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It is just a real joy again to 
be here with you and indeed I do love your pastor. Please give 
him my greetings when he returns. I think the people at Glen Cullen 
were disappointed when they knew I was coming here and he wasn't 
coming there. They love him dearly and you 
are blessed that God has given to a faithful man who is a preacher 
of the gospel. Open your Bibles, I'm tempted 
to say, to the gospel according to Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 55. Surely we see much and great 
gospel truth throughout the book of Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 55, 
we will gather our thoughts around verses four and five this evening. Behold, I made him a witness 
to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, 
you shall call a nation that you do not know and a nation 
that did not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your 
God and of the Holy One of Israel for he has glorified you. Let's pray once again and ask 
for the Lord's help. Father, we once again come before 
you and we do thank you for your word that is able to make us 
wise unto salvation and we thank you for the truth that faith 
comes by hearing and hearing by the word. Father, we are very 
aware of our own frailty and weakness of ourself And so Father, 
once again, we ask that you would come in the power of your Holy 
Spirit and minister to us this evening, that you would bless 
the consideration of your word to our heart. We pray especially 
that the Lord Jesus Christ would be exalted in all that we say, 
for he indeed is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our 
glorious Savior. And so, Father, bless these things 
to our heart. In Jesus' name, amen. There's a lot of ground that 
I would like to cover this evening. Our theme is the sufficiency 
or our sufficiency in Christ. And by sufficiency, I mean completeness 
or all that is necessary. Jesus suffered and He died to 
take away all of our sins. He is a complete Savior. The hymn that we just sang speaks 
of that, of His perfect intercession for us. The verse at the top 
of the hymn, Hebrews chapter 7, 25, speaks of the fact that 
He is able to save all who come to God by Him to the uttermost. And that suffering of Christ 
has been clearly described for us in Isaiah chapter 53, throughout 
the whole chapter, but especially in verses 5 and 6. Isaiah 53, 5 and 6. But he was wounded for our transgressions, 
he was crushed for our iniquities. Upon him was the chastisement 
that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All 
we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his 
own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." 
And then in chapter 54, it's declared that the redemptive 
work of the Lord Jesus Christ would issue in victory. The redemption of a vast number 
of people from all nations being brought to the knowledge of Christ 
and to full complete salvation in him. And so we read in chapter 
54 say verses 2 and 3. Enlarge the place of your tent 
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out. 
Do not hold back. Lengthen your cords and strengthen 
your stakes for you will spread abroad to the right and to the 
left and your offspring will possess the nations and will 
people the desolate The means by which the multitude of sinners 
for whom Christ died would come to the knowledge of the Savior 
is the declaration of the gospel. You know what the word gospel 
means. It means the good news. And there is a free offer of 
the gospel given so clearly in Isaiah 55 verses 1 through 3. Come everyone who thirst, come 
to the waters. And he who has no money, come 
buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without 
money and without price. Why do you spend your money for 
that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not 
satisfy? Listen diligently to me and eat 
what is good. Delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear and come to 
me. hear that your soul may live 
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant my steadfast sure love 
for David. Note it says there in verse 1 
come everyone who thirst and the thirsty are those who desire 
satisfaction of soul. Now brethren that's something 
that is common to all men and women and because God is blessed 
Forever, in and of himself, he is the source of all that is 
good and blessed. True satisfaction of soul can 
only be found in him through Christ. Now, note it's a free 
offer. It's not restricted to those 
who are sensible of their need of Christ. Because they are described 
in verse 2, as those who spend their money for that which is 
not bread, and their labor for that which does not satisfy. So this gospel invitation is 
addressed to all kinds of sinners freely and without restriction. Now, it's true, and to put it 
simply, only those who know and are convinced of their sinfulness 
will see their need of Christ. However, that doesn't mean that 
