Spending time with God
Text:
"But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31, NKJV)
Reason for this message:
1. We are under satanic attack
a. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8, NKJV)
2. We must resist him if we are to be successful
a. "Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." (1 Peter 5:9, NKJV)
Resist- withstand, stand hard against
Steadfast- Literally, hard, unmovable, rigid
Rigid- have Dave come forward and push against my rigid arm
A. I have listing three reasons why spending time with God is so vital
1. Our strength will be renewed
a. Literally- to pass on, to make new as to change a garment
b. "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh." (Genesis 41:14, NKJV)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness… (Isaiah 61:1,3)
c. We will get our second wind
d. "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me…
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me… and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion." (2 Tim. 4:16-17)
2. We shall mount up with wings as eagles
a. We shall spiritually soar as an eagle that rides the updraft
.
b. Why stay earth bound as a vulture when we, as an eagle, can stare the sun in the face?
3. We shall run and not be weary, we shall walk and not faint
a. The game of life is a tiring race
b. Those that wait on the Lord have their stress levels lowered
c. Imagine…more than enough strength to make it through the day
d. "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," (Ephesians 3:20)
Literally- super superabundantly – to go way beyond yet
B. Why is it imperative that we spend time with God?
1. Time spent with God will give much needed direction to life
Illustration: I was lost in DC hopelessly before I stopped and asked for directions
C. How to spend time with God?
1. First thing in the morning get alone with God
2. Read verses in Psalms, John, etc.
You will be amazed how many times the Psalms will parallel where you are in your life
3. Ask God to help you to understand how this passage applies to you today
"It is the spirit that quickened; the flesh profited nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63, KJV)
