The Savior

The Gospel Is For All the World

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Gentiles Receive the Gospel

Book of Acts Chapters 10 and 11

We know that it was the Apostle Paul who was the Apostle to the Gentile world but before Paul, it was the Apostle Peter who first took the “Gospel” to the Gentiles.

God knew that Peter would have to be convinced that the Gospel was also written to the Gentiles, which means to all the world and not just to the Jews.

The Jews would have kept the Word of God to themselves if they could have.

This is known as discrimination. Everywhere we go we find that people are different.

People differ in beliefs, religion, speech, looks, color, behavior, status, and many other ways.

This has been true since the time of Cain and Abel.

In our nation today all these things are brought together in one word, racism.

There is only “one race”, and it is the “human race” and we are all full of flaws.

In our lesson today we find that God treats everyone the same and He encourages the Church to treat everyone the same.

We all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross!

The Jews had their own laws and customs and they looked upon Gentiles with suspicion.

We should keep in mind that the Jewish people have always been mistreated, enslaved, and persecuted more than any other people upon this earth.

They had been conquered by army, after army, after army and by the millions they had been removed from their nation and scattered all over the world.

Their religion is what has kept them together all these years and their belief in the One true God.

They opposed anyone who threatened or attempted to break their laws of religion or the laws of their nation.

Instead of proclaiming God to the world, the Jews claimed God was the God of the Jews and to no one else.

All gentiles were called dogs.

A gentile could have no dealings with the Jews until they were ritually cleansed.

They would never help a Gentile to give birth for the fear that another Gentile would be born into this world.

The Jews were too stubborn to change their ways, but God was not going to allow Christianity to follow that same path.

If God could convince Peter, then all the Apostles could be convinced of this truth.

God will not allow prejudice any room in Christianity!

God had convinced Peter of all these things the day before Peter had gone to visit Cornelius, a Roman Centurion.

*Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
Act 10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

It was the Apostle Peter who first preached to the Gentiles the means of salvation to all people.

God does not show partiality or favoritism to any person because of looks, position, or circumstances.

God has no favorites in the Church! We may think so, but the fact is God looks upon all His saved children exactly the same!

God will never discriminate between His children!

Appearance, or position, abilities, works, health, or stature do not make any person acceptable to God!

God has always said these things even throughout the Old Testament but hardly anyone paid attention to Him.

Deu 10:17 For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:
Deu 10:18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

2Ch 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

And God does not ever change in the New Testament:

Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

God simply does not play favorites!

God’s love is in equal portions to all!

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.

There are two things that grab God’s attention:

1) Fearing God.

This fearing of God is a reverent fear of God along with an absolute fear of God.

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

2) Working righteousness according to the Word of God. (To be right and to do right).

Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

We cannot just stress righteousness but we must also do righteousness.

We cannot just believe but we must be a doer of the Word.

We must walk the talk as some would say.

There are so many who claim to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and acceptable to God, but they neglect obeying God and serving Him.

Loose living allows one to go out and do pretty much as he desires. He may feel secure and comfortable in his faith. He knows that what he does may affect his fellowship with God, but he also does not think it affects his salvation.

In reality this is false righteousness! It is self-righteousness or legalism.

There is no such thing as righteousness without living righteously!

We must obey the law of love and acceptance! God loves us and accepts us not because we do good but because we love and trusts the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

We have no righteousness in ourselves.

There are no laws that can keep us righteous and we certainly cannot judge the actions of others to try to be as righteous as they are.

Our goal is to be like the Lord Jesus Christ!

We cannot be acceptable to God without being made righteous in the Lord Jesus Christ!

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

*Act 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)
Act 10:37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

It is true that God sent His Word through Israel.

The Word of God is very clear that a Savor, the Messiah would arise out of the Jewish nation and from that point the knowledge of Christ the Savior should spread to all nations under Heaven.

Joh 4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
Joh 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Israel was the first nation to receive the Word of God:

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Rom 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Rom 9:4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Rom 9:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

None of these things can be denied.

God sent the New Testament by the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s very own Son.

These things being true, the Word of God was not meant for Israel alone.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come just for Israel’s salvation!

God is no respecter of persons.

God accepts people from every nation.

The Lord Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

There is almost no one today who can truthfully say they have never heard some part of the Word of God!

The world still pays no attention to what God says.

Today people will tell you that the Word of God is not relevant to the world of today.

In America many say the same thing about our Constitution and the Word of God is much more important than our Constitution.

The “Gospel” of Jesus Christ has been published around the world today, it is just ignored by most of the world.

Jesus began preaching the Word of God in Galilee just after John was imprisoned.

Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Jesus then preached the Word of God in every city and village.

Luk 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

There are no excuses for rejecting the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ!

There is no excuse for ending up in Hell at your death.

The ignorance of the Lord Jesus Christ will put you in Hell!

*Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Jesus Christ is the Anointed One of God, the Messiah, God’s Anointed Savior!

The word Christ in Greek and the Hebrew Messiah denote the Lord Jesus as the “Anointed One” of God.

