1 00:00:30,419 --> 00:00:31,619 Is that he is alive. 2 00:00:32,179 --> 00:00:35,339 And because he's alive, our sins can be gone. 3 00:00:35,339 --> 00:00:38,819 We sang that good gospel song that I hadn't sung in a long time. 4 00:00:39,459 --> 00:00:42,619 And they're buried in the depths of the deepest sea. 5 00:00:42,619 --> 00:00:44,019 How many of you are glad for that today? 6 00:00:44,979 --> 00:00:47,859 That's something we can rejoice in and builds our confidence 7 00:00:47,859 --> 00:00:51,659 in what we're doing today and worshiping King Jesus and coming 8 00:00:51,659 --> 00:00:53,539 to church to hear his truth. 9 00:00:54,339 --> 00:00:56,979 And then we sang a challenging song for all of us. 10 00:00:56,979 --> 00:01:00,019 And I was encouraged by the youth Sunday school this morning. 11 00:01:00,709 --> 00:01:03,149 And it was our theme at camp this past summer. 12 00:01:03,149 --> 00:01:05,669 The teens remember the theme was Take Courage. 13 00:01:05,669 --> 00:01:07,469 And brother Jeremiah spoke. 14 00:01:07,469 --> 00:01:10,789 I was in the guy's class over there on being courageous. 15 00:01:10,789 --> 00:01:12,029 And we sang a song about that. 16 00:01:12,029 --> 00:01:12,709 Did we not? 17 00:01:13,109 --> 00:01:14,869 Stand up, Stand up for Jesus. 18 00:01:15,269 --> 00:01:15,669 Right? 19 00:01:16,148 --> 00:01:18,709 We need to have commitment to stand in. 20 00:01:18,709 --> 00:01:21,469 The confidence in the resurrection and the confidence in 21 00:01:21,469 --> 00:01:24,149 our salvation gives us the confidence to stand. 22 00:01:24,549 --> 00:01:27,429 And then we sang Standing on the Promises of God. 23 00:01:28,699 --> 00:01:30,379 We have a lot to be thankful for today. 24 00:01:31,019 --> 00:01:35,259 A lot to firm us up and strengthen us to have more faith, 25 00:01:35,259 --> 00:01:40,139 not less, to not fear, but to walk forward and to trust God and 26 00:01:40,139 --> 00:01:43,978 to know he hasn't left us alone individually as families and 27 00:01:43,979 --> 00:01:46,059 yes, as a body of believers as well. 28 00:01:46,699 --> 00:01:49,139 And I've been encouraged by those songs this morning. 29 00:01:49,139 --> 00:01:52,579 I hope that when you sing that you will always think about what 30 00:01:52,579 --> 00:01:56,019 you're singing and not just let it go in one ear and out the 31 00:01:56,019 --> 00:01:56,219 other. 32 00:01:56,219 --> 00:02:00,459 It's not just a time filler, it's discipleship. 33 00:02:01,099 --> 00:02:03,099 And so thank you to all the musicians and. 34 00:02:03,659 --> 00:02:07,459 And I was thinking as the lady was singing the lighthouse song, 35 00:02:07,459 --> 00:02:08,779 how fitting that was. 36 00:02:09,259 --> 00:02:10,539 I love lighthouses. 37 00:02:11,819 --> 00:02:14,459 How many of you know the song Let the Lower Lights Be Burning? 38 00:02:14,779 --> 00:02:15,179 Right? 39 00:02:15,579 --> 00:02:19,339 So there's a whole story about lighthouses that are manned. 40 00:02:19,339 --> 00:02:21,659 Lighthouse, the main lighthouse. 41 00:02:22,649 --> 00:02:23,369 Jesus Christ. 42 00:02:24,169 --> 00:02:26,089 We are the lower lights. 43 00:02:26,569 --> 00:02:30,609 We are to carry the light of the lighthouse. 44 00:02:30,609 --> 00:02:31,449 Jesus Christ. 45 00:02:32,169 --> 00:02:36,769 And because he's given us the light, we are to bear that light 46 00:02:36,769 --> 00:02:38,289 out as lower lights. 47 00:02:38,289 --> 00:02:40,569 That's a challenge to us every single day. 48 00:02:40,569 --> 00:02:42,649 So thank you for the song as well. 49 00:02:43,129 --> 00:02:46,009 And I was asked to also sing before I preach. 50 00:02:46,089 --> 00:02:47,209 I hope that's okay with you. 51 00:02:47,209 --> 00:02:51,649 But I'd like to sing a song that will get to Isaiah 40 and still 52 00:02:51,649 --> 00:02:52,849 try to get you out on time. 53 00:02:52,849 --> 00:02:54,689 I promise to try to do that. 54 00:02:55,409 --> 00:02:58,969 I actually saw a skit about that just recently about long winded 55 00:02:58,969 --> 00:02:59,289 preachers. 56 00:02:59,289 --> 00:03:01,249 So I can't be a long winded preacher today. 57 00:03:01,969 --> 00:03:05,249 But we'll do our best to get you out on time and I want to encourage 58 00:03:05,249 --> 00:03:06,449 you to be back tonight as well. 59 00:03:06,449 --> 00:03:07,729 Be back in the evening service. 60 00:03:07,969 --> 00:03:10,849 I want to preach a message tonight just to tell you in advance 61 00:03:11,489 --> 00:03:15,099 that I hope can be an encouragement to you from the testimony 62 00:03:15,499 --> 00:03:17,339 in the life of the Apostle Paul. 63 00:03:17,819 --> 00:03:20,339 And the title of the message, I'm going to give it to you in advance, 64 00:03:20,339 --> 00:03:22,859 is the Energy to endure. 65 00:03:23,179 --> 00:03:25,019 The Energy to endure. 66 00:03:25,099 --> 00:03:28,139 And what is it that's going to gird us up and strengthen us and 67 00:03:28,139 --> 00:03:31,579 give us the energy to continue to move forward faithfully. 68 00:03:31,899 --> 00:03:33,899 And so I hope you'll be back this evening. 69 00:03:34,059 --> 00:03:37,859 Now, just before I preach, I'd like to share a message in song that's 70 00:03:37,859 --> 00:03:43,679 entitled His Grace is Greater God's grace is the only way of salvation 71 00:03:44,559 --> 00:03:49,519 God's grace is the only way of strengthening our lives God's grace 72 00:03:49,519 --> 00:03:55,119 is the only place of satisfaction for our life God's grace 73 00:03:55,359 --> 00:04:00,159 is the only way through suffering and hurting and challenging 74 00:04:00,159 --> 00:04:01,039 times as well. 75 00:04:01,519 --> 00:04:05,279 But we can trust and depend upon his grace because his grace 76 00:04:05,279 --> 00:04:07,039 is greater than all of our sins. 77 00:04:38,409 --> 00:04:49,609 Lift your eyes to a distant hill in another time and place See 78 00:04:49,609 --> 00:04:57,449 a cross standing stark and still A reflection of God's grace 79 00:05:00,369 --> 00:05:11,609 God's own Son, a sacrifice pure and holy Spotless Lamb and though 80 00:05:11,609 --> 00:05:21,969 he paid so great a price Was it enough for a sinner that I am? 81 00:05:24,769 --> 00:05:39,069 His grace is greater his grace is full and free his grace is infinite, 82 00:05:40,749 --> 00:05:57,559 reaching even me so freely given for all who will believe God's 83 00:05:57,559 --> 00:06:13,399 grace is higher God's grace is deeper his grace is greater than 84 00:06:13,799 --> 00:06:15,719 all our sin. 85 00:06:23,589 --> 00:06:36,229 Marvelous infinite matchless grace Freely bestowed on all who 86 00:06:36,629 --> 00:06:49,829 believe all who are longing to see his face Will you this moment 87 00:06:50,229 --> 00:06:57,329 his grace receive a helpless soul? 88 00:06:57,729 --> 00:07:10,809 I run to him bruised and broken Deep within gentle arms outstretched 89 00:07:10,809 --> 00:07:25,249 for me Let me know the love that sets me free his grace is greater. 90 00:07:27,389 --> 00:07:27,589 His. 91 00:07:27,589 --> 00:07:38,829 Grace is full and free his grace is infinite, reaching even 92 00:07:39,629 --> 00:07:56,429 me so freely given for all who will receive God's grace is higher 93 00:07:59,369 --> 00:08:12,889 God's grace is deeper his grace is greater than all our sin. 94 00:08:21,769 --> 00:08:52,309 Grace that is greater than all our Sarah. 95 00:08:52,309 --> 00:08:53,749 We're looking to the Scriptures today. 96 00:08:53,749 --> 00:08:59,929 In Isaiah 40, Isaiah means Yahweh is salvation. 97 00:09:00,729 --> 00:09:04,609 Isaiah's prophecy is one of the most well known places where 98 00:09:04,609 --> 00:09:10,569 we can go to show that God's promises are still being fulfilled. 99 00:09:11,369 --> 00:09:16,849 We can see the the prediction of the Messiah and the prophecy to 100 00:09:16,849 --> 00:09:20,489 the people of Israel of Him and specific ways. 101 00:09:20,649 --> 00:09:23,769 Some of the most well known prophecies are there. 102 00:09:23,929 --> 00:09:25,489 We see them of his birth. 103 00:09:25,489 --> 00:09:26,729 We see them of his life. 104 00:09:27,159 --> 00:09:32,119 We see them of, yes, his crucifixion in Isaiah 53, one of 105 00:09:32,119 --> 00:09:36,199 the greatest passages that declares what's going to happen to 106 00:09:36,199 --> 00:09:38,839 King Jesus because he loves us. 107 00:09:39,319 --> 00:09:41,319 And Isaiah is a wonderful book. 108 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:45,999 It's a book that the first half brings out the judgment upon 109 00:09:45,999 --> 00:09:47,079 the people of God. 110 00:09:48,039 --> 00:09:50,679 God always brings judgment upon sin. 111 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:51,719 Do we know that today? 112 00:09:53,329 --> 00:09:58,129 And God spoke a lot against the nation of Israel in confrontational 113 00:09:58,289 --> 00:10:00,369 ways, in ways of disappointment. 114 00:10:00,929 --> 00:10:05,449 And yet he always fulfills his promises to the people of God when 115 00:10:05,449 --> 00:10:06,769 they come back to Him. 116 00:10:07,649 --> 00:10:10,249 And the second part is the grace of God. 117 00:10:10,249 --> 00:10:15,009 The whole second half brings out the promises of God, the comfort 118 00:10:15,009 --> 00:10:18,409 that's going to come, the restoration of the people of God. 119 00:10:18,409 --> 00:10:21,529 And where we're looking is right smack in the middle. 