Isaiah

[0:00] As the Lord should be pleased to help me, I shall call your attention to a subject you will find in the book of Isaiah, chapter 41.

[0:20] And the tenth verse, Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God.

[0:35] I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

[0:49] Chapter 41, the book of Isaiah, and the tenth verse. This is a wonderful word for sinners born again to contemplate.

[1:06] And every sinner born again has a living interest therein. But you want that interest made known by he who is the author of the word of God.

[1:23] Preachers may take such a word for a text to preach a sermon upon it as grace is given, but you want in your soul's experience, the spirit itself bearish witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.

[1:45] Some of you who are born again, and yet hardly know that you are.

[1:56] Not possessing such clear-cut evidence as yet, as you will do, as you journey on. And God blesses you and helps you to participate in the favor that he does bear to his people.

[2:13] And now you, such a character, would look upon a word like this and feel, if I could only be sure I had an interest in it.

[2:25] I know that all indeed will be well with me as I journey on. But you want God to make it plain that you are the character, and that such a word is indeed addressed to you.

[2:47] And now, it is good that you should be exercised like that. And such an exercise does not proceed from what you are by nature.

[3:02] No. What you are by grace alone can be the subject of such an exercise. And Jesus Christ declares that you are already blessed.

[3:17] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be healed. And now, I want, as the Lord, to help me to look at this subject from three or four viewpoints of it, going through the text, as it were, in the sections of it.

[3:45] But the setting of the subject is very instructive, and it is often desirable to look at the picture as it is framed in the word of God itself.

[4:02] And you find the heading of the page is God's church is exhorted to trust in him. And now, not to take up too much time in looking at the setting of the subject, you will find that Isaiah, over a hundred years before it happened, is speaking, inspired of God to record what is written here, speaking about the return of the children of Israel from Babylonish captivity, and that God would raise up one in righteousness from the east, who was Cyrus, ordained of God to be a deliverer, and that he would level the mountains and overcome all difficulties, and overthrow kingdoms, and then would find it in his heart to proclaim to the Israel of God that they were welcome to return to the land of promise.

[5:20] And you find references to it, I will open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys.

[5:31] I will make the wilderness a pool of water and the dry land springs of water. This is the provision that God made in the long trek that it was from Babylonish captivity to be found again in the land of promise.

[5:49] And that provision was indeed made in the fullness of time. And there is also a challenge which God issues to all the little g-gods of silver and gold and wood and stone and whatever else they might be made of to show what they can do to prove that they are gods.

[6:21] And he reduces them to nothing and declares that their images are just wind and confusion and no help whatever to them that put their trust therein.

[6:39] And that brings us back to the heading God's church is exhorted to trust in him. And now when you think of what the word of God says the just shall live by faith.

[6:59] And now what does faith do? What is its characteristic? Its worth? I nearly said I will.

[7:10] Its function. What is it but to do this? Trust in him at all times. Ye people pour out your heart before him.

[7:23] God is a refuge for us. And now whatever your difficulties may be or your duties or life's responsibilities or life's responsibilities or the complications that may arise in your circumstances here is a word to encourage you at all times.

[7:46] Fear thou not for I am with thee. you are not to judge whether I am with thee by what you feel about it.

[7:59] I am with thee. The dear Saviour said to his disciples and that includes all disciples from that day to this Lord I am with thee I am with thee always even unto the end of the world fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God.

[8:29] Oh dear friends how much there is nowadays if you look around look around the world at large look around the land that you and I live in that causes us dismay as we view it and if you look within at what you are by nature as every day you journey on and more and more it seems to be opened up to you so that you have to realize from the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it but wounds and bruises putrefying sores you are dismayed but is there no balm in Gilead?

[9:21] Is there no physician there? Blessed be God there is balm there is a physician and his skill is infallible and he delighted in doing for sinners good Jesus is the wise physician skillful and exceeding kind through him sinners find remission and enjoy sweet peace of mine and now in looking in the context you find the needs be for this fear thou not there are two or three fear nots in the chapter where the text is found for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee fear not

[10:26] I will help thee you just read that and you might read it cursorily but it would do you good if you paused before God and pondered what an amazing declaration it is for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand saying unto thee fear not I will help thee and now that should allay whatever your fears may be and then it goes on fear not thou worm Jacob and ye men margin few men of Israel I will help thee saith the Lord and thy Redeemer the Holy

[11:27] One of Israel and so the character then interested in this fear thou not in our text is said to be worm Jacob the Holy Spirit condescends to use varied illustrations to impress the truth on those who desire to have a right a gracious understanding of it and while this refers to Israel as they were as a nation God refers to them as worm Jacob and ye few men of Israel the suggestion is that as a worm is a creature that is weak creeping lowly often often trodden on although you never should do it if you see a worm you should move it not tread on it

