The Chosen Ones

Q: What does the Bible say about being chosen by God?

The Bible teaches that God has chosen a people for Himself, calling them His elect who are precious in His sight (Isaiah 43:4). Isaiah 43 highlights God's sovereign choice in selecting His people, often referred to as the elect. This chapter reassures believers of their identity as God's chosen ones, reminding them that they are precious and honored in His sight (Isaiah 43:4). Throughout Scripture, we find affirmations of God's particular love for His elect, emphasizing that this selection is not based on their merit but solely on His sovereign grace and purpose.

Q: How do we know that God loves His chosen people?

God's love for His chosen people is evident in His actions, especially in His promise of redemption and care (Isaiah 43:1-3). In Isaiah 43, God explicitly states His love for His chosen ones by identifying them and assuring them of His redemptive work. He reminds them, 'Fear not, for I have redeemed thee' (Isaiah 43:1). This declaration reveals a relational aspect of God’s love, emphasizing that He has not only chosen them but has also committed to their preservation and salvation. Furthermore, His everlasting love is a foundational truth in Scripture that reassures believers of their security in Him (Jeremiah 31:3).

Q: Why is the concept of God's sovereignty important for Christians?

The sovereignty of God affirms His ultimate authority over all creation, ensuring that His purposes are accomplished (Isaiah 43:13). The sovereignty of God is crucial for Christians as it assures them that God is in control of all circumstances. Isaiah 43:13 declares, 'I will work, and who will let it?' This emphasizes that God's will cannot be thwarted by human actions or decisions. This belief fosters a deep trust in God’s providence, encouraging Christians to rely on His guidance and to navigate challenges with confidence knowing that He orchestrates all things for the good of His elect (Romans 8:28). Understanding God's sovereignty provides believers with peace amid life's uncertainties and the assurance that their salvation is secure.

Q: What does it mean to fear not according to the Bible?

To fear not means to trust in God's presence and provision in times of trouble (Isaiah 43:5). The phrase 'fear not' appears frequently in Scripture as a command from God to His people. In Isaiah 43:5, God reassures His chosen ones, saying, 'Fear not, for I am with thee.' This command to not fear is rooted in the confidence that God is sovereign, actively present, and concerned for their well-being. Fear can arise from uncertainty about the future or from challenging circumstances, but God's promise of His companionship dispels such fear. Trusting in His faithfulness encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, knowing that God is their protector and guide in every trial they face.

Q: How does God's promise to be with His people give hope?

God's promise to be with His people assures them of His unwavering support and guidance through life's trials (Isaiah 43:2). In Isaiah 43:2, God declares, 'When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee.' This promise serves as a powerful reminder that God does not abandon His people in times of trouble but intimately accompanies them through difficult circumstances. The assurance of His presence fosters hope, as believers can face adversities knowing they are not alone. This hope is rooted in the understanding that God’s presence brings comfort, strength, and deliverance, echoing the truth that He works all things for their good and His glory.

