Rsbc
Sept 23, 2001
Sunday Night
The Book of Isaiah
Subject- “ The Wonderful News of Salvation”
Text- Isaiah 40: 9-11
Intro- Last Sunday evening we saw the wonderful news of the forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ and the news of his glory being revealed to all flesh, and the permanent word of the Lord. This lesson tonight begins with the continuation of that message and it is about Christ bringing salvation to his people:
“The word Zion” means the parched place; it is often used especially in the Old Testament as a substitute name for Jerusalem. It would be out of the parched places of Zion the goods news of the saviour would originate. They had the great responsibility of telling the story of Christ.
John the Baptist: the teller of the news of the saviour the GOD that was to come, in fact he said BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD he told this in Jerusalem: my friends tonight they had a great message to proclaim, and we have a great message to proclaim.
1st. It was to be proclaimed with strength: vs 9
this strength was the strength of the LORD not their own strength. Paul when writing to Timothy said: Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
2nd. It was to be proclaimed with their voice: vs 9
The Lord hath created the voice to preach his word, it is our voices that we need to use to spread the good news of Sion, it is the gospel of hope, it is the everlasting gospel, it is the only gospel, it is the powerful gospel, it the enduring gospel, it is the gospel of the grace of GOD, it is the gospel of Christ Jesus our Lord, it will outlast all other gospels so-called. In fact it is the one and same gospel that GOD preached to Abraham.
3rd. It was a message to be proclaimed without fear: vs 9
The Lord Jesus over and over said to his flock these wonderful words of encouragement...
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Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
4th. It was a message to be proclaimed specially about the LORD: vs 9
a. It was a message with a promise: vs 10 “ Your God will come”
b. It was a message of how he would come: “with a strong hand”
c. It was a message of his intent when he came: “his arm shall rule for him”
d. It was a message of his reward and his work:
Isaiah 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward [is] with him, and his work before him.
The initial work of the saviour is clear to me; it was the work of redemption to save his people by giving his life for them. He did that and it was done in Zion, he opened the fountain in Jerusalem for sin and for cleansing.
Peter said: it was a predetermined work that our God did, Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
e. It was a message that he was to be a Shepherd: vs 11
This is proven by the fact that he has a flock; in the new testament he is called the Shepherd:
Smitten Shepherd: Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
Good and Giving Shepherd: John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Great shepherd: Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
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Chief Shepherd: 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
F. It was a message of what he was going to do: vs 11
In this message he was going to do four things...for his people the elect of God and that is what we will close with.
1st. He will feed his flock:
Which means that he was to take care of the whole needs of the flock, he would shepherd his flock he would tend to them, he would watch over them, he would protect them.
2nd. He would gather his flock: “ here they are called lambs which is the young and the tender ones.
Jesus ask Peter: John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
3rd. He would carry his flock:
This speaks of the tenderness of the shepherd for the sheep. They often need to be carried by the Lord. They need his tender loving care, the Apostle Peter said casting all your care upon him for he careth for thee...
4th. He shall lead his flock:
a. Of the children of Israel: Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
Isaiah 42:16 And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
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God leads us sometimes with supplication:
Jeremiah 31:9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim [is] my firstborn.
Close with Psalms 23
Psalm 23:1‑6 A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.