[12:39] I remember at school we were taught I would not place upon my list of friends though graced with polished manners and fine sense yet wanting sympathy the man that needlessly sets foot upon a worm and God has much to say about this worm Jacob his dear people Israel and they are just likened to a worm to bring home to them their helplessness as I have said and weakness and their lowliness and yet there is one thing about a worm that has always been very pleasing to me in the contemplation of it I am sure that you would find if it could be worked out in proportion that a worm is one of the strongest creatures found on the earth as regards the strength of its mouth you double dig and bring up the heavy clime and see it begin to break and the worms are there and they have got there by the strength of their mouth which

[14:05] God has given to them and now I've not just told you that it's a piece that is interesting to listen to for you know it at least you should do what is the strength of worm Jacob faith in Jesus can repel the dark of sin and death faith gives victory over hell who can give us faith worm Jacob is said here to be able to thresh mountains and beat them small and to make the hills as chock it just means what you sing about and what if you are to go to heaven you must reduce to practice wrestling prayer can wonders do bring relief in deepest stripes prayer can force a passage to iron bars brazen gates worm

[15:12] Jacob's strength is in his mouth it is behold he prayeth yes and the God of heaven declares before they call I will answer while they are yet speaking I will hear oh if you and I could only have more of the spirit of prayer and the grace of supplication we should soon have a gracious revival in our midst we should soon see better days in the church of Christ all around for that is the remedy yes and the alone remedy in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God and the peace of God which passeth all understanding to possess your hearts and minds through

[16:12] Christ Jesus so that this new sharp threshing instrument having teeth it says in the margin having a mouth but it was really how the corn was threshed as to the illustration used by the spirit of God how the corn was threshed in Isaiah's days when it was heaped up together and the oxen went round with a heavy sledge and underneath there were sharp flints that cut the straw to pieces and then it was flung up in the air with a wooden shovel as you read thou shalt fan them and the wind should carry them away and the whirlwind shall scatter them but the corn fell in a heap on the threshing floor while the chaff was blown to the winds and now let us look at this great subject then fear thou not what do you fear as you were here before

[17:17] God you were here in the attitude of worship many of you have worshipped God aright for many many years some of you dear young people by the grace of God are beginning to do so but as you come up to worship God you may have some specific concern in your soul's feelings wherein you need divine aid and you may have a fear in connection with it and you need a fear not and you need God to say fear thou not not just the whole congregation but to come to you not collectively but individually fear thou not do remember this Christ has blessings to impart grace to save thee from thy fears all the love that fills his heart sinner wipe away thy tears and now

[18:29] I say what is your fear it may be you fear as yet whether you do belong to these people who have God to be their God with whom it is well living and dying well if that is your fear surely you felt ever so glad to sing the opening hymn surely when you sang the concluding verse your heart went with what you sang about out of the abundance of the heart the mouth did speak and you said amen amen give me oh lord a place within thy blessed abode among the children of thy grace the servants of my God it is only what David said long long before remember me oh lord with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people or visit me poor hell deserving miserable undeserving me with thy salvation you want this fear thou not lodged to assure you that you do belong unto

[19:52] God and to the people of his choice the lord bless you fear thou not when e'er to call the saviour mine my soul with ardent wish aspires can it be less than power divine which animates these strong desires the word of God is very searching and solemn and if your help to come to the light regarding it you will find there is more help in God for you than you realize and now what I mean is this the word of God says that which is born of the flesh is flesh that which is born of the spirit is spirit and now what you feel in your soul's concern to be numbered with the people of God in time and eternity too is not what the flesh has suggested no no the carnal mind is enmity against

[21:00] God is not subject to the law of God and neither indeed can be it is because God has given to you a new heart a new spirit a new nature and therefore you have got an aching void within which the world cannot fill and you can say I hunger now for heavenly food and my poor soul cries out for God yes as the heart panteth after the water books so panteth my soul after thee O God and now think how you came along and think what you asked God to do for you as you came along or before and you ask God that he would be pleased to do something that in the worship of his holy majesty you might get some help by the way and that you might indeed participate in the favour that he bears unto his people and now that was the new nature in you and the new heart you can only have such feelings yes and such fears in a new heart a new nature you will not find a man in the street a world land who has got any fears whatever as to whether he is the subject of some religion that

[22:44] God is the author of he knows no such fears no you must be born again to realise these things and be the subject of them as fire ascending seeks the sun fear thou not you may say oh I have been following on to know the Lord quite a while now and I hope I have got some help some tokens some evidences that I treasure up some things that I look back upon wherein I desire to thank God and take courage but as yet I do not know the unutterable sweets of forgiveness of sins and now forgiveness of sins indeed in the experience of it is unutterable sweets it is indeed as those who have had the pleasure and privilege to realize it can tell it is the most wonderful event that can come into your life when you can appear as it were before

