1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,080 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,080 –> 00:00:16,639 To contact us call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 or visit our website OpenTheBible.org. 3 00:00:16,639 –> 00:00:19,320 Let’s get to the message here is Pastor Colin. 4 00:00:19,320 –> 00:00:25,480 Please open your Bible at Isaiah 53, this remarkable chapter 5 00:00:25,480 –> 00:00:29,160 that describes what Jesus accomplished in his life, 6 00:00:29,160 –> 00:00:32,919 in his death and in his resurrection 7 00:00:32,919 –> 00:00:38,119 and last time we looked at verse 9 which is really the turning point 8 00:00:38,119 –> 00:00:41,799 of the whole chapter. The first eight verses 9 00:00:41,799 –> 00:00:46,200 are all about the life and the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. 10 00:00:46,200 –> 00:00:50,439 They tell us that the prevailing response to Jesus coming into the world 11 00:00:50,439 –> 00:00:54,599 was unbelief. Who has believed what they have 12 00:00:54,599 –> 00:00:59,400 heard from us? That’s verse 1. He was despised and we 13 00:00:59,400 –> 00:01:03,000 esteemed him not, that’s verse 3 14 00:01:03,000 –> 00:01:06,919 and Isaiah describes how Jesus was arrested, 15 00:01:06,919 –> 00:01:10,519 how he was tried and how he was sentenced 16 00:01:10,519 –> 00:01:15,160 by oppression and judgement. Verse 8, he was taken away 17 00:01:15,160 –> 00:01:21,879 Verse 7, he was led like a lamb to the slaughter so the focus of the 18 00:01:21,879 –> 00:01:24,360 first eight verses of this 19 00:01:24,360 –> 00:01:27,639 remarkable chapter of the Bible is on the rejection 20 00:01:27,639 –> 00:01:32,040 of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was despised, he was rejected, 21 00:01:32,040 –> 00:01:35,720 he was oppressed, he was pierced, he was crushed, 22 00:01:35,720 –> 00:01:42,680 he was cut off. And then last week we saw that the burial of Jesus 23 00:01:42,680 –> 00:01:46,599 in verse 9 really is the turning point 24 00:01:46,599 –> 00:01:51,239 of the whole story. Those who condemned Jesus to death 25 00:01:51,239 –> 00:01:55,559 intended that his grave should be with the wicked 26 00:01:55,559 –> 00:01:59,639 that’s verse 9. But that is not what happened and we saw 27 00:01:59,639 –> 00:02:03,400 in the new testament that as Isaiah prophesies here 28 00:02:03,400 –> 00:02:09,160 a rich man by the name of Joseph of Arimathea came forward and asked 29 00:02:09,160 –> 00:02:13,320 Pontius Pilate for the body of Jesus. And Jesus was 30 00:02:13,320 –> 00:02:16,839 given an honored burial after all that he 31 00:02:16,839 –> 00:02:21,479 suffered and honored burial in a new tomb that 32 00:02:21,479 –> 00:02:25,559 Joseph had prepared for himself but gave 33 00:02:25,559 –> 00:02:30,360 in order to honor Jesus and we saw that Jesus 34 00:02:30,360 –> 00:02:34,039 is honored on earth by believers who love him 35 00:02:34,039 –> 00:02:41,800 and Jesus is honored in heaven by the father who has vindicated him. 36 00:02:41,800 –> 00:02:45,240 Now today we come to verse 10 that points 37 00:02:45,240 –> 00:02:49,000 very wonderfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 38 00:02:49,000 –> 00:02:52,759 Christ and it is a marvelous statement of all that 39 00:02:52,759 –> 00:02:57,080 Jesus has accomplished. Look with me at verse 10 if you would 40 00:02:57,080 –> 00:03:01,479 Yet it was the will of the Lord 41 00:03:01,479 –> 00:03:09,000 to crush him, he has put him to grief when his soul makes an 42 00:03:09,000 –> 00:03:14,759 offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring 43 00:03:14,759 –> 00:03:20,039 he shall prolong his days, the will of the Lord 44 00:03:20,039 –> 00:03:24,520 shall prosper in his hand. 45 00:03:24,520 –> 00:03:28,759 Now notice at the beginning and the end of this verse 46 00:03:28,759 –> 00:03:35,240 we have the will of God it was the will of God to crush him 47 00:03:35,240 –> 00:03:38,199 and then at the end of the verse the will 48 00:03:38,199 –> 00:03:44,279 of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. So you can see just from 49 00:03:44,360 –> 00:03:50,119 looking at this verse that God’s will is the main theme 50 00:03:50,119 –> 00:03:53,559 and this is what Isaiah now wants us to focus 51 00:03:53,559 –> 00:03:57,720 on. Today what i want us to see from this verse 52 00:03:57,720 –> 00:04:02,679 is that God’s will prevailed in the death of Jesus, that’s the first part of 53 00:04:02,679 –> 00:04:05,240 the verse, and then we’ll spend most of our time 54 00:04:05,240 –> 00:04:09,399 on this wonderful truth that God’s will prevails 55 00:04:09,399 –> 00:04:14,119 through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 56 00:04:14,199 –> 00:04:18,200 Now first then God’s will prevailed in the death 57 00:04:18,200 –> 00:04:23,480 of Jesus. The story of the crucifixion of Jesus can be 58 00:04:23,480 –> 00:04:31,160 told in terms of human injustice, human cruelty, 59 00:04:31,160 –> 00:04:38,119 human wickedness. Peter could say in Acts 2 this Jesus, 60 00:04:38,119 –> 00:04:45,720 you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 61 00:04:45,720 –> 00:04:51,720 And the gospels tell us what wicked men did. 62 00:04:51,720 –> 00:04:57,720 Judas betrayed Jesus and he did it for money. 