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Sermon #70 — Isaiah Series

 

Title:                           ÒThis is Our GodÓ

 

Text:                            Isaiah 25:1-12

Subject:                     The Wonderful Works of God in Christ

Date:                          Sunday Evening — February 3, 2019

Readings:     Mark Medley and Mark Henson

Introduction:

 

(Psalm 8:3-) When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; (4) What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

 

The visitations of our God in grace and in judgment, in salvation and in providence, in private and in public should always be observed by us with the eye of faith. We ought always to seek grace to profit by his visitations, learn from them, and get to know him better, more fully, more intimately, more personally than before.

  • Abraham in Genesis 18
  • Isaac in Genesis 22
  • Jacob in Genesis 32
  • Israel in Egypt
  • Moses in Exodus 3
  • Manoah and His Wife in Judges 13
  • Isaiah in Isaiah 6

 

In the 25th chapter of the Gospel of Isaiah, God the Holy Ghost teaches us that we should respond to every visitation of God our Savior with confident faith, thanksgiving, and joy, saying, ÒLo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him: we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation

 

I want you to hold your Bibles open at Isaiah 25, as I try to preach to you from this magnificent, instructive chapter. The title of my message is found in verse 9. — ÒThis is Our God.Ó I trust the Lord will be pleased to speak to your hearts and feed your souls, as I try to preach to you about God our Savior.

 

Proposition: He who is God is the God of all grace; and the grace of God is, in all its aspects, a reflection and revelation of his character as God.

 

I am preaching this message because I want us to give unlimited credit, praise, and thanksgiving to our God for all that he is and does. Isaiah 25 is a song of thanksgiving and praise to God. Here the prophet of God teaches us the ÒhowÓ and ÒwhyÓ of praise. In the previous chapter Isaiah described GodÕs judgment of the world and the overthrow of all false religion by his hand. Here he is describing the coming of Christ and the salvation of GodÕs elect by him. LetÕs look at these twelve verses for just a few minutes.

 

Isaiah 25:1-12

 

1O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

2For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.

3Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.

4For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

5Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

6And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

7And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.

8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

9And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

10For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.

11And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.

12And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust. 

FaithÕs Declaration

 

1st — This chapter begins with a declaration of faith. — ÒO Lord, thou art my God.Ó — He who is our God is the Triune Jehovah (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), the God of all grace. He is revealed, seen, and known in the person of his dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Faith, God-given, God-wrought, saving faith always confesses God as God. And that faith confesses that Jesus Christ is God. Christ is the Revelation of God. But he is more than that. Christ is the Word of God. But he is more than that. Christ is the image of the invisible God. But he is more than that. The man, Jesus of Nazareth, is himself the almighty God.

  • Isaiah 9:6
  • Romans 9:5
  • 1 Timothy 1:17
  • 1 Timothy 6:14-17
  • Colossians 2:9

 

Faith confesses that Jesus is the Christ, God our Savior. The word ÒLordÓ (Jehovah) is a name of God that declares both his eternal self-existence and his saving character. He who is Jehovah is the God who saves! — That is Christ.

 

Christ is God. And Christ is GodÕs Salvation. How I wish the whole world would hear what I am saying. Salvation is not a doctrine. Salvation is not a religion. Salvation is not a theory. Salvation is a Person. And that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 2:30).

 

I do not know what those early disciples knew about Christ or about his work. But they knew that he is Christ, the Lamb of God, GodÕs Salvation (John 1:35-37, 40-45; Matthew 16:16[1]). And no man can, from his heart, say that except by the grace and power of God the Holy Spirit.

  • Christ alone is our only Savior (John 14:6).
  • Christ alone is our all-sufficient Savior (1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:3).
  • Christ alone is our effectual Savior (Matthew 1:21; John 10:16, 28-30).
  • Christ alone is the Savior whom God has accepted (Hebrews 9:12; 10:10-14).
  • Christ alone is our successful Savior (Isaiah 42:4; 53:10).

 

Faith confesses that Christ is my Lord and my God (John 20:28; Romans 10:9-10). — ÒO Lord, thou art my God

 

John Gill said, ÒThis is the first and foundation blessing of grace, and secures all the restÉIt is the highest attainment of grace to be assured of itÉand will be the glory of the New Jerusalem state.Ó

 

  • Jesus Christ is my God because he is my Creator.
  • Jesus Christ is my God because he has made himself my God in the covenant of grace.
  • Jesus Christ is my God because I bow to him and receive him as my Lord and my God by faith. — I have taken his yoke upon myself and I gladly do so continually, submitting my life to his dominion and committing my life to his rule.

