to reveal the gospel to those
who have a genuine interest. I look first at verse 5 of Isaiah
45, and God proclaims His sovereignty. He says in verse 5, I am the
Lord and there's none else. There's no God beside me. It doesn't take a scholar to
discover the theme of this chapter. This one statement occurs in
this chapter six times. In verse five, I am the Lord. There's none else. There's no
God beside me. In verse six, the last line,
I am the Lord. There's none else. And on six
times he declares, I am the Lord, and there's none else. And he
says in verse 5 also, that I girded thee. Though thou hast not known
me, and the majority of the human race does not know God, but I
girded thee. What does that mean? I gave you
life. I clothed you with flesh. I gave
you strength, strength of mind. strength of body, I supplied
your daily food, your clothing, your shelter. And for all of
Adam's sons, though thou hast not known me, I girded thee."
Everything we have is by God's grace. And then he says in verse
2, that they may know the whole That they may know from the rising
of the sun and from the west. That's not talking about just
during the day. It's talking about everybody
in all the world. From west to east, from east
to west. That's where the sun rises in
the east. That's where the sun sets in
the west. And that the whole creation, every inhabitant of
this world may know. that I am the Lord, and there's
none else. And all things are God. He says
in verse 7, I form the light, I create darkness, I make peace,
I create evil, I the Lord do all these things. God is sovereign
in creation, in providence, he's sovereign in salvation. All things
are according to his directive or permissive will. I form the
light, I create darkness. Permissive or directive will.
I make peace, I create evil. I the Lord do all these things.
If you turn to Proverbs chapter 21, Proverbs 21, he says here
in Proverbs 21, all things are of God now. All things are ordered according
to the will of God. Everything in heaven and earth
and under the earth is under his directive control. He says here in Proverbs 21.1,
the king's heart is in the hands of the Lord. The king, the president,
the dictators, the tyrants, anyone who has any office. His heart
is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water. He turns
it, whether so ever he will. God controls the affairs of state
and the decisions of leaders. But you don't need to turn to
this because you've heard it and read it many times. And yet
in Matthew 10, 29 he says, not a spiral falls to the ground
without your Father. all things of God, the decisions
made by those in the highest authority, and yet the fall of
a sparrow, and even the hairs of your head are numbered. I
would like for you to turn to Daniel, and hear the King Nebuchadnezzar,
when his senses return to him. He made this declaration. He
said in Daniel 4 verse 34, And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar,
lifted up mine eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned
to me. And I blessed the Most High,
and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion
is an everlasting dominion. His kingdom is from generation
to generation. And all the inhabitants of the
earth are reputed as nothing. And he doeth according to his
will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of this
earth. And none can stay to his hand or say unto him, What doest
thou? That's what the Lord is proclaiming
here. He says, I'm the Lord. There's
none else. I'm the Lord. Over in chapter
46 of Isaiah, verse 9, listen to him as he speaks to us here.
Isaiah 46, 9. Remember the former things of
old. I'm God. There's none else. I'm God. There's none like me. I declare the end from the beginning. And from ancient times the things
that are not yet done. Saying, my counsel shall stand,
I will do all my pleasure. I call a ravenous bird from the
east. He's talking about a certain
man. The man that executed my counsel from a far country. He
said to Pharaoh, I raised you up for this purpose. That I might
get glory in you. I've spoken it, I'll bring it
to pass, I've purposed it, I'll do it. And in Ephesians 1, the Apostle Paul says this in
Ephesians 1, verse 11. Ephesians 1, 11, he said, In
whom we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel
of his own will. All things from the heart of
the king to the fowl of the sparrow. In heaven and in earth. And in
1st Chronicles 16.31 the scripture says let the heavens be gladdened
and the earth rejoice. and let them say among all nations,
The Lord God reigneth." I'm glad, aren't you? That all things are
of God, and everything in his hands. And he saved us, not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose in grace, in
Christ, given us before the world began. All right, back to my
text. The Lord proclaims a divine proclamation,
His absolute sovereignty. Let God be God. Every man a liar. Then in verse 8, the Lord proclaims
His salvation. His salvation. You know, every
prophet wrote of Christ. The theme of the Old Testament
is someone's coming. Someone's coming. To him give
all the prophets witness. Moses wrote of me, he said. Abraham
rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad. David
in the Psalms wrote of me, concerning me. And Isaiah, if any, if Any book in the Old Testament
can be called the gospel. It's the gospel according to
Isaiah. Our Lord Jesus Christ quoted
Isaiah frequently. He's quoted more than any other
book except the Psalms in the New Testament. And here he proclaims
his salvation. Listen. Drop down ye heavens
from above, let the skies pour down Righteousness. Let the skies
pour down righteousness. Let the skies pour down. Send
forth the Righteous One. The Righteous One. The Lord our
Righteousness. His name is called the Lord our
Righteousness. Christ the author of righteousness. Let the skies pour down. Pour down. Righteousness. Sin
to the earth. Righteousness. Now, turn to John
3, verse 13. No man has ascended to heaven
except he that came down from heaven. John 3, 13, that's what
he said. Now listen. John 3, 13, verse
12, our Lord said, If I told you earthly things and you believe
not, how shall you believe if I tell you of heavenly things?
