Joy in the Precious Word of Life

Joy in Holding Forth the Word of Life

Book of Philippians 2:14-30

We finished up in our last lesson understanding that to be saved, is to have God come to live within us!

2Co_6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

We are to understand that as believers we must work out our own salvation with the Lord. We must get up close and personal with our Savior.

What the lost world does not understand is that God takes great pleasure in this relationship!

Last week we ended with this Scripture:

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

We all have something we can do for the Lord and if we listen to Him, He will point this thing out to us.

We are always to do our best to follow the Word of God in everything we do and this same Word already gives us plenty of things to do to keep is busy.

The very first thing that we need to concentrate on after the Lord saves us, is obedience!

When the Body of Christ refuse to obey even the basics of the Scriptures, then they will break fellowship with the Holy Spirit!

Eph_4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

If we grieve the Holy Spirit enough we will certainly "quench" the work He will do within us!

1Th_5:19 Quench not the Spirit.

When we ignore and reject any part of the Word of God, we will live a life full of problems. Too much God to be satisfied in the world and too little God to be of use in the Church!

So, let's continue:

*****Php 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Php 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Obeying the Word of God must be willful and cheerful! To murmur is questioning the truth of God and doubting God's conclusions!

When we ask the Lord Jesus to come into our hearts and save us, we are saying, "I trust the Word of God to be true and my salvation to be real"

The next step is "repentance". Which means we turn away from the things of this world and turn toward the truth of God!

To turn around and reject that truth is then to question your salvation! The Lord is very patient and He will go with us in every step but we must freely choose to go with Him!

Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

These are some of the most important words in all the Scriptures!

It is the Word of God that will light our pathway until the Lord returns to take us home!

So many today are turning away from the Word of God, or rewriting it to suit their own lifestyles, that disputings have entered into the Body of Christ and denominations are even dividing amongst themselves, debating who is right and they have forgotten that God is always right!

Disputings is outright arguments over the truth of the Scriptures!

We must be clear, God said what He meant and God meant what He said! God does not change from one season to the next, He is always the same!

To allow the world to freely take over the Church and dispute the Word of God, has made the Church powerless in our day and time!

When we accept that all Scripture is the Holy Ghost inspired Word of God, then who are we to question what God has said?

As the Body of Christ, God says to not allow these things to go on when we gather together!

These that do such things must be quiet or leave and there will be no disputing the Word of God!

God is not the author of confusion, so murmurings and disputes are not of God!

1Co_14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

No one has the right to further interpret what God says!

2Pe_1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

When we obey God in this thing, God will hold us blameless and harmless when the Lord returns to take us home.

If you remain a slave to sin, it will cause you to murmur but a true son or daughter of God will not question the Heavenly Father in anything!

All those who are working for the Father, are actually working for themselves and not for this crooked world!

Murmur and disputing usually comes when pride makes one feel more superior than another and this is another thing that has blanketed our world today.

The vile disease of these things spring from an evil and jealous mind and it usually instigated by things outside the Church.

God said we are farmers to plant the seed of God and only some will make it to the good soil but every farmer will weed where he plants his crop.

We must weed out corruption in our Churches!

A body of believers who are not peculiar to this world, will certainly not shine in this world because to act like the world is to be seen just like the world!

1Pe_2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We must hold forth the Word of Life!

*****Php 2:16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

There is nothing burdensome in the Word of God! There are only Heaven's rewards for being obedient to God!

Do not get caught up in the foolishness of who the God of the Bible is. The God of the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

We need to understand that so-called Christians who are inconsistent in the Scriptures have caused more damage to Christianity than anything else in the world and all those who do such things will suffer the "judgment" of God!

Most of those sitting in the pews today, think that only the pastor or a few elders of the Church have a ministry but the truth is we all have a ministry!

We are all to "hold forth the word of life"!

We are to offer it in hope of acceptance by all that hear the Word of Life.

How can we be content Christians if we are not willing to tell others about the wonderful words of life provided by the Lord Jesus Christ and His Father and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The lost of this world have nowhere else to go to find the truth! When we refuse to witness for Jesus how will they ever know God called them? Not all or maybe not even many will respond but that is between them and God but some will!

Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

Joh 6:69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

The Apostle Paul knew that the Lord would recognize him for what he had accomplished but we are no different. God will recognize all His children for what they have accomplished (after) they came to know the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior.

That recognition will come when the Lord comes to take us home. This day is known as the "Judgment Seat of Christ". Only Christians will be there this day and it is a judgment for rewards and not for salvation!

Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

So how can we hold onto the Word of Life and not tell others?

God simply wants us to know that our labor for Him will not be in vain. If we look back on our past and do not see rewards ahead, as long as we are living and breathing God will provide opportunities for those rewards.

God wants to give us His rewards!

I believe this is God's favorite pastime, putting up rewards for us in Heaven.

Mat_6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Mat_6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

The Lord Jesus would not say this if it were not true!

When Paul says "run" here, he is referring to "effort". We must put forth the effort to get into the army of God, while still remembering we are also to be "fishers of men"!

If we reach just one, that will be more than none and that one could go forth to tell others but our goal should be to reach out to more than one!

No labor for the Lord will go unnoticed in Heaven!

The "Gospel" message is the Word of Life!

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

There are great differences in life and death and there are great differences in eternal life and eternal death!

*****Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Php 2:18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Paul continues to show the differences in true life and true death.

To the Apostle Paul, this gathering of believers in Philippi were his offering acceptable to God. It had been Paul who had planted this Church.

In the days of the Levitical Priesthood once a sacrifice was placed on the alter, then "grape juice"(wine), a drink offering was poured around the alter.

Wine and blood were made for heathen gods and Jehovah would never had done the same!

Psa 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

Paul was expressing the fact that he looked forward to being a martyr for the Lord. He knew he would suffer and die for the cause of Christ but we are saved by the blood of Jesus and not by the blood of Paul.

As these of the Church at Philippi were a sacrifice of "faith" to the Lord, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, Paul could be as that drink-offering that was pour out around the alter.

Rom 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

Rom 15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.

It is the things that pertain to God that must hold the most importance in our lives!

Paul's death would not be a shedding of blood but a sacrifice for the cause of Christ and a furtherance of the Gospel.

It's not so important to remember where we came from, though to look back on occasion is not always a bad thing, but is real important to know where we are going.

When you know, that you know, that you know, you can have personal joy and rejoice with all the Church. Paul knew this was true for him and he also knew this was true for this body of believers. They had proved their faith!

When we know that Heaven is our eternal home, we can rejoice with all those who know the same.

When we give ourselves into the service of the Lord, then it could mean that we may even have to give our life of this body of flesh but this flesh is going to die at some time.

Heb_9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

But as the "Born Again" children of God the death of this flesh can have only one meaning.

2Co_5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

2Co_5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Remember how we began:

Php_2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

When we have worked out our salvation and have that personal relationship with the Lord, we will have that desire to be with Him and this desire will increase as we get older but the Lord has a real need for us to remain here until He takes us home!

Mat 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Mat 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Mat 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

As long as our Lord is so full of compassion for the lost, we must share with Him in His compassion, making it our own compassion for the lost.

We must hold forth the joy of our Christian life and our "faith" in Jesus Christ is the key to Christian fellowship.

*****Php 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

This Timotheus is the same Timothy we are familiar with. Still a young preacher boy at this time but approaching the time when he will take a church.

We know that Timothy was later ordained to become a Pastor and Church planter.

1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

We also know that Timothy also spent some time in the Roman jail, just for preaching the Word of God.

Heb 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

It is believed that Timothy finished in Ephesus and became a martyr in the cause of Jesus Christ.

Why did Paul send Timothy to Philippi?

1) To carry the "good news" from the Apostle Paul.

2) That he could preach and be a "Spiritual" blessing to them.

3) Then bring the "good news" of their "faith" back to the Apostle Paul.

Timothy may have suffered along with the Apostle Paul and he could tell so many things and so many stories of how God had shown His "Grace" and "Mercy" to the missionaries that he was certainly a blessing to hear!

We must forget, nothing could stop the Apostle Paul from his calling except the Lord but sometimes it is truly a comfort to know who is standing with you!

