WHEN NO ONE WANTS US
Isaiah 54:6-10
INTRODUCTION
Max Lacado, in his book, Just Like Jesus, talks about using every moment of every day talking with God. Christians throw up their hands and say, “No way! I have to work too hard and think harder.” But Lacado has an answer. By the time our life is over, we will have spent six months at stoplights, eight months opening junk mail, a year and a half looking for lost stuff and five years standing in various lines. Instead of “whistle while you work,” why can we not commune with God at this times. Just because our car is in neutral, it does not mean our brain has to be in neutral. Just because the brain of everyone else in line is in neutral, it does not mean our brain has to be in neutral. We can let our kitchen become a cathedral or the classroom a chapel.
There are things in life that we do and time passes so fast (like hearing the pastor’s sermon). Then there are other things that seem to take forever. These are legion.
Waiting for our wife to shop in just one more store
Sitting in the dentist’s chair
Sitting behind the slowest care at the drive up window at the bank
Being late for work or an appointment waiting for the light to change
Everyone could stand and give their ‘favorite’
But when our brain and our heart are in shape to pray then prayer can come more naturally. At the mall, in the dentist’s chair, waiting at the drive up at the bank, waiting for the light to change.
Why should we be so concerned with prayer? Because our mate cares so much about us, we should communicate with him or her. Because of the interest between a parent and a child there should also be communication. Generally, the length of the communication is dependent upon the interest the two have in one another. No one has more interest in us than God. Therefore here is where the greatest communication of our life should take place. Just a few moments ago we listed how long we spend our life doing required things. Someday when we stand before God how much time will have been out of our life talking to Him?
But someone here today may feel abandoned. By family, by friends and even by God.
THEME: WHEN CAN WE REALLY KNOW THAT GOD CARES FOR US?
I. WHEN NO ONE ELSE WANTS US, GOD WANTS US vs. 6-7
A. When We Are Forsaken vs. 6a
1. The Lord has called us
a. It is possible to be displeased with someone
b. But it is possible to displeased without hatred towards that person
2. The great contrasts of God’s anger
a. Momentary anger
NOTE: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalms 30:5
b. Eternal anger
1) For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Exodus 17:16
2) And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night … Revelation 14:11
B. When We Are Grieved vs. 6b
1. Because of the destructive influence of our sin
NOTE: Our faith and our friendships are not shattered by one big act, but by many small neglects J. Gustav White
2. When we are forsaken because of our sin
a. Sin breaks fellowship
b. Sin breaks bonds
c. Sin breaks continuity
d. Sin breaks reputations
e. Sin breaks ministries
f. Sin breaks hearts
3. When sin does its work in us we suddenly realize what we have lost
a. Adam and Eve lost the Garden of Eden
b. Samson lost his eyes
c. Saul lost his kingdom
d. David lost his peace
e. Judas lost his soul
f. Demas lost his ministry
4. Grieved in spirit
a. Grieving is the result of losing someone or something that we love
b. The greatest grieving is the result of losing something spiritual
C. When We Are Refused vs. 6c
1. No one likes rejection
a. Rejection slips
b. Failing grades
c. Divorce papers
d. Rejected by God
NOTE: The untended garden will soon be overrun with weeds; the heart that fails to cultivate truth and root out error will shortly be a theological wilderness A. W. Tozer
T.S. WHEN CAN WE REALLY KNOW THAT GOD CARES FOR US?
I. WHEN NO ONE ELSE WANTS US, GOD WANTS US vs. 6
II. WHEN GOD HAS TO JUDGE US, IT WILL NOT BE PERMANENT vs. 7-9
A. When We Have To Be Forsaken vs. 7
1. It is only temporary
a. For a small moment in light of eternity
b. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory II Corinthians 4:17
2. What we experience is the mirror opposite to the wicked
a. That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment Job 20:5
b. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14
3. Then great mercy comes to the child of God
a. Everlasting mercy
b. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 10:17
B. Because Of His Everlasting Mercy vs. 8
1. A little wrath
NOTE: “Wrath” is found almost 200 times in the Bible
a. His fierce wrath Exodus 32:12
b. The wrath of the Lord Numbers 11:33
c. His great wrath II Kings 23:26
d. The day of wrath Proverbs 11:4
e. The wrath to come I Thessalonians 1:10
f. The wrath of the Lamb Revelation 6:16
g. The wrath of God Revelation 15:7
h. The wrath of Almighty God Revelation 19:15
2. Only for a moment
NOTE: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5
3. Beyond the spanking will be the everlasting kindness
4. Personal mercy
a. Singular
b. Thee, you
5. He still is our Redeemer
a. For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth Job 19:25
b. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
NOTE: Song, I Will Sing Of My Redeemer
C. God’s Promise Is To Us As Sure As His Promise To Noah vs. 9
NOTE: The ground of this everlasting kindness
1. The waters satisfied the wrath of God
2. The promise was that this judgment will never happen again
3. He will never bring up our past sins to judge us again
T.S. WHEN CAN WE REALLY KNOW THAT GOD CARES FOR US?
I. WHEN NO ONE ELSE WANTS US, GOD WANTS US vs. 6
II. WHEN GOD HAS TO JUDGE US, IT WILL NOT BE PERMANENT vs. 7-9
III. WHEN EVERYTHING FALLS APART, GOD WILL NO FALL OUT WITH US vs. 10
A. The Mountains And Hills Are Less Stable Than God’s Promises vs. 10a
1. He putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots. Job 28:9
2. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Psalm 46:1-3
B. God’s Kindness Is More Secure Than This Earth vs. 10b
1. One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. Ecclesiastes 1:4
2. For his merciful kindness is great toward us … Psalms 117:2
3. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7
C. We Never Will Be Without His Peace vs. 10c
1. We can lose our peace but not His peace
2. We can waste our life on the wrong priorities
3. We can harm others when we go astray
NOTE: A lighthouse keeper worked on a rocky stretch of coastline and received oil once a month to keep his light burning. The lighthouse was close to a village. One evening a woman came begging for some oil to keep her family warm. Another night a father needed just a little oil for his lamp. Then another needed oil to lubricate a wheel. All the requests seemed legitimate, the lighthouse keeper tried to help everyone. Toward the end of the month, he ran out of oil and his lighthouse went dark. Several ships crashed on the coastline with lose of life and goods. His superior rebuked him saying, “You were given the oil for one reason, to keep the light burning.”
D. His Seal Of Forgiveness Is His Mercy
NOTE: The Good Housekeeping Seal Of Approval
CONCLUSION
WHEN CAN WE REALLY KNOW THAT GOD CARES FOR US?
I. WHEN NO ONE ELSE WANTS US, GOD WANTS US
II. WHEN GOD HAS TO JUDGE US, IT WILL NOT BE PERMANENT
III. WHEN EVERYTHING FALLS APART, GOD WILL NO FALL OUT WITH US
Sermons And Lessons From The Old Testament 