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How to Experience Everlasting Joy

Introduction

Often, when I read a passage of Scripture, I ask myself two questions: Is there something here that God wants me to know? And, is there something here that God wants me to do? In today's text, Isaiah 35, there are some of both.

God wants you to know that he is in control of history, he is in control of the future, and his plans will come to pass. Even though this world has gone through many trials and tribulations, there will come a day when we experience—in the words of Isaiah—everlasting joy.

Isaiah 35 is a chapter of promises from God. Listen to what he says:

The desert and parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice with blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. (v. 1-2)
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ear of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The burning sand will become a pool, and thirsty ground bubbling springs. (v. 5-7)
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in the Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing, everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (v. 8-10)

That's God plan for the future. Even though you may go through trials and tribulations along the way, God's plan for you, for me, and for all his people is that gladness and joy will overtake us, and sorrow will flee from our lives. If it's not that way today in your life, it will be ultimately. That's God's promise. That's what he wants you to know: you're destined for everlasting joy.

Now, when we read Isaiah 35, what do we see that God wants us to do? In the middle of all the wonderful promises of Isaiah 35, he gives us three commands. He says, "I promise to give you everlasting joy; here are three things I want you to do." Let's take a look at each one.

Strengthen Those Who Are Weak.

First of all, strengthen those who are weak. "Strengthen the feeble hands …" (v. 3).

How many times have you heard someone say, "As it says in the Bible, God helps those who help themselves." Guess what. It doesn't say that in the Bible. There's not a verse that even remotely resembles that saying.

In reality, the Bible teaches that God helps those who can't help themselves … that his heart goes out to the poor, the oppressed, the rejected, and the weak. And, as his people, we're to do the same.

Are there any weak people close to you who need your strength? If you listen closely, you'll hear the clues. They say things like, "I don't know how much more I can take … I'm at the end of my rope … I can't do this any longer …"

Every day you meet people who are looking for the strength to go on. Maybe it's a stressed-out businessman, or a lonely widow, or a struggling parent, or a discouraged Christian. There are people all around you with feeble hands, and God says to you, "Strengthen the feeble hands." God intends for us to give strength to one another, and give strength to one another.

In the December 3 [2001] issue of Newsweek, the President and First Lady gave an interview. The President was asked about his source of strength during these difficult times. He said that he finds strength in prayer … in knowing that others are praying for him. "I have never felt more confident about something in my life. And I believe a lot of it has to do with the prayers of the people." He also said that his wife, Laura, is a source of strength to him. "She has always been a calming influence in my life and is a comfort to me as I dealt with big decisions."

Interestingly, Laura said that she gets her strength from her husband. She said, "He acts like I steady him, but the fact is he steadies me." That's the way it should work; we're to give strength to one another.

Take a look at those closest to you right now—your spouse, your children, your best friends. Which one needs to be strengthened? Don't be so wrapped up in your own problems that you miss their cries for help.

Something I learned a long time ago is that you don't have to be a spiritual giant to give strength to others; you just have to care. You have to care enough to be willing to say, "I think this is an area where you need some strength; let me help you."

I'm not talking about allowing others to become perpetually dependent upon you, where you solve all their problems and meet all their needs. That's not giving them strength; it only keeps them weak. That's not what God is suggesting that we do. He is saying, however, that we should help those who can't help themselves. Strengthen them. Maybe it takes a word, or a few hours of your time, or a few dollars … but give strength to those who are weak.

When you do, you'll experience an unexpected windfall: joy. There's joy in helping others. Solomon said, "He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25).

Do you want to experience joy? Look for opportunities to strengthen those who are weak.

Support those who fall.

"… steady the knees that give way" (v. 3). Yesterday a friend said to me, "The Christian army is the only army that shoots its own wounded." I've heard that saying before, and I suppose there are times when those words have been true, but I sure don't want them to be true about me. Neither do I want them to be true about this church. When people fall, when their "knees give way," I want them to know that this is a place where they come to be picked up again.

Doug Murren tells a story about when he was a pastor he baptized a woman named Cathy who had just become a Christian. He asked her, "How long have been attending our church?"

She said, "Two years."

He said, "Two years? Have you been coming every week, or just once in a while?"

She said, "Every week."

He said, "Then, can I ask you a question? Why did it take two years for you to decide to accept Christ?"

This was her answer: "I was really hurting when I started coming to church here. I had had three abortions by the time I was 21. I had just quit drinking. I knew I needed God, but I didn't know how to find him. My parents had been Christians until I was in the seventh grade. Then they lost their faith and got a divorce. I went to live with my grandparents, and they told me not to go to their church, because it would only make me feel worse! Instead, they suggested that I come to this church, because the knew I would be loved here. It took me two years to see that you were for real …" [paraphrased from Churches That Heal by Doug Murren, Howard Publishing].

There are many, many "Cathy's" out there whose lives are filled with hurt, who have fallen in one way or another and desperately need to be picked back up, and they need to know that it can happen here. They need to know that when they turn to you, they'll be embraced with open arms, not struck with an open hand.

