Cry of the Evangelist

Q: What does the Bible say about comfort for God's people?

The Bible emphasizes that God commands His messengers to comfort His people, reminding them of their chosen status and the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. In Isaiah 40:1-2, God instructs His preachers to comfort His people, which indicates the importance He places on encouragement and reassurance for believers. This comfort is not merely emotional; it stems from the profound truths of their identity as chosen, called, and justified individuals in Christ. Believers need this comfort because they are still sinners, face trials, endure persecution, and confront mortality. The preacher's role is to remind them that their warfare against sin and condemnation is accomplished in Christ, highlighting that their iniquities have been pardoned and that they have received abundant grace from the Lord. This message of comfort is vital for Christians navigating the challenges of life.

Q: How do we know God has chosen us?

God's choice of individuals is made evident through Scripture, affirming that salvation is based on His will and not our merit. Scripture teaches us that God's choice is rooted in His sovereign grace, as seen in passages like Ephesians 1:4-5, which affirm that believers were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. This selection is not based on human qualities but is a demonstration of God's love and mercy towards His people. The understanding that we are a chosen generation, as stated in 1 Peter 2:9, emphasizes our special relationship with God and reinforces our identity as His elect. Knowing we are chosen instills a sense of peace and purpose in our Christian walk, guiding us to live in accordance with His will.

Q: Why is it important for Christians to understand forgiveness?

Forgiveness is crucial for Christians because it reflects God's grace and provides assurance of salvation, shaping their identity in Christ. Understanding forgiveness is central to the Christian faith, as taught in Isaiah 40:2, where it is proclaimed that iniquity is pardoned. This forgiveness is a result of Christ's sacrificial death, which fulfills the requirements of God’s justice by taking on the punishment for sin. The assurance that our sins—past, present, and future—are forgiven is liberating for believers and allows them to live without the weight of guilt. Moreover, recognizing that we are justified by faith leads to a life of gratitude and devotion, compelling us to extend grace to others as we have received it from God. This foundational truth underpins the believer's relationship with God and fuels their hope in eternal life.

