"GOD'S PROMISES FOR YOUR JOURNEY"

                                               ISAIAH 41:8-10

 INTRODUCTION:
           WE STAND FACING THE JOURNEY OF THE UNCHARTED, NOT YET TRAVELED, ROAD OF LIFE BEFORE US THIS YEAR, 2026.       IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT WE SHALL MAKE THE JOURNEY BUT ONE OF WHAT COURSE WE WILL CHOOSE TO TRAVEL.

         
            EVERY ROAD WILL HAVE ITS TWISTS AND TURNS, POTHOLES AND SOME TRAVELERS GOING IN BOTH DIRECTION.     EVERY PATH TRAVELED HAS UNSEEN DANGERS AND UNEXPECTED SURPRISES.     EACH PATH WILL TAKE ITS OWN COURSE ONCE INITIATED WILL BRING THE TRAVELER TO ITS ULTIMATE DESTINATION.     THE QUESTION FOR EACH OF US IS WHAT COURSE WILL OUR LIVES NAVIGATE THIS COMING YEAR.

          THE SCRIPTURE IN CONTEXT.     GOD IS CONFRONTING THE HEATHEN FOR THEIR IDOLATRY, BUT IS COMFORTING ISRAEL CONCERNING THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIMSELF.

          IN THESE 3 VERSES, GOD GIVES US, HIS CHILDREN, SOME REASONS TO BE ENCOURAGED ON OUR JOURNEY.     IN THESE 3 VERSES, GOD GIVES YOU AND ME, HIS CHILDREN, SOME PRECIOUS PROMISES FOR OUR JOURNEY. 

           THE QUESTION MAY COME TO MIND, "WHY DOES GOD PROMISE US ANYTHING? AFTER ALL, IT IS US WHO OUGHT TO BE PROMISING HIM THINGS."

            WELL, IT DOES NOT WORK LIKE THAT.     WHEN WE GET SAVED, WE BEGIN TO LIVE UNDER THE ECONOMY OF GRACE.

           FROM A HUMAN STANDPOINT NOTHING GOD DOES MAKES VERY MUCH SENSE, (EXAMPLE: SOME THINGS HE DOES.)     WHY DOES HE DO THIS?

            NOTICE VERSES 8-9, HE PICKED US, WE DID NOT CHOOSE HIM.     THEREFORE, HE WILL DO EVERYTHING TO SEE THAT WE ARE LOOKED AFTER IN OUR JOURNEY.

           WITH THIS IN MIND, NOTICE THESE PRECIOUS PROMISES THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU AND ME FOR OUR JOURNEY.

           1.  THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE.

     A. HIS PRESENCE IS POWERFUL.

           HIS PRESENCE HAS THE POWER TO DRIVE AWAY FEAR.

 2ND TIMOTHY 1:7 "FOR GOD HATH NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR; BUT OF POWER, AND OF LOVE, AND OF A SOUND MIND."

           "SPIRIT OF FEAR": THE GREEK WORD ALSO TRANSLATED "FEAR" DENOTES A COWARDLY, SHAMEFUL FEAR CAUSED BY A WEAK, SELFISH CHARACTER.

           (EXAMPLE: THE THREAT OF ROMAN PERSECUTION; THE HOSTILITY OF THOSE IN THE EPHESIAN CHURCH; THE ASSAULTS OF FALSE TEACHERS).     SO IF TIMOTHY WAS FEARFUL, IT DID NOT COME FROM GOD.

          "POWER": POSITIVELY, GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN BELIEVERS ALL THE SPIRITUAL RESOURCES THEY NEED FOR EVERY TRIAL AND THREAT, MATTHEW 10:19-20.

           DIVINE POWER, EFFECTIVE, PRODUCTIVE SPIRITUAL ENERGY, BELONGS TO BELIEVERS, EPHESIANS 1:18-20; EPHESIANS 3:20.

           "LOVE": THIS KIND OF LOVE CENTERS ON PLEASING GOD AND SEEKING OTHERS' WELFARE BEFORE ONE'S OWN, ROMANS 14:8; GALATIANS 5:22. 25; EPHESIANS 3:19; 1ST PETER 1:22; 1ST JOHN 4:18.

           "SOUND MIND": THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF FEAR AND COWARDICE THAT CAUSES DISORDER AND CONFUSION.

           FOCUSING ON THE SOVEREIGN NATURE AND PERFECT PURPOSES OF OUR ETERNAL GOD ALLOWS BELIEVERS TO CONTROL THEIR LIVES WITH GODLY WISDOM AND CONFIDENCE IN EVERY SITUATION, ROMANS 12:3; 1ST TIMOTHY 3:2; TITUS 1:8; TITUS 2:2.

     B.  HIS PRESENCE IS PERSONAL.

 MATTHEW 28:20 "TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHAT SO EVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: AND, LO I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD, AMEN."

           THIS CLOSING PROMISE, THOUGH GIVEN TO THE APOSTLES, IS TRANSMITTED BY EVERY GENERATION OF BELIEVERS, JOHN 17:29.

