Strength in Weakness

Isaiah 40:28-31

Preached Sunday July 30, 2017

 

Introduction:

 

About 23 years ago, I was suffering from a terrible sinus infection. Finally, I sought the doctor’s advice and treatment. He prescribed a strong medicine and recommended that I continue taking the strongest over the counter decongestant that was on the market.

 

Later on, in the middle of the night I went downstairs to use the bathroom. My head began to feel strange began to feel strange. The room started to spin, grow dark, then… I heard moaning. I could not see at all. Soon I realized that the moaning I heard was me. I had fainted. I was on the bathroom floor. The medicines had interacted.

 

This message today is for men and women that are involved in the work of the Lord, who find themselves spiritually faint. Sometimes after we have been saved for a while, we become spiritually ill. We attempt to continue serving God the same way that we used to… But something is wrong and we faint, falling flat on our faces spiritually.

 

After we hit the ground, we have two choices. We could correct the problem that caused us to faint, or we could be content to be a spiritual invalid- pulling away from the spiritual commitments we once had. We are no longer willing to go soulwinning, teach Sunday school, serve on a committee, or attend services regularly.

 

God’s word gives us a simple cure for spiritual fainting spells. We must learn that “wait” is an action word. We must find a different power source, and learn to serve God on the long haul. May God speak to your heart as we discover the cure to spiritual fainting spells.

 

1. Even the Strongest of People Grow Faint From Time to Time

 

“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall:” (Isaiah 40:30, KJV 1900)

1. Weakness comes when we rely on human strength and provision to accomplish a heavenly task.
2. Fainting causes us to miss out on the blessings that are already coming to us.

 

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9, KJV 1900)

 

1. Fainting causes us to give in to fatigue, depression, and apathy.
2. Fainting causes us to want to tear down and retreat rather than to build up and conquer.

 

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.” (1 Chronicles 4:10, KJV 1900)

 

 

1. The Answer to Fainting is Revival not Retreat

 

 

Isaiah 40:31

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. 

 

1. Service “Wait” is an action word

 

• Like a waiter

 

 

Psalm 27:14

14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

 

Psalm 37:34

34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

 

Psalm 25:3

3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

 

1. Expectation

 

Psalm 40:1

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

1  I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 

 

Lamentations 3:25-26

25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

 

1. Jesus taught the same principal

 

• Rest comes when you exchange your burden for Christ’s

 

Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

• You need a different power source

 

Isaiah 40:31

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. 

 

1. Renew= “change of strength”

 

Psalm 84:5-7

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. 6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.   7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. 

 

1. From your flesh

 

Romans 7:18

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

 

2. To God

 

“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.” (Isaiah 40:28–29, KJV 1900)

 

 

Psalm 18:1-2

1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, the servant of the LORD, who spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,

1  I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

 

Zechariah 4:6

6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 

 

 

 

1. Find strength in spite of circumstances!

 

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 

1. You can serve God for the long haul!

 

Isaiah 40:31

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. 

 

1. Mount up with wings= ascend as a result of immediate deliverance

 

Exodus 19:4

4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

 

1. Run= especially running to one’s aid

 

2 Corinthians 5:11

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

1. You can do these things without fainting from lack of faith

 

Psalm 27:13

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

 

 

Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3

Preached Sunday, July 23, 2017 – AM Service

 

Isaiah 26:3

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

 

Introduction:

 

We are now entering a wonderful time of year.  It is a time where the phrase “peace on earth, and good will toward men” can be heard in a crowd.  Where is that peace?  We have wars.  We have strifes!  We anguish over the loss of loved ones.  What about your soul?  Are you at peace?  Do you enjoy the sense of being at rest, free from the anguish of inner conflict?  Perhaps you are hear today and you are still at war with an Holy God.   Today you can have peace.  Perhaps you claimed that peace that comes through salvation, but the circumstances that you have endured in this sin cursed world has left you languishing deep within your inner man.  Today you can get peace…  and keep it!  This morning we will study this simple promise in God’s perfectly inspired and preserved word.  Today you can have perfect peace!

 

1. Perfect peace is possible.

 

1. Perfect = Hebrew construction shows this to be an emphatic phrase: you can have peace, peace.
2. Peace = a sense of completeness, free from harm, absent from war in one’s inner being.
3. This peace does not need to be temporary.

 

1. Peace comes when we are reconciled with God through saving faith.

 

Romans 5:9-11

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved

by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

• This peace brings healing.

 

Isaiah 57:19-21

19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

 

• This peace transcends worldly, temporal peace.

 

John 14:27

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

2. This peace can be kept = guarded.

 

Jeremiah 17:7-8

7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

 

1. Perfect peace depends upon one’s state of mind.
   • Stayed = take hold of
2. Peace comes through God’s Word.

 

Psalm 119:165

165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

 

John 16:33

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

1. Peace comes through the renewal on one’s mind.

 

Romans 12:2

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

• Perfect peace depends upon the object of your trust.