the offer of the gospel and the offer of the gospel in Christ 
is limited or restricted to those who see their need of Him. But 
only those who do will listen and obey and receive the offer. But brethren, the offer itself 
is addressed to all sinners in need of forgiveness, in need 
of blessedness. The Dutch theologian William 
Baracco wrote, there is a general and unconditional declaration 
to all, that is to him who thirsts, who is without money, and who 
wills, Isaiah 55 and John 7 and Revelation 22, he who neither 
wills nor is thirsty will refrain from coming. This is his own 
doing and he will be responsible having been invited and having 
heard this general calling. Since many reject the gospel, 
it is necessarily offered to them for whatever is not offered 
cannot be rejected. It was necessary that the word 
of God should first have been spoken to you, but seeing you 
put it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, 
lo, we turn to the Gentiles, the Apostle Paul. Many are disobedient 
to the gospel, 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 and verse 8, and are 
disobedient to the Son, John chapter 3 and verse 36. It thus follows that Christ was 
offered to them and they were commanded to believe in Christ. John Calvin wrote, the gospel 
is to be preached indiscriminately to the elect and to the reprobate, 
but the elect alone come to Christ because they have been taught 
of God. Calvin adds, God invites all 
indiscriminately to salvation through the gospel. But the ingratitude 
of the world is the reason why this grace, which is equally 
offered to all, is enjoyed by a few. Now the question comes 
up, can man naturally thirst after Christ? No, they can't. But they can and they do thirst 
after blessedness. They can and they do thirst after 
satisfaction of soul. But they call it all sorts of 
other things. Self-fulfillment maybe, or realization, 
or getting all the gusto. And because all men seek it and 
are lost in sin, as we said this morning, spiritually blind, To 
the truth, they seek satisfaction of soul in many ways. And so the prophet says there 
in verse two and three, listen diligently to me and eat what 
is good and delight yourselves in rich food, incline your ear 
and come to me here that your soul may live. Ritterboss commented 
in his is a commentary on Isaiah, the foolish person could have 
it so much better. In contrast to the self-sacrifices 
the world demands, there is the simple act of listening to the 
voice of the Lord calling. And over against the getting 
of no bread, there is the eating of what is good. The experience 
of real soul satisfaction. This is expressed even more strongly 
by saying that their soul will delight in fatness. Fat being 
considered a great treat by Orientals. An image therefore of the experience 
of greatest joy. The invitation to listen to the 
Lord and to come to him And so to the blessings of redemption 
he offers is again repeated. To this is added the promise 
that then their soul or their person will live. The natural 
life is an image here of the higher life which may be experienced 
only in the obedience of faith. Now it's by this means of this 
unrestricted offer of mercy to sinners that the elect of God 
out of fallen mankind are brought to salvation, are brought to 
the knowledge of God in Christ and their soul is satisfied in 
that. Their thirst is quenched and 
we have this promise in verse 3, and I will make with you an 
everlasting covenant my steadfast sure love for David. So the way God effectually and 
irresistibly establishes his covenant with those he chose 
in Christ even before the foundation of the world is through this 
unrestricted offer of mercy and this conditional promise that 
all who come will indeed be received into the bonds of this covenant 
of grace. Brethren, God cannot lie. Titus 
chapter 1 and verse 2, in hope of eternal life which God who 
never lies promised before the ages began. Now in verses 4 and 
5 we have two sentences which begin with the word behold. Pay attention. Behold, I made 
him a witness to the peoples, and behold, you shall call a 
nation that you do not know." It's speaking of the true son 
of David because it's pointing back to verse 3, where it says, 
and I will make you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure 
love for David. In other words, Promises of blessing 
given to David. Back yonder. Remember in 2 Samuel 
chapter 9. Those promises find their fulfillment 
and completeness in Christ. David's greater son. So when 
it says, I've made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and 
commander for the peoples there in our text, it's speaking about 
Christ. About Christ who was all of that 
for his people. And that's what I want us to 
consider this evening. So in the first place, consider 
Christ as a witness for the people. You know what a witness is, it's 
one who gives testimony. I should have known that you 
would have a Reformed Baptist hook. I think I forgot about 
