GOD’S WORD WORKS WONDERS (Outline)
July 15, 2007 -
PENTECOST 7 -
Isaiah 55:10,11
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INTRO: Each one of us often looks for things to refresh, strengthen, and encourage us. In the midst of the summer temperatures a nice glass of cold water or iced tea is refreshing. Each day we find that the meals we consume are physically refreshing. Everyone feels much better after a good night’s sleep. All of these things refresh, strengthen, and encourage us physically. As believers we also gather around the word of God that we may be refreshed, strengthened, and encouraged – especially, spiritually.
You may recall Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Jesus went into the wilderness fasting ( = going without normal eating) for 40 days. At the end of the 40 days Satan tempted Jesus. It was Satan’s desire for the Son of God to fall and fail in his mission to redeem mankind. Satan’s temptations were flawed. The devil tried to tempt Jesus by misquoting Scripture. It was only a little twisting of God’s truth. That is how Satan works. Jesus’ response was to defeat Satan by correctly quoting Scripture. Satan tempted Jesus by telling him he could turn stones into bread. "Jesus answered, ’It is written: "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God".’"(MATTHEW 4:4).
Thus we gather on Sunday to be refreshed, strengthened, and encouraged by every word that comes from the mouth of God! We are reminded how
GOD’S WORD WORKS WONDERS.
I. Always refreshing, and;
II. Always full-filling.
I. ALWAYS REFRESHING
A. Isaiah was the prophet who lived almost halfway between Moses and Jesus.
1. Isaiah warned the people about their disobedience and God’s promise to punish.
2. Israel was not too excited to hear these words in the opening chapters of Isaiah.
B. In chapter 53 Isaiah describes the Messiah who will come to suffer the punishment for God’s people.
1. Chapter 54 speaks of the glory of God’s people. Chapter 55 begins with an invitation.
2. In verse 9 Isaiah reminds the people how God’s ways and thoughts are higher than man’s.
C. In a miraculous way our gracious God now uses the normal to explain his deep mysteries.
1. Verse 10a – the rain and the snow from heaven refresh the earth.
2. Verse 10b – the earth is refreshed as the rain and snow make it bud and flourish.
3. Verse 10c – God’s miracle of creation reveals that seed is produced, and also food.
D. Our loving Lord refreshes the earth with his heavenly rain and snow. Our loving Lord refreshes, strengthen, and encourages us with a cold drink, a satisfying meal, and/or a good night’s rest. For these blessings we are truly thankful. Thankfully our gracious God does not stop with blessing only our physical needs. Believers are truly refreshed by God’s free forgiveness. Peter preached after Jesus’ death and resurrection to the crowds that they had put the Author of Life to death. The message has not changed today. Our evil thoughts, wicked words, and sinful actions nail Jesus to the tree. Like the crowd during Peter’s preaching we are moved to ask, “What shall we do?” There is only, one simple answer. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord"(ACTS 3:19). God’s word of forgiveness works wonders. It is always refreshing.
E. Finding times of refreshing from God’s word and his forgiveness is not natural. By nature we are sinners. We are born into this world as God’s enemies. Rejoice that God has called you out of darkness to dwell in his light! We can learn from reluctant prophets. Consider Jonah who fled from God’s call. Even Jeremiah was not all the excited to preach repentance, at first. That changed. "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty"(JEREMIAH 15:16). God’s word works wonders. We work at it by hearing, studying, reading.
F. The Bible is our greatest textbook teaching us that all things spiritual are always refreshing. When you need refreshing turn to the Psalms. These books are gems to refresh, strengthen, and encourage even the most downtrodden spirit. "The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes"(PSALM 19:7,8). May your hearts always be refreshed with the joy from God. May your eyes always have the light of the knowledge of salvation in them.
GOD’S WORD WORKS WONDERS.
God’s word is always refreshing.
II. ALWAYS FULL-FILLING.
A. Whenever the Lord mentioned water (or snow) his people always paid close attention.
1. Access to water was much more difficult in Biblical times. There were no taps.
2. There were no ice cubes. There was very little irrigation. Water was important.
B. Verse 10 got the people’s attention. The rain and snow refreshes God’s creation.
C. Now comes the mystery of God in verse 11 explained by the common from verse 10.
1. Verse 11a – God’s word is even more refreshing than the rain and snow from heaven.
2. Verse 11b – God’s word accomplishes God’s purpose, it never returns empty or in vain.
3. Despite man’s efforts or man’s opposition God’s word will always be fulfilling.
D. From the very beginning to the very end of all the sacred pages of the Bible God’s promises are sure. After man had sinned and ruined God’s perfect creation in the Garden of Eden God promised a Savior. That Savior, Jesus Christ, was born, lived, died, and rose again. God’s word is fulfilling. Moses led the people of Israel for 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. He delivered Israel to the edge of the Promised Land. But Moses would not enter. Instead, Joshua would be the next leader to bring God’s people into the Promised Land. At the end of Joshua’s we have his recorded observation. "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed"(JOSHUA 24:15). No matter our age or experience each of us would agree with Joshua. God’s word is fulfilled
E. Man is not going to change the outcome of God’s word. Man simply cannot take away what God wants fulfilled by his word. Consider King Balak. Balak hired the prophet Balaam to curse Israel. The king knew that if Israel were cursed he would defeat them in battle. Balaam could not promise to curse against Israel. In fact, Balaam blessed Israel three times. King Balak was not happy. "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it"(NUMBERS 23:19,20). Our gracious God promises blessing. God’s word works wonders.
F. Our world would try to rob us of the joy that our heavenly Father wants us to possess. This life is not very fulfilling at all. The world tempts us to believe otherwise. The reality is, our life truly does consist in the abundance of things. By grace God’s word works wonders in our hearts and in our lives. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God"(COLOSSIANS 3:16). God’s word works wonders as it provides hearts filled with thankfulness to God.
CONC.: We will want to remember this week how refreshing a cold drink can be during the heart of summer. We will want to remember how our bodies are strengthened by our meals. We will want to remember the encouragement we have to face the new day after a good night’s sleep. Then we can also remember that GOD’S WORD WORKS WONDERS because it is always refreshing and always full-filling! God does indeed use the common things of our life to explain his mysteries and blessings. "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness"(2 CORINTHIANS 9:10). Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:05am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM + www.kqnk.com
PENTECOST 7 readings:
ISAIAH 66:10-14; GALATIANS 6:1-10, 14-16; LUKE 10:1-12, 16-20
