The God of All Comfort

The Comforting Presence of God

Isaiah 41

We should ask ourselves what does "Freedom" mean to us?

According to the dictionary "freedom" is being exempt from the power and the control of another.

So, in this case, are any of us truly free?

We have freedom of will and choice but each of these things have consequences, we must answer to.

We have a book of freedoms here in America but it seems that most Americans desire to give those freedoms up and allow the government to decide their freedoms, what fools are we raising in our homes!

God says, none of us are free because we are all slaves to sin!

1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

So, in the process of having a personal relationship with God we must become free from sin!

1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

This can only be done through Jesus Christ!

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Isa 49:25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

The Lord Jesus Christ is all about salvation!

Let's begin with verse 10:

*****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.

Understanding the salvation of the Lord should also cause us to understand the chastisement of the Lord and "this must always be remembered" because it is also the reason for the "Judgment of God"!

Our sinful behavior is what causes so much of the destruction of life and property and the pollution of the environment in our world.

God judges us from a heart of love and compassion. God seeks to save us from harming ourselves and others.

Exposing these things to us should cause us to repent. Some will and some will remain foolish!

Life is not easy for anyone if we regard the external conditions of this world. Even the rich have their problems including the problems of sickness and death that we all have!

But, we should all clearly understand there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God!

Rom_8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If we can understand the love of God, then we can also begin to understand why we need to believe Him! It’s called "Faith".

Faith is the conscious that God is there and that His presence is the complement of every need!

Faith recognizes the reality of true choice, that God will enter into a covenant that cannot be dissolved by any outside source and God cannot be overcome even by any heavenly source.

Faith knows, that this Loving God has a purpose in everything that comes upon us!

Faith is the reality that chastisement can teach us things that nothing else can!

Therefore, we have no reason to fear because the Lord is always as close as the next breath.

We truly have a God that will stand in a tender relationship with each of us, as He so well puts in this Scripture.

Notice also in this Scripture that God is not speaking to the world, God is speaking to His chosen people, but He is spiritualty speaking to all people!

God does not live in the same time scale that we do, so He can protect us in the here and now, just as He was saying to these Jews!

All believers need the assurance that God is with them every moment of their life just as God states here!

God says to never fear the things we face day by day. In fact, God has not given us the spirit of fear at all.

2Ti_1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

With God's power at our request, God's love always, and the sound mind of "Faith", why would we ever be afraid of what this world can do to us?

All these things should teach us to cling to Christ Jesus and never releasing our grip for He will never release His grip!

Once we have been accepted by the Lord and our sins forgiven we can never be bound by sin again!

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Our enemies and those who become our enemies, because we love Jesus Christ are nothing in the eyes of God.

*****Isa 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.

Now, these Jews had given up their idols, and their worship of those idols and returned to the Lord.

Those that cling to their idols then became their enemies, they were "incensed" against them.

As Christians, we face this same thing. Many of our friends in a sense have become our enemies just because we have become a child of God.

God says they will be ashamed and confounded.

Their idols will not be able to help them!

They will not be able to defend their worship of those idols!

Today, the world's idols become riches, political power and military strength and these also will be ashamed and confounded.

These modern-day idols are nothing compared to the power of Jehovah God!

Dan 4:35 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 the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Many historians have written of the fall of Rome but the truth of the fall of Rome is because of the persecution of God's people.

If you look at our world today, you will see nation after nation fall, because of the persecution of God's people!

The Bible speaks of a revived Rome, not Rome itself but a league of nations like the Roman empire and it will also fall for the same thing, the persecution of God's people!

*****Isa 41:12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought.

Even today, Israel has cause for fear because they are surrounded by their enemies but God says that they that war with the Jews, shall be as nothing. "because they will be destroyed"

But this includes more than just those foreign military:

1) It would include all those who are angry with the Jews.

Those who are angry are all those who resent God's people and are inflamed by their actions.

2) Including those who have strife with the Jews.

Strife would include all those who envy God's people in everything they accomplish.

3) Including those that conflict with the Jews.

Conflict includes all those who are in direct opposition to the Jews and are on a violent collision course with them. "Certainly, all the Arab nations" but also others.

4) And those who are at war with the Jews.

War is then an actual contest between God's children and the evil of this world we live in.

God says the punishment for these things is:

1) Some would be covered with shame.

2) Some would perish.

3) Some would not be found.

4) Some would be as if they never existed. (Nothingness)

Psa 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Psa 37:36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.