that. Can I tell a little story here 
before we take on the... When I went to the pastors conference 
in Montville, New Jersey for the very first time and I would 
watch these guys. They would get up into the pulpit 
and they would announce the scripture. They would read and pray and 
you would look up and they'd be out of their coats. And I, I never 
saw anybody get out of their coat, but I figured I, if I was 
going to be reformed Baptist, I had to come back and get a 
hook to put on my, my pulpit. So we have hooks on all of our 
pulpits. I shouldn't have done that. Let's 
see. Christ is a witness. for the people. A witness is 
one who gives testimony, and I want you to understand that 
Christ was always a witness. In the Gospel of John, chapter 
1, our Lord Jesus is called what? The Word. In the beginning was 
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the reason that Christ is 
the Word is because God from all eternity determined to reveal 
himself to men by Jesus Christ, the second person of the Godhead. And in eternity, there was a 
covenant of redemption within the Godhead. The Father gave 
a people to the Son in order for him to redeem them and to 
make his truth known to them, to glorify them together with 
himself, and the Lord Jesus Christ was always to be the word, the 
one through whom God made himself known to men." John chapter 1 
and verse 14, and the word became flesh and dwelt among us. And 
we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, 
full of grace and truth. Second Corinthians 4.6, for God 
who said, let light shine Out of darkness has shone in our 
hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, 
where? In the face of Jesus Christ. He's a faithful witness to the 
people. And in the covenant of redemption, 
Christ was appointed the mediator between God and man. He was committed 
to come. And he was to declare the Father. And in his coming and in his 
declaration, of the Father. He was committed to bear the 
guilt of sin for all of those given to him by the Father and 
to open the way through his blood to the Father. And the Holy Spirit, 
the Spirit of Christ and what is, what is his primary work? To testify of Christ. And He, 
the Holy Spirit, was in the prophets in the Old Testament, revealing 
the eternal purposes of God to speak to man through Jesus Christ. So in the appointed time, the 
Spirit of Christ was in the Old Testament prophets speaking of 
the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn with me to 1 Peter 1. Verse 11. Actually, let's pick up in verse 
10. Concerning this salvation, the 
prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours 
searched and inquired carefully inquiring what person or time 
The spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted 
the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. In other words, Christ by the 
Holy Spirit was declaring the truth concerning himself, a faithful 
witness to the peoples through the Old Testament prophets. And 
then in the fullness of time, Christ himself came. And he was 
manifest in the flesh. So Malachi chapter 3 and verse 
1 speaks of Christ as the messenger of the covenant. The covenant 
of redemption. Behold I send my messenger and 
he will prepare the way before me. John Baptist. And the Lord whom you seek will 
suddenly come to his temple. And the messenger of the covenant, 
the Lord in whom you delight, behold, he is coming." So there's 
no question our Lord Jesus, prior to his becoming a man, appeared 
in the Old Testament as the angel or messenger of the covenant. He appeared in human form, though 
he had not yet become a man in the Old Testament. He appeared 
to Abraham. He appeared to Joshua, to Gideon, 
and others. Remember how he appeared in the 
fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the 
book of Daniel. But he was to actually come in 
the fullness of time, as the Apostle Paul says in Galatians 
chapter 4 and verse 4, by becoming a man as a messenger of the covenant, 
as the one through whom the covenant of God with men was to be fulfilled, 
was to be ratified, who was the source of all the blessings of 
God's gracious covenant with man. And he came in perfect fulfillment 
as the Word, showing God to be the God of truth. Paul wrote 
in Romans chapter 15, verses 8 through 13, For I tell you that Christ became 
a servant, the word servant there could also be translated minister, 
to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness in order to confirm 
the promises given to the patriarchs. And in order that the Gentiles 
might glorify God for his mercy, as it is written, therefore I 
will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name. And again 
it is said, rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people. And again, praise 
the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him. 
And again, Isaiah says, the root of Jesse will come, even he who 
arises to rule the Gentiles, in him will the Gentiles hope. 
