Survival Guide for Weary Travelers
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 15 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
I really appreciate everyone that helped out while we were on vacation. We have a great church family and it was a blessing that Jim Ingmire could come a share. He loves Powerhouse!
The vacation was nice…for the most part. It is always cool to spend time with kids and grand kids. Before we went on vacation, we had Kaelyn and Michaela with us for about 2 weeks, then Melody joined them for another week or two. So the excitement was in full swing before we ever left for the actual vacation.
We left on July 1st (and 2nd) and drove to Arizona. The kids had a lot of fun there. They went swimming at their aunt’s house, bowling, and other stuff. It was nice. The trip home, however, was crazy, scary, frustrating, dangerous, desolate and full of God’s provision. We really needed a survival guide!
Isaiah 35:
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
Is 35:5-6
Prayer
Prayer
uses beautifully poetic language to describe God’s promise to redeem His people. The words clearly echo the Exodus journey of Isreal. It is amazing how God sustained and protected His people in a desert wilderness. This passage also points prophetically to the last days, when the Bride of Christ will finally be with Him in Glory.
The vacation was nice…for the most part. It is always cool to spend time with kids and grand kids. We left on July 1st (and 2nd) and drove to Arizona. The kids had a lot of fun there. They got to go swimming at their aunt’s house, bowling, and other stuff. It was nice. The trip home, however, was crazy, scary, frustrating, depressing, and full of God’s provision.
in beautiful poetic language, describes God’s promise to redeem His people. When you read it, you can’t help but think of the Exodus. It is amazing how God sustained and protected His people in a desert wilderness. This passage also points prophetically to the last days, when the Bride of Christ will finally be with Him in Glory.
This passage reveals a promise for the people of Judah who were about to face a serious crisis. It also speaks to the man or woman who is in a desolate, dry, and dreary place. Maybe you have found refuge in Christ through salvation, but you still face desolate desert times when you can’t seem to find the way out. The words of the prophet Isaiah speak life!
shouts out this truth: God is consistent in compassion, love, holiness, and involvement with His people
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus,
Isaiah 35:1
This passage displays that God is consistent in compassion, love, holiness, and involvement with His people
This passage displays that God is consistent in compassion, love, holiness, and involvement with His people
Big Idea
When you pass through desert experiences, cling to God: He will comfort, strengthen, and guide you to beautiful destinations
What does this passage in Isaiah reveal? What truths do we need to know as we navigate through desert experiences? Can it be a survival guide for us?
Transition: Along the way, we will encounter some scenic views, points of interest, road hazards, perhaps wild animals. It pays to stay sharp so you don’t miss anything
Dangers and Disappointments - Bah!
Dangers and Disappointments - Bah!
You cannot avoid desolate places in life — full of dangers and disappointments. I would rather take a detour around those.
No matter how you end up in desolate places in life…God is with you, and He will help you if you put your trust in Him
A. Judah’s Desolate Situation
A. Judah’s Desolate Situation
A. Judah’s Desolate Situation
Isaiah grew up during the reign of King Uzziah, in a time of relative prosperity and peace. By the time we get to chapter 35, things had changed…things were very unsettled and ominous. Judah’s sister kingdom to the North, Israel, had already fallen under the Assyrian sword. Isaiah correctly prophesied defeat and destruction on the horizon. Thankfully, God also revealed that He would later restore and bless His people.
Although Isaiah prophesied defeat and destruction on the horizon, it was revealed to him that God would later restore and bless His people.
The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.
The Hebrew word rendered 'parched land’ speaks of a dry place, without springs or streams of water. Since such places couldn’t sustain plant life or any other life, the word came to mean a desert
Such expressions are often used in the Scriptures to express moral or spiritual desolation; and in this sense evidently the phrase is used here.
Carmel symbolized beauty, as Lebanon symbolized majesty, and Sharon symbolized fertility.
Carmel symbolized beauty, as Lebanon symbolized majesty, and Sharon symbolized fertility.