We also know that we are to work out our own salvation but it certainly can help to have some young fired up man of God such as Timothy to help us with these things.

This is what we have here at Gethsemane.

As we work out our own personal relationship with the Lord we have a fired-up Pastor who preaches the truth and it makes things so much better, even easier to know what is expected from our Christian life!

3Jn 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

3Jn 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

What was the greatest truth of Timothy? He was for real!

*****Php 2:20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

Php 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

Php 2:22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

When you cannot see things with your own eyes, then it is best to send someone who thinks in the same ways as you do.

Many say that Timothy was so much like Paul that except for appearance, you could not tell them apart.

We also notice that Timothy willingly served in second place to Paul!

Paul was a church planter but He had the heart of a Pastor. Timothy also had the heart of a Pastor.

The greatest difference of the Pastor and the Evangelist and the missionary is, that the Pastor knows God has given him a certain flock to take care of until He returns.

Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors "according to mine heart", which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

We are all to be missionaries in our own place and then there are those God has called to leave their homes and be missionaries to the world.

Evangelist carry the same "Gospel" to the Church but have not been given the responsibilities of the Pastor.

Sometimes these things can change according to the leading of Holy Spirit.

As Paul's thoughts were caught up in a bit of sorrow, he had a great desire to know about the churches he had planted and how they were growing in the "Gospel".

Paul had always traveled with many godly men and had much help with him at all times but most of those did now have the heart of a Pastor.

This young Pastor Timothy not only had the heart of a Pastor, he had the heart of Paul. He had become Paul's most trusted friend and this was certainly not to say those others with Paul were not good men as they were.

Think about if you had a task that you thought only you could do but you were in bondage, how hard would it be to look out amongst those of your Christian friends and choose the one who do the same as you in every situation. It could get very hard to choose the right person.

Timothy was that person for Paul.

We should remember that when the Lord was in His passion, He also craved to have such a friend but He had been abandoned by all His friends.

We must all understand that in our calling from the Lord we are all not suited for every mission. Timothy was the one that met what Paul thought to have the qualifications for this special mission.

What is it to care? Timothy was not without carefulness. He was vigilant in guarding against evil and providing for the safety of the church. Things he had learned from Paul. It also seems that this young man had a fear of the Lord much greater that the fear of men!

The thing Paul was most assured of is that Timothy would do the task Paul had given to him and he would then return with what Paul was seeking, whatever it was. If this church was lacking in anything of the Lord. Timothy would provide that also!

1Co 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

Timothy was willing to lay down his own life for the Church of Jesus Christ!

*****Php 2:23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

Php 2:24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

It is probable that Paul had defended himself before the high court of Rome at this time and was waiting on the outcome of the Roman legal process. We already know that Paul was an innocent man have only been locked up for false charges of Judaizers.

It was easy for Paul to prove his Roman citizenship so this was not an issue.

Paul was a mighty man of God but he could not foresee his own future.

Paul's thoughts were not on these things because his thoughts were always on the "Church" the "Body of Christ".

Since it is evident that Paul did not travel with Timothy we can be certain of only two things.

1) Paul found that he would not be released at this time.

2) Or, Paul found that he was scheduled for execution.

Paul's faith did not allow him to linger on these things.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Gal 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Paul and Timothy were bound together in all these things as Paul was in bondage to Rome but also to his circumstances that only God had total control over!

Paul also knew that there is never a good time to quit on God!

1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

We see that Paul was certainly not alone at this time.

*****Php 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

Php 2:26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

Php 2:27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

Epaphroditus was an elder of the Church in Philippi who had traveled to Rome to assist the Apostle Paul in any way that he could. In fact, he had work so hard at this, that it had affected his health and this thing had been heard back in his home church.

Notice again the powers of an Apostle were never to be used for private matters but only for public matters in connection with the "Gospel".

It is a fact that those who preach the Cross of our Lord must also bear the cross of our Lord.

Luk_9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The words of the Lord do not ever change!

Once Epaphroditus knew his brothers and sisters in Christ had heard of his sickness, he knew they would also be more worried about him then they needed to be.

Once we place our life in the hands of God we are certainly at the "Mercy" of God. We should keep this thought in mind, "God does not begin a work and then suddenly quit until His will has been accomplished.