And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in 
believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound 
in hope. The Lord Jesus Christ came as 
the messenger of the covenant, the one who fulfills all the 
promises of God. That's why the Apostle Paul can 
say to the Corinthians that in him, in Christ, all the promises 
of God are yes and amen. He is the truth and he's always 
faithful. He is a witness to the peoples. And he bore witness to the truth 
throughout his earthly ministry. Even before his enemies, as you 
see in the gospel accounts. For example, in John's gospel, 
this witness bearing of Christ is a major theme. Turn over to 
the gospel of John chapter 3. Verse 11. our testimony. John chapter 5 
and verse 24, truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word 
and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not 
come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life. Truly, 
truly, I say, whoever hears my word, whoever receives my witness, 
and then verse 36 says, but the testimony that I have is greater 
than that of John, for the works that the Father has given me 
to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness 
about me that the Father has sent me." Turn to John chapter 
17. This high priestly prayer of 
our Lord in verse 5. And now Father glorify me in 
your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the 
world existed as his suffering and his death upon the cross 
draws very near. He declared how he faithfully 
bore witness to the truth of God in verse 6, I have manifested 
your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. 
Yours they were and you gave them to me and they have kept 
your word. And he spoke the words given to him by the father. verses 7 and 8. Now they know that everything 
that you have given me is from you for I have given them the 
words that you gave me and they have received them and have come 
to know in truth that I came from you and they have believed 
that you sent me. So in John chapter 18 and verse 
37 before pilot who says to Jesus, so you 
say that you are a king. Jesus says for this purpose I 
was born and for this purpose I have come into the world. To 
what end? To bear witness to the truth. Witness to the people. And then 
our Lord Jesus having bore the sin of many Taking upon himself 
the wrath of God which those sins deserved on Calvary, having 
risen and ascended to the Father's right hand, he continues to bear 
witness to the truth. In fact, this is really what 
our text back in Isaiah 55 verse 4 is speaking of. That Christ, 
exalted, continues to declare the truth to men. to be a witness 
to the peoples. Turn to the book of Acts chapter 
1 for just a moment. And I'm sure that you remember 
that this is Luke's second treatise, isn't it? He first wrote his 
gospel where he told all that Christ had done and began to 
do teach and so we read here in verses 1 & 2 in the first 
book of Theophilus I have dealt with all that Jesus began to 
do and teach until the day when he was taken up after he had 
given commands through the Holy Spirit to the Apostles whom he 
had chosen. The book of Acts tells us what 
our Lord Jesus continued and continues to do. And so on the 
day of Pentecost, it was Christ who poured out the Holy Spirit 
according to the Father's promise. He raised up lowly, timid men 
to be bold witnesses to the truth concerning him, his witnesses. You shall be witnesses for me. They were men like Peter and 
John, and think of it. fishermen, unlearned men in the 
eyes of the world. Acts 4.13 says, when people saw 
their boldness, that is Peter and John, and perceived that 
they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished as 
they recognized that they had been with Jesus. And this very 
same exalted redeemer, he confronted Saul of Tarsus. There on that 
road to Damascus, he transformed him. from a hater of the truth, 
a persecutor of the church, into a preacher of the very truth 
he sought to wipe out. A proclaimer of the gospel, a 
humble servant of Christ, an apostle to the Gentiles, a preacher 
to the peoples, Acts chapter 9, verses 15 and 16. And so Christ 
himself declares his own gospel by his ministers. That free offer 
of mercy contained in Isaiah 55, one through three, is sent 
out among all the nations by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is made a faithful witness 
to the peoples. And so make no mistake, it's 
his work. It is Christ who sends his gospel 
to men. He is the sufficient witness 
to the peoples and men may think it's by coincidence or by accident 
or circumstances but that's not true in any case. It is Christ 
at the right hand of God who by his spirit causes his servants 
to make known the gospel to sinners. It's the very work that Christ 
is doing. Again, turn to his high priestly 
prayer, John chapter 17 and verse 2. Since you have given him authority, 
let's back up and read verse 1. When Jesus had spoken these 
words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, Father, the 
hour has come. Glorify your son that the son 
may glorify you. To what end? Verse two, since 
you have given him authority over all flesh to give eternal 
life to all whom you have given him. And so when the gospel is 
brought to men and women in their sins, in their need, it is Christ 
who confronts them with the truth. A faithful witness to the peoples. 
