HOW TO ENJOY YOUR SALVATION

TEXT: Isaiah 43:1‑7

INTRODUCTION: A Hindu trader in India once asked a missionary, "What do you put on your face to make it shine?" With surprise the man of God answered, "I don't put anything on it!" His questioner began to lose patience and said emphatically, "Yes, you do! All of you who believe in Jesus seem to have it. I've seen it in the towns of Agra and Surat, and even in the city of Bombay." Suddenly the Christian understood, and his face glowed even more as he said, "Now I know what you mean, and I will tell you the secret. It's not something we put on from the outside but

something that comes from within. It's the reflection of the light of God in our hearts."

Far too many Christians lack the "shine" of joy on their faces. So many of us seem to believe that to be truly spiritual, one must wear a sad expression and be gloomy. For some reason, we equate frowns with spirituality. Many seem to allow life’s troubles, other people’s insensitivity

and personal misunderstanding hinder their joy. It seems that some have forgotten what God has done in their life.

Now, these verses have a primary interpretation to the nation of Israel. Here God is promising to sustain them, deliver them from captivity and ultimately gather them together in His millennial Kingdom. Even though these verses were written for them, there is still tremendous application here for you and me. In these verses, we encounter reminders and promises that are designed to teach us How To Enjoy Our Salvation.

You can enjoy your salvation because you have:

I.          God Saved us in the Past v1, 3‑4

A.        Most of us would just as soon forget our pasts.

1.      None of them are anything to brag about! However, it is the very past that we wish we could forget that makes the present so wonderful.

2.      God reminds Israel of what He has done for them, vs 3‑4!

B.        Notice 3 things God has done for every believer in his past.

1.      Redemption

a)      The great price the Lord paid to save our souls 

Revelation 1:5;  1 Peter 1:18‑19

b)      We are saved because 2,000 years before we were even born, the Lord Jesus willingly died to save our souls. And, when we came to Him by faith, He was willing to receive us just as we were and through pure grace forgive us and save us.

2.      Renewal

a)      When God says He called them by their name, that implies an intimate knowledge of who they were and are.

b)      When they became His, He changed their name because He had changed their character.

(1)  Jacob ‑ Trickster to Israel – Prince with God

(2)  Abram – High Father to Abraham – Father of a Multitude

c)      When we came to Jesus in our past, He did the same thing for us.

(1)  What we were called - lost, children of the devil, sinners, the wicked, the children of wrath, the damned.

(2)  What we came to be called – Saints, Children of God, The Redeemed, Saved, Citizens of Heaven, etc.

(3)  When we think of what we were and what Jesus has made us, it ought to cause us to enjoy our salvation!

3.      Reception

(1)  God reminds the Israelites that He has taken possession of them and they are His alone.

(2)  When we came to Jesus, we were received  just as we were, John 6:37!

(3)  At the very moment of salvation, Jesus took  possession of our lives and now, we belong to Him  1 Cor. 6:20

C.        When we take a moment and look back at where He brought us from, it should  have the power to encourage us and give us great in our salvation.

1.      This may be  why Isaiah reminds us to look to the pit from which we were dug – Isaiah 51:1  Eph. 2:11‑13

II.       God Provides for us in the Present v. 2

A.        In this verse, God reminds the Israelites that He has met their need since day one and that He has pledged Himself to continue to do just that.

1.      These circumstances reference famous events in the history of the nation when God intervened and provided their need

(1)  Pass through the waters – The Red Sea – Exodus 14

(2)  Pass through the river – The crossing of the Jordan – Deuteronomy 4

(3)  Walk through the fire – Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego – Daniel 3.

B.        What does this mean for us?

1.      Just that God has not changed!

(1)  What He did for Israel, He can be counted on to do for you and me!

(2)  After all, He is no respecter of persons – Ephesians 6:9.

C.        There is not an area of life in which God won’t work to fulfil His promises to you.

1.      As you face the storms, walk through the valleys, endure the dark nights of life, remember  that He is the same God now as He was then and He will never fail you!

