2-4-24 Sermon "Trust Him"

Isaiah 40:21-31

This morning I'll be reading Isaiah chapter 40 verses 21 through 31. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Isaiah 40:21-31 This chapter in Isaiah is written close to the time that Israel’s captivity is nearing an end. The people are weary from the things that they have had to endure and this was written to comfort them. Isaiah 40:21–31 (HCSB) 21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not considered the foundations of the earth? 22 God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He reduces princes to nothing and makes judges of the earth irrational. 24 They are barely planted, barely sown, their stem hardly takes root in the ground when He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind carries them away like stubble. 25 “Who will you compare Me to, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up and see: who created these? He brings out the starry host by number; He calls all of them by name. Because of His great power and strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Jacob, why do you say, and Israel, why do you assert: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my claim is ignored by my God”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. 29 He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. 30 Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, 31 but those who trust 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 faint. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Psalm 111 and from those verses we can see that God is worthy of our praise,,, because of His works,,, His words,,, and His everlasting,,, and unchanging character!

As the last verse says,,, we,,, as Christians,,, only begin to receive wisdom when we "fear the Lord"!

When we come to that realization,,, that God is so much more than we can understand,,, ever hope to understand,,, to the point that it humbles us,,, and makes us realize just how truly unworthy we are,,, that,,, God's word says,,, is the beginning of wisdom!

And when we begin to understand these things,,, we can "really" say,,, He is worthy to be praised,,, forever!

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At our conference the week before,,, our mission statement of the Global Methodist Church was brought to our attention several times.

Our mission is to Make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly!

Our speaker,,, Rev. Dr. Leah Hidde-Gregory,,, spoke about "worshiping passionately" at the Thursday night service,,, then she spoke about "loving extravagantly" on Friday morning,,, and she was going to speak about "witnessing boldly" Saturday morning.

All of these things are important to us as Christians,,, without the Global Methodist Church,,, but hopefully this statement will help us to remember some of the important things that God has for us to take care of.

Speaking of "taking care of",,, it was also mentioned that God has given us,,, this church,,, a special slice of His kingdom that we,,, as a church family are responsible for!

What a privilege,,, and what a responsibility as well!

Because of these things,,, we as Christians today,,, must remember that we have been put here for a purpose!

God intends for us to take care of this slice of kingdom that He has given us!

And we can do that,,, when we recognize the strength and power of God,,, along with the fact,,, that His strength and power,,, are available to us to use,,, to take care of the part of His kingdom that He has trusted us to watch over!

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So my prayer for us last week,,, was that we take these words from this psalm,,, and use them to help us realize that God deserves our praise,,, because of His works,,, His words,,, and His everlasting,,, and unchanging character!

As well as,,, we need to use and take advantage of,,, God's strength and power,,, that is available to help us take care of the slice of his kingdom that He has entrusted to us,,, as we continue,,, to do the job,,, that He wants us to do!

And we can do that as a Global Methodist Church,,, as we "Make disciples of Jesus Christ who worship passionately, love extravagantly, and witness boldly!

This morning we will look at these verses in Isaiah 40:21-31,,, and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week.

___________________________________ Verses 21-22 said: 21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not considered the foundations of the earth? 22 God is enthroned above the circle of the earth; its inhabitants are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

If we are honest,,, do we really think about how truly awesome God is?

Because if we did,,, we wouldn't need to wonder if God is able to help us today,,, or at any other time,,, no matter what predicament that we have gotten ourselves into,,, or find ourselves in at the time.

The Israelites were hearing encouraging words,,, but the Babylonians,,, at this time,,, were very powerful,,, and they couldn't see how they were going to be delivered.

These verses are intended for them,,, and us today,,, to give all of us hope,,, "if",,, we will just pay attention when we read,,, or listen to them as they are read!

___________________________________ Verses 23-24 said: 23 He reduces princes to nothing and makes judges of the earth irrational. 24 They are barely planted, barely sown, their stem hardly takes root in the ground when He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind carries them away like stubble.

Again,,, these verses contain words of comfort.

Since God can control the powers that are in control,,, and,,, "those that want to be in control",,, these words will help the people cope during this time.

This doesn't mean that God is making all of the decisions going on around us,,, but He can make changes wherever He needs to,,, if it will make His plan work the way that it needs to.

___________________________________ Verses 25-26 said: 25 “Who will you compare Me to, or who is My equal?” asks the Holy One. 26 Look up and see: who created these? He brings out the starry host by number; He calls all of them by name. Because of His great power and strength, not one of them is missing.

At night,,, all you have to do,,, is look up.

Look up and see all that God has created,,, just by speaking the words,,, and then think about the way that God knows everything about them.

And see the way that He takes care of them!

___________________________________ Verse 27 said: 27 Jacob, why do you say, and Israel, why do you assert: “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my claim is ignored by my God”?

Isaiah's words are reminding them,,, in an indirect way,,, that while they are being punished they might have these feelings,,, but God will still be with them.

Sometimes when we are going through tough times,,, it could be a time of punishment for us as well.

Not every time,,, that's something that you will have to decide through prayer,,, between you and God,,, just because you are going through a tough time doesn't mean that you are being punished.

But,,, if you are,,, all you need to do,,, is confess to whatever is wrong,,, then you can begin to move forward again in fellowship with God.

So you can see that God will be with you,,, through all that you are going through,,, you just need to trust God,,, even while you recognize that you might have fallen short of His plan for you.

___________________________________ Verses 28-29 said: 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Yahweh is the everlasting God, the Creator of the whole earth. He never grows faint or weary; there is no limit to His understanding. 29 He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless.

Isaiah is asking the question again,,, Do you not know?

Reminding them,,, and us today,,, that God is everlasting,,, Creator,,, and He never grows faint or weary,,, and,,, He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless.

Unlike the youth in the next verse,,, which says,,,

___________________________________ Verse 30 said: 30 Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall,

As it was back then,,, and it still is today,,, our youth are usually the most energetic.

I know that's not always the case,,, but more times than not,,, it's true.

But even they,,, with all of their youthful vigor and strength will eventually grow weary and could stumble and fall.

But not true for God,,, nor for those of us that trust in the Lord,,, while we are doing the job that He has for us!

Look at the next verse,,, one of my favorites.

___________________________________ Verse 31 said: 31 but those who trust 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 faint.

Among Isaiah’s original readers,,, those who trust in the LORD were believers who remained faithful to God.

They were the ones who would be restored.

For his readers in captivity,,, this looks forward to a future time,,, when the captives would be released and would return to their land.

Even though while in captivity they were weary,,, but the LORD would help them renew their strength and soar,,, like eagles,,, to be uplifted,,, emotionally and spiritually.

Today as we read these scriptures,,, we have the same chance that the faithful believer's had.

For those of us who trust 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 faint.

Without our faith in the LORD,,, we are not capable of doing anything for long without giving out.

But if God has given us something to do,,, He will supply us with everything that we will need.

"If",,, we will trust Him!

And if we trust Him,,, we will be uplifted,,, emotionally and spiritually!

___________________________________ What wonderful words these are to hear today as we continue to fight our way through everything that we face in this world,,, whether it's through sickness,,, financial problems,,, no matter what it is,,, just knowing that God will give us the strength to get through it,,, "if",,, we will trust Him.

Because as always,,, we can't do very much on our own,,, but,,, nothing is impossible for God.

And as these words comforted the Israelites then,,, if we pay attention like we should,,, they will comfort us today,,, as well.

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