Kerwin Baptist Church Daily Broadcast

Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the Word of God to be spread throughout the world so that all may know Christ.

Join us now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church located in Kernersville, North Carolina. This is obviously a wonderful, wonderful book. The first 39 chapters deal with basically the captivity of God's people and then chapter 40 and beyond deals with life beyond that captivity. These folks have been obviously through difficult time. They didn't handle everything well and by the way neither have you and I. But I will say this that when you and I go through difficulties there is life beyond that. And there is coming a day hopefully here on earth that your trials and troubles and things you might be dealing with that God will allow you to get victory over those things and life can go on. But I have seen folks deal with certain things that never went away on earth. But I will tell you this, it's going to go away one day. There is life beyond your problems folks and Isaiah chapter 49 makes an interesting statement that God gives some promises to his people.

And although you've been through some difficult things I want to remind you of a few things. And I want you to look at verse 12 and we're not going to give the entire history for sake of time here today. But in verse 12 listen to what God says. Behold these shall come from far and lo these from the north and from the west and these from the land of Sennam. Obviously God's people have been in captivity.

They've been moved. Verse 13 sing O heavens and be joyful O earth and break forth into singing O mountains for the Lord hath comforted his people. By the way we know that the Holy Spirit is the great comforter. Obviously the Holy Spirit had a ministry all through the Old Testament but the Holy Spirit wasn't given into the hearts of believers until Jesus ascended back into heaven. And he said I will not leave you comfortless I'm going to give you the great comforter the Holy Spirit. And now you and I when we put our faith and trust in Christ as that new birth that regeneration what we call salvation when that happens now the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. You agree with that say amen.

By the way don't be scared about that. You would be in trouble without it. We're all thanking God for that. But notice in verse 13 God here takes the role of comforting his people and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

That's true. And I'm here to tell you God comforts you. God has mercy on us. We would have no hope without God's mercy. They're all wonderful truths but even in the midst of those truths you and I know that we often get discouraged.

And even in the middle of knowing that that we often have difficulty and things come up and we can begin to think some things that we know are not biblical. Look if you would at verse 14. He says but Zion said. Who's Zion? This is obviously talking about Mount Zion literally in the center of Jerusalem and he's talking about his people.

Listen to this. But Zion said the Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me. And we have talked about this before. We can all sometimes get to a point in our lives where we feel like we prayed and prayed and circumstances have come and we almost feel as if God I know you exist and I know this isn't true but this is what I'm feeling right now. Is that you've kind of forgotten me. You kind of overlooked me. That you're kind of so busy helping everyone else that I just feel like maybe you haven't done for me what I was really hoping and praying for.

We've all felt like that at different times and I want you to notice a couple things here real quick. Notice in verse 14. He says my Lord. Zion God's people felt that my Lord has forgotten me.

Verse 15. God says can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb. Yeah that can happen. Have you all seen it happen? Look if you would at the end he says yea they may forget.

Why? Because a woman is a human and a man is a human and anybody in your life your husband your wife your children your grandparents your extended family they are literally capable we're all capable of letting people down. We're all human we have flaws and we have a sinful nature and literally the best of our efforts God says when it comes to the righteousness of God the best of our efforts literally looks like filthy rags. Compared to God's perfection. And he says in verse 16 behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. Now remember what he said in verse 15 he said yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee. And he proves it and we're given some insight here in the word of God something that we probably wouldn't have knowledge of other than this in verse 16 he says behold I have graven that is the word obviously for engraved we're going to talk about this in a minute he says I have engraven thee upon the palms of my hands. Thy walls or protection are continually before me.

