8 February 2009
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fortress Chapel
F.O.B. Sykes
Tall-afar, Iraq
BIG IDEA: Believers sometimes feel like God doesn’t care, and He has forgotten and neglected them. But God gives RENEWED STRENGTH to believers who WAIT on Him.
REFERENCES: Fifth Sunday after Epiphany; Isaiah 40:21-31(ESV); Jesus Heals a Boy and is later questioned by His disciples: Matthew 17:20-21 (KJV) … “if we have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed; we can look to our mountain of a problem and direct its movement – and it would move”; Psalm 30:5b (ESV) Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning; 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me; Psalm 147:1-11, 20c (ESV); 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 (ESV); Mark 1:29-39 (ESV); 1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV) “… to be steadfast, un-moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for … our labor is not in vain … “;Psalm 30:5b (KJV) Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; Proverbs 6:6-7 (ESV) Go to the any, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest; Ecclesiastes 3;1-4 GNB (A Time for Everything); Psalm 27:14 (ESV) Wait for the Lord ; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord !;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 40:27-31 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 40:27-31 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Isaiah 40:30-31 (ESV) Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for 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.
IV. PURPOSE: To encourage the hearers to affirm to others that the Lord gives RENEWED STRENGTH to believers who WAIT on Him.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “When The Chips Are Down"
VI. INTRODUCTION:
“WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.” Many of you in chapel today are too young to know what the phrase “When the chips are down” means. But, allow me to indulge you for a moment. Usually, the phrase, “When the chips are down” is used in extreme situations in life. It’s often associated with situations that are negative over a long period of time.
Therefore, “When the chips are down” is defined as a time of great and difficult obstacles. In other words, “When the chips are down,” things are going really bad for you.
For instance, perhaps we can imagine overhearing Osama Bin Laden speaking to some of his Senior AQUI Operatives (and Bad Guys) in IRAQ: “Remember BROTHERS, when the chips are down, I’ll always be there for you.
Unfortunately, the chips seem to be rather down at the moment; and at the rate the American and Iraqi Forces are moving around and rebuilding Iraq; it doesn’t look like things are going to get any better for us anytime soon.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: As a Christian, there have been times I have personally felt like God … either didn’t care about me, … or He had forgotten all about me.
a. The chips were down!
b. There have been times, I have even felt materialistically neglected by God.
c. Still, I am determined NOT TO ALLOW THE ENEMY – of our faith - THE JOY of utilizing my life …
d. When The Chips are Down … as an example of a Christian Quitter … or a Christian Crybaby.
e. Because, like many of you … here in IRAQ this morning … I am also committed to seeing that God’s Work Get Done in IRAQ… and our troops are spiritually replenished and empowered … to Complete the Mission!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: As believers, you and I are like the Proverbial Ant – in Proverbs 6:6-7 - we aren’t quitters!
a. We are constantly on the move, crossing faith obstacles and challenges ….
b. … while simultaneously storing up FAITH and TRUST in GOD for …
c. WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN – in our personal and spiritual lives.
d. In other words, we can be compared to the Time-ex Watch; we take a licking - and (because of our FAITH and TRUST in GOD) we keep on ticking!
e. But, we don’t EVER GIVE UP!
f. We don’t ever throw in our towel of TRUST AND FAITH IN GOD.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: For God has been too good!
a. The Psalmist says it best (in Psalm 30:5b (KJV) Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
b. My brothers and sisters, I’ve had my share of NIGHT TIMES in my life – but morning came.
c. So, if you’re experiencing some NIGHT TIMES in your personal and spiritual LIFE; … Hang in there … because morning is coming!
d. … And if you hang in there long enough; you’re bound to see the day break.
e. And I don’t know about you; but all I need to see is a little day break;
f. … a little light at the end of the tunnel.
g. Just enough to encourage me and to confirm that God has my back.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: Likewise, as fellow believers we are often encouraged through the Word of God, …
a. … and through the life examples of the SAINTS that have gone on before us, …
b. … and rightly so, “… to be steadfast, un-moveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for … our labor is not in vain … “(1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV).
c. Believers aren’t quitters! We are winners!
d. Quitters never win; and winners never quit.
e. In the States, we may be Northerners, Southerners, Easterners, or even Westerners; but we’re not quitters.
f. We have come from Men and Women of Faith.
g. And who can ever forget, HOW TOUGH OUR ANCESTERS HAD IT?
