I'll Have a Double Portion

Hope Renewed

Greg Kasler / General Adult

Isaiah 40:21–31

It’s Time to Soar!

There are lots of things that I love about the technology that we live with today. I love the convenience of having a phone, camera, calculator, video camera, and computer everywhere I go. I love the crispness of the picture we get on new televisions. Watching the Super Bowl is completely different now than it was when I was a kid and we watched on a little - grainy - black and white TV. When technology is working correctly, it can make our life a whole lot easier, and it allows us to do things that we otherwise couldn’t even do.

But sometimes, technology can be frustrating. Sometimes we get too dependent upon it. Sometimes it stops working like we think it should work. When technology doesn’t work the way we want it to work, when it gets overly cluttered and confused, the best way to fix it is to do a reboot, a reset. Computers need to be rebooted - phones need to be turned off and back on - Cable boxes need to be unplugged and plugged back in. That is always the first thing you do when your technology is underperforming - reset.

Sometimes I wish there was a way to reset living, breathing, mistake ridden, human beings. I mean, it doesn’t take very long of living in this world until we experience brokenness. All of us have experienced pain, frustration, disappointment, and are broken in some way. We have all sinned - we’ve blown it - we’ve messed up - we’ve made decisions that hurt ourselves - we’ve made decisions that hurt others - we’ve made decisions that destroyed our relationship with God. We’ve all experienced brokenness.

Is there a reset - a reboot - a renewal for us?

The people of Israel had been taken away from the land that God had given them, and they were frustrated and broken. They didn’t understand why God had abandoned them in their time of need. Let’s see what the prophet had to say to them in this vulnerable time.

Isaiah 40:21–31 NIV

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

25 “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”?

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

The Israelites could look back to their history and see how God had always left a remnant of His people. It seems, though, that one of the common themes of the Old Testament is that their memory of God’s faithfulness is challenged over and over again. In the situation from our text, once again they had forgotten how faithful God had been in the past. The people had been taken into exile, but the time of exile - the time of punishment was now over, and they were returning to Jerusalem. There was a great deal that they must do in order to restore Jerusalem and to be renewed as the people of God.

Yet, just like in times past, they once again were experiencing amnesia. They had forgotten who it is that they serve. They had come to the end of the exile, but what was going to happen next? and, how could the God of Israel restore them? They knew He had done it in the past, but the question that was on their mind wasn’t even how. They were actually wondering...Could He really restore them?

The prophet confronts their brokenness - he confronts their insecurities - certainly God CAN restore them - renew them even. Compared to God, the greatest of people are like grasshoppers. The most powerful of nations will wither like a plant that is devoid of water. Poetically, he describes God as the one who created everything. Even the greatest of rulers - even the greatest of governments rise and fall and He still remains God above it all.

Christians in America sometimes conflate the idea of being American with the idea of being a Christ follower.It’s sometimes referred to as Christian Nationalism - and it is one of the great challenges to the American church today. People can put their national identity ahead of their relationship with God, and expect that what God really wants is to bless our nation. I am a Christian - and I am glad and proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. But many in our culture have somehow mixed together the two as if to be a real Christian, you have to be a solid, faithful American. So many people have mixed up the red, white and blue of the flag with the red of the blood of the cross and have created an all new religion. Just yesterday, we stopped at a Rural King on our way home from celebrating Ivy’s 2nd birthday, and I saw there a cross that was painted with the colors of the American Flag. I did a search when I got home and discovered that there are over 5,000 different kinds of American flag crosses on Etsy alone. Now, I get the sentiment behind the concept. If you have one of these, I am not saying that they are necessarily a bad thing. What I am saying is that the meaning is that we need to be “One Nation Under God.” Unfortunately, for many, the idea is that their religion is more about the flag than it is about the cross - and that is where we cross the line. God is way bigger than the United States of America or even democracy.

The Israelites suffered from amnesia, and I wonder if we suffer from amnesia as well. We look around at the problems in the world around us and we see the brokenness, not only in our own circumstances and in our own families, but we see the brokenness of a world that is divided and struggling to find its way. And, we somehow forget that God is bigger than all of our problems! It is easy to become overwhelmed when we focus on the problems in our world.

You may have heard the kids song that goes like this: “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do!” We sing that with our kids, but I guess my question this morning is, do we really believe it? Is it really true that there is nothing our God cannot do? If that is true - then what does that really mean for us? What does it mean for you in the midst of your brokenness? What does it mean for your family in the midst of the chaos and pain that we have all experienced and continue to experience? What does it mean for the church as we face the reality that many have turned their backs on the church? What does it mean for America as we face the challenges that we face? What does it mean for the over 7 billion people on this planet?

