Turn with me, if you will, to
the prophecy of Isaiah. And let me make three, four statements
by way of introduction that are very important. I understand that salvation is
God's eternal work. and eternal work. That's as clear,
as plain, as fully revealed as it possibly can be upon the pages
of Holy Scripture. Salvation, the salvation of God's
people, is his purpose according to which he rules the world.
The salvation of his elect is the will of God, which our Savior
came here to perform. And he sovereignly works all
things after the counsel of his own will to that great and glorious
end. The Apostle Paul, when he's writing
his last letter to Timothy, when he knows his time on earth is
done, he says, now, Timothy, this is what I preached, and
this is what I'm in prison for, the gospel. the gospel of God,
who hath saved us and called us, not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ Jesus before the world began. Salvation is God's eternal
work. We know that all things work
together for good to them that love God. to them who are the
called according to his purpose. This is what God has purposed. In Revelation 10, we read of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the angel of the covenant. There is a day
coming when he shall stand at last with one foot on the earth
and one on the sea and lift his hand to heaven and say, time
shall be no more. It's finished. And when that
day comes, God's elect shall all be gathered with him into
heavenly glory. They shall stand holy, unblameable,
unreprovable in his sight. The reprobate forever cast into
the pit of the damned, but God's people shall be with him in his
glory. He says, our Lord does, lo, I
and the children which thou hast given me, not one of them is
lost. I also realize that salvation
is a lifelong experience. How do I say this and say it
with utter clarity? Salvation is not something that
happens when a man decides he's going to get saved. Salvation
is not a experience I had this morning or an experience I had
30 years ago. As a matter of fact, if you have
to look back to a time and a place and say, this is when the Lord
saved me, this is when I, as folks like to say, got saved,
you never got it. That's not the case. We have
been saved. That took place at a pointed
time, ordained of God from eternity, when the Lord God came to us
in His mighty saving grace and gave dead sinners life and faith
in Christ. It's what's called in the New
Testament the new birth, regeneration, being born again. And we are
being saved. That is, the Lord God is keeping
us. What you read just a little bit
ago. He's keeping us by the power of his grace, keeping us in faith,
keeping us in the way of life, preserving us. He will not let
us go. And we shall yet be saved. Paul puts it this way. Now is
our salvation nearer than when we believed. When you think about
salvation, please try to put out of your mind all natural
concepts of salvation and all the perverse concepts of this
religious world. The idea that somehow you go
through this one, two, three process. You go down this road,
this road, this road, and finally you come and say, all right,
now I'm saved. Salvation is the lifelong experience of God's
people. It is not that we have sought
the Lord, but we're seeking him. It is not that we have found
him, but we're founding him. It is not our finding him. It
is not that we have come to him, but rather we are coming to him.
To whom coming is the language of the New Testament. The hand
of our God is upon his elect from the womb to the tomb. Jeremiah,
hears the Lord God say to him, before I formed thee in the belly,
I knew thee and sanctified thee. Paul said, God separated me from
my mother's womb and called me by his grace. There is no such
thing as a time when God is not dealing with and for his people
in this world. The Lord Jesus Christ is revealed
in the hearts of chosen sinners when it pleases God. That's when God saves his people.
Old Simeon said, God said concerning Simeon, he shall not see death
before his eyes have seen the Lord's Christ. And God Almighty
said concerning Don Fortner, he shall not see death before
his eyes have seen the Lord's Christ. And God has said concerning
his elect, They shall not see death before their eyes have
seen the Lord's Christ. There comes a time when God reveals
Christ in His people according to His purpose. And when he does,
he continually reveals Christ in them and continually reveals
Christ to them. And then Paul says, now that
being the case, since salvation is God's eternal work, since
it is the lifelong experience of God's people, you who believe
need not fear. The Lord will preserve and keep
you. Paul said, being confident of
this one thing, he which hath begun a good work in you will
complete it, will continue it, will perfect it until the day
of Jesus Christ. We have come to Christ. We are
coming to Christ. By the grace of God, we shall
come to Christ. So can you be sure of that? Not
if it depends on you. Not if it depends on me, but
God will see to it. He said, I'll give them one heart
and one way. They shall know me and they shall
not depart from me. And yet, having said that, there
is a day, a specific day appointed called the time of love. You
remember in Ezekiel 16, thy time shall be called the time of love.