2.      He will meet every need you have for His own glory – Philipppians 4:19.

D.        There are several reason why we can count on God to supply us.

1.      He is Able – Ephesians 3:20. His great exploits in the past

(1)  In clothing Israel in the wilderness – Deuteronomy 29:5

(2)  In feeding Israel Manna in the wilderness – Exodus 16

(a)  There daily provision was approximately 240 box car loads of Manna per day!

(3)  In feeding the widow of Zarepath and Elijah for 3 ½ years – 1 Kings 10:10‑17.

(4)  In feeding the 5,000 – John 6

(5)  In doing the same kind of things more times that we can even  begin to mention!

2.      He is Willing – Luke 12:32

(1)  God wants to meet your need more what  you want Him to!

(2)  His great promise – Matthew 6:25‑33

3.      He is Faithful To His Word – Hebrews 6:18; Romans 4:21.

4.      He Is Always Near – v. 2;5 Matthew 28:20;

E.        Whatever the need, God stands ready, willing and able to take care of that situation.

1.      We should be able to enjoy our salvation and we can when we learn to leave  the worrying to Him – Philipppians 4:6‑7

III.    God has a Beautiful plan for us in the Future v. 5‑7

A.        In these verses, God reminds His people that they have a bright future.

1.      He promises to gather them together and bring them back to their promised land.

2.      In the  millennium, this will become a reality.

a)      Israel will again rest in peace and the chosen people of God will occupy all that is theirs. What a day that will be for them.

B.        While these verses speak primarily to Israel, again, there is application for you and me.

We too live under the hope of His promises.

1.      There will be a Gathering – 1 Corinthians 15:51‑52;  1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18; John 14:1‑3.

a)      One day, Jesus will return in the clouds and receive His people unto Himself.

(1)  No man knows the hour – Matthew 24:36

b)      One day, a day known only in the omniscience of Almighty God,  Jesus is going to come again and all His people will be leaving this world to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

c)      In light of His coming, what are we to do?

(1)  Be Ready – Matthew 24:44

(2)  Be Looking – Luke 12:37; 2 Timothy 4:8

(3)  Be Pure – 1 John 3:3

(4)  Be Telling – Mark 16:15

2.      There Will Be Glory –

a)      Verse 7 reminds us that God’s purpose in the  creation of man and again in his redemption is to bring glory to Himself. However, one of the greatest ways that God will ever bring glory to Himself is by bringing us to glory!

b)      We Are Heaven Bound – John 14:3;

c)      We Are To Be Glorified – 1 John 3:2;

(1)  Heaven is a city said to be transparent in its appearance –

(2)  Imagine that city with all those multi‑colored stones and materials with the glory of the Father and the Son shining through it. Then, add to that the same brilliance bursting forth from the glorified bodies of the redeemed! Truly, God will glorify Himself in us!

3.      We Shall See Him And Be With Him Forever –

a)      The Atmosphere of that city. Our world is a world of trials, depressions and anxieties. Heaven, however, will be a place of endless praise and ceaseless worship of a worthy God.

b)      What  will Heaven be like? Heaven will be about the praise and worship of the King!

Are you ready for this promise to become a reality? I hope so, because it will not be  long now.

CONCLUSION:

1. God saved us in the past.

2. God provides for us in the present.

3. God has a beautiful plan for us in the future.

With these thoughts in mind, don’t you think we have the right to enjoy our salvation? I certainly do! When I look behind me, around me and ahead of me, I see many reasons for joy in the Christian life. So, today, let’s get on with the business of enjoying this wonderful thing called salvation that God has so graciously given to us. Are you enjoying your salvation today?  If you have not experienced salvation, won’t receive Christ today?

Rev. 1:5

    And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

1 Peter 1:18‑19

    Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

John 6:37

    All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

1 Cor. 6:20

    For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Isaiah 51:1

    Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

Ephes. 2:11‑13

    Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Philip. 4:19

    But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ephes. 3:20

    Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Deut. 29:5

    And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot.

Luke 12:32

    Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Hebrews 6:18

    That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

Romans 4:21

    And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Matthew 28:20

    Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Philip. 4:6‑7

    Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Cor. 15:51‑52

    Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

John 14:3

    And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.