All right, how many times have
we sung this song? Literally a thousand times I'm
sure. All right, Isaiah 43. Now we
sang it, let's look at it. Isaiah 43, now the last four
verses of chapter 42. As you know, God's word was not
written in chapters and verses. It's written in a book or letter.
And the last four verses lead into chapter 43. The last four
verses of chapter 42, God's anger and his wrath are kindled. against
an apostate people. Those who seem to be Jews, but we're not. Worshippers,
but we're not. And so God's anger and wrath
was against them. And I thought of this, how we
dwell in such an apostate day. And God's Word pronounce judgment upon
this generation. But now chapter 43 is for God's
people. Chapter 43 is for true believers,
true worshipers. It's the Word of God to His chosen
ones. That's the title of this message,
The Chosen Ones. It's to God's elect, which he
had chosen to reveal himself to. And that's what this whole
thing is about, to tell us who he is and what he's done for
us. That's what this whole message,
what these verses are all about. Now, you'll notice the language,
if you haven't already. All the way through, he says,
I am, I have, I will, and you are. I love the certainties, the shalls
of God's work. All right, verse one, let's look
at it. But now, thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob,
or sons of Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, or transformed
thee into Israel, from the son of Jacob. Fear not. Here's his first word to his
people. Fear not. That's what this whole
chapter is written about. At least these first 13 verses.
To God's chosen, and the first words out of his mouth are fear
not. Fear not. Do you remember how we saw that
when the Lord arose from the grave, The first thing he said to his
disciples was, peace be on you. And many times he, many times,
Brother Nyberg pointed this out, that the command that he gave
more than any other was, fear not. Fear not. Now, that's not, that's
not contradictory to the fear of the Lord. And I really can't
explain it, but you know, those people know they fear the Lord.
They reverence him, they worship him, they respect him, they're
in awe of him, they fear him. Yet he says unto us, unto those
that fear his name, fear not. And the closest I can, the closest
way I can describe this is a child with a parent, a very young child. Perhaps not a teenager, but a
very, very young child, four, five, six years old, fears their
father. But yet the father is all the
time allaying their fears. You understand? Fear of things,
fear of circumstances, fear of the future, fear of whatever. Fear him, but he says, fear nothing
else. OK, fear not, fear not. All right,
so he says, I'm the Lord that created you, I made you, and
we're going to see in a minute why he made that. He said, I
formed you or I transformed you from a. From a son of Jacob,
just from a no good, sorry, son of Jacob to a son of God. I love
him now as sons of God. It does not yet appear what we
shall be, but we are now. As he is, so are we. Now, yes,
John, now. Beloved, now, with the sons of
God. He says something, doesn't he?
Read on. He says, fear not, I have redeemed thee. Not I hope to,
not I will if you let me, not I shall someday, not there's
a good chance it might happen. I have. Yes, he, who, who's this
talking here? The Lord Jesus Christ. who entered
into the holy place with not with the blood of bulls and goats,
but with their own precious blood, having obtained eternal redemption. I redeemed you, he said. I bought
you. I bought you. And I've called you, read on,
I have called thee by thy name. I've called you Israel, though
you don't call yourself prince, though you don't call yourself
a saint, though you don't even call yourself a Christian. I don't have people, you know,
just people don't have the foggiest notion of what a Christian is.
So I don't readily accept that when they ask me. I ask them,
what do you mean by that? Not by today's standards, I don't. But he said, I've called you
by your name. I've called you a believer. I've called you a
saint. I've called you Israel, Prince, Son of God, you're mine,
thou art mine. He said, I bought you, you're
not your own, you're mine. That's what our Lord said, and
he said to the father in John 17, he said, all mine are thine,
and thine are mine. Verse two, look at this. He says, when thou passest through the
water, Now, he's going to give several promises. He's going
to give some good news. He's going to give some things
that will allay our fears. But first, he tells us you're
going to pass through the walk. You notice he says when, not
if. He says when. For all of God's
people. If you be without chastisement,