And brethren, that's true in every case. Well, there's so 
much more that we could say about that. One thing that I would 
say is don't take lightly the hearing of the gospel. Don't 
take lightly the hearing of the word of Christ. That's why the 
apostle says in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 20, therefore 
we are ambassadors for Christ. We're not speaking our own words. 
We're not here for ourselves. We're ambassadors for Christ. God making his appeal through 
us. We implore you on behalf of Christ 
to be reconciled to God. You see, it is Christ who speaks 
in his gospel. And he does so through its free 
proclamation, even when it's by weak and frail and mortal 
men. He enables them to declare the 
truth as it is in Jesus. That's why the Apostle Paul can 
say in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 5, for what we proclaim 
is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord with ourselves as your 
servants for Jesus' sake. Zankeas, a theologian from the 
16th century wrote, nor is the gospel to be preached only, but 
preached to every creature. To reasonable beings, promiscuously 
and at large, to all who frequent the Christian ministry of every 
state and condition in life, whether high or low, young or 
old, learned or illiterate, all who attend on the ministrations 
of Christ ambassadors have a right to hear the gospel fully, clearly, 
and without mincing. Preach it, says Christ, Mark 
16, 15. Publish it abroad. Be its criers 
and heralds. Proclaim it aloud. Tell it out. Keep back no part of it. Spare 
not Lift up your voices like trumpets, because Christ is a 
faithful witness, made a faithful witness to the peoples. Well, 
Christ is also a leader and a commander to the peoples. Isaiah 55, once 
again, and then the second half of verse 4, Or let's just read the first 
half again. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader 
and commander for the peoples. In our adult Sunday school at 
Glen Cullen for the last couple of years, we've been studying 
David. And certainly David was given 
as a leader and commander to the people. But this is speaking 
of a greater than David. This is speaking of David's son 
according to the flesh. the Lord Jesus Christ, David's 
Lord. And our passage says he is a 
leader and commander. It's applying his care and power 
on the one hand and his authority on the other. You see, Christ 
is the head of the church. And he's head in two senses. 
He is a life-giving head and a governing head. So he is the 
source of the church's life. He alone is the one who has right 
to tell the church what to do. He's the leader and the commander 
because he's given them life. And he leads the way onto glory. He leads his people into all 
the blessings that he has secured in his redemptive work on the 
cross. As mediator of that eternal covenant 
of redemption, he gives salvation and all the blessings of it to 
all of those given him by the Father. Every single blessing 
to every single one. The blessing of regeneration, 
the renewing of the heart and the will. So that a sinner is 
made willing to repent and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He freely gives all of those 
blessings held out and offered in the promises of God and he 
leads his people into them. Justification, even the forgiveness 
of all of our sins. Peace with God. Adoption into 
the family of God and glorification with him in the new heavens and 
the new earth. He's a leader to the peoples. He's also a commander to govern 
his people, his church. A church that's made up of people 
from all the nations and yet one in Christ Jesus. He's the ruling head as well 
as the life-giving head. And so he has the right, he has 
the right to appoint its government. He has the right to appoint its 
mission, its goals, and all of its practices. He has the right 
and the authority to declare its way of worship and how it's 
to function. He's given us special ordinances 
to observe until he comes again to receive us unto himself. He's 
given to us baptism and the Lord's Supper as our leader and commander. He gives us these things out 
of love to remind us of all that we have received out of his richness, 
of all that we have received of his rich blessings by and 
through his suffering and death upon the cross. He's given us 
these things to strengthen and to confirm our faith. And brethren, while that's true, 
it's also true, all that he hasn't appointed in practice and worship 
ought to be excluded. I know I'm probably preaching 
to the choir here, but it's important that we get that. All that he 
hasn't appointed in practice and worship ought to be excluded. The Church of Jesus Christ is 
not some social clock to behave or act or carry out its mission 
in any old way just so long as it works or is agreeable to the 
people, making up its own rules. No, we have a head. We have a 
leader. We have a king, a commander to 
the people. And he has authority over us. It's sad. Some people join clubs 
with others where they have a common, that's not sad, but it's a reality. 
