1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:02,840 Opening Bible of Isaiah 53 2 00:00:02,840 –> 00:00:06,940 You listening to a sermon from Pastor Collins Smith of Open the Bible. 3 00:00:06,940 –> 00:00:12,500 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN365, 4 00:00:12,500 –> 00:00:15,860 or visit our website www.openthebible.org. 5 00:00:16,459 –> 00:00:19,240 Let’s get to the message, here is Pastor Collins. 6 00:00:19,459 –> 00:00:23,959 Well, please open your Bible at Isaiah and Chapter 53. 7 00:00:23,959 –> 00:00:26,900 We are beginning today a new series 8 00:00:26,900 –> 00:00:33,000 in one of the best known and best loved chapters in all of the Bible. 9 00:00:33,439 –> 00:00:38,439 Now, H Spurgeon described this chapter, Isaiah 53, 10 00:00:38,439 –> 00:00:41,599 as the Bible in miniature. 11 00:00:42,459 –> 00:00:46,340 No chapter in the Bible explains more clearly 12 00:00:46,340 –> 00:00:49,139 why Jesus Christ had to come into the world. 13 00:00:49,799 –> 00:00:53,799 And no chapter in the Bible explains more fully 14 00:00:53,799 –> 00:00:56,340 what Jesus accomplished in his birth, 15 00:00:56,340 –> 00:01:01,160 in his life, in his death, in his resurrection and in his ascension. 16 00:01:01,799 –> 00:01:07,800 There are 12 verses in this wonderful 53rd chapter of Isaiah. 17 00:01:08,139 –> 00:01:09,839 You’ll see if you look at the chapter 18 00:01:09,839 –> 00:01:14,699 that the first six verses explain why we need a Saviour. 19 00:01:15,059 –> 00:01:17,459 They show us first our unbelief. 20 00:01:17,940 –> 00:01:21,800 They show us our desire, our verdict about Jesus, 21 00:01:21,800 –> 00:01:27,199 our sorrows, our transgressions, and our iniquity. 22 00:01:27,199 –> 00:01:28,660 Why we need Jesus. 23 00:01:28,660 –> 00:01:31,540 That’s the first half of this amazing chapter. 24 00:01:32,239 –> 00:01:36,599 And the last six verses of Isaiah in chapter 53 25 00:01:36,599 –> 00:01:40,239 show us why Jesus is the Saviour that we need. 26 00:01:40,760 –> 00:01:42,639 We’ll look at his silence 27 00:01:42,639 –> 00:01:46,699 and his submission in the face of false accusation. 28 00:01:47,099 –> 00:01:51,160 His death, his burial, his resurrection, 29 00:01:51,160 –> 00:01:57,660 his satisfaction, and then his glorious and marvelous triumph. 30 00:01:57,660 –> 00:02:04,760 Now, why spend all this time in Isaiah Chapter 53? 31 00:02:04,760 –> 00:02:09,419 Well, the answer to that question is that this chapter 32 00:02:09,419 –> 00:02:13,699 can lead you to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 33 00:02:13,699 –> 00:02:17,860 And we know this because in the New Testament 34 00:02:18,059 –> 00:02:23,000 we have the story of a man introduced as a court official 35 00:02:23,000 –> 00:02:26,899 of Candice Queen of the Ethiopians, 36 00:02:26,899 –> 00:02:31,399 who was in charge of all her treasure. 37 00:02:31,399 –> 00:02:35,820 So this man was the Queen’s treasurer. 38 00:02:35,820 –> 00:02:42,199 He was the chief financial officer of an entire nation. 39 00:02:42,199 –> 00:02:45,860 I’m going to call him for that reason, the chancellor. 40 00:02:45,860 –> 00:02:47,339 And a person who has a job 41 00:02:47,339 –> 00:02:50,639 like this is obviously brilliant. 42 00:02:50,639 –> 00:02:53,500 This man was clearly, highly educated. 43 00:02:53,500 –> 00:02:55,660 He was skilled in investments. 44 00:02:55,660 –> 00:02:59,559 He was a master of fiscal policy. 45 00:02:59,559 –> 00:03:01,160 He has all the trappings of course, 46 00:03:01,160 –> 00:03:03,199 that come with a successful career. 47 00:03:03,199 –> 00:03:08,199 He rides first class in his own personal chariot. 48 00:03:09,800 –> 00:03:14,800 Now in his hand, this man has a scroll 49 00:03:14,800 –> 00:03:16,839 with the words of the prophet Isaiah, 50 00:03:16,839 –> 00:03:20,360 the words that are in front of us today, 51 00:03:20,360 –> 00:03:22,699 and the scroll we’re told was open 52 00:03:22,699 –> 00:03:27,059 at these verses that we’re looking at in Isaiah chapter 53. 53 00:03:28,080 –> 00:03:30,899 God sent a believer by the name of Phillip 54 00:03:30,899 –> 00:03:34,800 to meet this man the chancellor in the desert. 55 00:03:34,800 –> 00:03:36,679 And Phillip asked him, 56 00:03:36,679 –> 00:03:39,020 do you understand what you’re reading? 57 00:03:39,919 –> 00:03:42,539 To which the chancellor said, well, how can I 58 00:03:42,539 –> 00:03:45,679 unless someone explains it to me? 59 00:03:46,839 –> 00:03:51,839 So Phillip joined the chancellor in his chariot, 60 00:03:51,940 –> 00:03:53,960 and here are two men then 61 00:03:53,960 –> 00:03:58,960 with the words of Isaiah 53 in front of them. 62 00:03:59,240 –> 00:04:01,059 And the chancellor asked Phillip, 63 00:04:01,059 –> 00:04:03,580 now who’s the prophet speaking about, 64 00:04:03,580 –> 00:04:05,639 is the prophet speaking about himself 65 00:04:05,639 –> 00:04:08,259 or is he speaking about someone else? 66 00:04:08,380 –> 00:04:12,199 And then the scripture says Phillip opened his mouth. 67 00:04:13,139 –> 00:04:15,660 And beginning with this scripture, 68 00:04:15,660 –> 00:04:18,119 what we’re looking at here in Isaiah 53, 69 00:04:18,119 –> 00:04:23,119 he told him the good news about Jesus. 70 00:04:23,500 –> 00:04:24,959 So very clearly, 71 00:04:24,959 –> 00:04:29,959 this chapter is all about the good news of Jesus Christ. 72 00:04:31,440 –> 00:04:33,359 Isaiah tells us in this chapter 73 00:04:33,359 –> 00:04:37,799 what Jesus Christ accomplished when he died on the cross. 