Upheld by God's right hand (Very good)

[0:00] Seeking the help of the Lord, the grace of dependence upon him, we venture this evening to the word you will find in Isaiah chapter 41, reading from the 10th verse.

[0:30] Isaiah 41, verse 10. Fear thou not, for I am with thee.

[0:49] Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee.

[1:02] Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee. With the right hand of my righteousness.

[1:17] I will uphold thee. With the right hand of my righteousness.

[1:31] We tried and ventured to speak a little this morning of the petition of the psalmist, as recorded in the 119th psalm.

[2:01] Hold thou me up. And I shall be safe. The breathings of one who felt insecure.

[2:17] The breathings of one who felt his weakness and proneness to sin and temptation.

[2:37] The cry of one that feeling insecure was far from feeling to be in a place of safety.

[2:55] It may be.

[3:25] The Lord have to make such petitions yet again unto the God, the Lord God of Israel.

[3:38] Hold thou me up. And I shall be safe. Lord, Lord, we have before us, in what is so often termed the gospel of the Old Testament, in the prophecy of Isaiah, much encouragement, and particular encouragement here, to these that are weak and weary, who fear much, tremble much, and often feel dismayed, as they consider that which must be undertaken even ere long.

[4:35] Fear not. Fear not. Fear thou not. Fear thou not. For I am with thee. Hold thou me up.

[4:46] And I shall be saved. Fear thou not. For I am with thee.

[4:57] Be not dismayed. For I am thy God. I am. What blessed certainty here is recorded.

[5:11] I am the great and terrible God, who lureth in the heavens above and upon the earth beneath, terrible in his judgments, terrible indeed in his wrath against sin, but oh, so abundant in mercy, so full of compassion, to those who, by his grace through the spirit's operation within, are brought to trust in the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

[5:56] Fear thou not. For I am with thee. Be not dismayed. For I am thy God.

[6:09] Canst thou do anything profitable without him?

[6:25] Without me ye can do nothing. It is the word of scripture. The word of the Lord Jesus Christ unto his disciples, his followers.

[6:42] God is not. The word of the Lord. Without me. Without me. Ye can do nothing. The secret of blessing in Zion is that abiding in Christ.

[6:59] That dependence upon his righteousness and his atonement for sin. There lieth the safety of a believer.

[7:16] We speak a little this morning concerning they that being whole in and of themselves need no physician. We venture to speak a little of those who feel the sickness of the malady of sin, the leprosy of the soul, who hunger and thirst after righteousness, who realizing their weakness, the wounds that sin has made, the festering sores of sin, the balm of Gilead.

[7:55] They seek the balm of Gilead. Is there no balm in Gilead? Was the question raised? Oh, there is balm.

[8:06] Precious ointment. Soothing ointment. Oh, precious words of gracious encouragement contained in the Gospels.

[8:19] But this we must maintain. What comfort can the Gospel bring to those that have never felt their well?

[8:32] Never stand in need of those fear nots of God's holy word. Tis these, having knowledge they can do nothing, for they must, without his upholding grace, are enabled from time to time to say, by faith, I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.

[9:05] And you know this path of dependence. Dependence upon him for all needed help, all needed grace, all needed faith in that path which he has appointed for you.

[9:32] Now we have in the portion of the morning, the cry. Contained in that petition, there is that expression of confidence in he whom whose help they seek.

[9:55] And the Apostle Paul, writing to the early church, bids them, cast not away your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

[10:10] Encourage him with the words to be spoken unto Joshua. Encourage him.

[10:21] Many disappointments, many distresses. Oh, beset the path of those that fear God. And yet they prove by these things men live.

[10:33] And in all these things is the life of my spirit. Now saith the Lord, in answer to the cry, that one seeking for upholding grace.

[10:49] Oh, we have here a compassionate God who knoweth, who knoweth the feelings of that quickened soul.

[11:01] Who goeth, as it were, right to the very core of the trouble. And speaks the word as only he can. That is, needful in those spots and places where in such fear, stand in fear of falling.

[11:23] So insecure. So insecure. So weak. So wretched. So undone. Against those powers that come against them.

[11:37] We have then this evening, oh, this precious word. Oh, I trust the Lord will enable us just to say a few things. Which may, under the spirit's blessing, be used to the encouragement of these who, I say again, at the evening hour.

