Friends & Family Sunday

Strengthened with God's Protection

Is 43:1-4

When I was growing up, we used to sing an old hymn titled, Leaning On The Everlasting Arms; The last verse of which went like this . . .What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

And the chorus – Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms. Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

It’s a great hymn; That expresses great truths; And great reminders of how we should be and think, and act – for sure; Nobody would argue with that. But here’s the thing – it’s easier said than done, isn’t it? It is*****

Leaning on the everlasting arms of God, the grace of God, the love of God, the sovereignty of God – is easier said than done.

Especially when you’re in the thick of it; Especially when skies are bleak, Especially when death, or destruction, or sickness, or betrayal plague your soul. Or how about stress, or opposition, or poverty, or fightings within and fears without, or loneliness, or abandonment settle in? Trusting God and leaning on his everlasting arms isn’t so easy when darkness seems to his face.

Which is why passages like this are food for our soul and fuel for life. B/c it reminds us of the goodness and graciousness of God, even in the midst of hard times; Let me illustrate to you what I mean…

Imagine a construction worker stepping onto a busy job site. Before they even pick up a tool, what do they do? They put on their hard hat, steel-toed boots, safety glasses, and high-visibility vest. Why? Because they know the risks inherent in their work environment and understand the vital importance of protection. Now, let's consider our journey through life. Just as the construction site is filled with potential physical hazards, the spiritual battlefield of life is fraught with unseen dangers. However, there's one crucial difference. While a construction worker must remember to put on their gear each day, God's protection for His servants is constant and ever-present. Psalm 121:7-8 reminds us, "The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."Just as no responsible worker would dream of entering a hazardous job site without proper protection, no one should attempt to navigate the challenges of lifewithout being fully surrounded by God's divine protection. It's not something we put on and take off; it's a constant state of being for those who trust in Him. So, as you face each day in this journey called life , remember when life gets hard: you're not just protected – you're enveloped in the all-encompassing, never-failing armor of God's love and care.

Is 43:1-4

Let me show you what I mean (v1-4)

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

The Israelites were not only suffering for their sin in the present, but they were facing captivity in the future; Life was hard, and it was about to get harder. But right smack dab in the midst of it, God offers grace; And still does. Fear not he’s saying, b/c there’s grace; Or trust me, b/c there’s favor – inexplicable and undeserved.

That’s the message here

1. Strengthened – By God’s Grace (v1)

When life’s hard – trust God’s grace

As in leanon it; Rest in it; Believe in it; Depend on it; Hold fast to it; Treasure it; That’s what I mean by trust it; Embrace it as true, and let it support you.

And we get a glimpse of that grace in the very first verse – Thus says the LORD who created you and formedyou. He did what he didn’t have to, when we didn’t deserve it – by creating us as individuals and forming us as his people.

That’s the foundation of his trustworthy grace; And then builds a virtual mansion on it

Starting with . . .

The grace of his redemption (v1b)

Trust the grace of God’s redemption; Just like he says in v1b – Fear not, for I have redeemed you. As in trust me, I’ve made you whole; I’ve restored your life. Or, more literally – I’ve bought you back from the bondage of your circumstances and paid the debt of your sin; That’s redemption.

The Hebrew word for which, is “gaal”; And it was often used in a legal sense to buy back land that someone had sold to cover a debt . . .Or, buy back a person, who had sold themselves into slavery to cover a debt. And the only one who could do the buying back – was a relative, a kinsman; Someone with whom the person in need, had a relationship.

So a “goel”, a kinsman-redeemer, would “gaal”, the land or person, redeem them – by paying the debt that was owed, and so release them to live life to the full once again.

The very thing God did with the Israelites of old who were slaves in Egypt . . . The very thing he was going to do with the people in Isaiah’s day; Referring to it with the certainty of the past tense – I have redeemed you . . .

And the very thing he’s done for us in Christ – paying the redemption price for our lives and releasing us from the grip of sin to live full and free for him.

Don’t forget that; When the difficulties of life threaten to enslave you, remember that you’ve been redeemed. When you’re tempted to think of yourself as worthless, trust his grace – you’ve been bought with a price; And not with money, but blood – the precious blood of the Lamb. Rest in that; be Strengthened - By God’s Grace (v1-4). * Story of student who invited his father in law to help him work on his car. The Jack slipped the car feel on him and killed him. Don’t forget that; When the difficulties of life threaten to enslave you, remember that you’ve been redeemed. Strengthened - By God’s Grace When you’re tempted to think of yourself as worthless, trust his grace – you’ve been bought with a price; And not with money, but blood – the precious blood of the Lamb.

The grace of his redemption AND…

The grace of his grip (v1b) I have called you by name, you are mine. My own possession.

Just like he told the Israelites of old in Ex 19:5 – You shall be my treasured possession.

And tells us in Titus 2:14 – [Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

And 1 Pet 2:9 says – You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people

for his own possession.

That’s the grip of God’s grace*****

Keeping us even when we sin; Even when we rebel; Even when we wander.

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

2. Strengthened – By God’s Provision (v 2)

God gives us strength to endure, not escape.

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamity 2 Cor 12.9-10

The grace of his presence (v2a)

Look at v2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; It’s a truth we see over and over again in these chapters; And no wonder; We’re hard-wired for it. Created in the image of God as we are, we have a desire for relationship, a desire for community; And, we are Strengthened by the grace of God's presence.

So it’s no wonder God meets us right where we need it.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you (2a)

“When you’re about ready to drown, I’m there; When you sink to the bottom, I’m there; When others can’t be, I am”; That’s the grace of God’s presence He’s there; W/ you; No matter what; Everlasting arms and all; Waiting to be leaned on.

