December 11, 2016 “Born
Again – Glad” *Isaiah 35.1-10, Matthew 11.2-11 Pastor Jacqueline Hines
The wilderness and the
dry land shall be glad, [slide # 1 wilderness] says the prophet Isaiah in the beginning of chapter 35. This is
a beautiful passage. It is a very poetic passage whose words make our heart
sing and puts our minds at peace. The images and ideas are very nurturing to
our souls.
That is the job of the
prophet according to the bible. The prophet’s purpose is to bring comfort [slide # 2 comforting hug] and consolation and encouragement. Every now
and then encouragement may even come in the form of a big boost or maybe a little
“boot. In any case, every one of us has a bit of a prophet in our souls. It is
no surprise when the Spirit uses us to bring comfort, consolation, and
encouragement to one or to many. Mark Batterson [slide # 3 Mark Batterson] author of 40 Days of Prayer affirms that every
one of us becomes a prophet when we are in the habit of praying. At the same
time, he says life without prayer can make life pathetic.
In bible study this week we
went around and made a note of Isaiah’s verses that stood out strongest in our
minds. [slide # 4 bible and light] From this abundance of words they pulled out
verse 3 where Isaiah says weak hands will be strengthened and unsteady knees
supported, [slide # 5
walker] verse 4 telling of God coming with vengeance, [slide # 6 vengeance, gavel] verse 6 waters springing in the desert [slide # 7 desert water] and streams in the wilderness. [slide #8 wilderness water]
The purpose of Isaiah’s joyous
images of peace and power is to motivate us as we continue [slide # 9 backpacker on
path] our journey of faith no matter what
difficulties challenge us or pleasures distract us.
It is amazing how poetry
and beauty and laughter and praise and thanksgiving and countless other wonders
can transform [slide # 10
changes] us into human beings and diminish our savage
instincts, just like a butterfly emerges out of its cocoon. [Slide # 11 butterfly]
When we take the high
road we are lifted to a better place. [slide # 12 shoulder ride] Isaiah wrote wonderful words to a weary people. Are you weary
today? Is something wearing you down? As the songwriter says, “Earth has no
sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.” Come ye disconsolate wherever you languish.
Come to the mercy seat. Fervently kneel. Here bring your wounded hearts, [slide # 13 wounded heart] here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow
that heav’n cannot heal. [slide # 14 Heaven’s gates]
Just as we look to Isaiah
[slide # 15 book of Isaiah] and other
scriptures to lift us up, we can look [slide # 16 binoculars] wherever we find holy comfort, wise
consolation, blessed encouragement, pure laughter, righteous beauty, and
wherever there is praise and thanksgiving to God. [slide # 17 arms raised
praising]
This season for Bethel is
especially appreciated because of the awesome beauty of the light [slide # 18 candles] and the love that the decorations have brought
us. They truly glorify God. [slide # 19 God glorified] Truly! God is pleased when we make something beautiful. God is
pleased when it is over-the-top beautiful because God has made us over-the-top
beautiful inside and out. God knows that over-the-top beautiful transforms us
in wonderful ways. [slide # 20 blue butterfly]
You may get chills down
your spine and a smile on your face when you remember our family Christmas
party last week, or the meal that is planned for a special community this week,
or the dozens of meals prepared for those who are homebound and unable to cook
on their own for one reason or another. There is beauty in feeding those who,
though their primary need is not food, can definitely be nurtured by the
fellowship. Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, a gift as small [slide # 21 small gifts] as a meal can reflect a thousand hugs. [slide # 22 Jesus’ hug] That is why Christmas will always be our time for giving!
The first Christmas was not the happiest. Even today, some
lawyers call the Monday after Christmas, D-Day, Divorce Day as some families
mark the end of their relationships. It does not matter what our situation,
beauty and poetry and laughter and praises to God prime the pump and allow rivers
of peace and joy to flow into our lives. [slide # 23 jumping for joy]
Have you ever sung
yourself happy!! I remember my friend as a young woman who suddenly lost her
Godmother. She was the type to talk out loud to God and lift her hands in
prayer and praise. It was her custom and her culture. She went privately into a
corner and began to pour out her sadness to God. She was not aware that I saw
her. She lifted her hands and began to thank God, [slide # 24 dancing in the
spirit] then praise God, then danced with all
deliberation as the tears of sorrow continued to flow. It was clear that she
was flowing in the rivers of God’s peace and comfort. It happened for my friend
just as Isaiah prophesied.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not
fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible
recompense. He will come and save you.”
Then
the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the
lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For
waters shall break forth in
the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the
burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A
highway shall be there, and it shall
be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it
shall be for God’s people; no
traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the
ransomed of the Lord shall return,
and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they
shall obtain joy and gladness, and
sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah was right then and he
is right today.
May it also be so in our lives forever! [slide # 25 trust God ] Amen.
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