Looking Unto Jesus – Part 5 | Sunday Service | September 06, 2020

We thank God for this wonderful day and we believe that today’s time spent on the word of God won’t be wasted, but will be invested.

Today we will continue to learn from our ongoing series, “Looking unto Jesus”. (Part 5)

Illustration: A young boy started serving on a large sailing ship. Whenever he looked down from this tall ship below, the boy used to feel dizzy. One day the captain observed this and strictly ordered boy to look up. The boy looked up and felt better and learned how to overcome his fear.

People of God, if you are a good or a bad person, young or old, rich or poor, you can look unto God. People can help you with material benefits, pray for you and even give you advice, however, it is only you who has to step up in faith and look unto God, He who, is the real authority over people and this world.

Today we are going to look into another aspect of looking unto God, i.e. Trusting God during the times of need.

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

Throughout the book of Isaiah, God appears to be very stern and often rebukes people hiwever this verse is very special where God is showing them the right thing to do We will learning today from the chapter 45 of the book of Isaiah.

Let us look into the book of Isaiah… Chapter 45:1-25…

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord , the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord , and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord , and there is no other. I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord , who does all these things. “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it. “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’? Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’ or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?'” Thus says the Lord , the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: “Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands? I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. I have stirred him up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free, not for price or reward,” says the Lord of hosts. Thus says the Lord : “The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will plead with you, saying: ‘Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.'” Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior. All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together. But Israel is saved by the Lord with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity. For thus says the Lord , who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the Lord , and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right. “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord ? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ “Only in the Lord , it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him. In the Lord all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.”

Isaiah 45:1‭-‬25

In this chapter, the powerful Persian King gets to know how powerful was the God of Israel.

Cyrus is called God’s anointed; he was designed and qualified for his great service by the counsel of God. The gates of Babylon which led to the river, were left open the night that Cyrus marched his army into the empty channel. The Lord went before him, giving entrance to the cities he besieged. He gave him also treasures, which had been hidden in secret places. The true God was to Cyrus an unknown God; yet God foreknew him; he called him by his name. The exact fulfilment of this must have shown Cyrus that Jehovah was the only true God, and that it was for the sake of Israel that he was prospered. In all the changes of states and kingdoms, God works out the good of his church.

There is no God beside Jehovah. There is nothing done without him. He makes peace, put here for all good; and creates evil, not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment. He is the Author of all that is true, holy, good, or happy; and evil, error, and misery, came into the world by his permission, through the wilful apostacy of his creatures, but are restrained and overruled to his righteous purpose. This doctrine is applied, for the comfort of those that earnestly longed, yet quietly waited, for the redemption of Israel. The redemption of sinners by the Son of God, and the pouring out the Spirit, to give success to the gospel, are chiefly here intended. We must not expect salvation without righteousness; together the Lord hath created them. Let not oppressors oppose God’s designs for his people. Let not the poor oppressed murmur, as if God dealt unkindly with them. Men are but earthen pots; they are broken potsherds, and are very much made so by mutual contentions. To contend with Him is as senseless as for clay to find fault with the potter. Let us turn God’s promises into prayers, beseeching him that salvation may abound among us, and let us rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right.

Believers may ask in prayer for what they need; if for their good, it will not be withheld. But how common to hear God called to account for his dealings with man! Cyrus provided for the returning Jews. Those redeemed by Christ shall be provided for. The restoration would convince many, and convert some; and all that truly join the Lord, find his service perfect freedom. Though God be his people’s God and Saviour, yet sometimes he lays them under his frowns; but let them wait upon the Lord who hides his face. There is a world without end; and it will be well or ill with us, according as it shall be with us in that world. The Lord we serve and trust, is God alone. All that God has said is plain, satisfactory, and just. As God in his word calls us to seek him, so he never denied believing prayers, nor disappointed believing expectations. He gives grace sufficient, and comfort and satisfaction of soul.

The nations are exhorted to draw near to Jehovah. None besides is able to help; he is the Saviour, who can save without the assistance of any, but without whom none can save. If the heart is brought into the obedience of Christ, the knee will cheerfully obey his commands. To Christ men shall come from every nation for blessings; all that hate his cause shall be put to shame, and all believers shall rejoice in him as their Friend and Portion. All must come to him: may we now come to him as the Lord our Righteousness, walking according to his commandments.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart.

Who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

People will come and go, powers will come and go, but God will remain the same, the way He was yesterday, today and tomorrow. All you need to do is look unto Jesus.

There are so many examples in the Bible where we can say, “Does it makes sense for this?” Let us look at few examples.

Does it makes sense that Joseph had to go to prison after being righteous and serving God all his life?

2: Job.

From the book of Job Chapters 1- 42, you will see Job, a righteous man consistently tested. Does it makes sense?

It looked like she was going to lose everything, but they never lacked any day as they had bread and water everyday. Does it makes sense?

Does it makes sense for Jesus to heal the blind man (with mud or with touch). All are different ways, but does it makes sense?

Does it makes sense for a dying man goving hope to amother dying man?

Does it makes sense? The word of God says Jesus died to save us.

A renowned French theologean, a Pastor as well as a reformer, John Calvin, once said, “When everything appears to be driven about at random, and to be tossed up and down, God never forgets his Church, whose salvation, on the contrary, he promotes by hidden methods, so that it is at length seen that he is her guardian and defender. Whenever the Lord holds us in suspense, the flesh prompts us to grumble. “Why does He not do more quickly what He intends to do? Of what benefit is it to Him to torture us by His delay?” … in order to chastisize the insolence [he] says, does the potsherd dispute with the potter? Do sons debate with their fathers?” Has not God a right to treat us as He sees fit? What remains but that we shall bear patiently the punishments which inflicted on us? We must therefore allow God tobdo what belongs to Him, and must not take anything from His oiwer and authority.”

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”
Isaiah 45:22

So what is the reward if looking unto Jesus? We will be saved! We will not remain in same situation, rather be lifted up.

Do you want to be saved from your bad memories, lust, temptations, depression and similar situations? Look unto Jesus and you will be delivered!

Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

This morning, there are many questions in your heart and going through some of the situations, but if you trust God, He will never leave you nor forsake you. All you need to do is fix your eyes on God and seek refuge in Him. Look into Jesus!

We hope you are encouraged with today’s word. We look forward to see you again next Sunday. God bless!