63 00:04:57,799 –> 00:05:04,679 Caiaphas condemned Jesus and he did it out of envy. 64 00:05:04,760 –> 00:05:13,160 Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified and he did it because he wanted peace at any price. 65 00:05:14,040 –> 00:05:21,880 So does that mean that the death of Jesus was a triumph of evil over good? 66 00:05:21,880 –> 00:05:29,079 Does that mean then since this was the act of wicked people that somehow darkness triumphed 67 00:05:29,799 –> 00:05:36,119 was it, the case that God’s will and purpose was actually thwarted at the cross? 68 00:05:37,559 –> 00:05:43,880 By these actions of wicked and evil men who intended only pain suffering and 69 00:05:43,880 –> 00:05:50,519 destruction towards the Lord Jesus Christ? The answer to these questions is, no, no, 70 00:05:51,160 –> 00:05:59,880 a thousand times no. God’s will prevailed in the darkness, in the evil, and even in the 71 00:05:59,880 –> 00:06:07,640 violence that was perpetrated at the cross. And Peter makes this very clear on the day 72 00:06:07,640 –> 00:06:14,519 of Pentecost. Let’s look at what he says in Acts chapter two and verse 23. He says, 73 00:06:14,519 –> 00:06:21,640 this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God. 74 00:06:22,679 –> 00:06:29,880 You crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Now you see, because the hands 75 00:06:29,880 –> 00:06:37,640 of lawless men were involved, you would expect him to say this Jesus was delivered up by Judas 76 00:06:37,640 –> 00:06:43,160 Iscariot or by Caiaphas, or by Pontius Pilate. But that’s not what he says. 77 00:06:43,160 –> 00:06:50,279 He says this Jesus was delivered up by the definite plan and the foreknowledge of God. 78 00:06:52,119 –> 00:06:54,519 You get this theme right throughout the New Testament, 79 00:06:56,440 –> 00:07:06,440 God being proactive, accomplishing our redemption at the cross. God did not spare his own son but 80 00:07:06,440 –> 00:07:12,920 freely gave him up for us all. And that’s what Isaiah is speaking about, here 81 00:07:12,920 –> 00:07:19,160 in chapter 53 and verse 10, he says it was the will of the Lord to crush him, 82 00:07:19,160 –> 00:07:28,040 he has put him to grief. Now that raises this very obvious question, 83 00:07:29,000 –> 00:07:36,100 how could it possibly be the will of God that his own dearly loved and 84 00:07:36,100 –> 00:07:43,660 righteous son should suffer, how could that be? And the first thing to say is 85 00:07:43,660 –> 00:07:48,760 that the will of God the Father and the will of God the Son were at one, 86 00:07:48,940 –> 00:07:58,380 completely aligned. The Son’s will and the Father’s will at one, aligned together. 87 00:07:58,380 –> 00:08:07,760 The second thing to say is that Jesus gave himself as a sacrifice for our sins. 88 00:08:07,760 –> 00:08:16,359 He offered himself in our place and Isaiah is making it very clear here, that 89 00:08:16,440 –> 00:08:24,619 the Father and the Son were at one in the making of this sacrifice. 90 00:08:24,619 –> 00:08:32,599 It was the will of the Lord to crush him. He has put him to grief when his soul 91 00:08:32,599 –> 00:08:41,080 makes an offering for guilt. And we saw earlier in the chapter, back in verse 5, 92 00:08:41,200 –> 00:08:50,099 that when Jesus died on the cross, he was pierced for our transgressions. 93 00:08:50,099 –> 00:08:58,080 He was crushed for our inequities. The punishment that brought us peace was 94 00:08:58,080 –> 00:09:13,880 upon him and, by his wounds, we are healed. God’s will prevailed in the death of Jesus. 95 00:09:13,880 –> 00:09:27,000 Despite and even through the evil actions of wicked men, God got his will done. 96 00:09:27,080 –> 00:09:35,000 What was true in the suffering and the death of Jesus, will also be true for you. 97 00:09:35,000 –> 00:09:42,000 There is no grief. There is no suffering. There is no pain. There is no darkness. 98 00:09:42,000 –> 00:09:55,219 There is no activity, even of Satan himself, that can ultimately derail the purpose of God for you in the Lord Jesus Christ. 99 00:09:55,219 –> 00:10:06,719 The Bible speaks about the purpose of God, who works all things together according to the counsel of His will. 100 00:10:06,719 –> 00:10:09,239 That’s Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 11. 101 00:10:09,239 –> 00:10:16,239 He works all things together, according to the purpose of His will. 102 00:10:16,239 –> 00:10:19,739 Or Romans chapter 8 and verse 28. We have the same truth. 103 00:10:19,739 –> 00:10:23,780 In all things… all things! 104 00:10:23,799 –> 00:10:30,099 God works for the good of those who love him. 105 00:10:30,099 –> 00:10:34,099 And you know what that means? It means all things. 106 00:10:34,099 –> 00:10:39,099 The evil as well as the good. 107 00:10:39,099 –> 00:10:51,080 You see, there may come a time when someone in your life turns out to be a Judas who betrays you. 108 00:10:51,080 –> 00:11:02,679 There may be a time in your life when you experience great pain because of a Caiaphas who abuses his power. 