ILLUSTRATION: An airliner making its way from New York to San Francisco. One of the engines caught fire. The captain came on the speaker system, calmly reassuring his passengers that the fire would soon be out. Besides, the plane could fly as well with three engines as with four.
Unfortunately, a second engine burst into flames. Once again the captain assured the passengers that two engines were sufficient. Then a third engine was suddenly ablaze. The captain said no more. There was only silence from the front of the plane. Soon the captain appeared in the cabin with a parachute on his back. As he opened the exit door, he said calmly to the passengers, "Don’t anyone panic, I’m going for help." And out he jumped.
Today, many are jumping out due to they have become weary or discouraged because of the circumstances and bail out on God.
Isa 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Isa 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
Isa 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
Isa 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Glenn Branham - Chapter 40 is the beginning of a new section in the book of Isaiah. It is the first chapter which looks beyond the captivity of Israel and on to the brightness of the future God has in store.
Chap. 40 vs. 31 is one of the better known texts in the book of Isaiah. It is well-known because it is well-loved. It is loved because we all can relate to low times in our Christian walk. At times all of us have been weary. Our experiences can be exhausting. Over the duration of time we can become discouraged. Just remember, this is one of the tricks of the enemy: if discouragement goes unchecked it can lead to defeat. So, for centuries, battle-tired soldiers and travel-weary pilgrims have been drawn to this passage written 700 years before Jesus came to earth and have received comfort. That’s why these verses are so well-known and loved.
1. Creates a renewing strength
2. Creates an uplifting strength
3. Creates an Enduring strength
Waiting on the lord
Steve Malone –
WE WAIT FOR TRAFFIC LIGHTS TO TURN GREEN...
WE WAIT FOR TRAINS TO PASS BY...
WE WAIT FOR THE BANK LINE AND THE GROCERY LINE TO MOVE....
WE WAIT FOR THE TOAST TO POP UP AND THE WATER TO BOIL.
WE WAIT FOR THE MOVIE AND THE BALL GAME TO START...
WE WAIT FOR PHONE CALLS AND WE WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO SHOW UP...
WE WAIT FOR BUSES TO COME, PLANES TO LAND AND CAR LINES TO MOVE.
WE WAIT FOR OUR TURN IN DOCTOR’S OFFICES, DENTISTS OFFICES, BARBER SHOPS AND BEAUTY PARLORS... AND WE WAIT FOR THE NEXT WEEKEND, VACATION OR DAY OFF....
WE ALL SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME IN LIFE WAITING AND WE REALLY DON’T LIKE WAITING FOR THINGS. -- BECAUSE WE ARE A PEOPLE OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION WE WANT EVERYTHING AND WE USUALLY WANT IT NOW...!
1. Creates a renewing strength
a. Malone goes on the say - GOD’S PEOPLE IN ISAIAH’S DAY WERE GOING THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES.... THE ASSYRIANS HAD COME IN AND KILLED AND PILLAGED THERE LAND TAKING MANY CAPTIVE; KILLING WIVES, HUSBANDS, PARENTS, DAUGHTERS AND SONS... AND THE BABYLONIANS WERE NOW KNOCKING AT THEIR DOOR WANTING TO DO EVEN WORSE....
WHAT THEY NEEDED WAS SOME HELP -- THEY NEEDED SOME RELIEF -- THEY NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THIS DESPERATE SITUATION AND THEY NEEDED TO GET OUT NOW!
BUT ISAIAH’S DOESN’T TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR -- HE DOESN’T TELL THEM THAT GOD IS COMING SOON, RIGHT AWAY AND THAT HE WILL REMOVE ALL OF THEIR HARDSHIPS... NO ISAIAH TELLS THEM TO WAIT... TO WAIT ON THE LORD...
a. Wait - qavah, kaw-vaw’
b. a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:--gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).
c. GBN V. 31. Wait-That rely upon him. Renew-Shall grow stronger and stronger.
d. Isa 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
e. Isa 64:4 (BBE) The ear has not had news of, or the eye seen, ...any God but you, working for the man who is waiting for him.
f. Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
We all can relate to hurrying through situations and wanting it completed yesterday. We want to see each situation worked out before we get through it. There is a renewing time if we just wait……(10sec)………….on the Lord.
