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HOPE IN THE LORD!
2022-07-10 16:38:40 92  

HOPE IN THE LORD!
(Isaiah 40:27-31)                                July 10, 2022 

We had a nice thanksgiving festival, the Feast of Harvest last Sunday. It is to give our thanks to God for the firstfruits. The weather was good and various gifts were also good. First of all, many new comers joined the thanksgiving festival. They are from Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Bro. and sis., let's remember that we should give our firstfruits which is the best one to the Lord and there is promise. Amen!

Nowadays, it is getting harder to live our lives. Prices are rising everywhere and faced with severe abnormal temperature. Besides, the war at Ukraine is still ongoing. According to the news, Covid 19 problem is rising up again. Nevertheless, people do not seek for God. Even many Christians still remain weak since Covid problem started. How can we live our lives actively as Christian in this situation? Let's turn to the Bible for the answer.  

1. The life in Babylon 

Long time ago, the Jews became so discouraged, living in Babylon as captives for seventy years. They got so tired because they lost their freedom. They felt that they were thrown away by God. As we see in v.27, they thought that their way was hidden from the Lord. In v.28-31, there are the words 'tired', 'weary' 'the weary' and 'the weak'. But the more serious thing was that they didn't seek for God in such difficult situation. Instead they just seek for Babylon's secular culture. 

Actually, the reason the Jews became the captives of Babylon was that they continued to disobey God. Even when they returned home, Jerusalem, they didn't wholly seek for God in their lives. They worried just for a living, so many of them got married to foreign women who had no faith in God. It caused their faith to get weak, and there were many problems in their married life. After all, secular life made them so tired.  

Bro. and sis., don't we also see the present day's Babylon? Many people are busy to earn money just for the sake of secular success rather than God. Definitely, such life makes our lives tired. You know many foreigners try to come to Korea, learning Korean language in their countries. Then how about you? Those who earn money here are never satisfied, so some of them overstay illegally, but still have financial problems and get tired more.  

Some Christians choose non christians as their spouses for the same reason, but such secular life makes us tired even if it gives some success. That's why many people smoke or drink to release their stress in their lives, but it harms their health. Some people are addicted to internet or smartphone, but such things makes them tired too. Finally, now and then, the life without God makes us tired.  

Another reason we get tired is because we think and pray just by our own way. We can get it through v.27. The Jews thought and complained that they prayed to God, but God didn't answer them. But actually, God has plan and achieve it one by one according to his time table you know. But we insist our own way, so we easily get tired, thinking "God doesn't answer me". Isn't that true?  

God had a great vision for the Jews. He would forgive them and deliver them from the country, Babylon. Besides, the Sovereign Lord will come with power and rule over them. In other words, God will deliver them from Babylon and give them his eternal kingdom. Let's see Ammi yearly theme! God says in Isa.43:19, "See, I am doing a new thing!" What is new thing God will do? It is to deliver them from Babylon, furthermore to give them his eternal kingdom. How wonderful plan was it for them?  

Well, then who is God? He is the one who deliver us from all our difficulties (bondages) and ultimately guides us to his eternal kingdom. Halleluyah! This is why God asks us to have hope in him in today's passage.

2. Hope in the Lord!  

Let's see the verses 28-31! God will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 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.  

How great prophecy and message would it be to the Jews? God promised that he would give strength to them so that they might overcome their weaknesses and tiredness and return home successfully. As he promised, historically, they returned home to Jerusalem and started worshipping the Lord again, building up a temple. But the problem was that they continued to disobey God, so they still remained tired.

Bro. and sis., do you also feel tired? What makes you tired exactly? Aren't you perhaps seeking for secular culture as the Jews did before? Or perhaps disobey God in your life? Then now let's repent, turn to the Lord and hope in him. Amen! The word 'to hope' means to wait in Hebrew. It means to trust in and to expectantly look to God. So waiting is an active process. It demands the absolute surrender of our lives to God.  

Andrew Murray points out this view in this book 'Waiting on God'. He says, "People pray a lot, but nearly they don't wait for the Lord. They just attach on their own demands. But we should be quiet before the Lord so that he may come near to us as he wants." Actually, life is endless waiting; waiting for school, waiting for job or waiting for the person to get married. This is why we should put our trust in the Lord for strength always. Amen!  

Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. The word 'renew' literally means to exchange. It is like a cell phone battery that has been used all day. It needs energy. Likewise, God has the power to exchange our exhaustion and weariness for new strength. Bro. and sis., this is the answer to the question. "How can we live our lives actively as Christian in this difficult situation?" It is to hope in the Lord, in other words, it is to wait for the Lord who will strengthen us. Amen! 

Regarding this, I have a story. Before becoming a pastor and missionary, I was a teacher to middle school and high school boys and girls in the church. By the way one of them became a pastor later since I left the home church. After a long time, there was a news that he became a missionary in Cambodia. Years ago, one Korean missionary who's from Cambodia visited us and delivered a message to us in Cambodian language. Do you remember?  

I asked him if he knew the missionary Whang, Cheoljin, but he said 'No!' By the way (just) last Sunday, at the Feast of Harvest, Sunday school pastor's parents, the missionary couple in Cambodia joined the thanksgiving festival you know. So I asked them if they knew missionary Whang in Cambodia. Then they answered me, "Yes, we know him very well. He is now taking care of lots of orphans there. He is an excellent missionary in Cambodia."  

Wow! I was really surprised at the news. Actually, he has a deep wound for his son drowned while swimming in summer when he was a little boy. How could he stand up from the grief and become such effective missionary in Cambodia, helping many children who are in need? Besides, he educates and nurtures with worship and Word so that they may become good Christian workers later. Particularly, he guides them to memorize Bible verses, and their lives have been changing. Isn't it amazing story?  

He has done such a great ministry, forgetting the sadness of losing his son. It is because he received the strength God gives continuously. There are so many great stories in the Bible. Especially, Heb.11: introduces many hero's of faith. They are mere men like us, but by the strength God gives, even they overcame the world. What kind of Christian should we be then?  

The last v.31 mentions about the bird eagle which is called the king of sky. It's said that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. It shows us that we should be strong Christian like eagles by hoping in the Lord in our lives, doesn't it? Then we will also run and not grow weary. We will also walk and not be faint. Amen! 

The Jews in Babylon were so tired for they were just seeking for Babylon's culture, not for God. By the way, God promised that he would give strength to them so that they might overcome their weaknesses and tiredness and return home. Besides, he promised that he would give them his eternal kingdom. Isn't He good God? 

God is the same yesterday, today and forever you know. He is the one who gives us his people strength. The problem is whether we hope in the Lord or not. Bro. and sis., let's turn to the Lord and hope in him everyday after this. Amen! The word 'to hope' means to wait for God, trusting and looking to the Lord. By hoping in the Lord, we can strengthen our faith.  

Basically, we need four things for strong faith. The yearly theme placard shows us about this. First is daily Q.T. We should have the fellowship with the Lord everyday by reading the word and by prayer. Next is worship. We should attend church for Sunday service as true worshipper. Third, we need fellowship in the church as we can grow up in spirit by the help of church and church members and by serving them. And fourth is evangelism including world mission. Let's keep in mind this! Amen! 

In conclusion, Jesus says, "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Mt.6:23) And he promised, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Mt.28:20) The Lord is the one who strengthen us so that we may overcome world. And the Lord is coming again soon to give us his eternal kingdom. This is why we can face our tomorrow and live our lives as active Christian. Amen!

 

  Not useless, but useful!
  CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF HARVEST!
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