120 00:10:21,769 --> 00:10:23,769 It's the beginning of that section. 121 00:10:23,769 --> 00:10:27,889 And in chapter 40 it starts with those words, comfort ye, comfort 122 00:10:27,889 --> 00:10:29,169 ye, my people. 123 00:10:29,169 --> 00:10:32,169 How many of you know today we still need the comfort of God? 124 00:10:32,649 --> 00:10:36,529 We still need to walk in, know that he is going to fulfill what 125 00:10:36,529 --> 00:10:37,529 he says he will do. 126 00:10:37,849 --> 00:10:41,809 It was John Stott that said this about prophecy and prophetic 127 00:10:41,809 --> 00:10:42,409 passages. 128 00:10:42,969 --> 00:10:46,129 Of particular importance is this principle with which I think 129 00:10:46,129 --> 00:10:49,809 all of us would agree that the New Testament writers themselves 130 00:10:49,809 --> 00:10:53,209 understood that the Old Testament prophecy did not just have 131 00:10:53,209 --> 00:10:57,169 a single effect, but usually a trifold effect. 132 00:10:57,569 --> 00:10:59,489 Past, present and future. 133 00:10:59,809 --> 00:11:03,569 The past fulfillment was an immediate or historical fulfillment. 134 00:11:03,569 --> 00:11:07,449 We see that in the life of the people of Israel, the present is 135 00:11:07,449 --> 00:11:12,089 an intermediate or a gospel fulfillment of the prophecy of the 136 00:11:12,089 --> 00:11:12,769 Messiah. 137 00:11:12,929 --> 00:11:14,049 Praise the Lord for that. 138 00:11:15,259 --> 00:11:19,059 But the future is ultimately an eschatological fulfillment in 139 00:11:19,059 --> 00:11:20,379 the new heaven and the new earth. 140 00:11:20,379 --> 00:11:21,739 How many of you looking forward to that? 141 00:11:23,099 --> 00:11:25,939 So we have more of the promises of God than the people that 142 00:11:25,939 --> 00:11:28,739 were defined for us that walked in faith in Hebrews chapter 143 00:11:28,739 --> 00:11:33,259 11, who never, never had all the promises fulfilled that we've 144 00:11:33,259 --> 00:11:33,979 had fulfilled. 145 00:11:34,059 --> 00:11:38,139 But we have yet unfulfilled promises that are still yet to come. 146 00:11:39,019 --> 00:11:42,859 And that is a reminder to us that this passage of Scripture was 147 00:11:42,859 --> 00:11:45,849 not just for the people at that moment, and not just for the 148 00:11:45,849 --> 00:11:48,169 people in the early church age moment. 149 00:11:48,169 --> 00:11:50,849 But this is for the people of God still today. 150 00:11:51,969 --> 00:11:54,169 And this passage brings great encouragement. 151 00:11:54,169 --> 00:11:59,449 There's probably no more encouraging passage, in my opinion, 152 00:11:59,449 --> 00:12:02,929 in the whole Old Testament than Isaiah 40. 153 00:12:03,329 --> 00:12:06,289 Maybe you're like me, you just love this chapter. 154 00:12:06,449 --> 00:12:09,689 Now, for sake of time, we won't be able to read the entire 155 00:12:09,689 --> 00:12:10,649 chapter right now. 156 00:12:10,649 --> 00:12:14,949 But for our text today, can we just begin reading towards the end 157 00:12:14,949 --> 00:12:19,669 of the chapter Isaiah 40, beginning in verse 25? 158 00:12:21,669 --> 00:12:24,869 To whom then will you liken me, or shall I be equal? 159 00:12:25,349 --> 00:12:26,549 Saith the Holy One. 160 00:12:27,509 --> 00:12:31,469 Lift up your eyes on high and behold who hath created these things 161 00:12:31,469 --> 00:12:33,429 that bringeth out their host by number. 162 00:12:34,389 --> 00:12:38,269 He calleth them all by names, by the greatness of his might, for 163 00:12:38,269 --> 00:12:39,909 that he is strong in power. 164 00:12:41,089 --> 00:12:42,529 Say the last three words together. 165 00:12:43,089 --> 00:12:45,049 Not one faileth. 166 00:12:45,049 --> 00:12:45,729 One more time. 167 00:12:46,049 --> 00:12:48,129 Not one faileth. 168 00:12:48,209 --> 00:12:50,769 That's a great three word statement there. 169 00:12:52,049 --> 00:12:54,129 And then notice the rhetorical questions again. 170 00:12:54,129 --> 00:12:56,849 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel? 171 00:12:56,849 --> 00:13:00,209 My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from 172 00:13:00,209 --> 00:13:00,849 my God. 173 00:13:01,489 --> 00:13:02,609 Hast thou not known? 174 00:13:02,929 --> 00:13:06,909 Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator 175 00:13:06,909 --> 00:13:10,389 of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary. 176 00:13:11,109 --> 00:13:13,349 There is no searching of his understanding. 177 00:13:13,829 --> 00:13:16,949 He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he 178 00:13:16,949 --> 00:13:18,149 increaseth strength. 179 00:13:18,869 --> 00:13:22,429 Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall 180 00:13:22,429 --> 00:13:23,149 utterly fall. 181 00:13:23,149 --> 00:13:24,789 And read out loud, verse 31. 182 00:13:24,789 --> 00:13:28,309 You probably already know it, maybe have it memorized together. 183 00:13:28,629 --> 00:13:32,709 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. 184 00:13:33,219 --> 00:13:35,619 They shall mount up with wings as eagles. 185 00:13:35,779 --> 00:13:37,939 They shall run and not be weary. 186 00:13:38,259 --> 00:13:40,579 They shall walk and not faint. 187 00:13:40,659 --> 00:13:44,899 This chapter is challenging us, as one commentator said, to consider 188 00:13:45,379 --> 00:13:50,179 how absurd it is to lose faith in the One who in relationship to 189 00:13:50,179 --> 00:13:54,459 earth is all powerful, all wise, dominating, with no God to 190 00:13:54,459 --> 00:13:56,219 challenge him, check him or rival him. 191 00:13:56,219 --> 00:13:59,219 He is King of Kings, sovereign Lord of the Universe, in charge of 192 00:13:59,219 --> 00:14:02,359 the world, down to the smallest minute details, so that 193 00:14:02,359 --> 00:14:05,959 everything is in its place, nothing overlooked and nothing lost. 194 00:14:06,279 --> 00:14:10,999 How could we ever question, how could we ever walk away from 195 00:14:10,999 --> 00:14:12,119 trusting Him? 196 00:14:13,879 --> 00:14:14,679 But we do. 197 00:14:16,199 --> 00:14:19,159 And that's why the theme of this passage, I believe, is in that 198 00:14:19,159 --> 00:14:20,279 very last verse. 199 00:14:21,079 --> 00:14:27,459 It relates to this command to wait upon Lord. 200 00:14:27,779 --> 00:14:29,299 Have you ever had to wait for something? 201 00:14:31,059 --> 00:14:33,619 How many of you have been to a restaurant that wasn't worth waiting 202 00:14:33,939 --> 00:14:35,059 for right before? 203 00:14:35,059 --> 00:14:35,859 Okay, we all. 204 00:14:35,859 --> 00:14:37,059 We all go to restaurants. 205 00:14:37,059 --> 00:14:39,219 We sign in our name and we sit and wait. 206 00:14:39,219 --> 00:14:39,899 We sit and wait. 207 00:14:39,899 --> 00:14:40,659 And we sit and wait. 208 00:14:40,659 --> 00:14:43,539 There are a few restaurants that are worth waiting an hour for. 209 00:14:44,019 --> 00:14:47,139 Most of the time you're spending way too much money at those 210 00:14:47,139 --> 00:14:48,179 types of restaurants. 211 00:14:48,819 --> 00:14:50,619 I'm kind of the in and kind of out. 212 00:14:50,619 --> 00:14:51,179 In and out. 213 00:14:51,179 --> 00:14:52,339 Yes, in and out Burger. 214 00:14:52,579 --> 00:14:54,659 But I'm kind of like the in and out type of person. 215 00:14:54,659 --> 00:14:57,179 I don't really want to wait a long time for my meals. 216 00:14:57,179 --> 00:14:58,659 Anybody else with me on that? 217 00:14:58,979 --> 00:15:03,739 I'd rather go spend less money, still get decent healthy food. 218 00:15:03,739 --> 00:15:07,699 At maybe a faster fast food place like Chipotle Mexican Grill 219 00:15:07,699 --> 00:15:09,859 or something like that, or even Subway. 220 00:15:10,019 --> 00:15:13,459 Then sit and wait for an hour for a meal that comes in is really, 221 00:15:13,459 --> 00:15:14,019 really small. 222 00:15:14,179 --> 00:15:19,139 Just recently I took my wife on a, on a trip for our 30th anniversary. 223 00:15:19,139 --> 00:15:21,779 And we were commenting on this because we went to a couple really 224 00:15:21,779 --> 00:15:22,099 nice. 225 00:15:22,099 --> 00:15:24,329 Only actually two or three really nice restauran. 226 00:15:24,559 --> 00:15:26,159 Because the rest of the time we're like. 227 00:15:26,159 --> 00:15:27,599 That just doesn't do it for us. 228 00:15:27,999 --> 00:15:30,879 You sit and you wait to get seated and then you sit and you wait 229 00:15:30,879 --> 00:15:31,239 to order. 230 00:15:31,239 --> 00:15:33,719 And then you sit and you wait to get the food. 231 00:15:33,719 --> 00:15:36,479 And when the food came, it was like gourmet styles. 232 00:15:36,719 --> 00:15:41,999 Yes, Very, very, very tasty, but way too small in my opinion. 233 00:15:42,479 --> 00:15:44,159 Portions are important to me. 234 00:15:44,159 --> 00:15:45,439 Anybody else with me on that? 235 00:15:45,919 --> 00:15:48,959 Anyway, we've all been to restaurants where we had to wait 236 00:15:49,199 --> 00:15:49,599 there. 