May it please God to bless us
together this evening as we meditate in his word. Let us turn to the
prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 43, and we'll read verses 5, 6, and
7. The prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 43, and reading verses 5, 6,
and 7. 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, and to the south, keep not back. Bring my sons from
far, and 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 have made
him. We should be very thankful for
the great truth of God that we have declared to us throughout
the pages of the Bible. And in the prophecy of Isaiah
we have some very wonderful words of encouragement, some wonderful
words of fact, and words to direct and bless us. And this 43rd chapter
of Isaiah is a very encouraging word. And in the very first verse,
the prophet says, 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
Surely that is a wonderfully positive statement and it will
be a wonderfully positive statement if the Lord applies such a word
directly to our very souls so that we recognise that it's not
just a word recorded historically but it is a word that is directed
to each one of us and may the Holy Spirit apply it with power
to our souls so that we may not fear because of this great promise
for I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou
are mine. Well surely that is the most
essential thing for every one of us to know that we are redeemed
and the Lord has called us and we are the Lord's. Because if
that is so, then we can travel through this world looking forward
to an eternal glory with the Saviour. And that will no doubt
help us and strengthen us as we struggle against much opposition
in the life which we now lead and now live, but to realise
there is that good prospect before the Church of God. the Prophet
goes on to tell us that life won't be easy the Christian life
never has been easy never will be 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 shall not
be burned neither shall the flame kindle upon thee well that's
quite a vivid picture isn't it for us to understand that there
are these difficulties that we will be found walking through. We won't just go through life
without any trials, any oppositions. The way won't be all nice and
smooth and plain. No, it'll be with obstacles and
difficulties and stones and briars, but what a blessing to know the
Lord is with us. Because he goes on to say, for
I am the Lord thy God. The Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour,
I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia, and sea before thee,
since thou wast precious in my sight. The wonderful thing is
that every true child of God is precious in the sight of God. It's very humbling, isn't it,
to think that, as you and I here tonight, you and I walk through
this world, and to realise that in God's sight, if we are his
children then we are precious that means we are valuable and
therefore we won't be left we will never be forsaken that God
will be gracious to us he says since thou was precious in my
sight thou hast been honorable and I have loved thee therefore
will I give men for thee and people for thy life well these
words as an introduction, a very wonderful aren't they, to think
that God has loved us, that God tells us to not fear because
we've been redeemed and to realise that the Lord will be with us
as we pass through all the trials and temptations in this life
and at last be brought safe home to glory. So that's an introduction
really to these verses and the fifth verse which we read tonight
tells us again, fear not, for I am with thee we may have feared
we may fear we may be fearing tonight and we fear perhaps the
unknown way well of course it's an unknown way and we don't know
what's before us we don't know what the future holds but such
a word as this should strengthen us and encourage us because it's
very positive isn't it? fear not for I am with thee it
doesn't say well I might be with thee depends on your position
in your situation no it doesn't say that it says very directly
fear not for I am with thee well may we be encouraged by such
a statement as that is a very strong statement it's a very
true statement and emanates from the mouth of God Himself. It's not something which has
been manufactured by man, it's the great truth of God's Word. And we should be very thankful
that the Word of God does give us such direct encouragement
and to think that we have a God who rules and reigns, an almighty
God, a God who is so great, so powerful, and yet he looks upon
us individually in our little lives so insignificant really
aren't they? and yet to think we have this
great God who tells us fear not for I am with thee and then the
prophet goes on to describe the great blessing that the Lord
brings to his church wherever it's found throughout this world
God is mindful of every single member of that church. No one
is hidden from the eye of God. No one's path is hidden from
the eye of Almighty God. God knows where every person
is. He knows what they're thinking.
He knows what they're doing. What a mercy that is. And to
then take it to ourselves. And to realise God knows all
about us, individually. He knows what we're thinking
here tonight. We're sat in chapel. He knows what's before us tomorrow.