           CHRIST'S PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE, "I AM WITH YOU ALWAY" GUARANTEES THE SUCCESS OF THE BELIEVER, OF THE CHURCH'S MISSION BECAUSE IT IS REALLY HIS MISSION CARRIED OUT BY HIS CALLED DISCIPLES (ALL BELIEVERS).

      C. HIS PRESENCE IS PERPETUAL

            WHERE LIFE CAN LEAD, STILL NEVER ALONE!

 HEBREWS 13:5 "LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS; AND BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE: FOR HE HATH SAID, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE."

          LUSTING AFTER MATERIAL RICHES IS "A ROOT OF ALL SORTS OF EVIL, AND SOME BY LONGING FOR IT HAVE WANDERED AWAY FROM THE FAITH AND PIERCED THEMSELVES WITH MANY GRIEFS", 1ST TIMOTHY 6:10; 1ST TIMOTHY 3:3.

           "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE": BELIEVERS CAN BE CONTENT IN EVERY SITUATION BECAUSE OF THIS PROMISE.     IT IS LIKE SAYING "THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY WHATSOEVER THAT I WILL EVER, EVER LEAVE YOU".

           2.  THE PROMISE OF HIS PERSON

     A. THERE IS A RELATIONSHIP

           ("THY", VERSE 10) THIS IS PERSONAL.

 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, I WILL UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS."

           ISRAEL NEED NOT FEAR GOD'S DESTRUCTIVE JUDGMENT BECAUSE HE IS THEIR GOD AND FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISE TO RESTORE THE NATION.     THIS IS A PROMISE TO PHYSICAL ISRAEL, AND A PROMISE TO SPIRITUAL AS WELL.

           GOD IS WITH ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST ALSO, BECAUSE HE DWELLS INSIDE OF US, GALATIANS 2:20.

           NOTICE, IT IS BY HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WE ARE STRENGTHENED AND HELD UP.     THIS IS NOT JUST IN THE PAST TENSE, BUT IN THE FUTURE AS WELL, SINCE GOD NEVER CHANGES.

      B.  THERE IS A REALIZATION.

            HE IS GOD!     HE CAN DO ANYTHING!     EPHESIANS 3:20; JOB 42:2; LUKE 1:37; PSALM 115:3.

            WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS EMPOWERED US, CHRIST HAS INDWELT US, LOVE HAS MASTERED US, GOD HAS FILLED WITH HIS OWN FULLNESS, THEN HE IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY BEYOND ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK.

           UNTIL THESE CONDITIONS ARE MET, GOD'S WORKING IN US IS LIMITED.     WHEN THEY ARE MET, HIS WORKING IN US IS UNLIMITED.

           THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US IS THE HOLY SPIRIT WITHIN US.     THIS POWER IS A GIFT OF GOD TO HELP US MINISTER (WITNESS) TO OTHERS.

      C.  THERE IS A REALITY.

           "DISMAYED": TO LOOK ANXIOUSLY ABOUT.

           IF GOD IS MY GOD, AND HE IS AN ABLE GOD, THEN WHY DO I NEED TO FEAR, FRET, OR FAINT?     MY GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE!     HIS MIGHTY DEEDS, HE HAS NOT CHANGED!

 MALACHI 3:6 "FOR I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT; THEREFORE YE SONS OF JACOB ARE NOT CONSUMED."

           THE THINGS THAT WERE A SIN IN THE SIGHT OF GOD 2000+ YEARS AGO ARE A SIN NOW!

           GOD IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER.     HE NEVER CHANGES!

           WHEN GOD CALLS YOU, HE NEVER CHANGES HIS MIND ABOUT WANTING YOU FOR THAT PURPOSE!

 HEBREWS 13:8 "JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TODAY, AND FOR EVER."

           THROUGH GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE, EVER SINGLE DETAIL OF THE LIFE WAS SET AT THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD INITIALLY.     IT WILL NOT CHANGE, BECAUSE GOD CANNOT LIE.

 HE NEVER CHANGES!

           WE NEED TO REMEMBER JUST WHO HE IS!

           3.  THE PROMISE OF HIS POWER.

          GOD'S PROMISE HERE IS THREE-FOLD.     "YEA": MEANS SURELY.     THERE ARE THREE ASPECTS OF HIS POWER THAT WE CAN COUNT ON.

      A. HE WILL STRENGTHEN US.

           HE WILL GIVE US THE POWER TO SEE EVERY DUTY AND EVERY DAY TO ITS CONCLUSION.     THERE WILL BE GRACE AND STRENGTH FOR EVERY NEED.

           THE 3-FOLD REQUEST PAUL MAKES IN 2ND CORINTHIANS 12:8 PARALLELS THAT OF JESUS IN GETHSEMANE.     BOTH PAUL AND JESUS HAD HAD THEIR REQUEST DENIED, BUT WERE GRANTED ENOUGH GRACE SO THAT THEY COULD ENDURE THEIR ORDEALS.