237 00:15:49,759 --> 00:15:51,279 Have you ever been to the dmv? 238 00:15:52,769 --> 00:15:53,329 Oh my. 239 00:15:53,329 --> 00:15:55,249 We do a skit about the dmv. 240 00:15:55,809 --> 00:15:57,569 And you wait, you wait, you wait. 241 00:15:57,569 --> 00:16:01,649 And just, just in time to get up there to tell them you don't. 242 00:16:01,649 --> 00:16:03,809 For them to tell you you don't have what you need. 243 00:16:04,449 --> 00:16:07,489 And then you have to go home and get that and come back, pull 244 00:16:07,489 --> 00:16:09,089 a number and wait and wait and wait. 245 00:16:09,089 --> 00:16:10,929 How many of you been frustrated in the dmv? 246 00:16:10,929 --> 00:16:13,009 It's pretty much a known, known thing, right? 247 00:16:14,049 --> 00:16:16,089 Why don't they make that a whole lot easier? 248 00:16:16,089 --> 00:16:17,169 I don't understand that. 249 00:16:18,089 --> 00:16:20,449 How many of you have ever been to an amusement park and you get 250 00:16:20,449 --> 00:16:25,249 in a line and when I was a kid, every amusement park ride was 251 00:16:25,249 --> 00:16:26,009 worth the wait. 252 00:16:26,249 --> 00:16:30,809 When I became a parent, none of them was worth the wait. 253 00:16:31,609 --> 00:16:35,129 Some of you understand that what I'm going to talk about today 254 00:16:35,209 --> 00:16:39,449 is that we as God's people need to recognize that it is worth 255 00:16:40,009 --> 00:16:41,609 waiting for the Lord. 256 00:16:42,329 --> 00:16:46,029 And I want us to see three Bible principles from this chapter, 257 00:16:46,029 --> 00:16:51,149 Isaiah 40, that we need in our lives, every one of us individually 258 00:16:51,709 --> 00:16:55,389 and as families and as a church, that we would understand 259 00:16:55,549 --> 00:16:57,549 that God is worth waiting for. 260 00:16:57,549 --> 00:17:00,829 And I want us to see the principles that will prove in our 261 00:17:00,829 --> 00:17:05,149 lives, according to this text, that God is worth waiting for. 262 00:17:05,309 --> 00:17:08,069 Because we can say amen all day and we can say we want to trust 263 00:17:08,069 --> 00:17:08,589 God today. 264 00:17:08,829 --> 00:17:09,789 But what is it? 265 00:17:09,869 --> 00:17:11,069 What does it really mean? 266 00:17:11,659 --> 00:17:14,299 It's kind of cliche ish to say, well, just trust God. 267 00:17:14,299 --> 00:17:15,259 Well, just trust God. 268 00:17:15,259 --> 00:17:18,939 Well, let's look at what that really looks like. 269 00:17:19,099 --> 00:17:22,539 I want you to notice first of all, in this text today, we can prove 270 00:17:22,539 --> 00:17:24,059 that God is Worth waiting for. 271 00:17:24,459 --> 00:17:30,019 When we acknowledge and admit, number one, admit the tendency of 272 00:17:30,019 --> 00:17:30,379 man. 273 00:17:30,699 --> 00:17:33,659 We need to admit the tendency of man. 274 00:17:35,179 --> 00:17:39,158 Several times in this passage of Scripture, God, through Isaiah 275 00:17:39,158 --> 00:17:42,358 speaks to us and speaks to them and says, who are you going 276 00:17:42,358 --> 00:17:43,398 to compare unto me? 277 00:17:43,878 --> 00:17:48,278 He talks about the tendency of man to build up idolatry in their 278 00:17:48,278 --> 00:17:48,598 life. 279 00:17:49,878 --> 00:17:55,278 He talks about how the things of the earth that should be growing 280 00:17:55,278 --> 00:17:59,758 strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace have become much 281 00:17:59,758 --> 00:18:00,758 more attractive. 282 00:18:00,838 --> 00:18:05,999 And he talks about how they have made unto themselves idols. 283 00:18:06,319 --> 00:18:09,119 Did you know that this is a tendency of all human beings? 284 00:18:09,679 --> 00:18:15,559 We're all made to worship something, and our faith is not completely 285 00:18:15,559 --> 00:18:15,919 sight. 286 00:18:15,919 --> 00:18:19,158 And so we have to walk forward in faith, worshiping a God that we've 287 00:18:19,158 --> 00:18:22,479 never seen, studying and knowing his word that he's given 288 00:18:22,479 --> 00:18:26,439 to us, and trusting him and not living in idolatry. 289 00:18:26,439 --> 00:18:27,879 Notice verse 18 with me. 290 00:18:27,879 --> 00:18:31,219 And when it says this, to whom then will you liken God? 291 00:18:31,219 --> 00:18:32,859 Again, a rhetorical question. 292 00:18:33,179 --> 00:18:36,939 You can't liken God to anyone, or what likeness will you compare 293 00:18:36,939 --> 00:18:37,579 unto him? 294 00:18:38,299 --> 00:18:40,299 But he acknowledges that they were doing this. 295 00:18:40,539 --> 00:18:43,899 The workman melts a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth 296 00:18:43,899 --> 00:18:45,819 it over with gold and casteth silver chains. 297 00:18:45,819 --> 00:18:49,259 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth 298 00:18:49,259 --> 00:18:50,779 a tree that will not rot. 299 00:18:51,339 --> 00:18:54,019 He's talking about other gods, other idols. 300 00:18:54,019 --> 00:18:57,339 He seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image 301 00:18:57,649 --> 00:18:58,929 that shall not be moved. 302 00:18:59,089 --> 00:19:00,009 Have you not known? 303 00:19:00,009 --> 00:19:00,889 Have you not heard? 304 00:19:00,889 --> 00:19:02,769 Has it not been told you from the beginning? 305 00:19:02,849 --> 00:19:05,409 Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? 306 00:19:05,729 --> 00:19:07,089 He's questioning again. 307 00:19:07,729 --> 00:19:09,169 Just like in our life, Do. 308 00:19:09,249 --> 00:19:13,169 Do we have times where we set up idols in our heart, things that 309 00:19:13,169 --> 00:19:15,729 are more important to us than God? 310 00:19:17,169 --> 00:19:18,969 And the answer is yes, we do this. 311 00:19:18,969 --> 00:19:21,409 The Bible in the New Testament says, seek you first the kingdom 312 00:19:21,409 --> 00:19:24,209 of God, and all the other things will be added unto you. 313 00:19:24,839 --> 00:19:28,799 We may not make idols of stone or idols of wood or idols that we 314 00:19:28,799 --> 00:19:30,439 put up like a little Buddha in our. 315 00:19:30,439 --> 00:19:33,159 In our house or like some places around the world. 316 00:19:33,559 --> 00:19:36,839 But we have just as much idolatry in American Christianity, 317 00:19:37,639 --> 00:19:39,319 and the idols have to come down. 318 00:19:39,399 --> 00:19:43,559 We need to recognize that's a tendency for all of us to take God 319 00:19:43,559 --> 00:19:47,479 off his rightful place and to let other things be more of a priority. 320 00:19:47,479 --> 00:19:50,599 Can I say to you, cast out the idol. 321 00:19:50,599 --> 00:19:55,119 Put Christ and God and his word and your faith back on the throne 322 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:55,639 of your life? 323 00:19:55,639 --> 00:19:59,019 If you need to do that today, you're not waiting on the Lord. 324 00:19:59,019 --> 00:20:00,179 You're not trusting him. 325 00:20:01,139 --> 00:20:02,659 If there's idols in your heart. 326 00:20:03,379 --> 00:20:05,619 So they had a tendency towards idolatry. 327 00:20:05,699 --> 00:20:07,339 Verse 25 says, to whom then? 328 00:20:07,339 --> 00:20:09,339 Will you liken me again, or shall I be equal? 329 00:20:09,339 --> 00:20:12,739 This was clearly a problem, and it's still clearly a problem 330 00:20:12,739 --> 00:20:13,139 today. 331 00:20:13,779 --> 00:20:18,219 Our tendency is to place other things more important than God in 332 00:20:18,219 --> 00:20:18,659 our life. 333 00:20:19,059 --> 00:20:22,419 And there's a lot of questions we could ask ourselves to ask today. 334 00:20:22,829 --> 00:20:26,629 If God is the priority of our life, where we spend our time, where 335 00:20:26,629 --> 00:20:28,389 we spend our money, what's important to us? 336 00:20:28,389 --> 00:20:29,389 What do we think about? 337 00:20:29,709 --> 00:20:31,109 How much do we love His Word? 338 00:20:31,109 --> 00:20:32,909 How much time are we spending in His Word? 339 00:20:33,149 --> 00:20:34,909 How important is church to us? 340 00:20:34,909 --> 00:20:38,589 And the ability to come and gather and not forsake ourselves 341 00:20:38,589 --> 00:20:40,509 together as the manner of some is. 342 00:20:40,509 --> 00:20:43,829 But so much the more, as we see the day approaching, you see, 343 00:20:43,829 --> 00:20:47,629 when God is first placed on our throne, then the choices we make 344 00:20:47,629 --> 00:20:48,189 show that. 345 00:20:49,469 --> 00:20:52,509 So I hope that that will be a challenge to us to look deeply into 346 00:20:52,509 --> 00:20:56,349 our heart to see if there needs to be any idols cast out of 347 00:20:56,349 --> 00:20:56,829 our life. 348 00:20:56,989 --> 00:21:00,669 But the second tendency that we have is not only of idolatry, 349 00:21:00,909 --> 00:21:06,109 but is coupled in this idea of doubt and fear. 350 00:21:06,349 --> 00:21:11,309 We have a tendency to doubt, and we have a tendency because of 351 00:21:11,309 --> 00:21:12,109 that doubt. 352 00:21:12,829 --> 00:21:14,109 It leads us to fear. 353 00:21:15,599 --> 00:21:17,999 Verse nine says, O Zion, that bringeth good tidings. 