Isa 50:4
4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
NIV
There are weary people in our community that need a word that sustains.
A word that gives them hope…
Sometimes because we are so blessed, we forget our reality is not the reality that so many others face each day.
We have a God we can lean on, talk with, walk with, who sustains us by His Word, lifes us by the breath of His Spirit, gives us hope for today and eternity.
We’ve seen how prayer can change things, impossible becomes possible; know what it is to be strengthened day by day and the joy of not walking alone! Not walking alone! Expound.
We have a blueprint that if followed in our lives will lead to fruitfulness and being fulfilled.
If we build our homes on His plan we are not assured that their will not be trials, but we are assured that their will be success.
Expound Marriages, children, finances, lifestyle etc…
We sometimes get so caught up in our own lives we become complacent and forget that there are weary people who need what we have to give!
And if we don’t give it away, we don’t have it anymore!
Luke 12:48 in part
…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Matt 9:35-38
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
NKJV
Who is that? You & I!
Eph 2:10
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
NASU
David Roper writes “The world has yet to see what God will do through you and me”.
There are weary and scattered people around us each and every day! The harvest is plentiful…
I’m not sure why we wait!
It’s not dependent on your education, getting your act together etc…
You are all dressed up! AND YOU HAVE SOMEPLACE TO GO!
He has covered you with His robe of righteousness…
Examples of men & women God used!
John 1:40-42
40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which translated means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.
NASU
We are not told if Andrew ever brought anyone else but Peter to Jesus.
John 4:28-30
28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men, 29 "Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?" 30 They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.
NASU
The story of the women at the well…A samaritan women, not acceptable to the Jewish culture…Five husbands, living with someone basically in sin. Going back into her village and bringing a word of hope to the weary…From her city many believed…
The Gerasene demoniac
He was living in the tombs…Too strong to be shackled anyone…Scars…
Constant crying out & screaming….hoarse…
Gashing himself with stones….
Jesus delivered him & sent him out with a word to the weary…
Mark 5:18-20
18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He said to him, " Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you." 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.
NASU
Now clothed and in his right mind… Still bearing the scars of stones and chains that had been on his life…
One of the greatest challenges I have as a pastor is convincing people that God wants to use them to change the world.
Not just to make a dent, be good people, raise your families, and have a healthy marriage, BUT TO CHANGE THE WORLD!
It is a challenge to convince a church that they can pastor, bless a community!
We forget even the purpose that we gather! We show up with our scorecard to rate the experience!
Was the worship deep enough? Or not too deep?
Was I comfortable? Or not comfortable enough?
Was the preacher too long, too short, too deep, not spiritual enough?
We are here to honor God & to get a Word that will sustain the weary!
I put my scorecard away and give myself to Him that I might be sustained and come away with something I need in my life and something I can give away!
Isa 50:4
4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
NIV
Church, this is how God wants to use us.
We must have compassion on the multitudes…They are scattered and weary.
We must know the Word that sustains the weary… Jesus…
He wants to speak to us, give us something each day….
And not only for us, but to someone…
In our family
In our workplace
In our community
There will be a constant sense of fulfillment in our lives when we are walking in the “good works that he purposed beforehand” in our lives.
“The world has yet to see what God will do through you and me”.
Close/invitation…..Are you weary? Need a word that sustains?
