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).