He knows what's before us throughout our life. And so we're told here,
I will bring thy seed, the blessed seed of God from the east, and
gather them from the west. I will say to the north, give
up, and to the south, keep not back. Bring my sons from far
and my daughters from the ends of the earth so wherever they
are wherever God's people are far off places isolated situations
they'll never be forgotten by God and the Lord will watch over
them and the Lord will bring them to that saving knowledge
of himself not one will be lost none will be left all will come
safe home to glory and nothing will hinder that work and nothing
will stop that work we may perhaps sometimes wonder how these things
will come to pass it may be in our own lives, in our own families
in the people that we come in contact with and we perhaps ponder
and wonder what would happen and when things will arise and
happen well the Word of God tells us this He says I will bring
thy seed in the east and gather thee from the west I will say
to the north give up you see the devil will not be able to
hold on to people he may think he can he may try and possess
them but he won't be able to because when the Lord speaks
give up he will have to lose his grip and people will be led
to the Saviour directed to the Lord Jesus Christ to his wounded
side and realise there is glorious salvation. And so they will give
up and to the south and keep not back, bring my sons from
far and my daughters from the ends of the earth. And then it
goes on to direct us to this great statement, even everyone
that is called by my name, Now every true child of God is called
by the name of God and is called by my name. We each have a name
and the Lord calls all of his people. He calls them from the
darkness of the nature of this world into the glorious light
of the everlasting gospel. Every single one is called. And how important it is that
you and I can find in our lives a time when God has called us. The Apostle Paul tells us when
he was called by the grace of God. And it is so to every member
of the Church of God, they are called by the grace of God. There's nothing that you and
I deserve, nothing that you and I merit, but it's the sovereign
purpose of God to call us and to bring us into that state of
spiritual life and spiritual light. Everyone, without exception,
everyone of God's people are called and they hear that call
and they receive that call they may perhaps sometimes fight against
it because they may realise there is cost and there is but there's
great blessing and you see the we cannot resist God's call we
may do for a time but my friends we will always fail we will always
fail because God's purposes will be fulfilled. They will come
to pass. Not one of those for whom he
died, not one of those whose names are written in the Lamb's
Book of Life will fail to hear the great and glorious call of
Almighty God and is called by my name. And then he says, for
I have created him for my glory this is a very significant statement
our life is for the glory of God how we need to absorb a statement
like that to realise it's not for ourselves we won't gain any
glory ourselves the Lord has created us he's given us life, natural life
and he's given us spiritual life for his glory it's important
that you and I realise that as the Apostle said we're not our
own we are bought with a price and that price was the greatest
price that could ever be paid And that price was the blood
of the Lord Jesus Christ. For I have created him for my
glory. It's a very searching statement
really. As we look at our own lives to
realise that if we are those whom God has called, we are called
for his glory. Not for our own glory. but for
God's glory that's why the Apostle said he must John the Baptist
said he must increase but I must decrease decrease in our own
estimation of ourself and desire that the Saviour may ever increase
in our estimation and in our desire that he may be honoured
and glorified It's a great blessing, it's a great evidence of the
true life of God in our souls when this is our continual concern
that we may show forth the glory of God in our lives. I have created him for my glory. Yes, that's what it is. And the Lord Jesus Christ, he
gives us so many wonderful words encouragement so many wonderful
words of instruction and in that long chapter in the Gospel of
John the sixth chapter there's a wonderful encouragement as
the Jesus speaks to the people and he tells them Jesus said
I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger,
and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. You see, if we
are called by God and if we desire to show forth His praise and
His glory, it will be that you and I will require this great
benefit of spiritual food. The Lord says, I am the bread
of life. He that cometh to me shall never
hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst but
I said unto you that ye also have seen me and believed not
all that the Father giveth me shall come to me no failures
everyone all that the Father giveth me shall come to me and
him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out so nobody
should be discouraged because here is a glorious statement
we are encouraged to come to our God no matter how far off
we may feel no matter how sinful perhaps we may realise and think
that God will never look upon us well we should recognise the
truth of God's Word Him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out so may you and I be blessed with that grace to come
to seek unto our God and to pray for his mercy to be realized
that we may have the evidence that we've been created for his
glory and he goes on to say I have formed him yea I have made him
see God has formed us and God's made us What a blessing it is
to condescend and to recognize the blessing and mercy of Almighty
God toward us. The prophet Jeremiah tells us
in the 31st chapter, he speaks and explains how these people,
they will indeed show forth His glory and how they will come
to Him. And he tells us this. He says,
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather
them from the coast of the earth, and with them the blind and the
lame, the women with child, and her that traveth with child together,
a great company shall return nither. And how will they come?
Just listen to this. They shall come with weeping,
and with supplications, will I lead them there will be weeping
over our sins there will be a desire for the blessing of God to look
upon us there will be earnest prayer weeping and with supplications
prayer will become very real prayer will be very pertinent
we won't just cast it off prayer will be with us a great deal
And we shall be concerned, therefore, that God will remember us, that
He will have mercy upon us. They shall come with weeping
and with supplications when I lead them. I will cause them to walk
by the rivers and waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble. For I am a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn. well it's a great blessing to
have a heavenly father isn't it? we all have natural fathers
some of course haven't known their father for long perhaps
never known them at all but the blessing is that all of God's
people know their heavenly father what a mercy it is for I am a
father to Israel well tonight that we realise the blessing
this is we have a Father that we can come to we can pray to
through the merits of our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ for I am
a Father to Israel well how then do we come? have we come? have we come in the right way? we don't want to find that we've
climbed over the wall you know in the account in the Pilgrim's
Progress, John Bunyan's picture, he speaks of that one, I think
it was Ignorance, who climbed over the wall. He thought it
was an easy way. He thought he could safeguard
himself and safeguard his journey, the difficult journey that was
before him. And he climbed over the wall.