[11:59] Wearied with the journey. Burdened continually with afflictions pathway. Who say, hold thou me up.

[12:10] What saith the Lord? He goeth, as it were, right to the spot. Friends, the good physician. He knoweth those disorders. He knoweth what is needful.

[12:22] What is necessary for their support. Fear thou not. For I am with thee. Be not dismayed.

[12:34] For I am thy God. There is that which surrounds the word. Which speaks of the vanity of idol worship.

[12:49] Which speaks of the uncertainty of all other but the true and living God.

[13:02] But, O, one says, my hope is built on nothing less. Sure foundation. Nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.

[13:13] Now, why sayest thou, O Jacob? Why speakest thou so? Infirmities increase. The day is far spent.

[13:27] Might speak of it as the natural day. We might speak of it as concerning life's journey.

[13:38] The day is far spent. Now, why sayest thou, O Jacob, my way is hid from the Lord? Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard?

[13:49] That the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth, he fainteth not, neither is weary. There is no searching of his understanding.

[14:05] The youths, the hymn spake this morning of that youthful vigor. O the youths, they shall faint and be weary.

[14:16] Youthful vigor is indeed to be prized. It is indeed a blessing from the Lord.

[14:30] But, O, how we prove spiritually that there is that wrought of God's spirit as we continue.

[14:43] O, that which bringeth us to that place of dependence more and more upon our God. He giveth power to the faint.

[14:56] O bless God for it. He giveth power to the faint. And to them that have no might. He increases strength.

[15:09] Yea, even those youths, which might be expected, youthful vigor, they shall faint. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

[15:20] They shall rise up as upon eagles' wings. Fear thou not. Worm Jacob. I will help thee. I will help thee.

[15:32] O so saith the word of God. And ye men of Israel, I will help thee, saith the Lord. And thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

[15:44] Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I feel I must come. Or perhaps it is appointed that we shall come, even to the last clause, more particularly, of this most precious, soul-encouraging, cheering portion of Holy Red.

[16:04] Exceeding great and precious promises. Yea and amen in Christ Jesus.

[16:17] Spoken by he who never faileth. Never faileth. Whose end is to bring his people unto that desired haven of everlasting rest.

[16:34] Now, amidst those fears. Friends, they are real fears. They're pressing fears. Oh, they're not counterfeit.

[16:47] And they're not crocodile tears. These are fears which rise in the hearts of believers. We would not encourage them, God forbid.

[16:59] But we would speak to the encouragement of those that are pressed sore as the Lord's hand rests upon them with such weight and pressure.

[17:11] We would speak to such and cause them as the Spirit may reveal it unto them that there is hope. He who came from the right, who came from the heights of glory, took upon himself a body like our own, yet without sin.

[17:34] He who he saith, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Uphold thee.

[17:47] He putteth, oh, can we express it in all simplicity. He putteth his hand in thine and causeth thee to rise and having risen supporting thee in thy weakness as that weight is laid upon him.

[18:23] He upholds thee and that with the right hand of his righteousness.

[18:36] We have a gospel to proclaim. the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

[18:49] A gospel that is applied by God's Holy Spirit to the poor and needy in Zion.

[19:03] The heart's prepared, weakened in the way, I will uphold thee. And is this, oh, is this, how can I put it?

[19:22] Oh, is this the answer to thy fears? Can faith lay hold upon the word? We're not to pluck all from scripture any portion and ascribe it unto ourselves unthinkingly.

[19:39] The truth is there. Oh, blessed be God, we worship, we worship a true and living God who ever liveth to help and to succor those that are his.

[19:56] the truth is there but the application of it, friends, have you been brought into this place? Dumb under, as it were, his judgments.

[20:10] Oh, silent under those righteous judgments. You open not your mouth. You cannot so do before the Lord.

[20:20] but oh, the cry of the heart, uphold me. Let me not fall. Oh, let me not fall. Keep me in as the apple of the eye, that most, that part of the body, most protected of any.

[20:43] Oh, keep me as the apple of the eye. Uphold me. With thy free spirit, yea, saith the Lord, yea, thou shalt not be forgotten of me, thou shalt not.