 

ÒO Lord, thou art my God.Ó That is the first thing revealed in our text. This is the God of grace. — ÒWhosever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.Ó

 

FaithÕs Determination

 

2nd — Look at the next line of verse 1. — Here is a determination of faith. ÒI will exalt thee, I will praise thy name.Ó — Flesh exalts itself. Religion exalts the flesh: its will, its work, and its worth. And idolatry exalts religion: its creeds, symbols, ceremonies, and rituals. But faith exalts, magnifies, honors, and praises God alone as he is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:29, 31; Philippians 3:3). — This is the desire and determination of every believing heart. — ÒI will exalt thee, I will praise thy name.Ó

 

(Jeremiah 9:23-24) Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: (24) But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

 

(1 Corinthians 1:29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.

 

(1 Corinthians 1:30-31) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

 

(Philippians 3:3) For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

 

Have you ever noticed how often we are admonished in the Scriptures to offer praise to God continually? Praise is the sacrifice and strength of faith. It is the sacrifice we offer to God purely for the glory of his name. It is something we offer to God through Christ and for Christ. And the exercise of continual praise to God strengthens our hearts in faith. — The more fully we believe God, the more fully we will praise him, and the more fully we praise him, the more we will believe him. — We are therefore constantly admonished to praise the Lord our God continually, not only because he deserves our praise, but also because genuine praise is the highest form of faith (Hebrews 13:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Colossians 3:16-17; Ephesians 5:18-20[2]).

 

I am not talking about mere emotionalism, though praise involves our emotions. And I am not calling for a mere outward pretense and show of praise. I am talking about an attitude and act of the heart. I am calling for you and me to make a sacrifice to God that will, if done continually, revolutionize our thinking and our lives. I am calling for praise to God our Savior.

 

ÒI will exalt thee!Ó — We cannot add anything to God or make him higher than he already is. But we can and must lift him up in our hearts, lift him up before one another and lift him up in the eyes of men. This is what it means to exalt him. — Let us exalt the Lord our God by ascribing the whole of our salvation to him alone (Ephesians 1:1-14). ÒSalvation is of the Lord!Ó

á      In its Planning — Election and Predestination.

á      In its Purchase — Redemption.

á      In its Performance — Regeneration and Calling.

á      In its Preservation — Perseverance.

á      In its Perfection — Heavenly Glory.

 

O Lord God, give us grace to exalt you as God by trusting you with all our affairs and cares. — ÒCasting all your care on him.Ó And give me grace to exalt you, my God, as God, by submitting to and acquiescing in all your holy will in all things.

 

ÒI will praise thy name!Ó — To praise the name of God is to celebrate the perfections of his Being, rejoice in his works, trust his goodness, declare his greatness, and give thanks to him always and for all things.

 

When Isaiah says, ÒI will praise thy name,Ó he is saying, ÒThis is what I ought to do, this is what I want to do, and this is what I am determined to do.Ó — ÒO Lord, thou art my God!Ó — Give me grace to praise your name.

  • Inwardly — in my heart.
  • Publicly — in my attitude, my words, and my behavior.
  • Practically — in every aspect my life.
  • Continually — in all my circumstances.

 

This is the determination of faith. — ÒI will exalt thee, I will praise thy name!Ó

 

Reason for Praise

 

3rd — Look at the next line. — Here is the reason for our praise to our God. ÒFor thou hast done wonderful things.Ó — Here the prophet begins to describe the grace of God. When the prophet here speaks of Òthe wonderful thingsÓ which the Lord Jesus Christ, our God and Savior has done, he specifically has these things in mind.

 

á      His Everlasting Counsels of Grace ÒThy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.Ó

 

All the wonderful things that God does in time are done according to his counsels of old. I do not know much about the everlasting counsels of the infinite, triune God, but I do know thisÉ

  • From eternity God chose to save an innumerable multitude of undeserving, hell deserving sinners for the glory of his own great name — (Ephesians 1:3-6[3]).
  • Christ Jesus volunteered to be the Surety of that elect multitude and agreed to redeem them with his own precious blood.
  • The Lord God declares that his elect were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world — (Genesis 43:9; 2 Timothy 1:9[4]).
  • God the Spirit pledged himself to regenerate, call, and preserve that elect, redeemed multitude by his infallible, irresistible grace — (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14[5]).