There is a specific day when God Almighty has ordained from
eternity that He will cross the path of His people and cause
them to hear His Word, to believe His gospel, to see His Son, and
to see His glory in the face of His Son. There was a woman
over in John chapter 4 The chapter opens like this, this old harlot. She's going out in the middle
of the day in shame, lest she have to meet with any of the
nice ladies in the city. She's going out to draw water
out of a well, a Samaritan. Born a Samaritan, chose to be
a harlot. Why on earth did she go out there
on that particular day, at that particular time, in her shame,
debauchery, and humiliation, to draw water from that particular
well? Because the chapter says he must,
needs, go through Samaria. The time of love had come for
that crusty old gal, when the Lord God would give her life
and faith in Him. So he must go. Must. How come? Because God ordained it. Because
God had chosen that woman. Because God had set the time.
Because God had been, from all time, ordaining and arranging
the purpose of His grace, bringing to pass this crossing of Christ,
who is life, with the chosen sinner who is death, that he
might give her life. There is a day, a day appointed
by God, when he will meet his own in saving mercy. I'm not
talking about a 24-hour day. You don't need a calendar to
mark the time of your conversion. I get more than a little upset
when I hear folks trying to decide whether or not somebody's saved,
trying to decide whether or not I'm saved. Well, when did God
save you? Let's see if you measure up.
You don't need a calendar to mark the time of your birth,
not in the kingdom of God. The day of divine visitation
is the day when God Almighty steps into your life. and causes
you to see, to believe, to worship His Son, to call Jesus of Nazareth
your Lord. Not just say He's my Lord, to
call Him Lord, to acknowledge Him Lord, to bow to Him as Lord. And that which I've said concerning
the sinner's conversion is also true with regard to appointed
times of reviving, refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
Hold your hands here in Isaiah and turn to Hosea chapter 6.
Let me show you this. The Lord God has graciously set
appointed times when he will visit his people, when he will
visit his church and kingdom in revival. Brother Lindsey has
been teaching through the Song of Solomon here in Chapter 5,
doing a great job, where the Church of God has, through her
neglect, through her coldness, hardness,
and indifference, declined the blessed privilege of sweet communion
and fellowship with Christ. But he wouldn't leave her. He
put his hand in by the hole of the door. He spoke. And she said,
did not my heart break within me when he spoke? My heart was
crushed and moved within me. And I rose open to my beloved,
but my beloved had withdrawn himself. And so she goes about
seeking him, seeking him everywhere, because he's created an earnest
desire in her for him. He's caused her to long for him. He left sweet tokens of his grace
in his presence, so that she burned in her heart for him.
And the watchmen, the preachers, took away your veil, stripped
her, exposed her nakedness, and said, now it's your fault. And
she goes seeking him still. And then the scripture tells
us, it wasn't long till I found him. And he comes to visit her
and visits his garden and feeds among the lilies. There are appointed
days after he has caused our hearts to burn for him. when
the Son of God will come to His church and visit us in sweet
revival and refreshing. Hosea 6 verse 2. After two days will He revive
us. In the third day He will raise
us up and we shall live in His sight. Chapter 14 verse 7. They that dwell under His shadow
shall return They shall revive as the corn and grow as the vine. Like that corn's plant that comes
up early in the spring and then it just stands there, no rain.
Dry, just stands there, turns yellow, no rain. And then God
opens the heavens and the rains come and the dew falls and the
corn, you look up next to it, it looks like it's grown half
a foot, turned plum green, revived because God poured out the rain
from heaven. The scent thereof shall be as
the wine of Lebanon. No wonder Habakkuk prayed in
his day, O Lord, I have heard thy speech and was afraid. I know the judgment you pronounced
upon this day. And I fear not for your people. No, no, no, no. Not for your
cause. I fear for this generation. I
fear for people I dearly love. I fear for folks around me. I'm
afraid. Oh, Lord, revive thy work in
the midst of the years. In the midst of the years, make
known. In wrath, remember mercy. Now, it's my prayer that this
is such a day. Oh, that God would be pleased
to visit this vine He has planted in this wilderness. Well, Pastor, do you have any
reason to expect such a boon of grace? I think so. I think so. This is what God says Thus saith the high and lofty
one that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in
the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, to
revive the heart of the contrite ones, to revive the humble, those
who have been humbled by my grace. The contrite, those who have
been broken in contrition by my hand. The psalmist said, though
I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. Thou shalt
stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and
thy right hand shall save me. Yes, I have reason to hope for
such. I'll give you some reasons. I
see some signs that indicate God's working in our generation.
In the midst of wrath, I see God working in mercy. Unless
I am badly mistaken, unless I am badly mistaken, in this dark,
dark age when apostasy abounds everywhere, there are more people
who believe the gospel of God's absolute free grace on this earth
right now than there have ever been. There are more people,
more men preaching the gospel of God's grace, more churches
where the gospel of God's grace is freely and plainly proclaimed.
