Isaiah 29:8, “It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and, behold, he eats; but he awakens, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreams, and, behold, he drinks; but he awakens, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.”
TODAY, I WANNA SHARE SOMETHING WITH YOU CALLED: “AIR PUDDING”
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD OF AIR PUDDING?
“AIR PUDDING” IS AN IMAGINARY FOOD YOU EAT – WHEN YOU CAN’T GET WHAT YOU WANT.
IF YOUR MIND CAN IMAGINE IT – THEN “AIR PUDDING” JUST POPS UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.
HOW MANY OF YOU LIKE STEAK? WELL, “AIR PUDDING” CAN COME IN THE FORM OF A STEAK.
IF YOU DREAM ABOUT IT – IF YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES AND THINK ABOUT IT – IT WILL JUST POP UP IN FRONT OF YOU – YOU’LL SEE IT JUST AS PLAIN AS DAY:
•YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF SLICING IT – WATCHING THE SUCCULENT JUICES FLOW
•YOU CAN SEE THE FORK AS IT BRINGS EACH MORSEL TO YOUR MOUTH
•IT’S NOT TOUGH – YOU CAN CHEW IT AND SWALLOW IT EASILY
HOWEVER, WHEN YOU FINISH IT – YOU’RE STILL HUNGRY. WHY? BECAUSE ALL YOU HAD WAS “AIR PUDDING!”
“AIR PUDDING” CAN BE ANY FOOD YOU CAN THINK OF: STEAK, PORK CHOPS, RICE AND GRAVY, CATFISH, COLLARD GREENS AND MACARONI AND CHEESE!
NOW, SO I DON’T LOOSE THE YOUNG PEOPLE – AIR PUDDING CAN ALSO BE: A QUARTER POUNDER W/ CHEESE, CHICKEN NUGGETS – WITH A SUPER SIZED FRY!
BUT “AIR PUDDING” NEVER FILLS YOU UP. YOU CAN EAT AS MUCH AS YOU WANT – BUT YOU’LL NEVER BE SATISFIED. WHY? BECAUSE “AIR PUDDING” IS JUST AN ILLUSION.
AND IT’S NOT JUST LIMITED TO FOOD – MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO: ACHIEVE, SUCCEED AND DO GREAT THINGS IN LIFE - BUT THEY ONLY HAVE A SUPERFICIAL BELIEF IN GOD – OR NO BELIEF IN GOD AT ALL.
SURE, THEY “DREAM” OF HAPPINESS – THEY “DREAM” OF THE GOOD LIFE.
BUT I STOPPED BY HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THIS MORNING – WITHOUT GOD – YOUR DREAMS ARE SIMPLY “AIR PUDDING” – IT IS AN ILLUSION!
BUT HOW MANY KNOW TODAY – IF WE SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, ALL OF THE THINGS WE DREAM ABOUT – CAN BECOME A REALITY?
WE’LL COME BACK TO THE “AIR PUDDING” IN JUST A MOMENT – LET’S LOOK AT OUR TEXT:
THIS MORNING WE HAVE ISAIAH GIVING A WARNING TO ISRAEL – ABOUT PLACING VAIN HOPE IN “MAN” AND “SYMBOLS” – INSTEAD OF TRUSTING IN THE POWER OF GOD.
ISAIAH PROPHESIED – THERE WOULD BE A DAY WHEN JERUSALEM (WHICH WAS CALLED “ARIEL” IN VERSE 1) WOULD BE SURROUNDED BY ITS ENEMIES.
THE PEOPLE PUT THEIR TRUST IN “ARIEL” (WHICH MEANS “LION OF GOD”) – BECAUSE IT REPRESENTED THEIR “RITUALS AND SACRIFICES” – IT WAS A “SYMBOL.”
SO THE ENEMIES CAME AND SURROUNDED THEM. AND RATHER THAN FIGHT THE PEOPLE – THEY TRIED TO STARVE THEM OUT.
SO HERE’S THE SCENE: ON THE INSIDE OF THE WALLS – THE PEOPLE TRUSTED THE HISTORY OF THE CITY – WHICH WAS A HISTORY OF SACRIFICES AND RITUALISMS AND TRUSTING IN SYMBOLS.
ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE WALLS – THE ASSYRIAN ARMY WAITED WITH DREAMS OF RICHES AND VICTORY.
BUT IF YOU CONTINUE TO READ – YOU’LL SEE GOD SENT AN ANGEL THAT DESTROYED THE ARMY ON THE SPOT.
THE NEXT MORNING, WHAT BOTHERED ISRAEL WAS NO MORE – IT WAS LIKE A BAD DREAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
THE SAME WAY A MAN DREAMS HE’S EATING IN THE NIGHT – BUT WAKES UP HUNGRY.
•THE ENEMY DREAMED OF THE DAY THEY WOULD TAKE ISRAEL CAPTIVE – BUT WHAT THEY GOT WAS “AIR PUDDING”.
•THEY DREAMED OF HOW GOOD THEY WOULD FEEL – ONCE THEY DESTROYED THE PEOPLE OF GOD – BUT WHAT THEY GOT WAS “AIR PUDDING.”
ISRAEL PLACED A LOT OF HOPE AND FAITH – IN ITS SYMBOLS, RELIGIONS AND RITUALS.