109 00:11:02,679 –> 00:11:12,299 It may be that in your life you experience great pain because of a pilot who simply neglects his own responsibility. 110 00:11:12,299 –> 00:11:19,940 But know this, that whatever darkness you may face, 111 00:11:20,500 –> 00:11:30,739 whatever evil you may encounter, whatever suffering you may endure God will always be at work in you 112 00:11:31,859 –> 00:11:40,020 and through you for your eternal good and for the good of others. 113 00:11:40,020 –> 00:11:52,099 God’s will prevailed at the cross. It prevailed in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ 114 00:11:52,099 –> 00:11:59,700 and now Isaiah wants us to see that God’s will prevails in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 115 00:11:59,700 –> 00:12:08,020 Christ and this is the main focus of this verse and Isaiah gives us three reasons he tells us 116 00:12:08,020 –> 00:12:14,979 why we can be sure that God’s will prevails through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 117 00:12:14,979 –> 00:12:24,020 Christ and the first is because Jesus will bring many children to birth. Notice what he says here, 118 00:12:24,580 –> 00:12:34,739 he shall see his offspring. Now this word offspring is really important 119 00:12:34,739 –> 00:12:39,780 and I want you to take in its significance as we look at the Bible together today, 120 00:12:39,780 –> 00:12:49,059 literally translated the word here is seed, he shall see his seed, another way to say it 121 00:12:49,059 –> 00:12:59,140 would be he shall see his children. Isaiah says Jesus will see his offspring. 122 00:13:00,099 –> 00:13:12,020 Now think about what that means. If you have offspring, it means that your life is reproduced 123 00:13:12,020 –> 00:13:19,460 in another person. Something of you is in them. Your offspring. 124 00:13:22,859 –> 00:13:28,380 Now Jesus was never married. Jesus never had physical children. 125 00:13:29,659 –> 00:13:35,820 And very clearly, Isaiah is referring here to the work of Christ in his resurrection. 126 00:13:36,359 –> 00:13:40,440 And what he’s telling us is that he will have offspring. 127 00:13:41,179 –> 00:13:49,659 In other words, he will bring many to new birth. He will give to many his own life. 128 00:13:49,659 –> 00:13:52,520 John tells us – 129 00:13:52,619 –> 00:13:58,859 “…to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,” 130 00:13:58,960 –> 00:14:05,179 “…he gave the Right to become children of God,” 131 00:14:05,280 –> 00:14:11,520 “…nor of the Will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” 132 00:14:12,179 –> 00:14:14,700 You see this marvellous promise? 133 00:14:15,460 –> 00:14:19,359 That when you believe in the lord Jesus Christ 134 00:14:19,719 –> 00:14:23,820 you become one of God’s children, you become one of his offspring. 135 00:14:24,239 –> 00:14:31,539 His life actually comes into you, you are born again, you are born of God. 136 00:14:33,479 –> 00:14:36,380 Paul says, “…I have been crucified,” 137 00:14:36,479 –> 00:14:43,440 “…And I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” 138 00:14:44,419 –> 00:14:48,780 Now that is the heart of the Christian life. 139 00:14:48,780 –> 00:14:57,479 The great purpose of God is that you and I will be conformed to the image of God’s Son 140 00:14:57,479 –> 00:15:01,260 that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 141 00:15:01,260 –> 00:15:03,859 That’s Romans chapter 8 in verse 29. 142 00:15:03,859 –> 00:15:09,119 Now the image used there is the image of brothers rather than children. 143 00:15:09,179 –> 00:15:11,159 But you see the point is the same, 144 00:15:11,419 –> 00:15:15,679 it’s about the reproducing of the family likeness. 145 00:15:15,679 –> 00:15:24,039 God is absolutely committed to reproducing the likeness of the Son He loves. 146 00:15:24,219 –> 00:15:33,059 And He does this by infusing the life of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself into His people, 147 00:15:33,400 –> 00:15:39,340 into all who will receive Him, into all who will believe in His name. 148 00:15:39,400 –> 00:15:44,880 He gives the right to be children of God. 149 00:15:45,859 –> 00:15:50,599 Now friends, this is really really important for this reason, 150 00:15:51,179 –> 00:15:59,080 that sometimes our calling to live the Christian life can just seem absolutely overwhelming. 151 00:15:59,599 –> 00:16:02,280 I wonder if you felt like this at times? 152 00:16:02,640 –> 00:16:07,320 We are called to be disciples of Jesus, 153 00:16:08,179 –> 00:16:11,380 but Jesus lived a perfect life. 154 00:16:11,940 –> 00:16:18,919 What hope is there for us to be able to follow his example? 155 00:16:19,820 –> 00:16:24,739 And you see, if discipleship were the only category 156 00:16:24,739 –> 00:16:28,460 that a person had for thinking about the Christian life, 157 00:16:28,460 –> 00:16:32,280 well that person would soon become pretty discouraged. 158 00:16:33,119 –> 00:16:37,760 And one reason that some people give for holding back on committing 159 00:16:37,760 –> 00:16:40,599 to follow the Lord Jesus Christ is just this, 160 00:16:40,599 –> 00:16:42,380 well, it’s too difficult. 