The God Who is There

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Introduction:

This verse is a personal treasure to me. It is powerful! It brings great reassurance. I want to share it with you if you haven't already discovered it (as, I am sure, many of you have!) How can we best appropriate the personal assurance of God's Presence and power?

I. IT IS A PROMISE TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED OF GOD

If we know the Lord at all, it is because He has called us! So often we think that the initiative was with us. We say, "I found God!" And sometimes it sounds as though we think God ought to be profoundly grateful to us for coming on board His team.

But salvation begins with God! We never "come to God" just because we decide it might be a good idea.

And it is a comfort to know that God has called us! "You have not chosen Me," Jesus said, "But I have chosen you!" (John 15) It is always a privilege to hear God say: "I want YOU!"

Frightening, maybe. Humbling, always! But also a high privilege! Our relationship to God must be clear. "You have not chosen me," God says, "But I have chosen you!"

And if Jesus has called you, He will also see to it that His call will never be frustrated by any outside force. Times can and will get hard. People can and will let us down. Things that we don't deserve will happen to us. But the promise is there: "I have called you— and I won't abandon you!"

[I spoke this morning of going beyond 'getting saved and sanctified' in our goals and dreams and visions. But we must make the foundations certain! We must be saved! We must be sanctified wholly! And we may be, IF we will listen and respond to God's call.]

II. IT IS A PROMISE TO GOD'S SERVANTS

The idea of being a servant— even to God Himself— is not very high on the totem pole of desirable jobs, at least not naturally. In our society today it is hard to find people who are willing to fill the so-called "service positions." Everyone wants to be a boss, and no one wants to be just a foot soldier or a trench warrior.

But somehow this adversity to serving God and fellow man must be broken down if we are to be followers of Jesus.

IN THE MATTER OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD: it is a high privilege to carry out His will. It is what the angels delight to do. We are made to be vice-regents to Almighty God! And yet how many people carry this "no serve" attitude even into their relationship with God.

We get the idea that "faith" is a power than makes God do what we want Him to do. We unconsciously think that God "owes us." We may never say so even to ourselves, but we assume deep down that God exists to make us healthy and wealthy and very very comfortable. But when God calls us, He calls us to serve Him! But at the same time, God loves His servants. And God's servants love Him! They have discovered what they are created for! The angels rejoice in carrying out the will of God. And God calls us, and leads us out of bondage into freedom in order that we can have the joy of this privilege the angels already know.

There is great reassurance when our purpose is to please God. Abraham is the 'father of faith' because when he heard God say "Go!" he got up and went!

BUT THIS SERVICE TO GOD MUST FILTER DOWN INTO A PRACTICAL WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER, TOO: Jesus gave His example by washing the disciples' feet. He said that when we helped others we were helping Him.

AND IT IS ALONG THIS PATHWAY OF SEEKING TO SERVE THAT WE MEET GOD AND HIS PROMISES! "Well done, good and faithful servant!" Happy is that woman, that man that knows what God is calling him or her to do! Happy is that person who is engaged in obedience! For theirs are the assurances of God! "I am with you, Jacob My servant!"

III. IT IS A PROMISE BOTH OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND IN GOD'S PRESENCE

Assurance is precious. It comes just when it is needed, often times. But it does not take away the need for faith.

Look at the counsel and instruction that goes along with this great promise:

  1. DON'T BE AFRAID
  2. DON'T BE DISMAYED (DON'T QUIT)
  3. EXPECT TO BE WEAK AND TIRED (I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU)
  4. TAKE SOME RISKS!

Assurance is personal. It cannot be received second-hand. Oh, preachers MAY be channels— but the inner assurance if the witness of the Holy Spirit Himself!

There is the "I AM with thee!"

Assurance is HERE! It always comes along the pathway of obedience:

We need courage and we need perseverance and we need strength beyond our own. We need help! We need support! It is not an easy way, this business of following God.

But God has exactly promised to meet our exact needs!