It's sad where I'm going with this. Some people join clubs 
with others where they have a common interest, maybe a chess club, 
a hunting club. When I was in high school, I 
used to belong to the varsity club. and the Spanish club. I 
think I can order eggs for breakfast about all I can remember from 
being in the Spanish club. The point is for some the church 
is simply a religious club. But brethren it's the body of 
Christ and he's the head. He's its leader and commander. 
He dictates its mission and its strategies and its tactics. Matthew chapter 28, 18 through 
20, all authority, all power in heaven and earth has been 
given unto me, said Jesus. Go therefore into all the world 
and preach the gospel, making disciples of all the nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the 
Holy Spirit. teaching them to observe all 
that I have commanded you." And he's caring for us, you see. 
He is leading us through all our trials onto victory. 2 Corinthians 
chapter 2 and verse 14 we read, but thanks be to God who in Christ 
always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads 
the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere, from victory 
until victory, until glory comes. Geoffrey Wilson wrote, commenting 
on Paul's words there in 2 Corinthians 2, thus Paul sees his apostolic 
progress through the world as a continuous triumph by means 
of which the knowledge of Christ is spread abroad like perfume. 
As Christ's loyal lieutenant, triumph is assured to Paul in 
every place, even at Corinth, the place where he appeared to 
be facing an ignominious defeat. And such confidence we ought 
to have as Christ's commands his church as he is the leader 
and commander to the people. And brethren, I guess the question 
that I would ask is why would we want it otherwise? He is such an all wise and ever 
caring leader and commander. How foolish and how contrary 
to faith for the church to think it knows better. to think that we know what this 
generation needs. Ultimately and sadly, brethren, 
that is a denial of Christ's sufficiency and authority as 
a witness and as a leader and commander. So we must submit 
to his scripture in all things. We talk about regulative principle, 
don't we? I trust you understand what I 
mean by regulative principle. Just one example, and let me 
suggest to you that regulative principle is not about preference, 
our preference. It's not simply our narrow outlook. The way we do it here, hope you 
don't mind, it's the way the church ought to respond to its 
all-sufficient witness, leader, and commander in every place 
and circumstance. Brethren, I would encourage you 
to press on in faithfulness to the Lord Jesus 
Christ in your worship here, that you would give yourselves 
to the reading of God's Word, the singing of His hymns, the 
prayers of his people, and the preaching of the word of God. 
These are the things that God has called us to. So much more that we could say 
we need to move on quickly. And let me move on then and mention 
that Christ is the designer and the builder of his church. Verse 
5, behold you shall call a nation that you do not know and a nation 
that did not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your 
God and of the Holy One of Israel for he has glorified you. Now 
there is some discussion as to who is meant here. Behold you 
shall call a nation that you do not know. Is it speaking of 
Israel the existing people of God at the time, some may refer 
to it as the Old Testament church, or is it speaking of Christ? 
And let me just say briefly, certainly God used Israel, the 
existing church as it were, to further his cause, to bring the 
truth to the nations. So instrumentally, verse 5, could 
apply to the church. But brethren, above all else, 
it is still speaking of the Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, 
who is our sufficiency. And it is He who calls a nation. Those people who had not known 
Him. And so we read in Isaiah 65 and 
verse 1, I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for 
me. I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I 
said, here am I, here am I, to a nation that was not called 
by my name. But here in Isaiah 55 and verse 
5 it says, he calls a nation he knew not. Now obviously that doesn't mean 
in the sense of having no awareness. of them, or any idea that they 
existed. He's the Lord. And Christ knows 
about everyone, even their innermost thoughts. No, it means he calls 
a nation he did not know in the sense that in the past. Back yonder, he had no saving 
dealings They walked in darkness. Therefore, he would no longer 
seek only the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He had other 
sheep to seek and to save for whom he would make atonement. 