161 00:16:42,380 –> 00:16:45,359 You will have heard someone say this, perhaps you’ve said it yourself, 162 00:16:45,359 –> 00:16:46,739 you know, if I was to try this, 163 00:16:46,739 –> 00:16:49,520 it would only end up in the most dismal failure, 164 00:16:49,520 –> 00:16:51,940 and that’s why I’m not even going to try. 165 00:16:52,700 –> 00:16:57,299 But here’s what I want you to grasp from this wonderful verse today. 166 00:16:57,320 –> 00:17:01,380 There is more to living the Christian life than you making 167 00:17:01,380 –> 00:17:04,699 your best effort to follow the example of Jesus. 168 00:17:06,400 –> 00:17:07,660 There’s more to it. 169 00:17:08,939 –> 00:17:12,400 And the more is what is being spoken about here. 170 00:17:13,560 –> 00:17:18,280 Jesus brings offspring to birth. 171 00:17:20,540 –> 00:17:25,959 And the life of Jesus himself is going to be in his offspring. 172 00:17:26,819 –> 00:17:30,920 That’s the miracle of the new birth 173 00:17:30,920 –> 00:17:35,839 that is the experience of everyone who puts their faith 174 00:17:35,839 –> 00:17:37,599 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 175 00:17:37,599 –> 00:17:42,239 The Christian life at its heart is Jesus living his life 176 00:17:42,239 –> 00:17:43,640 in and through you. 177 00:17:44,760 –> 00:17:46,640 Now try and take this in. 178 00:17:46,640 –> 00:17:47,680 It will help you. 179 00:17:49,040 –> 00:17:51,760 In Christ, you are more than a disciple. 180 00:17:52,719 –> 00:17:56,140 In Christ, you are more than a servant. 181 00:17:57,400 –> 00:18:01,479 In Christ you are more than a person doing his or her best 182 00:18:01,479 –> 00:18:03,800 to follow the example of Jesus. 183 00:18:03,800 –> 00:18:08,800 In Christ you are his offspring and his life is in you. 184 00:18:10,800 –> 00:18:14,119 The Holy Spirit dwells within you. 185 00:18:14,119 –> 00:18:16,959 And what that means is that something 186 00:18:16,959 –> 00:18:19,520 of the love, and the patience, and the peace, 187 00:18:19,640 –> 00:18:22,800 and the wisdom, and the strength, and the perseverance, 188 00:18:22,800 –> 00:18:26,920 and the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ are actually in you 189 00:18:26,920 –> 00:18:30,300 by virtue of the fact that his presence is in you. 190 00:18:30,300 –> 00:18:31,560 He is in you. 191 00:18:31,560 –> 00:18:36,239 Nourish this life that is in you and it will grow. 192 00:18:38,219 –> 00:18:43,119 So you see, becoming more like Jesus 193 00:18:43,119 –> 00:18:46,560 actually goes with the grain 194 00:18:46,560 –> 00:18:49,420 of who you are as a Christian believer. 195 00:18:49,420 –> 00:18:50,479 Not against it. 196 00:18:52,000 –> 00:18:57,000 See, the sinner is being true to himself when he sins. 197 00:18:59,699 –> 00:19:02,099 But you are Christ’s offspring. 198 00:19:02,099 –> 00:19:04,119 The Holy Spirit lives within you. 199 00:19:04,119 –> 00:19:06,319 His life is in you. 200 00:19:07,260 –> 00:19:10,900 And therefore, you are being true to yourself 201 00:19:11,800 –> 00:19:13,540 as you grow in likeness to him. 202 00:19:15,219 –> 00:19:18,579 As a believer, you are never more 203 00:19:18,599 –> 00:19:21,939 in conflict with yourself than when you sin, 204 00:19:21,939 –> 00:19:23,939 because that’s not who you are. 205 00:19:23,939 –> 00:19:25,479 You are Christ’s offspring. 206 00:19:26,939 –> 00:19:31,939 And as a believer, you are never more true to yourself 207 00:19:32,219 –> 00:19:34,260 than when you are following the example 208 00:19:34,260 –> 00:19:37,420 of the Lord Jesus Christ, because that is who you are. 209 00:19:38,459 –> 00:19:41,560 You are Christ’s offspring. 210 00:19:42,619 –> 00:19:45,540 And the more like Jesus you become, 211 00:19:45,540 –> 00:19:49,699 the more peace and joy you’re going to have. 212 00:19:49,699 –> 00:19:52,540 Because you’re being true to yourself. 213 00:19:52,540 –> 00:19:56,839 You are His offspring. 214 00:19:58,699 –> 00:20:00,140 Now this is something very wonderful 215 00:20:00,140 –> 00:20:04,300 that Isaiah is telling us here, God’s will prevails. 216 00:20:04,300 –> 00:20:07,739 And it prevails through not only the death of Jesus, 217 00:20:07,739 –> 00:20:10,699 but through the resurrection of Jesus. 218 00:20:10,699 –> 00:20:13,140 And it prevails through the resurrection of Jesus 219 00:20:13,140 –> 00:20:17,520 because he will bring many children to birth. 220 00:20:19,239 –> 00:20:22,640 And then Isaiah gives us a second reason 221 00:20:22,640 –> 00:20:24,619 why the will of God prevails 222 00:20:24,619 –> 00:20:26,199 through the resurrection of Jesus. 223 00:20:26,199 –> 00:20:31,180 Because he says he will live forever. 224 00:20:32,300 –> 00:20:33,180 Look at what he says. 225 00:20:33,180 –> 00:20:37,380 He shall see his offspring. 226 00:20:37,380 –> 00:20:42,380 He shall prolong his days. 227 00:20:43,400 –> 00:20:47,839 So, the promise is not only that Christ will have offspring, 228 00:20:47,839 –> 00:20:49,300 the promise particularly is 229 00:20:49,300 –> 00:20:53,760 that Christ will see his offspring. 230 00:20:55,699 –> 00:20:59,400 Now, people who have children 231 00:20:59,400 –> 00:21:02,239 may live to see their grandchildren. 