74 00:04:37,799 –> 00:04:39,579 Look at verse five. 75 00:04:39,579 –> 00:04:43,019 He was pierced for our transgressions. 76 00:04:43,019 –> 00:04:47,299 He was crushed for our iniquities. 77 00:04:47,299 –> 00:04:51,679 Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. 78 00:04:51,679 –> 00:04:55,399 And with his wounds, we are healed. 79 00:04:56,459 –> 00:05:01,459 See, in the Gospels, we’re told what men did to Jesus. 80 00:05:02,799 –> 00:05:05,839 The Gospels tell us that a crown of thorns 81 00:05:05,859 –> 00:05:08,880 was forced onto his head, 82 00:05:08,880 –> 00:05:10,660 that he was nailed to a cross, 83 00:05:10,660 –> 00:05:14,779 that people mocked him as he hung and as he suffered there. 84 00:05:16,339 –> 00:05:21,339 But Isaiah takes us inside what God was doing at the cross. 85 00:05:23,679 –> 00:05:26,320 He tells us with stunning clarity 86 00:05:26,320 –> 00:05:30,779 that God was laying the sins that would have condemned us 87 00:05:30,779 –> 00:05:33,140 on His Son Jesus Christ, 88 00:05:33,140 –> 00:05:35,399 and that through Jesus, 89 00:05:35,839 –> 00:05:39,140 that is peace with God for us 90 00:05:39,140 –> 00:05:42,700 and reconciliation with the Father. 91 00:05:43,559 –> 00:05:44,839 And then Isaiah tells us 92 00:05:44,839 –> 00:05:48,339 not only what Jesus accomplished through his death, 93 00:05:48,339 –> 00:05:52,079 but what Jesus accomplishes through His resurrection. 94 00:05:52,079 –> 00:05:56,380 Verse 10, he shall see his offspring. 95 00:05:56,380 –> 00:05:58,920 He shall prolong his days. 96 00:05:58,920 –> 00:06:03,299 The will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 97 00:06:03,299 –> 00:06:04,859 You see what Isaiah is telling us. 98 00:06:04,959 –> 00:06:09,260 Jesus is going to gather a great family. 99 00:06:09,260 –> 00:06:12,160 A family of people who come to be His 100 00:06:12,160 –> 00:06:16,320 from every nation across the face of the earth. 101 00:06:16,320 –> 00:06:19,239 These people are going to live forever. 102 00:06:19,239 –> 00:06:24,239 Their days will be prolonged as Jesus lives forever. 103 00:06:24,540 –> 00:06:27,320 God’s great plan to bring blessing 104 00:06:27,320 –> 00:06:29,100 to the nations of the world 105 00:06:29,100 –> 00:06:34,079 will be accomplished in and through Jesus Christ. 106 00:06:34,200 –> 00:06:37,299 And Isaiah tells us not only what Jesus will accomplish 107 00:06:37,299 –> 00:06:39,920 through his death and through his resurrection, 108 00:06:39,920 –> 00:06:41,359 but what he will accomplish 109 00:06:41,359 –> 00:06:44,299 when he returns in power and in glory. 110 00:06:44,299 –> 00:06:45,160 Look at verse 12, 111 00:06:45,160 –> 00:06:49,559 therefore, I will divide him a portion 112 00:06:49,559 –> 00:06:54,559 with the many, and he shall divide the spoil 113 00:06:54,679 –> 00:06:57,679 with the strong. 114 00:06:57,679 –> 00:07:01,679 Now we’re told in Acts In Chapter 8 in the New Testament, 115 00:07:01,820 –> 00:07:06,339 the beginning with this extraordinary chapter of scripture, 116 00:07:06,339 –> 00:07:10,720 Isaiah 53, Philip told the chancellor 117 00:07:10,720 –> 00:07:14,720 the good news about Jesus Christ. 118 00:07:14,720 –> 00:07:17,559 And through what he learned about Jesus 119 00:07:17,559 –> 00:07:21,559 from this chapter, Isaiah 53, 120 00:07:21,559 –> 00:07:26,559 he came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 121 00:07:26,559 –> 00:07:28,040 He was baptized. 122 00:07:28,980 –> 00:07:31,079 And the Bible tells us that this man, 123 00:07:31,119 –> 00:07:33,600 the CFO of a nation having believed 124 00:07:33,600 –> 00:07:35,480 in the Lord Jesus Christ, 125 00:07:35,480 –> 00:07:39,000 went on his way rejoicing. 126 00:07:40,220 –> 00:07:43,179 Now my prayer for this series 127 00:07:44,019 –> 00:07:46,760 is that what happened to the chancellor 128 00:07:47,859 –> 00:07:50,299 will happen for us. 129 00:07:50,299 –> 00:07:53,700 That we will see what Jesus accomplished 130 00:07:53,700 –> 00:07:55,000 from this chapter, 131 00:07:55,899 –> 00:07:59,320 and that seeing what the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished, 132 00:07:59,320 –> 00:08:04,320 we will find great joy in receiving what he offers. 133 00:08:07,119 –> 00:08:09,880 Now we begin today in verse one, 134 00:08:09,880 –> 00:08:13,799 where Isaiah tells us that unbelief 135 00:08:13,799 –> 00:08:18,600 is the natural response to the good news about Jesus. 136 00:08:18,600 –> 00:08:22,799 Remember that the first six verses of this chapter 137 00:08:22,799 –> 00:08:27,480 are all pointing to why we need a savior. 138 00:08:27,480 –> 00:08:30,380 And the first reason that we need a savior 139 00:08:30,380 –> 00:08:34,679 is that by nature, none of us believes. 140 00:08:35,500 –> 00:08:40,039 Who has believed what he has heard from us? 141 00:08:41,500 –> 00:08:46,500 And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 142 00:08:47,400 –> 00:08:50,059 That’s the verse that’s before us today. 143 00:08:50,059 –> 00:08:52,000 And I want us to look at it together 144 00:08:52,000 –> 00:08:55,340 from three distinct angles. 145 00:08:55,380 –> 00:08:56,539 We’re going to see first 146 00:08:56,539 –> 00:08:59,559 what you need to know about unbelief. 147 00:09:00,500 –> 00:09:02,640 Then we’re going to see through this verse 148 00:09:02,640 –> 00:09:05,719 what you need to know about faith. 