This people have I formed for Myself
Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My praise.”
If you are one of the called according to this purpose….then, rest assured…
Isaiah 43:25 “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
“I blot out your transgressions….for Mine own sake…so that I might have fellowship with you.
I have redeemed you for a Purpose….”to shew forth My Praise.”
If you read the forty-third chapter of Isaiah…you will notice this is a Promise chapter. He is reminding them that they are His….He has chosen them,….and redeemed them.
And because they are His….He shall work with them….and on them…so that they may be what He has “formed”….a people for HImself.
And that they may do what they were redeemed for….to shew forth HIs praise.
The work that He called Israel to do….was to show to other nations….what it is like to be ruled by the Lord…what it is like to have a God like Him.
And are we not to do the same?
John 12:32-33 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.
This He said, signifying what death He should die.
He was lifted up, between heaven and earth on the cross for our Eternal Salvation.
But today, He calls us…to “lift Him up” in our lives….not on a cross….but as Lord and King…on the throne of our hearts.
This is that drawing attraction of the Holy Spirit, lifting up the Lord Jesus Christ in the individual believer, and from that, to the Corporate Ministry of the Church.
This is where we take our place…before the people we see, and deal with everyday….in Christ’s Victory Procession.
Paul pictures this is 2 Corinthians 2:14-17…..and every Christian is there.
Paul in Rome saw the Roman Generals coming into Rome, with all their captives behind them. All these captives were given to Rome….some to perish as sacrifices to the gods…and some to life, as servants and educators, depending upon their rank…all for Rome.
A grand parade was given to honor this General who won victories for the empire.
First were the incense bearers going along the path of the parade…then the banners of legions of his armies came next…then the General on a big white horse….with chains coming from his saddle to the kings, princes, wise men, soldiers….and right on down to the common people…this General had brought to Rome.
This was for Rome, but Paul pictures the Victory Parade of Christ, in the same manner….to show the Victory of Christ’s Kingdom…now, over us.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place.” (verse 14)
Paul is thanking God for placing him in Christ…saving him, and putting him in his place before the world.
Notice the triumph is “in Christ”…..So all eyes should be on Jesus Christ…at the head of the parade. He is in triumph over every enemy, and every circumstance. We are behind Him….making manifest….this is showing Him forth, by the knowledge we have of HIm….by us….in every place we go.
“For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:” (verse 15)
Here is the work and the people we are among: we are to be a sweet savor of Christ…we are to send the accepted (sweet) fragrance of Christ through us….to all…as HIs servants. To them that are lost, and to those that are saved.
(this sweet savor is like the sacrifices of old. The first time was when Noah came from the ark and gave sacrifices to God….and “He smelled the sweet savor”.(Genesis 8:21)
Then when the Tabernacle was set up….the sacrifices were often a “sweet savor” unto the Lord, especially the fat and inward parts.
And it is the same for us….the sweet savor of fragrance of Christ through us…begins in us. It is the “fat” of our lives….the rejoicing and fellowship with Him….which comes through, to the outside world.)
“To the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?” (verse 16)
As we present our Conqueror, our King Jesus Christ…we are giving life, by presenting Christ to those that will be saved (whether through us or others)….
…or we are being the fragrance of death…to those who continue to reject our Lord Jesus. Our lives will only condemn them more.
Paul asks, “Who is sufficient for these things?” Who can say, that they are giving out a sweet oder of Christ as we should?
Our very lives as Christians should be sending out the message…”All hail the sound of Jesus name…let angels prostrate fall….bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all”…
“For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” (verse 17)
Here is the sweet smell…
…that in honesty we speak as though we were always in the Presence of God the Father,…about Christ Jesus. And again, Paul stresses that we are “in Christ”.
This victory parade is not ours….no, it is a picture of Christ manifesting the victory He has over us.
Our inward man….being renewed in Christ’s character. And our outward man being made a servant to the Kingdom of God, in word and deed.
Isaiah 43:21 “This people have I formed for Myself: they shall shew forth My praise.”
It is in the everyday happenings of our everyday lives that we are conformed to His character. Not in the “special” things…or the grand spiritual moments (although they are wonderful)….but it is in our everyday walk with Christ, by the Holy Spirit that really shows others Who we belong to.
“Formed” is to mold…as a Potter does the clay….into a shape for His Purpose. And that is what the Lord is doing day by day, as we yield to Him, and deny ourselves.
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are HIs workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
( “ordained” means that God has set aside, for us, what we need….all we have to do is walk with HIm, and obtain them as we need.)
Are we ready to bow to HIs throne?….not just high and lifted up….but in my heart? And let Him lead us…as one with Him, in His Victory Parade?
To be what He forms us into….and show Him forth everyday….a sweet savor…to manifest the sweetness of HIm to all?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 