[24:03] Calvary's cross and behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world and realize to your soul's joy that when he died thereon he died for you when you get that wonderful feeling oh my Jesus thou art mine with all thy grace and power I am now and shall be thine when time shall be no more you say I wish I could have such a blessed experience it is attainable and who can tell but what God will be gracious unto you and what does this word say fear thou not regarding it Jesus blood through earth and skies mercy eternal mercy cries fear thou not through this man there is preached unto you forgiveness of sins and every sinner born again receives it sooner or later it may be

[25:14] I say this with great reverence it may be the great majority receive it later some not until they come down to die but none will ever miss it remember that he which hath begun the good work in you will finish it margin reading and that finish must inevitably be that one in whom the good work is begun will rejoice in the forgiveness of sins and at length come into that word thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty and see in him all thy salvation and all thy desire fear thou not and now you might have a fear especially if you are young in the way it may be you see that life journey is still ahead of you as to its afternoon and evening time and you see what the world is with all its chaos and confusion and you desire to live unto

[26:37] God but you are conscious of what you are by nature and when you look at those things which are against you the world opposing from without and unbelief within an attempting devil ever on the stretch to undo you as any opportunity is afforded to bring it about you have many fears and you remember the scripture the saviour let fall and he that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved and you have a fear oh shall I endure and God has taught you already what it is good to learn and never to forget the learning of it myself I cannot say myself I cannot keep but strength in thee

[27:38] I fain would have whose eyelids never sleep you see how are you to endure to the end you have got to learn as I have told you so many times lately to live a day at a time they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength and it means every moment be receiving strength and yet be always weak and Joseph Hart will help us and help you to understand this viewpoint of the subject about enduring ever on thy captain calling make thy worst condition known he shall hold thee up when falling or shall lift thee up when down fear thou not and now you may have a fear you do humbly hope you are indeed a seeking soul you are following on to know the

[28:45] Lord you have got comfort regarding that but then you think about some viewpoints of truth you think about the truth of electing love and the devil may suggest to you and how do you know that you belong to God's elect and sometimes when you are cast down and your evidence is seen be clouded you wonder if you do belong to God's elect and you wonder too how you may be sure that you do oh but there is a way to be sure whatever the word of God records can be brought about and fulfilled in our soul's experience and here is a word wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling in your election sure keep that word sure uppermost in your thoughts in your approaches unto

[29:58] God for you and I do want something in our soul's experience that is sure and now how is your election to be made sure when on the bough rich fruit we see it is then we cry a goodly tree is one viewpoint you must not think that it is possible for you to be taken up above the skies to behold your name recorded in the Lamb's book of life and thus be made sure no no how are you to be made sure when you look into the word of God and discern the characters whom God has declared to be the characters of his people when you can look at this character of that and find as in water face answers unto face so does the heart of man to man that will help you to be sure that you do belong to

[31:05] God's elect and that you are numbered with his dear people whatever your fears or faintings may be here is a word as the Bible is open before me the bruised read shall he not break and the smoking flax shall he not quench he shall bring forth judgment unto truth and then it says in this same book of Isaiah whole every one that thirst come ye to the waters and ye that have no money come ye by wine and milk without money and without price you see dear friends it does not say whole every one of you who is sure that you belong to God's elect nor does it read like this whole every one of you who was well at tiny eyes mount under the law at least for six months or twelve know know oh every one that thirsteth come ye to the water that is what the word of

[32:24] God declares and what did the saviour say in sweet confirmation of it if any man thirst he may fear whether he belongs to my elect but if any man thirst let him come unto me and drink this is the way dear friend walk ye in it thus you will have come into your souls experience hear thou not I like that word of the saviour to Nicodemus he that doeth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God and you and I must have some religion wrought in God to stand the test of time and eternity too but then that is what you were doing in your worship as you gather together before God it is your desire to come to the light what have you said in your petition sometimes bless spirit of

[33:34] Christ descend on us thus thy servant assist teach him to teach us you come to the light you want matters right between your soul and God and this fear not belongs to you fear thou not for I am with thee be not dismayed for I am thy God you say oh if I could only believe it regarding my own soul experience how glad I should be what are you to do wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart wait I say on the Lord and now leave in these fears and they are indeed as it were number less there are sixty odd fear not in the word of

[34:40] God and there must be sixty odd needs be for a fear not and many more as you journey on through life and you need a dust saith the Lord to enable that fear thou not to allow all your fears but this is the word of the Lord fear thou not and now it comes to this viewpoint of the subject for I am with thee the presence of God and oh how desirable that is there are some scriptures you look at and maybe you do with longing eyes the Lord of horse is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge think of Moses that dear man of God when he was instituted as

