To have you turn back your Bibles
to Isaiah chapter 43. Isaiah 43. While you turn there, Brethren in Danville send their
greetings. We had an opportunity to go worship with them last
night. ask that the congregation continue
to pray for them as they seek a pastor. So let's continually
keep them in our prayers. Isaiah 43. Now we read back in
Luke 12. We read of a thing to fear and
of a thing not to fear. We read We're not to fear that
one that can kill the body and nothing else, but rather fear
him that can kill and send your soul to hell. One thing to fear, one thing
to fear. Him that can kill the body and
hath power to cast your soul into hell. Scripture says the
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But don't be afraid. Don't be
afraid of that one that can merely kill the body. That's all they can do. Sickness,
disease, old age, whatever it might be. Here in Isaiah 43,
we read these two words. Two words. I wish I could remember
these, and I wish I could keep them in my head and in my heart
as soon as I walk out that door. Fear not. Fear not. And this isn't anyone speaking
here. It says, Thus saith the Lord. Fear not. God's speaking. He who speaks the truth. He who
is truth. 2 Corinthians 1.20 says, All
the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen. That the glory of God, His promises
are us. What are they? They're sure and
they're certain. Numbers 23, we read this, God's
not a man that he should lie. Neither the
son of man that he should repent, hath he said, and shall he not
do it?" What God said, is he not going to do that? Absolutely. He that has spoken, shall he
not make it good? Now that's not the case with
man, but it is with God. Thus saith the Lord. Fear not. Fear not. Don't fear the things of this
world. Sin, death, judgment, I want us to see this this evening. I want us to see this this evening.
Reasons, just a few reasons not to fear. The first is this. Consider who
he's speaking to. Here in our text, there are those
who have reason, great reason to fear. but not Jacob, not Israel. He speaks here to the church.
Jacob, does this not speak of fallen man? Does this not speak
of our corrupt nature? Jacob, that one whose name is
Supplanter, thief. But listen, you know what Scripture
says about Jacob? A lot of bad things said, right?
We don't have to read too much about this, but listen. God loved
Jacob. God chose Jacob. God gave him the birthright. God gave him a new name. He just didn't leave him with
that old name, did he? Israel. Prince with God. True Israel. Who's he speaking
here? Of God's elect. His church. His sheep. And what's
he saying? Fear not. Fear not. Don't be afraid. Here's another
reason. Second, he said, I have redeemed
thee. I have redeemed thee. He purchased us. He brought us
back being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
that is in Christ Jesus. He redeemed us. Brother Walter Groove, you all
probably remember this, he used to tell that story about that
little boy down in the Yucatan. Remember that? He had made a
kite and on a windy day he took that kite out. And he tied a
string on it and the wind picked it up and it flew higher and
higher and higher and the string broke. And that kite flew away. That boy lost his kite. And later, maybe later that day
or a couple days later in the village, he walked by that store
and there in the window, there was his kite. There's my kite. Can't you just
picture that? And he ran into the store so
excited because he had found his kite, and he told that man,
that's my kite. I want it. And the fellow said,
buddy, that's, young man, that's not your kite. That's my kite. And if you want it, you're going
to have to buy it. You're going to have to pay for
it. And he went to his dad and his
dad gave him a little bit of money and he went in there and
he bought that kite. His kite. Can you imagine how
he just clutched that thing in his arms? And he overheard his
dad. His dad heard him say, when he
got that kite, you're mine twice. I made you and I bought you. You're mine. You reckon he ever,
I just picture a little kid like, you reckon he ever turned loose
of that kite? I feel like he just probably clutched that the
rest of his life when he got it back. I bought you. We read here in
Scripture, fear not, fear not, you're mine, I bought
you. Something tells, again, in Revelation,
our Lord said, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open
the seals thereof, thou was slain and redeemed us. Bought us, purchased
us, redeemed us to God by thy own blood. Out of every kindred,
tongue, people and nation, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Well, that boy, as much as he wanted
that kite back, it wasn't going to be his until he paid for it,
was it? Until he paid the purchase price. And when our Lord, when He was
pleased to redeem His people, He paid the price, didn't He?