 

As these things Òwere fixed in the eternal purpose of God, they are punctually and exactly brought about in time. These are the true and faithful sayings of God.Ó — (John Gill)

 

  • GodÕs faithfulness to his people is but the fulfilling of his covenant.
  • GodÕs truth is our assurance that he will do all that he planned, purposed, and promised in the covenant.

 

á      His Adorable, Wise, and Unerring Providence (vv. 2-3).

 

(Isaiah 25:2-3) For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. (3) Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.

 

Providence is but the unfolding of GodÕs eternal purpose. It is God bringing to pass in time what he purposed to do in eternity. It is God ruling and disposing of all things in the world for the salvation of his elect, his covenant people. We have an illustration of this in verses 2 and 3. Verse 2 is a prophetic declaration of the destruction of Babylon, the city of gods (Jeremiah 51:37[6]). But it also encompasses all acts of providential judgment. When God destroys the nations of the world in his wrath, he is saving an elect remnant for the glory of his own name (v. 3). — ÒTherefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee

  • The strong people are those made strong by his grace.
  • The city of terrible nations made to fear him is the church of God.

 

These are the wonderful things God has done. He has established his everlasting counsels. He rules the world in adorable, wise, unerring providence.

 

GodÕs Protection

 

4th Here is GodÕs gracious, unfailing protection for his people in this world (v. 4).

 

(Isaiah 25:4) For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

 

Here the prophet tells us what Christ is to those who trust him. Child of God whatever you need Christ is.

  • He is Blessedness to the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).
  • He is Strength to the needy in his distress.
  • Christ is a Refuge from the storm. — The Storm of GodÕs Wrath! — The Storms of Life! — The Storms Within!
  • Christ is a Shadow from the heat. — The Fiery Law of God, the Flaming Sword of Justice! — The Fiery Darts of Satan! — The Fires of Persecution!
  • Christ is a wall to protect us from the blustering winds of all who violently oppose us.

 

All the assaults and persecutions of godless men against the saints of God are no more harmful than winds blowing against a wall! A storm beating on a ship tosses it to and fro, but when it beats upon a wall it does not even affect it. — (ÒThey shall proceed no further!Ó)

 

ÒWhatever dangers or troubles GodÕs people may (appear to) be in, effectual care is taken that they shall sustain no real hurt or damageÓ (Matthew Henry).

 

Besides all this, among all the wonderful things God has done, we have been given the assurance of total deliverance from all our enemies (v. 5).

 

(Isaiah 25:5) Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

 

  • The oppressors of GodÕs church are strangers to the grace of God. Persecutors, oppressors, slanderers may be religious, but they are not righteous. Grace is peaceful, not persecuting.
  • Their opposition is hot and noisy, but impotent. — ÒPharaoh, king of Egypt, is but a noiseÓ (Jeremiah 46:17).
  • God will shelter his own from all their enemies. — Borne on EaglesÕ Wings! — Underneath are the Everlasting Arms! — A Wall of Fire! — In His Grip!

á      Our God will bring down all who oppose his church and his people. — He will bring them down in his time. — He will bring them down in his way. — He will bring them down in the Day of Judgment. — He will bring them down to hell.

 

Our Salvation

 

5th — When the Lord our God has subdued all our enemies beneath his feet, then our salvation will be complete (Romans 16:20). — That is what the rest of this chapter talks about. The final outcome of all things, the final, complete consummation of GodÕs everlasting purpose will be — The Salvation of Our Souls!

 

(Romans 16:20) And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 

In verses 6-8, the Prophet of God assures us of six great provisions of grace by which God our Savior is accomplishing the salvation of his elect. Read these promises of God and rejoice. This is what God is doing and shall do for all his people.

 

1.    In verse 6 Isaiah speaks of the coming of Christ and the accomplishment of redemption by him and tells us that in that time there shall be a feast prepared. — ÒIn this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined

 

The gospel of Christ is compared to a great feast (Matthew 22:1-14)[7]. The preaching of the gospel is the spreading of a rich, well supplied banquet table before hungry sinners.

  • It is a feast prepared by God himself.
  • The guests invited to this feast are Òall people,Ó Jews and Gentiles. — ÒAs many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage
  • The place where the feast is spread is Òthis mountain,Ó Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the church of the living God, the house of God.
  • The feast is provided with the richest, choice Òfat things and wines well-refined

 

Note: Under the law the Jews were not allowed to eat fat. So this text must have its accomplishment in this Gospel Age.

