I will work and who shall let it? (Quality, Average, Incomplete)

[0:00] We will speak to the Lord's power from verse 13, the 43rd of Isaiah. 43rd of Isaiah, verse 13.

[0:17] 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?

[0:35] And mine rests chiefly upon the latter clause. I will work, and who shall let it? Or the margin says, turn it down.

[0:50] Or we could read, hinder it. I will work, and who shall hinder it? So that you will see at once that this is closely related to the word from which we have been speaking over the last two or three Sabbath days.

[1:11] Lord, thou hast wrought all our works in us. And this work of God now is challenged. God says, I will work, and whom shall hinder it?

[1:28] Turn it back. Lord, thou hast wrought it? So that in this chapter, we have the calling of the people from the ends of the earth, north and the south, and the east and the west.

[1:44] And they shall be, God says, for his glory. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf people that have ears.

[2:00] Remarkable reference to the hearing ear, and the understanding heart. The deafness.

[2:12] That had never heard a word of the gospel. Which man by nature is completely afflicted with.

[2:28] He has no ear. Jesus often referred to he that hath an ear, didn't he? As much as to infer that there are many that didn't have an ear.

[2:46] But he that hath an ear, let him hear. But bring forth these deaf people, these blind people that have eyes.

[2:58] How many times do these words fit so many circumstances?

[3:12] Let the blind lead the blind. And both shall fall into the depths. The Lord goes on to say where they come from.

[3:27] Let all nations be gathered together. And the people be assembled where they are. We could get a view today of the assembly.

[3:39] All nations. But those in those nations who fear God. And the truth, as we shall see in the ninth verse.

[3:54] We shall be surprised. The gospel is preached in all the world. We, in our little tiny corner.

[4:09] Must ever bear that in line. That for one, not for one moment, will we hold the slightest brief for anyone who thinks that in our tiny denominational corner, we believe that we are the only ones that hold the truth.

[4:39] Never. It is a reproach. It is a reproach hurled upon us. And with clear consciences, we may openly declare, we believe that we believe that we are the Lord's people are in every nation, kindred, tribe, town.

[5:04] And that we are the Lord's people are in every nation, and that we are here because we believe what we profess. That is our reason for being here.

[5:21] But as to the exclusion of all others, as Paul says, let it never once be mentioned. That is not our responsibility.

[5:36] The Lord brings them from all nations. And to show us, let all nations be gathered together.

[5:49] Let the people be assembled. Who among them can declare this and show us all the things that they bring forth their witnesses.

[6:00] God challenges the Gentile nations. And they need challenging. They have their idolatrous worship, which is nothing more or less than vanity, to neither forecast the future, nor say what is past.

[6:32] So with the doctrine of eternal predestination, and with the doctrine of eternal glorification, the church of God holds fast, the past and present and future.

[6:55] Whom he did foreknow, then he also called. That is the present time, the calling. And those that he called, he also justified, in the present time, in their life.

[7:16] Those that he justified, he glorified. Who among them, then, can produce such evidence as this? Can the poor Arab, in his sad state, as he ascribe everything to the will of God, does he understand?

[7:48] Can the poor papist understand, who hopes for this eternal rest, upon the word of a priest?

[8:02] But enough of that. Let us see how clearly, let them bring forth their witnesses. Yes. Which introduces us, to the word witness.

[8:14] And this is the subject, or part of the subject, in this chapter.

[8:27] Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord. And this is what God has ordained. That what he has done, shall have witnesses.

[8:44] There are two kinds of witnesses. The witnesses spoken of here, are those who, shall bear testimony, as the latter part of the ninth verse says, and let them hear and say, it is truth.

[9:03] Pilate asked the question, didn't he? What is truth? God's faithful witnesses, their witness to the truth.

[9:15] The truth in Jesus. The truth that is treasured there, in his work, as we've been going over, in our meditations, over the past few weeks.