Illustration: The stretch of Highway 95 that runs from the eastern edge of Vegas north to Twin Falls…I would call it desolate, solitary, and lonely. It actually does sustain plenty of life: jackrabbits, deer, coyotes, probably buzzards and snakes. Sure there are a few little towns…few and far between. But really, how is it possible to have stretches of 100-200 miles without any cell service? What is the world coming to? That was the stretch of highway I thought would be a decent shortcut! It turned into a desert trial for us — a life lesson I hope. It was a desolate, dry, and desperate situation
Illustration: The stretch of Highway 95 that runs from the eastern edge of Vegas north to Twin Falls…I would call it desolate, solitary, and lonely. It actually does sustain plenty of life: jackrabbits, deer, coyotes, probably buzzards. Sure there are a few little towns…few and far between. I mean, come on! How is it possible to have stretches of 100-200 miles without any cell service? What is the world coming to?
That was the stretch of highway I thought would be a decent shortcut! It turned into a desert trial for us — a life lesson I hope. It was a desolate situation
…just as Judah was in a desolate situation
B. We are all desolate without God
B. We are all desolate without God
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God…”
“There is none righteous, no not one…”
“Our righteousness is as filthy rags…”
Acknowledging our sin is a major landmark on this journey. You cant’ get to God’s grace without dealing it. You can’t skip over it and expect to get to the right place. Neither can you camp out there and expect to get to the right place.
Acknowledging our sin is a major landmark on this journey. You cant’ get to God’s grace without dealing with this landmark. You can’t skip over it and expect to get to the right place. Neither can you camp out there and expect to get to the right place.
If you have not surrendered everything to Christ - confess your sin, ask for His forgiveness, and He will take you beyond that roadblock of sin. It’s quicksand.
If you have not surrendered everything to Christ - confess your sin, ask for His forgiveness, and He will take you beyond that roadblock of sin
If you are a true follower of Jesus, you will face desolate places — it is part of the journey
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
Application:
Next time you face a desolate, scary place in your life, don’t try and pretend it is not there. Remember, this is a landmark on the way to ultimate glory!
Although you might be in a barren place, God is about to step in and make it a green, lush, and rich place…in His perfect time!
God Won’t Abandon His Own - Ever!
God Won’t Abandon His Own - Ever!
The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
he will come to save you.”
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Then will the lame leap like a deer,
and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
and streams in the desert.
The burning sand will become a pool,
the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.
A. God did not abandon Judah in the desert
A. God did not abandon Judah in the desert
A. God would not abandon Judah in the desert
A. God would not abandon Judah in the desert
Are you weak in faith? Hopeless and in despair? Dying of thirst?
Those who have become weak in faith, hopeless and despairing, are to cheer up; and the stronger are to tell such of their brethren as are perplexed and timid, to be comforted now: for Jehovah is coming to bring vengeance and affliction upon those who have brutally attacked His people. The infliction of punishment is the immediate object of His coming, but the ultimate object is the salvation of His people (wªyosha`akem (OT:3467). (from Keil & Delitzsch)
Are you weak in faith? Are you hopeless and in despair? Are you dying of thirst?
Those who have become weak in faith, hopeless and despairing, are to cheer up; and the stronger are to tell such of their brethren as are perplexed and timid, to be comforted now: for Jehovah is coming to bring vengeance and affliction upon those who have brutally attacked His people. The infliction of punishment is the immediate object of His coming, but the ultimate object is the salvation of His people (wªyosha`akem (OT:3467). (from Keil & Delitzsch)
God’s message to the people of Judah...Cheer up! You will face desolate and dangerous situations, but I will meet you with refreshing springs and bless you. You will be set free and your enemies will be dealt with
B. God does not abandon us in the desert
B. God does not abandon us in the desert
,,,for Jehovah is coming to bring vengeance and affliction upon those who have brutally attacked His people. The infliction of punishment is the immediate object of His coming, but the ultimate object is the salvation of His people (from Keil & Delitzsch)
Illustration:
Talk about God’s provisions on the drive from Vegas to Ely
One day, an atheist bought the house next door. He, of course, did not believe in God, let alone believe that He was present in the lives of people. So after a month or so of her yelling “Praise the Lord” from her porch, he went outside on his porch and yelled back, “There is no Lord”.