354 00:21:17,999 --> 00:21:20,519 Get thee up into the high mountain, O Jerusalem, that bringeth 355 00:21:20,519 --> 00:21:21,079 good tidings. 356 00:21:21,079 --> 00:21:22,719 Lift up thy voice with strength. 357 00:21:22,799 --> 00:21:23,559 Lift it up. 358 00:21:23,559 --> 00:21:25,039 Be not afraid. 359 00:21:25,999 --> 00:21:27,519 Say those three words with me. 360 00:21:27,759 --> 00:21:29,719 Be not afraid. 361 00:21:29,719 --> 00:21:33,599 Did you know there's 365 times in the King James version of the 362 00:21:33,599 --> 00:21:36,799 Bible that it says to fear not or be not afraid, or in some way 363 00:21:36,799 --> 00:21:40,079 or form or fashion tells us to trust God and not to fear. 364 00:21:41,259 --> 00:21:44,819 That's because all of us have that tendency in our humanity, in 365 00:21:44,819 --> 00:21:45,739 our finiteness. 366 00:21:46,219 --> 00:21:47,059 He's infinite. 367 00:21:47,059 --> 00:21:47,899 We're finite. 368 00:21:48,539 --> 00:21:53,179 And so in our finite beings, we have a tendency to place things 369 00:21:54,459 --> 00:21:55,979 out of sorts. 370 00:21:56,058 --> 00:21:58,219 And it leads us to doubt God. 371 00:21:58,219 --> 00:22:00,139 It leads us to be afraid. 372 00:22:00,219 --> 00:22:01,819 It leads us to fear. 373 00:22:01,819 --> 00:22:02,779 Notice verse 15. 374 00:22:03,259 --> 00:22:06,689 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket and are counted 375 00:22:06,689 --> 00:22:08,169 as the small dust of the balance. 376 00:22:08,169 --> 00:22:11,129 Behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. 377 00:22:11,129 --> 00:22:15,209 If God can control the nations and hold everything together, why 378 00:22:15,289 --> 00:22:20,049 are we questioning if he's in control of our own lives, why are 379 00:22:20,049 --> 00:22:20,809 we fearing? 380 00:22:20,809 --> 00:22:22,169 Why are we doubting? 381 00:22:22,329 --> 00:22:25,929 Verse 27 says, your way is not hid from the Lord. 382 00:22:27,129 --> 00:22:30,569 God is in all places and in all times and in ever present with 383 00:22:30,569 --> 00:22:30,809 us. 384 00:22:30,809 --> 00:22:32,969 And he is a God that is near us. 385 00:22:33,759 --> 00:22:35,039 He hasn't forgotten you. 386 00:22:35,359 --> 00:22:40,399 And our tendency in our humanity is to doubt God, God's promises. 387 00:22:40,719 --> 00:22:43,839 And because of that doubt, it leads us to fear. 388 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:47,959 Maybe you look at the news and maybe you see the world affairs and 389 00:22:47,959 --> 00:22:50,399 maybe you are like some of the people in scripture. 390 00:22:50,479 --> 00:22:51,999 Why do the heathen rage? 391 00:22:52,799 --> 00:22:56,999 Why does it look like all the bad people are getting away with 392 00:22:56,999 --> 00:22:57,759 the bad things? 393 00:22:58,639 --> 00:23:00,959 There's confusion, there's fear, there's doubt. 394 00:23:01,209 --> 00:23:05,209 And the devil wants to bring even the world affairs into our lives 395 00:23:05,209 --> 00:23:09,889 as we watch the news to cause us to doubt in a God who's in control 396 00:23:09,889 --> 00:23:13,009 and he's working out all things for our good to them that 397 00:23:13,009 --> 00:23:15,289 love God, to them are called according to his purpose. 398 00:23:15,609 --> 00:23:19,649 That God hasn't left us alone, that he, he is still with us, he's 399 00:23:19,649 --> 00:23:20,409 still in control. 400 00:23:20,569 --> 00:23:25,129 There's no reason to fear, there's no reason to doubt. 401 00:23:25,609 --> 00:23:26,569 But we've got to. 402 00:23:26,729 --> 00:23:29,009 If we're going to ever properly trust God. 403 00:23:29,009 --> 00:23:32,689 We have to admit our tendencies and put up guardrails 404 00:23:32,689 --> 00:23:35,049 and boundaries around around idolatry. 405 00:23:35,049 --> 00:23:40,169 To put up guardrails and boundaries around doubting and fearing, 406 00:23:40,569 --> 00:23:42,809 which leads to faithlessness. 407 00:23:43,289 --> 00:23:47,129 It leads to strangling us and paralyzing us. 408 00:23:47,449 --> 00:23:50,009 And it's exactly what the devil wants to do. 409 00:23:51,289 --> 00:23:54,009 God wants to use you, the devil wants to abuse you. 410 00:23:54,649 --> 00:23:58,519 And I'm telling you, if you live in fear and you live in doubt, 411 00:23:58,759 --> 00:24:02,359 you're definitely going to be going to be paralyzed in your Christian 412 00:24:02,359 --> 00:24:02,679 walk. 413 00:24:03,159 --> 00:24:06,039 And we have to acknowledge that that is present, that is there. 414 00:24:06,199 --> 00:24:06,919 Don't you think? 415 00:24:06,919 --> 00:24:10,519 That's why 365 times in the scriptures it tells us not to fear, 416 00:24:11,159 --> 00:24:12,999 not, not to, not to be afraid. 417 00:24:13,318 --> 00:24:14,439 Be not afraid. 418 00:24:15,399 --> 00:24:16,519 Then there's a third thing. 419 00:24:16,839 --> 00:24:20,799 And then we'll move on to point number two, a third tendency 420 00:24:20,799 --> 00:24:25,299 that we have that comes in here and that is self dependence. 421 00:24:26,019 --> 00:24:32,019 Trusting in our own way, thinking that we can do it without 422 00:24:32,179 --> 00:24:32,659 God. 423 00:24:34,259 --> 00:24:38,379 Even the use verse 30 says even the youth shall faint and be 424 00:24:38,379 --> 00:24:38,659 weary. 425 00:24:38,659 --> 00:24:43,059 It's specifically referring to this idea that even when you think 426 00:24:43,059 --> 00:24:46,099 you have the strength of the youth, that you're in your prime 427 00:24:46,099 --> 00:24:49,689 of life and you got, you got it all together and it seems like 428 00:24:50,239 --> 00:24:56,039 everything's going well even then you're going to faint and utterly 429 00:24:56,039 --> 00:24:56,399 fail. 430 00:24:56,719 --> 00:24:58,039 You will utterly fall. 431 00:24:58,039 --> 00:25:01,199 It says if you do that in your own strength. 432 00:25:01,279 --> 00:25:05,519 He's literally dealing with a self dependent mindset. 433 00:25:05,758 --> 00:25:09,119 This is something that is so easy to come into our lives. 434 00:25:10,239 --> 00:25:13,319 We show our declaration of dependence upon God by how much we 435 00:25:13,319 --> 00:25:14,599 Spend time in His Word. 436 00:25:14,599 --> 00:25:18,709 How much we spend time on our knees, that builds our confidence, 437 00:25:18,709 --> 00:25:23,229 it builds our faith, it helps us not to fear, and it helps us to 438 00:25:23,229 --> 00:25:24,269 know our weakness. 439 00:25:25,469 --> 00:25:28,389 Micah 6:8 says, he has showed the old man what is good and what 440 00:25:28,389 --> 00:25:31,589 that the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, love, mercy, and 441 00:25:31,589 --> 00:25:34,109 to walk humbly with thy God. 442 00:25:34,669 --> 00:25:37,429 You see, when you think you got it all together, when you think 443 00:25:37,429 --> 00:25:40,189 you can handle it, when you think you can do it in your own strength, 444 00:25:40,189 --> 00:25:41,229 you're thinking wrong. 445 00:25:42,999 --> 00:25:46,759 God resists the proud, but he gives grace unto the humble. 446 00:25:46,919 --> 00:25:48,039 But let's just be honest. 447 00:25:48,039 --> 00:25:51,879 We all have a tendency to think we've got it under control, 448 00:25:52,599 --> 00:25:56,879 or that if we maneuver things right and manipulate things right 449 00:25:56,879 --> 00:26:01,199 and we say the right things or go the right places and we do what 450 00:26:01,199 --> 00:26:04,359 we do without God, it's always going to miserably fall. 451 00:26:04,759 --> 00:26:08,199 Even if you're a strong person, even if you have good charisma, 452 00:26:08,539 --> 00:26:13,259 even if you are a personality that kind of woos and wins people, 453 00:26:13,259 --> 00:26:16,139 without God, it will miserably fall. 454 00:26:17,259 --> 00:26:18,699 And we all have that tendency. 455 00:26:19,419 --> 00:26:22,859 Instead of trusting, truly trusting God, we have a tendency, 456 00:26:22,939 --> 00:26:26,699 because we don't see him, to trust our own way. 457 00:26:26,859 --> 00:26:28,419 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. 458 00:26:28,419 --> 00:26:30,859 Lean not to thine own understanding, but in all your ways. 459 00:26:30,859 --> 00:26:31,179 What? 460 00:26:31,339 --> 00:26:34,499 Acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path. 461 00:26:34,499 --> 00:26:34,859 All right. 462 00:26:34,859 --> 00:26:40,139 So the first way that we can prove as individuals, as families, 463 00:26:40,139 --> 00:26:44,339 and as a body of believers that he is worth waiting for is number 464 00:26:44,339 --> 00:26:44,539 one. 465 00:26:44,539 --> 00:26:48,939 We have to continually admit and advise ourselves and put boundaries 466 00:26:48,939 --> 00:26:54,219 up for our own sinful tendencies that are clearly instructed 467 00:26:54,219 --> 00:26:54,979 in this text. 468 00:26:54,979 --> 00:26:59,299 But number two, I want you to notice we need to, number two, acknowledge 469 00:26:59,299 --> 00:27:01,099 the truth about God. 470 00:27:01,099 --> 00:27:04,909 There's probably no single chapter, the Old or New Testament, 471 00:27:04,989 --> 00:27:09,869 that better declares the nature of our great God than Isaiah 472 00:27:09,869 --> 00:27:10,189 40. 