[9:32] The witnesses, who testify, to the authority, of the historical record. But then there were more intimate witnesses, called eyewitnesses.

[9:48] Eyewitnesses of his majesty, Peter calls it. An eyewitness, of course, is the most vital person.

[10:00] They take a leading part. See it, or read it every day, or hear of it every day, in our courts of justice.

[10:16] An eyewitness, first thing in an accident, is to obtain an eyewitness. They become the most important person, outside those that are immediately affected.

[10:33] And it please God, to raise up eyewitnesses of his majesty, Christ Jesus. Paul says, he didn't see this, as Peter did.

[10:48] He was as one, that was born out of new time. He saw it, God pulled him up, into the third heaven. As regards being present, at crucifixion of Christ, Paul was not.

[11:04] Nor the resurrection. Peter was. Paul was not on the Mount of Transfiguration. Peter was.

[11:17] Peter was, therefore, an eyewitness. And, of course, spoke with authority. And could speak of what he had seen, and handled, and felt.

[11:37] And God produces eyewitnesses for the good of his desire, his one church. And of these witnesses, he says, I will work.

[11:52] Who shall hinder it? Certainly not these witnesses. They shall further it. Yet, these witnesses, you see, were, at one time, in a very, difficult state.

[12:13] As to the, clear way, and work, of God, in, his salvation, in Christ Jesus, Peter, you will remember, took the soul, in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was apprehended.

[12:36] He had said that he would be willing to die with Jesus. He had said that, although all men forsake thee, yet will not I, and be rather inclined to think that Peter spoke a little out of turn.

[13:00] But when it came to the apprehension of Christ, and the traitor Judas, denying, and betraying his master with a kiss, the fire rose, in dear Peter's blood, and there he got the sword, we do not know, but he took the sword, and used it.

[13:33] He was a witness, and when they bound those holy hands, which they did, Peter stood in defense, and was likely to have been killed by the men that came to apprehend Christ.

[14:03] So that Peter's words weren't altogether boastful, were they? But what a witness. That's the point. what a witness.

[14:17] What a wonderful witness is one whose blood is fired by the truth and the facts. A faithful witness.

[14:30] Like the martyr from which the word originates. A witness at the cost of their life.

[14:44] A faithful witness. There was Peter in that seemingly unheard of incident in the God, yet his very spirit rose within him in defense of his dear Lord.

[15:12] Now this was but a part of his training. But there stood Judas whom he had been a companion with for three years at any rate.

[15:31] and this further fired his spirit. It wasn't many hours previous to this that the shop had been dipped and given to Judas.

[15:56] He got up and went out. and they wondered where he went quite harmlessly thinking that he was going to do something such as give money to the poor as he had the back.

[16:18] Very kind thought on their part and a very kindly word from the Holy Ghost by John.

[16:32] But now he went out with a vastly different thought than this. Come to the 13th of John we find that Satan put it into his heart to betray Jesus.

[16:51] That was the first seed that was sown in the heart of Judas. We believe until that time Judas was a normal disciple shall we say.

[17:12] And we're still thinking about the word witness don't forget. And then the thought was put into his heart.

[17:27] Satan put it into his mind. The end of that chapter 13th of John we read that Satan entered into him.

[17:42] And this poor solemn and awful character the lost one and only one that's all.

[17:53] I've lost none saved the son of perdition. So don't go and add to it will you and put yourself there with him. As bad as you feel don't you go and bind yourself with Judas.