[21:04] I believe I just hinted this morning it came. Perhaps I didn't enlarge, I know not. But there are those words found in Peter's epistle, casting all your care upon him, friends, all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

[21:33] Precious words. Casting all your care. How can you do so? I venture to say it is by the spirits working within, leaning, leaning upon thy beloved.

[21:56] Allured, allured up out of the wilderness, from those barren places, dry and barren places. I hope now, I hope now, is in thy God.

[22:13] Allured, I will allure her and bring her forth out of the wilderness. For some reason, my mind goes to that call of Abraham's servant to seek out a wife for Isaac, his son.

[22:41] you know how he made that matter, a matter of prayer before the Lord. How the Lord wonderfully answered those petitions.

[22:56] He was held up under that solemn responsibility. His master had sent this, the trusted servant, to go even into that other land.

[23:11] on this errand to seek out that one for a wife, for Isaac.

[23:24] And I, said he, being in the way, the Lord met with me, upheld in prayer. Friends, do you know a little of this?

[23:35] Waiting upon the Lord, venturing him, or to make known those petitions unto him. It may be even as with Gideon, a fleece wet, a fleece dry.

[23:51] Those signs, those tokens sought, and some of us, of us, have had to go even further, in our felt sense of need, that need to be upheld and supported, in the solemn steps to be taken, have had to cry, be not angry with me, O Lord, yet once again, grant me, O grant me, yet the further token of thy support.

[24:19] Till the word came, what more can he say, than to you he has said, you who unto Jesus for refuge have fled, being in the way.

[24:33] The Lord met with him, upheld in prayer, and all the wonder the answers to those prayers, as he beheld that working out of God's mercy and grace, the answer to those petitions.

[24:52] Friends, it is mercy, the free favour of God, leading us all in this path, waiting upon the Lord. Their hope is centred, centred in fear not, fear not, I am with thee, I will uphold thee, with the right hand of my righteousness.

[25:18] He waited to watch to see, how the matter should fall out, what success should attend his errand.

[25:30] The thought that directed one to the portion as we spake before you was this, oh, the question raised, wilt thou go with this man?

[25:42] Wilt thou go with this man? man? Oh, think of it, what does it indicate?

[25:55] Wilt thou go with this man? Give thyself unto this man? Art thou willing, made willing? Oh, wilt thou go?

[26:08] uphold me with the right hand of thy righteousness? Friends, I trust, I speak not a mess, but I feel, oh, there's something here, oh, something in that deep that couches beneath.

[26:29] Wilt thou go with this man? and said, oh, said, the dear woman, I will go. Uphold me, dependent upon his grace.

[26:45] Responsibilities in Zion, responsibilities in providence it may be, I know not. The cry, oh, the cry of the morning hour, hold up, hold me, hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.

[27:09] Hold up my goings in thy paths that my footsteps slip not. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.

[27:21] Word of God's grace, I will uphold thee. I will uphold thee. by the right hand of my righteousness.

[27:34] Fear not. Fear not. Christ and his bride, his spouse, his church are one.

[27:50] and can the head of the body be immune from the pains of the members of that body.

[28:10] It cannot be so. the head feels in every pain and distress that affects any members of the body.

[28:32] And so, in that spiritual way, that which is felt by the church of Christ as members of his mystical body is felt by their living head.

[28:58] And he speaks. And he speaks to thee, O poor sinner, dismayed, distressed, cast down, burdened.

[29:12] O, how shall I stand, one says, the trying hour? Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. Fear not.

[29:24] Upon what foundation is the word laid? the foundation is the word of God that never faileth.

[29:37] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away, fear thou not. For I am with thee, my presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

[29:57] Through life's journey, down to those swellings of Jordan, through those waters, the river shall not overflow thee.

[30:11] Be still, and know that I am God, I am with thee. I am with thee, Israel, passing through these fires.

[30:25] Be not dismayed, or give not over to unbelief. Gracious in course, and oh, what a foundation I am.

[30:36] Friends, what more can he say? I say, what more can he say? Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee, and will not cast thee away.

[30:50] Thou art mine, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine, fear thou not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God.

[31:08] Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? Merely thinking it was the gardener that addressed her responded, Sir, if thou hast taken him away, oh, tell me where thou hast laid him.

