WISDOM FROM THE WEARY
Notes
Transcript
This Week’s Theme - “God Is Eternal!”
Word for the Week is Everlasting: It means existing without beginning or end. Unchanging in nature and duration, beyond the limits of time. Permanent and enduring, applicable to God’s
existence.
Memory Verse: Psalm 90:2 (NKJV) Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You [are] God.
Sermon Focus - Those Who Trust the Eternal God Will Live Forever.
Sermon Passage - Psalm 102:17-28
INTRODUCTION: PSALM 102 IS NOT WRITTEN FROM A PALACE—IT IS WRITTEN FROM PAIN.
IT IS THE PRAYER OF A MAN WHO IS OVERWHELMED, WORN DOWN, AND WORN OUT.
HE IS LIKE A BOXER IN THE FINAL ROUND
HE IS STILL IN THE FIGHT
BUT HIS PUNCHES ARE HEAVIER
HIS LEGS ARE WEAK
AND HIS BREATHING IS LABORED
WEARINESS IS WHEN YOU’RE STILL FIGHTING
YOU ARE PHYSICALLY IN THE RING
BUT YOUR STRENGTH IS DECIMATED
AND MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY YOU ARE GONE
YOU ARE PRESENT
BUT NOT PRODUCTIVE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
WEARINESS IS NOT JUST BEING TIRED—
IT IS BEING DRAINED IN YOUR BODY, DISTURBED IN YOUR MIND, AND DISCOURAGED IN YOUR SPIRIT!
YOU’RE NOT LAZY—YOU’RE LOADED DOWN!
BUT HEAR THE MESSAGE OF THE PSALMIST
WEARY PEOPLE CAN STILL SPEAK WISE WORDS
WHEN THEY LOOK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
BUT HERE IS THE BEAUTY OF THE TEXT:
WEARY PEOPLE CAN STILL SPEAK WISE WORDS
WHEN THEY LOOK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THE PSALMIST TEACHES US THAT:
YOU CAN BE WEAK AND STILL WORSHIP
YOU CAN BE HURTING AND STILL HOPEFUL
YOU CAN BE WEARY AND STILL BE WISE
THE WISDOM OFFERED FROM THE PSALMIST IS SIMPLE:
WHEN YOU ARE WEARY
FIND RELIEF IN GOD.
I. FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONCERN
I. FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONCERN
LOOK AT VERSE 17
17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.
HE SHALL REGARD
THE WORD REGARD BASIC MEANING IS “TO TURN”
TO TURN AND LOOK AT,
TO TURN AND LOOK AT A PERSON,
TO REGARD, GRACIOUSLY
TO SHOW CONCERN FOR
HE TURNS AND LOOKS AT
THE BROKEN
THE BROKEN
17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.
THE PSALMIST IS DESTITUTE
LOOK AT VERSES 1 AND 2
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You.
2 Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily.
HE CRIES OUT TO THE LORD IN PRAYER
HIS HEART IS BROKEN BUT THAT IS OK BECAUSE
18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
IF YOU ARE BATTERED AND BROKEN
HURT AND NEED HELP
GOD IS NOT IGNORING YOU
HE IS INTENTLY WATCHING YOU
GOD
HEEDS THE HURTING
BEHOLDS THE BROKEN
MINDFUL OF THOSE MOURNING
CONCERN FOR THE CRUSHED
LOOKS ON THE LOWLY
WHY? BECAUSE
GOD HAS A HEART FOR THE HURTING…
COMPASSION FOR THE CRUSHED…
AND CARE FOR THE CAST DOWN!
THE LORD ALSO HEARS
THE HOW LONG OF THE HURTING
HE HEARS
THE ANXIETY OF THE ANXIOUS
HE HEARS
THE BELLOWING OF
THE BURDENED
THE BURDENED
LOOK AT VERSE 17
17 He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer.
HE WILL NOT DESPISE THEIR PRAYER
GOD IS NOT A MAN THAT HE SHOULD LIE
WHAT HE PROMISE
HE WILL DO
WHAT HE STATES
HE STANDS BY
HE STATED FOR YOU TO
“CAST ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM…”
HE STATED FOR YOU TO
“CAST YOUR BURDEN ON THE LORD…”
LOOK AT VERSES 19-20
For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary;
From heaven the Lord viewed the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To release those appointed to death,
ILLUSTRATION: LIKE A MOTHER IN A CROWDED ROOM WHO HEARS HER BABY CRY ABOVE ALL NOISE,
GOD EARS ARE TUNED IN TO THE CRY OF HIS CHILDREN
FRIEND MAY NOT NOTICE
MOMMA MAY NOT NOTICE
BROTHERS AND SISTERS MAY NOT NOTICE
SAINTS MAY NOT NOTICE
BUT GOD NOTICES
YOU ARE NOT LOST WHY?
BECAUSE HE REGARDS
THE BURDENED AND
THE BROKEN
REMEMBER
SO WHEN YOU ARE WEARY
DON’T WONDER IF GOD CARES…
REMEMBER THAT HE IS CLOSE, CONCERNED, AND CONNECTED TO YOUR CRY!
II. FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONTINUING
II. FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONTINUING
HIS WORK CONTINUES
HIS WORK CONTINUES
HIS REIGN CONTINUES
22 When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
Kingdoms gather and scatter—but God keeps ruling
Nothing happening in your life has interrupted His authority
LOOK AT
25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
WORK IN CREATION
What God started in creation
He sustains in your situation
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’
LOOK AT CHRISTIANS
Philippians 1:6 – “He who has begun a good work… will complete it”
HIS WAY CONTINUES
HIS WAY CONTINUES
LOOK AT THE CONTRAST
24 I said, “O my God, Do not take me away in the midst of my days; Your years are throughout all generations.
26 They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed.
27 But You are the same, And Your years will have no end.
PEOPLE CHANGE
CONDITIONS CHANGE
BUT GOD KEEPS BEING THE SAME
6 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
GOD BEING ETERNAL IS THE FOUNDATION OF
HIS FAITHFULNESS
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
GOD BEING ETERNAL IS THE FOUNDATION OF
HIS WORD
WE HAVE STABILITY BECAUSE HE IS THE SAME
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
ILLUSTRATION: Clothes wear out. Styles fade. Fabrics fray.
But God says creation itself is like a garment that will be changed.
What you’re worried about won’t last forever—
But the God you’re trusting will keep going!
Because He is the Timeless One
Because He is the Ageless One
Because He is the Dateless One
Because He is the Deathless One
Because He is the Endless One
GOD BEING ETERNAL IS THE FOUNDATION OF
TO THE BELIEVER’S SECURITY
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
IN OUR WORLD
EVERYTHING ELSE IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR STRENGTH IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR PATIENCE IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR RESOURCES ARE RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR OPTIONS ARE RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR ENERGY IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR HOPE IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR ANSWERS ARE RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR SUPPORT IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR TIME IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR COURAGE IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR MOTIVATION IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR JOY IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR FOCUS IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR CONFIDENCE IS RUNNING OUT…
WHEN YOUR ENDURANCE IS RUNNING OUT…
YET GOD IS STILL RUNNING ON!
HE KEEPS RULING…
HE KEEPS WORKING…
HE KEEPS BEING WHO HE IS!
WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE IS SHIFTING…
YOU NEED SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT MOVE!
FIND RELIEF IN A GOD WHO IS CONTINUING
FIND RELIEF IN A GOD WHO DOES NOT CHANGE!
FIND RELIEF, HIS CONCERN, HIS CONTINUING, IN HIS . . .
III. FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONFIRMATION
III. FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONFIRMATION
GOD CONFIRMS THE FIGHT
LOOK AT VERSE 18
18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.
THIS FIGHT
THIS STRUGGLE IS WRITTEN FOR THE GENERATION TO COME
YOUR AFFLICTION IS WRITTEN
ROSIE B’S STRUGGLE IS WRITTEN
ERIKA PERKINS’ STRUGGLE
STAN NORY’S STRUGGLE
JACQUIE JACKSON’S STRUGGLE
YOUR STRUGGLE IS NOT JUST
FOR SURVIVAL
GOD USES IT
FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S SALVATION
AND STRENGTHENING
SAINTS ARE INSTRUCTED
TO REPACKAGE WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US
SAINTS ARE INSTRUCTED
TO REGIFT WHAT WAS GIVEN TO US
WHAT DO YOU MEAN
LOOK AT 2 CORINTHIANS 1:4
4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
YOU WERE COMFORTED TO COMFORT
YOU WERE BLESSED TO BLESS
YOU WERE HELPED TO HELP
GOD HAS PLANS THAT WILL BRING YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE.
28 The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You.”
HE CONFIRMS YOUR FUTURE
YOUR STORY DOES NOT END IN STRUGGLE
BECAUSE
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
ILLUSTRATION: A TREE PLANTED BY A RIVER MAY FACE STORMS—BUT ITS ROOTS KEEP IT STANDING.
YOUR LIFE IS NOT SECURE BECAUSE STORMS STOP—
IT IS SECURE BECAUSE YOUR ROOTS ARE ESTABLISHED IN HIM
HEAR THE WORDS OF WISDOM FROM
THE WOUNDED AND WEARY
THE BRUISED AND BROKE
THE CRUSHED AND GOD IS ABLE TO
ENERGIZE THE EXHAUSTED
FORTIFY THE FEEBLE
GOD IS ABLE TO
BRACE THE BROKEN-DOWN
SUPPORT THE SPENT
FRESHEN THE FRAIL
His love is unending
His grace is unfailing
His mercy is unceasing
His peace is uninterrupted
He will outlast
He will outlive
He will outstay
He will endure
FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONCERN
FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONTINUING
FIND RELIEF IN HIS CONFIRMATION
HE IS WILL
TURN YOUR DISCONTENTMENT INTO SATISFACTION
TURN YOUR SORROW INTO HAPPINESS
TURN YOUR TURMOIL INTO PEACE
TURN YOUR JEALOUSY INTO LOVE
TURN YOUR BURDENS INTO BLESSINGS
TURN YOUR MISERY INTO COMFORT
TURN YOUR DESPAIR INTO HOPE