232 00:21:03,640 –> 00:21:07,760 Some will live to see their great-grandchildren, 233 00:21:07,760 –> 00:21:09,479 but usually that’s about it. 234 00:21:10,420 –> 00:21:12,819 But do you see here that, with Jesus, 235 00:21:12,819 –> 00:21:15,020 it is so very different? 236 00:21:15,020 –> 00:21:16,079 Isaiah says, 237 00:21:16,079 –> 00:21:20,219 he shall prolong his days. 238 00:21:20,219 –> 00:21:22,739 He’s pointing to the fact that, in the resurrection, 239 00:21:22,739 –> 00:21:26,420 the Lord Jesus Christ lives forever, 240 00:21:26,420 –> 00:21:32,520 and he will see his offspring in every generation. 241 00:21:32,520 –> 00:21:34,020 This is clearly a reference 242 00:21:34,020 –> 00:21:36,280 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 243 00:21:36,339 –> 00:21:39,140 He rose from the grave in the power 244 00:21:39,140 –> 00:21:42,040 of a new and eternal life, 245 00:21:42,040 –> 00:21:45,640 and he sees his offspring in every generation, 246 00:21:45,640 –> 00:21:48,540 he knows each of his children by name, 247 00:21:48,540 –> 00:21:53,739 and he is intimately involved in each of our lives. 248 00:21:56,979 –> 00:22:01,219 Now, again, here is something very wonderful for us. 249 00:22:01,260 –> 00:22:06,819 The life of Jesus is in his offspring. 250 00:22:06,819 –> 00:22:09,060 So what is true of Jesus, 251 00:22:09,060 –> 00:22:11,760 that he has risen to an eternal life, 252 00:22:11,760 –> 00:22:13,420 that he lives forever, 253 00:22:13,420 –> 00:22:18,300 will also be true of his offspring as well. 254 00:22:18,300 –> 00:22:21,959 Jesus was the first to rise from the dead, 255 00:22:21,959 –> 00:22:23,400 but the Scripture is very clear 256 00:22:23,400 –> 00:22:27,819 that we who are in Christ also will rise. 257 00:22:27,819 –> 00:22:31,359 Jesus enjoys an eternal life. 258 00:22:31,359 –> 00:22:36,300 And because Jesus himself by his Holy Spirit is in us, 259 00:22:36,300 –> 00:22:39,900 we too will live forever. 260 00:22:39,900 –> 00:22:42,099 This is the plain promise of Jesus. 261 00:22:42,099 –> 00:22:45,920 He said, because I live, 262 00:22:45,920 –> 00:22:49,900 you will live also. 263 00:22:49,900 –> 00:22:51,420 Brothers and sisters in Christ, 264 00:22:51,420 –> 00:22:52,920 can you try to take this in today? 265 00:22:52,920 –> 00:22:54,099 It is so wonderful. 266 00:22:54,199 –> 00:22:58,859 You will live forever. 267 00:22:58,859 –> 00:23:04,579 You’ll live forever because you’re in Christ, 268 00:23:04,579 –> 00:23:06,160 and his days are prolonged. 269 00:23:06,160 –> 00:23:08,319 He lives forever. 270 00:23:08,319 –> 00:23:16,239 And what is true of Jesus is also true of his offspring. 271 00:23:16,239 –> 00:23:19,739 Now, this marvelous promise for the future, 272 00:23:19,739 –> 00:23:24,060 we shall rise to an everlasting life. 273 00:23:24,060 –> 00:23:27,099 This promise for the future is given to help us now. 274 00:23:27,099 –> 00:23:29,880 All the promises of the Bible help us 275 00:23:29,880 –> 00:23:33,119 today in the realities that we face. 276 00:23:33,119 –> 00:23:37,579 So how does this truth that you will live forever, 277 00:23:37,579 –> 00:23:41,420 how does this truth actually help you now? 278 00:23:41,420 –> 00:23:42,920 Well, let me give you two examples 279 00:23:42,920 –> 00:23:46,339 of the ways in which the Bible applies 280 00:23:46,339 –> 00:23:49,619 this truth to the harsh realities 281 00:23:49,619 –> 00:23:53,180 that we face in our life in this world. 282 00:23:53,219 –> 00:23:55,780 First, the Bible applies this truth 283 00:23:55,780 –> 00:24:00,760 to times when we fear the rising tide of evil. 284 00:24:02,579 –> 00:24:06,380 We all know what it is to feel distressed 285 00:24:06,380 –> 00:24:09,979 over the rising tide of evil in our world, 286 00:24:10,959 –> 00:24:13,459 and when we feel that distress, 287 00:24:13,459 –> 00:24:18,459 the Bible directs us to look at the world’s 288 00:24:18,739 –> 00:24:23,739 most defiant towards God from an eternal perspective. 289 00:24:23,760 –> 00:24:26,619 Take for example, Psalm 92. 290 00:24:27,959 –> 00:24:32,400 Though the wicked sprout like grass 291 00:24:33,420 –> 00:24:35,180 coming up all over the place, 292 00:24:36,540 –> 00:24:40,579 and all evil doers flourish, 293 00:24:40,579 –> 00:24:44,199 so this is just evil being rampant everywhere, 294 00:24:44,260 –> 00:24:48,500 though that happen, here is what scripture says to us, 295 00:24:48,500 –> 00:24:53,500 they are doomed to destruction forever 296 00:24:55,339 –> 00:25:00,319 but you, Oh Lord, are on high forever. 297 00:25:02,260 –> 00:25:04,599 Now, do you see that if we look at the world, 298 00:25:04,599 –> 00:25:09,260 simply from the perspective of our own little lifespans, 299 00:25:09,260 –> 00:25:12,939 we very quickly get ourselves distressed and discouraged? 300 00:25:12,959 –> 00:25:14,420 We say to ourselves, well, now, 301 00:25:14,420 –> 00:25:16,859 it looks like evil is taking over. 302 00:25:16,859 –> 00:25:19,439 We fear that everything will be lost 303 00:25:19,439 –> 00:25:22,300 and we find ourselves increasingly 304 00:25:22,300 –> 00:25:25,900 in the grip of anxiety or of anger. 