Yet, the little old lady continued
One cold, wintry day, when the little old lady couldn’t get to the store, she went out on her porch, raised her hands up to the sky and said, “Help me Lord, I have no more money, it’s cold, and I have no more food.”
The next morning, she went ouside, and there were three bags of food on the porch, enough to last her a week. “Praise the Lord,” she yelled
...Just as God didn’t abandon Judah
The atheist stepped out from the bushes and said, “There is no Lord, ha ha ha, I bought those groceries!”
The little old lady raised her arms to the sky and said, “Praise the Lord, you sent me groceries and you made the devil pay for them.” She never doubted the presence of God in her life.
...Just as God didn’t abandon Judah
…Just as God didn’t abandon Judah
B. God does not abandon the spiritually lost in the desert
B. God does not abandon the spiritually lost in the desert
Illustration:
Illustration:
Talk about God’s provisions on the drive from Vegas to Ely
...Just as God didn’t abandon Judah
Don’t despair when going through trials...God is there
Don’t despair when going through the trials of life. God is there. If you feel feeble and weak, ready to faint. He is there. His presence is a consistent landmark on the way to glory.
Don’t despair when going through trials...God is there
Don’t despair when going through the trials of life. God is there. If you feel feeble and weak, ready to faint. He is there. His presence is a consistence landmark on the way to glory.
God is there
If you feel feeble and weak, ready to faint... He is there
His presence is a constant on the journey
Like your GPS or road map…goes with you all the time. He is not just a stop along the way.
The Word says that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother.
God will not allow a desert experience that we cannot make it through (). The enemy has already been defeated
Since you know God is there, take advantage of His presence. Seek His face. Talk to Him. Give your fears and worries to Him. Drink the water He gives
His presence is what turns the desert into a lush, green, safe place
Transition: The key to survival for weary travelers...
Don’t Try it On Your Own - You’ll regret it!
Don’t Try it On Your Own - You’ll regret it!
A. God’s Power Takes You Through
A. God’s Power Takes You Through
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
Desolate Places
Desolate Places
God rescued Judah from the desert experience (Babylon and Assyria)
Jesus came and set people free, opened blind eyes, raised the dead
The world without Christ may be compared to a vast waste of pathless deserts and plains. Nothing more strongly illustrates the blessings of the gospel than the idea of cool, refreshing, abundant fountains and streams bursting forth in such pathless wastelands
The world without Christ may be compared to a vast waste of pathless deserts and plains. Nothing will more strongly express the blessings of the gospel than the idea of cool, refreshing, abundant fountains and streams bursting forth in such pathless wastes.
Illustration:
More about the trip — talk about the thirst
'Lameness and dumbness are the uniform effects of long walking in a desert; the sand and gravel produce the former, fatigue the latter. In such cases some of us have walked hours together without uttering a sentence; and all walked as if crippled, from the sand and gravel getting into the shoes; but the sight of water, especially if unexpected, unloosed every tongue, and gave agility to every limb; men, oxen, goats, sheep, and dogs, ran with speed and expressions of joy to the refreshing element.' (from Barnes' Notes)
B. God rescues the spiritually lost from the desert
God rescues the His own from the desert
B. God rescues the spiritually lost from the desert
Through the blood of Jesus, God miraculously brings all who will follow, out of their desolate places into His life giving river - refreshes, renews, restores...
Through the blood of Jesus, God miraculously brings all who will follow, out of their desolate places into His life giving river
Aren’t you glad that God rescues us from the desert?
C. God rescues His followers in from the desert
With Jesus as Lord, even the most desolate of places can be lush and refreshing. Normally, people see mirages in the desert, only to be disappointed. The danger for us in not mirages. The power of God makes His refreshing available to us wherever we might find ourselves. IT IS REAL!
God’s power is at work in the lives of His people, delivering them from the attacks of the enemy
The danger is in letting the enemy make us think that God is not with us…kind of anti-mirage.
With Jesus as Lord of our lives, even the most desolate of places can be a lush, refreshing place. The danger for us in not mirages. The power of God makes His refreshing available to us wherever we might find ourselves. The danger is in letting the enemy make us think that God is not with us…kind of anti-mirage.