We should understand the thoughts of Paul.

Epaphroditus was of a great value to Paul. He had been a complete man of God and Paul did not want to harm his Christian testimony in any way.

Paul did not want this brother to be seen as a quitter. He was a fellow soldier. We have many problems in Christianity and one of those is we will leave our fellow soldiers on the battlefield without our help.

Paul, even not knowing his own outcome, was still concerned for the Body of Christ!

The Church in Philippi would not be the same until they could see the face of their brother Epaphroditus!

He would never forsake Paul.

He would never forsake his own church.

He would never forsake the Lord Jesus Christ

*****Php 2:28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Php 2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

Php 2:30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Many of us serve in the cause of Christ but not everyone is a true "fellow laborer" or "fellow soldier"!

What is the truth of a soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ? We know who the true enemy is and we concentrate on his demise!

Eph_6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We must endure some things to continue in this battle.

2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldiers.

These are the thoughts of Paul and Epaphroditus was such a soldier and these Philippians should treat him as such.

We must honor those who survive the battles with evil and go on to serve another day! We honor them when we accept them for who they are in the work of the Lord.

We are all in the battle but the battle is the Lord's!

1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

There is great joy in holding forth the Word of Life but we stay in the battle till the Lord comes!

When Paul was on the road these Philippians had supplied the needs of Paul so that he could be in places like Corinth where Paul refused any help.

Epaphroditus had not only ministered to Paul in spiritual needs but he had worked and anything else that he could do to supply Paul's physical needs.

We already know of human necessities but the supplies of writing material and other things probably came by this brother soldier.

Paul expressed that he had been completely satisfied with what this brother had been able to do.

We should never tear down our brothers and sister in Christ but rather build them up!

We should always remember these words of Jesus as we deal with one another in Christ:

Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Sometimes we are more concerned for our own welfare rather than the welfare of the Church!

Amen

The Only Savior of Israel

The Savior of Israel

Book of Isaiah 43

Today we will look at the true relation of Israel to Jehovah God. We know that God took a single family out of a city called Ur and over a period of time, God created the nation of Israel.

The Israel that was eradicated by Rome in 70 A D and resurfaced on May the 14, 1948, even that being a fulfillment of prophecy.

Isa_66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

On the very first day of Israel's rebirth, it was the United States of America that confirmed that rebirth at the United Nations, fulfilling Bible prophecy!

In all those years, the Jewish people never lost their true identity.

No other nation has a history, as the history of the Jews and of Israel!

In the world of today, no other nation stirs up this world, good and bad, as the tiny nation of Israel.

In this lesson, we will see the enormous price Jehovah has paid to ransom this nation that He so loves.

And what is the truth of Israel?

Isa 45:17 But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

So, before this sinful world ends and the new world begins, Israel will again be redeemed by the Lord!

It was God's intent that Israel be the nation that would carry the message of salvation throughout this world and so far, they have failed to do so and now this is the job of the Church until the Church Age is over when the Church is called out to Heaven.

It will be during the 7 years of Tribulation that Israel will be given that opportunity again and this time they will succeed in completing the work God has desired of them all these years!

Jer_30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

During the Tribulation Period.

Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

The 144,000 or the perfect number of missionary/evangelist of Israel and the results:

Rev 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Rev 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

That "Deliverer", is still Jesus Christ our Lord!

Even though this nation deserved the wrath of God, they will see the "Grace" of God. Sounds familiar does it not!

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

It will still require "Faith" and "Repentance". God will never forgive sin without these things!

What is being "Born Again"?

*****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.

It was the LORD, Jehovah who created this nation and He will save them in such a manner as if He created them again!

This is the same way the Lord saves each believer!

1Pe_1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Is salvation a creative act of God?

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, "but a new creature".

In our lesson today, Jehovah wanted Israel to know that He would not forsake them, He would again reach out to rescue them.

We should also understand clearly that if we cannot recognize the Lord as our Creator, and the true Creation account in the Book of Genesis, we will never truly understand the Bible!

God is in the business of "creating life"!

God is in the business of "forming us" if we abide by His Word. He gives us shape and forms our relations and our relationships.