you're bastard. All of God's people. When? It's just, it's not if, it's
just a matter of when you pass through the water. Now, turn
with me real quickly. Psalm 107. Psalm 107. You'll want to put a little mark
beside this scripture. I think Brother Henry likes this
Psalm 107. It's all about the Israelite,
the Henryites. They're all just like Henry. Henry's just like them, so am
I. They get in trouble and cry to the Lord, be natural. Just
over and over and over again. And look at this, in verse 23,
look at this. It says, They that go down to
the sea in ships, they do business in great waters. Deep watch. What that mean? They
that go down to the sea in ships. Now not fellas rowing John boats
in farm ponds. They're not in trouble. They
don't have to worry about what kind of boat they're in, Roy.
No. They can swim, sure, okay? But
now those that go down in the ship, ships, big boats, big arcs,
big ships, down in the sea when they go out, And they do business
in deep waters. And you know what they say? Well,
brethren, truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His
Son. We're in a ship. Yes, we are.
The fellowship of the saints, the fellowship of the gospel,
the fellowship of the brethren, the fellowship. We're in Christ,
who's our ark of safety, right? But he puts us out in deep water.
Why? So that we'll know the boat floats.
So that we'll know we need a ship. You understand what I said a
while ago? Now, those that do shallow waters, they don't need
a big ship. Those that don't go through real
difficult deep water don't need a big ship. But those that do
business in deep water, they need a big ship. You have one
that won't spring a leaf. So he says, when thou passest
through the water, deep water, great waters, and all of God's
people will. They'll go through great, deep
water, but don't notice. When thou passest through the
water. You see that? That's when, it's
not if, it's when. But then he says, When you pass
through, what does that mean? It means you're going to get
through it. Huh? You're going to get through
it. This too shall pass, no matter
how deep, how difficult the trial. He said the rivers. Rivers. Why
do they say rivers here in our text? Rivers. You go through
the rivers. Rivers are just waters that keep coming. Arthur, you
ever stood beside a raging river after a flood? When it really
rains, even that little pig river behind our house, it's dangerous. It'd kill man or beast if he
got near it. And it's rushing, raging waters, you know. And
a river or something, it just keeps coming. And when's it going
to stop? It just keeps rising. But he says, it won't overflow
you. You're not going to drown. Your
head's not going to go under. I'm going to keep your head above
water. Your head is above water. You understand that? All right,
and look at this. When, verse 2, when thou walkest
through the fire, it's not if, it's when. Now, fire is a very
painful thing. It's called by Peter, these trials
that believers go through, are called fiery trials. But he says,
when thou walkest through. You're going to walk. You're
not going to fall. You're going to walk. You're going to walk
how? By faith. You're going to walk
by faith. And you're going to walk through.
You're not going to lay down and give up. You're going to
walk right on through. And you're going to keep walking.
You're going to be standing. When it's over, you're going
to be standing on the rock. When you walk through the fire,
you won't be burned. You will not be burned. Neither shall the flame kindle
upon thee. Would you turn to Daniel? Did
that make you think of three fellas? Didn't they? Three fellas, yet four? Daniel
chapter three. Look at this. This is my favorite. Daniel chapter three. Shadrach,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as you know, were cast into that
fiery furnace. And it says in verse 28, verse 27, it said when they got them out
of that furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they looked down
there and And they got them out of the furnace. Verse 27 says,
the prince's governor, the captain's king's counselor. And gathered
together, they saw these men upon whose bodies the fire had
no power, nor was a hair of their head seen. Not one hair of their
head was seen. Neither were their coats changed,
nor the smell. There wasn't even the smell of
fire on them. So the fiery trials that God
sends his people do not produce any lasting trauma or damage
but only good. That's what he says. God's trials
beautify. They don't scarify, they beautify. God's trials perfect. God's trials
establish. God's trials wisen His people. God's trials strengthen their
faith. Now, who said this? Whose word is this? The preacher?
Am I telling? Is this my word? Is my pastor's