John 3.16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, 
gave him to die upon a cross, not just for Israel, after the 
flesh, but for all who would believe upon him in the world. So in John chapter 10 and verse 
16, Jesus declares, I have other sheep, others given to me of 
the father sheep, sheep that are not of this fold, Israel, 
they're Gentiles. And I must bring them also. And you know what? They will 
listen to me. And there will be one flock and 
one shepherd. And so Isaiah 55 and verse 5 
is saying that the Lord Jesus after his exaltation would call. And the word call implies an 
effective, irresistible call. And who? Who would he call? A people from the nations. See, 
that's why the book of Acts is so vital. I'm glad you're reading 
through the book of Acts. Some of this is fresh in your 
minds. We're reading through the book of Acts as well in our 
second service. I think you're in Acts 15, we're 
in Acts 14. So right about the same place. The book of Acts is so vitally 
important. Christ not only calls the apostles 
to make the gospel known, But he actually empowers that gospel 
by his spirit to the effectual calling of his people, all his 
sheep. That's why the Apostle Paul can 
say in the book of Romans that I want to come. I want to be 
there in Rome. Why? Because I want to declare 
the gospel. Because it's the power of God 
to salvation to all who believe, to the Jew first, but also to 
the Gentile, to the Greek. bringing every last one ordained 
to eternal life and to faith and repentance. And so we read 
in the book of Acts how the Lord added to their number daily. Who added to their number? The 
Lord added to their number. Or we think of Lydia in Acts 
chapter 16, how she gathered with other women down by the 
riverside and the apostle Paul went down And he was impressed 
and he spoke to them the word of God. And they were attentive 
to what he had to say because faith comes by hearing and hearing 
by the word of God. But what happened? The Lord opened 
her heart and poured in grace. And the Lord saved Lydia. Or 
Acts 13 in Antioch and Pisidia, verse 48 is a wonderful verse, 
Acts 13. Verse 48, and when the Gentiles 
heard this, the gospel, they began rejoicing and glorifying 
the word of the Lord and as many as were appointed to eternal 
life believed. And of course, at the end of 
the book of Acts, we read in chapter 28 and verse 28. Therefore, let it be known to 
you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles." 
They will listen. They will listen. Christ is building 
his church. He is a leader and commander 
of the people. This is Christ doing, and he 
is continuing to do what this text says he would do. He is 
at the right hand of God, and he is building his church. And 
Christ brings his redeemed to the Father. Verse 5 again, But 
you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation 
that did not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your 
God and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you. Brethren, 
briefly, what is that saying except those effectually called, 
those who have been changed to love the truth they once despised, 
Now they embrace and receive the truth in Christ. They run to the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophet says, because of 
the Lord your God, which is to say they run to Christ for acceptance 
with the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. I probably need to be invited 
back so we could finish this passage. But let's stop there and make 
some application. Brethren, this passage is teaching 
us that all our life and all our welfare comes to us by God 
the Father through Jesus Christ. He is a witness to the peoples. 
He is a faithful leader and commander. Might we examine our hearts and 
cast off all sense of self-sufficiency. We are a needy people and Christ 
alone is our sufficiency. If God in Christ has effectually 
called us by the gospel, let's then live in alignment to that 
powerful God. As the Apostle writing to the 
Ephesians in this very same context speaks of living a life worthy 
of your calling. Resting and trusting completely 
in Him. You see, as He is our witness, 
then we need to quit listening to others. We need to quit listening 
to all the noise out there in the world. We need to even quit 
listening in a sense to our own inner voice, you know. And we 
need to listen to His testimony with childlike complete dependence. As He tells us the plan of salvation, 
let's submit with reverence and no disputing. No seeking to substitute 
in its place our own ideas. As he shows to us great and precious 
promises which God has given in his word, let's rely upon 
them. Let's expect their fulfillment 
with confidence. Paul said in Christ that all 
the promises of God are yes and amen. I can do all things through 
Christ who strengthens me. All things that he calls us to 
do, all things that he calls us to be. Paul says I can do 
that, not in my own strength, but through Christ who strengthens 
me. Brethren, do you believe that? 