God is in the business of "redemption"!

He created us, He paid for us, He will create us anew, He will make us a friend, a child, family.

He owns all those He has purchased with the Blood of Jesus Christ, we have a new owner!

1Co_6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

When a Hebrew sold themselves to slavery to pay some debt, they knew that time that was required of them was over when their name was called and their freedom was assured. It fact, a trumpet would sound announcing that freedom and we can be sure that each one of them heard that trumpet.

God knows our name and He has called us out of our wages of sin as the slaves of Satan and has paid our debt and has made us free.

Joh_8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

God's ownership brings with it many marvelous things throughout our life time!

*****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.

We should clearly understand this Scripture!

Just as it was with Israel, there will be some, if not many, calamities in our lives and some of them may be very great and God's promise is that He may not stop them all but He will be with us through every one of them.

Our troubles may vary. Today some may be as waters and some of those, as raging rivers. Tomorrow, we may be asked to walk through the fire and the flame, to endure trials that we cannot even imagine, but again the Lord will be with us.

Our example of this in Scripture, is God walking with three Jewish boys, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!

Dan_3:20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Dan 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

We are to understand that these things are not just maybe but we will all go through some things in our lifetime that will cause us great grief!

The truth is God will never forsake those that trust Him and He will walk through that same fire with us and cross those raging rivers with us.

Many times, the will of God will allow us to avoid these things, or He will provide a means of escape or He will just hold our hand as we go through them.

These things are His choice and not our choice but we should remember these words:

Rom_8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

In all these things God expects us to continue in our ministry and every child of God has a ministry!

2Ti_4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

All these things are also true for the nation of Israel, which will find their fulfillment during the time of Jacob's Trouble where the Lord will walk hand in hand with those who trust Him.

Throughout the history of Israel, God has always rescued Israel from all her distresses, this is not going to change today in our day!

There will always be a remnant that will repent and return to the Lord!

Just as it was with Israel, God has created every Christian and for us to be witnesses then we must remain in His safety until our task is done and God will then take us home to Heaven. In fact, God will most always use our physical death to be a witness to someone, either as a martyr, or to encourage some friend or especially some family member who is lost.

Throughout the history of Israel, God has always rescued Israel from all her distresses.

What the Lord is teaching is us is, that trials cannot injure those whose "faith" is in the Lord.

Satan will always be busy trying to get us to abandon the Lord and become useless in our ministry!

There is yet an even greater reason why we should trust the Lord! We will be on the "Winning Side"!

*****Isa 43:3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

First, we see the Lord says, "I have redeemed thee".

Also notice, this is the great "I AM" who spoke to Moses!

"I have called thee by thy name"

"Thou art mine"

Next, we see the Lord says, "When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee".

God will be with us in strange places.

God will be with us in dangerous places.

Now we see "I have ransomed thee"

God will give up everyone else for the sake of His people.

For Israel "God gave great nations" Egypt, Ethiopia, Seba. We see that God will always give the oppressor, the enemy, before He will ever give up even one His people!

1Co_1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

**For the Christian, God has given His choicest gift. The Lord Jesus Christ is much more precious than any nation!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

There is nothing more precious to the Lord than to see His children enjoying life and being obedient to the Word of God!

Ecc_5:18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

Those that know the Lord in a personal way are very precious to the Lord!

*****Isa 43:4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.

Precious means something of great value! This are the words of the Almighty Living God showing the love of His great heart!

Before we can recognize the "preciousness" in God's sight we must grafted into the family of God by "faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Jews have been ("wast" past tense) precious since the time God's promise was given to Jacob!

Gen 28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

It should be obvious that the significance of these words points to the ministry of Christ and the Kingdom of Christ!

We must also realize that nation after nation fell by the sword of Israel before the birth of Jesus Christ and God will not forget this and He will surely keep every promise He has ever made to these wonderful people.

We must also realize that we are precious in the sight of God because He paid the ultimate price for "whosoever" will call upon His name, with the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are precious in the sight of God because of the workmanship that has been spent on us to make us valuable, and thank goodness God will continue to work of us until we are made perfect and then we can go home!