No man hath ascended to heaven, but he that came down from heaven.
Pour down the Lord our righteousness, O ye heavens, O skies, even the
Son of man which is in heaven, in the bosom of the Father. This
is Christ. comes all spiritual blessings.
With him comes peace, pardon, righteousness, and eternal life,
literally poured down from heaven. That's Christ. All right, listen
to the next line, Isaiah 45. Let the earth open, and let them
bring forth salvation. How can anything called salvation
come from the earth? Man is totally corrupt. Death,
disease, decay, corruption are in everything in this earth.
How can the earth bring forth salvation? I'll tell you. Under us a son is given, but
under us a child is born. From the womb of a woman, a fallen
woman, a daughter of Adam, an earthling, comes forth salvation. Joseph, Mary will have a son. Let be your son. be the Son of
God. And that holy thing which is
born of her shall be called the Son of God. From the lowest parts
of the earth came forth salvation. Oh my goodness. Turn to Psalm
85 and read about it here. Psalm 85, listen. Let the skies
pour down righteousness, a son is given sent by God, go down
there and redeem my people. And from the earth, from a woman,
conceived by the Holy Ghost, comes that man. And he says in
Psalm 85, 9, surely his salvation is now to them that fear him,
that glory may dwell in the land, and mercy and truth are met together. Righteousness and peace have
kissed each other, and truth shall spring out of the earth,
and righteousness shall look down from heaven. The Lord proclaims
his salvation. Our Lord said to the Pharisees, what think ye of the Christ? What think ye of the Christ?
Whose son is he? Ah, they say he's the son of
David. He'd be born in Bethlehem. They told old Herod that. Son
of David. Came from the house and lineage
of David. Well, the Lord said, then, how did David call him
Lord? David said, The Lord. Said to my Lord. Sit thou on
my right hand. till I make your enemies your
foots to them. How can he be David's Lord and
David's son? And all those learned gentlemen were baffled. Couldn't answer
him a word. I'll tell you how he can be David's
Lord and David's son. He was made of the seed of David
and declared to be the Son of God. The skies poured down righteousness. He came from heaven and inhabited
a body and became a man, a body that the Father prepared for
him. And together that nature, divine
nature and human nature in the same body brought forth my redemption. That's right. back to my text
Isaiah 45 drop down ye heavens from above let the skies pour
down righteousness let the earth open let them bring forth salvation
let righteousness bring us together man couldn't save us and God in the character of God
couldn't save us You see, man can suffer, but he can't satisfy. God can satisfy, but God can't
suffer. But if God becomes a man, if
God becomes a man, if God was in Christ, then as a man, a perfect
man, he can satisfy and suffer. Isn't that right? And the sufferings
of God in human flesh are equivalent to the sufferings of the cause
of who he is, to the sufferings of all his people, of all generations. It's not how much blood he shed,
it's whose blood. It's not how much Christ suffered,
it's whose suffering. Who can condemn? It's Christ
the God. And then he said here, declaring
his salvation, he said, I, the Lord, have created it. The Lord created both righteousness
and salvation for us in Christ. It's of the Lord's planning and
purpose. Salvation is of the Lord, Spurgeon
preached. He said it's of the Lord in its
planning It's of the Lord in it's execution. It's of the Lord in it's application. It's of the Lord in it's sustaining
grace. It's of the Lord in it's ultimate
perfection. He planned it all. He sang about
it. Our Lord created this Redeemer. Our Lord Jesus said a body thou
hast prepared me. I appointed him the Lamb slain
before the foundation of the world. I prepared him a body. I sent him into the world. My Father sent me, Christ said. I gave him a work to do. I finished
the work you gave me to do. I the Lord sent him to the cross. All you say, men with wicked
hands crucified him. They did what God determined
before to be done. If you'll read Isaiah 53 verse
10. Now listen. Isaiah 53 10. Our Lord said no man takes my
life from me. That can't be done. I lay it down. He says in Isaiah
53, 10, it pleased the Lord to bruise him. Who bruised him?
