I'm going to ask you to take
your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Isaiah. The last
few weeks I've kind of deviated from going through Hebrews. I felt led to do so. I want you to look at the first
seven verses of Isaiah 43. But now thus saith the Lord that
created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear
not, for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by thy name,
thou art mine. When thou passest through the
waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers they shall
not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee. 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. Since thou wast precious in my
sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee. And therefore
will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 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, even
every one that is called by my name, for I have created him
for my glory. I have formed him. Yea, I have
made him. Let's pray together. Our Father, this evening, how
thankful we are, oh, for the blessed privilege to be able
to come and to hear your word. Lord, forgive us where we have
wandered in our minds, Lord, in how we do so so easily, forgive
us, we pray, for Christ's sake. Teach us this evening afresh. Settle our hearts. Lord, cause
us to actually know by experience that peace that surpasses all
understanding. Lord, I ask you now to bless
your word. Would you bless it to the calling
out of your sheep and for the comfort of your people for Christ's
sake. We ask these things. Amen. Every person that is born in
Adam is born ignorant of the fact that they are rebels against
God. And therefore, every man born
in Adam without Christ has great reason to be fearful before Him. And they are ignorant of that
fact. Man by nature does not know that
he has reason to be fearful. They don't know that if they
leave this world or when they leave this world, They leave
this world without Christ, without a mediator, without a high priest,
they're going to die in their sins. Now, God is just, and I know
this, the just God is a God that is pleased to show mercy. But
He does not show mercy The scriptures clearly reveal at the expense
of his justice. He said of himself, I am a distinguishing
God. He told Moses, I will have mercy
on whom I will have mercy. He is the sovereign. Isaiah,
Psalm 135.6 says, "...whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did He
in heaven and in earth, in the seas, and in all deep places."
Acts 17.24 says, "...God that made the world, and all things
therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth
not in temples made with hands." God Almighty is God. He alone is God. The God who is sovereign, God
who is distinguishing, He is the only true and living God. Deuteronomy 4.35 says, unto thee
it was showed that thou mightest know that the Lord, He is God,
and there is none else beside Him. Now, this is the God that
I want to talk to you about tonight. And here is a word in Isaiah
43, verses 1-7. Here's a word. from the distinguishing
Sovereign to His people, to those that He has everlastingly loved. Here is God speaking to the objects
of His mercy. Sinners who would not and could
not help themselves. But God of all grace, God of
all mercy, says this, but now, verse 1, thus saith the Lord
that created thee. Yes, God Himself created all
things. The Scripture says that in the
beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Created the birds,
the plants, the skies, the seas, the ground. He made all things. And then the Lord said, He said
in Genesis 1-26, God said, let us make man in our image. I've told you this before, It
needs to be heard again. I need to hear it. Let us make
man in our image. And this is the word make. It means appoint. Let us commit. Let us deal with. Let us make
man. Let's appoint him, commit him,
deal with in our image. The image of Almighty God is
the Lord Jesus Christ. So that Scripture sets forth
this. Let us make man, appoint man,
commit man, deal with man, all men, in their relationship to
the express image of God Himself. Then Genesis 127 says, so God
created man. Let us make man, let us appoint
him, and then let us actually create him. And that word create
means to cut down or to make fat. Let us appoint all men in their
relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And God created. Cut down or made fat. Romans
9.21 asks this question. Hath not the potter power over
the clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and
another unto dishonor? Just look. Turn with me to Proverbs
16.4. Proverbs 16.4. Proverbs 16, verse 4. The Scriptures declare, the Lord
hath made all things for himself, yea, yea, even the wicked, for
the day of evil. Does God have a right to do what
He will with His own? Yes, he does. God's sovereign. God's right. Back in Isaiah 43,
our Lord speaks. And knowing what it is to make,
to create, to make is to appoint them, to commit them to their
relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. To create them, actually
to cut them, cut down, make fat. Does the potter have the right
to do that? Make one vessel unto honor, another
unto dishonor. He's God. He's God. So back in Isaiah 43, verse 1,
But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, you heel
catcher, you supplanter, you trickster, This is what you are
in yourself. And He that formed thee, He that
molded you into form in regenerating grace, that birthed you anew,
birthed you from above, gave you life. You that was formed,
O Israel, A prince with God. Jacob is who
we are in ourselves. What is your name? Jacob. He said, you shall no more be
called Jacob, but Israel, for you are a prince with God. Have
prevailed. But now, thus saith the Lord
that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel,
Hear the word, fear not. Don't be afraid. What's the ground of me not being
afraid? Here's the ground. Number one,
he said, because you're mine by purchase. Still in verse one,
for I've redeemed thee. I paid for you. I bought you. I paid your debt out of the bondage
and the curse of the law. I paid the penalty that was due
for sin and rebellion in Adam your father and in your actual
sin. Look at Ephesians 5. Now, he's talking now to the
Jacob's of this world, those who are made to know what they
are in themselves. And the Israels, who the Lord
declares them to be in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5. You know, I often quote John
10-15 when I said, who did the Lord die for? Well, He died for
His people. He died for His sheep. But he
says the same thing right here. Ephesians 5, verse 25. Husbands, love your wives even
as Christ also loved the church. The one that He betrothed to
eternally. The one that the Father gave
Him. He gave Him a bride. Scripture says, Husbands, love
your wife even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself
for it. That He might sanctify and cleanse
it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present
it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish. Don't be afraid. He said, I've
redeemed you. And then He says, that latter
part of that first verse, I've called thee by thy name. I have
effectually addressed you as to who I say you are. He said, I've called you by your
name. That passage I just read when Jacob was wrestling with
the man. The man. The God-man. Genesis 32, 27. And when God
said unto him, the Scripture says, What is thy name? And he
said, Jacob. And he said, I have called thee
by thy name. I said who you are. Now here's
the sovereignty of God. He said, I say, thy name shall
be called no more Jacob. But Israel, for as a prince,
thou hast power with God, and with men hast prevailed." That
word, called, right there. It's not the word that means
I've affectionately called you, but He does. It's who He said
you are. It's who I say my people are. A word that declares His right
to declare who His people are. Don't be afraid. Fear not. I've redeemed you. I've called
thee by Thy name. And listen to this. You're mine. Thou art mine. From the heart
of the Savior Himself to His people, He says, I paid you. You're debt. Called you by grace. Called you by your name. in grace. You are my Father's gift to me. You're going to come to me willingly
in the day of my power. You're mine. Fear not. So we're here by purchase. We've been bought and paid for
by the blood of God Himself that God The church that God purchased,
the Scripture says, with His own blood. Here's the second
reason. Don't fear. Don't be fearful.
