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Sermon #46 — Isaiah Series

Title:                           “In That Day”

Text:                            Isaiah 12:1-6

Subject:                     The Day of Grace and Salvation

Date:                          Sunday Evening — March 18, 2018

Readings:     Psalm 80:1-19

                                                            Lindsay Campbell and Rex Bartley

Introduction:

Turn with me to the 12^th chapter of Isaiah’s Gospel. In this 12^th chapter of his prophecy, Isaiah describes the day of divine visitation. If you are taking notes, that is the title of my message: — “In That Day.”. Inspired by God the Holy Spirit, Isaiah used the phrase “in that day” forty-three times — Forty-three times! I presume that Isaiah was talking about and God the Holy Spirit wants us to know about “that day,” when God comes to visit his people in saving mercy.

(Isaiah 12) “And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. (2) Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (3) Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (4) And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. (5) Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (6) Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

An Eternal Work

Without question, the work of our God in redeeming and saving his people is an eternal work. There can be no question about that fact. Long before time began, our great God, in his eternal counsel, purposed to have a people like Christ. This is the will of God. And he sovereignly works all things after the counsel of his own will (Romans 8:28-30; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:11).

·      His Covenant of Grace is called “The Everlasting Covenant” (Hebrews 13:20).

·      His Son is described as “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

·      His People are called “The Elect,” chosen in Christ before the world began (Ephesians 1:4-6).

There is no getting around this fact: Salvation is God’s eternal work. — “Known unto the Lord are all his works from the beginning.” — “The works were finished from the foundation of the world!” Our God declares the end from the beginning. All that he does in time by the power of his grace he did from eternity by the purpose of his grace in sovereign predestination.

One of these days, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Angel of the covenant, shall stand, with one foot on the sea and one foot on the earth, and declare that time shall be no more and that the mystery of God is finished (Revelation 10:6-7).

Then, when Christ comes again, there shall be a new heaven and a new earth. In that great day the dead shall be raised and stand before God. All the elect shall be gathered unto God, holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight. And all the wicked shall be cast into hell. — “This corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). And we shall reign forever with the Lord in everlasting glory (Revelation 21:1-7).

In that day the purpose of God in eternal election and predestination shall be fulfilled (Romans 8:29-31). Those whom he foreknew, though years, and decades, and centuries, and millenniums passed, he will at the appointed time glorify. Salvation is God’s eternal work. It is a work of eternal, immutable, irresistible, sovereign grace.

A Lifelong Work

I also realize that the work of our Lord in redeeming and saving his elect is a lifelong work of grace. We have been saved (in election, redemption, and regeneration), we are being saved (in providence and preservation), and we shall be saved (in resurrection glory). And “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11).

·      The hand of God is upon his elect from the womb to the tomb (Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15).

·      The Lord Jesus Christ is revealed in the heart of the chosen sinner when it pleases God (Galatians 1:15).

Illustration: As God said to Simeon, it can be said, with regard to all his elect, “he shall not see death, before he has seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). (See John 6:37-39, 44-45; 10:16).

(John 6:37-39) “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (39) And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”

(John 6:44-45) “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (45) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”

(John 10:16) “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

·      And once we are born of God, called and saved by grace, it is by the power and grace of God that we are kept in Christ (Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:4-7; Jude 24-25).

(1 Peter 1:3-5) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

(1 Peter 2:4-7) “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.”

We have come to Christ. We are coming to Christ. And by the grace of God we shall come to Christ. God will see to it (Jeremiah 32:38-40).

(Jeremiah 32:38-40) “And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: (39) And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: (40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.”

He will keep me ‘til the river

Rolls its waters at my feet;

Then He’ll bear me safely over,

Where my Savior I shall meet!

“That Day”

Though this glorious, divine work of redemption and salvation is an eternal work, though it is through the good providence of God a continual revelation of Christ, a continual coming to Christ, and a continual growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ, — There is a day of divine visitation, when the sovereign Redeemer is pleased to meet chosen sinners and reveal himself in salvation. Isaiah refers to it as “that day.” — Oh, what a day “that day” is!