We are precious in God's sight because we are fashioned and formed to be like the Lord Jesus Christ!

Every child of God is honorable because we have the Holy Spirit living with us.

God has removed us from the rim of Hell and has made us to be princes.

We are honorable when we are involved in the work that the Lord has given us to do!

1Co_4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

We may not be able to walk into the chambers of our President or even our own Governor but every child of God is honourable enough to go boldly into the throne room of God.

Heb_4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We are honourable enough to be offered the greatest gift that could be offered to anyone and fools not to reach out and accept this gift!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are honourable because we are adopted into the family of God and born into His household.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We are most honourable to God because we are His creation, an earthly vessel. We were marred, not by the potter’s hands but by this world and became a thing without honor but in and by Jesus Christ, we have been created again, not remade but a complete new creation!

Knowing all these things why would we be afraid?

*****Isa 43:5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;

Isa 43:6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

What is the truth? God will certainly gather His people, the Jews, from the four corners of this earth and return them to the promised land!

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Rom 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Rom 11:30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

Rom 11:31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

We would be foolish if we do not see that as Christians we need to be involved in this work. (through our mercy they also may obtain mercy)!

The Jews have been afflicted by this world long enough and we need to stand with them and aid them in any way that we are able!

This does not just mean that we are to just be witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ but we are also to live our lives showing them by example that they are not alone and that God's love will win them over just as it has the Church of Jesus Christ.

We must remember it is only through God's covenant with Abraham that we have been saved!

Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Rom 4:19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Rom 4:21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Rom 4:22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Rom 4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

And then God explains why humans were created.

*****Isa 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Most everyone reach that point in their lives asking, "What am I?" "Why am I here?" "What purpose do I have?"

God says He created us so He could show us His Glory!

God says He made us so we could also be glorified!

God says He has formed us to know His truth!

2Co_6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We will have God as our Father.

We will have His Son, Jesus as our Redeemer.

We will have the Holy Spirit to lead us until we are glorified.

Each child of God was not only created but they are formed and that work will be completed by the Holy Ghost by the time we meet Christ by death or by the "Rapture of the Church".

Php_1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

We were saved, we are being saved daily, and we will be saved eternally.

This message from Isaiah certainly concerns these Jews in captivity who our called of God but this passage is also for those who are called by the name of Christ, which is "Christian".

Many people are saved by "faith". Being saved will make you a "Saint". To be a "Christian" is to live our lives so that other people can see the Lord Jesus Christ in us, "called by His name"!

Creation, formation, glorification, are done by God and for His own glory!

Pro 16:4 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

What should every human being realize before we can begin our walk with the Lord?

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

And to whom is the message of God sent?

*****Isa 43:8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

These are not people who are blind and people who cannot hear!

These are people who have eyes but cannot see the truth of God and people who have ears but cannot hear the truth of the Word of God!

In this Scripture, God is speaking to those disobedient Jews but we can see that it is really intended for all those who have rejected the truth of God!

The big difference today if we accept the Word of God as the truth, then we have heard these prophecies and have seen many of them fulfilled and many of them partially fulfilled to be fulfilled later. We are blind if we cannot see these things! We are deaf and dumb if we cannot believe what God says!

2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

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.

2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It is those who are lost that we are to reach out to with this message of truth!

In fact, God says bring forth your brightest people of all nations and prove Him to be wrong.

God says to bring forth the gods that you serve and prove they have equal or greater power than Jehovah God!

*****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.

God says for all nations to gather together and one by one they could offer their arguments against the "Gospel" and the truth of God and then they could prove that the ways of the world are better. Reminds of the time of the Prophet Elijah.

1Ki 18:20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

1Ki 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

1Ki 18:22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

In our lesson, it is the Holy One of Israel against the gods of all the nations of the world.

The Lord is never too timid to challenge the ways of the world and is if the ways of the world can bring eternal life, when all proof points only to a life of destruction, that ends in eternal damnation.

God says for the world to send out it's prophets and see who can predict the future in truth.

Let the world show proof of the existence of the gods they worship and any power they have besides the power of destruction and captivity.

Joshua said to Israel at one time:

Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Jos 24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

Jos 24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

Jos 24:21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.