We need to live out of it. And as he declares his righteous 
judgment against sinful ways, Let's be in awe and even tremble 
at the thought of disbelief. Let's humble ourselves under 
his true witness in all things. I believe that's what we all 
want to do, but let's confess we fall short. And so what to do? Well, we confess 
and we repent and we press on. Let's confess our feeble, wavering 
faith and pray, Father, I believe, please help my unbelief. Might 
we be strong in faith, giving all glory to God. Might we walk 
in unreserved obedience before our leader and commander. You see brethren, we're not alone. We can live in content obedience 
because He will never leave nor forsake us. I think if we were to really 
get our hands around this, this would increase our sense of contentment 
in Christ by bounds. I think that contentment is one 
of the greatest testimonies that a believer can have before a 
sinful world. Contentment is a fruit of the 
Spirit. It's a grace. Contentment with 
godliness, Paul says, is great gain. Contentment is a learned 
experience as well. It's a grace that we grow in 
to and in. Aren't you glad for that? I think 
of the Apostle Paul wanted to go to Rome as I mentioned earlier 
and there he is in Rome but not exactly the way he thought it 
was going to turn out initially. He's in prison and he's writing 
to the Philippians and he says, I have learned in whatsoever 
state I am therewith to be content. The key is I have learned. I'm 
always thankful for that. Paul had to learn a measure of 
contentment. But brethren, contentment is 
also a command. It is a Christian imperative. 
In Hebrews chapter 13, we are told, we are warned against the 
love of money, and then we are commanded to be content with 
whatsoever things you have. But then it goes on to say, because 
I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. What 
can man do to you? You see, Christ is a faithful 
witness and commander to the people. We're not alone. We can live in content obedience 
because he will never leave nor forsake us. What can the world 
do? And so with joy let's fight the 
good fight of faith. Sometimes we have to do hard 
things for Christ. You young people, and I know 
Pastor Butler would never lie to you, it's not easy to be a 
Christian. It's not easy to be a Christian. 
You are called to take up your cross, and that goes for young 
people as well as old people, to take up your cross and follow 
Christ. It's not easy, but you can do 
all things through Christ who strengthens you. Put on the whole 
armor of God. Study his word. Meditate upon 
it. Pray. Fight the devil. Put the 
old man to death. He's got to go. He's got to go. And whatever the Lord gives you 
to do, do it with all your might. We have our sufficiency in Christ. Isaiah 55, 4 and 5, Behold, I 
made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the 
peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, 
And a nation that you did not know shall run to you because 
of the Lord your God and the Holy One of Israel, for he has 
glorified you." Well, may God bless the consideration of these 
truths to our heart. Let's pray. Our Father, we do thank you for 
this Lord's Day. We thank you, Father, for the 
time that we've had together to worship you. We thank you 
for your word. We thank you, Father, for the 
fellowship of believers. And Father, I thank you for these 
dear people. And Lord, I ask that you would 
bless them and that you would enable them to grow in the faith 
and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ together. I pray, 
Father, that they would all be found safe, trusting the Lord 
Jesus, living in hope of eternal life. So Father, bless all of 
these families, bless their children, bring them all to a saving knowledge 
of the Lord Jesus. Be with Pastor Butler. Thank you for him and his ministry 
here. Father, encourage his heart, I pray. Lord, grant unto him 
all of his desires as he seeks to follow you. And Father, I 
pray that for continued faithfulness in this place. I pray, Father, 
that the gospel would always ring out clear and that there 
would be a healthy sound of the truth from this place. And that 
you would bless these dear people, Father, grow them numerically, 
grow them spiritually, add to their numbers, Father, give them 
greater measures of influence in this community. And Father, 
I just pray, Father, you would do all of this, not that they 
may boast, but that, Father, that you would be glorified and 
that your son, the Lord Jesus, would be magnified. And Father, 
we do thank you again for this word. We thank you and ask that 
you would bless it to our hearts. Draw us closer to you. Forgive 
us of our sins. Forgive us, Father, for our weak 
and wavering faith at times. Increase our faith, we pray. 
Father, increase our love to you. May we serve you with greater 
devotion and greater vigor, looking forward to your return. We ask 
all of this in the name of your Son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus 
Christ. Amen.