149 00:09:05,719 –> 00:09:08,619 And then thirdly, we’re going to see from this verse 150 00:09:08,619 –> 00:09:10,659 and more broadly in scripture 151 00:09:10,659 –> 00:09:15,520 what you need to know about how to come to faith 152 00:09:15,520 –> 00:09:17,419 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 153 00:09:18,419 –> 00:09:23,419 First, then, what you need to know about unbelief. 154 00:09:23,700 –> 00:09:24,580 Look at this verse. 155 00:09:24,599 –> 00:09:29,599 Who has believed what he has heard from us? 156 00:09:33,179 –> 00:09:36,099 Now, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ 157 00:09:36,099 –> 00:09:38,859 was announced by angels 158 00:09:38,859 –> 00:09:43,859 as good news of great joy for all people. 159 00:09:45,140 –> 00:09:47,419 And you would think that the greatest good news 160 00:09:47,419 –> 00:09:49,020 that this world has ever heard 161 00:09:49,020 –> 00:09:51,619 would be received in this world gladly, 162 00:09:52,460 –> 00:09:57,460 but across the world, in every culture, 163 00:09:57,479 –> 00:10:02,299 the dominant response to the gospel is unbelief. 164 00:10:04,020 –> 00:10:07,080 The first thing therefore that you need to know 165 00:10:07,080 –> 00:10:10,000 about unbelief is that it is normal. 166 00:10:11,760 –> 00:10:16,760 Think about it, a student goes off to university 167 00:10:17,280 –> 00:10:22,280 on a campus where there are 20,000 students. 168 00:10:23,320 –> 00:10:27,739 The vast majority of them are not Christians. 169 00:10:29,200 –> 00:10:32,140 And her closest friends don’t believe. 170 00:10:32,140 –> 00:10:34,659 They’re really good people. 171 00:10:35,679 –> 00:10:38,320 And over time, as she looks at them 172 00:10:38,320 –> 00:10:40,960 and ponders the way in which she’s been brought up, 173 00:10:40,960 –> 00:10:42,919 she begins to think, you know, 174 00:10:42,919 –> 00:10:46,619 I must’ve been brought up in some kind of a cocoon. 175 00:10:47,760 –> 00:10:51,799 I must’ve been raised in a kind of religious bubble. 176 00:10:51,799 –> 00:10:53,419 I mean, after all, 177 00:10:53,419 –> 00:10:56,440 who is there on this campus who has believed 178 00:10:56,440 –> 00:10:58,919 what I have heard? 179 00:10:58,919 –> 00:11:02,679 Well, that’s the question at the beginning of this verse. 180 00:11:04,679 –> 00:11:08,500 I think about a young pastor is very eager. 181 00:11:09,960 –> 00:11:14,080 He goes to plant a church in a town of, 182 00:11:14,559 –> 00:11:16,880 let’s say, 100,000 people. 183 00:11:17,700 –> 00:11:21,280 He wants with all his heart to win the town 184 00:11:21,280 –> 00:11:25,640 for Jesus Christ, and he preaches his heart out. 185 00:11:26,840 –> 00:11:28,919 He starts a sports ministry. 186 00:11:28,919 –> 00:11:31,299 He starts a children’s ministry, men’s ministry, 187 00:11:31,299 –> 00:11:33,900 women’s ministry, evangelistic Bible studied. 188 00:11:33,900 –> 00:11:35,619 At the end of five years, 189 00:11:35,619 –> 00:11:39,299 he has a congregation of just 50 people. 190 00:11:40,260 –> 00:11:45,260 Most people in the town don’t want his message. 191 00:11:46,700 –> 00:11:50,200 And eventually he begins to doubt himself, 192 00:11:51,580 –> 00:11:53,219 if this is really true, 193 00:11:53,219 –> 00:11:56,599 why is it that so few people believe it? 194 00:11:58,659 –> 00:12:00,260 What am I doing wrong? 195 00:12:01,739 –> 00:12:03,419 Why are people not responding? 196 00:12:03,419 –> 00:12:07,700 He’s asking the question of Isaiah 53, verse one, 197 00:12:07,700 –> 00:12:12,380 who has believed what they have heard from us? 198 00:12:14,659 –> 00:12:17,140 Unbelief should never surprise you. 199 00:12:19,119 –> 00:12:22,599 We live in an unbelieving world, 200 00:12:23,799 –> 00:12:28,760 the human heart is wired for unbelief, 201 00:12:28,760 –> 00:12:33,239 that is actually the first effect of sin on us. 202 00:12:34,340 –> 00:12:36,900 First Corinthians chapter two, in verse 14, 203 00:12:36,919 –> 00:12:38,400 the apostle Paul says, 204 00:12:38,400 –> 00:12:43,400 the natural person does not accept the things 205 00:12:43,940 –> 00:12:48,940 of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, 206 00:12:48,940 –> 00:12:53,340 seems like foolishness, so the natural person. 207 00:12:53,340 –> 00:12:55,780 And he is not able to understand them 208 00:12:55,780 –> 00:12:59,619 because they are spiritually discerned. 209 00:13:00,700 –> 00:13:04,659 Now you see, that is exactly what Isaiah experienced 210 00:13:04,659 –> 00:13:07,080 and exactly what he is describing here 211 00:13:07,080 –> 00:13:08,900 in chapter 53 and verse one, 212 00:13:08,900 –> 00:13:12,859 who has believed what he has heard from us? 213 00:13:15,780 –> 00:13:19,700 Now, I think that it would be hard to present 214 00:13:20,679 –> 00:13:25,679 God’s word more persuasively than was done by Isaiah. 215 00:13:26,900 –> 00:13:28,059 I mean, think about it. 216 00:13:28,059 –> 00:13:32,780 Isaiah spoke under the direct inspiration 217 00:13:32,780 –> 00:13:35,520 of the Holy Spirit of God. 218 00:13:36,559 –> 00:13:40,380 And yet the dominant response to this man’s ministry 219 00:13:41,539 –> 00:13:42,619 was unbelief. 220 00:13:43,859 –> 00:13:47,520 Who has believed what they have heard from us? 221 00:13:47,520 –> 00:13:48,380 He says. 222 00:13:50,000 –> 00:13:54,099 Now, these very important words in Isaiah 53 223 00:13:54,099 –> 00:13:58,239 are actually quoted twice in the New Testament, 224 00:13:58,239 –> 00:14:00,640 and that’s very significant. 