word? Look at verse 3 in our text here. Look who's talking
here. This is not me. This is the Lord. He said, verse three, I am the
Lord thy God. The all wise Lord. He said, now,
when you go through the waters. You pass through the waters,
deep water through the river, they won't overflow. You won't
drown when you walk through the fire and you will, but you won't
be burned. And the flame won't even. It
won't even kindle a fire. You'll not be destroyed by it.
No, no, no. It burns the drops away. Because
I'm the Lord thy God. I don't make mistakes. The judge
of the earth does right. Shall he not? That was Abraham's
plea when God was about to destroy that city. I'm the Lord thy God,
the Holy One of Israel. Who's talking here? The Lord
Jesus Christ. Who went first? He went through in a lifetime more than we'll
go through. All of us put together. You see,
he went first. He went through the deep waters
first, didn't he not? He went through the fire first,
didn't he not? Oh, he was a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief, but But he was perfected through
the sufferings that he suffered. And so shall we be. Verse 3,
I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. I'm
your Savior. That means everything he does
is to the purpose of saving us, not hurting us. I can't get that
through my daughter's head. My teenage daughter, Ron, I cannot
get that through her head. She thinks I'm all the time just,
I just like to counsel. I just like to advise. I just
like to make her miserable at times. She just thinks I like
giving orders. I like giving warnings. She just
thinks that. I don't like that. But everything
I say, and I'm trying to get it through her head, everything,
I say nothing to gain. But everything I'm saying is,
boy, you're good. I know you're not going to like
what I'm about to say, and what I will gain by this little encounter
is your, you know, displeasure or whatever, discomfort. We both get uncomfortable, but
I'm doing it to savor it. You understand that? I'm doing
it to save her. Everything I say is with the
purpose of saving her some grief, some problems, some trouble.
He said, I am your Savior. Now get that. I am your Savior. Everything I do concerning you,
everything I say concerning you is with the purpose of saving
you, not hurting you, but saving you some grief. Saving your soul,
ultimately. I'm your Savior. That really
struck me, thinking about that. I'm your Savior. I'm not your
troubler. I'm not your taskmaster. I'm your Savior. I hope we just get that in one
word tonight. Look at this. Look at verse 3. Now, Egypt has
always stood for the world. He said, I gave Egypt for your
ransom. You remember the story, you know
this story here, and it seems like a, almost like a fairy tale,
but Roy, it was true. This is a true story. There was
a band of Jews living in Egypt in bondage in this huge, you
know how big Egypt is? North Africa. Huge place. The Israelites, just a little
spot on the map, you know. And that bunch of Israelites
were in the middle of Egypt in the midst of that great nation
of Egypt. And God came there and killed
the Egyptians and brought his people out. And he said this several times.
He said, I didn't save you because you were more in number than
I did, because you were better, because I chose you. But the
fact is, he gave Egypt to ransom this small number. And the world,
folks, the world, God passes over. God is going to damn, yes,
damn, the majority of this world in favor of you. That's just so. Think about the
flood. Eight persons. Eight persons. Bible scholars estimate as many
as A couple of billion people were on the planet. Eight people were spared. Why? Because it pleased God.
Those were the ones that God chose. Well, He said, Now I have
gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia, and Sheba for thee. The whole
world. Verse four. Now the world was
passed by. And the world exists, let me
just say this, this world is still standing for the elect
saint. The sun still shines, and the
rain, when he brings it, when he's pleased, we don't have to
worry, Henry, we're going to have something to eat. God's
going to send just enough rain to make us thankful and make
the world kiss. You know what? and add to their
condemnation, because they don't thank him when he sends it. As someone said that one time,
I said, why? Do you thank God when he does
send it? Why should he? Why should he
send it? Well, anyway, the world still exists for God's people
to provide for their needs and for their perfection. in
the fullness of time. All right. Verse four. Now, he
says, since thou was precious in my sight. Now, wait a minute,
Preacher. You chief of sinners all say
this. Wait a minute now. I'm not precious. Verse four.
