Alright, let's take our Bibles
and turn with me to the book of 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 2-6 in the second message. Isaiah chapter 4 and verse 1
says this, And in that day seven women shall take hold of one
man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel,
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 it." 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 issue here. In that day. You're going to
see this. There's two different groups
of people being spoken of in that day. 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. But 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. Now 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. 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 merit. 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 forward speaks
of, 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, here's
what, 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 2, 14-15. Now every person
born has got a conscience. Every person, the Scripture bears
this out. Now look at this, 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. But the Gentiles, which have
not the law, do by nature the things contained in 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
the things contained in the law, these having not the law are
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 has been offended. And they take those sacrifices,
those people, whether it was captured soldiers, virgins, whatever
it was, they cut their hearts out. Blood, blood was going to
have to be shed. A debt was going to have to be
paid. They knew it was in their heart.
They had the work of the law written in their heart, so they
know that they have a reproach. But listen to what they're saying.
We want 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. as 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. 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 can stay his hand. No man can stop God. And here's
what man by nature says, Oh, the sovereign of the universe,
the sovereign He that, as Nebuchadnezzar says, doeth as He willed in the
army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and
nobody, nobody, nobody can stay His hand or say unto 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, and 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 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 and we'll wear our own apparel. We'll make
ourselves a garment. And 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 year 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 10. 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's the bride. I will greatly rejoice in the
Lord. Capital L, capital O, capital
R, capital T. I'm 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,
Emmanuel, 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's 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 6. I can't pass
this. John 6.35. John 6.35. And Jesus said unto them, I am
the bread of life, he that cometh to me shall never hunger. Now
listen, 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 for 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 we It's literal, I know that. But listen to this, 1 Timothy
6, 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's content. I have all. Christ is all. That
first group of people in that day, and I'm telling you, You
that know Him, you know that's 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. To 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.