Well, we're not to climb over the wall. where to walk in that
path the Lord has granted to us and that path which is revealed
to us and that path which will bring honour and glory to our
God for I have created him for my glory we're not to rebel against
the Lord's dealings with us we're not to rebel against his directions
to us but we're to recognise the great truth it is And further on in this same chapter,
the Prophet says, Yea, before the day was, I am he. That's
Almighty God speaking about his eternal condition. There is none
that can deliver out of my hand. I will work. And who shall let
it or who shall hinder it? Again, it's a word of encouragement,
a word of strength to know this great truth. The Lord has said,
will work. The Lord has granted such statements
in his word to encourage us as we read this that we've been
formed, the Lord has formed us for his glory and to be able
to come and plead the word of God that we might observe his
great and glorious work in our hearts, in our souls. The clear hand of God upon us
so we're not just walking on aimlessly through this life hoping
that in the end things will work out alright well many have hoped
and their hope has never been fulfilled they've just journeyed
on through this life with a vain hope not a good hope a vain hope
and have perished at last It's a great blessing then if you
and I have a good hope that the Lord has worked or the Lord will
work in our hearts and all of us must have the work of God
within us to realise the Lord has formed us and for I've created
him for my glory I formed him, yea I've made him the blessed
work of the Holy Spirit and that is a work that you and I can
never do ourselves it is a most glorious work because the work
is this it brings life it has power of the resurrection it
brings life from the dead spiritual deadness into spiritual life
I will work that's the word of God to every true believer and
there will be the evidence of it in our lives and so may we
be able to trace it and if we can what would it do bring glory
to God as we bow down before him and acknowledge what he's
done for such an unworthy sinner that he's come and he's called
us He's called us by His grace and in calling us by His grace
He's directed us to understand and to see ourselves as a lost
and ruined sinner. He hasn't left us there. He's
then led us then to look to the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He's led us then to look to the
cross. He's led us then to see the suffering
Saviour dying in our place. for our sins. That glorious, wonderful substitute. Why should the Lord Jesus Christ
have stood in our place? Why? Do you know the answer? It's because He loved us. That's the reason. Another reason,
He loved us. from eternity past. He's loved us so much and he
was willing to die on our behalf to bear the punishment instead. Now you see when the Holy Spirit
directs us by faith to view this great and glorious covenant ordered
in all things And sure, we will rejoice in it. We will praise
God for it. We will bless Him that He's come
and called us. We'll bless Him that He's created
us. And we will be concerned that
we shall indeed demonstrate what He's done for us, that we have
been created then for His glory. I believe when the Holy Spirit
directs us as his great and glorious truth and applies his word to
our very heart then we are a new creature we're a different person
we're not then just following our own way no we're desiring
that we might follow the ways of God that we may seek his direction
and we may seek His guidance in all that we do. And as the
Lord Jesus tells us really through the apostle, through the prophet
here, he speaks very clearly and he says, you are my witnesses. You are my witnesses, saith the
Lord, and my servant, whom I have chosen, that ye may know and
believe me and understand that I am he Before me there was no
God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the
Lord and beside me there is no Saviour.' Suddenly the Word of
God takes on a different perspective. We suddenly realise what a wonderful
Saviour we have and what a great salvation we have received. and how unworthy we are to receive
it and therefore to recognise now we're no longer able to just
carry on as it were aimlessly in this sinful world pleading
ourself and following our own direction but such a statement
is very, very true to realise that we are God's witnesses we
are His servants As I say to you sometimes, all God's people
are his servants. Never think that word servant
only relates to those who preach the gospel. They are servants
as well. But everyone who is born again
by the Spirit of God is born to serve the Lord. You and I
should be concerned to know what form that takes. and how it is
to be brought about. We should never be satisfied
with sitting still and just pleasing ourselves. We should be concerned
to be found doing that which is for the honour and glory of
our God. Ye are my witnesses. We've been
formed by God. We've been blessed by God. We've been called by God for
his glory. to show forth his praise. As you and I may perhaps look
forward to the end of our life and to realise and to hope that
God has gone to prepare a place for us. And as he says, if I
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive
you unto myself, that where I am there you may be also. It's a
wonderful word of truth. my friends, as you and I ponder
such a statement as that to recognise that in order for us to be blessed
with that glorious inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled
and that fadeth not away the cost of procuring that inheritance
for us was none less than the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. We might say also the suffering
life of the Lord Jesus Christ. You think there was the blessed
God himself who gave up that place in glory with his father
where he'd been from eternity and was willing to come into
this sinful world for those 33 years in order that he might
redeem our souls. I have created Him for my glory.