 

1. No Jesus, no peace – Know Jesus, know peace.

 

Isaiah 31:1

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

 

1 Chronicles 5:20

20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.

 

2 Chronicles 20:20

20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

 

1. Peace comes when you trust God.

 

Psalm 28:7

7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

 

1. Trust is demonstrated through prayer.

 

2 Chronicles 16:8-9

8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.  9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

 

Philippians 4:6-7   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

 

Isaiah 1:18 KJV 1900

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.

 

Introduction:

Are you a skeptic?  Are you a doubter?  Do you come to this service or this TV program with reservation, thinking that perhaps all this religious fervor is founded an baseless superstition?  Are you pretty sure that you are done with religion, and you would prefer not to identify with any one belief because, who knows which one if any actually have a corner on the truth?

If this describes you, then this message is for you.  In our passage this morning God challenges all those who have not yet fully committed to His to a debate.  You see, contrary to popular opinion, faith and reason are friends, not enemies.  God invites you right now to examine your doubts, your presuppositions, and your beliefs in the light the reason and logic we find in the Bible.  Perhaps if you are brave enough to honestly evaluate your position reason will meet faith.

The Skeptic Is Invited to an Open Discussion

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: ...” (Isaiah 1:18, KJV 1900)

• Reason = law term used of arguing , convincing, or deciding a case in court.
• Real open minded people should not fear examining their presuppositions from an opposing view.
• Think through the acts of God.

1 Samuel 12:7 KJV 1900

⁷ Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which he did to you and to your fathers.

• Think through the truth of the Word of God.

Acts 17:2 KJV 1900

² And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

• 40+ authors
• 1600+ years
• 3 Languages
• Scientific truths before its time
• One main message… your scarlet sins can be made clean and white.

Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook, 2004 Edition Stats, Stories and More

Amnesty
The word amnesty comes from the word from which we get amnesia. It means to forget. When God washes away our sins, they are forgotten. We’re left whiter than snow, purer than wool.

The Skeptic is Dared to Discover His Sinful Condition.

“… Though your sins be as scarlet…  Though they be red like crimson…” (Isaiah 1:18)

God has seen in secret

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Proverbs 14:12 KJV 1900

¹² There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

Romans 3:19–20 KJV 1900

¹⁹ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

James 2:10–11 KJV 1900

¹⁰ For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

¹¹ For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

Ephesians 5:12–13 KJV 1900

¹² For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

¹³ But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

The appointed penalty is death.

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Useless rituals will not erase the scarlet stain.

Isaiah 1:10–14 KJV 1900

¹⁰ Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; Give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

¹¹ To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; And I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

¹² When ye come to appear before me, Who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

¹³ Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; The new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

¹⁴ Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: They are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

Empty prayers will not erase the stain

Isaiah 1:15 KJV 1900

¹⁵ And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: Yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: Your hands are full of blood.

The Skeptic is Dared to Believe there is Hope!

A Chance for absolute purity

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

A Chance to replace our sin with Christ’s righteousness.

Romans 3:21–25 KJV 1900

²¹ But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook, 2004 Edition Stats, Stories and More

Whiter Than Snow
Evangelist E. Howard Cadle (1884–1942), was converted from a debauched life through the power of Isaiah 1:18. He was the black sheep of four children in a Christian family who started drinking at age twelve. He became addicted to alcohol, gambling, and sexual adultery, becoming known as the “Slot Machine King” in much of the Midwest because of his gambling enterprises. He attempted to murder a man, only narrowly escaping the penitentiary. Broken in finances and health, he finally “hit bottom” and returned home and collapsed into his mother’s arms, saying, “Mother I’m tired of sin. I’ve broken your heart, betrayed my wife, broken my marriage vows—I’d like to be saved, but I’ve sinned too much.” His mother replied, “Son, I’ve prayed for 12 years to hear you say what you’ve just said.” Getting out her Bible, she turned to Isaiah 1:18, and on that morning, March 14, 1914, E. Howard Cadle was converted. He later became a powerful and popular evangelist and radio preacher.

 

 

Introduction

Several years ago, I had the privilege of preaching in a chapel service for New England Baptist College in Southington.  Afterward I was to host a question and answer session attended by young preacher boys.  Once the introduction was completed and Dr. Barry Brown turned the podium over to me and the floor was open for questions, a brief period of awkward silence was broken by one young man’s very interesting question.

He was contemplating the incredible task of leading a church full of different passions, backgrounds, and opinions.  I will never forget his question.

“Pastor Carpenter, how do you make people do things that they do not want to do?”

