THE MIGHT OF GOD IN OUR TIMES OF TROUBLE.
Isaiah 40:27-31 (NIV) 27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
INTRODUCTION: IT IS EASY TO FOCUS ON OUR PROBLEMS AND STRUGGLES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE SEEKING TO FOLLOW CHRIST. THE DEVIL HAS A WAY OF BRING THEM UP AT THE MOST INOPPORTUNE TIMES, OR WE GIVE THEM MORE SIGNIFICANCE THAN THEY ARE DUE BY ATTRIBUTING EVERY ISSUE AS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE.
THIS PASSAGE BEFORE US THIS EVENING GIVES US SOME THOUGHTS REGARDING GOD’S ABILITY TO SATISFY OUR NEEDS WHEN TROUBLES, AND ASSUMES AN ATTITUDE WE SHOULD HAVE WHEN FACING TROUBLE OR DISTRESS!
1. GOD IS GREATER THAN ANY TRIAL OR TEMPTATION THAT MAY COME MY WAY – VERSE 27
2. THE NATURE OF GOD REVEALS GOD’S POSITION DURING TROUBLE OR DISTRESS – VERSE 28
a. GOD IS ETERNAL – GOD TRANSCENDS ANY ISSUE WE ARE DEALING WITH
b. GOD IS THE CREATOR OF EVERYTHING – ANYTHING OF SIGNIFICANCE FINDS IT SOURCE IN GOD ALONE
c. GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK – HE IS CEASELESS IN HIS PURSUIT OF OUR SPIRITUAL EXCELLENCE AND MATURITY
d. GOD IS WISE AND HIS UNDERSTAND IS WITHOUT LIMITS – HIS WORK ON OUR BEHALF WITH REGARD TO OUR ISSUES IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND IT.
3. THIS SHOULD BRING A CERTAIN RESPONSE ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE
a. Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV) And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
i. WE SHOULD ASK GOD FOR WHAT WE KNOW WE REALLY NEED, NOT WHAT WE REALLY WANT.
b. Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
i. SINCE GOD IS GREATER WE CAN AND SHOULD FOCUS ON IM AND NOT ON OUR ISSUES
c. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
i. SINCE GOD’S GRACE (GETTING WHAT I DO NOT DESERVE) IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME THEN THE STRUGGLES THAT I HAVE CAN BE SEEN IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF HIS GRACE, AND I CAN THEREFORE ACCEPT THEM BASED ON GOD’S GRACE, AND NOT MY FEELING. THIS IS A CONSCIOUS CHOICE BASED ON BIBLICAL TRUTH.
d. Ephesians 5:20 (NIV) always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
i. WHAT GOD DOES IS BEYOND OUR ABILITY TO FULLY COMPREHEND
4. GOD PROVISION IN OUR LIVES IS TOP BUILD US UP
5. WAITING ON GOD IS WHAT FAITH DOES BEFORE GOD’S ANSWER SHOWS UP!
6. THE QUESTION FOR US TO PONDER TODAY IS – “IS GOD WORTH THE WAIT?”