I have formed Him. Yea, I have made Him. You see,
He's made us for His honour and for His glory. And it is a blessing
when you and I really appreciate that and our lives demonstrate
that, that we are concerned to be a true servant of the Most
High God, to serve Him maybe in a very menial way. We should
be willing to do whatever the Lord has determined for us but
we should desire the Lord will use us for his honour and for
his glory and let's not sit still, let us not just doze off let
us not be content to just carry on our life as comfortably as
we can because the Word of God encourages us and it tells us,
the Lord Jesus tells us so plainly It is through much tribulation
that we shall inherit the kingdom. But be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world. So if life is very easy and cosy,
with no difficulties and no opposition, we should question whether we
are in the right road. We should think, well, am I in
the narrow way or am I in the broad way? When there's no problems,
there's no difficulties. No, the Lord has ordained that
it is through much tribulation and in that path we are to demonstrate
that we are formed for His glory because He gives us grace and
He gives us strength to walk out His path for us not our path,
His path and His path for us is far superior to our path Because
His path leads us to glory. Our path leads us to destruction. I have formed Him, yea, I have
made Him. How humbling it is to think that
God has made us. And if He has made us, then we
shall be those who are His servants, chosen, chosen of God, chosen
of God, selected, elected, from eternity past it's a very it's
a very humbling thought isn't it you think today here you are
here sitting in this chapel hearing the Word of God reading the Bible
great truths there are millions and millions who will never hear
the great truth of God will never be able to read the Word of God
what does that mean? I'll tell you what it means it
means you and I have a great debt that we will never be able
to repay that debt is so great that it brought the Saviour to
die in our place to redeem our souls we can never repay that
debt, can we? but as we consider such a truth
may it wonderfully influence us to desire to follow carefully
and prayerfully the Word of God especially in this dark world,
in this dark age this material age in which we live to realise
how wonderful it is to be favoured to be a witness of God and here
is... it's a strong statement isn't
it? it says ye are my witnesses it doesn't say well perhaps you
might be it doesn't say that at all It says, ye are my witnesses,
saith the Lord, and my servant, whom I have chosen. There's no
place for unbelief. There's no place for wriggling
out of such a statement as this. It's a very clear word of God. And remember, as we commenced
in this fifth verse, fear not, for I am with thee. If God be
for us, who can be against us? The great God. He's with us. He's for us. Well, there might
be difficulties. There will be difficulties. There
will be trials. But if God is for us, he'll be
with us. He is with us. I am with thee. God gives us strength, doesn't
he? You only have to trace out in
that wonderful 11th chapter to the Hebrews all those who are
blessed with living faith and in essence what did they do?
they laughed at impossibilities and said it shall be done because
how do they pursue? they went in the strength of
the Lord God that's how they pursued and that's how you and
I will pursue to go in the strength of the Lord God, and the Word
of God goes on to say, we go in the strength of the Lord God
and make mention of His righteousness, even of His only. That's a good
theme, isn't it? It's a wonderful theme, to be
able to testify of the righteousness of our God, of all that He's
done for us, the great work of salvation, in calling such a
wretch as you and I are, someone deserving of any notice, of any
favour, When the Spirit of God touches our heart, it'll humble
us. It'll humble us. We won't be
proud. We'll be humbled under the mighty
hand of God that he's remembered us. He's come and he's called
us. He's formed us. He's made us. He's created us for his glory. You must remember these great
truths. We must desire to hear God speaking
to us and to bless him for such a truth as this. He says, I even
I am the Lord and beside me there is no saviour. There's no saviour. This is the only saviour of sinners,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, today, may we bless God
for the wonderful truth. We came down to the end of this
43rd chapter the Prophet says put me in remembrance and what
is he saying that for? previous verse says I even I
am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not
remember thy sins oh what grace oh what a blessing oh what a
favour to think that we deal with such a God who graciously
speaks in this way and says He, or even I, am He that blotteth
out thy transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember
thy sins no, they've been washed away forever in the precious
blood of the Lamb the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin
of the world and so he says put me in remembrance let us remember
these things let us not forget them let us plead together declare
thou that thou mayest be justified well these are great truths aren't
they? what a mercy it is then to remember we have such a kind
and gracious God a God who does not deal with us as we deserve
and we come back then to the very first verse of this 43rd
chapter but now well there is a but now in the life of all
his people but now it's a good thing if you have and I have
a but now in our life thus saith the Lord that created the old
Jacob and he that formed the old Israel fear not for I have
redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name, thou are mine. And therefore be able to rejoice
in this truth, even every one that is called by my name, have
I created him for my glory, I have formed him, yea, I have made
him. Oh, may we be humbled under the
mighty hand of God and rejoice in his great salvation and praise
him for all that he's done in redeeming our souls and to believe
therefore that by his grace one day when time should be no more
for each one of us we shall be in eternity with the Saviour
and with the whole Church of God to praise him forever and
ever. Amen.