Great Day Coming

05/07/2021 14:12

Please click this link if you would like to watch this sermon.

 

Date: 30 June, 2021

Text: Isaiah 35:1-10

Title:  A Great Day Coming

 

Have you ever looked forward to a day? (A wedding, a birthday, an anniversary.... like today.)

It's a blessing to have special days to look forward to....

- My birthday was this week - I was nearly born on Independence Day - (Carlee Rose)

- But, I was born exactly 200 years to the day, signing of the declaration of independence.

- I would hesitate to mention this - but since many in Scotland are seeking....

- I turned 45 BUT STILL WAS EXCITED TO HAVE FAMILY TIME AND SPECIAL....

 

EVEN BETTER THAN A GREAT DAY - IS TO FINALLY GET PAST A GREAT TRIAL

 

exp. These two idea combine in this text....

- It's a great day because of all the blessings.

- It's a great day because the trial is past.

 

Psalm 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

note: Our text is both historic and prophetic....

1) Barnes Notes:The object of the whole is, to show that all the enemies of the people of God, and particularly Edom, which had so peculiarly and grievously offended them, would be destroyed; and that the destruction of their foes would be followed by times of security, prosperity, and joy.

2) The primary focus of this passage is prophetic still....

a. I believe (as you will see)

- It has happened.

- It is happening.

- And it will happen.

exp. The blessing has begun but it will have....

b. A FINAL fulfilment in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 note: This passage contains both PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL promises. 

- blind, dumb, deaf, lame - healed.

- land that was blighted by drought brought back to life.

- A displaced people restored to their land.

- The Jewish people cared for by their loving God.

 exp. These no doubt have been fulfilled and will be fulfilled.

 

 note: But of far great consequence and blessing to us as NT believers is the spiritual applications which we will consider as we look at this passage tonight.

 app. We are living in SPIRITUAL DROUGHT, SPIRITUAL HANDICAPS, SPIRITUAL DISPLACEMENT - but I remind us today.....

THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT.

 Question: Are you living in victory today anticipating this great day? Or, weak/ afraid...?

 

prayer:

exp. I just want to remind us that we ought to live in hope as believers......

THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!

 

I. A day of refreshment.

1  The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

exp. The wilderness had been in a condition of lifelessness, but it was about to be made alive.

 ill. Katie and I had our honeymoon in Tucson, AZ during the monsoon season - meaning we got an afternoon Thunderstorm daily during our time there - praise the Lord - comfortabel temps. But, the dessert that looked so parched - is refreshed and suddenly life appears everywhere.

 question: Have you ever felt spiritually parched?

Psalm 63:1  A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2  To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

 ill. I enjoyed being in Engedi - the wilderness haunt of the annointed future King of Israel, King David. He drew great spiritual truths from the land around him.

 exp. He recognized that our spiritual life at times becomes dry, and we need a season of refreshment or as we would say - REVIVAL.

 app. Do you know - God can give that season of refreshment? There is a great day coming? 

BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!

 

II. A day of Revelation.

exp. 2 physical handicaps are listed in verse 5. Blindness and deafness - both limit man's ability to perceive physical things. (Knowledge and understanding are deeply impacted by these limitations.)

note: These physical handicaps PICTURE man's spiritual handicaps VERY SADLY limiting his spiritual knowledge and understanding. (Sadder still is the it is a wilful handicap.)

 ill. Jesus - 18  Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

 note: If man understood today as he ought - this church would be packed out - not because of this preacher or this congregation BUT BECAUSE GOD IS WORTHY AND HIS TRUTH IS SO SATISFYING TO THE MAN WHO SEES AND HEARS SPIRITUALLY.

A. There will be seeing eyes.

5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 

question: What might they see? 

v. 2 - ...they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

1. Some need their eyes opened to the terror of the Lord.

 ill. Remember that ornery prophet Balaam - a wicked prophet who continued to push against God. God opened his eyes to his terror.

Num. 22:31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

exp. Would to God that this world would likewise fall on their face before God. The God who's Word ALONE is sustaining this planet and will soon by His Word destroy the ungodly.

2. Some need their eyes opened to God's power.

 ill. Elisha had a servant like this. He was weak and fearful because He didn't see spiritual realities.

2Ki 6:17  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

exp. Would to God that God's people would have their eyes open to WHO IS WITH US!

Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

 app. There is a great day coming - men's eyes will be opened spiritually. A day of revelation.

B. There will be hearing ears.

...and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

 ill. My dad is partially deaf. A few years ago, he got an infection in his ear.He has some special hearing aids. He wears the hearing aid in his deaf ear and it throws the sound over to his other ear.

 exp. Someone who is totally deaf - perceives nothing that is said to the (if they can't lip read.)

  ill. If you are saved, you have begun to hear from God. Your ears were opened.

