12 October 2008
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
West Fort Hood Chapel
Killeen, TX
BIG IDEA: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God will ultimately triumphs over death, and sorrow, and WIPE all TEARS away from the face of our lives.
REFERENCES: Leviticus 23:42-43 (NIV) Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ "Revelation 19:7-9 (NIV) Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) Then the angel said to me, "Write: ’Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ " And he added, "These are the true words of God."; Matthew 22:14 (NIV) For many are invited, but few are chosen; Psalm 30:5b (KJV) weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; Isaiah 25:1-5 (A Thanksgiving for Victory); Isaiah 25:6-8 (NIV) A Festival of Joy; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (NIV) When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 25:1-9 (NIV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 25:1-9 (NIV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Isaiah 25:8 (NIV) he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that God will ultimately triumphs over death, and sorrow, and WIPE all TEARS away from the face of our lives.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “KLEENEX”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
It has been said (in Psalm 30:5b KJV) weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning;
In other words, the Psalmist encourages us, to be aware that in spite of the trials and tearful difficulties we may be experiencing in THE NIGHT OF our lives - it’s NOT as bad as it may look or feel. Because GOD promises us relief and JOY in the MORNING.
Consequently, today, I would like to briefly call your attention to this box of “KLEENEX” and what KLEENEX symbolizes to many of us.
In fact, I don’t know if you’re seen it, but Kleenex latest campaign says and I repeat: “ It’s a cleansing of the soul. Emotional release helps ease the load... It’s time to LAUGH until you cry. SCREAM until you spit. Show some LOVE and show some TEARS. SING at the top of your lungs. JUMP for JOY. AND when tons of STUFF stuffs up your nose, BLOW it loud and blow it proud. It’s time to let it out” – KLEENEX.
Kleenex symbolizes a cleansing of stuffy stuff for many us …
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 1: Who can ever forget the TV Commercials from the 90s regarding PUFF Tissues (created by Proctor and Gamble) – where average everyday people was heard saying … PUFF Tissues was first-aid for sore noses?
a. We live in a country where symbols of our freedoms have always been important and meaningful.
b. For example, the American Symbol of the “Bald Eagle” represents the best of American Strength, Skill, and Bravery.
c. The Statue of Liberty portrays our American Freedom; while the red, white, and blue American Flag represents “Old Glory” and symbolizes our freedoms and liberties.
d. Symbols are important to us.
e. The symbol of the White House represents the place where our president lives and works.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 2: Likewise, during Biblical times, our Hebrew brothers and sisters had various symbols of their culture.
a. For example, as we discussed last week, Elijah’s Chair represents the presence of one of the greatest prophets ever in attendance at the Brit Milah – or circumcision - of an eight day old Jewish boy;
b. One of the treasures of working out of a shared Judea-Christian Chapel, as we do, is the obvious symbols displayed immediately before us.
c. The Ark of the Covenant is a symbol of God’s presence and power with the people of God.
d. For God commanded Moses to put three things in the ark: a golden pot of manna, Aaron’s Staff, and the two stone tablets on which the Ten Commandment were written.
****** TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 3: Another symbol of our Jewish brothers and sisters is “Sukkoth” (which is celebrated on Tuesday, 14 October 2008) it’s a symbol of the “booths” ….
a. … – or Feast of Tabernacle - in which the children of Israel resided in during their 40 years journey through the wilderness (Leviticus 23:42-43).
b. As you drove up to park this morning, and for at least the last three Sundays, you have witness the booth/tabernacle.
c. Symbols in many cases speak volumes to all of us.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 4: Imagine a world of endless joy where casualty notification and memorial services are annihilated …
a. … – death has no more victims and KLEENEX is a thing of the past … because grief and sorrow no longer exist.
a. In spite all of the symbols our Jewish brothers and sisters were aware of – throughout their rich history - …
b. … for the most part they labored, suffered, sorrowed, and died without any expectation of receiving ETERNAL LIFE.
c. Yet, many of them served God faithfully for what He had done in their life;
d. … and was presently doing in their life?
******** TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION: In our Scripture, today, through the prophet Isaiah – God informs His people that their TOP TWO ENEMIES (Death and Sorrow) ….
… was going to be destroyed futuristically for GOOD:
For Isaiah 25:8 (NIV) says: … He will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces;
He will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In other words:
In the future, God was going to introduce His people to spiritual KLEENEX.