Jos 24:23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

The Lord God Jehovah will offer this same challenge to the world on any given day and the results will be the same. The truth of this world is always lie and deceit and the Word of God is always true!

This world will never be able to prove its false beliefs and its philosophy!

The truth of God is that this world does not possess the ability to stop the spread of the Word of God nor the power that is contained in the Word of God. God will simply not allow it!

It is only the rejection of the truth of God that hinders this world and will lead to its destruction!

Even this world will be witnesses to the truth of God and that day may not be very far off.

Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Luk 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

It would truly be terrible to be a witness of the truth of God in these days and then end up in Hell!

*****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.

A witness is someone who testifies of the truth to help others in making the right decisions.

Today we see that witnesses in the court room support the lies of the world and the innocent are punished.

These things will never change until we make the primary qualification of a true witness, to have an intelligent faith in God.

In fact, our government will never change until the primary qualification of the politician, is to have a true faith in God!

It is the customs of this world that is the major destructive force of this world!

It is the Saints of God who are the true witnesses in this world, so it is the Saints of God, who the Lord has chosen as His servants.

Why?

1) They the Saints of God may know Him in a personal way.

2) That they might believe Him. Believe every Word He says, entrust all they are to Him, and stand on the promises of God.

3) That they know the true God of the Scriptures and value Him for all He is in His Majestic Glory!

If we cannot know, that we know, that we know, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and the only True God, and the Savior of this world, we do not know the True and the Living God!

There is no other means of salvation beyond the Lord Jesus Christ!

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

Jesus said it like this:

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Joh 10:30 I and my Father are one.

The world can pick up its stones and stone us to death but it will never change this truth.

The world can penalize all those that know this is true but it will never change this truth.

The world can close its ears to this truth but they will just be missing out on the plan of God.

The world can continue to be foolish but it will never change this truth!

Again, the LORD says:

Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Rev 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Some people will never accept the truth of God to their own demise but that does not mean we stop asking them to believe the truth!

There is no Savior beside the Lord!

*****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.

Once Israel left the captivity of Babylon, there could not be found one who served a strange god.

Once the believer becomes a Christian, there cannot be found one who will serve a strange god.

There are many false Christians just as well as there are false Jews!

Rom 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

Rom 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Before the Church is was the Jew who was to teach the oracles of God!

Rom 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

Rom 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

Rom 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Rom 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

A true witness then knows the truth of God!

Not one "idol" can announce the deliverance of any people!

Not one "idol" can deliver any people!

Not one "idol" can show the deliverance of any people!

It is only with deliverance that we can claim we have a true God!

What is the truth of the child of God?

Psa 84:9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.

Psa 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness".

Psa 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psa 84:12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve the God of truth!

God has many witnesses:

1) Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

2) Act 14:16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Act 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

3) Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

4) Joh_8:18 I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

5) Rom_8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

6) Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

If we as Christians cannot also be witnesses for the Lord we are not only failures in our Christian life, we are also committing the sin of disobedience.

Our God, our Creator, our Savior and Redeemer and His Word is the truth!

*****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?

There are so many good Scriptures in the Bible but how can this one not be one of the favorites of everyone?

God had this plan of salvation in mind before the creation of the first day!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

No one and nothing can turn back the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The worker. The One who causes this to happen is Jehovah God Himself!

Eph_1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will":

His field of labor, is throughout all His creation, everywhere!

His object, is to gather all His people together who are living in darkness, blinded by Satan and enticed to sin by his methods.

The "Center" in which all this work is completed is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Isa 14:27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

God is everlasting.

God is unchangeable, always the same.

God can deliver His people out of any circumstance, no matter what it is.

God will accomplish His plan, either salvation, or judgment and no one, man or Devil, can hinder Him.

All opposition to Jehovah God is fruitless and foolish! There is no happiness outside the plan and the will of God!

God guarantees the deliverance of all those that abide by His salvation plan.

Whatever God does, is always the right thing to do, His Holy perfection demands that He does what is right!

God condemns all oppressors, dooming them to defeat and eternal judgment!

God promises all those who submit to His will victory, we are on the "Winning Side"! Amen.

Questions?

Let's Pray!