The Lord bruised him. He put him to grief. Thou shalt make his soul an offering
for sin, and he shall see his seed. He shall prolong his day,
and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper, be fulfilled in
his hand. I the Lord sent him to the cross.
I left him to die alone. I turned my back on him. I made his soul an offering for
sin. I raised him from the dead. I
exalted him to my right hand. I declared, this is my beloved
son in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him. I declare that there is none
other name unto heaven given among men whereby we must be
saved. I declare that every knee shall
bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord. I the Lord created
him. All right, back to my text. The
Lord proclaimed his sovereignty, unquestionable, immutable, sovereignty
over all things. Our Lord proclaims His salvation. I've created it. Now He proclaims
His displeasure with all who trifle with this unspeakable
gift, the God-man. This unspeakable gift that God sent to earth. that God raised
up among men, warned him that striveth with
his maker, whose maker? The one that made this body and
sent him. God is the maker of our salvation. I created, he said back there
in verse 8, I created this, I'm the maker of this. Look down
here at verse 11. Thus saith the Lord, the Holy
One of Israel. Who's that? That's Christ and
His Maker. The Holy One of Israel and His
Maker. Now here's the issue that God
has with this world. It's not just over the water
bill, and that's a mighty, juvenile, small offense. Almighty God is angry. He sent his son into this world
and we spit in his face. And we said we will not have
this man reign over us. He came into the world and the
world knew him not. He came to his own and they received him
not. And they laid him outside the walls of Jerusalem and not
one person declared his generation or stood for him. He died alone. And we laughed at him while he
died. And God's angry. And he says this, Woe unto him
that strives with his maker. Woe unto the man who strives
and argues against what the Lord God hath done, what the Lord
God hath purposed, him whom the Lord God hath made and sent into
the world to redeem sinners. Let's put the potsherds Let the
pot sherds drive where the pot sherds are there. A pot sherd
is nothing but a clay pot. You see a fellow working a machine
that's going around. He's got a ball of clay here
and he's making a pot. That's what it is. It's a clay
pot or a stone pot or whatever pot. Well, let these pots argue
among themselves. But it's stupid for a pot to
argue with the potter. That doesn't make sense. Especially argue with him over
his choice and most wonderful creation and give his son our
Redeemer. Now listen. Word of him that
strives with his maker, let the potsherds of the earth strive
with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay saints say to
him that fashioned it, what did you make? Or your work, what is your work?
Or he hath no hands, who are they talking about? But according
to verse 8, they're talking about this one the Lord God sent, this
one he created. What did you make here? Carpenter? What do you make of him? There's no beauty about him we should
desire in him. He's a man of solid as a crane.
That's not the way to say people. You send a powerful warrior riding
down here on a white horse and he conquers them with a silver.
That's the way to say people. But what's this you've made? What is your work? He had no
hands. They cried, you saved us, you
can't save yourself. Nothing saved us he couldn't.
They said, come down to the cross, we believe in you. He called
on God, let's sit down and have it now. Turn over to Isaiah 53
and let's read about this despised, rejected woman. Foolishness to the world. The
preaching of Christ crucified is foolishness. Sheer nonsense. Isaiah 53, Isaiah said, Who hath
believed thy report? To whom is the arm of the Lord
revealed? You grow up before him as a tender plant, as a root
out of a dry ground. He hath no form, no comeliness.
What's this you've made? When we see him, there's no beauty
we should desire in him. He doesn't look like a king.
