Sermon October 5th – Isaiah 40:21-31
In Chapter 40 Isaiah speaks prophetically about a period more than 100 years later when the Israelites would be in captivity. Here a loving God is depicted as taking the initiative in paving the way for the Israelites to be reconciled to Him. Isaiah even points to a future point in time when God would reconcile the whole of mankind to himself.
In verses 21-31 God once again reprimands His children for not believing in Him. He reminds them of what He has done for them in ages past. He also reminds them about who they are dealing with. He is their God. There is no other. In verse 31 he then makes a promise to those who still believe in Him.
Three levels of empowerment are described for “they who wait for”, (expect, look for and hope in), the Lord. They will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary and they will walk and not faint.
These three levels of empowerment are available to the believer who puts their unqualified trust in the Lord.
When things get really tough, we wait upon Him in prayer. He helps us soar with the wings of eagles right up through the storm into a quiet space and He imparts strength to deal with any situation.
When our lives get really busy and we seem to be running all the time, we should take time to wait on Him so that we can charge up our spiritual batteries. We rely on His strength rather than on our own strength.
In our daily walk with Him, we should maintain a healthy prayer life, study His Word and be strengthened and empowered in our walk with Him that will take us all the way to eternity.
Remember: “He is our peace”, (Ephesians 2:14) and also that Christ through the Holy Spirit dwells within us (Colossians 1:27).
May we remain strengthened and empowered so that we may radiate out the love, joy and peace that is in us through Christ Jesus.
Questions to Consider:
- How often do you call to remembrance all the good things that God has done for us through Christ Jesus?
- When the going gets tough, do we rely on your own strength or do we wait upon the Lord to help us?
- Are we ready to be used effectively of the Lord as we radiate out the love, joy and peace of Christ that is already within us?
