INTRODUCTION:

1.     Isaiah 44 continues the theme of chapter 43, and like chapter 43, it begins with a beautiful picture of future blessing, in which much figurative language is used (cf. 44:23).

2.     In this chapter, Israel is given the comforting promise that one day the all the nations of the world will consider it an honor to name themselves with the name of Jacob (44:5).

3.     There are many blessings referred to in this chapter.   The outpouring of the blessed Holy Spirit is promised (44:3), the Lord Jesus Christ is exalted (44:6), and the folly of idolatry is ridiculed (44:9-20).

I. THE OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (44:3-5).

1.     A B Simpson said, “The only limitation of this promise is our fitness and capacity to receive it” (The Holy Spirit, Part 1, the OT).

2.     The Bible often refers to the hard ground, and the thirsty and dry ground.  There must first be a time of preparation of the soil in order for there to be a time of harvest.

3.     Jeremiah 4:3 says, “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.”

4.     Hosea 10:12 says, “Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD.”

5.     Our Lord taught that the same seed on one field comes to nothing, while on another field it brings forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold (Matthew 13:8, 23).

6.    I  recently saw this vividly illustrated in the Philippines. The soil has been prepared over there and they are ready for a tremendous harvest.  We just need more laborers.

7.     This pouring out of the Holy Spirit is one of the most precious truths taught in God’s Word (Isa. 44:3).  Are you “thirsty” tonight?

8.     Our Lord said in John 7:37, 38, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

9.     Then the next verse says, “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive…” (7:39).

10. This is a message of blessing for “they that believe on Him” (John 7:39).  The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers, but He is poured out upon believers who want it.   They must be “thirsty” (Isa. 44:3).

11. Our Lord said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6).

12. God has not only promised to pour out His Spirit, He has promised to send a “flood” (Isa. 44:3).  The songwriter wrote:

“Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.”

13. This promise will be completely fulfilled when Christ returns to set up His kingdom (cf. 44:5).

II. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS EXALTED (44:6-8).

1.     In Isaiah 44:6, the LORD renews for the third time His pledge of redemption – He is our “Redeemer” (cf. 41:14; 43:14).

2.     In Titus 2:14 the Bible says Jesus “gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity.”  Jesus is our Redeemer (cf. 44:22).

3.     Jehovah God is the first, and the last (44:6; cf. 41:4; 48:12).  In Revelation 1:8, 17, and 22:13, the Lord Jesus Christ is identified as the “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

4.     Therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ is Jehovah God.

5.     This leads to a strong denunciation of idolatry (44:9-20).

III. THE FOLLY OF IDOLATRY (ISA. 44:9-20).

1.     We saw the Ten Commandments prominently displayed all over the Philippines, but the RCC has removed the Second Commandment: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image” (Ex. 20:4).

2.     To add to the mischief, they have split the Tenth Commandment in two.

3.     The Baptist movement is growing rapidly in the Philippines. We are praying that soon the Baptists will be able to restore the real Ten Commandments and then they can remove all of the idols from their country.

4.     We have different idols here in America.  J Vernon McGee said, “The human heart has a way of turning from God to some idol.  Today, we do not go after graven images, but anything to which a person gives himself instead of the true God is an idol.  It can be a career, the making of money, seeking for fame, pleasure, sex, alcohol, self-adoration, or business.  These are our idols, O America!” (Thru the Bible). 

CONCLUSION:

1.     Sin is like a dark cloud, separating man from God.  I heard a preacher say that every time he drives into NYC, he sees a large dark sin cloud hanging over the city.

2.     But God has promised to remove this dark cloud of sin, and blot out our sins (44:22).   The sunshine of His grace can dispel the cloud and remove every thing that has separated us from God.