A Wonderful Promise in Two Parts - Part 1 of 2

Will and in a fire, additional Sherry Bradley Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible and in and in and will and in will and will will will I will if you enjoy these broadcast I think you would also enjoy our publication. The Baptist witness and if you were right and requested will be happy to send you a sample copy. Her dress is the Baptist Bible. Our box 17/37, Cincinnati, OH 45217.

Turn with me to the book of Isaiah chapter 41 reading first 10 of Isaiah chapter 41 fear thou not for I am with the be not dismayed, for I am thy God I will strengthen the EAI will help the yea, I will uphold the with the right hand of my righteousness. While these Old Testament promises were given directly to the national Israel. We are not doing injustice to the interpretation and application of Scripture by saying that there is something in it for us. If you look back to verse eight you'll see why we say that, but now Israel art my servant Jacob whom I have chosen the seed of Abraham, my friend Val whom I have taken from the ends of the earth and called the from the chief men thereof, and said under the Howard my servant, I have chosen the and not cash the away.

He says Israel is his servant. He has chosen Jacob. Romans nine says Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated and the seed of Abraham. My friend Abraham referred to as the friend of God I remember when Jesus was talking to some of the Pharisees in his day.

They said we have Abraham to be our father, but he said if you were really the children of Abraham you be doing the works of Abraham. You'd be giving true proof and evidence of your state of grace. But while in addressing those who opposed his message and despised his person.

He says you're not the seed of Abraham, your father the devil, in contrast, those who are his people are spiritual Israelites, we are heirs to the promise that God made to Abraham when he said, in thy seed shall all the fame of the earth be blessed as a child of God you are participating in the blessings that God promised when he chose Haberman brought them forth out of the early accountings when we read in the book of Galatians about the promise.

See, that is the promise God made to Abraham concerning QC said it was not seems many but singular referring to Christ. Christ is the promised seed. If we are in Christ, then we are receiving the promises that were given to Abraham and to those generations that were to follow that chosen race, but being said, I think you can well appreciate the fact that we are not removing a promise from its context and setting and attempting to make an improper application of it while God was speaking through Isaiah to his people at that time.

Certainly, the promise is real today for those who are spiritual Israelites, so he says fear thou not I am with the we started three-part message on the radio this morning entitled fear not, which is based on the words of Jesus when he was reassuring his disciples in the time of storm that he was not some ominous figure walking across the water to come to do them harm. But he was coming to rescue and deliver them and take them safely to the port. While there are many things that cause us to fear, and the text says fear thou not, I would entitle this message a wonderful promise in two parts. He says I am with the be not dismayed, for I am thy God I will strengthen the EAI will help the first part is I will strengthen the do not often find ourselves coming short of the strength that we believe is necessary to function as we ought, to the glory of God, even as we gather on this first Sunday of the new year and you may be giving some thought to the direction of your life.

You may have done some serious reflecting over the past few days. Looking back over the past year.

Hopefully, with thanksgiving, hopefully with some degree of joy to praise God for his providential interventions and his many abundant mercies in your growth in grace and the knowledge of his truth, but also to give thought about the challenge of the year before you concerned that you may be growing in grace and becoming more effective in your effort to honor Jesus Christ. But as you begin to break that down to particular issues and you think about some of your weaknesses you think about the inclination of your human nature to do that which is sinful, you think about the struggle that goes on. You may come here and listen to a message where a particular sin is described. We look at it from several portions of Scripture to come to the conclusion that what may at times be looked upon lightly is a serious offense before God. You see, maybe you have a trouble a problem with with anger maybe have a problem with controlling your tongue, maybe you have a problem with forgiving you have a problem with the lust of the flesh.

One person has a particular problem in one area and one another. But the fact remains that all of us in nature are weak, and so we began to recognize where in need of strength. There can be some sense of discouragement and say well I can do all the talking. I want to about things being better to make all of the resolutions I might really be sincere about making but knowing me that's not going to last long. Note, knowing me I'm I'm probably not going to make the changes that need to be made so that overwhelming sense of being without sufficient strength to do what needs to be done, causes you to be discouraged and maybe never even put forth the effort to move in the right direction. How often do you find yourself lacking in strength to serve you hear messages you recognize that their biblical you see will I Argue with what's being preached is out of the word of God.