Jesus was anointed with God the Holy Spirit but he was anointed in a way that no other person has ever been anointed.

The Holy Spirit was given without measure to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
Joh 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
Joh 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

What did Jesus say?

Luk 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luk 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit so that He could go about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil.

What are some the things the Devil will oppress us with?

Evil spirits and demons, lying and deception, bitterness and hatred, killings and wars, selfishness and greed, immorality and lust, power over death and many other things.

When we receive the Holy Spirit, the devil will have lost any and all power over us!

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.

This part of the “Good News” we can witness to others about.

There is proof that the Lord Jesus did all these things.

The disciples were with the Lord for about three years and were eyewitnesses of all these things.

The Lord Jesus did not come to debate the Word of God!

The Word of God stands as the absolute truth for this world!

The Lord Jesus may no longer be upon this earth in body, but He is still working in lives today. Still delivering from the oppression of the Devil.

The Scripture speaks of at least four anointings:

1) The anointing of respect or of hospitality.

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2) The anointing for service:

Exo 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

3) The anointing for medical purposes.

Luk 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

4) The anointing of God’s Son. (Our Scripture)

Act 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Many of the disciples of Jesus Christ were also witnesses to His death!

Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Act 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Act 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

But God raised Him up from the dead.

*Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

There was no doubt that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was done in such a way that showed He had victory over Death, over Hell, and over the Grave.

The Lord Jesus appeared to a selected group of witnesses.

1) God showed Jesus openly. He was visibly, openly, and publicly seen as the Risen Lord.

2) The Lord Jesus appeared to chosen witnesses who were chosen for a reason.

3) Certain witnesses did eat and drink with Him after He arose from the dead.

Peter tried to stress that the person we know as Jesus, did die, and did raise from the dead and did have fellowship with His disciples.

Peter tried to emphasize that he and the other disciples, men and women were as closely associated with Jesus as people can be. These were all true, verifiable witnesses.

Peter emphasized that the Lord Jesus Christ actually died and actually rose from the dead and he was certain of it!

The person that rose from the dead was the same person that died. He was the same Jesus that they knew before He died!

His body was a real body, not as a ghost, but a body that could only be described as “glorified”.

He was real. He could eat, drink, speak, and do all things that people do, but He could do all sort of Heavenly things also.

The same body that was buried was the same body that was resurrected!

This same Lord Jesus who they had traveled with also repeated some the same commands He had already given to them.

*Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

Peter said we had all get it very clear, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Judge of the living and the dead of all nations and all peoples.

He will judge the Jew and the Greek and all other nationalities and He is no respecter of persons!

He is ordained of the same God that the Jews had worshiped all these years beginning with Abraham.

Jesus Christ is the One and Only Judge of all people no matter who they are or where they are, alive or dead.

He and He alone will judge all their works from the day they were born to the day they die within His creation.

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

All the prophets of the Old Testament when they spoke of the Messiah, they were speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ.

*Act 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

The Bible from the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation tells the story of God’s Messiah, our Savior.

Peter had been convincing of this truth.

Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

It is the believing in all these truths that He allows the forgiveness of sins.

There is no other way to be forgiven by our Heavenly Father!

So, what are the results when people hear and understand the truth of God?

*Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Without the Holy Ghost we cannot be “Born Again”.

Without the Holy Spirit we will have no power against the Devil.

Without the truth of the Word of God we will remain lost in a dying world.

1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

While Peter was still preaching, faith entered into these Gentiles and they were gloriously saved.

Hearing the Word of God is a requirement before the Holy Spirit will enter into the soul of any human.

Our “Faith” must be based upon the truth. Not just any truth but the truth of God!

Jehovah God caused the Holy Spirit to fall upon these Gentiles because they had become believers.

No man not even Peter had anything to do with God pouring out His Spirit upon these believers.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is an act of God!

They received the Holy Spirit because they received the truth of Jesus Christ and believed.

The Jewish believers who were present with Peter were astonished. They had been taught since childhood that the Holy Spirit was available to only the Jews.

They in their teachings had developed a hatred for the Gentiles.

The signs they saw were identical to what the Jews had seen on that day of Pentecost and could not be denied.

We know that speaking tongues was them speaking in a language they could not have known, probably the Jewish language as these were Greek speaking Gentiles with some knowing Latin.

This called the “baptizing of the Holy Spirit.

Note: Even today the Jews are always seeking some sign that what God does is true. Their faith has always been lacking.

*Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

Tongues is simply another word for languages.

The words of Jesus:

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

*Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Peter then challenged those Jewish believers to see if they would deny water baptism.

There could be no question that these Gentiles were just as saved as those Jewish believers.

God will never teach a lie!

The door to the Gentile world was now opened.

It seems it was the Jewish believers who baptized these Gentile believers.

They all believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and they all became part of the Church, the Bride of Christ.

They were all baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father God said:

Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

God the Son said:

Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

The Holy Spirit directed all these things to be written down so we would all have the truth!

Amen

The Savior of Israel

/ Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

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!