I know these folks who like to live in the past say otherwise,
but I've read what those fellows in the past have written. I'm
telling you, at best I can determine, there's never been a day, never
been a day, when the gospel of God's grace has so flourished
as in our day. Because it doesn't have precedence
in the media, because it doesn't get the press coverage that the
rest of the religious world gets, doesn't mean a frazzling thing.
There are more people who believe and preach free grace in this
generation than in any preceding generation, so far as I can determine. More than that, God continually
opens doors of utterance for the gospel, not just for us.
I see it with preachers in churches I know literally around the world.
And more than that, and you can take this for what
it's worth, never has God put it in my heart to pray with such
heaviness and earnestness before as now. that he would visit his
people. And if God puts it in your heart
to pray, you can conjure up all kinds
of things. But if God puts it in your heart to pray for a thing,
it's because God's about to do it. If God puts it in your heart. Well, what is revival? Man, that
sure needs answering, doesn't it? Every spring and every fall,
you'll drive down the road and you'll see signs up all over
the place. Revival this week. We set a date for it. Coming.
If there's one place it ain't going to be, it's where that
sign's hanging. I guarantee you. Revival. I had somebody ask me,
that's a good question to ask all the time. You go and preach,
you hold revivals? Well, I hope maybe I might be
involved in one. But hold it, I can't do that.
You read the history of revivals, and sadly, what's commonly called
revival is nothing but a delusion. The whole of the basis for what
men call revival is sheer emotionalism, works, Sabbath-keeping, legalism,
and it never lasts any length of time, never. Well, can you
show us something from the scriptures Something from the scriptures
that would teach us what revival is. Yes, I can. Let's begin in
Isaiah chapter 2. Isaiah chapter 2. We're going to see these three
words, in that day, in that day, in that day, in that day, used
over and over again in the chapters we look at. Isaiah is talking
to us about the day of divine visitation. Clearly, this day
is talking about the coming of Christ, the incarnation of Christ,
the accomplishment of redemption by Christ. This day that he's
speaking of is talking about Christ coming into the hearts
of his people in saving grace. And this day is talking about
Christ coming to visit his people. And this is what God does in
that day. Five things. Number one, the day of divine
visitation. is a day of Holy Spirit conviction. Chapter 2, verse 11. The lofty
looks of men shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall
be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. When God comes to visit those
who are visited by Him, won't be talking about themselves or
each other. They'll be talking about Him.
He shall be exalted, nobody else. Not the preacher, not the church,
not church dogma. Him, in that day. For the day
of the Lord of hosts shall be upon everyone that is proud and
lofty, and upon everyone that is lifted up. He shall be brought
low, verse 17. And the loftiness of man shall
be bowed down, and the haughtiness of man shall be made low. And
the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. When God comes, pours out his
spirit upon people, he convinces them of sin, of righteousness,
and of judgment. That's true with regard to the
initial work of grace in a sinner's heart. And that's true with regard
to the visitations of God. When the Lord shows Himself gracious,
He will show you your sin. O Lord, righteousness belongeth
unto Thee. Unto us confusion of faiths,
for we have sinned. He will convince you of righteousness. Oh, thank God for righteousness
accomplished by a substitute. Thank God for the finished work
of His darling Son. Thank God for salvation in Christ. And He will convince you that
He's turned away His anger from you. He'll convince you of judgment. Oh, He put away my sins. Isaiah chapter 11, verse 10. When God comes to visit, for it is man that thou art mindful
of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him. Nothing. Oh, but when he comes to visit,
the day of divine visitation is a day when Christ is revealed. Look at verse 10. And in that
day, you see it? In that day, there shall be a
root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign, a banner of the
people. To it shall the Gentiles seek. and his rest shall be glorious." In order for us to believe Christ,
he must be revealed to us. And when Christ is revealed,
the Lord God sets him up before his people as a banner. The picture is that of a military
engaged in conflict, and the army has an ensign who raises
high the flag of the troops, and wherever the troops see the
flag, to that flag they gather, for there is the standard. Christ
is the ensign, lifted high before his people, and lifted up before
them, we who are his, the Gentiles as well as the Jews. God's elect
scattered near and far. God's elect north, south, east,
and west are gathered by the power of His grace unto Christ
the banner. Our Lord said, I, if I be lifted
up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This, He said,
signifying what death He should die. And we, our business, my
business as a preacher, We have one thing constantly to do, lift up the banner. Like Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness. Bobby, preachers are just poles,
that's all. Just poles to hold up the banner. and they're totally useless for
anything else, God give us grace to hold him up. Churches are
just poles, not counseling centers, not education centers, not family
life centers, poles to lift up the banner. And engaged in anything
else, they're utterly useless and have abandoned their work.
