January 7, 2007
Jenny Thornton -Have you noticed the moral landslide?
Is lust sweeping over the nations, and nudity, perversion and
filthy speaking?
The world is facing a dirt bath so intense that it is vexing the minds
and souls of some of the most devout Christians alive today.
The Bible says Lot vexed his soul night and day by the things he saw
and heard in Sodom. Media freedom will explain things they show as
’’ a healthy development"... but people are being desensitised to what
is inappropriate or indecent behaviour.. so what was once shocking
and too revealing, some folk now will not "bat an eyelid "over....
Demons, devils and witchcraft will be glorified and promoted.. magazines
and newspapers are very accommodating of fortune-telling, star signs and
Psychics. And half dressed people, plus -on gain, off again marriages and
Divorces will become common place. In magazines and on the screens...
Dress sense will mix between the genders...
It is easy to see that the sin of Sodom will again be repeated in our generation.
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts
Isa 43:1-7.
The contents of this chapter are much the same with those of the foregoing chapter, looking at the release of the Jews out of their captivity, but looking through that, and beyond that, to the great work of man’s redemption by Jesus Christ, and the grace of the gospel, which through him believers partake of. Here are,
Precious promises made to God’s people in their affliction Isa 43:1-7.
A challenge to idols to vie with the omniscience and omnipotence of God Isa 43:8-13.
Encouragement given to the people of God to hope for their deliverance out of Babylon, from the consideration of what God did for their fathers when he brought them out of Egypt Isa 43:14-21.
A method taken to prepare the people for their deliverance Isa 43:22-28
DO THE $10.00 BILL
We can rest assured, God will be with us through our fears as we step out to do His work.
Divine assurance:
Is needed by progressive people
Is based on a right relationship with God
Produces an enduring faith
1. Divine assurance is needed by progressive people
Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
a. JFB - rivers ... not overflow thee--so in passing Jordan, though at its "overflow," when its "swellings" were especially dangerous
b. Manner and Customs – The Jordon is ever-changing, the banks are loose and gravel on the sides, It is in a valley with possibility of water rising. It is dangerous to cross the Jordon at times and this is what this scripture is referring to.
When you go through a hard time – God is there
c. Let’s take a closer look at progressive people –
i. What does progressive mean? Let us take the root word – Progress, meaning - steps forward.
ii. The opposite is regress - lose ground, retreat, backup
iii. What causes us to regress? It is fear - Norris Harris - OUR FEARS FORCE US TO FACE UNSETTLED ISSUES! Fears grab us, phobias grip us, anxieties attack us, apprehension seize us simply because we failed to deal with an issue right from the get-go. Whenever we don’t want to deal with something, we push it to the back waters, put in on the back-burner, relegate it to our subconscious. It upsets our calm, disturbs our psyches, tilts our equilibrium.
Being a progressive people, we can have the assurance of God that the waters of what we are undertaking will not overtake us. It may be shaky ground, it may be unstable footing, we may make mistakes, we may fall down and skin our nose, but ultimately we will not be overcome because God said He is with us.
Isa 43:2 b when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
d. waters ... fire--a proverbial phrase for the extremest perils, referring to in the case of the three youths cast into the fiery furnace for conscience’ sake
God is with us as we are a progressive people, but it also includes having a right relationship with God.
2. Divine assurance is based on a right relationship with God
Jon MacKinney All of us with children have taught them that when a stranger drives up next to them and says, "Hop in. Let’s go for a ride," we tell them, "Don’t even think about it. Run as fast as you can in the other direction." Why? Because there is no relationship there. It is a stranger. It is not someone who you are in relationship with, therefore there is a lack of trust there and we encourage their disobedience at that point. "Don’t obey him." But, if it’s someone that they know, someone who knows the secret word, perhaps, that we’ve taught our children, then we say, "Sure. Obey them." But, obedience comes from relationship. And when we are in a relationship with God, a trusting, loving relationship, it’s going to show up.
Norris Harris - Being in exile with the captives in Babylon or modern day Iraq, Isaiah receives news from the Lord that as bad as their past and present has been that the Future would be Formidable yet Favorable
Isa 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour
a. It reads that He is our God, due to - Isa 43:1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
b. We are formed and created by him. It is up to us to keep the relationship open. He gives us a free will and we can make our own decision as to whether we want to follow him or go our own way. God gives us the assurance of divine help when we keep our relationship in check with his will.
Brent Lawrence - When faith reigns in the heart, fear can’t exist. The Lord needs us to remember that He is worthy of our trust even when things are chaotic. The people of Israel had to somehow believe God’s promise after 400 years of slavery. Fear can paralyze you to be able to live in the freedom we have come to know, but not only as an American, also as a Christian. Fear in one area of your life can translate into fear in all areas of your life. But faith in one area of your life, will help you to face every pain and struggle with faith in other areas of your life.
We Must Remember The Value Of The Soul
How do we arrive at how valuable man’s soul really is?
By Looking At How Much Satan Wants To Destroy Life
Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy.” Peter reminded us that “your adversary, the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”
We can be assured when our relationship with God is an open and honest relationship - Rodney Buchanan - The foremost quality of people who passionately seek God is honesty. Without honesty we cannot admit that we have been wrong. Without honesty it is not possible to turn from our wrong. We cannot change. Honest people never try to hide. They have given up pretending. They do not make excuses for themselves or engage in justifying their behavior.
As we have a right relationship with God Divine Assurance produces an enduring faith.
3. Divine assurance produces an enduring faith
Isa 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west
a. GBN - Isaiah prophecies of their deliverance from the captivity of Babylon.
b. Isa 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
c. Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Scratched on the walls of one of the Nazi prison camps were the words, “I believe in the sun even when it does not shine. I believe in love even when it is not expressed. And I believe in God even when He is silent.”......
Isa 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
FBN- Since God is the author of all things, he governs and sets limits to all. The good and bad actions of men and angels are so under his control that he accomplishes through them his own wise counsels, while they are left altogether free and responsible to him for their conduct.
An industrial titan remembered his farm boyhood. It was his chore to go to the barn in the dark to secure the farm animals before the family bedtime. He dreaded what lurked in the shadows on the way to the distant barn. His father gave him unforgettable advice.
The lantern from the farmhouse would cast its light to the yard gate and no further. When he came to the yard gate, the lantern cast its light to the corral fence and no further. When he came to the corral fence, the lantern cast its light to the windmill and no further. When he came to the windmill, the lantern cast its light to the barn door. The wise father reminded the frightened lad that he had only to go as far as the light took him, with the assurance that the light would take him further at the next point of need.
Travis Johnson - Faith in God’s promises makes great optimists.
ILL- In Burma, the missionary Adoniram Judson, was lying in a foul jail with 32 lbs. of chains on his ankles, his feet bound to a bamboo pole. A fellow prisoner said, “Dr. Judson, what about the prospect of the conversion of the heathen?” with a sneer on his face.
His instant reply was, “The prospects are just as bright as the promises of God.”
William Carey once said, "The future is as bright as the promises of God."
ILL- During an especially trying time in the work of the China Inland Mission, Hudson Taylor wrote to his wife, “We have twenty-five cents—and all the promises of God!"
Divine assurance:
Is needed by progressive people
Is based on a right relationship with God
Produces an enduring faith