305 00:25:28,020 –> 00:25:30,020 But you see what the scripture says to us 306 00:25:30,020 –> 00:25:31,939 at times when we see the rise of evil, 307 00:25:31,939 –> 00:25:33,939 evil and wickedness flourishing, 308 00:25:36,040 –> 00:25:38,140 scripture points this out 309 00:25:39,099 –> 00:25:44,099 that those who defy God are only around 310 00:25:44,219 –> 00:25:49,040 for a very short time and then they are gone forever. 311 00:25:50,439 –> 00:25:51,280 Think about it. 312 00:25:53,099 –> 00:25:58,099 The enemies who defied God in the 7th Century 313 00:25:58,359 –> 00:25:59,300 are all gone. 314 00:26:00,920 –> 00:26:03,599 The enemies who defied God in the 9th Century, 315 00:26:03,599 –> 00:26:04,500 where are they? 316 00:26:04,500 –> 00:26:05,339 All gone. 317 00:26:06,339 –> 00:26:09,859 And the 11th Century and every other century. 318 00:26:09,859 –> 00:26:12,699 See, this is what the Scripture confronts us with. 319 00:26:12,699 –> 00:26:15,939 Psalm 37 makes this point very clearly. 320 00:26:16,979 –> 00:26:21,979 Do not fret over evil doers. 321 00:26:22,479 –> 00:26:25,000 And you look at that in Psalm 37, verse one, 322 00:26:25,000 –> 00:26:27,339 you say, don’t fret over evil doers. 323 00:26:27,339 –> 00:26:30,300 Why, why should I not fret over them? 324 00:26:31,380 –> 00:26:33,280 And the answer’s given in verse two. 325 00:26:33,439 –> 00:26:38,160 For they will soon fade away like grass. 326 00:26:41,479 –> 00:26:43,920 From God’s eternal point of view, 327 00:26:43,920 –> 00:26:47,479 the wicked are here today and gone tomorrow. 328 00:26:49,219 –> 00:26:50,900 But God is everlasting. 329 00:26:52,560 –> 00:26:55,680 Jesus rose to an eternal life. 330 00:26:56,560 –> 00:26:59,280 He shall prolong his days, 331 00:26:59,280 –> 00:27:02,560 and you are his offspring. 332 00:27:03,479 –> 00:27:05,319 You have life everlasting. 333 00:27:06,160 –> 00:27:08,180 The wicked will soon be gone, 334 00:27:08,180 –> 00:27:13,180 but you will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.” 335 00:27:16,199 –> 00:27:18,280 So, the Bible applies this to 336 00:27:18,280 –> 00:27:21,640 when we see the rising tide of evil, 337 00:27:21,640 –> 00:27:23,239 but that’s just one application. 338 00:27:25,280 –> 00:27:27,880 The Bible also applies this wonderful truth 339 00:27:27,880 –> 00:27:29,199 that you will live forever 340 00:27:29,199 –> 00:27:33,140 to times when we feel the shortness of life. 341 00:27:34,280 –> 00:27:38,520 You see this, for example, in Psalm 102. 342 00:27:38,520 –> 00:27:39,880 David knew all about this 343 00:27:39,880 –> 00:27:40,800 and there’ll be times when 344 00:27:40,800 –> 00:27:43,319 we feel this very deeply ourselves. 345 00:27:44,400 –> 00:27:46,420 David says in Psalm 102, 346 00:27:46,420 –> 00:27:50,939 my days are like an evening shadow, 347 00:27:52,339 –> 00:27:56,060 I wither away like grass. 348 00:27:58,319 –> 00:28:02,359 Now, older people know what it is to say 349 00:28:02,479 –> 00:28:05,880 where have all the years gone? 350 00:28:05,880 –> 00:28:09,500 How could they have passed by so very quickly? 351 00:28:11,579 –> 00:28:13,900 But it’s not just those who are older 352 00:28:13,900 –> 00:28:16,599 who feel the shortness of life. 353 00:28:17,959 –> 00:28:22,939 You lose a loved one, your father, your mother, 354 00:28:24,040 –> 00:28:28,660 a sister, a brother, a very close friend. 355 00:28:29,520 –> 00:28:33,599 And suddenly, because you were very close to this person 356 00:28:33,599 –> 00:28:37,780 and they’re gone, you have a profound 357 00:28:37,780 –> 00:28:41,119 and new awareness of your own mortality. 358 00:28:41,119 –> 00:28:42,760 You’ve not thought about it much before, 359 00:28:42,760 –> 00:28:44,420 but now it’s in your mind. 360 00:28:44,420 –> 00:28:47,420 One day I’ll be gone, too. 361 00:28:49,819 –> 00:28:54,140 You receive a diagnosis of a serious illness. 362 00:28:55,140 –> 00:28:58,619 And suddenly you realize that the life 363 00:28:58,619 –> 00:29:02,359 that seemed to stretch out long in front of you, 364 00:29:03,579 –> 00:29:05,920 it may be shorter than you thought. 365 00:29:06,979 –> 00:29:11,359 My days are like an evening shadow. 366 00:29:13,060 –> 00:29:16,020 Now these are the realities of life. 367 00:29:17,180 –> 00:29:20,099 Where do you go when that is your reality? 368 00:29:21,099 –> 00:29:24,839 Well look where David goes in Psalm 102. 369 00:29:24,839 –> 00:29:28,219 My days are like an evening shadow. 370 00:29:29,300 –> 00:29:32,099 I wither away like grass, 371 00:29:32,099 –> 00:29:37,099 but you O Lord are enthroned forever. 372 00:29:39,819 –> 00:29:42,739 And then late in the same psalm, 373 00:29:42,739 –> 00:29:45,219 as David meditates on this wonderful truth, 374 00:29:45,219 –> 00:29:50,219 he says this, he has broken my strength in midcourse. 375 00:29:51,219 –> 00:29:54,239 He has shortened my days. 376 00:29:55,339 –> 00:29:59,479 And then he says to God, but you are the same 377 00:29:59,479 –> 00:30:03,020 and your years have no end. 378 00:30:03,920 –> 00:30:08,540 The children of your servants shall dwell secure, 379 00:30:08,540 –> 00:30:10,000 their offspring. 