he can produce by his own ability an atonement. You know what that word means?
A covering. He thinks that he can do it.
He can appease God. But listen, Isaiah 64, 6. This reveals what man's apparel
is. But we're all as an unclean thing
and all of our righteousnesses are as Filthy rags. Filthy rags. Minstrelss cloths. Somebody makes themselves a nice
coat out of that and says, look what I have done for God. And here's the end of that apparel. If you want to know what the
end of that apparel is, Isaiah 28. Hold your hand right there. Isaiah 28, 18. Isaiah 28, 18.
The Lord said, Your covenant with
death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall
not stand. When the overflowing scourge
shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by them. For
the time that it goeth forth, it shall take you. For morning
by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night it shall
be a vexation only to understand the report. You know what my
margin says? I thought this was really something.
It'll be a vexation, that is, when he makes you to understand
the doctrine, when he makes you understand what you've done,
and it's too late. For the bed is shorter than a
man, that a man can stretch himself on it, and the covering narrower
than he can wrap himself in it. There's just not going to be
enough cover. Oh, I've made myself my own garment. I'll eat my own
bread. We'll wear our own apparel. We'll make ourselves a garment.
Here's going to be the judgment of it. Many were saying to me
in that day, Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name. We cast out devils
in your name. We've done many marvelous works
in your name. We wove ourselves a garment. And he'll say, depart from me,
ye that work iniquity. I never knew you. Never knew
you. But I want you to turn with me.
And here's where I'm going to end for this morning. Isaiah
61.10. That's what they've done. Seven
women in that day. And it's happening right now.
It happened last year and year before that. And you're all the
way back to Adam. And if the Lord tarries, it'll happen tomorrow
and the next day and the next day and the next day. In that
day. That day, seven women take hold of one man saying, We'll
eat our own bread. We'll wear our own apparel. Only let us
be called by thy name to take away our reproach. But I want
you to listen to what Isaiah 61 has to say. Isaiah 61 to you. I will greatly rejoice in the
Lord my God. No, I will greatly rejoice in
the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my
God, for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation. He
hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom
decketh himself with ornaments, and his bride adorneth herself
with her jewels." Here's the words of the redeemed with which
I'm going to start dealing. Verse 2 through the end of the
chapter. Here is the bride. I will greatly rejoice in the
Lord. Capital L, capital O, capital
R, capital D. I am going to rejoice in Jehovah,
Father, Son, Spirit, the One that chose me, the One that redeemed
me by blood, and the One that has regenerated me by power and
grace. My soul shall be joyful in my
God That is, in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God in our nature,
Immanuel, God with us. For he hath clothed me with the
garments of salvation. The margin says he's clothed
me with salvation, or the literal, let me say this. He's clothed
me with salvation as my garment. But listen to this. What did
Simeon say concerning salvation? Lord, let thy servant now depart
in peace, for my eyes have seen your salvation. And he was looking
at the Lord Jesus Christ, that baby. He hath clothed me with the garments
of Christ. Salvation. He hath covered me
with the robe of righteousness. The same thing. Who is he but
the Lord, our righteousness? He clothed me with Christ Himself
as a bridegroom, decketh Himself with ornaments, and as a bride
adorneth herself with her jewels." His righteousness imputed to
the believer is the only garment a regenerated sinner desires. Just the very thought of eating
your own bread, you that know Him, Eating your own bread and
wearing your own garment. Weaving your own garment. Producing
your own covering. The only bread we desire is the
bread of heaven. The bread of God. Jesus Christ
the Lord who sustains us. Look at John. John 6. I can't
pass this. John 6. John 6.35. Jesus said unto them, I am the
bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger. He that cometh to me. Not he
that cometh to a baptismal pool. Not he that comes down to his
decision. Not he that comes down to his free will. Not he that
comes down to the aisle, to the altar. He that cometh to me shall
never hunger. He that believeth on me shall
never thirst. Look at verse 51. I am the living
bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread,
he shall live forever. And the bread which I will give
is my flesh which I will give to the life of the world. Jew,
Gentile, all His people, the ones for whom He died, whosoever
eateth of Him shall live forever. Whosoever eateth by faith, the
Lord that lived for and died for sinners chosen by God Almighty
from before the foundation of the world, whosoever eateth of
him. When we eat the bread of heaven,
the bread of life, that's what we're saying. Lord, as you say
you are, that's who you are. He said, I lay down my life for
the sheep. The believer says he laid down his life for the
sheep. Lord, have mercy on me. He is the bread. Consists of no leaven. He who
knew no sin. Made sin. That we might be made
the righteousness of God in Him. I love this passage of Scripture.
1 Timothy 6.8. And I know that it's literal. I know that. But listen to this.
1 Timothy 6.8. and having food and raiment,
let us therewith be content." Having food and raiment. If I
have the bread of heaven and the robe of His righteousness
covering me, food and raiment, a believer is content. I have
all. Christ is all. That first group
of people in that day, and I'm telling you, you that know them,
you know this is so. In that day shall many women,
seven women, take hold of one man. They said, look, we'll eat
our own bread. We'll wear our own garment. Just
give us your name. That's all we want. Just want
to be called a Christian. But take away our reproach. But
He said, He that cometh to me, He that eateth of me, He that
eateth of this bread, He that drinks of my blood, my life and
death, He's never going to perish. I pray the Lord bless these words
to our heart for Christ's sake. Amen.