225 00:14:00,640 –> 00:14:03,739 First, they’re quoted by the Apostle Paul. 226 00:14:03,739 –> 00:14:06,400 Romans, chapter 10, and verse 14, 227 00:14:07,419 –> 00:14:08,280 Paul writes, 228 00:14:08,280 –> 00:14:10,559 how beautiful are the feet 229 00:14:10,559 –> 00:14:13,380 of those who preach the good news, 230 00:14:14,219 –> 00:14:17,140 but they have not all obeyed the gospel 231 00:14:17,140 –> 00:14:18,460 for Isaiah says, 232 00:14:20,440 –> 00:14:21,280 Lord, 233 00:14:22,320 –> 00:14:25,900 who has believed what he has heard from us? 234 00:14:27,559 –> 00:14:29,979 Now, why does the Apostle Paul 235 00:14:30,919 –> 00:14:34,260 quote these words from Isaiah, chapter 53 and verse one? 236 00:14:34,260 –> 00:14:35,840 Well, very simply for this reason, 237 00:14:35,840 –> 00:14:40,000 Paul was the leading pioneer missionary of his day. 238 00:14:40,919 –> 00:14:45,280 He preached the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. 239 00:14:46,340 –> 00:14:47,840 Everywhere he went, 240 00:14:47,840 –> 00:14:50,140 there were some people who came to faith 241 00:14:50,140 –> 00:14:51,760 in the Lord Jesus Christ, 242 00:14:51,760 –> 00:14:54,840 but this man quotes the prophet Isaiah 243 00:14:54,840 –> 00:14:58,419 because he also found that the overwhelming response 244 00:14:58,460 –> 00:15:01,580 to the gospel wherever he went was unbelief 245 00:15:03,880 –> 00:15:06,179 and then even more striking 246 00:15:07,760 –> 00:15:09,460 is that this was the experience 247 00:15:09,460 –> 00:15:12,099 of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. 248 00:15:14,900 –> 00:15:19,159 John says in chapter 12, verse 37 of his gospel, 249 00:15:19,159 –> 00:15:23,280 that though Jesus had done so many signs before them, 250 00:15:23,280 –> 00:15:27,580 they still did not believe in him. 251 00:15:27,580 –> 00:15:32,580 So that the words spoken by the Prophet Isaiah 252 00:15:34,219 –> 00:15:35,820 might be fulfilled, 253 00:15:36,659 –> 00:15:41,659 Lord who has believed what he has heard from us 254 00:15:43,299 –> 00:15:48,119 and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed. 255 00:15:50,020 –> 00:15:54,640 Now, try and let this settle into your mind and heart 256 00:15:55,640 –> 00:16:00,640 because you see, optimistic people like to think 257 00:16:01,460 –> 00:16:04,960 that the only reason people don’t believe 258 00:16:04,960 –> 00:16:07,400 is that they haven’t heard a sufficiently compelling 259 00:16:07,400 –> 00:16:09,359 presentation of the Gospel. 260 00:16:11,039 –> 00:16:15,559 But no one could hear a more compelling presentation 261 00:16:15,559 –> 00:16:18,659 of the Gospel than was given by Isaiah, 262 00:16:19,619 –> 00:16:24,619 by the apostle Paul or by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. 263 00:16:28,059 –> 00:16:30,900 And yet it’s clear in the scripture 264 00:16:30,900 –> 00:16:34,580 that the overwhelming response to the ministry of Isaiah, 265 00:16:34,580 –> 00:16:37,020 the ministry of Paul and the ministry of Jesus, 266 00:16:37,020 –> 00:16:38,280 the overwhelming response is what? 267 00:16:38,280 –> 00:16:39,900 Unbelief. 268 00:16:42,059 –> 00:16:44,559 Unbelief should not surprise us. 269 00:16:45,400 –> 00:16:49,840 It is the normal human response 270 00:16:49,840 –> 00:16:53,159 to the gospel however well presented. 271 00:16:55,760 –> 00:16:59,460 Now, the second thing that you need to know about unbelief 272 00:17:00,700 –> 00:17:02,440 is that it is sinful. 273 00:17:03,960 –> 00:17:07,680 Now I wonder, you know, when you hear the word sin, 274 00:17:07,680 –> 00:17:10,439 what comes first to your mind? 275 00:17:10,439 –> 00:17:13,280 Murder, adultery, 276 00:17:13,800 –> 00:17:16,579 stealing, lying. 277 00:17:17,760 –> 00:17:22,579 Well these are all sins against the 10 commandments. 278 00:17:23,839 –> 00:17:26,439 But suppose for a moment 279 00:17:26,439 –> 00:17:30,280 that you were able to keep these commandments, 280 00:17:30,280 –> 00:17:32,280 that you were always faithful, 281 00:17:33,239 –> 00:17:35,959 that you were always content, 282 00:17:35,959 –> 00:17:39,920 that you never stole and that you never lied, 283 00:17:39,920 –> 00:17:42,540 not a single time, not in your entire life. 284 00:17:44,040 –> 00:17:46,900 Now, the Bible is very clear 285 00:17:48,000 –> 00:17:52,040 that even if you had been able 286 00:17:52,040 –> 00:17:56,479 to love your neighbor as yourself throughout your life, 287 00:17:57,599 –> 00:18:01,239 if you remained in unbelief, 288 00:18:01,239 –> 00:18:04,400 you would be lost forever. 289 00:18:05,859 –> 00:18:08,959 And that is made very clear at the end of the Bible 290 00:18:08,959 –> 00:18:12,160 in the book of Revelation and chapter 21, 291 00:18:12,199 –> 00:18:13,359 where we read this, 292 00:18:13,359 –> 00:18:17,680 the cowardly, the unbelieving, 293 00:18:18,900 –> 00:18:23,859 the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, 294 00:18:23,859 –> 00:18:25,760 those who practice magic arts, 295 00:18:25,760 –> 00:18:29,160 the idolaters and all liars, 296 00:18:29,160 –> 00:18:32,760 they will be consigned 297 00:18:32,760 –> 00:18:35,780 to the fiery lake of burning sulfur, 298 00:18:35,780 –> 00:18:39,979 this is the second death. 299 00:18:40,800 –> 00:18:44,500 Do you see how sinful unbelief is? 300 00:18:46,339 –> 00:18:51,300 The unbelieving are listed at the end of the Bible 301 00:18:51,680 –> 00:18:58,540 alongside murderers, idolaters and liars. 302 00:19:00,239 –> 00:19:03,380 Unbelief is sinful. 