Grace for All Gears

A. God is always up to the occasion

1. He is never tired or without a plan for the day.

2. He is always available to the weak and weary.

B. What Good News!

1. When we’re at the end of our strength, God is available.

2. When we think there’s no hope, God offers encouragement.

3. On the darkest day, God makes a way! Let’s look at our text this morning.

Let’s look at our text this morning.

Isaiah 40:28–31 NKJV

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

C. Wonders await the week who wait on the Lord.

They Fly Like Eagles

1. Consider the disciples after the cross.

a. They were divided, discouraged, and ready to quit.

b. They were soon to be commissioned to reach the world.

2. The resurrection renewed their strength.

a. They fearlessly proclaimed the gospel.

b. Three thousand were converted on the day of Pentecost. ()

c. Millions were saved by the end of the first century.

3. Paul was transformed into a dynamic missionary. ()

phil 3.13

Philippians 3:13 NKJV

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,

4. Heroes of the faith were but common people empowered by their Lord.

They Run and Don’t Get Weary

1. Paul compared the Christian life to a race. ()

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NKJV

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

a. He kept pressing toward the finish line for the prize ()

Philippians 3:13–14 NKJV

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

b. He told Timothy he had finished the race a winner. ()

2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2. What was the source of Paul’s power?

a. He was a man of prayer…he kept waiting on the Lord for strength.

b. The Lord kept renewing his strength for his many tasks.

3. Paul didn’t get weary in well doing. ()

Galatians 6:9 NKJV

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

a. He said he kept being renewed inside every day. ()

2 Corinthians 4:16 NKJV

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

b. We can expect God’s strength for running in each day’s race.

They Walk and Don’t Faint

1. Not every day is filled with excitement and adventure.

a. Sone days are flying days.

b. Some days are running days.

c. Some days just call for walking like Jesus walked. ()

1 John 2:6 NKJV

6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

2. Walking days are important too!

a. Here, especially, it’s important to walk right.

b. We must walk consistently, not disappointing our Lord.

Conclusion:

God gives grace for all gears: flying, running, walking.

b. At the end of the race, rewards await the winners.