He said, You've been honorable. Oh, not me, Preacher. Who's this
talking to? This is not talking to Christ.
He's talking to Jacob. John, I've read this wrong before.
I've thought, well, he's talking to Christ here. Christ is precious
and honorable. Yes, he is. But in Christ, it's
not. He's talking to sons of Jacob
who've been called Israel by God. Why? Because they're in
Christ. You're precious, you're honorable.
In Christ, yes, he's made us wholly unblameable, unapprovable
in God's sight. In Christ, in Christ, we're precious
in God's sight. Precious in the sight of the
Lord is the death of His Son. Precious. They're precious people.
Yes, they are. He gave His Son. I've loved Thee, He said. I have
loved Thee. I've loved Thee, He said to Jeremiah,
with an everlasting love. God's loved me. He said his love
on his people before the world began, and it never, and that's
it. That's it. He never, never takes
it back. I've loved thee with everlasting
love. There's no one in hell whom God
loves. God does not love everyone. That's a lie out of hell. Because
God's love is saving love. It's particular love. It's sovereign,
discriminating love, and it's everlasting love. I have loved
thee. Therefore will I give men for
thee and people for thy life. Everything and everyone exists
for the purpose of God's people. Yes, it does. I direct all things,
all men, all things for you, your boss, whoever it is, whoever
it is, to the dog that barks at you. That's right. to the, from the dog that barks
at you to the foreman that barks at you. Yes. Remember that? You remember that,
don't you Stan? He said, a dog can't bark at my feet unless
I say so. I think about that all the time.
My barn is swarming with wasps and bumblebees right now. This
is a banner year for those And they're just spinning all around
my head when I walk around there. I'm going to try to kill them,
but I thought, why haven't I been stung yet? I know why. There was another
time, Brother Henry, I was walking out in the middle of the yard,
out in the middle of nowhere. I wasn't bothering anybody, and a bumblebee
just, bam, hit me on the side of the head. I wasn't bothering
him a bit. I wasn't even in his territory.
Now, that's right. Fear not. Look at verse 5. Fear
not. Now, why? How is it that God's
people should not be afraid? What is it that keeps them from
fear? He said in verse 2, I will be with thee. When you go through
the waters, I will be with thee. Verse 5. Fear not, for I am with
thee. And I will be, I am. I always
am. I always have been. I will be
with them. You remember the disciples when
they were in that ship and it was tossed and the wind was contrary
to them? It wasn't contrary to them. The
wind was blowing exactly like God blew it. But it was contrary
to them and the waves were entering the ship so that they were in
peril, they thought. Who was in the boat? Our Lord. What was He doing? Now if that
boat goes down, He goes down too. If they have a right to be afraid,
He does too. He's in the same boat. Huh? Well, He got up, said, stilled
the waters and said, why is it you have no faith? I'm with you. Another time, he wasn't in the
boat. Another time, he wasn't in the boat, and they were out
on the sea again. You see, those that go down to
the sea in ships do business in great waters. The Lord sent
them out across the ocean, and he wasn't with them. He wasn't
in the boat. All right, the winds again blew,
and the waves were crashing, and they were in peril again.
Here he comes walking. On the walk and got in the ship.
I'm with you. So. At times you know it, at
times you don't think it, but I am with you always. Fear not,
I am with thee. Be not dismayed, I am your God. I'll still give thee a verse
five. I'm with thee, I will bring thy seed from the east and gather
thee from the west. You see, that's why this world
is still spinning. God's elect, he still has his
elect. And you parents, we parents,
this is our hope. That our children and the children
of our brethren, our loved ones, our husbands, wives, parents,
friends, family that They might be one of the elect too. There's
great hope that they might be, because this world's still spinning
and the gospel's still being declared. The doors of this church
house are still open. If there were no more elect,
Christ had already been here. Come back. He said, I will bring. I will bring thy seed. Thy seed,
talking about the church from the East and gather them From
the West, I'll 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. Bring them from afar. Oh, I could give you so many
instances of how the Lord works. The Lord's ways are so mysterious,
so wonderful. He doesn't do things the way
we would do them. He doesn't do things the way