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: Yet, they remain faithful to God even in the midst of their adversities and struggles. Because they believed GOD gave STRENGTH to believers who WAITED on HIM.
a. The OLD FOLK – quoting Jesus in Matthew 17:20-21 (KJV) would say … “if we have faith the size of a tiny mustard seed;
b. we can look to our mountain of a problem and direct its movement – and it would move”.
c. We are often given examples liken unto Elijah – who prayed for rain; and rain he received.
d. Unfortunately, we aren’t always told that Elijah petitioned for rain seven times before water fell from the sky ( I Kings 18:42-44).
e. In other words, “When We Pray God Moves; And If We Prayed God Has Already Moved”.
f. But, God doesn’t always move in the manner that we think He should move.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 6: Sometimes, God moves fast!
a. However, God doesn’t always move fast.
b. Sometimes – when God moves; we ask – why did He wait so long?
c. I knew a long time ago that this move was needed. Why did He wait to do it now? Does He even care about my family and me?
d. What about all those sacrifices that I made on God’s behalf?
e. Who can ever forget the personal testimony of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10?
f. For don’t you remember, The Apostle Paul testified (in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (GNB) that he felt like because God had done so many wonderful things in his life for so long …
g. … – He (God) had allowed Satan to afflict pain to his physical body to keep him (Paul) from getting puffed up with Pride.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 7: At the time, when he was going through the excruciating physical situation, he (Paul) was in constant prayer.
a. He didn’t just pray once. But, he prayed three times!
b. Seemly, God didn’t answer. There were no release!
c. God allowed him to continue to face his physical challenges.
d. His trial didn’t stop! Paul prayed again; and there were no release!
e. It wasn’t until he (Paul) had prayed three times that he finally received an answer from God.
f. And GOD’S answer didn’t appear to be in Paul’s favor. At least, in Paul’s eyes, it didn’t look like it was in his favor because the pain in his body was still present.
****** TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 8: Now, my brothers and sisters, sometimes our trials and tribulations requires us to linger around for while … before the relief comes.
a. Sometimes we have to WAIT.
b. Because although God loves us; He isn’t just concern about us.
c. He’s concern about the UNSAVED too! He’s concern about the folks that you and I are going to witness to when He allows us to LINGER AROUND in that circumstance a little while longer.
d. GOD is concerned about the young men and women that we will meet; that seemly no one else will be able to reach for Him - but you and me!
e. So, this trial that we’re facing has come NOT ONLY to make us STRONG; but this trial has come to STRENGTHEN someone else too.
f. For you see … someone is watching us; and they’re WATCHING … how we’re living in midst of our tough times.
g. They are observing how our TRUST in God isn’t based only on God doing great things for us … ONLY.
h. But, they are seeing that our TRUST and HOPE is built on JESUS’ LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 9: Ultimately, the onlookers are going to witness how GOD strengthen us WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.
a. For don’t you remember, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul testified: “ … to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acted …
b. … as Satan’s messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away.
c. But His answer was: My grace is all you need, for my power is strongest when you are weak.
d. In other words, Paul had a vision from God where it was revealed to him that the personal troubles that he was experiencing; and had asked God to remove was not removed.
e. Instead of removing the troubles from Paul’s life, God told Paul that His Grace was all he needed; because God’s power was strongest in Paul’s life when Paul was weakest.
f. In other words, God’s Power was strongest in Paul’s life … WHEN THE CHIPS WERE DOWN. And God’s POWER is strongest in our lives, WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.
g. For it is when we are at our wicks end ; and we have no other options on the table but to TRUST GOD that GOD SHOWS Up in our lives the STRONGEST to give us RENEWED … STRENGTH … for all to see!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 10: For God gives strength to believers who WAIT on Him. Someone once said, and I believe it, it all hinges on that one Word, WAIT.
a. WAIT!
b. Now, it is well known throughout the military that some of the brightest minds in the world are hidden in the Military Intelligence Units of all branches of the Armed Forces.
c. For MI Soldiers GT Scores are usually off the chart.
d. Many of its Soldiers matriculate at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California where they learned how to read and speak languages such as Farsi and Arabic.
e. Yet, it has been said that the most difficult WORD, in any language, for young Soldiers to learn is the word – WAIT.
f. For, we live in a world where everything is at our beckoning call on the internet formerly known as the Information Highway.
g. We want everything to happen fast; and we don’t want to wait for anything or anyone – that includes God.
h. Yet, the Hebrew Word for “WAIT” implies a note of expectation. In other words, One is WAITING in expectation that God will move.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 11: It may look like, to the natural eye, that you’ve been in a situation for a long time; but you’re not just lingering!
a. As a Child of God; you’re waiting on God to Move You out of the situation.
b. You’re NOT CRYING, WHINNING or COMPLAINING.
c. The World doesn’t understand it; and some Christians are even puzzled by it; but as believers we’re sometime in a STATE OF WAITING.
d. God is going to release us soon. He’s going to give us permission to move on. But, at this moment, We’re in a STATE of WAIT.
e. For God takes time; and He manipulates TIME.
f. GOD causes certain historical events to happen at a specific time in our history.
g. In reference to time, the Bible says (in Ecclesiastes 3;1-4 GNB) that there is A Time for Everything.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 12: For everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.
a. He sets the time for birth and the time for death; the time for planting; and the time for pulling up;
b. The time for killing; and time for healing; the time for tearing down;
c. And the time for building.
d. He sets the time for sorrow and time for joy, the time for mourning and the time for dancing …
e. There is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
f. some things, we cannot have overnight, but they that wait upon the Lord shall find their own strength renewed.
g. They shall find their spirit mounting up like the eagle in its flight, their souls able to run the gamut of emotions.
h. They shall RUN, never be weary. And they shall walk and NOT faint.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION:
Likewise, in our text this morning the Bible says, in Isaiah 40:30-31 (KJV),
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall;
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.”