*Ministry for 15yrs… A mother who has buried a baby. A wife and husband living a Christian life praying for a child for years. While those who are out there being promiscuous are fertile mertyles. A single Christian waiting for God to send their husband or wife. The young person who is seeking validation and finding their identity. Physical insecurities. You don’t think you are good looking enough, smart enough, gifted enough. “When you’re about ready to drown, I’m there; When you sink to the bottom, I’m there; When others can’t be, I am”; That’s the grace of God’s presence He’s there; W/ you; No matter what; Everlasting arms and all; Waiting to be leaned on. Trust the grace of his presence, and trust . . .

The grace of his protection (v2b)

The rivers shall not overwhelm you; The fire shall not burn you; The flame shall not

consume you (2b);That’s the grace of God’s protection.

With fire and flood as metaphors for hardship and difficulty of all kinds

And the point, is that God will protect. He will strengthen with his protection.

Does that mean you’ll never suffer, or never suffer harm? Not at all

As long as we live in a fallen world among fallen people, harm is always a risk.

And as long as the Lord tarries, suffering is a certainty.

For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake (2 Cor 4:11)

And Paul says in Rom 8:35-37 . . .

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or

persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written,

“For your sake [God’s sake] we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as

sheep to be slaughtered.” IOW it’s happening. Rivers aredrowning us; Fire is burning us; Flames are consuming us.

But is it of any eternal consequence? Does it do any real harm to our soul and life?

[37] No [Paul says], in all these things [fire, famine, flood, or hardship of any sort] we

are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

We are more than protected by God’s grace

Suppressed at times – yes; Diminished – yes; Beaten down – yes*****

But never out, and never alone!

I love the testimony and life of Elizabeth Elliot in that respect – pictured here

; As a follower of Christ, she’s been an avid author and speaker for over 40 years

And Isaiah 43:2 has been one of her go-to verses in life.

Despite that fact that her husband of just 2 years, Jim Elliot, was murdered by the Auca

Indians as a 28 year-old missionary in 1956 . . .

And despite the fact that she was left to raise their 1 year-old daughter by herself . . .

And despite the fact that she endured incredible hardship working in the jungles of

Ecuador, with those same people for the next 7 years . . .

The very ones who murdered her husband

And despite that fact that her 2nd husband died of cancer 4 yrs after she married him . .

And despite the fact she suffered from dementia and the loss of her memory, and

had to stop speaking in 2004 . . .

And despite the fact that she struggled with the vagaries of old age in a big way.

Despite all that, she’s found God to be completely faithful to his word, and continued to

trust his grace, as found in this very verse; What a testimony, what an example*****

Trusting the grace of Provision through his presence/protection.

If she can do it, you can too.

Especially so b/c God’s all-powerful; When life’s hard, trust . . .

The grace of his power (v3a)

The power to keep on; The power to overcome

For I am the LORD your God [he says in v3], the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

IOW I’m the one who’s been with you for centuries now – your God

I’m the one who’s other than you – holy; And I’m the one who’s saved you

All of which means he’s proven, and morethan capable of extending his grace to our

lives; “I’ve got the power; Trust me”; That’s what he’s saying.

And you can; You can trust him to changeyour life or situation, and you can trust him if

he doesn’t – if he doesn’t apply his power to relieve your hardship.

Instead, supplying the strength to sustain you; And get you through; And grow you;

And shape you in ways only he can and would; Trust him in that respect. You are in a difficult marriage? communication issues, infidelity, or emotional distance. Trust that God has the power to reconcile your marriage.

Health Crises: Serious illnesses or chronic conditions can be overwhelming. God has the power. Seek divine intervention for healing and comfort during these times.

Emotional Trauma: Experiencing loss, abuse, or other forms of trauma can leave individuals feeling helpless and seeking divine comfort to heal emotionally. Lean on God’s power to help you to overcome.

Spiritual Battles: Christians often face spiritual challenges that require reliance on God's power to resist temptation or overcome spiritual attacks. What have I to dread, what have I to fear… Leaning on the everlasting arms.

3. Strengthened - by God’s Love (v3-4)

The grace of his love (v3b-4)

When life’s hard, trust the grace of his redemption, grip, presence, protection, power, and love.

V3b-4 – I give Egypt as your ransom [the redemption price for your life], Cush and

Seba in exchange for you. [4] Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

So great is God’s love for those he calls, those he chooses – that he gives up others in

order to protect and keep them. Sometimes removing them, sometimes punishing them, and sometimes destroying them.

Like he did w/ the obstinate Egyptians as the Israelites escaped from 400 years of slavery.

Or some of the people groups who opposed them as they journeyed through the Sinai.

Or the sinful Canaanites who prevented them from entering the Promised Land.

Some he removed, some he brought to their knees, and some he wiped out.

Having made them in his own image, he devoted them to destruction, for the sake of his

Own.

That’s love; The same love he showed in giving up his Son for us

What God did then with various peoples, he did at the cross with his Son; Only this time

the price he paid was infinite. I give[Jesus] as your ransom; [My Son] in exchange for you; Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give [him]in return for you, [his life] in exchange for [yours].

That’s the NT version; That’s what the grace of God’s love looks like now. Far more than a sinful group of people, he gave his one and only Son, who bore our sin. That whoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life (Summary)

Lean on that; When life’s hard, lean on the grace of God’s love as shown in Christ

Lean on his everlasting arms, safe and secure from all alarms.

Prayer – Lord, would you write these truths on our heart and mind, so that when life’s

hard, we trust? We want to Lord, and we need to; Thank you for your amazing grace

Including the grace of being able to give; Use our tithes and offerings now to the utmost.

Summary:

1. Strengthened – By God’s Grace (v1)

2. Strengthened – By God’s Provision (v 2)

3. Strengthened - by God’s Love (v3-4)