Sunday, September 24, 2023

Sunday Thought: Great Strength!

​

(Isaiah 40:28-31 KJV)

 

28 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.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 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.

 

This fortieth chapter of Isaiah begins with the prophets discussing the restoration of the Church with strong conviction.

​

God commands the prophets to comfort his people in their captivity and to impart to them the glad tidings that the time of favor and deliverance was at hand.

​

This passage of scripture has been preached on so many times.

​

We quote it, we read it, we preach it, but do we really believe it?

​

There are always those times when it seems that adversity is getting the best of us.

​

Sometimes it may appear difficult to maintain faith and trust in God when everything is going against us and we are in the middle of one of the greatest battles of our life.

​

Yes, it is in those times that our faith and trust in God is really put to the test, yet, it is in those times that we need the Lord more than ever.

​

During these trying times, will we turn to our own devices and make decisions that will cause us to have less time for God, for the church, or even for our families? 

​

During these times, will we forget the Word of God and become depressed because we don’t have the faith that everything will really do as Paul said that it would do in Romans 8:28…

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." 
 

During these times, will we forget our commitments to Christ that were made when all was going well?

During these times, will we forget the times in the past that God has brought us through some rough situations?

During these times, will we forget the blessings, the healings, the miracles and every good thing that God has done? 
 

During these times, will we overlook the fact that God has always been and will always be faithful to His promises found in the Word of God?

​

Too many times Christians bail out on God as soon as the storms come and the going gets rough.

It is easy to live for God and trust in Him when all is going well.

​

However, it doesn’t seem to be so easy to do so when the weight of the whole world is upon our shoulders.

​

Christian Believers, that is the moment that our relationship with God will really show its true depth.

​

Yes, that is the moment when our trust is built.

​

If we find ourselves in the middle of turmoil and the waves of temptation seem to be overwhelming, let’s look up and put our trust in God.

​

Those who rely on their own strength have finite resources. 

​

Those who wait on the Lord—who maintain their faith in the midst of adversity—have access to infinite resources.

​

We might say, then, that those who wait for the Lord will find their energy renewed.

​

Fundamental to being able to wait is trusting God’s character and goodness.

​

Waiting on the Lord is something the godly do.

​

It’s about holding on tight, hoping with expectation and trust, knowing that our Lord is not making us wait just to see how long we can “take it.”

 

Waiting on the Lord necessitates the assurance of a complete dependence on God and a willingness to allow Him to decide the terms, including the timing of His plan.

​

To wait on the Lord produces character in the life of the Christian in that it involves patience.

​

Those who wait on the Lord do not lose heart in their prayers: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us”.
 

Waiting on the Lord renews our strength and involves being at rest in the Lord.

​

Those who wait for God to keep His promises will not be disappointed.

​

To wait on the Lord is to rest in the confident assurance that, regardless of the details or difficulties we face in this life, God never leaves us without a sure defense.

​

Those who do not know the Lord will not wait on Him; neither will those who fail to trust Him.

​

But, as Christian Believers, we must be confident of who God is and what He is capable of doing.

​

We must be convinced that as we wait upon the Lord He will show us His power, His purpose, and His salvation.

​

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)

​

 

Pastor Jeff

 

​