men and women think the way things should be done. You remember
the story of Paul who wanted to go preach up in Asia. Remember he did a say to preach
or wanted to go up to Bithynia and the Holy Spirit wouldn't
let him. But in a dream that night, he heard a man say, come
over to Macedonia, Philippi. You remember that? So he did.
He turned, instead of going due north to Asia, he went straight
west and went to Macedonia, Philippi, and went down there. And the
first person he met, one of the first persons, was a woman down
by the river. Her name was Lydia. All right,
where's Lydia from? Bithynia. She's not home. I want to go
up. No, my sheep's not home. She's in Philippi. Go down there.
I can give you so many instances. My father was holding a meeting
in Australia one time years ago. Now, Australia, you know where
that is? Down under. Down under. And he's only been there like
twice in his lifetime. Well, this is one of those times
he happened to be there. There's a man from New Zealand.
You know where New Zealand is? Australia's down under, New Zealand's
up over. Halfway around the world, OK?
That man heard the gospel in Australia. He'd never heard of
it before. Well, there's so many instances.
And that's the way it is with God's church. That's how he populates
it. Even in our little areas and
churches, local churches. Let me give you this one. Gerald
King. Brother Gerald King. You know, Gerald, he's been here
since both of his sons and daughter. Brother Gerald Kuhn lived next
door to the 13th Street Baptist Church for like 20 years. I mean,
that house right there, that's where he lived. He never came
in the door. Never. He was a Nazarene, he
was saved, you know, he didn't need those, that. He didn't believe
that stuff. So many instances. I'll say to
my son, bring them. See, this way you know God's
in it. Let's compass this neighborhood.
Mark, knock door to door. Fine, if you want to do that,
fine, do it, but they're not going to come. I've seen this by experience. Brother Todd and Brother Danny
Blair, they opened up a a little storefront chapel in the midst
of the run-down part of Lexington, Kentucky. They wanted to put
the gospel where sinners were. You know, all the drunks and
the drug addicts and the prostitutes and all that. Right down the
middle of that. And so they stand out on the
street. And Todd said, no, they didn't
get any members. So I said, all they got was threats.
Said he'd be out on the street, and there'd be some fellow towering
over him, whiskey on his breath. He feared for his life. So he
moved out of there. And way out in the country, and
they populated that building. And on and on you could go. I'll say, and this gives me so
much comfort. I'm glad that it's not up to
us to bring people to Christ. Aren't you? I've done a mighty
poor job of it over the years. I've tried. I've stood and talked
toe-to-toe, nose-to-nose with people. I try to be nice. Don't you,
Brother Henry? I try. It's hard. I'm so glad it's not
up to us to bring people to Christ. I'm glad he said, I'll bring
them. I'll bring them. Not to say we don't speak when
the opportunity is there, but it's not due to our wit. No splash
is going to glory. Nobody's going to be able to
say, I won so-and-so to Jesus. No, sir. It's not going to be due to our
wit, our wisdom, our schemes, our methods to get people saved.
But God Almighty sovereignly brings all of His own to hear
the gospel, and He does it in a marvelous way. Verse 7, he
says, bring them all, everyone, everyone that is called by my
name. All right, now, see, they've
got two names. They're sons of God and Israel,
princes with God. They're called by my name. I
have created him for my glory. That's why he created us. That's
why we exist, for God's glory. Yea, I have formed him. I've
made him as he is, and everything about him or her. Yea, I have
made him. Bring them. That's what I'll
say. And they'll come. Now verses 8 and 9 are to the
world. Verses 8 and 9 are spoken to
the world. Listen to it. All right? Bring
forth, you know, remember Chapter 42, he was talking to a bunch
of apostates, sons of Jacob. And the anger of the Lord was
kindled against them. But now, he said, My chosen.
But now, verse 89, he says, Now bring forth the blind people
that have ears, and the deaf, I mean, that have eyes, the blind
people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. They think
they see. They don't. They think they hear,
but they don't. They turn away their ears from
the truth and to faith. Oh, they see things all right,
but God has sent them strong delusions. They hear things all
right, but they don't hear His Word. Verse 9, let all the nations
be gathered together. Yes, all. Let the people be assembled. Who among them, you see, them,