This simple question helped me think through some life changing truths.  We will spend the rest of our time together exploring and answering this question.

When you break down the job of parenting, does it not seem that this question strikes at the heart of a parent’s job… to get little Johnny or Jane to OBEY!  To do what we want them to do, and to ben their rebellious wills to our protective and benevolent wills for them.

Raising Children in the 21st century brings new twists to an old challenge.  How do I shape the will and behavior of my child, or grandchild, niece, or nephew, or Sunday school student?

Our text verse is often quoted and often misunderstood by believing parents.

Proverbs 22:6 KJV 1900

Train up a child in the way he should go:

And when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Many parents feel or and have been taught to feel that they must MAKE their children comply!  If they wander off from what their parents have taught, the parents believe that they have failed.  Parents teach and teach and teach, yet the willful children still do not learn… what is wrong?  The Bible PROMISES that if we but teach them, they will not depart right?

Every word of God is inspired, not just the thoughts.  Our text verse does not command us to teach only.  We are commanded to TRAIN.

TRAIN =

• to direct the growth of (a plant) usually by bending, pruning, and tying
• to form by instruction, discipline, or drill
• to teach so as to make fit, qualified, or proficient

Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

 

You can TEACH all day long, but that does not always get the heart of the matter.  How do I get someone to do something that they do not want to do?  The short answer is that you can’t!  If God has chosen not to override one’s free will, you certainly will not be able to.  So the key then in not how to force someone to comply, but how to motivate our kids to choose to do right.  Today we will discover three life changing principles that will help us to motivate children to choose to change their behavior.  These will be key to raising a 21st century child.

I.  God Has Given Children Free Will.

God does not force us to believe or comply against our will.

Jeremiah 6:16–17 KJV 1900

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Proverbs 1:24–26 KJV 1900

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

 

Matthew 23:37 KJV 1900

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Yet God the Father seeks to influence our choices.

John 6:44 KJV 1900

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Yet God’s word seeks to influence our choices

John 8:32 KJV 1900

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The story of the prodigal son shows us that God is always ready for us to choose to come to him, to choose to repent and do right, no matter how long we have chosen to ignore his teaching and pleading…. no matter how low our rock bottom is.  Luke 15:15-20

Zechariah 1:3 KJV 1900

Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, And I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

II. Children Can Be Motivated to Choose Right When they Learn and Live.

• This is the beginning of training, but not all of training.
• Learn the truth then pass it down

Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV 1900

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;

Psalm 78:2–4 KJV 1900

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, And our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, Shewing to the generation to come The praises of the Lord, and his strength, And his wonderful works that he hath done.

 

• Train a Child… while they still can be taught, guided, and motivated.  While there is hope of change.

2 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

• Make it part of your every day, every moment routine.

Deuteronomy 6:7 KJV 1900

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

III.  Children Can Be Motivated To Choose Right When They Live and Learn.

• God has set a universal law of consequences to help children choose their actions.

Galatians 6:7 KJV 1900

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

• Consequences must be tied to actions early, while there is hope of change.,

Proverbs 19:18 KJV 1900

Chasten thy son while there is hope, And let not thy soul spare for his crying.

• Corporal punishment is a tool to help tie consequences to actions.
• The consequences must not fluctuate on mood or anger, but on the actions themselves.

Proverbs 29:15 KJV 1900

The rod and reproof give wisdom: But a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

• When consequences are tied to actions, we demonstrate our love for that child.

Proverbs 13:24 KJV 1900

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Proverbs 22:15 KJV 1900

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Proverbs 23:13 KJV 1900

Withhold not correction from the child: For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

Proverbs 23:14 KJV 1900

Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from hell.

• Consequences can be tied to actions even when corporal punishment is no longer the best choice.
• God uses consequences to motivate behavioral change in His children.

Hebrews 12:5–8 KJV 1900

⁵ And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

⁷ If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

⁸ But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

• When our children become adolescent or even adults still living in our household, the training has not stopped… only modified. We must still allow consequences to be tied to actions.  We must not get in the way of God’s hand of chastening that may be leveled at our children.

We must realize that:

• God has given our children free will
• That will can be modified when they LEARN AND LIVE
• That will can be modified when they LIVE AND LEARN
• Therefore we must use these tools to raise children in the 21st Century.

 

Job 34:20 KJV 1900

²⁰ In a moment shall they die, And the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: And the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

 

Introduction

This weekend we take time out of our busy lives to focus on Memorial Day.  We remember, honour, and give thanks for those who paid the ultimate price for freedom.  Flags wave, parades are held, speeches are made, and taps are played to remind us of the brave soldiers who willingly laid their lives down in order to preserve the freedom that we hold dear.  As we think through the stories we have heard from WWII veterans, Vietnam Soldiers, and Middle East Heroes, we are moved at their tenacity, grit, and love for country that they displayed in their darkest hours, in their midnight hours.

