I. EXORDIUM:
Have you worked hard and yet via politics and envy of the leaders lost everything?
II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:
Church leaders
III. OBJECTIVES:
To remind that GOD is the rewarder of our hard work not people.
IV. TEXT:
Isaiah 49:4 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”
V. THESIS:
Our reward for all the hard work in the ministry rests in the LORD's Hands.
VI. TITLE:
GOD Rewards
VII. EXPLICATION:
A. Author: Isaiah - son of Amos, prophesied during reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.
B. Isaiah is regarded as greatest Old Testament prophet: (1) preeminently the prophet of redemption, (2) passages in this book are among the finest in literature.
VIII. MAIN BODY:
1. My work seems so useless. (Isaiah 53:1-3, Luke 19:14)
Rejection or failure is a heavy word on us, since we don't want it, no one wants rejected or their work failed but in here it's shown that people can treat you and your work as rejected on their "personal" standards and thus a failure but they're not the GOD of rewards only GOD is.
Isaiah 53:1-3 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Who has believed our message? To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?
My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.
He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
Luke 19:14 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’
a. The word "useless" came from the Hebrew word "reek" or vain in the English word, meaning "emptiness, a worthless thing, vanity"
It simply means whatever hard work you poured into something, they are empty, worthless and vanity to people and not counted or credited to you as work.
If you have prayed, seek the LORD GOD night and day and worked hard, even consuming yourself in all the ministry requirements, but is not credited by people but instead was look upon as nothing, because of politics inside the church or envy, this sermon is for you.
2. My works seems nothing and no purpose at all (2 Corinthians 12:15)
2 Corinthians 12:15 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
If you are a righteous person in love with the LORD GOD, all you think about are the welfare of other people and not yourself, you gladly spend your strength and everything you own for their benefit all because of love but if this is nothing at all with humans, as if you've done your best but your best seems not good enough to them, don't worry GOD knows it all and He will reward you.
a. I have spent my strength for nothing.
(1) The word "nothing" came from the Hebrew word "to-hoo" meaning "desolation, lie waste, empty place, without form". No one wants to work for nothing, we humans are after the rewards and promotions we can get but instead your work are treated an empty place or without form.
b. I have spent my strength to no purpose at all.
3. Yet I leave it all in the LORD's Hands (Isaiah 40:10, Isaiah 62:11)
a. I will trust GOD for my reward.
Isaiah 40:10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
Isaiah 62:11 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
The Lord has sent this message to every land: “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, your Savior is coming. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.’”
GOD is the rewarder and our reward is with Him as He comes, so don't fret, don't feel bad about it, but trust GOD and leave everything to GOD'S Hands.
IX. CONCLUSION:
Isaiah 40:10 (New Living Translation, Second Edition)
Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.