who among them can declare this? and show us former things. Let
them bring forth their witnesses that they may be justified."
In other words, bring forth your gospel. Tell us what you believe. Tell us how it is that you're
saved. Tell us how it is that you're justified. Tell us how
you chose Jesus. Tell us how you did. Bring your
witnesses forth. You remember when Paul said in
1 Corinthians, he said, where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Come on, that's it. That's what
he's saying. Bring him out here. Have not
God made foolish the wisdom of this world. That's what I'd like
to say this whole world. I'd like to ask the whole world,
show me one instance in all of God's Word. You know the false
gospel they're preaching. God love you. There's a sign
on one of these bulletin boards right now that says, Jesus died
for you. Where does it say that? Come on, bring me your witnesses.
Is this your witness? Show me. Show me one instance. Now, this
is what the false gospel is saying. God loves everybody. Christ died
for everybody. But God can't save anybody unless
they let Him. Show me one verse. Show me one
verse anywhere in this Bible where God couldn't do anything. Where God couldn't do something
because people wouldn't let Him. Just one verse. That's all there
is. One verse. Bring forth your witnesses. Just one verse where it says,
where God said, I tried and I couldn't because they wouldn't let me. That God wants. Show me one verse
anywhere in all of God's Word where it says God wants anything. Look at the last line of verse
9. He says, or let them hear, let them hear this and let them
say it's truth. This is the truth. Now show me
your witnesses. Give me your scripture. Just let me see you justify your
your your gospel and your salvation. If not, you better hear this
and you better say this is the truth. Bring bring them for verse 10,
but now you are my witness. You see, see how it changes there.
You see that you're my witness. Sayeth the Lord and my servant,
you see the whole church, all of God's people. serve him. It's his servant. The church
is his servant. You're my witnesses too. Whose
witnesses? His witnesses. We're not witnesses
for the Baptist Church. We're not witnesses for the Central
Baptist Church. We're not trying to get members of the Central
Baptist Church. Like my pastor always said, we
don't want church members. Church members give you problems.
We're looking for sheep. members of Christ's body, the
church, were witnesses to him, not us, not our denomination,
not John Calvin either. Right? His witnesses, saith the
Lord, and my servant, whom I have chosen. You see the difference
between God's servants and Satan's? Huh? Satan's servants choose
God, or think they do. God chooses His own servants.
He doesn't choose you. I whom I have chosen. And what
has He chosen us for? Verse 10, that you may know and
believe me, and understand that I am He. And before me there
was no God formed, neither shall there be after
me. In other words, there never has been another God, and there
never will be another God. is only one God. The Lord our
God is one God. Satan's not a God. God, capital G, means absolute
ruler. Now, you don't have one absolute. Understand? Absolute means this
is the way it is, there is no other. Now, you can only have one sovereign. Right? There can't be two. They
can't be two, or it's not sovereign. Isn't that about the most fundamental
thing in the English language? You can only have one God, or he's
not God. And this is why all through the
book of Isaiah, he keeps saying, I am God, there is no else. There
is none else. I am God, there is no other.
Is there another? I don't know of any. He says,
To whom will you liken me? Satan's not a God. He's not omniscient. He doesn't know all that. He's
not omnipotent. He's not all powerful. He has
to ask the Lord for his power. He's not omnipresent. He can
only be in one place at one time. He's got a bunch of demons, but
he's not omnipresent. But the Lord our God is omniscient,
omnipotent, and omnipresent. He's God. Satan's not a God. Man's not a God. You see, but
man thinks Satan's a God. They think he's just as powerful
as God. You know, Satan cast the boat, and God cast, so he
got, and nullified one another out. This is their, you've heard
this. I don't even need to say it again. But, and that, it's blasphemy.
It's absolute blasphemy, what they're saying about God. But
now, you're my witness. He said, You're my witness that
you may know and understand that I am me, and there's no other
God before me. There never has been, never will
be. I've chosen you to know that. You see, this is eternal life,