Job 8:13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish:

And why are these things so true?

*****Isa 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

We see that God offers His personal help.

God loves to get personal with those who want it that way!

Only Christianity can say this about Jehovah, the Living God!

The truth must come from God who is a Living God!

The truth is, that God will only help in the right way!

The way of righteousness is not always the most pleasant way but it is always the safest way to live.

The children of Israel had departed from the right way and if they sought to satisfy their flesh they could not expect help from God.

We know that God does not ever change so why would we think He would do different today?

The way of holiness, is also the way to Heaven but this is so strange to someone deep in sin but no progress can be made without a guide.

The Lord Jesus is that guide sent from Heaven to hold our hand until we get home!

This is a covenant, a guarantee, a promise, that only the Lord can make AND KEEP!

Notice the closeness, God will hold our hand! This is way of parents to a small child who would get lost if not for holding to that hand but it is the parent’s responsibility and not that of the child, once that child is "Born" into the family!

Then God conveys this same thought to the children of Israel.

*****Isa 41:14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

To be a redeemed child of God, we must first realize our own weakness to save ourselves, because it is impossible!

To fear not, shows that we are afraid in this world we live in.

We must understand, God will not hold the hand of those who travel in their own strength!

What are worms in this passage?

If we go back to the days of the Jews escaping from Egypt we know that God fed them with the Manna and some would try to gather enough in one day that would last for several days. God would not allow this and that manna would become worms or today we would say maggots and it would stink horribly.

God is not so much saying these Jews were maggots or that they had a terrible odor but simply that the children of Jacob were in terrible, stinking, disobedience, that could only lead them to eternal death, just as all those who reject the Word of God today!

The children of Jacob were supposed to be the blessed of God!

Jacob was a worm in the eyes of all people but Jacob then became Israel but are now still worms in the eyes of the world.

Today there are many Christian worms in the eyes of true believers and we as Christians, we are no more than worms in the eyes of this world of unbelievers.

But God loves His worms because He is our Lord but more important He is our "Redeemer"!

We may not like being a worm in the eyes of mankind but we know we are no more than worms when we refuse to give up those pet sins.

Psa_22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

To be real honest it may be an insult to the true worm, for a dirty, worthless, corrupted, sinner to use its name!

Job said:

Job_17:14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

When we understand what we are, (no more than a worm) it makes us desire better things and nothing is better that a personal hand holding relationship with the Lord!

Those who reject being worms but still speak in the worms’ language and remain unclean, can never be redeemed by the Holy One of Israel!

The truth is, a worm is always exposed to danger, the next footstep could end its life or it could become the bait to attract another evil, again causing its death.

What does God say to His disobedient children?

Deu 28:39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.

But God has plans for those who repent even for the children of Israel!

*****Isa 41:15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

Isa 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

Here evil is considered to be a mountain, something large and occupying a large area.

God said He would take His "redeemed" Jewish worms and make them a "new" sharp threshing instrument that "shall" thresh those evil mountains.

We know this has not taken place yet but remained in their future, maybe in this age we are in now.

When the "good" of God threshes the "evil" mountains of this world, then the Lord will join His people on this earth for 1000 years and after this eternity.

By the way, those mountains are all those who have set themselves against Israel and against the Church.

We can see that this is the mystery of "Grace". (God's Riches At Christ Expense).

Psa 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

We must remember, it was the job of the Lord to buy back the property that belonged to God.

The Lord is that "Kinsman Redeemer" following the law of God!

Lev 25:48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:

Lev 25:49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.

This was not to be an earthly redeemer.

Rth 3:12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.

The Lord is the nearest of all our kinsmen because He is our Creator!

It is only our "Redeemer" who is the greatest of all mountains.

Dan 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

And the wind will carry all the chaff away and the whirlwind shall scatter the remains of the threshing floor no longer to be found on this earth.

And God will care for all those, His children that remain!

*****Isa 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Isa 41:18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

Isa 41:19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

Isa 41:20 That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.

We know that the Lord provided for His people while they were in captivity in Babylon but this Scripture reaches far beyond this image into the Millennial Kingdom.

As Christians, until the Lord returns we are as a barren wilderness, seeking a greater measure of "Grace" and "Knowledge" and increasing our spirituality and becoming more complete.

We also see a world that is growing more and more in its lust of the flesh and rejection of the Word of God.

The Lord assures us that we will not be disappointed in the objects of our desires. The Lord will hear all our cries!