303 00:19:03,380 –> 00:19:08,619 Now, why is it that unbelief is so offensive to God? 304 00:19:08,660 –> 00:19:09,859 You might find yourself saying, 305 00:19:09,859 –> 00:19:13,500 really, why is unbelief that bad? 306 00:19:15,060 –> 00:19:18,920 Well, first, because unbelief insults God. 307 00:19:20,380 –> 00:19:21,760 The Apostle John writes, 308 00:19:21,760 –> 00:19:27,800 whoever does not believe God has made him a liar. 309 00:19:29,959 –> 00:19:32,560 Suppose you take a trip to Florida, 310 00:19:33,619 –> 00:19:35,160 when you come back, 311 00:19:35,160 –> 00:19:36,859 you tell your friend about the trip, 312 00:19:36,900 –> 00:19:39,260 I went to Florida, you say, 313 00:19:39,260 –> 00:19:42,060 and your friend doesn’t look very impressed. 314 00:19:42,060 –> 00:19:45,400 Really, where’s the proof? 315 00:19:46,280 –> 00:19:49,099 You say, well, I’m telling you. 316 00:19:49,099 –> 00:19:50,439 I went to Florida. 317 00:19:51,599 –> 00:19:54,500 Well, I don’t believe you. 318 00:19:56,579 –> 00:19:58,979 Now, that is deeply offensive. 319 00:19:59,920 –> 00:20:04,920 Your so-called friend is making you out to be a liar. 320 00:20:05,199 –> 00:20:10,199 He or she gives no weight whatsoever to your word. 321 00:20:10,959 –> 00:20:14,680 And you see, that is precisely what unbelief does 322 00:20:14,680 –> 00:20:16,359 to almighty God. 323 00:20:16,359 –> 00:20:19,359 Unbelief, hears the word of God, and says, 324 00:20:19,359 –> 00:20:20,859 I don’t believe it. 325 00:20:22,839 –> 00:20:24,560 I don’t believe you, God. 326 00:20:26,420 –> 00:20:28,579 And that is deeply offensive to God. 327 00:20:29,579 –> 00:20:34,579 Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar. 328 00:20:42,119 –> 00:20:46,660 And then unbelief is really offensive to God 329 00:20:46,660 –> 00:20:50,760 because it not only insults him personally, 330 00:20:50,760 –> 00:20:53,920 but it defies his commandment. 331 00:20:55,119 –> 00:20:57,680 Again, in 1 John, chapter three in verse 23, 332 00:20:57,739 –> 00:21:02,739 this is his commandment that we believe 333 00:21:02,880 –> 00:21:06,000 in the name of his son, Jesus Christ 334 00:21:06,000 –> 00:21:10,020 and love one another just as he has commanded us. 335 00:21:10,020 –> 00:21:11,119 Now, do you see this? 336 00:21:11,119 –> 00:21:14,060 God commands us to believe in his son. 337 00:21:15,760 –> 00:21:17,540 This is his commandment, 338 00:21:18,560 –> 00:21:22,760 and unbelief refuses what God commands. 339 00:21:24,160 –> 00:21:27,140 And then unbelief is really offensive to God 340 00:21:27,140 –> 00:21:30,099 because it refuses to do the very work 341 00:21:30,099 –> 00:21:31,920 that God calls us to do. 342 00:21:31,920 –> 00:21:33,739 John 6, Jesus said, 343 00:21:33,739 –> 00:21:36,199 this is the work of God, 344 00:21:37,319 –> 00:21:41,819 that you believe in Him whom He has sent. 345 00:21:43,060 –> 00:21:45,579 You see, God says to us in the scriptures, 346 00:21:45,579 –> 00:21:49,199 now, I have sent my Son into the world. 347 00:21:49,199 –> 00:21:51,380 He will accomplish everything 348 00:21:51,380 –> 00:21:53,540 that is needed for your salvation. 349 00:21:53,579 –> 00:21:58,079 What I call on you to do is believe in Him, 350 00:21:58,079 –> 00:22:01,260 and unbelief refuses to do the first thing 351 00:22:01,260 –> 00:22:02,780 that God asks of us. 352 00:22:05,219 –> 00:22:07,540 So I want you to see clearly today, 353 00:22:07,540 –> 00:22:12,540 unbelief is a sin that will keep millions out of heaven. 354 00:22:13,579 –> 00:22:15,060 It insults God. 355 00:22:16,060 –> 00:22:17,540 It breaks His commandment. 356 00:22:17,540 –> 00:22:21,660 It refuses to do what He calls us to do. 357 00:22:21,660 –> 00:22:24,479 Unbelief is deeply offensive to God. 358 00:22:24,479 –> 00:22:26,219 It will keep more people out of heaven 359 00:22:26,219 –> 00:22:28,459 than murder or adultery will. 360 00:22:31,260 –> 00:22:32,839 Unbelief is normal. 361 00:22:34,180 –> 00:22:35,579 It is sinful. 362 00:22:37,160 –> 00:22:38,219 And then you need to know 363 00:22:38,219 –> 00:22:43,219 that unbelief is ultimately futile. 364 00:22:45,699 –> 00:22:48,380 Unbelief doesn’t change anything. 365 00:22:49,380 –> 00:22:51,719 If you put the beginning 366 00:22:51,719 –> 00:22:55,439 and the end of Isaiah Chapter 53 together, 367 00:22:55,439 –> 00:22:59,859 you will get the thrust of the whole chapter. 368 00:22:59,859 –> 00:23:02,439 It begins with Isaiah recognizing 369 00:23:02,439 –> 00:23:05,239 people don’t believe this. 370 00:23:06,160 –> 00:23:10,060 And it ends by telling us what people don’t believe. 371 00:23:10,060 –> 00:23:13,959 That Jesus Christ will triumph. 372 00:23:14,920 –> 00:23:17,880 That he will be satisfied. 373 00:23:17,880 –> 00:23:21,099 That the will of God will prosper in his hand. 374 00:23:21,099 –> 00:23:25,339 Christ will share the spoils of his triumph 375 00:23:25,339 –> 00:23:27,359 with all of his people. 376 00:23:27,359 –> 00:23:32,359 And no amount of unbelief will ever be able to stop him. 377 00:23:36,180 –> 00:23:38,619 So here’s what you need to know about unbelief. 378 00:23:40,180 –> 00:23:41,020 It’s normal. 379 00:23:42,619 –> 00:23:43,760 It’s sinful. 380 00:23:46,000 –> 00:23:47,359 And it is futile. 381 00:23:48,859 –> 00:23:53,859 Now let’s turn secondly to what we need to know about faith. 382 00:23:56,839 –> 00:23:59,079 And I want you to look at the second part 383 00:23:59,079 –> 00:24:01,160 of this remarkable verse. 384 00:24:02,119 –> 00:24:07,119 And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed. 385 00:24:12,439 –> 00:24:15,119 Now you see the flow of this chapter. 386 00:24:15,119 –> 00:24:17,400 Despite what Isaiah tells us at the beginning 387 00:24:17,400 –> 00:24:21,719 the overwhelming unbelief that is in the world. 