Sermon – Hope In The Day Of Adversity (Responding To Loss)

Sermon – Hope in The Day of Adversity

Introduction - The coronavirus, civil unrest and violence, looming national and personal debt, strained family relationships, and corruption within political parties have provoked a rising tide of fear and an increasing sense of vulnerability in the peoples of the world. Yet nothing seems as painful and unsettling as the death of a loved one. So, what are God’s people to do?

God calls us to reflection in times like these. Consider Ecclesiastes 7:14, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.”

One of the main themes of Ecclesiastes is that God injects our lives with intentional mystery to foster our dependency upon Him. He has even given us entire chapters in His Word to call us to reflection, repentance, and dependence during such times. One such chapter is Isaiah 55.

Though the book of Isaiah was written to Israel, it has wonderful implications for believers today because it reveals the character of God and His disposition to His people. God is speaking to a discouraged people in captivity who have lost loved ones, whose future was uncertain and whose life was hard. These verses unfold His path for moving His people from their thirst and longings to fulfillment, peace, and joy. In this moment of adversity, seriously reflect on what God might be saying to you today. To Deal With The Day of Adversity, God us to reflect, return, repent, rebuild and then rejoice. Focus on the message of this chapter and its application to your situation.

1.God Calls Us to Personal Reflection - Isaiah 55:1-2 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”

God calls us to personal reflection in the day of adversity. Think honestly about the unfulfilled desires, emptiness, and agitation inside your own soul.” The loss you have sustained in this moment, and other losses. Physical losses, job loss, financial losses, broken relationships, personal failures, indulgence in sin habits, etc., how would you describe the state of your soul in response to those losses? Are you hurting, angry, fearful, ashamed, agitated, bitter, guilty, or in despair? I experience all of the above when my brother Henry died of a massive heart attack at 39, another nephew James of died as 39, and another nephew died at 24 of a massive heart attack, and my niece died at 25 being robbed at a convenience store. I had no answers, no reasons and no peace. God was the answer for me and God has an answer for you today. This moment calls us to personal reflection.

2.God calls Us to Incline To His Voice - Isaiah 55:2-6 “Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.”

Reflection causes us to realize that our only solution is to return to God and listen to Him, He has everything we need. God has made a covenant to restore everything we seek and need through a relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, His plan is to not only restore us, but also use us to draw others to Himself. True restoration and revitalization begin in our soul start as we seek God as our solution and calling upon Him for help.

Do you need to reflect and return to God today? Do you need to make Bible reading and prayer a part of your daily experience? Have you been too busy for God? If you have, what changes do you need to make in your life, your schedule and activities to seek the Lord? Who have you been listening to and following instead of listening to and following the Lord? May be today is God’s call for you to reflect upon Him and return to Him.

3. God Calls Us to Repent or To Change Directions – Isaiah 55:7 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”