ISAIAH 40:25-31
LISTEN THIS IS WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO YOU TODAY
God says "Give them hope." The prophet Isaiah had a similar challenge from God, when he said Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1
A very successful lawyer parked his brand new Lexus in front of the office, ready to show it off to his colleagues. As he got out, a truck came along, too close to the curb, and completely tore off the driver’s door of the Lexus. The counselor immediately grabbed his cell phone, dialed 911, and it wasn’t more than 5 minutes before a policeman pulled up. Before the cop had a chance to ask any questions, the lawyer started screaming hysterically. His Lexus, which he had just picked up the day before, was now completely ruined and would never be the same, no matter how the body shop tried to make it new again. After the lawyer finally wound down from his rant, the cop shook his head in disgust and disbelief. "I can’t believe how materialistic you lawyers are," he said. "You are so focused on your possessions that you neglect the most important things in life." "How can you say such a thing?" asked the lawyer. The cop replied, "Good grief man, don’t you even realize that your left arm is missing? It got ripped off when the truck hit you!!!" "Oh no!" screamed the lawyer, looking down at his missing arm. "Where’s my Rolex?"
It is true that all of us face problems. There is a problem with diseases that come to us. There are problems associated with old age, sick and aging parents or spouses, with finances, misunderstandings between friends, some may have a problem with failing to forgive others, no self-esteem or very low self-esteem, suffering from guilt over things done in the past, some have been cheated, have been lied to, have been unfaithful in some way, you might have a family member with a drug or alcohol problem. We can look at our prayer lists and we see many problems. We may personally struggle over our inability to do what we should do and not do what we shouldn’t do. This can overwhelm us. We can begin to think that things are without a solution!
Some times we do not have these problems ourselves, but we know loved ones and friends that do. Many a parent is distraught over the actions of their children. How often the devil wants us to be worried, concerned and frustrated over our own problems and the problems of others especially when they are people we love.
Sometimes we get totally distracted and overwhelmed with problems. It is possible to become sick with worry, fret and care! Isaiah here knows that Israel was having trouble, and thought that God had forsaken them. In the midst of all that you are facing, you may feel like God has forsaken or forgotten you. You feel alone. You wonder when you are ever going to get some relief from the increasing difficulties in your life.
Let us focus on vs. 28 it says “Have you not known? Have you not heard?”
In the midst of all these concerns and problems can we hear God speaking to us? Notice this about God today:
1. GOD IS ALIVE! Vs. 28 Isaiah 40:28 “Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening? God doesn’t come and go. God lasts. He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out.” “Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The eternal God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t grow tired or become weary. His understanding is beyond reach.”
He is the eternal god. Ps. 90:2 “Before the mountains were created, before you made the earth and the world, you are God, without beginning or end.” Deut. 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge and his everlasting arms are under you.
Rev. 11:17 And they said, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the one who is and who always was, for now you have assumed your great power and have begun to reign.
Job 36:26 "Look, God is exalted beyond what we can understand. His years are without number.
HE IS the God who Created all things. Gen. 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” PS 102:25 “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.” IS 45:12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens and all their host have I commanded.”
our God does not grow faint or weary. We can easily become overwhelmed with our problems. We wonder how we’ll ever have victory over some of our problems. We puzzle over solutions. Listen God doesn’t! Jer. 32:17 “O Sovereign Lord! You have made the heavens and earth by your great power. Nothing is too hard for you!” LK 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 18:27 “And he said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
God’s understanding is infinite. Romans 11:33 “God’s riches, wisdom, and knowledge are so deep that it is impossible to explain his decisions or to understand his ways.” 1 Cor. 1:25 “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” I know that God understands much more than I do! The song goes: “No one understands like Jesus; He’s a friend beyond compare. Meet Him at the throne of mercy; He is waiting for you there. No one understands like Jesus When the days are dark and grim. No one is so near, so dear as Jesus; Cast your every care on Him.”
DON’T YOU KNOW? HAVEN’T YOU HEARD? GOD IS ALIVE! He is eternal. He is creator. He never grows faint or weary. His understanding is infinite. Action to take: Be Alive!
2. GOD is here to ASSIST US. Vs. 29 He gives strength to those who grow tired and increases the strength of those who are weak.
God gives power to the faint. To those who are weak and weary within themselves to them God helps. It does not say God gives the mighty eternal life. God gives the weak eternal life. “There is none righteous, no, not one:” “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:” God is still available to the help the weak? That’s you and I. We need help. We need God’s strength. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”
The problem we have in life is two-fold. First, we do not realize how much power is available to us.
Eph. 1:19 I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. 22 And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church.”
Second, if we do not know how much power is available to us we will not take the time to ask God to pour out His power on us.
Eph. 3:14-16 “When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. DON’T YOU KNOW? HAVEN’T YOU HEARD? GOD IS ALIVE! GOD will help us out. Action point: Let God help you!
3. GOD IS ASSURING Vs. 31 “But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” We can SOAR like the eagle. We will be filled with power. We will "run and not grow weary." We can be staying in power for the long haul “walk and not faint." Actin point: Let your confidence be in Him!
How do we want to wait on the Lord?
1. WITH persistence
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. [6] In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Our Hope is in trusting in the Lord. Most of us want God to work now! God works in the right time. It is our task to wait, believing that God will work in his time.
INSTANT OR FULLY COOKED PUDDING?
2. with preparation.
Romans 15:4 “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises.”
Psalm 1:2-3 “But they delight in doing everything the Lord wants; day and night they think about his law. 3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper.”
3. WITH PRAYER.
Matthew 7:7-8 “Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
Phil. 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
DON’T YOU KNOW? HAVEN’T YOU HEARD?
GOD IS ALIVE! He is eternal. He is creator. He never grows faint or weary. His understanding is infinite. GOD ASSISTS. God gives power to the faint and weary. We need to take time to ask. GOD ASSURES. He is the One who says Wait. We need to wait With Patience, with preparation, with Prayer
"Our Greatest Wealth"
We are born with two eyes in front because we must not always look behind, but see what lies ahead beyond ourselves. We are born to have two ears; one left, one right; so we can hear both sides, collect both the compliments and criticisms, to see which are right. We are born with a brain concealed in a skull. Then no matter how poor we are, we are still rich, for no one can steal what our brain contains. We are born with two eyes, two ears, but one mouth for the mouth is a sharp weapon. It can hurt, flirt, and kill. Remember our motto; talk less, listen and see more. We are born with only one heart; deep in our ribs it reminds us to appreciate and give love from deep within.