388 00:24:21,719 –> 00:24:25,540 Despite that Jesus Christ will gather 389 00:24:25,540 –> 00:24:28,619 a great company of people from every nation 390 00:24:28,619 –> 00:24:32,180 and he will give them eternal life. 391 00:24:32,180 –> 00:24:35,459 And so the very obvious question is how then 392 00:24:35,459 –> 00:24:39,300 in a world of unbelief will these people come to faith? 393 00:24:39,300 –> 00:24:42,540 And the answer to that question is in the second part 394 00:24:42,660 –> 00:24:43,719 of this verse, 395 00:24:43,719 –> 00:24:48,719 to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed. 396 00:24:51,020 –> 00:24:53,479 The first thing that you need to know about faith 397 00:24:54,800 –> 00:24:59,800 is that faith is formed by the arm of the Lord. 398 00:25:02,359 –> 00:25:05,979 Now we know from scripture that God is spirit, 399 00:25:05,979 –> 00:25:10,979 he has no arms or legs or hands or feet. 400 00:25:11,180 –> 00:25:12,959 But remember that in the Bible, 401 00:25:12,959 –> 00:25:17,520 God speaks to us in language that we can understand. 402 00:25:17,520 –> 00:25:18,619 Thank God for that. 403 00:25:18,619 –> 00:25:21,680 We would not be able to understand anything about him at all 404 00:25:21,680 –> 00:25:24,000 if he did not do this. 405 00:25:24,000 –> 00:25:27,939 And the arm of course, speaks about strength. 406 00:25:28,859 –> 00:25:31,060 And the arm of the Lord therefore, 407 00:25:31,060 –> 00:25:35,739 speaks about the strength by which God gets his work done. 408 00:25:36,739 –> 00:25:41,380 So for example, when God’s people were slaves in Egypt, 409 00:25:41,380 –> 00:25:43,180 God said to Moses. 410 00:25:43,180 –> 00:25:45,800 Say therefore to the people of Israel, 411 00:25:45,800 –> 00:25:50,800 I am the Lord and I will redeem you 412 00:25:50,900 –> 00:25:53,859 with an outstretched arm. 413 00:25:56,880 –> 00:26:00,880 The arm of the Lord is the power 414 00:26:00,880 –> 00:26:05,640 by which God gets his work done. 415 00:26:05,640 –> 00:26:09,079 And here Isaiah speaks about the arm 416 00:26:09,079 –> 00:26:12,219 of the Lord being revealed. 417 00:26:13,380 –> 00:26:18,300 When people believe it is because the Holy Spirit 418 00:26:18,300 –> 00:26:21,219 opens their minds and their hearts 419 00:26:21,219 –> 00:26:23,500 to see that there really is a God 420 00:26:24,660 –> 00:26:29,439 and that he is very, very, great indeed. 421 00:26:29,439 –> 00:26:30,920 And that is what happened 422 00:26:30,920 –> 00:26:34,359 when Paul preached the gospel in Thessalonica. 423 00:26:34,359 –> 00:26:36,780 1 Thessalonians chapter one and verse five, 424 00:26:36,780 –> 00:26:41,660 he says, our gospel came to you not only in word 425 00:26:41,660 –> 00:26:46,359 but also in power and in the Holy Spirit 426 00:26:46,359 –> 00:26:48,400 and with full conviction, 427 00:26:48,400 –> 00:26:50,880 you see the arm of the Lord was revealed 428 00:26:50,880 –> 00:26:53,239 in his preaching of the gospel. 429 00:26:53,239 –> 00:26:56,760 And the result was that these people, 430 00:26:56,760 –> 00:26:59,439 they turned from idols, 431 00:26:59,439 –> 00:27:02,660 they served the living and true God 432 00:27:02,660 –> 00:27:06,839 as they waited for his son to be revealed from heaven. 433 00:27:08,660 –> 00:27:13,660 Faith is formed when the arm of the Lord is revealed. 434 00:27:16,760 –> 00:27:18,520 That’s what Isaiah is saying here. 435 00:27:19,920 –> 00:27:23,119 And what that means is that faith 436 00:27:23,119 –> 00:27:28,119 is a miraculous gift of God’s grace. 437 00:27:28,199 –> 00:27:31,040 Now, here we come to something very wonderful, indeed. 438 00:27:32,040 –> 00:27:35,079 If you are a believer, 439 00:27:35,079 –> 00:27:40,040 a miracle of God’s grace has taken place in you. 440 00:27:41,000 –> 00:27:43,599 The arm of the Lord has been revealed to you. 441 00:27:43,599 –> 00:27:45,959 That’s what’s happened in your experience. 442 00:27:45,959 –> 00:27:50,920 God has opened your eyes, he has changed your heart. 443 00:27:52,040 –> 00:27:54,640 He has brought you from death to life. 444 00:27:54,640 –> 00:27:57,380 He has brought you from darkness to light. 445 00:27:58,339 –> 00:28:02,540 Now, perhaps you were brought up in a Christian home 446 00:28:02,540 –> 00:28:05,359 and you say, well, really my story is very simple. 447 00:28:05,359 –> 00:28:07,880 You know, I just received this 448 00:28:07,880 –> 00:28:11,280 and I never really rebelled against it. 449 00:28:12,219 –> 00:28:14,939 Don’t say just. 450 00:28:14,939 –> 00:28:18,540 Because what has happened to you, 451 00:28:18,540 –> 00:28:23,540 simple though it may have been is a miracle of God’s grace. 452 00:28:24,099 –> 00:28:29,099 If God had allowed what was in you by nature 453 00:28:29,719 –> 00:28:33,599 to take its course, you would have walked away 454 00:28:33,599 –> 00:28:36,599 from the faith of your parents long ago. 455 00:28:36,599 –> 00:28:37,900 Thousands have done that. 456 00:28:37,900 –> 00:28:38,880 Why not you? 457 00:28:38,880 –> 00:28:43,880 Well, you see the arm of the Lord was revealed to you. 458 00:28:46,819 –> 00:28:49,579 You came to realise in your own soul 459 00:28:49,579 –> 00:28:54,579 there really is a God and he is very, very great. 460 00:28:56,900 –> 00:29:00,739 You saw that this God truly loves you, 461 00:29:01,739 –> 00:29:06,599 that he gave himself for you in Jesus Christ. 