Sermon #67 Series: Isaiah

Title: The Promise, The Invitation And The Warning

Of Grace

Text: Isaiah 26:19-21

Date: Tuesday Evening - January 15, 1991

Tape #

Introduction:

As you know, before we wake tomorrow morning, our nation may very well be engaged in a war that could very easily become a third world war. In this age of nuclear weapons and moral insanity, a war with Iraq could easily become a war of virtual annihilation for humanity. As I have considered these things and sought a message from God for you tonight, these are the thoughts that have been on my heart.

1. I am thankful that I am not the man who must make the decision “Do we go to war, or do we continue to seek negotiation?” I am thankful that I am not the President of the United States. Our President needs our prayers.

2. I am thankful that the man who makes that decision is not the one in control - Our God rules this world (Pro. 21:1).

Whatever decision our President makes in the next few hours will be determined not by his policy, his advisors, his wisdom, or his political say, but by the will of God. Whatever comes to pass will be what God brings to pass and what God purposed from eternity for the salvation of his elect and the glory of his Son. “All things are of God!” I believe that with every fibre of my being. I rest my soul upon the wise, unerring, immutable purpose of God and his power to fulfill it (Rom. 8:28; 11:36).

3. What shall I preach to God’s people at such a time as this? Is there a message in the Book of God that relates to these events, that will give us instruction in this hour?

I believe the Lord has given me the message his church needs to hear at this hour. You see this Book is more than a word from God - It is the living word of God (Heb. 4:12). When blessed by the Spirit of God to your heart and mine, a word from God that was written 3000 years ago, relating to an event that has long since passed, becomes a word from God’s lips, just now spoken, relating to the critical needs of our hearts right now. This is the living word of God! “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (II Pet. 1:20). God’s word speaks to us now. It applies to our needs now.

Tonight, I have a message for God’s people in all times, seasons and circumstances, that will, if blessed by the Spirit of God meet our needs, yours and mine at this present hour. I want to talk to you about God’s grace, The Promise, The Invitation, and The Warning Of Grace. Isaiah 26:19-21 is a prophecy that was immediately related to the nation of Israel, their Babylonian captivity and their deliverance. It will find its ultimate fulfillment at the second coming of Christ, the destruction of mystical Babylonian and the glorious, complete salvation of God’s true Israel, the church of his elect.

Note: Generally, when the Lord does a great thing in the earth he tells his people what he is going to do, gives them his counsel and promises grace - Noah - Lot - Moses, etc.

Proposition: Our text is a word of instruction for God’s people in all times and circumstances.

Divisions:

1. The Promise Of Grace - (v. 19).

2. The Invitation Of Grace - (v. 20).

3. The Warning Of Grace - (v. 21).

I. First, the Lord Jesus Christ speaks to his prophet and by his prophet to his church; and the word he speaks is THE PROMISE OF GRACE (v. 19).

Here our Savior promises the salvation of all his elect (II Pet. 3:9). You can mark this down, God will save his people. If you ask, “What is God doing?” The answer is clearly given, “God is making himself an everlasting and glorious name” (Isa. 63:12, 14). And he is making his name glorious by accomplishing the salvation of his elect.

In our text salvation is spoken of as it often is in the Scriptures, as a resurrection. As Christ is our Salvation, Christ is our Resurrection (John 11:25). Ultimately, in the end of the world, when Christ comes again we shall be raised from the dead. And our resurrection shall be the consummation of that glorious thing we call salvation. No matter what happens between now and then, all shall be well in the end. This is the promise of grace - “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise!”

The church of God’s elect, the spiritual body of Christ, every member of it, though they have been dead, shall arise, everyone of them, and make up that body which is the fullness of him that filleth all in all. We shall be raised by the merits of Christ, by virtue of our union with Christ, and by virtue of his resurrection. Because he lives, we must also live. Christ’s resurrection from the dead is…

· The Pledge of our Resurrection.

· The First-fruits of them that Sleep.

· The Pattern of our Resurrection - “This vile body shall be fashioned like unto his glorious body.” But this promise of grace includes much, much more than that final resurrection of our bodies. This is our Lord’s promise to and about his elect at all times.

