Sermon #101   Series: Isaiah

 

 

Title   Two Indisputable Facts

 

Text:  Isaiah 40:6-8

 

Subject:  The Immutability of God’s Word

 

Date:   Sunday Evening – January 26, 1992

 

Introduction:

 

My subject tonight is Two indisputable Facts.  I do not claim to know much.  I am not a brilliant man.  But I have lived long enough to have seen enough and experienced enough, and I have read this book enough to know that the two facts revealed in our text are facts indeed.  Sooner or later, everyone will recognize these two things.

 

I.  Everything earthly and human is withering grass!

 

 “All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:  because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth!”

 

In the word of God man is often compared to withering grass.  What can be more unstable than grass?  Our text is a declaration of the instability of everything earthly and human.  “The things which are seen are temporal” (II Cor. 4:18).

 

A.  All earthly, temporal comforts are withering grass.

 

In just a few weeks the grass will cover our lawns and fields with a beautiful, luscious green.  The face of the earth will be adorned.  Life will spring up in every corner.  Flowers will bloom to beautify the earth.  But when parched by a few weeks of drought and burning sun, or by the cold winter blasts that will follow, the grass withers and the flowers fade.

 

That is a pretty clear picture of humanity.  Only a fool fails to recognize this face.  (James 1:9-11).

 

 

1.       The beauty and strength of youth are soon turned to the weakness and deformity of old age.

2.       The affluence and honor of wrath is quickly changed for want and degradation.

3.       All temporal things which men pursue so ardently, hoping to find happiness, ease, and rest are quickly demolished.

 

B.  Even our spiritual comforts in this world are only temporary and fading at best.

 

Thank God, he does give rich consolation to his people.   While they enjoy these seasons of blessedness, their faces shine as the sun, as Moses’ face did when he came down from the mount.  But our comforts here do not last very long.

 

1.       When Peter was on the mount of transfiguration, he was so happy and thought he might stay there forever (Mark 9:5).

 

·         Immediately a cloud engulfed him (v. 7).

·         He was quickly called down to renew his conflicts in the world (v. 14).

 

2.       When David thought his mountain was so strong that it could not be moved, the Lord hid his face from him and he was troubled (Ps. 30:6-7).

3.       Is it not so with you?  It is with me (Ps. 102:1-11).

 

·         Revivals never last too long.

·         God never drives out our enemies all at once (Ex. 23:27-30).

 

C.  Life itself is withering, fading grass.

           

When we are young and healthy we promise ourselves many years and prepare for long, happy, and fruitful life.  But when God is pleased to withdraw breath from our lungs we return to the dust (Eccles. 3:17-20).

 

Some may look happier than others and possess more of the “goodness” than others, but all are withering grass.  Our little flowers of “goodliness” which make us so proud are fading quickly.  And usually the flower fades before the grass withers!

 

Illus:  The Judge in the Rest Home at Madisonville.

 

 

Everything earthly and human is withering grass!  That is the first indisputable fact revealed in our text.   (Ps. 39:4-7).

 

II.  The second indisputable fact is The Immutability of God’s Word.  “But the word of our God shall stand forever!”

 

As our God is the Lord Jehovah who changes not, so his word changes not.  It is immutable.

 

A.  The word here spoken of refers to God’s Eternal Purpose of Grace in Predestination (Isa. 14:24, 26, 27, 46: 9-18).

 

 

B.  The Word here spoken of refers to The Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Word of God (John 1:1-3; I John 1:1-3; Ps. 102:24-27; Heb. 13:8).

 

 

C.  The Apostle Peter informs us that the word spoken of in our text is the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:23-25).

 

1.       This word is the declaration of redemption accomplished by Christ (I Cor. 15:3).

2.       This word is the means by which sinners are born again and granted faith in Christ (James 1:18; Rom. 10:17).

3.       This word reveals and assures us of the promises of God to sinners in Christ.

 

·         Forgiveness (Isa. 1:18).

·         Rest (Matt. 11:28).

·         Acceptance (John 3:36).

·         Preservation (John 10:28).

·         Salvation (Mark 15:16).

 

Application:

 

He who builds his house upon the sand of human fragility shall perish with his house.  He who builds his house upon the foundation, Christ Jesus, as he is revealed in his Word, shall live forever (Matt. 7:24-29).

 

Trust Christ and his Word and you will never be disappointed in the object of your trust.

 

1.       Let the Word of God be precious to us (II Tim. 3:16-17).

  1. Let Christ, of whom the Word speaks, be the singular Object of our faith, hope, and love.
  2. Let us embrace the promises of God, being assured of their fulfilment (II Tim. 1:12).
  3. Let every sinner tremble at the threatenings of God, knowing that they shall be executed.