462 00:29:06,599 –> 00:29:11,599 The unbelieving heart that was in you by nature was changed 463 00:29:13,800 –> 00:29:18,800 and God formed faith in you and you believed 464 00:29:20,540 –> 00:29:23,459 that you became his. 465 00:29:23,459 –> 00:29:28,180 Now God may have done this so quietly, early in your life 466 00:29:28,180 –> 00:29:33,180 that you hardly even noticed but make no mistake, 467 00:29:33,420 –> 00:29:36,699 if you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 468 00:29:36,699 –> 00:29:40,660 a miracle of grace has taken place in you. 469 00:29:40,660 –> 00:29:44,619 The arm of the Lord has been revealed to you. 470 00:29:45,540 –> 00:29:48,500 Writing to Christian believers 471 00:29:48,500 –> 00:29:53,099 the pastor Charles Simeon says this, 472 00:29:53,099 –> 00:29:58,099 to you, then I say that God has conferred upon you 473 00:29:59,380 –> 00:30:04,380 the greatest gift that you could possess in this world. 474 00:30:06,540 –> 00:30:07,380 Do you see that? 475 00:30:08,380 –> 00:30:13,380 If you believe God has conferred upon you 476 00:30:16,060 –> 00:30:21,060 the greatest gift that you could ever possess 477 00:30:21,280 –> 00:30:23,380 in this world. 478 00:30:24,780 –> 00:30:26,719 By faith your sins are forgiven. 479 00:30:28,160 –> 00:30:31,300 By faith your sanctification has already begun. 480 00:30:32,439 –> 00:30:35,180 By faith your eternal and glorious future 481 00:30:35,180 –> 00:30:37,739 is absolutely secure. 482 00:30:37,739 –> 00:30:41,119 With this gift you are blessed beyond measure 483 00:30:41,119 –> 00:30:44,939 whatever you face in this world. 484 00:30:47,140 –> 00:30:49,640 Now, perhaps at this point you’re thinking, 485 00:30:49,640 –> 00:30:53,979 well, that’s great for those who believe 486 00:30:54,880 –> 00:30:57,880 but what about everyone else? 487 00:30:57,880 –> 00:31:01,780 And here then I want to look at this marvelous truth 488 00:31:01,780 –> 00:31:03,160 from a third angle. 489 00:31:03,219 –> 00:31:06,619 We’ve looked at what we need to know about unbelief, 490 00:31:06,619 –> 00:31:09,479 we’ve looked at what we need to know about faith 491 00:31:09,479 –> 00:31:13,099 and I want us briefly now to look at what you need to know 492 00:31:13,099 –> 00:31:16,680 then about coming to faith. 493 00:31:16,680 –> 00:31:18,619 How’s that then going to happen? 494 00:31:19,640 –> 00:31:20,880 And here I’d like to remind you 495 00:31:20,880 –> 00:31:23,300 of the marvelous statement 496 00:31:23,300 –> 00:31:26,420 in Ephesians chapter two and verse eight 497 00:31:26,420 –> 00:31:27,819 where the apostle Paul says, 498 00:31:27,819 –> 00:31:32,819 For by grace, you have been saved through faith 499 00:31:33,140 –> 00:31:36,739 and this is not your own doing. 500 00:31:37,859 –> 00:31:42,420 It is the gift of God. 501 00:31:43,619 –> 00:31:46,699 Now, I want you to try and take that in together today. 502 00:31:47,900 –> 00:31:51,260 You see, it would be easy to get the idea 503 00:31:51,260 –> 00:31:55,540 that salvation is, well, like buying a car. 504 00:31:55,579 –> 00:31:58,500 You know, a trader has cars to sell. 505 00:31:58,500 –> 00:32:00,300 You have money to buy. 506 00:32:00,300 –> 00:32:03,000 You bring the money and there is an exchange 507 00:32:03,000 –> 00:32:08,000 in which the trader gets the money and you get the car. 508 00:32:09,140 –> 00:32:12,339 And in order to buy the car, you have to have the money. 509 00:32:12,339 –> 00:32:14,780 No money, no car. 510 00:32:16,280 –> 00:32:19,079 Now, you see, some people have the idea 511 00:32:19,079 –> 00:32:21,859 that that is how salvation works. 512 00:32:22,160 –> 00:32:27,160 That God offers forgiveness and everlasting life 513 00:32:27,780 –> 00:32:30,599 and that faith somehow is the coin 514 00:32:31,540 –> 00:32:34,339 with which you purchase God’s salvation. 515 00:32:34,339 –> 00:32:39,339 You bring your faith and salvation will be yours. 516 00:32:42,739 –> 00:32:47,140 But thank God, that is not the message of the Bible. 517 00:32:47,140 –> 00:32:50,140 And I hope that’s clear to you from this verse this morning. 518 00:32:52,640 –> 00:32:57,640 Where would that leave the person who struggles to believe? 519 00:33:01,020 –> 00:33:03,040 Let me speak directly right now 520 00:33:03,040 –> 00:33:05,660 to the person in the congregation who says, 521 00:33:05,660 –> 00:33:09,119 I find it very difficult to believe. 522 00:33:11,579 –> 00:33:14,300 If you knew what I have endured, 523 00:33:14,300 –> 00:33:18,400 if you really understood what is on me right now, 524 00:33:19,280 –> 00:33:22,239 you would understand why I can’t believe. 525 00:33:23,439 –> 00:33:27,140 Believing is something I cannot do.” 526 00:33:30,000 –> 00:33:33,520 Now do you see what you are experiencing 527 00:33:33,520 –> 00:33:36,439 is exactly what is described here 528 00:33:36,439 –> 00:33:38,540 in Isaiah chapter 53 and verse one, 529 00:33:38,540 –> 00:33:41,739 who has believed what he has heard from us. 530 00:33:43,660 –> 00:33:46,619 I know that some people speak 531 00:33:46,660 –> 00:33:49,000 as if believing was easy. 532 00:33:49,000 –> 00:33:50,819 Oh, they say just believe. 533 00:33:52,540 –> 00:33:56,859 But the person who says that really hasn’t understood 534 00:33:56,859 –> 00:34:00,339 that the human heart is wired for unbelief. 535 00:34:02,560 –> 00:34:05,479 Faith is far from easy. 536 00:34:06,880 –> 00:34:09,979 And if the command of God was that we had to somehow 537 00:34:09,979 –> 00:34:14,899 find faith within ourselves and then bring it to Him 538 00:34:14,899 –> 00:34:18,080 as the coin with which we purchase His salvation, 539 00:34:18,080 –> 00:34:21,459 then our situation would be completely and utterly hopeless. 