Psalm 66:16, 19-20

The Lord Will Deliver Them That Are His

I do not panic nor despair in this world of religious paganism and corruption. The Lord knows how to deliver them that love Him and worship Him out of all trial and tribulation. Evil may abound, false teachers increase, and the true worship of the Lord may all but perish from the earth; but our God has a people who are chosen by Him (Eph. 1:3-6), redeemed by His dear Son (Eph. 1:7-11), and called by His Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14).

He will keep them from falling (1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:24), and He will keep them till the river rolls its waters at their feet. Then He will safely bear them over, where their Saviour they shall meet!

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (bulletin 1986)

SALVATION

In many books of the Bible there is found a key word that sets the theme of the writing. The key word in Philippians epistle is, "rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). The key word in Hebrews is, "better" Christ is better, superior and greater than any angel, priest or sacrifice (Heb. 1:3-5). The key word that often appears in the vision of Isaiah is, "salvation." In fact Isaiah's name means, "salvation of Jehovah."

Here are the references in Isaiah where we read about God's salvation.

Wells of Salvation; "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation" (Isa. 12:3).

Joy of salvation; "This is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation" (Isa. 25:9).

Walls of salvation; "We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks" (Isa. 26:1).

Everlasting salvation; "Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end" (Isa. 45:17).

Day of salvation; "In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee" (Isa. 49:8).

Prophets of salvation; "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" (Isa.52:7).

The spread of salvation; "The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God" (Isa. 52:10).

The arm of salvation; "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him" (Isa. 59:16).

The helmet of salvation; "For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head" (Isa. 59:17).

The garments of salvation; "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isa. 61:10).

The light of salvation; "For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth" (Isa.62:1).

It seems most obvious that God gave Isaiah a vision of utmost and urgent importance. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation that is only in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12; Heb. 2:4)?

PETER’S SIN AND REPENTANCE

“Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” (Matt. 26:75).

There has been much written and said of Peter’s failure and sin when he denied that he knew the Lord Jesus Christ but not much of Peter’s conviction and repentance that was granted and given of the LORD. Peter sinned but he did not lose his salvation. His faith was weak but not dead. He sinned and failed miserably but he was not forsaken (Heb. 13:5). God brought Peter through this trial and granted him strength, recovery and a constant heart of repentance before God (Acts 5:11; 11:18).

Here are four things we learn from Peter’s trial and repentance.

1). It was the working of God’s sovereign providence. “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.” God used a rooster to bring to Peter’s mind what the Lord had said (Matt. 26:34). Often in the believer’s life God uses small insignificant things to bring us to a remembrance of the gospel. Despise not the day of small things (Zech. 4:10; Rom. 11:36).

2). It was the working of the effectual word of God. “Peter remembered the word of Jesus.” It is the preaching of the Word that God uses to quicken us and to reveal Himself to us (1Cor. 1:21; 2Cor. 4:5-7; James 1:18; 1Peter 1:23). It is through the ministry of the Word, hearing and believing the word that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ (Rom. 10:17; 1Peter 2:2; 1Thes. 2:13).

3). It was the working of the powerful grace of God. “The Lord turned and looked upon Peter” (Luke 22:61). The Lord looked upon Peter in pity love and pardon and I am sure that Peter also looked upon the Lord. Their eyes were fasted upon one another and Peter’s heart melted within him. It is the goodness of God that brings us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

4). It was the working of Jesus Christ as our blessed Mediator. “The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:31). Peter’s faith was sorely tried, but it was not utterly destroyed (1Peter 1:5). Christ stood as his ever-living Mediator (Heb.7:25)! Peter was made stronger through this trial and was sent to preach the gospel to others.