Dear friend you might have gone through some horrible things or going through some things and you might in life right now it just might be there's some things that you're concerned about questioning feel like maybe God has not done everything you had hoped he would do we know he's sovereign. Dear friend I want to remind you in the middle of captivity there is a God that loves us and in the middle of difficult times there is a God who has not forgotten you and because he knew the frailty of our flesh he makes a statement. He says let me tell you how I am assuring you that I'll never forget you and I'll never overlook you I have literally engraved I have graven you upon the palms of my hand. Wow what does that mean let's pray Lord we love you we thank you for all that you've done and Lord I pray that you would help today to comfort us as sinful people that sometimes need reminded and we need assured and Lord after all you've done for us already we shouldn't need any further proof but that's just the way we are sometimes. Pray that you'd help your word to minister to believers today in Jesus name we pray amen what I'd like to do is I want to look at this particular phrase kind of word by word so we understand what it all means. Now the first word I want you to see and these are these things will be on the screen if you are a person that likes to take notes like I am number one I want us to look at the very first word of this verse 16 the very first word of this phrase literally that he gives us. And I want us to understand what is really going on here he uses the word in verse 16 behold now what's interesting is when God uses the word behold it often indicates that something special is getting ready to follow. In other words this isn't listen this isn't hey this isn't excuse me this isn't can I have a minute God says behold now why is that special to us today I want you to understand this word behold doesn't just mean to listen and it doesn't just mean to stop. Now get this this morning this word behold means to stop to listen to see to take it all in and to hold on to it forever. That's a good word God's just not saying stop I have something to say he's not just saying listen to what I have to say he's not even stopping and saying hey I got something to show you he uses a word that says listen I want you to stop. I want you to put everything else down I want you to get all those thoughts out of your mind I want you to listen to what I have to say I want you to see my heart in this matter and I want you to hold on to this not just today not just tomorrow but for the rest of eternity.

Now I don't know about you that sets it up pretty good. Let me prove my point how God always uses that word behold to give some wonderful truths in Genesis chapter 28 just in case you question these verses are going to be up very quickly on the screen but in Genesis 28 15 God says literally this behold I am with thee. Stop listen take this with you forever I am with thee and will keep thee in all the places where thou goest and will bring thee again. Wow listen to that last phrase for I will not leave thee he set that whole thing up with behold. What about this in Exodus 16 4 then said the Lord unto Moses behold I will rain bread from heaven for you by the way you know that still happens every day of your life God brings bread from heaven to you it's what we call our daily. What about Psalm 46 verse 8. Come behold the works of the Lord. Could you just stop and even try to describe what God has done for you. What about this in Psalm 54 verse 4 behold God is mine helper. I don't think you guys are getting too excited about God's word today. God just said hey stop everything drop everything listen to this don't ever forget it hold on to it behold hold on to this for the rest of your life I am your helper.

Now if I believe that that means I'll never be alone. Man what about John chapter 1 verse 29 the Bible says the next day John saw Jesus coming and John looks at him and he says behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of you. The world wow 2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 2 behold now is the day of salvation. You better stop you better drop everything you have you better get everything else out of your mind today if you're here and you do not know for sure that you're on your way to heaven. You do not know for sure that our wonderful shepherd is your shepherd if you do not know for sure that you have put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

If you do not know for sure that you have a personal relationship with him don't do anything else don't go anywhere else don't think about anything else stop listen see hold on to this now's the day of salvation. Revelation chapter 3 verse 20 he says behold I stand at the door and knock if any man any man doesn't matter what color doesn't matter what stage of life phase of life doesn't matter what we have in the bank or don't have in the bank. Doesn't matter where we were born where we come from I'm knocking I want you to stop and hear this if any man will open the door I'll come in. Revelation 22 verse 7 God gives us this wonderful nugget behold I come quickly. Jesus is coming again folks isn't that a wonderful word behold and he gives us one right in the middle of the book of Isaiah behold I have graven you upon the palms of my hands. Why is that so special well we got to look at the next couple words he says behold I have. You say well that's great preacher appreciate those two earth shaking words. I have what is going on here God stops us gets our attention wants to answer the question of hurting people that are confused that had literally just accused him of forgetting them.

And he says now you just stop for a second and I'm going to make a phrase to you that you better hold on to the rest of your life. I have that means God takes personal responsibility for the following statement it means in case there's any questions I'm the one that did this. This was my decision God says this is my right this is my call this didn't come from anybody this came from me. I have now I don't know if you like the verses on behold but I have found that God makes some wonderful statements in God's word when he says I have.