that they might know thee, the only true God. You didn't know this before,
did you? Huh? Danny didn't know this before.
Years ago, you didn't know this. You thought Satan cast a vote,
God cast a vote, and man cast a deciding vote, didn't you? Where's your Satan at? Bring
the witnesses! Well, you're my witness, he said.
I've chosen you. You may know and believe me and
understand what? That I am he. There's no God.
And in verse 11, I, yes, I, even I, am the Lord. Beside me there
is no Savior. No, say not the Pope, not the
preacher. There's one say salvation is
of the Lord. You know this, John David, and
God chose you. You're his witness that you might
know. Salvation is of the Lord, it's not the Lord's blood and
my pain, no. No. You're going to know that
I'm the Savior, not part of the Savior, but I'm the Savior. There
is no saints. Verse 12, I have declared and have saved. Get them back. And I have showed over and over
again, as He showed us, when there's no strange God among
you. This God is not strange to us. We're no strangers. And, you know, this is getting
stranger and stranger today and the truth is getting stranger
and stranger. As men get further and further
away from the truth, just the plain old word of God, that God
is God. that Christ is the only Savior,
that man's dead. It's strange stuff. And if you declare it today, I'm
telling you, you're going to be thought to be an old, I mean,
archaic. Where are you coming from? You're
one of those Puritans, aren't you, Margaret? There's only a handful of those
left. That's true of the strangers. He's not strange among you. You're
my witnesses, sayeth the Lord, that I am God. See, I keep saying
those things. You're my witnesses. Yea, before the day was. Now
look at this, we'll quit. Before the day was. Before anything
was. I am He. And there is none that
can deliver out of my hand. Oh my. John 10, 28, he said,
I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish.
No man shall pluck them out of my hand. I will work. Don't you love that language?
I will work. I have purposed. I have chosen.
I have redeemed. He's not asking anybody for their
opinion on the matter. He's not asking Israel, will
you accept this? He's not asking them now, will
you believe it? No. He said, you will believe that
because I have done this. This is why you do this. According
to the working of his mighty power. He said, I am, I have,
I have redeemed your mind. You know this, don't you? I will work. And who's going
to let it? Who's going to let it? Who's
going to prevent it? Commit that to memory, Isaiah
43, 13. Because it absolutely refutes
all of modern theology, doesn't it? That one verse alone absolutely
nails the coffin down on modern theology. Modern theology is
this. God wants to if you'll let Him. Isn't that it? Let go and let God. Isn't that
it? Isn't that modern theology right
there? God says, I will work and who
will let Him? And he, over and over, oh, I
could go on and on. Isaiah, he, another place he
stepped up. Who did the Lord take counsel
with? With whom did he take counsel? Who did he ask anybody anything
about when he decided, when he purposed it? There wasn't anybody
to ask. Before the world, he purposed
it. Spoken it. I'll bring the victim
back. Alright, stand with me. Our Father, we thank you so much
for revealing the truth to us, the truth of who you are, what
we are, what the gospel is, who Christ is. How we thank you. Flesh and blood didn't reveal
it to us. We didn't. Natural man doesn't receive these
things. Neither can he know them. They're
spiritually understood. But God hath revealed these things
unto us by his Spirit. So we thank you for sovereignly
choosing us to make us your witnesses, that we might know and understand
that you are God. And we love to have it so. We
believe that without God beside thee there's none else. Christ
is indeed the Christ, our salvation. And so it's in his name and your
name for your honor and glory we've met here tonight. Amen. I love you. I love you. I love
you.

The Chosen Ones

What does the Bible say about being chosen by God?

How do we know that God loves His chosen people?

Why is the concept of God's sovereignty important for Christians?

What does it mean to fear not according to the Bible?

How does God's promise to be with His people give hope?

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The Chosen Ones

What does the Bible say about being chosen by God?

How do we know that God loves His chosen people?

Why is the concept of God's sovereignty important for Christians?

What does it mean to fear not according to the Bible?

How does God's promise to be with His people give hope?

Sermon Transcript

About Paul Mahan

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