Read Isaiah 40:10-28
I. GOD WORKS FOR US.
He knows us intimately. He works for us tirelessly. He binds himself for us in unbreakable promises. Robinson’s father never went to a doctor. He prayed and prayed … and he became more serious. Until Robinson fetched him, took him home brought him to a hospital and had the hernia corrected. Instead of thanking God he felt that God let him down. He could not be convinced that God can use a doctor to answer his prayer. That the hand of the doctor could be the hand of God. So he spent the last eight years of his life not only with a diminished health but a diminished faith.
We must be stripped of the illusion that God always keep his promises the same way.
A. True, He is full of promises:
Rom. 8:32
Phil. 4:19
Psal. 37: 25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed.
Phil. 4:13
Isa. 43: 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
1. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
But how does He keep his promises?
He works for us. He changes circumstances by miraculous intervention. He lifts us out of the circumstances. He makes us soar like eagles. This passage is one of the great promises of God… where we hear of God as an awesome, creator of the galaxies, earth… He enthrones and dethrones leaders. He plants uproots. He is incomparable.
A God, awesome in power and wisdom, who works for us. He removes the pains and the sources of pain.
B. Examples:
Old Testament. Exodus… God split the sea.
An unarmed, untrained, people approaching the red sea. Pharaoh had changed his mind… pursued them with his /army… sitting ducks. God through Moses: Stand Still… see the salvation of the Lord. He split the sea.
New Testament:
Bartimaeus… blind from birth.
Widows Son…
Feeding of the 5000.
Ever a witness of a miracle… Imagine: One day a rich came and said… l have several millions here and l can’t sleep. God is telling me to give you 5 m for your needs.
Is this the only way? We are conditioned to think this way from infancy when we could not do anything for ourselves until the big people come. Then we went to Bible Studies and we heard of Miracle stories…
It is not wrong to expect one. We have a great God. But it maybe unwise to expect it this way always. Yes, God works for us… Sometimes,
II. GOD WORKS WITH US.
He supplies a good job when praying for a need. He led you to a good doctor when praying for healing. Someone stole your bike… then Police came and arrested… returned…
Examples:
1. God and Moses at the burning bush…
God: I heard, l saw… l came, l will deliver… you will do it Moses.
Moses: It is the wrong guy… you need Charlton Heston.
God: I made the mouth and the ears… l want to use them.
God can go it alone. But if he does not he has reasons… You will never be free, you will never grow up. Some things will not change unless we work. And God works with us.
2. The great commission.
Remember the command:
What is the Promise? “Lo, l am with you always…” He will work with you as you obey and disciple and teach.
Missions conference of Church is about to end. It has been announced previously that there will be a missions offering at the end for a certain project and missions field… The missions Director announced before the offering was to be taken: I have an exciting announcement to make… we have the money already. Gasps…. Aaaah. PTL. Amen. Yes. We have the money… all you have to do is put it in the offering baskets.
God works with us… He gifted us… with wisdom, strength, career, job, resources… He wants to work with you. Sometimes, God keeps His promises by-
III. GOD WORKS IN US.
He does not change the circumstances. He does not heal. He does not give the dream house. He does not lifts you up, he does not lead you through. He does not change your husband who looks like … He changes you. He works inside us.
You have heard of 2 Cor. 12:9 but you seldom mention it.
Paul has been a recipient of so many blessings. He received many fantastic gifts. But he has a major problem. He has thorn in the flesh that was giving him pain and bothering him. So he prayed. God said. No. Three times he pleaded and God said…
9 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.
Bull session in a dorm that got into the middle of the night. Suggestions varied… but maybe the Holy Spirit left it this way so that whatever it is we can identify with him in his pain that will not go away.
But God worked in Paul so that even though the pain was there he can demonstrate, or he can model the grace and the power of God. Those who looked at Paul will see that the power is not in Paul but in the God who works in him.
1. Joni Earecson Tada… Diving accident. Rescued from drowning but paralyzed. God did not work for her. No miracle for healing. God did not work with medical doctors… but in her. He made her an instrument of grace, healing, faith. Her books, her cards(from her paint brush in her mouth), her movie… showed strength made perfect in weakness.
Unfortunately when her movie was shown in a town… some Christians blasted her: We can not believe suffering glorifies God. He can not keep you like this. For them God works only through miracles.
Dave Dravecky
Fanny Crosby
Isa. 40: 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.
Some realities: tired. Weary. Stumble. Fall.
But when you hope in the lord God will renew your strength. How does he help?
Soar like eagles.
Run and not grow weary.
Walk and not faint.
Some think that Isaiah got it wrong. Reverse. He started flying, then weakened… ended up walking. It is apparent that psychologically this is right. At times He lifts us up above circumstances or changes our circumstances. Sometimes He enables us to run… Other times he just let us walk steadily and without fainting.
I am not sure or l do not know what it will before you in the coming weeks.
God can give you a miracle… regain that which is almost lost. Suddenly you have committed to be faithful to this church… volunteered to do a task… you even give 15% of your income.
God can enable you to pursue, run, without burning out. Be excellent in your work. Your BS are fruitful. They all attend.
Or He may give you grace to live in difficult circumstances and people… gentle, forgiving, loving. Even though the pressures are there, enemies are present, but you are giving glory to God.