380 00:30:10,000 –> 00:30:12,140 Notice the offspring here again, 381 00:30:12,579 –> 00:30:16,400 shall be established before you. 382 00:30:18,079 –> 00:30:20,339 Now, of course, David could not see 383 00:30:20,339 –> 00:30:24,719 all that we see, the side of the empty tomb, 384 00:30:24,719 –> 00:30:29,540 but he knew and he believed that there would be offspring 385 00:30:29,540 –> 00:30:34,339 and that it would be well for the offspring. 386 00:30:34,339 –> 00:30:36,640 And in the light of the empty tomb, 387 00:30:36,640 –> 00:30:39,260 in the light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 388 00:30:39,339 –> 00:30:42,160 we know why Christ is risen. 389 00:30:44,020 –> 00:30:49,020 And when the days of God’s children are shortened on earth, 390 00:30:50,839 –> 00:30:53,119 they shall dwell secure. 391 00:30:53,119 –> 00:30:55,459 That’s what’s said here in this wonderful verse. 392 00:30:55,459 –> 00:30:57,260 They shall dwell secure. 393 00:30:57,260 –> 00:31:02,260 They shall be established in the presence of God. 394 00:31:03,180 –> 00:31:08,180 They’ll be living, reigning, rejoicing with Him. 395 00:31:09,760 –> 00:31:11,180 Forever. 396 00:31:13,339 –> 00:31:16,500 Do you know the Puritan Thomas Manton 397 00:31:16,500 –> 00:31:19,040 said this very beautifully? 398 00:31:20,099 –> 00:31:23,780 He said Christ’s life 399 00:31:23,780 –> 00:31:28,780 was not shortened by his death, but prolonged. 400 00:31:30,939 –> 00:31:35,939 So shall yours be if you have an interest in Christ. 401 00:31:37,180 –> 00:31:38,260 Try and take that in. 402 00:31:40,180 –> 00:31:45,180 Death will not make your life shorter, but longer. 403 00:31:47,040 –> 00:31:48,500 You say, how can that be? 404 00:31:48,500 –> 00:31:50,660 Well it will prolong your days, 405 00:31:50,660 –> 00:31:52,739 because in Christ 406 00:31:52,739 –> 00:31:57,739 it will be for you an entrance into life everlasting. 407 00:32:00,380 –> 00:32:02,020 God’s will prevails. 408 00:32:03,119 –> 00:32:05,819 It prevails through the resurrection of Jesus, why? 409 00:32:05,819 –> 00:32:08,619 Because the risen Lord Jesus Christ 410 00:32:08,739 –> 00:32:12,160 will bring many children to birth. 411 00:32:12,160 –> 00:32:15,920 And the risen Lord Jesus Christ lives forever. 412 00:32:17,739 –> 00:32:22,459 And then Isaiah points us to this third wonderful truth 413 00:32:22,459 –> 00:32:24,979 that God’s will prevails through the resurrection 414 00:32:24,979 –> 00:32:26,479 of the Lord Jesus Christ, 415 00:32:26,479 –> 00:32:28,660 because He himself, Christ, 416 00:32:28,660 –> 00:32:32,140 the risen Lord will accomplish it. 417 00:32:32,140 –> 00:32:34,660 The will of the Lord, Isaiah says, 418 00:32:34,819 –> 00:32:36,920 shall prosper in His hand. 419 00:32:41,459 –> 00:32:43,000 Try and take this in today. 420 00:32:43,000 –> 00:32:46,780 It will strengthen you in whatever you are facing. 421 00:32:46,780 –> 00:32:49,119 The risen Lord Jesus Christ ascended 422 00:32:49,119 –> 00:32:50,959 at the right hand of the Father. 423 00:32:50,959 –> 00:32:53,579 He is not kind of remotely and passively 424 00:32:53,579 –> 00:32:57,500 just watching what is going on in the world. 425 00:32:57,500 –> 00:33:00,979 He is actively engaged every moment 426 00:33:00,979 –> 00:33:03,219 in getting God’s will done. 427 00:33:05,099 –> 00:33:08,239 What’s He doing, he’s bringing people to new birth. 428 00:33:09,079 –> 00:33:13,020 He’s giving us the strength that we need 429 00:33:13,020 –> 00:33:15,739 for the trials that we face. 430 00:33:15,739 –> 00:33:17,619 He’s hearing and he’s answering 431 00:33:17,619 –> 00:33:20,020 the prayers of his own people, 432 00:33:20,020 –> 00:33:22,260 and when it is God’s will, 433 00:33:22,260 –> 00:33:24,540 he will bring each and every one of us 434 00:33:24,540 –> 00:33:27,319 into his own nearer presence and glory. 435 00:33:29,380 –> 00:33:31,680 And notice that Isaiah says, 436 00:33:31,699 –> 00:33:36,680 the will of the Lord shall prosper, prosper. 437 00:33:36,859 –> 00:33:40,680 See, we look at the world in its defiance toward God 438 00:33:40,680 –> 00:33:43,839 and it looks as if God’s will is barely getting done. 439 00:33:44,760 –> 00:33:48,099 But you see, faith sees beyond the chaos 440 00:33:48,099 –> 00:33:51,400 of the world around us and believes this promise, 441 00:33:51,400 –> 00:33:55,699 the will of the Lord shall prosper in the hand of Jesus. 442 00:33:55,699 –> 00:33:58,680 And notice that it’s in his hand, not in ours. 443 00:33:58,959 –> 00:34:03,959 The end, all that God has planned will come to pass 444 00:34:04,859 –> 00:34:09,020 in and through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 445 00:34:09,020 –> 00:34:12,439 That’s what Isaiah is telling us so wonderfully here. 446 00:34:13,560 –> 00:34:16,280 And we read earlier from the book of Hebrews 447 00:34:16,280 –> 00:34:20,040 in chapter four about the marvelous day 448 00:34:20,040 –> 00:34:24,399 when the Lord Jesus Christ shall complete his work 449 00:34:24,399 –> 00:34:28,560 of bringing many children to glory. 