God Wants to Make A Deal
GOD WANTS TO MAKE A DEAL
TEXT: Isaiah 1:18, 41:10
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
INTRODUCTION: Game shows have regained popularity recently with 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?"
1. Wheel of Fortune
2. Jeopardy
3. The Price is Right
4. Anyone remember 'Let's Make a Deal'?
God wants to make a deal with us today. If we are without Christ, God wants us to trade eternal death for eternal life. If we are Christians, God wants to make some other trades with us.
I. God Wants to Trade His Fellowship for Our Fears
A. "Fear thou not; for I am with thee"
B. Fear stalks us all
1. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
2. Abraham afraid for his life and told Abimelech king of Gerar that Sarah was his sister
3. Nehemiah afraid of the King
4. Disciples afraid and didn’t stand with Christ
5. Peter afraid and denied Christ
6. Servant afraid of maser and hid talent
C. The four basic fears:
1. Fear of death
2. Fear of failure
3. Fear of losing security
4. Fear of the future
D. God answers all of these fears:
1. Death: "to die is gain"
2. Failure: "I can do all things"
3. Security: "My God shall supply all your need"
4. Future: "Lo, I am with you always"
E. Our Lord will never leave nor forsake us
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
II. God Wants to Trade His Comfort for Our Confusion
A. "Be not dismayed; for I am thy God"
B. Dismay: "Why did this happen to me?"
C. Confusion: can't understand why God allows trials
D. God owns us as His own, even in tough times
E. Whatever happens, we belong to Him
III. God Wants to Trade His Strength for Your Weakness
A. "I will strengthen thee"
B. So many reasons for feeling weak:
1. Sickness
2. Regrets over past failures
3. Conflict with the tempter
C. Consider His strength
Isaiah 40:28-31 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
1. God never becomes weary, never feels faint
2. He gives power to the faint
3. He imparts strength to those He loves
IV. God Wants to Trade His Help for Our Helplessness
A. "I will help thee"
B. Sometimes all we can do is cry for help
C. Reach out to Jesus, He's reaching out to you
V. God Wants to Trade His Righteousness for Our Rags
A. Our righteousness is like filthy rags
B. Jesus has made righteousness available through faith
1. He took our sins upon Himself
2. We receive His righteousness by faith
3. "The right hand of my righteousness"
a) Christ the Son of His right hand
b) He intercedes for us there
CONCOUSION: Today God wants us to exchange our problems for His solutions Christ is sufficient for all our needs