God says, "Steady the knees that give way," because it happens to all of us at some time or another. We all fail. We all fall down. At some point it will happen to those around you. When it does, you can be the one who picks them up again. Solomon said, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).

What's he saying? He's saying a true friend will be there for you when you fall. Job said, "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty" (Job 6:14). He's saying that even when we make the biggest mistakes of our lives, even when we're foolish enough to run from God, we need our closest friends to hang in there with until we get back on track.

Criticizing those who fall and celebrating their failure is not pleasing to God. There's nothing Christ-like about it. Instead, support those who have fallen. Steady those whose knees give way. In doing so, you'll be doing the work of God. And there's an additional windfall: you'll experience joy.

Speak encouragement to those who are troubled.

The third thing God tells us to do is speak encouragement to those who are troubled. "Say to those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you'" (v. 4).

This week I've been trying to think of a situation someone could be in that is so hopeless God couldn't possibly help them … and I came up empty. I couldn't think of one. And I've known people in all kinds of trouble: marital problems, money problems, legal problems, addiction problems, health problems, sin problems—you name it. But I have never known anyone in any situation that was beyond God's ability to save.

There are two things I have learned about those who give encouragement. 1.) There aren't many people willing to do it. 2.) Those who do it can change the course of someone's life.

On the other hand, doomsday prophets are a dime a dozen. It isn't difficult to find someone to tell you how bad things are. If your business is in trouble, they'll tell you to bail out while you still have a shirt on your back. If your marriage is suffering, they'll tell you to dump your spouse and find someone better. If you've experienced failure, they'll tell you to give up before you make a fool of yourself any further.

For people in these situations, this is the last thing they need to hear. What they most need to hear are the words of encouragement that God speaks to us: "Be strong. Do not fear. God will come and save you."

You can be that voice of encouragement for others. When people are troubled, you can speak God's word of encouragement to them. I'm not talking about sugar-coated Pollyanna-ism—"pretend like everything's ok and it will be." I'm talking about genuine, honest words of encouragement based upon faith in God's power and in his word. The type of encouragement that says, "I know what you're going through is tough—but don't give up. Don't give in to fear. Trust in God and he will come through for you."

There's a great story about Alexander Solzhenitsyn, the Russian writer who spent years in a Siberian prison. At one point he had become completely discouraged and decided to give up and die. His plan was to stop working in the field, to lean on his shovel, and wait for the guards to come and beat him to death. However, when he stopped, another prisoner reached over with his shovel and quickly drew a cross at his feet, then erased it before a guard could see it. Solzhenitsyn later said that his entire being was energized by that little reminder of the hope and courage we have in Christ. He found the strength to continue because a fellow believer cared enough to remind him of our hope. [Quips Quotes & Other Notes by Raymond McHenry, Hendrickson Publishers, p.78]

By offering a simple word of encouragement, you can change someone's life. And there's an additional benefit: you'll find that by encouraging others, you yourself are encouraged, and you'll experience God's joy in your life.

Conclusion

There are many things about our lives that we can't control. World events take place and there's nothing we can do about it. The economy goes up and down with or without our participation. The future isn't ours to control; it's God's to control. And he is in control, and he wants us to know it. His promises will come true. In the meantime, he wants us to be about his business, doing his work. Strengthening those who are weak, supporting those who fall, speaking encouragement to those who are troubled. This is his work. This is OUR work, our ministry. Our reward, he has promised, is his gift of everlasting joy.

For Your Reflection

Personal growth: How has this sermon fed your own soul? ___________________________________________

Skill growth: What did this sermon teach you about how to preach? ____________________________________________________________________________

Exegesis and exposition: Highlight the paragraphs in this sermon that helped you better understand Scripture. How does the sermon model ways you could provide helpful biblical exposition for your hearers? ____________________________________________________________________________

Theological Ideas: What biblical principles in this sermon would you like to develop in a sermon? How would you adapt these ideas to reflect your own understanding of Scripture, the Christian life, and the unique message that God is putting on your heart? ____________________________________________________________________________

Outline: How would you improve on this outline by changing the wording, or by adding or subtracting points? _____________________________________________________________________

Application: What is the main application of this sermon? What is the main application of the message you sense God wants you to bring to your hearers? ____________________________________________________________________________

Illustrations: Which illustrations in this sermon would relate well with your hearers? Which cannot be used with your hearers, but they suggest illustrations that could work with your hearers? ____________________________________________________________________________

Credit: Do you plan to use the content of this sermon to a degree that obligates you to give credit? If so, when and how will you do it?

Steve May has been a pastor to pastors for more than 20 years, helping preachers and teachers to become more effective communicators of the gospel.

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Sermon Outline:

Introduction

God's people are destined for everlasting joy.

I. Strengthen those who are weak.

II. Support those who fall.

III. Speak encouragement to those who are troubled.

Conclusion

The reward God has promised to his people for doing his work is everlasting joy.