The apostle Paul continues to enjoin us not to be satisfied with the status quo, not even to be content with just filling up the barrel to the top. He wants us in every category, to be running over in zeal and commitment and dedication and love for Christ and ministering to his people said I just can't handle that's that's too much.

The demands are too great. I do not have the strength to be able to serve in that capacity. And then it comes to the trials of life, and we emphasize over and over again that suffering is a part of the experience of God's people and you think about what sufferings you may have experienced in the past and anticipate that there's a possibility of them being more severe in the future, say II just don't think I can take.

I've had so many burdens, trials and sufferings to contend with. I just can't handle I'm I'm just too weak.

I don't know how some people remain so calm and how some people seem to be so content, even in the midst of their suffering. I don't have the strength.

But here's the promise I will strengthen the I believe that he promises strength sufficient in both of these categories, he promises to supply the strength to serve the start of the book of second Timothy chapter 4, second Timothy chapter 4 verse 16 the apostle Paul is speaking of course and he says that my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me. I pray God that it may not be laid to their char now that's something that would tend to target our heartstrings thinking about what a faithful servant. The apostle Paul wants what a mighty man of God. How marvelously he was used what he meant to the church in its early days hi, we continue to benefit from his ministry today and to read that no man stood with him, all men forsook him and then to have such a sweet spirit about it. I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. I suppose some of us in like circumstances might have a little thought crossed her mind alone.

I hope the Lord lays it on some these people live for. Secondly, and not stood with me and not come to my rescue and not help me and not been concerned about my imprisonment and concerned about all my other trials with what else he said notwithstanding, the Lord stood with me, no man stood with me, but the Lord stood with me and what did you do and strengthened me, that's what our text is talking about the Lord strengthen me that by me.

The preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom, to whom be glory for ever and ever all me see the principal is not just an Old Testament promise it's right here in the New Testament.

It was something that was experienced and lived out by the apostle Paul man did not stand with me. God did, I did not have the strength but the Lord strengthen me and he strengthen me, not just so I would be more comfortable. Not just so I would be reassured and feel better, but that by me.

The preaching might be fully know that's what Paul was living for a codes could not bear to be without the opportunity to preach he breaks wherever he was if he was at Mars Hill if he was in the synagogue, or if he was in prison he continued to preach and God has strengthened me. He says that the preaching might be fully known and that the Gentiles might hear I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Not literally. I don't think the suggestion is what some of those two legged lines. Those ravenous beasts that were his critics and opponents in the Lord delivered me and he had further assurance that the Lord will deliver me from every evil work whatever it is, what, whatever may come may not know in advance. I can't anticipate what it all will be but the Lord who has delivered me will still do it. And furthermore, is going to preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom is going to take care me clearly in and preserving so the last I am with him and therefore have no reason to fear the promise, then, to supply the strength that the apostle might serve and then the portion that is so often quoted Philippians chapter 4 and the 13th verse where reference is made to strengthening Philippians 413 the apostle says I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. The next time you're talking about all the things you can't do is I just can't do that I can't do that that's that's not me. It's impossible.

I don't have the ability. I don't have the strength I cannot I cannot I cannot then you remember that your language is not biblical. The biblical languages I can do I can do I can do all things, not because I'm strong not in myself but I can do all things.

How, through Christ which strengthens me. She was so often forget that we forget the source of our strength were looking at ourselves were looking our circumstances were looking at our enemies were looking at those ravenous beasts that come to the virus, but Paul comes back and says I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. He promises then to supply the strength that we might be able to serve well what about the suffering, say that's that's another thing. It's difficult enough to have what's necessary to serve, to lay aside my own plans in my own personal interest in think about other people being willing to reach out to them and minister to them. Even under many circumstances whereby efforts and help may not be recognized or appreciated. When it comes to suffering is even more difficult.

None of us want to sign up to suffer pain is very unpleasant that's that's what pain is that it hurts. Whether it's physical pain or mental anguish or the disappointments and sorrows diversity's that affect us in life.

Suffering of any kind is extremely difficult to bear.