All through out history, man has viewed midnight to be the time of fear, uncertainty and death.  It is a time when the normal pattern of sweet sleep can be disturbed with unexpected and unwelcome trouble.  In our passage this morning we read the words of Elihu, one of Job’s “friends”.  He is waxing eloquent about the way God judges folks who deserve it.  Job’s well meaning, but ill-advised advisor uses a very powerful word picture.  He tells about the terror that comes to those under the mighty hand of God when they face trouble at midnight.

Are you facing a dark hour in your life?  Are you, like the soldiers that we honor this weekend, facing trouble at midnight?  Brothers and sisters, I have good news based on God’s word and what it says about the midnight hour.  God is always in control!   The light of God’s love is not dimmed by the blackness of the midnight hour or the trouble it contains.

God uses the dark and foreboding hour of midnight to reach us when we need Him the most and call us to take action in order to benefit from Trouble at Midnight.

 

Heed the Warning of Trouble at Midnight

Judges 16:1–3 KJV 1900

¹ Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.

² And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.

³ And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron.

 

1. Samson had been given marks of distinction as God’s chosen deliverer.
2. He kept surrendering these marks of distinction one by one.
3. His lust would eventually be his downfall.
4. This was a warning from God to try to wake him up and get him to change his ways before it was too late.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV 1900

¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

5. His last mark of distinction to surrender was his hair.
6. Once he surrendered his distinction, God took his power away.

It could be that your trouble at midnight is designed to get you to rethink your choices, repent, and go in a different direction before it is too late.

Escape the Trouble at Midnight

Exodus 11:4–6 KJV 1900

⁴ And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:

⁵ And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

⁶ And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.

1. The firstborn of every household was condemned to die, regardless of race or background.
2. The only way to escape the trouble at midnight was to apply the innocent blood of the lamb to the doorpost.

Exodus 12:12–13 KJV 1900

¹² For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.

¹³ And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

3. Jesus is coming back like a thief in the night and only those who are covered in His blood will go with Him to escape trouble at midnight.

Matthew 25:6–12 KJV 1900

⁶ And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

⁷ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

⁸ And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

⁹ But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

¹¹ Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

¹² But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

4. Death comes to us all, after that the midnight hour of judgement. Only those covered in the blood of Jesus will escape.

Hebrews 9:22 KJV 1900

²² And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

There is coming a time of reckoning., whether it be the rapture or death, there will come a time that we will all be judged.  Only those who have transferred their trust from their works to Christ’s finished work on the cross alone will be able to escape that kind of trouble at midnight.

Sing Praises During the Trouble at Midnight.

Acts 16:25–31 KJV 1900

²⁵ And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

²⁶ And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

²⁷ And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

²⁸ But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

²⁹ Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

³⁰ And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

³¹ And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

1. Paul and Silas sang praises during their darkest hour of persecution.
2. Every condemned and suffering soul heard the power of their praise.
3. When the jail doors opened, the prisoners did not dare leave, because they were spell bound by this kind of powerful praise.
4. It is because of this singing during the trouble at midnight, the jailer wanted to know how to be saved.

Psalm 40:3 KJV 1900

³ And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

It may be that God has brought you to this trial in order for you to give thanks in spite of your situation.  Perhaps you are commissioned to sing praises through your trouble at midnight.

Find Hope in the Midst of Trouble At Midnight

1. There comes a time when all human hope is lost.

Acts 27:14–20 KJV 1900

¹⁴ But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.

¹⁵ And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

¹⁶ And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:

¹⁷ Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.

¹⁸ And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

¹⁹ And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

²⁰ And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

2. This hopelessness should drive us to seek God

Acts 27:21–24 KJV 1900

²¹ But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

²² And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

²³ For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

²⁴ Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

3. God gives grace to endure the storm.

Acts 27:25–27 KJV 1900

²⁵ Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

²⁶ Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

²⁷ But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 6908 Roses Gathered at Midnight

It is said that the world’s best supply of perfume comes from roses on the Balkan Mountains. The flowers from which the lovely fragrance is distilled must be gathered in the darkest part of the night! The laborers therefore start shortly after 12 o’clock and conclude their picking within two hours. The brevity of the work period is based on scientific tests which have proved that during this gloomy interval the blossoms give their most pleasing scent, while 40 percent of their aroma disappear in the light of day.

Are you, like the folks we remember on Memorial Day, going through a dark and terrifying Midnight experience?  This did not happen randomly.  God has a purpose for your travel through this valley.  Perhaps there is a warning you must heed.  Perhaps it is escape through the Blood of Jesus you need.Perhaps you have a song to sing.  Perhaps it is the light of hope that you are meant to see.  Whatever the design, there is  something you can learn from your trouble at midnight.