473 00:27:10,589 --> 00:27:14,349 And we must acknowledge him for who and what he is. 474 00:27:14,509 --> 00:27:18,429 Theme verse of our Christian camp is Philippians 3:10, which the 475 00:27:18,429 --> 00:27:21,269 young people could probably say with me, I won't make you do 476 00:27:21,269 --> 00:27:24,309 that, but we say it at every single meal, that I may know him, 477 00:27:24,309 --> 00:27:26,789 and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of 478 00:27:26,789 --> 00:27:29,469 his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. 479 00:27:30,609 --> 00:27:33,049 The whole point of life is to know our great God. 480 00:27:33,049 --> 00:27:36,449 The whole point of salvation is to have a relationship with God. 481 00:27:36,449 --> 00:27:39,729 It's not just to give us a home in heaven that's really, really 482 00:27:39,729 --> 00:27:40,529 nice to have. 483 00:27:40,849 --> 00:27:44,609 It's not just to give us a changed life, which is really, really 484 00:27:44,609 --> 00:27:45,129 good to have. 485 00:27:45,129 --> 00:27:48,889 But the priority is that we can have A relationship with the 486 00:27:48,889 --> 00:27:53,369 God of Heaven that he longs to know you, and we ought to long to 487 00:27:53,369 --> 00:27:53,969 know Him. 488 00:27:54,609 --> 00:27:57,449 And the people that do know their God will be strong and do great 489 00:27:57,449 --> 00:27:58,049 exploits. 490 00:27:59,239 --> 00:28:02,279 So, number two, if we're going to prove that he's worth waiting 491 00:28:02,279 --> 00:28:05,799 for, then we better get to know our God. 492 00:28:06,279 --> 00:28:08,599 What can we find out about our God in this. 493 00:28:08,679 --> 00:28:09,799 In this chapter? 494 00:28:09,959 --> 00:28:11,799 First of all, he is Our Creator. 495 00:28:11,879 --> 00:28:15,039 Verse 28 says he is the creator of the ends of the earth. 496 00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:17,159 Verse 26, who hath created the heavens. 497 00:28:17,479 --> 00:28:21,239 It references the fact that he names all the stars, puts the stars 498 00:28:21,239 --> 00:28:22,999 there, and he knows them all by name. 499 00:28:24,449 --> 00:28:27,369 No scientist has ever even been able to account for how many 500 00:28:27,369 --> 00:28:28,249 stars there are. 501 00:28:28,249 --> 00:28:32,369 And the universe will blow anybody's mind in our humanity. 502 00:28:33,009 --> 00:28:37,569 But God knows them, created them, and knows them all by name. 503 00:28:37,569 --> 00:28:39,609 He weighs the mountains in his scales. 504 00:28:39,609 --> 00:28:41,409 I particularly like where he says he. 505 00:28:43,169 --> 00:28:46,529 Down here, where he says verse 12, who hath measured the waters 506 00:28:46,529 --> 00:28:47,649 in the hollow of his hand. 507 00:28:47,969 --> 00:28:50,969 God can measure the waters of all the world in the hollow of his 508 00:28:50,969 --> 00:28:51,169 hand. 509 00:28:51,169 --> 00:28:52,689 That's pretty big hand, wouldn't you say? 510 00:28:53,829 --> 00:28:55,589 He meted out the heavens with a span. 511 00:28:55,589 --> 00:28:57,589 The span is from the thumb to the pinky. 512 00:28:57,589 --> 00:28:59,909 God holds the entire universe right there. 513 00:29:00,149 --> 00:29:01,029 It's pretty big. 514 00:29:01,029 --> 00:29:02,789 God creating God. 515 00:29:03,349 --> 00:29:04,989 We better know that he's creator. 516 00:29:04,989 --> 00:29:09,108 Why is evolution such a damaging lie in our world? 517 00:29:10,309 --> 00:29:11,669 It is exactly that. 518 00:29:11,669 --> 00:29:12,509 It is a lie. 519 00:29:12,509 --> 00:29:13,349 Why is it received? 520 00:29:13,829 --> 00:29:17,549 There's so much ill logic in evolution anyway. 521 00:29:17,549 --> 00:29:21,109 I was recently on a situation, I was going to a museum or something 522 00:29:21,109 --> 00:29:21,589 and they. 523 00:29:21,839 --> 00:29:24,719 It was all I could do not to speak up, but there was a crowd of 524 00:29:24,719 --> 00:29:26,559 people and it probably wouldn't have been the right place, 525 00:29:26,799 --> 00:29:29,919 but they were telling us millions and billions of years and 526 00:29:29,919 --> 00:29:31,279 they were talking about evolution. 527 00:29:31,519 --> 00:29:34,199 And there's so much illogic to evolution. 528 00:29:34,199 --> 00:29:37,439 It takes actually more faith to believe evolution than it does 529 00:29:37,439 --> 00:29:38,799 to believe in a creator. 530 00:29:39,359 --> 00:29:43,239 And this text is actually forming questions like, you know 531 00:29:43,239 --> 00:29:44,279 that I'm the creator. 532 00:29:44,279 --> 00:29:48,559 And really, Romans 1 says, everybody will know that. 533 00:29:48,559 --> 00:29:51,719 And they are without excuse because God is evidencing himself 534 00:29:51,719 --> 00:29:52,879 as Creator God. 535 00:29:52,879 --> 00:29:54,379 How many of you are glad for that today? 536 00:29:54,859 --> 00:29:57,059 He's creator number two. 537 00:29:57,059 --> 00:29:58,059 He's controller. 538 00:29:58,299 --> 00:30:00,859 Everything is under his watch and under his control. 539 00:30:00,859 --> 00:30:03,979 Verse 22 says, he sits upon the circle of the earth. 540 00:30:05,979 --> 00:30:08,779 A little side note there that'll maybe help us to know that 541 00:30:08,779 --> 00:30:11,259 the Earth is not flat, it is definitely round. 542 00:30:11,259 --> 00:30:13,659 He sits on the circle of the Earth, stretches out the heavens 543 00:30:13,659 --> 00:30:16,379 as a curtain, spreadeth them as a tent to dwell in. 544 00:30:16,379 --> 00:30:18,619 I mean, our God is in control. 545 00:30:19,619 --> 00:30:22,179 He is sovereign Lord, you say. 546 00:30:22,179 --> 00:30:23,779 Yeah, it doesn't make sense. 547 00:30:23,779 --> 00:30:25,619 It doesn't have to make sense. 548 00:30:26,339 --> 00:30:28,659 You won't understand because you're not God. 549 00:30:29,459 --> 00:30:32,939 But what God is doing with all the affairs of man, he brings up 550 00:30:32,939 --> 00:30:37,099 kings, he takes down kings, he orders and he orders things to be 551 00:30:37,099 --> 00:30:37,379 done. 552 00:30:37,459 --> 00:30:41,059 He allows, I would definitely not say he orders and is happy with, 553 00:30:41,059 --> 00:30:43,059 but he allows evil to take place. 554 00:30:44,499 --> 00:30:47,779 And I'm shaking my head like you are with a lot of the evil in 555 00:30:47,779 --> 00:30:48,179 the world. 556 00:30:49,249 --> 00:30:50,929 How can God continue to let that go? 557 00:30:50,929 --> 00:30:54,689 But I sure am glad he let my evil go so that I could come to grace 558 00:30:54,689 --> 00:30:57,729 in God and have salvation through Jesus Christ. 559 00:30:57,809 --> 00:31:01,609 So let's not be, let's not be two faced in that. 560 00:31:01,609 --> 00:31:05,129 Because if he would have judged evil immediately, we'd all 561 00:31:05,129 --> 00:31:06,209 be dead and in hell. 562 00:31:06,769 --> 00:31:10,049 But I'm so glad in his wrath he remembers mercy. 563 00:31:10,129 --> 00:31:12,689 Just remember that when you look at the world, in his wrath, 564 00:31:13,009 --> 00:31:15,089 judgment is coming, judgment is falling. 565 00:31:16,209 --> 00:31:20,569 He doesn't look kindly upon sin and he is orchestrating the affairs 566 00:31:20,569 --> 00:31:21,089 of men. 567 00:31:21,729 --> 00:31:26,689 And he is doing that for ultimately the end times, the eschatological 568 00:31:26,689 --> 00:31:30,089 part that we talked about, that God's will is being done, God's 569 00:31:30,089 --> 00:31:30,929 way is being done. 570 00:31:30,929 --> 00:31:34,689 And ultimately we're going to see him take us out of this old world 571 00:31:35,169 --> 00:31:39,449 to that which is real and that which is lasting and that which is 572 00:31:39,449 --> 00:31:39,849 eternal. 573 00:31:39,849 --> 00:31:42,769 Because he's in control and he's ordering it all. 574 00:31:44,419 --> 00:31:47,419 And I think it really builds our faith when we see Old Testament 575 00:31:47,419 --> 00:31:50,419 prophecies perfectly fulfilled in the New Testament. 576 00:31:50,659 --> 00:31:54,019 And it helps us to see that God is truly in control. 577 00:31:55,059 --> 00:31:55,619 Number three. 578 00:31:55,619 --> 00:31:58,899 He's not only creator, he's not only controller, but he's counselor. 579 00:31:59,459 --> 00:32:02,419 Verse 13 through 15. Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, 580 00:32:02,419 --> 00:32:04,099 or being his counselor, hath taught him. 581 00:32:04,099 --> 00:32:05,059 Here's the idea here. 582 00:32:05,139 --> 00:32:06,899 Has anyone had to teach God anything? 583 00:32:07,859 --> 00:32:08,979 And the answer is no. 584 00:32:09,359 --> 00:32:11,039 It's another rhetorical question. 585 00:32:11,519 --> 00:32:13,519 With whom took he counsel? 586 00:32:14,079 --> 00:32:17,279 Did God ever have to get counsel from someone who instructed 587 00:32:17,279 --> 00:32:20,359 God and taught him in the path of judgment and taught him knowledge 588 00:32:20,359 --> 00:32:22,839 and showed to him the way of understanding? 589 00:32:22,839 --> 00:32:25,999 And the idea is nobody had to counsel God about anything. 