But we believe that God gives the promise not only to strengthen us for service, but also for suffering look at second Corinthians chapter 12 Paul is referring to his unique experience of being caught up where he saw some marvelous things in it says in verse seven of second Corinthians 12 and last I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelation that was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me is all kinds of speculations about what thorn in the flesh was and I'm sure that if more than one is to know that he would've inspired the possum to make it part of the record, I think maybe the reason it's not identified, we would have more of an inflammation disabled. That doesn't apply my situation. My case is very unique wasn't you don't know what thorn was you can't do say it doesn't apply to me because whatever the difficulty that you're encountering whatever that thorn in the flesh, you can see that God uses such adversity for a purpose.

The messenger of Satan to buffet me for what reason.

Last I should be exalted above measure as the Lord convicted you of how easy it is to be exalted in the flesh. Maybe all the while giving lip service to being humble in your own mind your thinking in terms all I'm I'm not self-righteous and I'm not exalted with a sense of our own importance and I don't look down on other people.

I don't think I'm better than the people and then the more you're in the book and the more your hearing preaching the spirit of God begins to open up those little chambers of your heart and let you see some things in there. You didn't know was there and you see that all the while. Maybe pleading that you were struggling with low self-esteem or that you really had very humble thoughts about yourself and your own efforts in your importance, but little by little it creeps out and comes to light.

There's an awful lot of pride often on focus on self and God knows how to deal with us in those areas. I was given this thorn in the flesh. He says last, I should be exalted above measure for this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me, Alden, react and say oh well Lord's given me this thorn is just mind the bear and I might say word about it know it, heard it was it was painful.

It was a problem and he asked the Lord to remove it. And yes, in the second time and asked him the third time, it doesn't mean that when suffering comes were just going to say Alyssa just this is a wonderful time here. I'm so I'm so glad I can suffer home suffering is hard to bear. Suffering is difficult, and in every category verse nine hears God's answer and he said of the me, my grace is sufficient for the for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Architects is a promise of God to strengthen us, and what to say to the apostle my grace is sufficient.

That means you won't be enough grace given to you by me that there won't be anything like going to be absolutely sufficient. We sometimes think well yes, I believe the Lord is strengthening me, but I just don't see how more like it.

He says the grace that he gives to strengthen you is sufficient. My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities and reproaches, in necessities and persecutions. It distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong is exactly the opposite concept of what's prevalent in the thinking of the world around us. Talk to anybody in the world and that it just makes good sense that when you're stronger strong. And when your wiki. Are we coming at just who can argue with that. And yet to come to the word of God. Here's a concept that's in direct opposition to when I'm weak that's what I'm strong why because when you're weak when you know your week. What happens you turn to the Lord and rely upon his strength. That's what a promise like the stars, meaning something to eat.

G if you feel sufficient. You think you can handle everything you've got your life got whipped into shape everything rolling right along. You don't think that much about prayer.

You don't really come humbly before God. Lord, I'm I'm I'm at the end of the way I without strength. I desperately need the but when the Lord brings you down and you know your week then you become strong because you find your strength in him seeing them that we find ourselves to be lacking in strength and that he has promised to strengthen us.

We can be of good courage when will have to be disheartened. Whatever the circumstances we are facing, whatever the challenge that the new year may bring us. We can be of good courage, turn to Psalm 31 verse 24 of Psalm 31. Be of good courage, and I how you don't do that see this this this isn't one of these old let's all cheer up and look happy� Is one of these things were incisional is just something a little cheerful song. Everything be fine know he's going give your reason, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord, be of good courage because something positive is going to happen he's going to strengthen your heart ex-wife can have courage. That's why you can say I'm not going to give up my go to pigeon the dial on the going to say I can't belong there's no need to try to serve God I'm going to be courageous. I'm going to be positive, but not just a positive mental attitude which is based on nothing positive faith in the living God. This means something because God says I'm going to strengthen you. The promises of God are strictly a great encouragement to us and we know that when God promises something we can absolutely good to know that he never totally pushed officer that he is ready to hear. Take time to write the over to listen to the program makes the call, the frustration of which the broadcasters come to you, down to we greet you next time share. Bradley Junior beating you goodbye and let God is a nice and a will and all