He paid the purchase price with His own precious blood. Redeemed. Redeemed how I love
to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the
Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy. His child and forever
I am. Oh, fear not. Psalm 130 verse 7 says, let Israel
hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there's mercy. With the Lord is plenteous redemption. Fear not, I have redeemed thee. Third, fear not, I have called
thee by thy name. Scriptures declare that whom
he predestinated, them he also called. Called to Christ by the
Spirit of Almighty God, called out of tradition, called out
of ceremony, called out of self-righteousness, called out of sin. into the light of the glorious
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He chose his people in Christ
from before the foundation of the world, called them, calls
us by his grace. Paul, writing to the Galatians,
he said, when it pleased God, who, when it pleased God, who
separated me from my mother's womb and called me by His grace
to reveal His Son in me." Called by His grace, not according to
works. He didn't leave us. Aren't we
thankful He didn't leave us to ourselves? He didn't leave us
in our sin. in our shame, in our despair,
in our guilt, but he called us, called us to himself. Over in Matthew chapter 9, there
was a publican there named Levi. We know him as Matthew. And he
was sitting at the receipt of custom. He was sitting there
collecting taxes. a publican, a sinful publican. Those that were, they were, listen,
they were so awful they were despised by their own people. And we read this, as Jesus passed
forth from thence, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the
receipt of custom and he said to him, two words, Follow me. Follow me. And he arose. Matthew got up from that table,
he arose, and he followed the Lord. How is that the Lord called Matthew? Matthew who was a publican, Matthew
who was a sinner, and we read this, he saw him. The Lord Jesus Christ saw him. He foreknew him. God's speaking
to Jeremiah. He said this, Before I formed thee in the belly.
Think about that. Before I formed thee in the belly,
I knew thee. I knew thee. Before you came forth from the
womb, before you were even born into this world, I sanctified
thee. I set you apart." He saw a man
named Matthew. That's a particular person, isn't
it? I suspect they were, Matthew wasn't the only one sitting there
that day. He's collecting taxes from people. There were other
people around, but yet we read about a man named Matthew that
the Lord was pleased to show mercy to. A man named Matthew. He knew his name. You know what
that name means? Matthew, gift of God. You know there's no indication
that Matthew had ever heard of this man, the Lord Jesus Christ. not aware of any good works that
he had done that would commend him to God. He was just sitting
there doing what he did every day. And yet the Lord was pleased
and mercy to pass by. Doesn't that give us reason not
to fear? The Lord's going to show mercy. He's going to be merciful to
his people. His occupation. Did that commend
him to God? He was a publican. He was a sinner. But you know
his sin did not prevent the Lord from calling him. And he called him in power. Follow
me. He didn't ask him. Did he? Matthew, would you have any interest
in following me? He didn't say, Matthew, if you
just, tell you what, if you just walk a few steps toward me, I'll
save you. No. He said, follow me. And you know when the Lord speaks,
His word goes forth in power. What a powerful call was that.
Follow me. That's a life-giving call. Follow
me. That's an irresistible call.
Follow me. And Matthew arose and he followed
him. The Lord does the same for every
one of his people. He calls them by name. I have called thee by thy name,
Matthew. Lazarus, come forth. Zacchaeus, come down. Scripture says, he calleth his
own sheep by name. We're told to walk worthy of
the calling. Walk worthy of that calling.
We're to walk in a manner of life that is worthy of His holy
calling. We're in this world, but you
know we're not of this world. We're of Him. Fear not. Fear not. His people, His church have no
reason to fear. Fear not. I've redeemed you.
Fear not, I've called you by name. Fear not, thou art mine." We're His. We're His. John 17, 9 says this. Our Lord said, I pray for them. I pray not for the world. but
for them which thou hast given me." For they're thine. They're thine. Those that the
Father gave him. Those for whom he died. Those
who are kept by the power of God. Scripture says we're his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, unto good works that God
hath before ordained that we should walk in Him. He did a
work for us, and He did a work in us. We're His people. The sheep of
His pasture. Psalm 103 says, Know ye not the
Lord, He is God? It is He that hath made us, and
not we ourselves, His people, His people, the sheep of His
pasture. His people by creation, His people
by redemption, and as His, we're kept, kept by Him, kept
by the power of God. safe, safe and secure in his
hand. Our Lord speaking in John 10,
he said, my sheep, hear my voice. I know them and they follow me
and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand." And if that wasn't enough, he goes on, he
said, my father is greater than all. No man, no man is able to pluck
them out of my father's hand. Could the believer be any more
secure? Does that give you comfort? Can
we, just for a little bit, just for a few minutes, can we rest? That's good reason not to fear,
isn't it? If we're held in His hands. I can remember as a kid, we walked
to church. It wasn't too far from our house. And it was a real wooded area.
And I tell you, when I was run a little bit late, I didn't walk. I ran, especially at dark. I was scared to death of every
little sound made in the woods. But I tell you what. When my
dad was walking with me and holding my hand or had his arm on my
shoulder, it could have been a bear running through the woods
and it wouldn't have bothered me. How much greater is our Heavenly
Father? Safe and secure in His hands. Back in Daniel 3, we looked
at this not too long ago, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
remember that they refused to bow down to that golden image. And the king told them, he said,
I tell you what, I'm gonna give you all, I'm gonna give you a
second chance. You've had some time to think
about this. And when the music starts playing, you bow down and it'll be well
for you, it'll be good for you. If not, he said, I'll cast you
into that burning, fiery furnace. And he asked this question. He
said, who is that God? What a foolish king. Who is that
God that'll deliver you out of my hands? And Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
they said, we're not careful, king. We're not careful to answer
you in this matter. If it be so, our God, whom we
serve, is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace.