 

The gospel is a feast of fat things and full of marrow. That means there is such an abundance of grace in the gospel of Christ that whatever your soul needs you can find in him. And to feast upon the gospel is to feast upon nourishment that will satisfy the needs of your heart (Psalms 36:7-9; 63:5-6)[8].

á      His Righteousness.

á      His Redemption.

 

And the gospel feast is well supplied with wine, well-refined. Wine is a cordial for those who need it, that they may drink and forget their misery (Proverbs 31:6-7)[9]. And the gospel of Christ is for heavy hearted sinners, that we may drink and be of good cheer, knowing that our sins are forgiven. — That person who is intoxicated with the wine of the grape is cursed in his drunkenness. But he who is intoxicated with the wine of forgiveness is blessed above all men!

 

            Illustration: David Dancing Before the Ark

 

The LordÕs Supper is a symbolic feast of fat things and of wines well-refined (1 Corinthians 5:7-8). But Isaiah 25:6, it seems to me, is intended to direct our hearts and minds to the marriage supper of the Lamb at the last day (Revelation 19:1, 2, 8, 9).

In the last day, when Babylon, the beast, and the false prophet have all been cast into hell, when all GodÕs elect have been saved, when God makes all things new, there will be a marriage feast held, in which Christ will show to wandering worlds the glory of his grace in his Bride, the Church (Ephesians 2:7; Revelation 19:1-9).[10]

 

Ultimately, this is a prophecy of the everlasting happiness of GodÕs saints in heaven. There we shall drink of the river of the water of life freely and eat of the fruit of the tree of life, whose leaves are for the healing of the nations (Revelation 21:6; 22:1, 2, 16-17).[11]All things are ready! Come to the feast!

 

2.    Isaiah tells us of a veil removed. — ÒAnd he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nationsÓ (v. 7).

 

There is a covering of darkness and ignorance cast over the people and nations of the world. The hearts and minds of men and women have been blind folded and hood-winked by their own unbelief and by the delusions of false religion (2 Corinthians 3:15; Galatians 3:1-3; Ephesians 4:18).[12]

á      Mahomet and the Koran.

á      Paganism and Idolatry.

á      The Pope and Romanism.

á      Liberalism and the Social Gospel.

á      Free-willism and Legalism.

 

ÒBut this veil the Lord will destroy, by the light of his gospel shining in the world, and the power of his Spirit opening menÕs eyes to receive it.Ó (Matthew Henry) — (See Isaiah 60:1-3.)[13]

 

á               The means God uses to remove spiritual ignorance from men is the preaching of the gospel Light dispels darkness!

á               The place from whence the light of the gospel shines into the world is Òthis mountain,Ó the church of God.

á               As we proclaim the gospel God raises men and women to spiritual life who have long been dead in trespasses and sins - (Ezekiel 37).

 

God still adds to his church daily such as should be saved. — And the means by which he does so is the gospel. Let us ever be found faithful in preaching it. This is GodÕs work, GodÕs cause, not ours!

 

3.    Next the prophet of God here tells us of an enemy abolished (v. 8). — ÒHe (the Lord Jesus Christ) will swallow up death in victory.Ó Death is the most dreaded and feared of all enemies. But Christ came to deliver his elect from the fear of death. He has delivered us from spiritual death and from eternal death. And in so doing he has delivered us from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15).[14]

 

Christ Jesus swallowed up death in his death as our Substitute and triumphed over it in his resurrection. Because he died for us, GodÕs elect are out of the reach of death. Believers can never die (John 11:25-26).[15]

 

By faith in Christ, believers triumph over death crying, ÒO death, where is thy sting?Ó — ÒThe sting of death is sin.Ó — But Christ has put away our sin! — ÒThe strength of sin is the law.Ó — But Christ has satisfied the law! — There is nothing in death for the believer to fear.

  • Our sins are gone.
  • We are righteous.
  • God is satisfied.
  • Death to the body is life begun in heaven.

 

4.    Look at verse 8 again. Here is a prophecy of a comfort administered. — ÒAnd the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.Ó God will not wipe away the tears of all men. But he will wipe away all the tears of all believers in the last day (Revelation 7:17; 21:4).

 

(Revelation 7:17) For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

 

(Revelation 21:4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

The picture is that of a tender parent. Like a mother, or father, might take a handkerchief and wipe away the tears of a child who has been crying, quieten and comfort him, so the Lord God will quieten and comfort his children in heaven, wiping away all tears from our eyes forever!

 

There are many things here that cause GodÕs saints to weep.