Everyone is poor when compared to the riches of Heaven and even that is not in riches as seen in this world but much greater things than these.

Water here means the influences of the Holy Spirit which cannot come while we live in our own sin.

Sinners all over the world seek a physical high that cannot be obtained except by the Holy Spirit so they are never satisfied!

The truth can only be found in the Word of God.

Isa_34:16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

When the Lord returns those, who have felt the barrenness of this life will be watered by the unlimited blessings of God.

God will provide refreshment for the souls of His people!

Psa 92:12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Psa 92:13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

Psa 92:14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

Isa 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

God will also supply the material things as this world after the devastation of war will be restored as it was in the first days of Adam!

Isa 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Isa 43:20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

We know of all the deserts in Israel and all the lands adjacent to Israel and around this world but each one of them will be transformed into an oasis with a grove of beautiful trees.

The "Grace" of God will be seen throughout this world during the Millennial reign of Christ and no one will be able to doubt the truth of God!

The object of these miracles of God, is a demonstration of the "creative power" of the true God!

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 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.

Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Isa 45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

All the things the Jews went through in all the years up to the time of Nebuchadnezzar happened because they had turned away from God and worshipped idols.

After their 70 years of captivity in Babylon they were still not a perfect people, none of us are, but they put down the idols and have not been a nation of idol worshippers again!

Then God says to "state your reasons" why you remain in sin.

God says, "present your case" for still worshipping false gods.

*****Isa 41:21 Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

Isa 41:22 Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

Isa 41:23 Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

We should understand that God has the power to prove He is God at any time.

But we should also understand that God is not in competition with any other god because no other god exist.

God says, present your case for worshipping man-made gods!

God means if your false god can prove itself then He will allow you to worship it.

These are people that hate the Living God but love this world just as it is, what a shame!

They are influenced by things that are only temporary and seldom have any desire for things that are unseen and eternal.

They live in the, "here and now"!

They have an unwillingness to even consider such things and hate those that do believe.

God says bring forth your strong reasons which means, show your proof.

The world is forever saying that Christians are insane to believe in Jehovah God and they say where is the proof.

The proof is readily available but it is denied and rejected.

God says where is your proof, because He knows they cannot prove the existence of man-made gods!

The only thing that non-believers and the worldly minded can do is, to sit and take pleasure in trying to destroy Christianity! So, they stay with their false gods of pleasure.

There are also those who say they believe but the only thing they do is blame a Holy God when they have not obeyed even the simplest of God's commands. So, they stay with their false gods who gives them no commands to follow.

They will say, "my life is not right", "my position is not safe", "I do not get what I want" and God will never bless those that blame Him for their problems and life's obstacles that happen to everyone else. So, they stay with their false gods, never believing God will provide our needs and go with us through all life's obstacles and problems.

And then there are these of the last days, days which we are in now:

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

God says how many of you have a God, besides Jehovah, that can show the world what will happen in the future as Jehovah does, but is denied.

God says how many of you have a God, besides Jehovah, that can show the world what He has done in the past, as Jehovah does, but is denied.

God says how many of you have a God, besides Jehovah, that has explained the only logical way our created world came to existence, but is denied.

God says how many of you have a God, besides Jehovah, that can explain life after death, and the truth of the human body, mind, and especially the soul, which is denied.

God says, who else besides Jehovah, has written all these things down for the world to see, and so the world can be warned, besides Jehovah and even this is denied!

God says show Me the things that have been written or predicted, or said by any false god and let’s see if they are true or if they come true.

And God responds:

Isa 43:9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isa 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Isa 43:12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.

Isa 43:13 Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?

God also says those who are blind and those who cannot hear, no more about the truth than those who worship idols they have made themselves.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

So, God says:

*****Isa 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

God says the silence of all idols prove they are nothing!

God says there is no proof of any work that has ever been done by any false god.

God says it is only Satan, the abomination of this world who has chosen these people who deny the one true God!

An idol is anything that comes between us and God and they are all abominable, detestable, and filthy in the sight of Jehovah God!

God alone has the power to control history.

God alone has the power to predict history and God is always 100% correct.

God alone has said to these of that day that He would send a messenger to proclaim the "Good News" of salvation before the end times come.

And God finishes with these words:

*****Isa 41:29 Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion.

Both idols and those who worship idols are nothing in the sight of God.

God ask many times why would someone worship something that provided no benefit at all?

Only emptiness and confusion can come to those who deny the Living God!

Questions?

Let's Pray!