Message Notes

(I) UPHELD BY THE LORD

“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel,Who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb” Isaiah 46:3

1. Unconscious of God’s Hand in life

2. Unappreciative of God’s Hand in life

3. Undeclared till now of God’s Hand in life

“Upheld by Me from birth… carried from the womb” Isaiah 46:3

a) Appreciation of the phrase “House of Jacob” (Cf. Genesis 28)

i) The wickedness of Biblical Jacob prior to conversion

ii) The promise of God to repentant Jacob

b) Appreciation of the phrase, “The remnant of the house of Israel”

i) The house of Israel in the golden reign of King David

ii) The house of Israel in latter years (pre-exilic at the time of Isaiah)

(II) UNPARALLELED PROMISE

“Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you!I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you” Isaiah 46:4

1. Fears of the Aged

a) Feebleness

b) Sickness

c) Suffering

d) Forsaken by loved ones

2. Facing Old Age with faith in God’s unparalleled promises

a) Comforting words of understanding

“I will carry you” Isaiah 46:4

b) Commitment guaranteed

“I have made, and I will bear” Isaiah 46:4

c) Deliverance promised

“And will deliver you” Isaiah 46:4

(III) UNCOMPROMISED FAITH IN GOD

“For the LORD God will help Me;Therefore I will not be disgraced;Therefore I have set My face like a flint,And I know that I will not be ashamed” Isaiah 50:7

1. Explanation of “uncompromised faith”

a) Pure faith

b) Unshakeable faith

c) Deep faith

2. Example of the Lord Jesus in having an Uncompromised Faith

a) Confidence of God’s Help

b) Confidence of Success (“will not be disgraced… will not be ashamed”)

c) Confidence reflected in having flint-like resolve

3. Emulation of the Example of the Lord Jesus

a) Ending the year 2006 on a note of renewed faith

b) Facing the new year 2007 with courageous faith