Number three. Isaiah 25, verse 9. The day of divine visitation is a day of faith. It shall come to pass in that
day. It shall be said in that day, lo, this is our God. We've waited for Him. He will
save us. This is the Lord. We've waited
for Him. We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation. Christ ever comes to you, oh, if He ever visits you with
His grace, you won't need some soul winner
or some preacher or some counselor to tell you He's there. He'll
say, this is Him. This is what I've been looking
for. This is He I've waited for. I'll rejoice in His salvation. Simeon said, as he held the child
in his arms, mine eyes have seen thy salvation. Oh, I would to
God, folks, to understand this. Faith in Christ is more than
embracing a doctrine. It's more than coming to a profession. It's more than arriving at a
position. It's more than reforming a misspent
life. Faith in Christ is submitting
to, trusting, and embracing a person. And that person is Jesus Christ,
the Son of God. Salvation is knowing, trusting,
loving, following, obeying Christ the Lord. It's not a theory.
He's not a doctrine. He's not a creed. He's a person.
This is our God. Number four, chapter 26. Let's
look at several verses here. It's hinted at back in chapter
25, verse 9, but look at the following thing. Verse 1. In that day shall this psalm
be sung in the land of Judah. We have a strong city. Salvation
will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates that
the righteous nation, which keepeth the truth, may enter in. Thou
wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever,
for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. The day of divine visitation
is a day of blessed assurance. We talk about assurance as though
it were a doctrine a fellow could be convinced of. I'm guilty. But the fact is, I can't give
you assurance. I can't conjure it up for you. I know our assurance is Christ.
Our assurance is looking to Christ. Our assurance is faith in Christ.
We look to ourselves. And if you find any reason for
any assurance in anything you've ever thought, felt, experienced
or done, if you find it, either you're deluded or I am. Salvation
has got nothing to do with what you think, feel, experience and
do. Salvation is in Christ. Assurance
is found only looking to Him. But, Lindsay, we can't look on
Him if He doesn't show Himself. And when He comes, I believe I'll focus right here. He is bulwarks of salvation. He is walls of salvation. He is our strong city. He is
our mighty refuge. He is that one through whom we
have entered into life everlasting. He is salvation. Now, thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on me." This is where Paul found himself. When he was about to leave this
world, he said, I know whom I have believed. Not what I had believed,
not what I experienced, not what I'd been through. I know whom
I had believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that
which I've committed to him against that day. And then he followed it, saying,
I'm now ready to be offered the time of my departures at hand.
I've fought a good fight, finished my course, I've kept the faith.
I haven't forsaken Christ. Henceforth there is laid up for
me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day. And not to me only, but
to every one of his people, to all them that love him and love
his appearance. My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness. That's it. That's it. I dare
not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. One more thing. Turn to Isaiah
chapter 12. Isaiah 12. And I won't try to expand this
tonight. I'll leave that for another day. The day of divine visitation
is a day when God the Holy Spirit comes in conviction. It is a
day when Christ is revealed. It is a day when God gives faith. It is a day when God grants blessed
assurance. It is a day of heartfelt worship
and praise. Oh, God give us that. God give us that. And in that
day, thou shalt say, oh, when God comes to you, when God comes,
When the Lord Jesus shows His face through the lattices of
worship, when the Lord Jesus makes Himself known, when He
comes to you, then in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will
praise Thee. Not unto us, O Lord, not unto
us, but unto Thy name be glory for Thy mercy and for Thy truth's
sake. I will praise Thee. How come? Though Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away. God Almighty ain't angry with
me no more. He turned it away when He consumed
His Son in His holy wrath and anger as my substitute. And thou
comfortest me. But sure enough, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid,
for the Lord Jehovah, He's my strength and my song. He also
has become my salvation. Therefore, with joy shall ye
draw water out of the wells of salvation. In the teeth of my sin, In the teeth of my unbelief,
in the teeth of my hardness, in the teeth of my indifference,
I'm coming to the wells of salvation." Right here. His ordinances, His Word, His
worship, His gospel. The Lord in Jeremiah 2 said,
I'll plead with my people. He said, you've committed two
great evils. You've forsaken me, the fountain
of living waters. And you've made for yourselves
broken cisterns that can hold no water. Oh, tear up the broken systems.
Come to the well and drink. Anybody thirsty? Anybody thirsty? Come to me. Come to me. And I will give you wells of
living water springing up into everlasting life. I'll draw water
out of the wells of salvation. In that day, drawing water out
of the wells of salvation, you shall say, praise the Lord. Call
on His name. Worship Him. Declare His doings
among the people. Make mention that His name is
exalted. Sing unto the Lord, for He hath
done excellent things. This is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout. Thou inhabitant of Zion, for
great declare ye the greatness of our
God. Great is the Holy One of Israel
in the midst of thee. Amen. All right, that's it.