NEW YEAR'S SERMON- PRECIOUS PROMISES FOR YOUR JOURNEY

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 PRECIOUS PROMISES FOR YOUR JOURNEY


Isa. 41:8-10
Isaiah 41:8-10 8"But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend, 9I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are my servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 10So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Introduction: 

Ill. The Context. 
God is confronting the heathen for their idolatry, but is comforting Israel concerning their relationship with Himself. In these 3 verses, God gives us, His children, some reasons to be encouraged. Some may say, "I don’t have anything to be happy about, it just seems that everything is against me." Thank God, even when we forget His promises, He still remembers. (Ill. Old man, who was dying, couldn’t remember God’s promises, but was reminded that God never forgets.) In these verses, God gives you, His children, some precious promises for your journey.
The question may come to mind, "Why does God promises us anything? After all, it is us who ought to be promising Him things." Well, it doesn’t work like that. When we get saved, we begin to live under the economy of grace. From a human standpoint nothing God does makes very much sense, (Ill. Some things He does.) Why does He do this? Notice verses 8-9, He picked us, we did not choose Him. Therefore, He will do everything to see that we are looked after in our journey.
With this in mind, notice these precious promises that God has given you for your journey.

I. THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE

A. His Presence Is Powerful – His presence has the power to drive away fear – 2 Tim. 1:7.
B. His Presence Is Personal – Matt. 28:20. (Ill. Not an angel, but the Lord Himself – John 6:20 – the "I AM." not I WAS, or I Will BE) Ill. New Chinese believer named Lo who found Matt. 28:20 and took it personally.
C. His Presence Is Perpetual – Heb. 13:5 – Ill. Where life can lead, still never alone!

II. THE PROMISE OF HIS PERSON

A. There Is A Relationship – (Thy) This is personal. (Ill. I need to know what He can do for me.)
B. There Is A Realization – He is GOD! He can do anything! (Ill. Eph. 3:20; Job 42:2; Luke 1:37; Psa. 115:3**)
C. There Is A Reality – (Ill. "Dismayed" – To look anxiously about.) If God is my God, and He is an able God, then why do need to fear, fret or faint? My God is on the throne! (Ill. His mighty deeds. He hasn’t changed! – Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8) (Ill. We need to remember just who He is!)
 If God is my God, and He is an able God, then why do need to fear, fret or faint? My God is on the throne! There is a place of quiet rest, Near to the heart of God.
A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee, Near to the heart of God. There is a place of comfort sweet, Near to the heart of God.
A place where we our Savior meet, Near to the heart of God. There is a place of full release, Near to the heart of God.
A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God. 

III. THE PROMISE OF HIS POWER

(God’s promise here is three-fold. Ill. Yea = "Surely" There are three aspects of His power that we can count on.)
A. He Will Strengthen Us – He will give us the power to see every duty and every day to it’s conclusion. There will be grace and strength for every need – 2 Cor. 12:9; Isa. 40:13.
B. He Will Support Us – He will give us what we need, when we need it, in the exact proportions that we require it – Phil. 4:19. (Ill. Psalm 23:1-6 – The statement of verse 1 is explained.)
C. He Will Sustain Us – God will keep us and get us safely through the journey until we all reach Heaven, Ill. Vv. 9, 17. God did not save us to abandon us along the way – 1 Pet. 1:5, (Ill. Present, Passive, Participle) (Ill. The Egyptian in 1 Sam. 30:11-13 – God doesn’t operate like that! Ill. Phil. 1:6; 1 Thes. 5:23) Ill. That’s my kind of guarantee!

FINAL CHALLENGE: 

I praise the Lord for His promises! Don’t you? However, let’s be honest, we do not all live like we believe these things, do we? Tonight might be a good night for you to come before the Lord and thank Him for His perfect Word and the promises it contains. Just to thank Him for being faithful and dependable. Perhaps you need to come down here and get forgiveness for your lack of faith in Him and His promises.

Our journey may be long, or it might be short. Whatever the length of it, or whatever we may face, I am thankful that we can count on God and His promises during our journey.

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