[35:40] Israel's leader if thy presence go not with us carry us not of hands and what do you sing sometimes and you know some of you sing it feelingly you are glad when the hymn is given out to be sold not all the good earth can afford is equal to thy presence Lord our fainting hearts to cheer abide with us Lord with us dwell then come what will it shall be well it is well if thou art near you see oh but do you see it I said you see and you think whether you do see it God designs that you shall live a life of faith independence upon him day by day hence you read in Solomon's song who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness leaning upon her beloved and leaning moves along and that is how the presence of God is often known and felt by his people in life's pilgrimage it does not mean that you are always full of happiness in the possession of it sometimes you have a fear as to whether the Lord is with you in the complications which arise as you journey on through life and yet underneath it all this word remains a reality the eternal

[37:24] God is thy refuge and underneath thee are the everlasting arms fear thou not for I am with thee you see dear friends sometimes it is learned like this though dark be my way since he is my guide tis mine to obey and his to provide oh dear friends that word obey you and I pastor and people all of us who hope in God must all plead guilty here this question of obeying you need much grace to obey if God should say this is the way walk ye in it there is that inside you that will question it and wonder if it could be altered a little re-arranged yes but when you feel like that it is always that it might be eased for the flesh remember that not the spirit nor the spirit within you what you are by the grace of

[38:42] God will say choose thou the way and still lead on now leave me till I say father thy will be done fear thou not for I am with thee how may you know the presence of God is with you and oh that you might be helped to weigh matters up before God with whom you have to do and now one sign which is a very desirable sign the presence of God is wonderfully I nearly said awfully A W E awfully solemn and it helps you to feel that you are just a poor sinner with a never dying soul a creature of clay and when you come to have to do with

[39:48] God then you feel like Abraham behold I have taken upon myself to speak unto the Lord who am but dust and ashes oh the presence of God is awfully solemn and it can make any place where the presence of God is known and felt to be the gate of heaven the house of God yes it is what you should be looking for every time you come up to worship without the presence of God worship is cold and formal and poor sinners get no good for their souls but when the presence of God is realized then there is that sweet feeling Lord it is good for us to be here solemn yes yes and the presence of

[40:53] God is not only a solemn night in principle it is a very separating one oh you know in your I'm not putting any caps on in your ordinary everyday life as you live it there may be some things that you do which you think are lawful to do but if you should arise in the morn and you have got quietness within the realisation that the presence of God is with you in the way that you go you will not want to lose that sweet feeling and you will find you are on the alert not to have anything to do with anything whatever that might rob you of it whereas if you arose in the morn without that feeling you might dabble with this and that with television and the radio and things like that but you will not be turning on television or the radio if you have got the presence of

[42:00] God known and felt in your soul you will want to rejoice in it and hope that you may retain the sweet blessed experience as long as God shall communicate it to you yes the presence of God it is a beautiful a blessed experience fear thou not for I am with thee you see sometimes you wonder if it can be that God whom you think carries on all the vast business of the universe his eye runs to and fro throughout the whole earth to behold not only what the wicked are doing and to undo it and overturn it but he beholds every one of his people the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him and them that hope in his mercy to preserve them from death and keep them alive in time of famine and his eye is upon each one individually so that he says when need arises fear thou not for

[43:18] I am with thee yes another sign of the presence of God being with you not only in its separating influence but you feel then the presence of God to be a sanctifying influence and the hymn writer says this and that is just there you will feel may I be always thus devout be this religion mine you say oh if I could only live like this to the end of my day and then be gathered where God is and dwell forever in his love that is how you feel you you want to be set apart for God and you feel this prayer and this ambition mine living and dying to be dying fear thou not for

[44:20] I am with thee and now another sign that the presence of God is with you you will find coming into your heart a sweet gracious holy humbling under the mighty hand of God in his dealings and you will not question them you will say it is the Lord enthroned in life whose claims are all divine who has an undisputed right to govern me and mine you will say I have said it once or twice I hope thou art our potter and we are the clad shall not the judge of all the earth do right I know oh Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou hast in faithfulness afflicted me thus you see the sweet sanctifying influence of the presence of

[45:28] God and it means this that for the time while you have that sweet experience in the enjoyment of it the things of God will be wonderfully attracted to you will you be looking through the newspaper turning it over page after page or looking at the television or the radio no no you will want to get aside in quietness before God you will want to look into the word of God turn over the sacred pages and you will be helped to do it then and you will say I rejoice in thy word as one that findeth great spoil you find when the presence of God is with you the things of God are uppermost and they are to you meat and drink to your soul and you can say oh Lord by men live and in all these things is the life of my spirit fear thou not for

[46:37] I am with thee oh that this may be our uppermost concern journeying on through life to feel the Lord of hosts is with us the God of Jacob is our refuge amen amen