He's despised and rejected of men. A man of sorrow is acquainted
with grief. We hid, as it were, our faces
from him. He's despised. No esteem. No respect. Esteemed or not. World to the man. Preacher or whomever in the pulpit
of the people of the world. who has any dispage remarks to
make about this one whom God has sent, whom God has
made, a body thou hast prepared for him. One to him that says to them,
you know that word his, his father, it's alright if you're talking
about Christ's father, but that's the one that's a charge him.
They're not charging their daddies. Woe unto him that says to his
father, what begettest thou? Or to the woman, what woman,
Mary? What have you brought forth? With no beauty we should desire
him. The greatest part of contention
among men, among religionists, is who is Jesus Christ? Who is Jesus Christ? The scripture
says he's God. God Almighty who created all
things. He's God. He's the everlasting
Father. He's Almighty God. He's the Prince of Peace. His
name is Wonderful Counselor. He's God. God in human flesh. He's so much God that listen.
He came to this earth, but he never left heaven. That's what I read in John 3,
13 a while ago. He's in the bosom of the Father.
The Son who came, who descended, and yet who's in heaven. He inhabits all things, but he
became a man. I can't explain that mystery.
I just know that's who he is, and I know what he did. He was
made of a woman, made under the law. He walked this earth in
human flesh, representing a people, an elect nation, given him by
God. A sheep, a church, brethren. And as a man, he fulfilled every
jot and tittle of God's law perfectly on their behalf, giving them,
imputing to them a perfect righteousness. making them in God's sight through
His obedience perfect, holy, without blame, without fault. He went to the cross of Calvary
and took their sins in His body on the tree, not the sins of
the whole human race, not the sins of all men, but the sins
of His people. He paid for them, paid them in
full, put them away. separated them from us as far
as the east is from the west. In Christ there is no sin. He
paid the debt in full. He redeemed us. He was buried
and rose again. He went to glory. And there he
intercedes for those the Father gave him. That's where he is
now, exalted. And we're seated in him. And he had to do that as a man.
Man sinned and man had to die. By man came death, by man came
life. The first man is of the earth
earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven. As we born
the image of the earthy, we bear the image of the heavenly. That's
the gospel. And that's not love by this world. It's not love. The world has
a gospel of works. The gospel of human deeds. A gospel that's called another
gospel. And woe unto the man who strives
with his maker. Let the potsherds of the earth
strive with the potsherds of the earth. But don't ask him,
what did you make here? What's this work of yours? What
is this? to him and said to his father,
What do you beget to the woman? What do you bring forth? What
she brought forth is my Lord and my God. All right, then the Lord proclaims
his willingness to enlighten those who seek his way and his
Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his maker.
Thus saith the Lord Jesus and his Father. Number one, ask me
of things to come concerning my sons. My sons, yes, my sons
and my son are one. He said the gospel is concerning
his son, but what concerns his son, concerns his son. I want
you to read that in Hebrews 2. Hebrews 2. Our Lord Jesus Christ
is a representative person. And it says here in Hebrews 2, verse 10, It became him for whom
are all things, and by whom are all things, and bringing many
sons to glory. to make the captain of their
salvation perfect through sufferings. Who's bringing these sons? God's
bringing them to glory. And God made the captain of their
salvation, who is Christ, perfect through sufferings. And in making
him perfect, he made them perfect. For both he that sanctified and
they who are sanctified are all of one. They're of the Father.
For which cause? He's not ashamed to call them
brethren. saying, I'll declare thy name
unto my brethren in the midst of the church while I sing praise
to thee. And again, I will put my trust
in him. And again, behold, I and the
children God hath given me. Ask me concerning my sons," he
said. If you're interested, if you're
seeking the Lord, if you desire to know the truth, ask me. For
as much as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also likewise
took part of the same. And through death he might destroy
him that hath the power of death, destroying the devil, and deliver
them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage. Ask me about my son and my sons. But where are the people who
are seeking God and seeking the truth about redemption. The majority of people I run
into are already wrapped up in tradition and religion that's
been handed down through the days before us and never taken
the time to study God's word, find out
what he says. And preachers are not teaching
people. They're running up and down,
hollering and screaming and promoting and singing and playing games
and gimmicks and methods and means and trying to build churches
and build a following and they're not taking the scriptures verse
by verse and teaching the people. And people who are ignorant of
the Word of God are ignorant of God. Because faith comes by
hearing and hearing by the Word of God. He said, ask me concerning my
sons, ask me concerning the work of my hands. He said back there,
that bunch said he has no hands. I read that in the fellows bulletin
one time, he has no hands but your hands. Yes he does. He said my arms
not shorted, I can't say. My ears not heavy, I cannot hear.