B. God’s Path Leads You On
B. God’s Path Leads You On
And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
No lion will be there,
nor any ravenous beast;
they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
And a highway will be there;
it will be called the Way of Holiness;
it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
wicked fools will not go about on it.
I
God’s Redemptive plan for Judah was to provide a holy road to travel on
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.
You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.
You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.
Exposition:
God’s Redemptive plan for Judah was to provide a holy road to travel on
No unclean persons (Jew or Gentile) will never pass along that holy road; none but the church purified and sanctified... To them, and to them alone, does this road belong, which Jehovah has made and secured, and which is so unique and awesome, that even an idiot could not miss it; it is built so high, that no beast of prey, however powerful could possibly leap up to it.(from Keil & Delitzsch)
You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.
No unclean persons (Jew or Gentile) will never pass along that holy road; none but the church purified and sanctified through sufferings, and those connected with it. To them, and to them alone, does this road belong, which Jehovah has made and secured, and which so unique and awesome, that even an idiot could not miss it; it is built so high, that no beast of prey, however powerful could possibly leap up to it.(from Keil & Delitzsch)
Illustration
Talk about how God led us to Cody Dishong
A children's story I read called The Voyage of the Dawn Treader had an earth that was flat. Its eastern edge held a fascination for the voyagers, an assortment of children, adults and talking animals traveling together on a ship. The nearer the Dawn Treader got to the eastern edge of the world, the sweeter the sea water became. Soon the travelers were drinking sweet sea water, which made their eyes strong enough to stare directly at the sun.
Seeing God is like that. The more we journey along the pathway of holiness, the more we drink draughts of a life-giving something. Our eyes grow stronger, our vision clearer.
--John White,
The Pathway of Holiness
God’s redemptive plan for the lost is to provide a holy road to travel on
B. God’s redemptive plan for the spiritually lost is to provide a holy road to travel on
The only way to be able to access that wonderful, safe road, is through holiness.
If not for the blood of Jesus and the intentional, consistent, compassionate redemptive plan of God, none of us could hope to take that road
C. God’s redemptive plan for His children is to provide a holy road to travel on
God’s redemptive plan for His children is to provide a holy road to travel on
God’s path for His children is clean, pure, and safe
Although it is only by God’s grace that we can hope to get on that safe road, we are held accountable by God to walk in righteousness, to wash our hands, to come before Him humbly allowing the Blood of Jesus to make us clean.
The wild animals of the enemy may lash at us, but they can never defeat us unless we get off the road.
Conclusion
Conclusion
and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Illustration
Linda, Melody, and I all made it home safely — because God gave us landmarks along the way to sustain us and to even protect us from ourselves. In the movies, people lost in the desert for very long start acting crazy. I can relate to that.
In the late 1800’s, a preacher by the name of De Witt Talmage stated that “I do not care how fine a road you may put me on, I want to know where it comes out. “The redeemed of the Lord come to Zion.” You know what Zion was. That was the King’s palace. It was impregnable. And so is Heaven. No howitzer has long enough range to shell those towers. Let all the batteries of earth and hell blaze away; they cannot break in those gates. The Lord God Almighty is the defense of it.
What is the end of the road you are on? Are you on the King’s highway? It is the one that leads through the desert and brings you home. Are you desperate for it? Are your legs numb and your mouth dry from the desert sojourn?
What is the end of the road you are on? Are you on the King’s highway? It is the one that leads from desert to glory. Are you desperate for it? Are your legs numb and your mouth dry from the desert sojourn. Take heart! Your king is coming! And His Spirit is present with you right now to empower you. He has provided safe passage and a map (His word) telling you how to get to Zion! It is a lush and wonderful journey when you have the King with you. But he only allows the clean and righteous on His road.
Take heart! Your king is coming! And His Spirit is present with you right now to empower you. He has provided safe passage and a map (His word) telling you how to get to Zion! It is a lush and wonderful journey when you have the King with you. But he only allows the clean and righteous on His road.
He is consistent in compassion, love, holiness, and active involvement with us
He is consistent in compassion, love, holiness, and initiative with regards to fallen man
When you pass through desert experiences, cling to God: He will comfort, strengthen, and guide you to beautiful destinations