Illustration: The Adulterous Woman (John 8)

I am not talking about a twenty-four hour day! You do not need a calendar to mark the time of your conversion. You do not need to remember a time, or place, or day in which you first met the Lord. In fact, if you have to look back to a given event as the proof that you are saved, I promise you, you are not yet saved.

Illustration: Birth Certificate Assurance

But you can mark this down: There is a day of divine visitation. There is a time when the living God gives life, repentance, and faith in Christ to his sheep, by the omnipotent mercy and irresistible grace of his Spirit through the preaching of the gospel of his grace.

Proposition: There is a day appointed when God will meet every chosen, redeemed sinner in saving power and grace.

Let’s see if I can make good on that statement. — There is a day appointed when God will meet every chosen, redeemed sinner in saving power and grace. I believe I can. I’m sure I can. Turn to Ezekiel 16:6-8.

(Ezekiel 16:6-8) “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. (7) I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. (8) Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.”

Illustrations:       Jacob — Moses — Isaiah — Paul

I want us to look at a few passages of Isaiah’s prophecy and notice how this phrase is used — “In that day.” Isaiah uses the words “in that day” to indicate the presence of the Lord and the work of the Lord in redeeming, saving grace. And he tells us five things about “that day.”

Holy Spirit Conviction

1^st — In Isaiah 2:11-12 and 17, the prophet shows us that the day of divine visitation is a day of Holy Spirit conviction.

(Isaiah 2:11-12) “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. (12) For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.”

(Isaiah 2:17) “And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.”

When God the Holy Spirit comes into a sinner’s heart in saving power and grace he always comes to reprove and convict. He reproves and convinces all whom he calls “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). Where there is no conviction, there is no conversion. Where there is no reproof, there is no regeneration. If you have never experienced Holy Ghost conviction, you have never experienced Holy Ghost salvation.

·      Judgment always precedes grace!

·      Emptying always comes before filling!

·      Humbling always comes before exaltation!

·      Stripping always precedes clothing!

·      God always kills before he makes alive.

When God visits his people in grace, whether in regeneration or in revival, he humbles man and exalts himself! Until you have been humbled before him and Christ has been exalted in your eyes, you have not experienced God’s salvation. — This convicting work of God the Spirit is threefold:

(John 16:7-11) “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: (9) Of sin, because they believe not on me; (10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

1. He convicts us of our sin. – UNBELIEF!
2. He convicts us of Christ’s righteousness. – Righteousness accomplished, “because I go to my Father.”
3. He convicts us of accomplished redemption, of God’s judgment of sin and satisfaction made for sin in the death of Christ. – Judgment Finished (Romans 8:1).

Gracious Revelation

2^nd — Now turn to Isaiah 11:10, and you will see that the day of divine visitation is a day of gracious revelation.

(Isaiah 11:10) “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”

In order for us to have faith in Christ, Christ must be revealed in us. We cannot trust an unknown, unrevealed Christ. He is revealed to us and in us by his Spirit through the Word.

            Illustration: The Woman at the Well (John 4)

                                                                                    Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9; Galatians 1)

Our Savior is called by many names. He is: — The Root of Jesse, — The Seed of Woman, — That Prophet, — The Priest, — The King, — The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, — The Rose of Sharon, — The Son of David, — The Banner (Ensign) of the People (Isaiah 9:6).

(Isaiah 9:6) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Once he is revealed we look to him; and looking to him we find that his rest is glorious!

·      His Rest as Our Mediator. — “His rest is his glory.”

·      Our Rest in Him. – Christ our Sabbath (Matthew 11:28-30)

Saving Faith

3^rd — In Isaiah 25:9, we see that the day of divine visitation is a day of saving faith. This saving faith, that faith spoken of in the Word of God, true faith is the gift of God, the operation of his grace. Faith in Christ is the result of Holy Spirit conviction in the revelation of Christ.

(Isaiah 25:9) “And 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.”

When Christ is revealed in the heart, faith is born in the heart. Faith is born of and rests upon the revelation of Christ in our hearts (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).

