Sermon Central
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The Unsinkable Ship
Contributed by Gerald Van Horn on Mar 4, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: God’s Word is like an unsinkable ship in the sea of humanity
The Unsinkable Ship by Gerald Van Horn
v.8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord.
v.9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
v.10. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
v.11. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
v.12. For Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all trees of the field shall clap their hands.
v.13. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not to be cut off.
God’s Word alone can expose the depth of the need of mankind. It can go beyond the soul right into the heart of even the hardest hearted person. The importance of God’s Word is no panacea or new principle. It is as old as God is. It cannot be denied. There is no literature in the whole world that can verify itself like God’s Word. It is infallible. It is unshakeable. It is unchangeable.
The writer, Isaiah, mentions several things based upon the unshakeable Word of God. It is an example for every child of God confirming His Word.
1. The rain and snow
No man can stop the rain or the snow from falling from heaven. The purpose is to water the earth and make it fertile. It does not need any help from man. We often call it the law of nature. Next time it rains or snows go outside and shout at the rain or snow to cease and see what happens. The neighbors may call 911.
The sequence is a wonderful thing. Rain, the snow, watering the earth, causing the bud to grow, which in turn produces grain or whatever is sown. The results are bread in the case of the grain. We somehow cannot come to grips with the process because when we need bread we just head to the store.
Even so is the Word of God. There is a transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Hebrews 1:1-3 “God who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,Jesus Christ, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The Word does not come to us so that we can possess it. The Word must possess us. It must be applied to all the aspects of our lives. To fail in one part is to fail in all. God promises success through His Word. There is no such thing as 1/2 success or 1/4 success. It’s all or nothing.
God’s Word has purpose. It is powerful. It is fruitful. The Word can be reproduced in the life of others. It is never stagnant. It pushes forward in prosperity. It is like an unsinkable ship. It survives even on the roughest sea. Nothing can stop it. God’s Word will accomplish its purpose.
2. A picture of life without God.
Thorns are bad but briers are even worse. God can turn your thorns into a beautiful forest. God can turn your briers into a beautiful forest. Everything God touches flourishes. Life without God is a barren land, a desert of misery. It is unfruitful. Man in sin reaps nothing but futility. He’s heading into a blind alley. There is no way out except by God’s help. It all depends upon the unshakeable Word of God. Believe and trust it. The world may pass away but the Word of the Lord shall abide forever.
Illustration: The story is told of an unbeliever who wanted to see 18th century Evangelist