Now, if you'll open your Bibles
to Isaiah 40, I know that all Scripture, all Scripture is the Word of
God. And I know that all Scripture
is God-breathed, is given, the prophet said, is given by inspiration
of God. and all scripture is profitable. And we should never be guilty
of setting one scripture against another, or preferring one part of the
Word of God to another. It may be that that part we don't
prefer is the part we specially need. But Isaiah 40, this chapter here,
like Psalm 23, like 1 Corinthians 15, like John 10, like Romans
8, like Isaiah 53. This chapter is part of the mountain
range, I know that, but it kind of peaks above the others just
a little bit. All part of the range, I know
that. But some of these chapters, this one in particular, just
seems to stand a little more visible. Maybe it's because I
have a particular need for what he says here. And I'm going to
be preaching from both services today. I see in this chapter,
I see four things in these first eleven verses alone. I see a
charge to the preacher. is a solemn charge here to the
preacher. And there is abundant comfort
for his sheep. And I see the victory of the
Messiah. And I see a threefold cry of
the evangelist. Now, let's start with verse 1,
Isaiah 40, verse 1. Comfort ye my people, saith your
God." Who's speaking here? It says, you're God. Comfort
my people, saith your God. It's the Lord of hosts who speaks.
To me, this is awesome. To me, this is arresting. My
God is speaking. He that hath ears to hear, let
him hear. Comfort my people, saith your
God." Well, to whom is he speaking? Well, he's speaking to those
who speak for him. God speaks, and he says to someone,
comfort my people. Well, the someone to whom he
speaks is the one who speaks for him, his puppet. You're my
spokesman, the people will hear from me through you, my prophets,
my preachers, my pastors, my teachers, so you comfort my people. You know, the task of preaching,
pastoring, teaching the Word of God is a serious, solemn responsibility. You know what James said about
it? In James chapter 3, you don't
need to turn to it, I'll read it to you. In James chapter 3,
verse 1, James says this, not many of you ought to become teachers, my brethren. Not many of you
ought to become teachers, my brethren. For you know that we
teachers, we who preach, will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity than
others." That's what he said. My brethren, not many of you
ought to be teachers. You know that we teachers, we
preachers are going to be judged on a higher, by a higher standard
and with greater severity. That's the reason Paul said who's
sufficient for these things. You see, being a preacher, being
a teacher, we assume a greater accountability, a greater accountability and
therefore more condemnation. Our Lord said, whosoever shall
break one of the least of these commandments and teach men so,
shall be called least in the kingdom of God. So God speaks. And he speaks plainly, pointedly
to his teachers. And what does he say? He says,
comfort my people. He says, you comfort my people. There's a time for correction,
like in the home, in the shop. There's a time for examination. There is a time for instruction,
but the commandment here is comfort, my people. Have we forgotten
how to comfort? In our zeal to correct and rebuke
and reprove and examine and instruct, have we forgotten that God says,
Comfort my people. Comfort my people. Well, who
are my people? You preachers, you teachers,
comfort my people. Who are my people? Well, they're
His people. He says they're not yours. They're
His people. And I know this, they're a chosen
people. He said, you didn't choose me,
I chose you. We were chosen in Christ before
the foundation of the world that we should be holy, not because
we were holy, but that we should be holy. He chose me. It is not
that I did choose thee, Lord, that could not be. If thou hast
not chosen me, I would have never chosen thee. He said, you're
peculiar people to the Lord your God. You're special people to
the Lord your God. The Lord your God didn't choose
you because you were more in number or greater in wisdom,
but because the Lord loved you, he chose you. They're chosen people. He picked
them out. They're his jewels. I wish we preachers would take
as much care of God's jewels as our ladies take care of theirs. And they're not only a chosen
people, they're called people. Whom the Lord did foreknow, then
he also did predestinate. Whom he predestinated he what?
He called. Called of God. And to as many
as the Lord our God shall call. They're called people. They've
been called by his grace, by his Spirit, to faith in his Son. Who are my people? They are justified
people. Who is he that condemneth? It
is God that justifies. Who can lay anything to the charge
of God's elect? It is God that justifies, and
they are an enthroned people, seated with Christ in the heavenlies.
Let me ask you to turn to 1 Peter 2. I do want you to turn to this
passage, 1 Peter chapter 2. And he talks about these people,
these special people, these chosen people, these called people,
these justified people, these enthroned people. And he says
here in 1 Peter 2, verse 9, listen, you are a chosen generation,
1 Peter 2, 9. You are a royal priesthood. Did
you know every believer is a priest? What's our sacrifices? Praise
and thanksgiving. Every believer is a king and
a priest unto God. You're a royal king, kingly priesthood,
royal priesthood. You're a holy nation. You are
a peculiar people, a purchased people, that you should show
forth the praises of him who called you out of darkness into
his marvelous light, which in times past were not a people.
But you're now the people of God. You had not obtained mercy,
but now you've obtained mercy. That's my people. Those are my
people. God speaks. God speaks to his
preacher. And he says to his preacher,
comfort my people. Well, people who are chosen and
people who are called and people who are justified and people
who are believers in Christ and people who are enthroned in heaven,
why do they need comfort? Preacher, you don't need comfort.
You study the Bible, you've got the answers. You believe God, don't you? You're
saved, aren't you? Why do my people need comfort?
Maybe that's the reason not many preachers are comforting God's
people, because they don't realize they need comfort. But they do. You know why? I'll give you several reasons.