2. Creates a uplifting strength
g. GBN - 40:27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, (c) My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over by my God?
h. (c) He rebukes the Jews because they did not rest on the providence of God, but thought that he had forsaken them in their troubles.
i. Branham The KJV says, they shall mount up with wings as eagles. The wording of the NIV is, They will soar on wings like eagles. This is a simile. It is figurative language intended to paint a picture in our minds. More than our minds, it is designed to inspire our spirits. To soar on wings like eagles is to rise effortlessly.
j. chalaph, khaw-laf’ - spring up, go on forward, grow up, be over
k. Elmer Towns - Why are we afraid to use our wings?
i. Fear of the unknown, we have never flown before
ii. What should we do when we have fears?
iii. Leap. The first action to fly is to leave the limb; leaping out of the tree is not natural.
(b) Trust your wings.
(c) Yield to the laws of God. God made the air to hold up wings.
iv. "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttering over her young . . . so the Lord alone did lead him" (Deut. 32:11,12). The Lord makes our nest so uncomfortable; we have to "mount up" on our wings. (a) To grow. (b) To accomplish (c) Unused wings die.
3. Creates an Enduring strength
Bob Jones - At least once in the lifetime of an eagle, a molting process takes place—a renewal.
When this occurs the eagle begins to lose its feathers, beak and talons. This creates an extremely feeble and vulnerable condition.
Unlike other birds, eagles molt in their old age in order to be revitalized with greater resilience. With the removal and regrowth of their feathers, there is a restoring of youth and vitality.
According to scientific theory, the eagle’s feathers become laden with oil and dirt making them brittle and degenerated. The beak and talons become calcified and fragile. It is then that the eagle retires to a hidden place beyond the reach of predators, to initiate the renewal process.
With the extraction of its feathers, the molting eagle finds itself unable to fly; its vision is also substantially impaired during this handicapped season. Because of the combination of its weakened condition and pronounced calcium build-up on its beak, the molting eagle cannot carry itself in the proud manner normally accustomed.
During their vulnerability, molting eagles are dependent upon comrade eagles for their sustenance. They find themselves reliant upon others when they are conditioned to self-sufficiency. If it can survive the shame and exposure, the stripping process paves the way for the eagle to become even stronger.
Another Version - Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. –Isaiah 40:31
l. 2Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
m. Character Traits of an Eagle – Characteristics we derive from
the Eagle
1. Strength
2. Keenness – Eagle Eye
3. Swiftness
4. Courage
5. Freedom
n. Anatomy
1. 7ft. wing span
2. 12 pounds in weight
3. keen eye sight - spot a rabbit at 2miles
4. 270 degree peripheral vision
5. Acute depth perception
6. Clear membrane that protects it’s eye
7. It’s strength enables it to carry well over it’s own body weight – reported an eagle carrying a baby lamb.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength –• they shall replenish, replace or refresh themselves
Psalm 103:5 – youth is• renewed like the eagles
The construction of the overseas highway, between Miami, Florida, and Key West, Florida was underway. In the midst of the construction, a fierce storm destroyed most of the work that had been done. The man in charge called b back to his home office described the great loss and asked what shall I do? The home office wired back just two words, GO ON.
Things in life may be hectic and crazy….we must GO ON and God will lift us up like the eagle….we can be renewed, refreshed, and when we come through it all we will be refined for what God wants us to be.
A grandfather was taking a nature hike with his 6 year old grandson. The child was running ahead, and came to a creek...afraid that he was going to fall in, the grandfather said CHILD, WAIT FOR ME AND I’LL GET YOUACROSS...SURPRISINGLY, THE CHILD OBEYED, AND WHEN THE GRANDFATHER GOT THERE, HE LIFTED THE CHILD UPON HIS SHOULDERS, AND WADED ACROSS THE CREEK. the grandchild said, "If I hadn’t waited on you, I would never have made it across!"
How true of us...Let us WAIT ON GOD..HE’LL GET US ACROSS ANY OBSTACLE LIFE PUTS IN OUR WAY.
We can mount up with wings as eagles. We all need to be willing to help those who are in a “molting” period. They are dependent upon us. Let us all be patient and wait upon the Lord and listen to his voice before we proceed each day.
Waiting
1. Creates a renewing strength
2. Creates a uplifting strength
3. Creates an Enduring strength