540 00:34:21,459 –> 00:34:23,820 You don’t have the coin with which to pay 541 00:34:25,699 –> 00:34:29,479 if you feel that you do not have it in you to believe. 542 00:34:29,479 –> 00:34:31,760 I have to say to you today, you’re right. 543 00:34:32,560 –> 00:34:35,360 You don’t have it in you. 544 00:34:35,360 –> 00:34:38,899 But the good news is that God is able 545 00:34:38,899 –> 00:34:41,239 to give you what you do not have. 546 00:34:41,239 –> 00:34:43,699 And that’s what is in this marvelous verse. 547 00:34:43,699 –> 00:34:47,100 For by grace, you have been saved through faith, 548 00:34:47,100 –> 00:34:49,899 and this is not your own doing, 549 00:34:49,899 –> 00:34:53,479 it is the gift of God. 550 00:34:53,479 –> 00:34:56,679 Do you see that the faith 551 00:34:56,679 –> 00:35:01,620 by which we receive God’s marvelous gift of salvation 552 00:35:01,620 –> 00:35:05,580 is not some capacity that resides in us? 553 00:35:05,580 –> 00:35:07,820 None of us has that. 554 00:35:07,820 –> 00:35:11,139 By nature, our hearts are wired for unbelief. 555 00:35:11,159 –> 00:35:15,959 Here’s the good news, faith is the gift of God. 556 00:35:15,959 –> 00:35:18,459 And that’s why there is hope today 557 00:35:18,459 –> 00:35:23,399 for every person who struggles to believe. 558 00:35:23,399 –> 00:35:27,899 You say that you can’t believe, 559 00:35:27,899 –> 00:35:33,219 and I’m saying to you from Isaiah chapter 53 and verse 1, 560 00:35:33,219 –> 00:35:38,820 that God’s arm is stronger than your unbelief. 561 00:35:38,820 –> 00:35:48,399 God’s spirit can overcome the power of unbelief in you. 562 00:35:48,399 –> 00:35:52,500 You know our Lord, Jesus, on one occasion 563 00:35:52,500 –> 00:35:57,580 said how hard it is to enter the kingdom of heaven. 564 00:35:57,580 –> 00:35:59,520 He didn’t say it’s easy. 565 00:35:59,520 –> 00:36:02,300 He said how hard it is. 566 00:36:02,300 –> 00:36:06,219 It is easier, Jesus said, for a camel 567 00:36:06,219 –> 00:36:09,219 to go through the eye of a needle 568 00:36:09,219 –> 00:36:12,919 than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. 569 00:36:12,919 –> 00:36:15,679 That’s how hard it is. 570 00:36:15,679 –> 00:36:17,360 And when Jesus said this, the Bible 571 00:36:17,360 –> 00:36:20,620 records that the disciples were absolutely astonished 572 00:36:20,620 –> 00:36:22,419 and they asked the obvious question, well, 573 00:36:22,419 –> 00:36:24,500 then who can be saved? 574 00:36:24,500 –> 00:36:26,639 How could anyone be saved if it’s that hard? 575 00:36:29,179 –> 00:36:32,979 And Jesus looked at the disciples 576 00:36:32,979 –> 00:36:42,719 and he said with man it is impossible, but not with God 577 00:36:42,719 –> 00:36:50,879 for all things are possible with God. 578 00:36:50,879 –> 00:36:57,300 God saves and the first thing he will save you from 579 00:36:57,340 –> 00:37:03,219 is the power of your own sinful unbelief. 580 00:37:03,219 –> 00:37:08,899 So if you find it hard to believe here’s what I want to encourage you to do today. 581 00:37:08,899 –> 00:37:15,060 Draw near to God and tell him what you know to be true. 582 00:37:15,060 –> 00:37:20,080 I don’t have it in me to believe. 583 00:37:20,159 –> 00:37:28,899 And then ask God to save you from the power of your own sinful unbelief. 584 00:37:28,899 –> 00:37:33,780 And God will hear you and God will answer you. 585 00:37:33,780 –> 00:37:41,399 And by his strong arm he will save you. 586 00:37:41,399 –> 00:37:49,560 The arm of the Lord is revealed in and through the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ 587 00:37:49,560 –> 00:37:55,419 which is what we’re looking at right here in Isaiah chapter 53. 588 00:37:55,419 –> 00:38:02,379 And as you look to Jesus to give you what you do not have, 589 00:38:02,379 –> 00:38:07,439 God’s arm will form faith in you. 590 00:38:07,439 –> 00:38:17,800 Now, that’s what happened for the Chancellor as Isaiah chapter 53 was explained to him 591 00:38:17,840 –> 00:38:22,739 sitting in a chariot, riding through the desert. 592 00:38:22,739 –> 00:38:28,780 Faith was formed in him as he read Isaiah 50. 593 00:38:28,780 –> 00:38:33,379 And my prayer for us today and for these weeks that lie ahead of us 594 00:38:33,379 –> 00:38:39,520 is that what happened for him, will happen for you. 595 00:38:39,520 –> 00:38:41,780 Let’s pray together. 596 00:38:41,800 –> 00:38:49,780 Our Father in heaven, form faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 597 00:38:49,780 –> 00:38:57,300 as we look to him and all that he has accomplished. 598 00:38:57,300 –> 00:39:05,600 Father in your mercy, bring us to the place where we are able to say with gladness, 599 00:39:05,600 –> 00:39:12,459 I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. 600 00:39:12,459 –> 00:39:20,699 Father, thank you that your strong arm has been revealed in our Saviour. 601 00:39:20,699 –> 00:39:28,199 Grant that in looking to him, we may walk by faith and live by faith 602 00:39:28,199 –> 00:39:34,120 all the days of our lives until faith is turned to sight 603 00:39:34,120 –> 00:39:42,399 and then we enter into the joy of his triumph, forever and forever. Amen. 604 00:39:43,360 –> 00:39:47,100 You’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor Colin Smith, of Open the Bible. 605 00:39:47,100 –> 00:39:52,239 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 606 00:39:52,239 –> 00:39:57,239 or visit our website, openthebible.org