You mind if I show you a couple of course you don't mind what choice do you have right. Haggai chapter 2 verse 23 God says this I have chosen thee saith the Lord of hosts nobody else chose you and everybody else might not choose you but I have. Wow Isaiah 43 verse 1 but now thus saith the Lord that created thee I have redeemed thee I have called thee by thy name thou art mine.

He did it. Ezekiel chapter 3 verse 8 he says behold here we go again I have made thy face strong. Preacher what does that mean it means God says I'm the one that gives you strength.

You can try everything else you want you can take all the vitamins you want to and I do by the way but you can see how it's helped all right. Genesis chapter 1 verse 29 look at this I mean we go right back to the very first of the word of God behold God said behold I have given. You ever thought about that phrase God says I have given.

Let me ask you what have you given God he gave everything I've given. Isaiah 48 10 behold he says I have refined thee I'm not just going to leave you alone I know you don't enjoy this process and I know it hurts sometimes but I'm not just going to discard you and I'm not just going to keep letting you go down a wrong road. I'm going to try you as gold I'm going to purify you I'm going to make you into the image of my dear son I've refined you. Ezekiel 16 verse 27 behold therefore I have stretched out my hand over you. Why does he say I have listen I want you to understand sometimes in order to understand what he did say we have to understand what he did not say he didn't say I may graven you upon my palms. He didn't say I might he didn't say I must he didn't even say I will he gives us a past tense word I have it's already been done. At least the choir ought to be excited about this. It's already done I know you think I've forgotten you but I engraved you on the palm of my hands before you ever even got to this trial before you were ever born before you ever showed up.

How could I forget you. It's right there. It's already been done. I didn't wait till you needed proof and say well let me just approve it to you let me engrave this on the palm of no behold I have. Let's look at this next word.

I have graven. Now what's interesting here is what is being said. Why is this so special to us. Whatever else may happen to other engravings on wood or stone or metal in this case it doesn't apply. What God has engraved listen to me now you got to get this. What God has engraved cannot be erased because he is immortal. He would have to die for it to be erased. It cannot be replaced because he's unchangeable. So it can't be erased because he's immortal. It can't be erased because he's unchangeable. There can be no error in it because he's immutable.

Which means he never makes a mistake. I don't think you get it yet. I have graven.

I have engraved. No man can remove it by the way and by the way the only thing that could remove it or that would remove it is man. And man cannot and let me tell you exactly why.

If for no other reason just listen to me I want you to get this. For any man to be able to remove it he would have to get close enough to God to remove it. The problem is nobody can get that close to God because God's light is too bright. His glory is too powerful and his holiness is too convicting.

You say I don't even agree with that. We ought to talk to Moses about that. The Bible says Moses never even saw the actual glory of God. He just kind of saw the after effects of it and his face shone bright from then on. Literally people saw.

It was so powerful. Let me tell you something. You ask Moses how powerful God's glory and you ask Moses how bright his light is. How about Paul or Saul? He saw just a little bit of God's light on the road to Damascus. How did that turn out? Dear friend he has engraved us on the palm of his hands. Listen to me.

You've got to get this. That means before the earth was created. Before the first star was ever placed into space.

Before the first cloud ever appeared or the first sunset ever faded away. God had engraved our name on the palms of his hand. That means the eternal God somehow for some reason focused his heart's love on us. That means the righteous one has shown mercy and grace to his redeemed. Dare I say it?

Ransomed. He has chosen to remember us. You say what do you mean he's chosen to remember us?

Can I tell you something? God's word says that God has chosen to forget our sin. The Bible says our sin is as far as the east is from the west.

As far as the north is from the south. Because God chose to forget that. So if God can choose to forget something he can choose to remember.

Now you say okay I kind of get it a little bit well let's just go on to the next little part. He said behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. Now why does that mean anything to you and I?