[31:34] They've taken away, my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. Woman, why weepest thou? Ready to faint, to Satan tempt thee to give up and call no more on Jesus' name.

[31:57] Look to Jesus, oh, look to him. Mary, said he, oh, needed but the one word.

[32:08] What strength it imparted, what support it gave her. oh, how she now rose in her felt sense of need and expressed her belief.

[32:24] Rabboni, which is to say, Master, fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God.

[32:38] I will strengthen thee. I will strengthen thee. The word of God, the promises applied, the comforts given, they are strengthening to the Israel of God, supporting in trial, in the deepest trials.

[32:59] Oh, you sung this morning the something secret, the something secret, sweet and all, tis the word of God, tis the presence of thy God, a little glimpse here, a little help there, a little strength imparted there.

[33:16] I will help thee, I will help thee, yea, and above all, I will uphold thee, keep preserve thee, in the day of temptation, in the day of affliction, in those dire troubles that beset thy soul.

[33:36] I'm near thee, ever nigh unto thee, a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, I am with thee, and I will uphold thee, the shells and wills of Jehovah, they cannot be disallowed, I will uphold thee, and how so, with the right hand, the right hand, which is that which is considered to be strength of the body, the right hand of my righteousness.

[34:12] We see the Father here speaking, behold the Father, behold the Son, see, of the Holy Spirit, all concerned in the salvation of sinners.

[34:23] I will uphold thee, saith the Father, with the right hand, I see, oh, I see, of the Lord Jesus Christ, the right hand, this could be said, and can be said, the right hand of my righteousness.

[34:43] Christ is made unto us righteousness, I will uphold thee, the foundation is sure, it is Christ's person, it is his work, and he will never fail.

[34:59] His arm will never grow weary, no, he ne'er sleepeth, he ne'er slumbereth, nor sleepeth, his eye is ever upon the righteous, and his ear is open unto their cry, and he quickly sends salvation down, I will uphold thee, with the right hand of my righteousness, say ye unto the daughter of Jerusalem, thy salvation cometh.

[35:38] As the testimony of the gospel, I will uphold thee, saith the Lord, I will strengthen thee, I will be with thee, yea, in six troubles, seven troubles, eight troubles, whatever the trouble be, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, once in covenant grace.

[36:01] The purposes of Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, from all eternity, bound up in that covenant of love, shall he not see of the travel of his soul, and be satisfied, I will uphold thee.

[36:21] Oh, can it ever be that one that is trusted by God's grace in the mercy of their God, shall be left finally to fall?

[36:34] Oh, what would the heathen say? And how would the adversary rejoice? But, friends, it cannot be once in him covenant love, though thy house be not so with God, yet he hath made with thee an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.

[36:57] 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.

[37:16] With the right hand of my righteousness. May the Lord grant the sweet comforts of his word. Oh, may his presence be known and felt in afflictions pathway.

[37:31] May his support be known in those times when the heart knife fails for fear, when the feet tremble, when the knees are felt to be so feeble.

[37:45] Oh, may the Lord grant the sweet persuasion of his spirit, in the application of this precious word. I will uphold thee, yea, through life's journey, through all the perplexities and intricacies of the path.

[38:03] I will uphold thee, be with thee, be with thee in the waters, be with thee in the fires. The waters shall not overflow thee, the fires shall not consume thee, I will be with thee, thou art mine.

[38:20] Amen. Our closing hymn is number 622, tuned by Ata, 428.

[38:52] Poor fearful saint, be not dismayed, nor dread the dangers of the night. Thy God will ever be thy aid, and put the hosts of hell to flight.

[39:05] Not sin, nor Satan cannot come, the arm that vindicates thy cause, God, thy own God, will lead thee home, in spite of all that may oppose.

[39:19] 622. 622. God amazing h harm God I am the king of the king.

[40:13] I am the king of the king of the king.

[40:25] I am the king of the king.

[40:39] I am the king of the king. I am the king of the king.

[40:56] I am the king of the king. I am the king of the king of the king.

[41:07] Amen. Amen.

[42:07] Amen. Amen.

[43:07] Amen. Amen.

[43:38] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. And the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us each.

[43:49] Amen.