590 00:32:26,399 --> 00:32:32,799 His ways are best, his counsel is just, his statutes are right, 591 00:32:32,959 --> 00:32:33,879 more to be desired. 592 00:32:33,879 --> 00:32:36,349 Are they than gold, sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb? 593 00:32:36,579 --> 00:32:38,899 Moreover, by them as thy servant warned, and in keeping of 594 00:32:38,899 --> 00:32:40,019 them there is great reward. 595 00:32:40,099 --> 00:32:44,019 How do you receive the counsel of God right here, the whole counsel, 596 00:32:44,019 --> 00:32:47,859 it's given to you right here is all we need for life and godliness 597 00:32:47,859 --> 00:32:49,699 and the wonderful truths of the Word of God. 598 00:32:50,019 --> 00:32:51,739 How much are you making of the Word of God? 599 00:32:51,739 --> 00:32:54,819 How much are you getting to know God as the Counselor? 600 00:32:54,979 --> 00:32:56,219 He is the Counselor. 601 00:32:56,219 --> 00:32:58,579 All right, so he's the Creator, he's the controller, he's 602 00:32:58,579 --> 00:32:59,219 the counselor. 603 00:32:59,219 --> 00:33:02,579 Verses 1 through 11, we won't read them all, but the very first 604 00:33:02,579 --> 00:33:03,859 verse, already acknowledged. 605 00:33:04,289 --> 00:33:05,929 Comfort ye, Comfort ye, my people. 606 00:33:05,929 --> 00:33:11,169 The whole text is bringing comfort to a people that were waiting 607 00:33:11,329 --> 00:33:13,489 for the salvation of the Lord. 608 00:33:14,849 --> 00:33:17,409 Aren't we still waiting for the ultimate end? 609 00:33:18,609 --> 00:33:21,329 Well, God is bringing comfort to all of us. 610 00:33:21,489 --> 00:33:24,129 Jesus Christ said, I will leave and I will give you another 611 00:33:24,689 --> 00:33:25,329 comforter. 612 00:33:25,649 --> 00:33:27,249 We have the Holy Spirit within us. 613 00:33:27,489 --> 00:33:29,529 From the moment you get saved, he's with you. 614 00:33:29,529 --> 00:33:30,449 He's your comforter. 615 00:33:30,999 --> 00:33:34,359 Don't believe what some other false teachers are saying, that you 616 00:33:34,359 --> 00:33:36,719 have to get the second blessing of the Holy Spirit. 617 00:33:36,719 --> 00:33:38,519 No, you get the whole Holy Spirit. 618 00:33:39,239 --> 00:33:42,279 The moment you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 619 00:33:42,519 --> 00:33:46,478 The Spirit of God comes in to be your ultimate comfort, resting 620 00:33:46,478 --> 00:33:48,279 in the Word of God and in the Spirit of God. 621 00:33:48,279 --> 00:33:51,919 In the comfort of God, he is our comforter, no matter what you're 622 00:33:51,919 --> 00:33:55,439 facing, no matter how hard the difficulties, because they are all 623 00:33:55,439 --> 00:33:59,569 coming and they come our way, and sometimes in droves. 624 00:33:59,649 --> 00:34:01,689 And they come in unique ways. 625 00:34:01,689 --> 00:34:03,489 James chapter one says that. 626 00:34:03,489 --> 00:34:07,649 How can we rejoice in our suffering now? 627 00:34:07,649 --> 00:34:10,129 Rejoicing in our suffering is not exuberance. 628 00:34:11,489 --> 00:34:15,249 It's deep faith in a God who we know is still in control. 629 00:34:16,689 --> 00:34:21,009 It's not a lack of mourning, it's not a lack of tears. 630 00:34:22,379 --> 00:34:25,899 It's not like just girding ourselves up when life is hard and 631 00:34:25,899 --> 00:34:28,219 never showing signs of any emotion. 632 00:34:28,219 --> 00:34:30,859 That's not what we're talking about here. 633 00:34:31,019 --> 00:34:32,299 True joy is. 634 00:34:32,299 --> 00:34:36,019 We can make it through the morning because notice what Jesus 635 00:34:36,019 --> 00:34:37,698 said in the Sermon on the Mount. 636 00:34:37,698 --> 00:34:42,059 Blessed are you that mourn, for you shall be comforted. 637 00:34:42,779 --> 00:34:48,229 So when you know the comforter, you can mourn with joy. 638 00:34:48,629 --> 00:34:56,229 You can grieve yet rejoice, folks, that without God is impossible. 639 00:34:57,269 --> 00:35:02,589 But with the comforter, with the comfort of God that has come 640 00:35:02,589 --> 00:35:06,789 to all of our lives, we can respond that way in faith. 641 00:35:07,029 --> 00:35:10,389 He is comforter, Creator, Controller, Counselor, Comforter. 642 00:35:11,189 --> 00:35:11,709 Hold on. 643 00:35:11,709 --> 00:35:15,718 He's also chastiser, verse 23 through 24, and verse 18 through 644 00:35:15,718 --> 00:35:15,998 20. 645 00:35:15,998 --> 00:35:17,878 Let's look at verse 23 and 24. 646 00:35:18,678 --> 00:35:21,638 That bringeth the princes to nothing. 647 00:35:22,758 --> 00:35:25,878 He maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. 648 00:35:26,518 --> 00:35:30,118 Yea, they shall not be Planted, Yea, they shall not be sown. 649 00:35:30,118 --> 00:35:33,078 Yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth. 650 00:35:33,478 --> 00:35:39,158 And he shall also watch this blow upon them, and they shall wither. 651 00:35:39,158 --> 00:35:40,758 That's all it takes from our great God. 652 00:35:41,739 --> 00:35:41,979 Just. 653 00:35:43,499 --> 00:35:45,899 And the whirlwind shall take them away as what? 654 00:35:46,939 --> 00:35:47,659 Stubble. 655 00:35:48,139 --> 00:35:48,499 Hey. 656 00:35:48,499 --> 00:35:51,059 So when you look at the world's leaders and the ones that 657 00:35:51,059 --> 00:35:53,739 are affecting our world with all kinds of wickedness, and you 658 00:35:53,739 --> 00:35:55,419 wonder what God's going to do to them. 659 00:35:55,419 --> 00:35:59,179 All he has to do is blow and he's going to make them a stubble. 660 00:36:00,299 --> 00:36:04,819 And again, may I remind us all that God is not only the chastiser 661 00:36:04,819 --> 00:36:07,859 of the wicked ones, the ones that are away from him haven't received 662 00:36:07,859 --> 00:36:08,139 him. 663 00:36:08,139 --> 00:36:12,139 The ones that are doing evil of the world, but whom the Lord loves, 664 00:36:12,539 --> 00:36:13,419 He chastens. 665 00:36:14,139 --> 00:36:15,339 He's chastening us. 666 00:36:16,699 --> 00:36:20,539 He's blowing in our lives his chastening hand. 667 00:36:21,179 --> 00:36:27,499 He's making our sinful way to be of nothing and the godly way to 668 00:36:27,499 --> 00:36:28,059 be right. 669 00:36:28,539 --> 00:36:30,939 Blessed is the man that walks in the Godly way. 670 00:36:30,939 --> 00:36:35,739 Psalm 1 says, Clear distinction between that person who 671 00:36:36,119 --> 00:36:39,479 goes his own way and the one that goes God's way. 672 00:36:39,639 --> 00:36:40,799 He is chastiser. 673 00:36:40,799 --> 00:36:43,079 He's always trying to get us back into his way. 674 00:36:44,039 --> 00:36:47,119 Is there something that needs to change in your life today to get 675 00:36:47,119 --> 00:36:48,759 you back in the way of God? 676 00:36:49,799 --> 00:36:51,798 The Bible says, ponder the path of thy feet. 677 00:36:51,798 --> 00:36:53,719 Let all your ways be established. 678 00:36:53,959 --> 00:36:56,359 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left. 679 00:36:56,599 --> 00:36:58,599 Remove your foot from evil. 680 00:36:58,999 --> 00:37:01,959 I plead with you individually and as a congregation. 681 00:37:02,039 --> 00:37:06,399 Remove the evil and get yourself in a plain path, the path 682 00:37:06,399 --> 00:37:06,999 of God. 683 00:37:07,079 --> 00:37:09,959 Listen to the chastisement of the Lord in your life. 684 00:37:10,759 --> 00:37:14,079 And he that confesses his sins, he is faithful and just to 685 00:37:14,079 --> 00:37:17,079 forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 686 00:37:17,639 --> 00:37:22,199 It is a really good thing to be confronted and to be chastised 687 00:37:22,199 --> 00:37:23,239 by a loving God. 688 00:37:23,799 --> 00:37:25,879 I'm so glad I had a parent. 689 00:37:25,879 --> 00:37:28,519 I had parents that chastened me. 690 00:37:29,479 --> 00:37:31,879 They took the Board of education to the seat of learning. 691 00:37:31,879 --> 00:37:32,599 That's what they did. 692 00:37:33,159 --> 00:37:34,999 And I'm thankful for that. 693 00:37:34,999 --> 00:37:36,879 I wasn't always thankful for that. 694 00:37:36,879 --> 00:37:38,839 I didn't always understand that. 695 00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:43,239 And you may not always understand it, you may not always 696 00:37:43,239 --> 00:37:44,399 be thankful for it. 697 00:37:44,399 --> 00:37:49,159 But when you mature, you'll look and you'll say, boy, I really 698 00:37:49,159 --> 00:37:49,799 needed that. 699 00:37:50,359 --> 00:37:52,439 And it really directed my path. 700 00:37:52,759 --> 00:37:54,199 God is chastiser. 701 00:37:54,359 --> 00:37:56,439 He's not going to let you get away with evil. 702 00:37:56,759 --> 00:37:57,959 He's going to take down. 703 00:37:58,609 --> 00:38:03,129 He's going to take down those and blow upon them and make them 704 00:38:03,129 --> 00:38:03,809 as stubble. 705 00:38:04,049 --> 00:38:05,489 And then he's caregiver. 706 00:38:05,649 --> 00:38:06,849 He hasn't forgotten you. 707 00:38:06,849 --> 00:38:08,969 Verse 11 calls him the good Shepherd. 708 00:38:08,969 --> 00:38:10,809 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. 