Possibly Your
Best Year! Part 1
Sermon Notes: January 4, 2009
Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior
Pastor
Isaiah 35:1-10 NRSV
1The
wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and
blossom; like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice
with joy and singing. The glory of
3Strengthen
the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4Say 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.”
5Then
the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and
the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then 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; 7the 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.
8A
highway shall be there, and it shall be called the
Isaiah 60:1 NRSV
1Arise,
shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
A. Introduction
1. Pat Boone and Robert Schuller
a.
Singer Pat Boone was the special guest one Sunday at Robert Schuller’s
Crystal Cathedral. Schuller introduced
his friend to the congregation and then teased him by saying, “Once a year Pat
Boone checks into a hotel under an assumed name, closes the curtains, puts on a
black suit, black boots, and sings rap songs.
b.
Before he sang Boone got back at the reverend by saying, “Did you know
that once a year Robert Schuller checks into a hotel under an assumed name,
closes the curtains and screams, “It cannot be done! It is impossible!”
2. Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 60:1
a.
Isaiah 60:1 says: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the
LORD has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1 NRSV) This scripture says that there is hope for us in the New
Year. Borrowing Robert Schuller’s words
this part of the Bible states that 2009 could be possibly your best year!
b.
Indeed each of us has been given a new opportunity and a New Year. This year has the possibility of being the
best yet, if you and I embrace three Biblical truths: First,
you know who you are: You are God’s
child! Secondly, you know where you are
going: You are bound for the
B. You know who you are: You are God’s child!
1. Isaiah the prophet’s mission
a. Isaiah’s primary task was to remind the
people of God who they were. The real
problem was not facing up to the might of Assyria, but looking inside the
hearts of the people of
b.
That is often our problem. We
have forgotten who we are. We because of
our disobedience and sinfulness have separated ourselves from God. We have, also, let external circumstances
frighten, mold, and define who we are.
We forget that when we give our hearts to Jesus that God reclaims us
again as His own. We are God’s
children. And “there
is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love
of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans
8:39 TEV)
2. Jack, Bobby and Teddy
a.
When John F. Kennedy was our president his brother Bobby was the
Attorney General. Then younger brother
Teddy Kennedy ran for the U.S Senate.
Teddy told JFK that he wanted to get elected on his own merits and not
on the coat tails of his brothers or the family name. In response to that the president asked his
brother, “So what then do you propose to do?”
Teddy said, “I think I’ll keep my first name. After all I’m used to responding to that. I’m just going to change my last name.” Brother Bobby asked, “Well then Teddy what
name are you going choose?” Teddy
replied, “
b. There certainly would be advantages to being
a Kennedy or a Roosevelt, and especially if you’re running for public
office. Membership in a prominent family
is definitely helpful in our world. There
is, however, an even more important family membership, and in the long run an
even greater advantage to those who know that they are one of God’s beloved
children. You my friends are just that;
a loved part of the family of God. And
that makes all the difference in the world.
You have worth, no matter what anyone else may say or do to you, because
you have been hand crafted by our loving Father in Heaven. God does not make junk. As the Psalmist says, “Body
and soul, I am marvelously made!” (Psalm 139:14 TMB) And you are! Further
because you are one of God’s beloved kids you do not have to be afraid or to
ever doubt you ability, with God’s help, to accomplish and do important things.
As the Bible says, “I can
do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians
4:13 NRSV)
C. You know where you are going: You are bound for the
1. General George Patton and the Chinese National
a.
If you are to arrive somewhere worthwhile in your life, then you must
know where you are going. General George
Patton once told about a Chinese citizen who enlisted in the American Army
during World War II. This young man’s
unit was stationed in
b.
Some people spend their lives going first down one road and then
another. They wander no where in
particular and wonder why they don’t get anywhere. This New Year, write down the things you
really want to accomplish. Give yourself
a road map. And ask yourself, “What are
some goals that I really want to accomplish?”
May I suggest: Spend more time
with family. Volunteer with some
organization that helps people. Devote
more time to the service of God. Write these
things down or paint a clear picture in your mind and refer to these goals each
week. You will travel more surely in
this New Year, if you know where you are going.
2. Isaiah’s Kingdom
a.
Isaiah wanted his people to know where they were going. He painted a picture of a time when war and
hatred are gone: A time when people do
not hurt each other, but are kind and loving.
Isaiah envisioned a time when pain and suffering, illness and even death
would be a thing of the past. The
prophet spoke in the short term of a new hope for the people of Judah, but he
clearly also looked to that time when Heaven and earth would become one. Isaiah speaks of the end time when God has
reclaimed the earth, and God’s Kingdom is “on earth as it is
in Heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 RSV, NRSV, NIV, etc.) In Isaiah’s images we see what the earth would
be like if all humankind turned to God, and in his vision we get a glimpse of
what Heaven is like right now.
b.
We are called to look toward the
D. Conclusion: 2009 has the possibility of being your best year ever, if
you embrace these three Biblical truths:
1. You know who you are: You are God’s child!
2. You
know where you are going: You are bound for the
3. You know who goes with you: God is with you!
And
we’ll talk about this truth next Sunday.
Possibly Your Best
Year! Part 1
1.
You know who you are: You are
God’s child!
2.
You know where you are going:
You
are bound for the
3. You know who goes with you: God is with you!
Isaiah 35:1-10 NRSV
1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice
and blossom; like the crocus 2it shall blossom abundantly, and
rejoice with joy and singing. The glory
of
3Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4Say 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.”
5Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6then 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; 7the 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.
8A 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. 9No
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. 10And 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 60:1 NRSV
1Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has
risen upon you.