First of all, they're still sinners. You heard me right. They're still
sinners. And they're still much actually
much more aware of their sins than anybody else. Because if any man say he hath
no sin, he's deceived. He's not my people. Paul said
Christ came into the world to save sinners of whom I am, present
tense, chief. David said my sins are ever before
me. David, you need comfort, you
wear the crown. You lead the armies. You're God's
chosen one. But my sins are ever before me.
God's people are aware of their sins, more aware of them all
the time. And they need comfort. And not
only are they still sinners, but God's people are tried people. Within and without, the trials
of the elect are very great. Some of you sitting right here
this morning are going through some very, very difficult trying
times. Even the house that was built
on the rock was tried. We read about the house built
on the sand and the wind blew and the rains fell and the floods
came and it fell. But also the house that was built
on the rock, it says, and the rains fell and the winds blew
and the floods arose. Same trial. And it stood. It stood because
it was built on the rock, but it still had the trials. You
say, what are these trials? Rain? Where does rain come from?
Above. I thank God that my trials are
from above, ordered of my God. They come from above, but they
come. And they come from beneath. They come from the world. The
floods, the rain comes from above, the flood rises from beneath,
but it's a result of the rain. And the winds, you hear the wind,
you can't tell from whence it cometh or whether it goeth. You
got any trials like that? I don't know what's wrong with
me, something's just wrong with me. I don't know why I'm down. I don't know why I'm depressed.
I don't know why I'm blue. I don't have the answer. Winds. Mysterious winds. God's people are tried people.
But I thank God for this. The rains fell and the floods
arose and the winds blew and beat, what'd they say? Beat on
that house. Beat on that house. Beat on that
house. And it's not fair, it's just
not fair for preachers, these charismatic, emotional, sentimental, foolish preachers
to insist on health and wealth and happy all the time and it's
fun being saved. That's a deceitful message. And
that true house of God out there founded on the rock is being
beaten and beaten and beaten and beaten. And you tell him
he's not on the rock because if he was on the rock he wouldn't
be beaten with the rains and winds and floods. You're a liar.
And they ought not let you stand in the pulpit. God's people are tried people. They're tried people. Why do
they need comfort? Thirdly, they are persecuted
people. The world doesn't love God's people. The world loves
religion. The world loves its brand of
religion. The world loves its compromisers
in religion. But the world does not love God's
people. He said, marvel not my brethren
if the world hate you. They hated me, for they hated
you. If they love me, they'll love
you, because they love their own. And they'll say all manner
of evil against you falsely for my sake." God's people are hated
people. They're hated because their Lord
is hated and his word is hated. And it's not going to be any
different. And they need comfort. And then God's people are dying
people. You read Genesis 5 sometimes,
it lists all these great men of faith. And it talks about
this one, it says, and he died. And it talks about this one,
it says, and he died. And it talks about this one,
it says, and he died. In fact, Paul said, these all
died. They all died. They died in faith,
but faith didn't keep them from dying. Life is a shadow. a fleeting hour. Oh, how soon
the vapor flies. Man is a tender, transient flower that, even in blooming, dies."
That's right. All right, preacher, what do
you have for prayer? tempted, tried sinners. Are you going to take the whip of
the law and corral them? Preacher, what do you have for
the weary, lonely believer? What do you have for the man
and the woman hated by family and friends persecuted
for what they believe. What do you have, Preacher, for
those who bury their children and their beloved husbands and
carry about in their hearts and souls pain and loneliness? What do you have for them? What do you have for these tribed,
weary sojourners I have something. I have orders right here from
my Lord." And he says, you comfort them. And verse 2 says, you speak
to their hearts. You speak comfortably to their
hearts, to Jerusalem. And you cry. And you cry these things. Number one, her warfare. is accomplished. I didn't know
we were in a war. Yeah. A battle against forces and powers,
principalities, rulers of the darkness, evil. Yes, sir. Yes, sir, there's a war. There's
a battle. But you tell my people that her
warfare is ended, her warfare is accomplished. Thanks be unto
God, the victory is won. Well, who were my enemies? The
law. Cursed is everyone that continues
not in all points of the law, not to admire it, approve of
it, but to do it. And my Lord Jesus Christ came
down here and met this holy law. And Christ was made a curse for
us. He redeemed us from the curse
of the law, being made a curse for us. He fought that battle
and it's over. He won the victory. That's right. Her warfare is accomplished. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Satan goeth about as a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour. But I'll tell you this, he met
me in Christ. And now is the prince of this
world judged. Christ said, Satan came and found
nothing in me. And he turned around and left. Satan could come to me and find
a lot in me that identifies with him. He could find thoughts and
pride and ambition and lust and envy and all these things and
overcome and consume me. But Satan came to the God-man,
the Lord Jesus Christ, my federal head, my representative, and
he came and found nothing, nothing. that identified with him, perfect
holiness. And he whipped him. He whipped
him. He whipped him. And the world,
the world, Christ said in the world you'll have tribulation,
but now be of good cheer, I've overcome the world, I've whipped
it too. Oh death, where is thy sting?
You'll find out if you're not in Christ. You'll find out. It's an awesome sting. Oh grave,
where is your victory? We'll find out if we're not in
Christ. But my Lord went to the cross and he took death, death
for sin. He took death in his body on
the tree, took that sting and removed the sting from death. And death for the believer has
