Through the Fire

Scripture Text 

Isaiah. 43:1-3a

Intro: God has promised us that no matter what He allows us to face in this life that His grace will be sufficient through it all. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.

I. God says not to be afraid. Isaiah 43:1 (NLT) ¹ But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

 a. Because He has ransomed us. He ransomed us just as He did Israel. We were sold out to Satan and sin. God has bought us back (rescued) us from the devil. He has liberated us from the penalty and bondage of sin through His Son Jesus Christ. Heaven is our final resting place!

  b. He has called each of us by our names when He saved us. We belong to Him.

II. God promises His continual presence with us. Isaiah 43:2 (NLT)
² When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

  a. Through the rivers of difficulty – struggles, troubles, trials, and the stress of this life. Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” He promises to go with us through the valley of the shadow of death. Heb. 13:5 He will not leave us nor forsake us.

  b. Through the fire of oppression and persecution. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego!    Daniel!

  c. Even through death. The gunman who opened fire at Rosebud Oregon’s Community  College targeted Christians specifically, according to the father of a wounded student.

   Before going into spinal surgery, Anastasia Boylan told her father and brother the gunman entered her classroom firing. The professor in the classroom was shot point blank. Others were hit, she told her family.  Everyone in the classroom dropped to the ground. The gunman, while reloading his handgun, ordered the students to stand up if they were Christians, Boylan told her family. "And they would stand up and he said, 'Good, because you're a Christian, you're going to see God in just about one second,'" Boylan's father, Stacy, told CNN, relaying her account.  "And then he shot and killed them."  If victims said they were Christian, “then they were shot in the head. If they said no, or didn’t answer, they were shot in the legs.”

     The Gunman’s disdain for religion was evident in an online profile, in which he became a member of a “doesn’t like organized religion” group on an Internet dating site. We must make up our minds now what we would do if we were faced with the choice of death or denying our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. May we do as these Christians did if called on to do that.

III. God is the Lord. Isaiah 43:3a (NLT) ³ For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Lord) - One who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.

  a. He is the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 40:25-26 (NLT) ²⁵ “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. ²⁶ Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

  b. He is our Savior. 

   1. One that saves from danger or destruction. Psalms 27:1-3 (NLT)
¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? ² When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. ³ Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. We can remain confident knowing that God surrounds us by His Spirit and angels.

      He Spirit also lives in us! Nothing happens apart from God’s knowledge and permission.

 2.  One who brings salvation. 

   A. Made Available in Jesus Christ!  Luke 2:8-11 (NKJV)
⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
¹¹ For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

     We have a special relationship with God because of Jesus’ shed blood and broken body on the cross of Calvary. Jesus established a new covenant for us when He instituted the Lord’s Supper. (Matthew 26:28) We have been made right with God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

 Conclusion: In the shepherd fields near the city of Bethlehem some 2,000 years ago, God became our salvation when Jesus Christ was born. He is the Messiah of Israel and Savior of all Jews and Gentiles that will believe in Him. We need to praise our God and exalt, worship, and honor Him in all we do. We should make up our minds to serve and live for Him no matter whom or what tries to stand in our way or change our mind. It is time for us to stand up for this God, Savior and Lord of ours and begin to seek His presence in our lives as never before.

      Then His grace will be sufficient for all our needs and we will be greatly blessed of God!

Invitation: Is Jesus your Savior and Lord? If not, now is the time to call on His name and ask Him to forgive your sins and save you for His kingdom. If Jesus is your Savior, have you made Him Lord of your life? Lord means one who has authority, control, or power over others.

      Does He have authority, control and power over you? Does He sit on the throne of your heart? May you think seriously about your relationship to God and His Son Jesus Christ and respond accordingly!