A. Our representative resurrection with Christ (Eph. 2:4-6).

B. Our spiritual resurrection in regeneration (John 5:25; Rev. 20:6).

C. Our many deliverances, restorations and revivals by grace.

Revival is a resurrection of grace that appears to be dead. It is God causing his people to arise from lethargy and bondage (Eph. 5:14). Here he promises grace in every time of need. Though we fall, he will raise us up. Though trouble comes, deliverance shall follow. Though we languish, he will revive us by his grace.

D. Our physical, bodily resurrection - (I Thess. 4:13-18).

“Awake and sing…the earth shall cast out the dead!” This is the promise of grace - Christ will save his people! He will save them every one

· From the Death of Sin!

· From all their Troubles!

· From all their Foes!

· From the Grave!

II. Secondly, the Lord God speaks by his prophet to give us THE INVITATION OF GRACE - (v. 20).

These words were intended to let us know that times of great trouble are sure to come upon God’s church.

· Personal Troubles.

· Troubles in the churches.

· Troubles for the whole church - The Apostacy - Antichrist - Babylon.

What are we to do when trouble comes and multiplies? Here the prophet of God tells us, or rather, God tells us by his prophet what to do.

A. “Come.”

· Come to me - (Matt. 11:28; Heb. 4:16; 7:25).

· Come along with me - “I will lead you” - (Gen. 7:1, 16).

B. “My people.”

· My love and chosen people.

· My special, peculiar people.

· My redeemed, covenant people.

· My called, favored, distinguished people.

C. “Enter thou into thy chambers.”

As men in a field, when they see a funnel cloud approaching, flee to a shelter to take refuge until the storm is over, so Christ bids us to flee to our chambers of refuge.

Illus: Israelites at the Passover.

Rahab in her house.

1. These chambers are places of private prayer - (Matt. 6:6).

In times of trouble there is nothing better, safer and wiser for us to do than to commit ourselves to God in prayer and hide under the shadow of his wings.

2. These chambers of refuge are the Lord God himself (Pro. 18:10).

a. Our Father.

b. The Spirit of our Comforter.

c. The Son our Savior - Illus: Cities of Refuge - (Jos. 20).

d. Child of God, all the perfections of God’s Being are chambers of refuge for your soul - “Thy chambers!”

(1.) His Everlasting Love.

(2.) His Blessed Immutability.

(3.) His Covenant Faithfulness.

(4.) His Almighty Power.

(5.) His Divine Omniscience - “Thou knowest all

things, thou knowest that I love thee!”

This invitation is really a gracious exhortation. God is calling us to peace, composure and tranquility, calmness, quietness and rest - (Phil 4:4-7). Whatever God is pleased to bring to pass in his providence, whatever happens in the world, we have no cause for anxiety or fear. Christ is our Refuge!

3. These chambers may even refer to the graves of the saints.

What is the grave to a believer, but his bed chamber in which he rests and is secluded from evil - (Isa. 57:1-2; Job 14:13). Death is not something for us to fear. Read on -

D. “And shut thy doors about thee.”

· Doors of Doubt.

· Doors of Earthly, Worldly, Carnal Care.

· Doors of Carnal Reason.

· Doors of Temptation.

Note: It would not have done Noah any good to

enter the ark if the door has been left open.

E. “Hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be over-past.”

· Trials are but for “a little moment.”

· This time of indignation will pass.

I have shown you the promise of grace and the invitation of grace. But

III. Thirdly, our text also contains THE WARNING OF GRACE - (v. 21).

“For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place.” As a king leaves his throne to meet his enemies and put down rebellion, so the Lord God will come off his throne of mercy and grace to meet his enemies at the throne of judgment and wrath. Be warned, my friend, there is a day of judgment yet to come.

A. For those who are in the city of refuge, there is nothing to fear.

1. No sin shall be charged against you.

· Christ put them all away - (Jer. 50:20).

· Christ is our Advocate, our Righteousness, our Propitiation.

2. In that great day of judgment, God will declare us righteous (Rev. 14:3-5).

B. But for the inhabitants of the world, no tongue can describe the woe of that day.

· God will judge you for your iniquity.

· No covering shall be found for your sin.

· You will, yourself be made to acknowledge your guilt.

Illus: Old Yeller

Application:

I send you home to face whatever may come to pass tonight, tomorrow, and in the days ahead with these three things to consider.

1. God will save his elect.

2. Christ is the only Refuge for our Souls.

3. When all this is over, there is a judgment bar to face.