no sting, it's powerless. Death can't do but one thing
to me, take me to glory. Death can't do one thing to me
but change me from darkness to light, from corruption to incorruption,
from mortality to immortality, from weakness to strength, from
shame to honor. That's all it can do. And the
grave, he went into the grave, lay there for a while, and walked
out. My battle is over. That's what
he says. The Lord engaged the enemy. That's
what he's saying here, and it's over. Mike sings it, it's finished. The battle is over. Those awesome enemies, law, Satan,
the world, and death, and the grave. Comfort my people and
tell my people, they've got no battle with any of those things.
It's over. That's pretty good comfort, isn't
it? Why are you afraid? Yeah, but I tell you, Preacher,
I can relate somewhat to those great forces and enemies such
as law and Satan and world and death and grave, but what I've
got a problem with is my own personal, private, individual
sin. Well, let's see what the next
line says. crowned to her her worth as accomplished, and her
iniquity is pardoned." Oh, that's taken care of too, Richard. Isn't
that good? How about that, Jim? You know, when we preachers stand
up and talk about Christ engaging the law, and Christ engaging
Satan, and Christ engaging death, and Christ going into the grave,
and I know Those things are real, and they'll be more real one
of these days, very soon to some of us. But right now, my nature
is real, real. My thoughts. You ever have thoughts that you
ought not to think? You ever say things you ought not to say?
Huh? Come on, do you? Pretty real, aren't they? My
pride. You know, I heard a fellow say
one time, he kept saying, I'm the chief of sinners, and somebody
came up to him one day and said, well, how's the old chief of
sinners? And it offended him. He said, why are you offended?
I heard you say that in prayer meeting. He said, it sounds different
when you say it. I think we say a lot of things
we don't believe. My anger, my weaknesses, But you know, he says here, they're
all pardoned, past, present, and future. By one offering,
he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. He hath
put away our sins and will remember them no more, John, no more. God said, I'll cast them behind
my back, I'll remember them no more, I'll cast them into the
depths of the sea, I'll block them out, I'll separate them
from you as far as the east is from the west, the blood of Jesus
Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin. I don't have
any sin. Legally, I do not have any sins. Judicially, I don't have any
sins. On the book of God, I don't have
any sins. In the sight of God in Christ,
I don't have any sins. Since God has put them to rest,
why don't we? I boldly say that all the sins
of all the elect under the blood of Jesus are gone, gone, gone. God will never bring them up
again. God doesn't punish me for sin. He punished Christ for
my sin. God chastens me as a son and
corrects me, but He does not punish me. God cannot punish twice for the
same thing. Punishment God's justice cannot
twice demand. First at my Lord's hand, then
again at mine. What's wrong with us? Sure, I'm
a weak creature and a failing creature and a responsible creature,
I know that, and I'd like to be free from sin, without sin,
but I'm not in this flesh, but in Christ
I am. Okay? So you comfort my people,
and you say to them, the warfare in the principalities and powers,
the warfare in the secret places, the warfare against impossible
enemies is over. And her iniquity is forgiven. And thirdly, watch it, and she
has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. And the amplified version, I
believe, or one of them says she has received punishment.
from the Lord's hand, she hath received punishment. The church,
the believer, has received punishment from the hand of the Lord double
for all her sins. Our punishment is over. There
in the cross of Christ he took our sins. He was wounded for
our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.
The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes
we are healed. And we have received of the Lord's
hand, it pleased God to bruise him, and of the Lord's hand he
took the punishment himself. And we have received of the Lord's
hand double for all our sins. It's not as if, and someone said
this, more is not required than is due. More is not required
than is due. But the offering of Christ is
so infinite, and so abundant, and so sufficient, and so effectual,
that it answers double for all that can be demanded. That's
what he's saying. A man pulled up to the car window
at the bank, handed the lady a check, $175.56. She cashed
it and handed it to him, and he counted it. Count his chains. He counted
it again. Count his chains. And she shifted
one foot to the other. And people lined up, but he counted
again. They counted his chains. She
said, Isn't it all there? He said, It barely is. Now that illustrates what I'm
saying. It's not barely forgiven. It's double. That's it. If there's a drop left over,
I'm gone. But there's not room for a drop. Much more. See what he's saying? Comfort them. Tell them that
they have received from the Lord's hands. Don't be afraid. Don't
be concerned. Double. It's not barely done. It's sufficiently, effectually,
everlastingly over. The battle's over. Iniquity's
pardoned. And we have received of the Lord's
hand double for all our sins. Praise God from whom all blessings
flow. Praise Him, all creatures here
below. Praise Him above, ye heavenly
hosts. Praise the Father, Son, and the
Holy Ghost. Where sin did abound, grace did
much more. Double bound. Isn't that something? Well, that ought to comfort us,
shouldn't it? That'll send me home to eat a good meal, won't
you? And back tonight, see if he can do it again. Alright, let's sing number 209.
209. Here's grace greater than all I see.

Cry of the Evangelist

What does the Bible say about comfort for God's people?

How do we know God has chosen us?

Why is it important for Christians to understand forgiveness?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

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Cry of the Evangelist

What does the Bible say about comfort for God's people?

How do we know God has chosen us?

Why is it important for Christians to understand forgiveness?

Sermon Transcript

About Henry Mahan

Comments

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