           IN 2ND CORINTHIANS 12:9 PAUL WRITES, "AND HE SAID UNTO ME, MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. MOST GLADLY THEREFORE WILL I RATHER GLORY IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME."

           SINCE PAUL HAD THIS WEAKNESS, HE WAS VERY AWARE THAT HIS STRENGTH WAS IN CHRIST ALONE.     WE MUST NOT QUESTION THIS ANSWER FROM GOD.     GOD MINISTERED GREATLY THROUGH PAUL.

           THE PRESENT TENSE OF THE VERB TRANSLATED "IS SUFFICIENT" THEN REVEALS THE CONSTANT AVAILABILITY OF DIVINE GRACE.          

           "MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS": THIS SHOWS THAT THE WEAKER THE HUMAN INSTRUMENT, THE MORE CLEARLY GOD'S GRACE SHINES FORTH.

     B.  HE WILL SUPPORT US.

           HE WILL GIVE US WHAT WE NEED, WHEN WE NEED IT, IN THE EXACT PROPORTIONS THAT WE REQUIRE IT.

 PHILIPPIANS 4:19 "BUT MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY JESUS CHRIST,"

           GOD WILL GIVE INCREASE TO THE BELIEVER IN PROPORTION TO HIS INFINITE RESOURCES, NOT JUST A SMALL AMOUNT OUT OF HIS RICHES.

          THE KEY IS BEING GENEROUS IN YOUR GIVING TO GOD.     SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO "GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN TO YOU PRESSED DOWN AND RUNNING OVER".     YOU CAN NOT OUT GIVE GOD.

           THIS GIVING DOES NOT JUST INCLUDE MONEY BUT GIVING OF YOURSELF IN SERVICE TO HIM.

           GIVE WITHOUT HOPING FOR THE RETURN AND GOD WILL FREELY GIVE YOU SO MUCH   BLESSING THAT YOUR CUP WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HOLD IT ALL.

      C.  HE WILL SUSTAIN US.

           GOD WILL KEEP US AND GET US SAFELY THROUGH THE JOURNEY UNTIL WE ALL REACH HEAVEN.     GOD DID NOT SAVE US TO ABANDON US ALONG THE WAY.

 1ST PETER 1:5 "WHO ARE KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH FAITH UNTO SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME."

           "KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD": NOTHING CAN STEAL THE BELIEVER'S HEAVENLY INHERITANCE, ALTHOUGH DISOBEDIENCE CAN MEAN A LOSS OF REWARDS, 2ND JOHN 8.

           THE FINAL CONSUMMATION OF OUR SALVATION WILL BE REVEALED AND EXPERIENCED IN GLORIFICATION WITH CHRIST AT HIS RETURN (RAPTURE), ROMANS 8:17; 2ND THESSALONIANS 1:10.

           SUPREME POWER, OMNISCIENCE, OMNIPOTENCE, AND SOVEREIGNTY, NOT ONLY IN 

INHERITANCE, 1ST PETER, BUT ALSO KEEP THE BELIEVER SECURE.

           NOW, THAT IS MY KIND OF GUARANTEE!

           "THROUGH FAITH": THE BELIEVER'S RESPONSE TO GOD'S ELECTION AND THE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONVICTION IS FAITH, BUT EVEN FAITH IS EMPOWERED BY GOD.

          AT THE TIME OF SALVATION, GOD ENERGIZES FAITH AND CONTINUES TO PRESERVE IT.     SAVING FAITH IS PERMANENT, IT NEVER DIES.

           CONCLUSION:

           I PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS PROMISES!     DON'T YOU?

           HOWEVER, LET'S BE HONEST, WE DO NOT ALL LIVE LIKE WE BELIEVE THESE THINGS, DO WE?

           TODAY MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME FOR YOU TO COME BEFORE THE LORD AND THANK HIM FOR HIS PERFECT WORD AND THE PROMISES IT CONTAINS.

           JUST TO THANK HIM FOR BEING FAITHFUL AND DEPENDABLE.

          PERHAPS YOU NEED TO COME BEFORE THE LORD AND ASK FOR FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR LACK OF FAITH IN HIM AND HIS PROMISES.

           PERHAPS YOU HAVE NEVER ACCEPTED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR?

           TODAY WOULD BE A GREAT START TO THE NEW YEAR FOR YOU TO PLACE YOUR FAITH IN CHRIST AND ASK HIM TO SAVE YOU FROM YOUR SINS.

          OUR JOURNEY MAY BE LONG, OR IT MAY BE SHORT.

           WHATEVER THE LENGTH OF IT, OR WHATEVER WE MAY FACE, WE CAN NEVER GO WRONG HAVING FAITH IN HIS PROMISES.

           I AM THANKFUL THAT WE CAN COUNT ON GOD AND HIS PROMISES DURING OUR JOURNEY.     PRAISE THE LORD!

           AMEN!