And he will. He will deliver us out of thy
hand, oh king. We're not. We're not in man's
hands. I don't care how powerful men
may seem to be, whether that's the president, or the governor,
or the mayor, or just go on down the list. The heart of the king, where
is it? It's in the hands of the Lord. And he turneth it with
us, however he will. The Lord told Pharaoh, remember
that back there in the Old Testament? He said, for this reason, for
this reason did I raise you up to display my power. Well, we're his clay. We're in his
hands to do with us whatsoever he will. He said, thou art mine. Well, back in Isaiah 43, verse
2, he said, when you pass through the waters, I'll be with thee. And you'll notice he doesn't
say, if you pass through the waters, when. When you pass through the waters. The religion of this world talks
about health and wealth and happiness. In time, God's going to wean
us from this world and from the things of this world. He's going
to kick that arm of flesh out from underneath us and cause
us to rest in him and him alone. and whatever, whatever the case may be, whatever
the trouble may be, trouble, sickness, sorrow, the list just
goes on and on. He says this, I am with thee. I'll never leave thee, nor forsake
thee. How about when we walk through
the fire? Temptation, persecution, trials. He said, you'll not be burned.
You'll not be consumed by the fire. Remember that there in Exodus
when that fire burned? There was flame, but the bush
didn't burn. Moses said, let me go up here
and see what this is. This bush that's not consumed.
In the same manner, the flame will not kindle on God's people. How is that? How is it that we
can walk through a fire and not be burned? Christ. Christ in us. Christ in us. When you walk through
the fire, no flame will kindle upon you. You know, back there
in Daniel, remember that King Nebuchadnezzar, he'd cast those
men, he'd cast them into the fire. The flame did not hurt him, did
it? He just didn't know what to think.
He looked down there and he said, I put three men in, I see four.
One like, the fourth like to the Son of God. Christ is with
His people. And when they came out, listen,
they were loosed, they went inbound, they came out loosed. And there
wasn't even a smell of smoke upon them. Well, let's read on
here, Isaiah 43 verse 3. Here's another reason not to
fear. am the Lord thy God." In verse
two we read, thou art mine, I'm his, and in verse three, I am
the Lord God, he is mine. Two points, two points here. I couldn't help but think of
that hymn, I am his, and he is mine. He is. He is forever, only He is. Who the Lord and me shall part,
and with what a rest of bliss Christ can fill the loving heart.
Heaven and earth may fade and flee. Firstborn light and bloom
decline. But while God and I shall be,
I'm His and He is mine. Well, let's read on in our text.
I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. I gave Egypt for thy ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba for thee, since thou wast precious in my sight.
Thou hast been honorable, I've loved thee." He said, Lord loved
his people. He's loved us with an everlasting
love. Therefore, he said, well, I give
men for thee and people for thy life. Oh, he gave, didn't he? Gave his only begotten son for
his people. He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all. How shall he not with him freely
give us all things? Well, and then the sixth reason
here, not to fear. Look at Isaiah 43, verse five. Fear not, for I am with thee. He said, I'll never leave you.
I'll never forsake you. Turn with me to one more passage
of Scripture. Turn to Exodus chapter 14. Exodus
14. Look at verse 13 of Exodus 14. The Lord had brought Israel out
of Egypt, out of bondage, and Pharaoh had pursued after them. And when the children of Israel
lifted up their eyes, imagine that sight, they saw
the Egyptians marching after them. Look at back verse 10. Verse 10, and when Pharaoh drew
nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold,
the Egyptians marched after them. And they were so afraid, they were scared to death. Do
you have times like that? Am I the only one in the room
that has times like that? Times of fear, times of trouble,
times of sorrow. They were sore afraid. They were exceeding afraid, greatly
afraid. What were they afraid of? Afraid
of the enemy, right? Fear of what surrounded them. Fear of
their inability to do anything about it. Look at verse 13. And Moses said to the people,
fear not, stand still, see the salvation of the Lord, which
he will show to you today for the Egyptians whom you've seen
today, that enemy, no matter how great it is, you shall see them again no more
forever. The Lord shall fight for you
and ye shall hold your peace. Fear not, fear not. See the salvation of the Lord,
which he, he will show you. What happened? What happened? Almighty God delivered His people,
didn't He? And not only did He deliver them,
He destroyed every enemy. The enemy conquered. His people
delivered. Is that not what He did for His
people on the cross? When He died for His people,
when He suffered for His people? He conquered the enemy. And he
delivered his people. And then he cried this out, just
in case there was, that there'd be no confusion about it. It
is finished. Why would we fear? We will, but
why would we fear, knowing that he is with us, that God is with
us? He told His disciples, He said,
Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. I pray He'd enable us not to
be fearful, but to rest in Him, to rest in
Him, to rest in His grace and mercy, to rest in the finished
work of His Son. And knowing this, whatever the
case may be, he doeth all things well. All right. Isaac, you come lead us in the
closing here.