709 00:38:10,809 --> 00:38:14,408 He shall gather the lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom. 710 00:38:14,408 --> 00:38:16,529 This is our God who takes us up. 711 00:38:16,849 --> 00:38:19,249 The Lord is our shepherd, I shall not want. 712 00:38:19,649 --> 00:38:21,929 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. 713 00:38:21,929 --> 00:38:24,449 Whatever you're facing, God is caring for you. 714 00:38:25,039 --> 00:38:28,799 I sent a text to a friend of mine who's going through some serious 715 00:38:28,799 --> 00:38:30,639 deep trials right now. 716 00:38:31,039 --> 00:38:34,639 Cast all your care upon him, for he careth for you. 717 00:38:35,279 --> 00:38:39,839 It's hard to carry burdens if you're trying to carry them alone. 718 00:38:40,639 --> 00:38:44,599 It's still hard even when you know God is caring for you. 719 00:38:44,599 --> 00:38:50,159 But how much better when you rest in the all caring love of our 720 00:38:50,739 --> 00:38:54,219 our caregiver, Our shepherd who leads and guides us. 721 00:38:54,219 --> 00:38:55,459 And then he's our confidence. 722 00:38:55,459 --> 00:39:00,179 Verse 29 he giveth power to the faint. 723 00:39:01,299 --> 00:39:03,499 So don't faint in the day of adversity, because if you do, your 724 00:39:03,499 --> 00:39:05,059 strength is fall, is small. 725 00:39:05,699 --> 00:39:10,939 Gather the power, the confidence from God Almighty to make 726 00:39:10,939 --> 00:39:14,259 it through whatever God is leading you through. 727 00:39:15,219 --> 00:39:16,579 For he is our confidence. 728 00:39:17,129 --> 00:39:18,449 He brings strength to the weary. 729 00:39:18,449 --> 00:39:21,049 He helps us to run and not be weary, walk and not faint. 730 00:39:21,049 --> 00:39:22,329 All right, so this is our God. 731 00:39:22,329 --> 00:39:25,289 Number two is to acknowledge him, to know Him. 732 00:39:25,289 --> 00:39:28,409 The people that do know their God will be strong and do great exploits. 733 00:39:28,649 --> 00:39:32,329 Spending so much time understanding our own tendencies 734 00:39:32,728 --> 00:39:37,689 will definitely lead us to a trust in that type of a God. 735 00:39:37,849 --> 00:39:39,489 Acknowledge who God is. 736 00:39:39,489 --> 00:39:43,609 And then third, I want you to notice we have to apply what we know. 737 00:39:44,329 --> 00:39:47,529 We have to apply proper trust in God. 738 00:39:47,849 --> 00:39:50,449 And this is where verse 31 comes into play. 739 00:39:50,449 --> 00:39:52,009 God lays out our tendency. 740 00:39:52,809 --> 00:39:53,849 We're going to struggle. 741 00:39:53,929 --> 00:39:54,969 We're going to be weak. 742 00:39:55,049 --> 00:39:56,009 We're going to faint. 743 00:39:56,009 --> 00:40:01,209 We can't do this without the caregiving, controlling Creator comforting 744 00:40:01,209 --> 00:40:01,689 God. 745 00:40:01,769 --> 00:40:03,529 We can't do life without Him. 746 00:40:03,769 --> 00:40:04,889 Do you believe that today? 747 00:40:05,529 --> 00:40:08,729 So therefore you need to wait on the Lord. 748 00:40:10,319 --> 00:40:13,679 Wait on the Lord, he says, and you will renew your strength. 749 00:40:15,759 --> 00:40:17,519 They will mount up with wings as eagles. 750 00:40:17,519 --> 00:40:18,719 You will run, not be weary. 751 00:40:18,719 --> 00:40:20,399 You will walk and not faint real quickly. 752 00:40:20,399 --> 00:40:23,359 Lamentations 3:25 this is not just a text here. 753 00:40:23,359 --> 00:40:24,639 This is all through Scripture. 754 00:40:24,718 --> 00:40:27,159 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that 755 00:40:27,159 --> 00:40:27,919 seeketh him. 756 00:40:28,079 --> 00:40:30,599 Psalm 33:20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord. 757 00:40:30,599 --> 00:40:31,919 He is our help and our shield. 758 00:40:31,999 --> 00:40:35,439 Psalm 27:14 Wait in the Lord and be of good courage. 759 00:40:35,799 --> 00:40:37,799 And he will strengthen thine heart. 760 00:40:37,879 --> 00:40:39,319 Wait, I say, on the Lord. 761 00:40:39,399 --> 00:40:40,479 Micah 7:7. 762 00:40:40,479 --> 00:40:42,399 Therefore I will look unto the Lord. 763 00:40:42,399 --> 00:40:44,759 I will wait for the God of my salvation. 764 00:40:44,839 --> 00:40:46,359 My God will hear me. 765 00:40:46,439 --> 00:40:50,279 And we could literally quote verses, verses all afternoon from 766 00:40:50,279 --> 00:40:52,679 this idea of waiting on the Lord. 767 00:40:53,479 --> 00:40:57,159 There is a sense of patience, but it's more a sense of. 768 00:40:57,479 --> 00:40:58,359 Of trust. 769 00:40:58,919 --> 00:41:04,449 So as we don't see everything that God is doing, we're patiently 770 00:41:05,089 --> 00:41:06,609 depending on Him. 771 00:41:07,169 --> 00:41:10,409 And I want to just encourage you about what that waiting looks 772 00:41:10,409 --> 00:41:10,689 like. 773 00:41:11,169 --> 00:41:12,489 Andrew Murray said this. 774 00:41:12,489 --> 00:41:14,769 Let waiting be our work as it is His. 775 00:41:15,169 --> 00:41:18,968 And if his waiting is nothing but goodness and graciousness, let 776 00:41:18,968 --> 00:41:22,409 ours be nothing but a rejoicing in that goodness and a 777 00:41:22,409 --> 00:41:24,609 confident expectancy of that grace. 778 00:41:25,489 --> 00:41:27,329 Wait on the Lord. 779 00:41:27,489 --> 00:41:29,829 What does it mean to wait on the Lord? 780 00:41:30,229 --> 00:41:33,029 Because like I said earlier, it's easy to say, well, just trust 781 00:41:33,029 --> 00:41:33,589 in God. 782 00:41:33,749 --> 00:41:35,349 That's a really easy thing to say. 783 00:41:35,349 --> 00:41:37,749 But what does that simple phrase mean? 784 00:41:37,989 --> 00:41:38,509 Number one? 785 00:41:38,509 --> 00:41:41,669 It means daily searching the Word of God for wisdom, for thinking 786 00:41:41,669 --> 00:41:47,429 and living daily and moment by moment, trusting in the promises 787 00:41:47,909 --> 00:41:50,429 of God and being faithful to them. 788 00:41:50,429 --> 00:41:51,349 Which is number two. 789 00:41:51,349 --> 00:41:54,409 Daily and moment by moment being obedient to. 790 00:41:55,039 --> 00:41:56,399 To the commands of Scripture. 791 00:41:56,399 --> 00:41:59,959 Listen, you are not trusting God if you're not obeying something 792 00:41:59,959 --> 00:42:00,959 of the word of God. 793 00:42:02,639 --> 00:42:05,519 We're not really properly trusting him if we're being disobedient 794 00:42:05,519 --> 00:42:06,799 to his commands. 795 00:42:07,359 --> 00:42:08,919 Daily and moment by moment. 796 00:42:08,919 --> 00:42:12,079 Number three, fighting the fight against the world, the flesh 797 00:42:12,079 --> 00:42:12,999 and the devil. 798 00:42:12,999 --> 00:42:16,479 If we're properly waiting on the Lord, then we're willing to fight 799 00:42:16,479 --> 00:42:20,449 against the enemies of the cross, the enemies of our faith. 800 00:42:21,079 --> 00:42:22,999 And we're going to stand up, stand up for Jesus. 801 00:42:23,319 --> 00:42:24,839 And we're going to fight against the world. 802 00:42:24,839 --> 00:42:27,239 We're going to fight against the flesh, we're going to fight against 803 00:42:27,239 --> 00:42:29,799 the devil, for those things are going to take us down. 804 00:42:29,799 --> 00:42:32,119 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. 805 00:42:32,839 --> 00:42:36,279 It is daily and moment by moment, then resting in his plan 806 00:42:36,358 --> 00:42:41,319 and his perfect will, in spite of a lack of human perspective and 807 00:42:41,319 --> 00:42:42,119 understanding. 808 00:42:42,759 --> 00:42:45,799 So when our perspective is skewed in our humanity and we have 809 00:42:45,799 --> 00:42:49,749 a tendency to not lean into the Lord, and that's the moment we 810 00:42:49,749 --> 00:42:53,789 need to lean even more into the Lord leaning on the everlasting 811 00:42:53,789 --> 00:42:54,149 arms. 812 00:42:54,149 --> 00:42:55,989 And he has plenty of strength to go around. 813 00:42:56,469 --> 00:42:58,189 What a fellowship, what a joy divine. 814 00:42:58,189 --> 00:43:01,429 To lean on the everlasting arms of God. 815 00:43:01,509 --> 00:43:05,349 And moment by moment, daily is. 816 00:43:05,349 --> 00:43:06,429 Is the idea here. 817 00:43:06,429 --> 00:43:07,869 This isn't just a one time. 818 00:43:07,869 --> 00:43:08,789 I'm going to trust God. 819 00:43:08,789 --> 00:43:11,909 No, this is an ongoing perpetual thing. 820 00:43:12,069 --> 00:43:15,989 Daily understanding his word and wisdom, living it out in obedience 821 00:43:16,299 --> 00:43:19,659 and fighting the good fight of faith and trusting his perfect will 822 00:43:19,659 --> 00:43:21,099 in spite of our understanding. 823 00:43:21,179 --> 00:43:25,739 And then daily and moment by moment, moment more on this tonight, 824 00:43:25,899 --> 00:43:30,859 enduring and anticipating our eternal home. 825 00:43:31,899 --> 00:43:35,499 For we are called to wait on the coming of the Lord. 826 00:43:35,739 --> 00:43:38,059 And while waiting, we are to be working. 827 00:43:39,259 --> 00:43:43,069 And while working, we are to be warning be involved in the soul 828 00:43:43,069 --> 00:43:44,349 winning efforts of the church. 829 00:43:44,349 --> 00:43:47,029 I notice you're starting up your soul winning campaign. 830 00:43:47,109 --> 00:43:47,949 You should be there. 