[18:10] Now you must be very careful so must I. You may feel much of this about your religion but there was only one that was lost and it's absolutely clear 22nd I think of John there is one say Judas and it was this man that Peter saw in the going and this two fired him as he saw him at the head of this band of men from the high priest coming to take his savior you know there's something dreadful about being a traitor especially to a heart that is touched by grace and yet you see how many thousands of traitors in the professed church of God absolutely ashamed of him will never bear witness to him or of him so that here we have two witnesses and they are totally different characters nonetheless

[19:55] God brought them up before us in his word and set out their actions in considerable detail and they form a basic part of truth ye are my witnesses saith the Lord Luke and he writes commences in the Acts of the Apostles he speaks of these witnesses and he says to whom also he showed himself after his passion by many infallible proofs he had seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God here were the witnesses they saw the infallible proofs and if you read the short history of the forty days that

[21:05] Jesus was on earth after his resurrection he won't find a great deal we know that he showed himself three times to his disciples and we know that on each of those occasions he verified his humanity then viled in glory so that it was possible for him to eat with them and yet vanish out of their side the next minute which he never did previous to his death and this was infallible wonderful proof that God gave of the resurrected body of the Lord Jesus Christ capable as the last chapter in

[22:08] John relates when he came back when they were fishing and he met them on the water he said to them children have ye any meat Jesus said unto them come and die and none of the disciples durst asked him who art thou knowing that it was the Lord Jesus cometh and taketh bread and giveth them and flesh likewise this is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples after that he was risen from the dead witnesses of remarkable things they have not witnesses for that first century not witnesses for those forty died but incidents that were to be recorded forever for the benefit comfort of thousands of witnesses who should follow who should receive these things in the love of them and belief of them and feel their spirit fired in the defense of them when the name of the holy child

[23:47] Jesus was blasphemed their hearts would be fired when the person and work of Christ as we see it today so dragged in the dust their very heart and soul go out in spiritual defense against him so that when Peter took the sword Jesus told him to put it back again in the sheep and added this they that take the sword shall perish with the sword in the garden in his sufferings

[24:47] Jesus had said thinkest thou not that I may now pray my father and he will send me twelve legions of angels he bore all this alone he needed no twelve legions of angels nor did he need the sword of Peter but here's the witness and this witness was well these witnesses were largely three very sovereignly we read of Peter James and John being taken both on the Mount of Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane and we have their attitude there you might think that they would be so taken with it and lifted up by it that they would be able to record pages of it instead of that we have but a few verses and then what we do read of the

[26:13] Transfiguration is very strange let us build three tabernacles we are told that Peter knew not what to say he was at a loss for work it would have been better for him to have said nothing but the scripture tells us the truth the witness that's the point ye are my witnesses saith the Lord my servant whom I have chosen that ye may know and believe me I will work I will use witnesses I will take poor fallible men impetuous men I will take quiet loving men like John I will take stern faithful men like

[27:17] James I will take them and use them just as I wish they shall declare my righteousness what they see it shall bear their authoritative words and so it does we do not read of Matthew not in any sense do we speak derogatory we do not read of Nathaniel we do not read of Peter's brother Andrew nothing against the local God has particular witnesses he always has done of an outstanding character he has in the days of the church since these remarkable men who and you could almost count them on one hand who have been witnesses the truth those men from the beginning have stood out in history not because they were of any different caliber but by

[28:44] God's grace then there are the other witnesses and these are the ones too you see that speak so sweetly to us and if they don't say anything we read the account of them with softness of heart take Mary in the garden it would be difficult to find a scripture that has been more soothing comforting to God's feeble witnesses than that of dear Mary as she waited around the sepulchre and is there not something intrinsically valuable about the sacred woman and her actions and the

[29:56] Lord's approach to her as we hear her say sir if thou hast brought him hence tell me where thou laid him and I will take him away this ring from heaven there's glory in this the glory of God she couldn't carry the lightless body of the Lord Jesus undoubtedly she meant that she would get help to do it where was she going to put it love fired her heart her hymn says I know more that Mary wonder no and if you get a touch of that love in your heart you won't love this love warmed her heart and

[31:03] Jesus said to her Mary and immediately the girl was wrenched to say she knew it she would have held his feet in loving worship but no he said touch me not for I am not yet I soon shall be I am not yet ascended to my father and your father to your God and my God you see there is a lovely drawing influence these witnesses have in the church of God you ever been drawn by dear Mary before your heart soft by the sweet scene and truth of this holy record here is a true witness here is a scene of matchless grace and here is a woman a sinner indeed to whom

