OUR GREATEST BOAST: The Joy of Knowing the Lord

Isaiah 43:1 ESV

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.

Isaiah 43:2 ESV

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.

Isaiah 43:3 ESV

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.

Isaiah 43:4 ESV

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.

Isaiah 43:5 ESV

Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

Isaiah 43:6 ESV

I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth,

Isaiah 43:7 ESV

everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

HE IS THE LORD WHO IS OUR HOPE OF SALVATION

But now

This makes a logical connection with what has gone before: ‘Now then’. Israel has been revealed as blind (42:19), inattentive (42:20), falling short of the Lord’s plan (42:21), defeated (42:2), sinfully disobedient (42:24), spiritually uncomprehending and insensitive (42:25). [1]

Don’t Be Terrified By Your Troubles

Isaiah 43:1-7

Afraid of the dark

What is fear? What does it mean to be afraid?

· To be anxious or apprehensive; IT IS THE FEELING THAT WHATEVER IS IN FRONT OF YOU IS BIGGER THAN YOU CAN BEAR

Isaiah terms our troubles as water and fire:

· Through the waters … through the rivers; i.e. through troubles of any kind

God had permitted the Jews to be captured and exiled to chasten them for their sins (42:18–25), but their captivity would not be forever. He would come in judgment and destroy Babylon (42:10–17), using Cyrus as His tool

They are captive and in the midst of their captivity this is what they must know to overcome fear.

TRANSITION: FAITH OVERCOMES FEAR WHEN WE FIGHT TO TRUST THE FOLLOWING:

I. HE “IS” REDEEMING YOU

a. He “has” redeemed but He still is redeeming

b. Redeemed You

i. Connect with “I created you”

1. This is in reference to creation

2. But also and mainly to the way God redeemed out of Egypt

a. For us, ye, He created you like every other human being, but in Christ, He redeemed you out of the spiritual Egypt – sin

i. Exodus is a type of the gospel

c. Waters and rivers

i. Lit: through troubles of any kind

ii. There will be many – but the Lord will deliver you from them all!

They were in captivity but here was their hope: THEY WERE REDEEMED PEOPLE.

You can be locked up, shut up, cast out, and cast in – but none of that changes the fact that God has called you and redeemed you and because of this you are never to be afraid, but walk in the truth of your Hope.

Don’t be afraid. You were redeemed and named by God for a purpose and a mission.

Regardless of where you are and regardless of what Satan – the accuser of the brethren tells you

JESUS S SAYNG TO THOSE WHO HAVE NEVER TRUSTED HIM BEFORE (NOT SAID THEY KNOW HIM – BUT TRUSTED HIM (THIS IS WHAT FAITH IS) HE IS SAYING TO YOU:

· I HAVE DIED TO REDEEM YOU AND IF, TODAY, YOU WOULD BELIEF AND TRUST ME FOR YOUR LIFE AND SOUL – I WILL REDEEM YOU!

JESUS IS SAYING TO THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND ARE BATTLING WITH FEAR

· I HAVE REDEEMED YOU AND YOU ARE MINE! – HE IS REDEEMING YOU RIGHT NOW!

II. HEIS PRESENCE IS YOUR POSSIBILITY

a. His Presence is With you – His presence

i. Teach on His presence here (Get other notes)

b. His authority is over you – He is the Lord

i. The waters of life will not overwhelm you

ii. The fires of life will not consume you

iii. No matter what the danger, Israel would survive. Isaiah pictured the nation on a journey. Raging streams and wild prairie fires would not destroy her. Their safety was guaranteed by God’s presence.

WHY SHOULD THE PROTECTION OF HIS PRESENCE ENCOURAGE AND STRENGHTEN YOUR FAITH?

1. His presence cannot be overcome

Isaiah 43:13 ESV

Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

“… there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?”

2. His Presence will counter negative people

Romans 8:31 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

3. It will counter temptations to stumble

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

4. His presence will counter FEAR

Psalm 27:1 ESV

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

5. It will counter the schemes of the enemy

1 John 4:4 ESV

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

These are the reasons why we need to be in the presence of God. He will hide us in the shadow of His wings

d. But here is the summation of it all. There is a day coming when judgment will fall upon this earth. In that day fear will grip the very hearts of man because the end will be near; but not the people of Jesus Christ

i. Jesus is our protection from the devastation that is here and will come in fullness soon. –

1. ARE YOU IN GOOD HANDS?

a. NOT talking about all state but Jesus Christ

THIS LEADS TO THE LAST POINT:

III. HE IS LOVING YOU (V4)

He has loved you (on the cross) He is still loving y