We’re tired! I have had several conversations with people over the last few weeks that remind me how tired we are of the constant brokenness - of the constant struggle - of the division - of the loss and pain that we all are feeling - of the pandemic, and what that means for all of us.

We’re tired! But - “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” and here is the good part! “He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” Yeah, we think we have Him figured out, but I think we are all going to be surprised when we finally see Him face to face and we are going to realize that we were wrong about all kinds of things. Our God is so Big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing our God cannot do - and we cannot begin to fathom His wisdom!

As I said, we are all tired - young and old - strong and weak - we are all tired, but praise God, He gives strength to the weary - He increases the power of the weak.

We know the ending verse of this passage well, don’t we? We’ve already sang about it this morning. We enjoy how the NIV translates verse 31, those who “hope” in the Lord will renew their strength. We jump right in there - because we want to get to the good part of soaring on wings like eagles - we want to run and not grow weary - we want to walk and not be faint.

But this is one of those times when the King James Version may add some additional insight:

Isaiah 40:31 KJV 1900

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.

They that wait - the NIV translated the word as hope - the King James, along with the New Revised Standard Version and others translate the same word as wait. Which is correct? Well, in this case, the answer is both are correct. The idea is that we wait - in hope. And it is those who wait in hope who will be renewed by the LORD. But the problem is, we don’t like to wait for anything! We want simple formulas that get us to what we want!

Did you hear about the young preacher that graduated Bible School? He accepted a small country church to be the pastor. It was the only church that would have him. He was the only candidate that would go to the small church. So they were matched up pretty well. His first Sunday there as the new pastor was so excited to be their pastor. So the pastor had prepared a good sermon. The young man called on the head deacon to lead the prayer before his lesson.

The deacon came forward and stood before the altar and in a loud countrified voice the deacon started: Now heavenly Father we come humbly yet boldly before the throne of God. Father please hear my prayer. Now Lord, I hate lard. The young preacher peeked at his deacon. The preacher thought what mess am I in for? The old deacon went on to say: Now, Lord you know I am not too fond of buttermilk. Wow, where is he going with this thought the preacher? The old farmer said: Lord, flour is so dry and hard to swallow, I just ain’t too crazy about flour. But, Lord I know after you mix everything together and put it in the oven, I just love butter on my biscuits. Now sweet heavenly Father we have learned that life gets heavy and hard for seasons. Many trials and sufferings we just don’t understand what you are doing. But Lord we are learning that “THEY THAT WAIT UPON YOU SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.” Lord, teach us to wait to see what you are making. God, we trust you and you know what you are doing. God you know what you are making and it will be good after the mixing and the baking. Jesus what you are doing here will be much better than flaky biscuits. Amen.

Trust that God is still on His throne and wait in hope for Him to restore and renew - keep Him on the throne of your life and wait - in hope - and renewal will come! That reboot - that reset - is what God specializes in. If you are weary and tired this morning, won’t you place everything in His hands? won’t you allow Him to do the miraculous work that He so desires in your life?

The Communion Supper, instituted by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a sacrament, which proclaims His life, His sufferings, His sacrificial death, and resurrection, and the hope of His coming again. It shows forth the Lord’s death until His return.

The Supper is a means of grace in which Christ is present by the Spirit. It is to be received in reverent appreciation and gratefulness for the work of Christ.

All those who are truly repentant, forsaking their sins, and believing in Christ for salvation are invited to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ. We come to the table that we may be renewed in life and salvation and be made one by the Spirit.

In unity with the Church, we confess our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And so we pray:

Holy God,

We gather at this, your table, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, who by your Spirit was anointed to preach good news to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, set at liberty those who are oppressed. Christ healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and established the new covenant for forgiveness of sins. We live in the hope of His coming again.

On the night in which He was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples, and said: “This is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, when the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples, and said: “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me.” Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Matthew 26:27–29, Luke 22:19)

And so, we gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves to you in praise and thanksgiving. Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these your gifts. Make them by the power of your Spirit to be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the Body of Christ, redeemed by His blood.

By your Spirit make us one in Christ, one with each other, and one in the ministry of Christ to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, let us pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Before the partaking of the bread, let the minister say:

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ died for you, and be thankful.