Well listen I want you to get this. It has not been written because that could possibly be erased. So it was engraved. It has not been stamped because that could possibly fade away.

It has not been printed as that might could be covered up. But it has been engraved. It means it has been permanently etched in the palms of God's hands.

Now why did he do it in the palm of his hands? Because if he would have done it upon wood that could possibly rot away. If it had been engraved on paper that paper could be torn in pieces. If it had been engraved on metal that could possibly be heated and melted. It was not chiseled in stone because that stone could possibly be crushed and crumbled. Dear friend it was engraved on the palms of God's hand because nothing can touch that. It was engraved in the palms of the very hands of God. Say preacher what does this mean to me before we go eat some lunch?

I'm so glad you asked I would hate to let you out this early. Number one what does this mean to me? It means that I have an identity.

Now I got to keep preaching or I'm going to stop and cry about that. It means I'm somebody. It means God sees me as special even if nobody else does. It means it doesn't matter who overlooks me or who might overlook you.

God never has. It means it doesn't matter who thinks I'm a failure God doesn't. And it means it doesn't matter who thinks I'm unimportant God sees me as important. It doesn't matter if my name's ever been written in a newspaper published in a book or even showed up on TV.

As long as it's in the palm of his hands I'm okay. It means whether you like me or not that's not where my identity comes from. It means whether people appreciate you or applaud you or not you're on the palms of God's hands. That's where your identity lies.

That means even if family has failed you or forsaken you you have a father that never will. I have been engraved on the very hands of the creator of the universe. That means I have an identity. You and I need to quit getting our identity from what people say or think about us.

You and I need to start getting our identity from where we stand in the hands of God our Father. Number two it means not only that I have an identity but number two it means that I have immortality. It means I will never die. It means I'm alive as long as God is. I will exist as long as God does.

It's an everlasting God making an everlasting gesture for an everlasting soul that will forever and everlasting be redeemed. It means that if I'm on his palms that means I can't die unless he does. That means I'm immortal. Dear friend people can't if you're saved and you have put your faith and trust in Christ nobody can kill you.

Did you know that? No disease can take your life. You will live forever. Number three it means that God will never forget me.

Not that God ever would but I'm going to tell you something. It's kind of hard to forget something that's right there on your hand. Now you all know I like to play golf and watch golf not all the time but I enjoy it when I can.

And I was watching one day and they were showing some golfer that was doing well and he was doing horrible. His psychiatrist told him to stick a dot somehow it's made this thing and stick it on his hand. And before every shot in golf what he had to do is when his mind would go and he just couldn't remember he would look down and see that dot. And that dot he would just focus on that dot and he would get up and hit his golf shot and it had changed his whole golf career. And I thought well goodness gracious I'm going to start putting dots on my hands and my feet.

I'm going to have dots on my cheeks and my ears whatever else might work. Why is that? Because it was there. And every time he looked he remembered it.

And dear friend I don't care where you are or what you think has gone on. This is proof that God can never forget you. Because you are written on his hands.

Number four it means this that God will love me for an eternity. Why would God do such a thing if he didn't mean it? Why would God mar his very hands if he wasn't going to love me forever? God wouldn't do such a thing. He wouldn't play games with that. He wouldn't make promises he wouldn't keep. This is serious to him. He literally engraved it on his very hands.

It means he will love me forever. I found an author that I thought was really good talking about this. I wanted to read you this quote. No human can merit or can induce Christ to engrave a name. And no human monarch could insist on it being done. Philanthropists, potentates, principalities and philosophers have no influence over God.

It sounded like I said a dinosaur didn't it? Don't even think about that. They have no influence over God. Not even enough to have one single name inscribed in such a place as his hand. The sole prerogative is according to the riches of his grace. And according to the good pleasure of his will. That means that's the only thing that could have made that happen. The endorsement of his everlasting love is the only recommendation needed.

The endearment of his affectionate heart of infinite mercy is the sole commendation to assure the grading of the name on the palms of his hands. In other words this, nobody could have made that happen. God just did it. God just did it.