(2 Corinthians 4:3-6) “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: (4) In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (5) For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

Illustrations:       Simeon — “Mine eyes have seen

thy salvation!”

                                                                                                Thomas — “My Lord and my God!”

                                                                                                Paul — “Lord, what wilt thou

have me to do?”

·      Faith in Christ is more than embracing a doctrine!

·      Faith in Christ is more than making a profession!

·      Faith in Christ is more than coming to a position!

·      Faith in Christ is more than reforming a misspent life!

·      Faith in Christ is submitting to, trusting, and embracing a Person! — “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.”

Salvation is knowing, trusting, loving, following, obeying a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is not a theory! He is not a doctrine! He is not a creed! He is a Person!

·      “Christ is all and in all.”

·      “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

·      “Til Christ be formed in you.”

·      “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet, not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Joyful Assurance

4^th — Isaiah tells us in chapter 26 verses 1-4, that the day of divine visitation is a day of joyful assurance.

(Isaiah 26:1-4) “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. (2) Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. (3) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

In that day of conviction, revelation, and faith, God’s elect have a song to sing and a rock upon which to rest, whatever the trial (2 Timothy 1:12; 4:6-8). It is faith in Christ that gives a joyful assurance to the heart.

(2 Timothy 1:9-11) God “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, (10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (11) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”

(2 Timothy 1:12) “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

(2 Timothy 4:6-8) “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. (7) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (8) Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

·      We have a strong City of Refuge.

·      We are surrounded by the walls of salvation (Romans 8:28-30).

·      We have entered the gates of life.

·      We are kept in perfect peace by faith.

·      The Lord, Jehovah, is our Rock.

“My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness:

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand.”

Heartfelt Praise

5^th — Once more, in Isaiah 12:1-6, we see that the day of divine visitation is a day of heartfelt praise.

(Isaiah 12:1-6) “And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. (2) Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (3) Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (4) And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. (5) Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (6) Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

When the Lord God visits his elect with saving grace, they praise him with joyful hearts and praise him alone. No flesh will ever glory in his presence. Those who know the Lord, those who are visited by the Lord, glory in the Lord (Psalm 115:1; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

(Psalms 115:1) “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”

(1 Corinthians 1:26-31) “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence. (30) 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.”

I will glory in the Lord, because…

1.    He is my Comforter (v. 1).

(Isaiah 12:1) “And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.”

2.    He is my Salvation (v. 2).

(Isaiah 12:2) “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”

“Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and not be afraid.”

• The Lord Jehovah is my Strength.
• The Lord Jehovah is my Song.
• The Lord Jehovah is my Salvation.

3.    He is my Supply (v. 3).

(Isaiah 12:3) “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”

Christ is the Fountain of Living Water — “My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13).

Drawing from Christ the Water of Life, I am both full and overflowing (John 7:37-39).

(John 7:37-39) “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

4.    He is my Testimony (v. 4).

(Isaiah 12:4) “And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.”

This is my confession. This is my testimony. This is my counsel to you…

• Praise the Lord!
• Call upon his name!
• Declare his doings among the people!
• Make mention that his name is exalted!

5.    Once more, I will glory in the Lord because he is my message (vv. 5-6).

(Isaiah 12:5-6) “Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (6) Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

“Great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee!” — “He shall be great.” — “How great thou art!”

• Great in His Person!
• Great in His Purpose!
• Great in His Propitiation!
• Great in His Pardon!

• Great in His Preservation!

Application

The Day of Divine Visitation is:

1.    A Day of Conviction!

2.    A Day of Revelation!

3.    A Day of Faith!

4.    A Day of Assurance!

5.    A Day of Praise!

It begins the moment a sinner is born again by God’s almighty grace in Christ. It begins the moment the Daystar rises in your heart. It begins as soon as the Sun of Righteousness arises in your soul, with healing beneath his wings. And that day shall never end. It only grows brighter and brighter, until at last we reach that glorious land of eternal day, in which there is no darkness at all. May it please God to visit you and make this day for your soul the day of divine visitation for Christ’s sake.

Amen.

Don Fortner

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