[32:33] Christ revealed himself first before he revealed himself to any other a daughter of Eve through whom that is Eve through whom sin entered into this evil world which was then sinless the radiant glory of Jehovah shines forth in the revelation to Mary and she supposing him to be the God so natural it is beautiful and mercifully softening the heart ye are my witness that

[33:33] I will work and who shall turn it back who shall hinder it who shall let it so taking these extremes then of God's witnesses what about you what about me when we're laid in the grave and they sing hymn 143 over our body if they do what testimony will you leave behind would it be said that you're a witness or you were a witness did your life bear witness or were you ashamed I won't go as far to say a betrayer could it be said that any one thing about you prove beyond doubt that you were one of these witnesses now how beautifully

[34:43] Paul speaks on doesn't he in the 12th of April the long cloud of witnesses who do they speak to what do they witness these are they of whom it is said these all died in fight a long cloud of witnesses seeing therefore we also are accomplished about with such a cloud of witnesses they are a cloud and nature provides us with some very remarkable sites of individual creatures take a flock of stans yes see them going to roost over

[35:58] Salisbury Plain at night blotting out the sun the setting sun as they fly across it an innumerable host an innumerable cloud not one of them falls to the ground not one wind touches another you couldn't see through them what a cloud and this is what we have see ever when we look in the church of God we see this numberless host this cloud of witnesses the majesty and glory of them not only in their persons but in their number and where do they come from then we look back over the chapter and what are they for

[37:00] I will say to the north give up and to the south keep not back I don't want to read into it what's not here but if we take the north as being cold rugged and hard they come from there you know oh yeah out of the world a dying thief the wickedest of the wicked the most and greatest terrors that can be called by grace as I was saying only a Sunday or two ago the lion shall lie down with the lamb there they are and the south roots thy people shall be my people thy

[38:16] God my God where thou goest I will go where thou diest I will die these are the witnesses they are made up of all sorts out there but what blessed witnesses they are they stand for Christ they fear not to defend his holy cause they are doyed in the extreme why because of the grace of God I will work although not half hearted on the other hand there are those who are the devil's witnesses you you see Simon Magus was uh uh baptized yes he deceived

[39:30] Philip and a good many others but he was a witness to the subtlety of the devil when he saw that they received the holy ghost he offered them money my money perish with thee says Peter there was the other side of her but these witnesses for Christ are for his glory that is what verse seven tells us I have created him for my glory I formed him this is the beauty of Paul's opening chapters to the Corinthians that God has taken the things that are not to bring to naught things that are the weak things of this world that no flesh should glory in his presence not even the

[40:48] Peters the James or the John no none of find any room to vote that I witness in love I will work now I haven't departed really have I from the other case Lord I will ordain peace for us for thou hast wrought all our works in us I will work none shall hinder me I will say to the north give up and the south keep not back now as much as you got them in your grip they shall be mine in that day when I make up my jewels so that there's no sinner beyond the power of the saving grace of

[42:04] Christ is there's no hole or den in which a man can hide if he be among this corner number how have you witnessed this in your soul what a true witness you will be how you can testify what you were once dead in sin you don't fear anyone coming along and saying but my dear friend you were mistaken you don't fear anyone saying to you but it's a delusion now you are fully authorized as a witness to say who has made you to differ and why you differ who called you out to be separate you know you're a witness thus to the unasked for sovereign power and greater good but don't go and lay yourself down to standard will you

[43:32] I've tried to give you the extreme whether it's Ruth the humble coming out whether it's Mary in a humble search for Jesus or whether it's the able Peter or James or John they're all witnesses and they're in the family that Paul speaks of not set yourself a standard the devil will be sure to have something to say to about