My right hand will deliver for me. I made this earth, listen,
I created man upon this earth. And over here in verse 18, thus
says the Lord that created the heavens himself, God himself
that formed the earth and made it, he established it, he didn't
create this earth in vain, he made it to be inhabited. But
he's going to burn it up, but he's going to make a new earth. And it's going to be inhabited
by his people. He made it to be inhabited. He
destroyed it with a flood. Alright. He destroyed it with
fire. But he'll make it a earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Because he made it to be inhabited. Now you ask me about that. My
hands are stretched out to heavens and all the hosts have I commanded.
Look at verse 13. Talk about Christ. I have raised
him up in righteousness. I did that, God said. I raised
him up in righteousness, set him forth in righteousness, and
raised him from the grave. I'll direct all his ways. He'll
build my city. He'll build my church. He'll
build my temple. He's the chief cornerstone, and
they're the living stone. And he'll set free my captives.
He'll let go my captives. He'll set them free. That's what
the Lord Jesus said in Isaiah 61, talking about the Messiah. Isaiah 61, he said, verse 1 of
Isaiah 61, The Spirit of the Lord guards upon me, because
he hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek. He
sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives. Captives of the law? captives
of sin, the opening of prison to the bound, to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord. He anointed me, he sent me, he
said he'll let go my captives. He won't fail. He won't be discouraged. He has
a work to do, he finished it. And listen to this, and not for
price or reward. not for price or reward. Ho, everyone that thirsteth,
come to the water, bring no money, bring no price. Buy wine and
milk, happiness, holiness, eternal life, without money or without
price. We're not redeemed with corruptible
things such as silver and gold for my vain conversation received
by tradition from my fathers, but with the precious blood of
Jesus Christ, as lamb slain without spot of blemish. Not by works
of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
he hath redeemed us, not for price, not for reward, not for
contribution, not for your help and assistance, saith the Lord
of hosts." And then he says this, and I'll close. His willingness. The Gentiles are coming over
to Zion. He says, thus saith the Lord,
the labor of Egypt, merchandise of Ethiopia, the Sabaeans, men
of stature, they'll come over to thee. They'll be thine. They'll come after thee in chains
they'll come over. Christ said, take my yoke upon
you. free from the bondage of sin
to be a bond-slave of Christ. And they'll fall down unto thee. They shall make supplications
unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee. And here's the theme
of the whole chapter. There's none else. Beside him
there's no God. But one other verse and I'll
close. There liveth our God that hideth thyself. O God of Israel,
the Savior? In what way are the mysteries of God, the grace
of God, and the salvation of God, in what way can it be said
to be hidden? Well, turn to Colossians 2, Colossians
2, and here's the answer. It's not that The mysteries of
grace in the gospel are not here as a challenge for men or to
keep people from finding it, but it's where they're not looking.
He says in Colossians 2 that their hearts might be comforted
being knit together in love and under all riches of the full
assurance of understanding through the acknowledgement of the mystery
of God. of the Father and of Christ,
in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. You
see, in him dwelleth all the fullness of God, in Christ. The
treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ. Righteousness
is in Christ. Sanctification and eternal life
is in Christ. If I'm looking for it in the
law, it's hidden to me. It's in Christ. If I'm looking
for acceptance with God in my Baptist faith and creed, I'll
never find it. It's in Christ. If I'm looking
for God's acceptance in my works, in my preaching, in my tithing,
in my gifts, in my religion, in my keeping of the holy day,
I won't find this treasure, wisdom, and grace. It's in Christ. It's contained in Christ. Everything
God has for us is in Christ. So look to Him. Hear Him. This is my Son. Hear
Him. All right. We do, don't we? And rejoice to hear Him. But
I felt like that that word from Isaiah dealt with again tonight
would be a confirmation of the gospel the Lord taught us.