  • Our Afflictions.
  • Our Unbelief.
  • Our Sins.
  • Our Relations.

 

But weeping will be forever banished in heavenÕs glory! There will be no sorrow, no pain, no grief and no weeping in heaven forever. — Heaven is not a place of loss, but of gain, infinite, immeasurable gain!

  • No loss of reward or degrees of glory!
  • The hope of that day when God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes should keep us from excessive weeping now. We sorrow, yes; but we sorrow not as those who have no hope.

 

5.    In addition to all these great provisions of grace, Isaiah here tells us of a reproach removed.ÒAnd the rebuke (reproach) of his people shall he take away from off all the earthÓ (v. 8).

 

In this world reproach is constantly cast upon GodÕs saints.

  • By The World.
  • By Satan.
  • By Our Own Consciences.
  • Sometimes by Our Own Brethren and Friends.

 

But, blessed be God, in that great day when God makes all things new the reproach that has been cast upon GodÕs elect shall be publicly taken away forever.

 

The Lord God will show forth in us the exceeding riches of his grace (Ephesians 2:7).

 

(Ephesians 2:7) That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

 

The righteousness of the saints shall be revealed to all the world (Revelation 19:8).

 

(Revelation 19:8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 

No fault shall be found against us or in us, when we have been raised in the likeness of Christ (Jeremiah 50:20; Ephesians 5:25-27; Jude 24:25).

 

(Jeremiah 50:20) In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

 

(Ephesians 5:25-27) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

(Jude 1:24-25) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.

 

Let us patiently bear whatever sorrow and shame now that God in his providence allows men to cast upon us, for soon both shall be ended. And the glory of God shall be revealed in us.

 

6.    There is one last thing in our text, which is the crowning provision of grace. Here is an assurance given (v. 8).

 

ÒFor the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it!Ó — We are assured of these rich provisions of grace because God himself has spoken it. And he will do it (Isaiah 14:24, 26, 27).

 

(Isaiah 14:24) The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.

 

(Isaiah 14:26-27) This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. (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?

 

Application

 

(Isaiah 25:1) O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

 

When the Lord God gets done, when time shall be no more, when everything that shall be has been, and we stand before our God, robed in the linen garments of perfect, complete salvation, totally conformed to the image of him who is the image of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, we will fall before his throne and cast our crowns at his feet sayingÉ

 

(Isaiah 25:9) Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

 

Perhaps you are thinking, — ÒBut, pastor, how can this be? In the midst of such great adversaries, in the midst of such mighty and terrible foes, how shall this be? I am so weak. My foes are so great. How can it be that they shall all be vanquished?Ó Read the last three verses of this chapter, and you will see, it shall be done with great ease, as easily as scattering straw over a dung heap, as easily as a man swims through water. You see, this entire work is GodÕs work. His hand shall rest in this mountain. — Let us then, rest in his hand!

 

(Isaiah 25:10-12) For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. (11) And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands. (12) And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, and bring to the ground, even to the dust.

 

(Revelation 19:1-9) And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: (2) For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. (3) And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. (4) And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. (5) And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. (6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (7) Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

 

Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Don Fortner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] (Matthew 16:16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

(John 1:35-37) Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; (36) And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (37) And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

 

(John 1:40-45) One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon PeterÕs brother. (41) He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (42) And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (43) The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. (44) Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. (45) Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph

 

[2] (Ephesians 5:18-20) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

(Colossians 3:16-17) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Rejoice evermore. (17) Pray without ceasing. (18) In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

(Hebrews 13:15) By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

 

[3] (Ephesians 1:3-6) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

 

[4] (Genesis 43:9) I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever.

 

(2 Timothy 1:9) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

 

[5] (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14) But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[6] (Jeremiah 51:37) And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

 

[7] (Matthew 22:1-4) And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, (2) The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, (3) And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. (4) Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

 

[8] (Psalms 36:7-9) How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. (8) They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. (9) For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

 

(Psalms 63:5-6) My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: (6) When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

 

[9] (Proverbs 31:6-7) Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. (7) Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

 

[10] (Revelation 19:1-2) And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: (2) For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

 

(Revelation 19:8-9) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (9) And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

 

[11] (Revelation 21:6) And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

 

(Revelation 22:1-2) And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (2) In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

 

(Revelation 22:16-17) 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. (17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 

[12] (2 Corinthians 3:15) But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

 

(Ephesians 4:18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.

 

[13] (Isaiah 60:1-3) Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

 

[14] (Hebrews 2:14-15) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

 

[15] (John 11:25-26) Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?