831 00:43:47,949 --> 00:43:51,189 Because part of our waiting in the Lord is not sitting around. 832 00:43:51,829 --> 00:43:56,149 No, it's working and warning other people and getting out and 833 00:43:56,149 --> 00:43:58,069 being busy for the Lord. 834 00:43:58,229 --> 00:44:00,469 But the coming of the Lord is nigh. 835 00:44:00,949 --> 00:44:04,709 And moment by moment, day by day, having confidence that he is 836 00:44:04,709 --> 00:44:06,989 going to come looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing 837 00:44:06,989 --> 00:44:09,169 of our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 838 00:44:09,729 --> 00:44:13,129 So when we do these things, we get total confidence in God and His 839 00:44:13,129 --> 00:44:17,009 Word, total obedience to his, his will and his plan for our life. 840 00:44:17,009 --> 00:44:20,689 Then the spiritual lens of discernment comes into our life. 841 00:44:20,769 --> 00:44:25,489 We can walk in the midst of the day and be in the light. 842 00:44:26,849 --> 00:44:30,769 In the darkness, the light will shine brightly out of us. 843 00:44:31,249 --> 00:44:34,569 This is what he means when this is the only way to run and not 844 00:44:34,569 --> 00:44:35,009 be weary. 845 00:44:36,339 --> 00:44:38,899 This is the only way to walk and not faint. 846 00:44:39,859 --> 00:44:42,259 Running is the exceptional demands of life. 847 00:44:42,259 --> 00:44:45,299 Do you have stuff in your life right now that's just over the top? 848 00:44:45,299 --> 00:44:47,059 It's like not the norm. 849 00:44:47,219 --> 00:44:48,659 It's stuff that's going on. 850 00:44:48,659 --> 00:44:52,179 Well, God in His strength can give you the strength to run. 851 00:44:52,899 --> 00:44:56,739 The walk, some said, is the ordinary daily grind. 852 00:44:57,139 --> 00:45:00,459 That's the getting up and doing the same thing over and over 853 00:45:00,459 --> 00:45:00,739 again. 854 00:45:00,739 --> 00:45:05,239 Going to work, you know, being busy about your life in Christ, raising 855 00:45:05,239 --> 00:45:09,439 your kids, all the different things that are just normal life. 856 00:45:10,399 --> 00:45:14,799 And our walk and our running can be nurtured and strengthened 857 00:45:14,799 --> 00:45:16,319 as we wait on the Lord. 858 00:45:16,319 --> 00:45:19,279 But it must be applied properly. 859 00:45:19,679 --> 00:45:22,479 We're not waiting on the Lord just because we show up to church. 860 00:45:22,559 --> 00:45:25,599 We're not waiting on the Lord just because we claim we're a Christian. 861 00:45:26,079 --> 00:45:29,199 We're waiting on the Lord when we do what he calls us to do. 862 00:45:29,199 --> 00:45:31,239 And we do it daily and moment by moment. 863 00:45:31,239 --> 00:45:32,209 And when we fall, we. 864 00:45:32,359 --> 00:45:35,959 We get back up and we faithfully pursue Him. 865 00:45:36,359 --> 00:45:39,799 God is looking for that type of Christian today. 866 00:45:40,759 --> 00:45:42,119 That's what you and I can be. 867 00:45:42,599 --> 00:45:44,839 You as an individual, you as a family. 868 00:45:45,159 --> 00:45:47,159 This congregation can see. 869 00:45:47,159 --> 00:45:51,119 The strength of God can be renewed in your life so that you 870 00:45:51,119 --> 00:45:53,719 can run and not be Weary and you can walk and not faint. 871 00:45:53,719 --> 00:45:54,919 God has not left you alone. 872 00:45:54,919 --> 00:45:57,319 And he is worth waiting for. 873 00:45:58,609 --> 00:45:59,649 Whatever the weight is. 874 00:46:00,529 --> 00:46:01,889 God is doing his work. 875 00:46:02,689 --> 00:46:06,249 So restaurant may not be worth waiting for, and definitely a ride 876 00:46:06,249 --> 00:46:09,929 at Disney World may not be worth waiting for, but God Almighty 877 00:46:09,929 --> 00:46:10,209 is. 878 00:46:11,089 --> 00:46:12,689 So I call you to wait on the Lord. 879 00:46:13,409 --> 00:46:15,769 If you're here today and you didn't, you came to church, but you 880 00:46:15,769 --> 00:46:17,729 don't know Christ as your Lord and Savior. 881 00:46:18,289 --> 00:46:22,689 This Testimony of Isaiah 40 is a prophecy of the Messiah that came 882 00:46:22,849 --> 00:46:23,969 for all of us. 883 00:46:25,579 --> 00:46:28,499 For it's a prophecy of the comforter, Jesus Christ. 884 00:46:28,499 --> 00:46:32,539 It's a prophecy predicting that he is going to come in the future 885 00:46:32,619 --> 00:46:34,939 to make all things right, which he did. 886 00:46:35,179 --> 00:46:37,579 He lived, he walked on this earth. 887 00:46:37,739 --> 00:46:39,339 He suffered and bled and died. 888 00:46:39,499 --> 00:46:40,739 He rose from the grave. 889 00:46:40,739 --> 00:46:43,459 And the Gospel account, the death, burial and resurrection of 890 00:46:43,459 --> 00:46:46,459 Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation. 891 00:46:46,459 --> 00:46:48,059 It's only through Jesus Christ. 892 00:46:48,539 --> 00:46:51,179 So if you're here today and you've never trusted in Jesus Christ 893 00:46:51,179 --> 00:46:55,259 as your Lord and Savior, I say wait on the Lord, trust him, believe 894 00:46:55,259 --> 00:46:55,859 on Him. 895 00:46:56,419 --> 00:46:58,699 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 896 00:46:58,699 --> 00:47:00,739 Today can be the day of salvation for you. 897 00:47:00,739 --> 00:47:02,939 I plead with you, don't leave this place. 898 00:47:02,939 --> 00:47:06,499 Not sure, living in doubt, not sure of your salvation. 899 00:47:07,619 --> 00:47:09,379 God wants you to be sure of that. 900 00:47:09,699 --> 00:47:12,619 And by faith, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt 901 00:47:12,619 --> 00:47:13,139 be saved. 902 00:47:13,299 --> 00:47:16,419 And then my final appeal is for all of us as believers in the 903 00:47:16,419 --> 00:47:20,139 midst of a wicked world and desperate days and times of trial, 904 00:47:20,699 --> 00:47:25,859 as we go about our business of life, may we ask God to help us to 905 00:47:25,859 --> 00:47:28,219 run and not be weary and walk and not faint. 906 00:47:28,779 --> 00:47:32,339 May we ask God to help us prove in our lives that he is worth 907 00:47:32,339 --> 00:47:36,459 waiting for by admitting our tendencies and setting up guards 908 00:47:36,459 --> 00:47:39,899 and boundaries around our tendencies, knowing where we need 909 00:47:39,899 --> 00:47:43,019 help and getting that help, and then trusting in our great God 910 00:47:43,019 --> 00:47:44,139 and knowing him better. 911 00:47:45,029 --> 00:47:47,989 Creator God, comforter God, caregiving God, et cetera. 912 00:47:48,149 --> 00:47:52,989 And then applying that by daily investing our lives into knowing 913 00:47:52,989 --> 00:47:57,429 His Word, being obedient to it, staying in his pathway, being 914 00:47:57,509 --> 00:47:58,149 faithful. 915 00:47:58,869 --> 00:48:04,709 Because that's when God blesses with strength he will prove 916 00:48:05,429 --> 00:48:07,349 that he is worth waiting for. 917 00:48:07,589 --> 00:48:11,279 Would you bow your heads and close your eyes as our heads are 918 00:48:11,279 --> 00:48:12,559 bowed and our eyes are closed? 919 00:48:12,799 --> 00:48:15,039 We'll have a hymn of invitation in just a moment. 920 00:48:15,039 --> 00:48:18,279 And I want to just encourage you to respond to this personally 921 00:48:18,279 --> 00:48:22,399 in your life and pray before the Lord and maybe confess some area 922 00:48:22,399 --> 00:48:26,639 of your life or just declare your dependence on him again. 923 00:48:27,919 --> 00:48:30,439 Trust in him and walk in his peace. 924 00:48:30,439 --> 00:48:33,759 And maybe you're facing some hard times, and maybe you just need 925 00:48:33,759 --> 00:48:37,329 to get on your knees and you need to just tell the Lord, I'm trusting 926 00:48:37,329 --> 00:48:39,049 you, you're in control. 927 00:48:40,249 --> 00:48:41,209 I believe you. 928 00:48:41,849 --> 00:48:44,089 But maybe there's a sin that needs to be confessed. 929 00:48:44,089 --> 00:48:47,689 A way of fear in your life, a way of doubt in your life, a way 930 00:48:47,689 --> 00:48:51,689 of idolatry in your life, a way of sinfulness in your life. 931 00:48:52,249 --> 00:48:55,529 I want to encourage you to confess and forsake that today there'll 932 00:48:55,529 --> 00:48:56,769 be a pastor here at the front. 933 00:48:56,769 --> 00:49:00,089 If you are here without Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, today 934 00:49:00,089 --> 00:49:01,369 is the day of salvation for you. 935 00:49:01,369 --> 00:49:03,529 I plead with you to come to Christ. 936 00:49:03,769 --> 00:49:06,889 Just step from your seat and tell the pastor here at the front, 937 00:49:06,969 --> 00:49:10,369 one of the pastors that's here, and I want to encourage you 938 00:49:10,369 --> 00:49:13,449 to go and trust Christ as your Lord and Savior. 939 00:49:13,449 --> 00:49:15,809 We'll send somebody with you to show you from the Bible how you 940 00:49:15,809 --> 00:49:16,489 can be saved. 941 00:49:17,769 --> 00:49:20,169 So with heads bowed and eyes closed, let's just quietly stand 942 00:49:20,169 --> 00:49:20,969 to our feet. 943 00:49:21,049 --> 00:49:24,689 The hymn of invitation is cleanse me 534.