AND IF WE KEEP IT REAL IN HERE THIS MORNING – THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY WHO PLACE AND INORDINATE AMOUNT OF TRUST IN “GOOD LUCK CHARMS” AND “SYMBOLS” – INSTEAD OF PLACING THEIR TRUST IN THE POWER OF GOD!
OH YEH – THEY WEAR “RABBITS FEET” AROUND THEIR NECKS, WRIST AND ANKLES – THEY STRATEGICALLY PLACE THEM AROUND THEIR HOMES.
BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW – THERE IS NO SAVING GRACE OR SPECIAL PROTECTIVE POWERS – THAT WILL PROTECT YOU FROM THE ENEMY IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!
IN TIMES OF TROUBLE – TRUSTING IN “SYMBOLS” AND “LUCKY CHARMS” IS LIKE “AIR PUDDING” – IT WILL BE LIKE AN ILLUSION!
WHEN YOUR ENEMY COMES – THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO WITH THOSE “RABBITS FEET” AND “HORSE SHOES” – IS THROW EM AT THEM AND THEN RUN AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN!
SERIOUSLY, THERE’S TWO THINGS I WANT YOU TO TAKE WITH YOU TODAY:
1. WE’VE GOT TO PUT OUR TRUST IN GOD – NOT IN EMPTY RITUALS AND SYMBOLS
2. THOSE WHO SEEK TO FIGHT AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF GOD – AND DREAM OF PROSPERING AT OUR EXPENSE – ARE DREAMING AN “EMPTY DREAM” THAT WILL NOT COME TO PASS
HOW MANY KNOW TODAY – IT’S A DANGEROUS THING TO RISE UP AGAINST A CHILD OF GOD?
IF THE ENEMY DREAMS HE CAN DESTROY A CHILD OF GOD – BY KNOCKING HIM DOWN – GUESS WHAT? IT’S JUST “AIR PUDDING”
•DONNIE MCCLURKIN SAID IT BEST – HE SAID, “WE FALL DOWN, BUT WE GET UP”!
IF THE ENEMY DREAMS OF STOPPING OUR PROGRESS – BY GIVING US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR – GUESS WHAT? IT’S JUST “AIR PUDDING”
•BECAUSE PSALM 27:1 SAYS, “THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION, WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE, OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?”
IF THE ENEMY IS DREAMING OF HURTING A CHILD OF GOD – BY CUTTING OFF HIS SUPPLY OF INCOME AND RESOURCES – IT’S JUST “AIR PUDDING”
•BECAUSE PHILIPPIANS 4:19 SAYS, “MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEEDS, THROUGH CHRIST JESUS”
IF THE ENEMY IS DREAMING OF DESTROYING YOUR OPTIMISM AND FORCING YOU TO LOOK DOWN ON LIFE – IT’S “AIR PUDDING”
•BECAUSE PSALM 121:1 SAYS, “I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP. MY HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD”
IF THE ENEMY IS DREAMING OF STRIPPING YOU OF YOUR RESOURCES – LEAVING YOU IN WANT – IT’S “AIR PUDDING”
•BECAUSE DAVID SAYS IN THE 23RD PSALM, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD AND I SHALL NOT WANT”
IF THE ENEMY IS DREAMING OF A DAY WHEN YOU’LL TURN YOUR BACK ON GOD – BECAUSE YOU’VE LOST A FEW MATERIAL POSSESIONS – IT’S “AIR PUDDING”
•DECLAIR LIKE JOB (1:21), “THE LORD GIVETH AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY – BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD”
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I FOUND OUT – TRUSTING IN THE LORD IS NOT AN ILLUSION – BUT IT’S THE REAL THING!
IF WE TRUST IN THE LORD:
•HE’LL TAKE AWAY OUR DOUBTS AND GIVE US CONFIDENCE
•HE’LL TAKE AWAY OUR WEAKNESSES AND GIVE US STRENGTH
•HE’LL TAKE AWAY OUR DESPAIR AND GIVE US HOPE
•HE’LL TAKE AWAY OUR DEFEATS AND GIVE US THE VICTORY
•HE’LL REMOVE OUR PROBLEMS AND GIVE US THE SOLUTIONS
•HE’LL EVEN TAKE AWAY OUR FAILURES AND GIVE US REAL SUCCESS!
THE SONG WRITER DIDN’T SAY: “I WILL TRUST IN MY LUCKY RABBITS FOOT – UNTIL I DIE” – HE DIDN’T SAY, “I WILL TRUST IN MY HORSE SHOES – UNTIL I DIE”
THE SONGWRITER SAID, “I WILL TRUST IN THE LORD – UNTIL I DIE!”
•SO WHEN STORMS RISE – TRUST IN THE LORD!
•WHEN THE WINDS BEGIN TO BLOW – TRUST IN THE LORD!
•DAVID SAID WHEN MY ENIMIES – EVEN MY FOES CAME TO EAT OF MY FLESH – THEY STUMBLED AND FELL!
SO TRUST IN THE LORD – BECAUSE HE DIED OUT ON CALVARY!
TRUST IN THE LORD – BECAUSE EARLY SUNDAY MORNING – HE GOT UP FROM THE GRAVE WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS! STAY ON THE BATTLEFIELD AND TRUST IN THE LORD!
