"Waiting"

Isaiah 40:27 - 31 - on "Waiting" 1. THE WEARINESS THAT'S REVEALED. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. The word “weary” means to “feel fatigue.” It is the natural result of labour and toil that reduces strength. The Sphere of Fatigue. He giveth power to the faint 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; The Signs of Fatigue. “We worship our work. We work at our play. And we play at our worship.” The Sources of Fatigue. What are the culprits that weary us? (a) Pressure. The way we choose to live - plan, schedule,work, (b) People Luke 18:5. There are some kinds of people that wear us down. (c) Perils, Hebrews 12:3. And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 1 Cor 10:13. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (d) Practice, Galatians 6:9, And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 2 Thessalonians 3:13. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. We may not get tired “of” God’s work, but we can get tired “in” God’s work! (e) Persecution “ Psalm 78:9. The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle. 2. THE WAITING THAT RENEWS, v. 31a. But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; A Declared Contrast. “But . . .” God has pointed out the problem and now declares there is another way to live. A Difficult Condition. “But they that wait upon the Lord.” Most Christian have a serious “wait problem” that no diet can remedy! Vance Havner used to say, “If Christians do not come apart and rest awhile, they may just plain come apart.” Psalm 27:14 “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God...” In Isaiah 40:31 the word “wait” is “to bind together” (perhaps by twisting). The noun means a “rope” or a “line.” When we present our fatigued life to God in obedient surrender it is like a small thread (us) that is wrapped around a steel cable (God)

This is the “exchanged life.” I exchange my weakness for God’s strength. I exchange my misery for God’s joy. I exchange my slavery for God’s freedom. I exchange my foolishness for God’s wisdom. I exchange my poverty for God’s riches. I exchange my death for God’s life. Col 3:3 says, “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Certainly the act and attitude of waiting upon the Lord involves... Searching the Word of God. Seeking the fellowship of God. Surrendering to the will of God. Showing the glory of God. A Delightful Consequence. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” A new energy to engage! A new power to perform! A new unction to function! Renewed strength for . . . (a) Choices. Waiting is not a waste. Most of the exploits of the Christian life that are not sanctified by a season of waiting usually end up bringing reproach upon God’s sacred cause. (b) Challenges. The greater the challenge the longer we need to wait. (c) Changes. When we are faced with spiritual, mental, emotional, domestic, even financial emergencies, mere physical and natural powers will not avail. “As thy days, so shall thy strength be,” Deut. 33:25. 3. THERE IS A WELL-BEING THAT RESULTS, v. 31. they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. There Will Be :- (a) Spiritual Rising. “Mount up with wings as eagles.” That’s soaring. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (b) Strenuous Running. “They shall run and not be weary.” That’s surging. We are a part of a great race. It is a rigorous race. It is a distance race, not a dash. And it is a relay race. We are handing the baton to those behind us. 1 Corinthians 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (c) Steady Routine. “They shall walk and not be faint.” That’s slogging. “Walk in love . walk as children of light . walk worthy of your vocation.”