Sermon: Encouragement In the Desert
Scripture: Isaiah 35:1-10 (21st Century King James Version)
”The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will come and save you.”5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for those; the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon; it shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
Introduction: Isaiah fully understood Israel’s pilgrimage as God’s special people in a world gone wild. Yet He promises that there will be rest for the weary. In spiritual deserts, we wonder if God is with us or if He is simply a mirage. Yet Scripture shows us that no matter where God’s people find themselves—in battle or prison, in valley or wilderness—one thing is true: God is faithful.
All the prophecies of Isaiah are precious and should be read by us constantly in private and in public. Here Isaiah gives a very wonderful description of the earthly pilgrimage to heaven, and the joyful march of the saints. The saints of God are oftentimes despised, oppressed and mistreated by this world. There will come a time when the people of God shall be known to be the greatest blessings to men. The church in the world has been a blessing to every part of society. Their presence and influence can be seen in many of the leading hospitals and educational institutions all over the world. Even though the church has already been a blessing in a measure, but better days are in store.
Every Spiritual blessing in heavenly things has been given to the believer in Christ Jesus, and through the church shall all men see the glory of God in the earth. Even though these things are true, Isaiah gives a glimpse of the glorious future of those who live right in a wrong world. It is great encouragement to know that our labor is not in vain. God has not deserted us to suffer abuse, trials, and persecution with no end in sight. God hears our prayers, sees our struggles, and will come to our rescue. God knows how to execute vengeance on our enemies. Those who trust in God, at times may be weak and afraid. We can be assured that God will come and save us. What comfort and encouragement are these words of prophecy!
Isaiah gives this prophecy knowing about the advance of the Assyrians, the coming destruction at the hand of Babylonians, and their personal trials of frailty and fear the people of God are facing. Yet he looks to the future God has planned for His People. Some see this prophecy as a view of Israel of old, others see it as a view of the Church in this present world, some see it as a view the millennial reign of Christ in the coming world. I know there are different opinions about this prophecy. Let me remind us that there will be no deserts in Heaven, No lion, nor any ravenous beast, no unproductivity or lack. Even though the prophecy may cover all the above views, I believe this prophecy is for those in a barren, unproductive place, being despised and persecuted with little hope. The people going through difficulties are the ones needing encouragement. So, be encouraged! How???
1. Be Encouraged By God’s Word. Encouragement In the desert come through seeing the success of God’s Word. The miracles we see around us attest to the power of the Gospel. We might not presently serve a large congregation or enjoy many riches of this world, yet when single person comes to God, we see a miracle. These shall be more abundantly multiplied in the golden age, which is on its way. Believers know what these miracles mean, for they have experienced them in their salvation story, gracious miracles in the ministry of Jesus, and in God supplying their needs and wants daily. Through the word God gives them, they experience "streams in the desert." Salvation brings hope to desolate places and hearts. Through the power of the word, deliverance comes, people abandon the unclean for the clean, emptiness is replaced by fulness, and evil is replaced with goodness. Through divine grace of God, deserts become fruitful in every good work. As we share God’s word, the Lord opens the way of grace for every soul. Faith in Christ provides salvation from sin, its wages and penalty. Then salvation gives protection from Satan, and every foe he sends. Are we travelling this sacred road yet? Those who are, are redeemed by blood of Jesus and are striving after holiness. Those who love sin cannot be journeying to heaven. How thankful we ought to be that the road to heaven is available for all. How glad we ought to be that we have forsaken our sin, received Christ by faith and are walking in the way of life. The way is plain which means it is a well-worn path that can easily be recognized. Even the foolish can find it.
2. Be Encouraged By Knowing What God Has Planned. Encouragement In the desert comes through the knowledge that God has planned a glorious future for His children. They are on a holy pilgrimage. This holy pilgrimage will end in heaven with joy and peace that shall never end. Crowns of joy will be placed upon the heads of all who follow the Lamb of God, their mourning shall be ended, and they shall rest with him forever. Isaac Watts wrote a hymn about our journey, he says,
“Come, ye that love the Lord, And let your joys be known; Join in a song with sweet accord, Join in a song with sweet accord, And thus surround the throne, And thus surround the throne.
We’re marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful, Zion: We’re marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.
Let those refuse to sing, Who never knew our God: But children of the heav’nly King, But children of the heav’nly King, Shall speak their joys abroad, Shall speak their joys abroad.
The hill of Zion yields A thousand sacred sweets; Before we reach the heavenly fields, Before we reach the heavenly fields, Or walk the golden streets, Or walk the golden streets.”
Because we know what lies ahead, we should encourage others to go with us. Our family, father, mother, children, and associates. We are marching to the celestial city by the pathway of faith. The knowledge of what lies ahead should encourage us to fight on. Encouragement In the Desert Come Through seeing the success of God’s Word; Encouragement In the Desert Come Through Knowledge of what’s ahead. Isaac Watts says, believers enjoy a thousand sacred sweets all around us on our journey and then Heaven in the end. Finally, encouragement In the desert come through our personal affirmation. We must start saying what God is saying!
3. Be Encouraged By Adding Our Personal Affirmation. Encouragement In the desert come through our personal affirmation. “Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will come and save you.”
In the desert land, anyone can become weak and fearful. The enemies are many, supporters are few and loneliness is real. The text says, say to the weak, say to the fearful, “be strong and fear not!” It may be hard to find encouragement in the desert. The journey is long, and friends may be few, yet we are not without encouragement.
1Sa 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.”
In David’s desert, he was a fugitive from Saul with a group of stressed out followers, living in Ziglag of the Philistines, their homes had been overrun, their family members captured as slaves, their city destructed by fire, and everyone was in great distress. In these circumstances, they blamed David and one another. In the misery of their pain, they forgot all the good David had done. They forgot that David’s family had been captured too. As long as we have a good memory, we are not without encouragement. David remembered the Lord his God. Then David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. We are not told which Psalm David recalled, but may be Psalms 23, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
God knew the weakness and fear were real. But His words in our hearts are the perfect antidote. David started talking to God, then he talked to himself. We must say to ourselves, “be strong and fear not!” It is wonderful when others encourage us, speak blessings over our lives, support our efforts and appreciate our ministry. Sometimes, what you see in the desert is a mirage. This is a mirage, a type of optical illusion. The sun creates a layer of hot air near the ground. This hot air causes the light to bend (refract) upward, creating a reflection of the sky on the ground. Your brain assumes that the light has traveled in a straight line, and so you think you can see water. It is just a mirage. Don’t lose heart, God has provided springs in the desert. We must open our mouth and encourage ourselves. God will come and rescue me. God will come and save me. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.”
In deserts or in seasons of droughts, it is easy to forget God’s provisions. It is easy to think, “This is just too hard” or “The way is too far.” It is easy to agree with the voices of doom and gloom. Believers must learn to silence the voices of doom and gloom by encouraging themselves in the Lord. With the Lord on my side, I am going to make it and I will see miracles along the way! There is water for me even in the desert. There is some joy in this journey. I know that I will enjoy the blessedness of Heaven, but also, I am going to enjoy the journey!
“The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets; before we reach the heavenly fields, or walk the golden streets! We’re marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful, Zion: We’re marching upward to Zion, The beautiful city of God.” Be Encouraged!