Verse 2, because you're a preserved people. When you passeth through
the waters, and we will, I will be with thee. And through
the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. When thou walkest through
the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee." When Israel crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground,
the Lord was there. He was guiding them in a pillar
by day, and a pillar of a cloud by day, and a pillar of a fire
by night. whenever the Hebrews were getting
ready to cross over the Jordan River and go into the Promised
Land. They came to that river, and
the Lord told the people, He said, whenever the feet of the
priest touch that river, those priests that were bearing the
ark, Whenever the feet of the priest touch that river, that
river is going to rise up. And the Scripture says it will
stand in a heap. God was there. Whenever Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar's image
and were thrown into the fiery furnace, Three men were thrown
into that furnace. And the Scripture says that Nebuchadnezzar
looked in and he saw walking in the midst of the fire, and
he says, there's four. And the fourth was like the Son
of God. God was there. When thou passest through the
waters, I'll be with thee. Through the rivers, they shall
not overflow thee. When thou walkest through the
fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle
upon you." Why? Verse 3 says, For I am the Lord
thy God. I'm God. The Holy One of Israel,
thy Savior. I gave Egypt for thy ransom,
Ethiopia and Sheba for thee. The covenant God that's going
to deal with Use and even sacrifice according to His good pleasure
all of your enemies to accomplish His purpose in your redemption
and salvation. Don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Here's the third thing. Don't
be afraid. Fear not. Because you're prized
in my sight. Verse 4. says, Since thou wast
precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved
thee. Therefore, I will give men for
thee, and people for thy life." What does it matter what the
world thinks about us if we be precious in His sight? What does it matter what the
world has to think concerning what we believe if we know that
we believe God. His Word. And the cause of us
being precious in His sight? Well, I can tell you this, there
was nothing of value that He saw in us. I know that. All men at their best state,
altogether vanity, dug out of the same lump, By His good will,
by His pleasure, the Scripture says, as Noah, we found grace
in His eyes. He chose to look upon us in mercy. Not an ounce of difference. I was sitting here just a few
minutes ago. My brother Gary was up here leading the singing
and I was looking out and I was thinking to myself, what a miracle
of God's grace. That there's some folks sitting
here tonight that want to hear what God has to say, and has
a heart that the Lord has given faith today, right now, to believe
Him. And that they're not living on
yesterday's faith, that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing
by the Word of God. Don't be afraid. Chose us in Christ. And the Lord
Jesus Christ, who has betrothed Himself to us, and has eternally
stood as our surety, and lived and died for us, fear not. Thou hast been honorable in ourselves. No. But in Him. In Him, robed
in His righteousness, we stand before God Almighty, accepted
in the Beloved. Honorable. Honorable. Think about this verse. 1 John
4.17. amazing passage of Scripture.
It's absolutely so. Herein is our love. Herein, in the margin, it says,
love with us. Herein is love with us made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because
as He is, So are we in this world. Now let me ask you something,
beloved. Is He precious in the sight of
the Father? So are we. Is He accepted of
the Father? So are we. Is He the beloved Son in whom
God is well pleased? So are we in Him. He said, you're honorable. And
then verse 4 says, and he says, and I've loved thee. I have loved
thee eternally. His love for his people is the
source of the blessings in Christ, and God never changes. He said,
I've loved you. Fear not. Will I give men for thee and
people for thy life?" According to God's good pleasure,
God Almighty, who is never said to be the author of sin, has
declared that even the wrath of men is going to praise Him.
He's going to do right. He does right. And if God is
pleased to leave a man to himself, God Almighty will justly destroy
him and you're going to be saved. The firstborn of Egypt, what
was the difference in the firstborn of Egypt that died and the firstborn
of Israel that was preserved? God saw the blood and He passed
over Israel. He said, don't be afraid. I want those words to hold on
to. Don't be afraid. Israel passed safely through
the Red Sea, and all the Egyptians were drowned. Why? He said, since thou was precious
in my sight, and I loved you, I chose to love you. Christ laid
down His life for the sheep. And the Holy Spirit in regenerating
grace calls everyone that the Father has given the Son and
the Son has redeemed. Why? For I am the Lord, thy God,
the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. And then in verses 5, 6, and
7, He says, 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, even every one that is called by my
name. For I have created him for my
glory. I formed him. Yea, I made him. Fear not. God Almighty is going
to gather His elect, His sons and daughters, adopted, adopted
heirs of God, joint heirs with Christ. All of His people who
were created according to His glory to show mercy and compassion
to them. Don't be afraid. Last passage,
Ephesians 2, verse 10. The scripture says, For we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. To live by words to die by. Fear not. For I am thy God. I made you. I created you. I
formed you. You've been precious in my sight.
Honorable. Don't be afraid. When you pass
through the waters, don't be afraid. Through the rivers, don't
be afraid. When the fire comes, don't be
afraid. I'm the one that sent it. And I'll sustain you. I'll never leave you and I'll
never forsake you. May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
Amen.