450 00:34:28,560 –> 00:34:32,520 And Hebrews paints this marvelous picture, 451 00:34:32,520 –> 00:34:36,760 the son of God himself, the risen Lord Jesus Christ 452 00:34:36,760 –> 00:34:38,840 in the presence of the Father 453 00:34:38,840 –> 00:34:42,919 and all of his redeemed children are gathered around him. 454 00:34:42,919 –> 00:34:46,500 And there, he says, Father, here I am 455 00:34:46,500 –> 00:34:49,459 and here are all the children that you have given to me. 456 00:34:51,280 –> 00:34:55,800 They’re all here, I’ve brought everyone of them home 457 00:34:56,699 –> 00:34:59,340 and not one of them has been lost. 458 00:35:01,280 –> 00:35:06,300 Jesus will get the will of God done. 459 00:35:08,399 –> 00:35:10,719 And I want to end today with this, 460 00:35:12,040 –> 00:35:14,020 that he tells us very, very clearly 461 00:35:14,020 –> 00:35:15,979 what the will of God is. 462 00:35:17,219 –> 00:35:18,879 Let me read to you the words of Jesus 463 00:35:18,879 –> 00:35:21,620 from John in chapter six. 464 00:35:21,620 –> 00:35:24,139 He said, I have come down from heaven 465 00:35:24,260 –> 00:35:26,739 not to do my own will 466 00:35:28,020 –> 00:35:30,040 but the will of him who sent me. 467 00:35:31,620 –> 00:35:35,439 And this is the will of him who sent me. 468 00:35:36,500 –> 00:35:41,500 That I should lose nothing of all that he has given me 469 00:35:43,379 –> 00:35:46,379 but raise it up on the last day. 470 00:35:46,379 –> 00:35:49,439 Isn’t that a marvelous assurance for you 471 00:35:49,439 –> 00:35:50,520 as a Christian believer? 472 00:35:50,520 –> 00:35:53,620 The Lord Jesus died to save you. 473 00:35:53,699 –> 00:35:55,419 He lives to keep you 474 00:35:56,360 –> 00:35:59,360 and he will never, never, never let you go. 475 00:36:00,760 –> 00:36:02,580 And then Jesus says something else. 476 00:36:03,820 –> 00:36:06,639 For this is the will of my father, 477 00:36:06,639 –> 00:36:08,199 notice how clear this is, 478 00:36:09,219 –> 00:36:10,560 that everyone 479 00:36:11,679 –> 00:36:16,679 who looks on the Son and believes in him 480 00:36:17,300 –> 00:36:19,800 should have eternal life 481 00:36:20,959 –> 00:36:23,260 and I will raise him up. 482 00:36:24,340 –> 00:36:26,280 On the last day. 483 00:36:26,280 –> 00:36:28,379 You couldn’t have a clearer statement 484 00:36:28,379 –> 00:36:30,040 of the will of God than that, 485 00:36:30,040 –> 00:36:34,260 that if you will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, 486 00:36:35,820 –> 00:36:37,739 you will have eternal life. 487 00:36:37,739 –> 00:36:38,860 That’s the will of the Father 488 00:36:38,860 –> 00:36:40,419 and Jesus gets it done. 489 00:36:40,419 –> 00:36:42,580 This is why he died and why he rose. 490 00:36:42,580 –> 00:36:45,360 This is why he gave himself as a sacrifice. 491 00:36:45,360 –> 00:36:49,739 This is why he lives now at the right hand of the father. 492 00:36:49,739 –> 00:36:51,560 To get God’s will done. 493 00:36:52,540 –> 00:36:54,060 What this means for you 494 00:36:54,060 –> 00:36:56,939 is that if you will believe in him, 495 00:36:56,939 –> 00:36:59,260 he says you will have eternal life 496 00:36:59,260 –> 00:37:01,760 and you will be among that great company of people 497 00:37:01,760 –> 00:37:03,760 who one day will be gathered around him 498 00:37:03,760 –> 00:37:05,360 in the presence of the father, 499 00:37:05,360 –> 00:37:09,020 brought safely home by Jesus Christ himself. 500 00:37:12,020 –> 00:37:14,760 The will of God is your salvation 501 00:37:17,860 –> 00:37:20,120 and Jesus will get it done. 502 00:37:22,459 –> 00:37:26,100 The will of God is your sanctification 503 00:37:26,100 –> 00:37:28,360 and Jesus will get it done. 504 00:37:30,280 –> 00:37:33,280 The will of God is your preservation 505 00:37:34,639 –> 00:37:36,899 and Jesus will get it done. 506 00:37:38,139 –> 00:37:41,300 The will of God is your glorification 507 00:37:42,600 –> 00:37:44,840 and Jesus will get it done. 508 00:37:46,459 –> 00:37:50,620 The will of the lord shall prosper in his full glory. 509 00:37:51,679 –> 00:37:53,419 ickets his own hand. 510 00:37:54,260 –> 00:37:57,679 And if your life is in the hand of Jesus, 511 00:38:00,159 –> 00:38:02,239 you have nothing to fear. 512 00:38:03,459 –> 00:38:05,139 Let’s pray together. 513 00:38:06,800 –> 00:38:09,639 Father, we thank you for your son. 514 00:38:13,040 –> 00:38:15,040 Our Savior Jesus Christ. 515 00:38:17,540 –> 00:38:21,360 We thank you that he died for our sins, 516 00:38:21,800 –> 00:38:25,540 that he gave himself and you gave him for us. 517 00:38:27,739 –> 00:38:30,899 We thank you that he rose from the dead 518 00:38:32,280 –> 00:38:34,540 and that through him, 519 00:38:34,540 –> 00:38:38,719 all of your will and your purpose will be accomplished. 520 00:38:40,719 –> 00:38:44,179 Help us that we may look to him. 521 00:38:44,179 –> 00:38:46,679 Help us that we may trust him. 522 00:38:47,280 –> 00:38:51,459 Help us that we may find strength in and through him. 523 00:38:53,020 –> 00:38:57,659 And to his name be all the praise and all the glory 524 00:38:57,659 –> 00:39:00,820 through Jesus Christ our Lord. 525 00:39:00,820 –> 00:39:01,639 Amen. 526 00:39:03,600 –> 00:39:05,100 You’ve been listening to a sermon 527 00:39:05,100 –> 00:39:07,560 with Pastor Collin Smith of Open the Bible. 528 00:39:07,560 –> 00:39:08,659 To contact us, 529 00:39:08,659 –> 00:39:12,479 call us at 1-877-OPEN-365 530 00:39:12,479 –> 00:39:13,979 or visit our website, 531 00:39:13,979 –> 00:39:15,699 openthebible.org.