Series: Isaiah
Title: Fear Not
Text: Isaiah 43: 1
Date: September 18, 2011
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
We live in a world under the fierce anger of God’s judgment—particularly this nation. Just as God poured out the fury of his anger upon the political nation of Israel—setting it on fire, burning it round about—so God is pouring out the fury of his anger in judgment upon our nation. And just as the inhabitants of that political nation regarded it not—so it is in our day (Isaiah 42: 25.)
Does this current day make you fearful my brethren? How easily we do become fearful! For just a moment, put everything else out of our minds. Leave the outside, outside. Hear the word of God.
Isaiah 43: 1: But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:
He is God of all creation but here he speaks of those who he has created anew in regeneration.
Ephesians 4:24:…the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
This is the word to God’s church made up of weak and powerless sinners—just Jacobs—but who are God’s Jacobs. His elect Israel gathered together in Christ by his Spirit from the four corners of the earth—whom he has created and formed in regeneration. (read verse again)
Title: Fear Not
Divisions (last half of verse 1): 1: for I have redeemed thee, 2: I have called thee by thy name; 3: thou art mine.
You who have been born of the Spirit of God, made a new creation, so that you trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone to present you to God—God says to you, brethren
I. FEAR NOT—FOR I HAVE REDEEMED THEE
We have every reason to be fearful in ourselves—for in our flesh we are but dust. We sold ourselves into the slavery of sin. We have nothing with which to pay all the debt we owe
Note: Any who are not trusting the Lord alone has great reason to fear—you will meet God in a moment—Christ is the only way to enter into God’s presence. Repent and believe on Christ.
Illustration: Christ Jesus is the near Kinsmen—Ruth and Boaz
Galatians 3: 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
II. FEAR NOT—I HAVE CALLED THEE BY THY NAME
Illustration: When your children were born, you men gave them your name. As long as my name is on them, what they do will either glorify my name or shame my name.
God has called—given—all his children his name!
Isaiah 42: 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.
We find God giving Abraham and Jacob new names.
Genesis 17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
The name of our God is “a father of many nations.” God gave his name to Abraham.
Genesis 32:27: And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29: And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
He just told Jacob the Lord’s name when he named Jacob—Israel—the Lord’s name is “A Prince who hast power with God and hast prevailed.” He gave that name to Jacob. He says hear to you who believe, o Israel.
Christ Jesus our Solomon says, “…this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.” (1Ki 8:43 AV)
God shall save the children of his house for his name’s sake.
If God left salvation in our hands we would shame his name—he left natural Israel to themselves to show us that (Read Isaiah 42: 23-24). But God will save for his name’s sake.
Ezekiel 20: 41 I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. 42 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. 43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. 44 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name‘s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
Isaiah 48: 9: For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off…11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another. 12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
III. FEAR NOT—THOU ART MINE
There was a price demanded—the soul that sinneth must die. He paid the price—he gave himself a ransom for many. He says now of you in whom he dwells, “Thou art mine”--his personally “purchased possession.”
Ephesians 1: 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
1 Corinthians 6: 19: What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Application: Let’s go home hearing the word of the Lord this morning.
Isaiah 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.
Illustration: The floods that came recently washed away everything that could be washed away. The waters of affliction, of trial, is washing away the filth of children, but it will not overflow THEE—the real “THEE”—that which he has created. The fire will burn and consume the dross—but it shall not kindle upon you—the real YOU. In the midst of all the LORD is doing in this earth he is teaching us to trust him. He shall bring it to pass. How do we know?
Isaiah 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. 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. 5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; 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; 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.
His witnesses are, in themselves, helpless, worthless, dogs…Like Gideon’s army we have no power to fight, Like Israel we are the least of all the nations. But the Lord’s witnesses stand still at the Red Sea and behold his salvation. At the swelling of the Jordan his witnesses stand still and look to the ark, He makes the way for them to cross on dry land—that Ark and that Way is Christ!
His word to his child is: Fear not—for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine!
Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token
There is one greater than my heart
Whose word cannot be broken
M. Luther
Oh hear his word this morning: Fear not—for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine!
AMEN!