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 app. Is that you today? Can you hear spiritual things? God help us to hear better! 

 transition: There is a great day coming, a day of Revelation, Refreshment....

 

III. A day of Restoration.

 ill. Some people are gifted in restoration - man in the church in Tucson - restored a 1960's Ford Mustang - Took everything apart - had the frame painted white - beautiful black leather seats....

exp. It is wonderful to see something beat up, rusted, broken, FULLY RESTORED.

 app. God is a restorative God....

A. There will be new strength.

6  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, 

ill. Beautiful morning on the day I prepared this message - walked by a field of grain - Hart (deer) was out in it - the morning sun was shining - the deer saw me and went bounding through the field.

 exp. I was reminded of this passage. (A handicapped person would look with longing at that deer.)

 ill. Peter saw a lame man leaping with joy through the power of God!

Act 3:2  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

3  Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.8  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

 app. Are you spiritually weak - there is hope today - a day of ULTIMATE restoration is coming - Look to Jesus for the strength He gives today. Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

B. There will be new songs.

....and the tongue of the dumb sing: 

exp. I wonder if in Heaven we will have perfect singing. But, I don't think pitch would matter much to you if you had just been healed.

 ill. Kay Lee and Benson are having a great summer. We don't have much time to speak, but when we do there isn't much silence on the other end. There is much they want to share with us.

 exp. When your mouth get's opened by God - how can you keep from telling Him everything?

 note: The mouth of this man - HAD NEVER PRAISED GOD, NEVER THANKED GOD, NEVER GLORIFIED GOD. NOW HE CAN SING PRAISE TO GOD.

Hymn: The Meeting in the Air

There is going to be a meeting in the air

In the sweet, sweet bye and bye

I am going to meet you, meet you over there

In that home beyond the sky

Such singing you will hear never heard by mortal ear'

Twill be glorious, I do declare

And God's own son will be the leading one

At the meeting in the air

 app. Are you ready to join that heavenly chorus - singing the new song of the redeemed? God is a God of restoration - restoring strength - restoring men's mouths to praise His name.

 transition: There is a great day coming, a day of 

RESTORATION, REVELATION, REVIVAL, REFRESHMENT.

 

IV. A day of Rejuvenation.

2  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.

 ill. Desert Bloom:A desert bloom is a climatic phenomenon that occurs in various deserts around the world. The phenomenon consists of the blossoming of a wide variety of flowers during early-mid spring in years when rainfall is unusually high.

 exp. It is beautiful! It is alive! Why? Because....

A. There will be life giving water.

...for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

7  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: 

 ill. Israel - great water shortages - much study on ways to generate water - Sea of Galilee....

 Israel has incredible scientists - but they can't sustain life without water. 

exp. They are doing some incredible irrigation and life is beginning to come back into the land.

 note: What would be very sad is IF THEY HAD ALL THE WATER THEY NEEDED - and nobody had faith to irrigate and bring the desert to life.

 exp. Our world is DRY AND LIFELESS. BUT THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF WATER.

Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

 app. I say to all who hear - COME TAKE OF THE WATER OF LIFE - BE REJUVENATED!

B. There will be life giving pastures.

in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

ill. We saw reeds and rushes recently at a country park - identified an abundance of water - pond.

exp. The term "dragon" just means beast, whatever that may be. Whatever was able to live in that desert wasteland, will now find such an abundance of water that it will be marshy.

 app. Believers know this - yes there are dry times - but God is able to make streams in the dessert. He is the God of emotional, mental, spiritual, physical rejuvenation.

THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!

A day of REJUVENATION, RESTORATION, REVELATION, REVIVAL, REFRESHMENT.

 

V. A day of Regeneration.

 ill. Regeneration projects: A run down city, brought to life, houses repaired, business enticed to invest, etc. *Dalkeith - old is becoming new.

exp. you don't just let anyone build, or live in this village - you have bylaws,....

note: I would love to live in a PERFECT earthly environment - but it does not exist.

 app. God has a PERFECT regeneration program for new perfect eternal home.

- You can leave the corruption of this life.

- You can obtain the incorruption of glory.

- God has made a highway - you can get on it and head to this perfect place.

A. It will be a HOLY highway.

8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; 

ill. Applecross is one of the most remote places in Scotland - coast road completed in 1975.

The road to Applecross is the ONLY WAY by car to the village. They used to take boat.

 ill. The Holy Highway to Heaven is the ONLY WAY.

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 app. When a man wants to get on the path to regeneration - it is the path of the cross of Jesus!

B. It will be an restricted highway.

 ill. My wife grew up in Amish country - they don't use motor vehicles, they use horse and buggy exclusively. As you get onto the motorway in the states - there may be a sign with an image of a bicycle (With a circle around it with a line through it. - not allowed) In Amish country you might see a horse and buggy image with the same exclusion.

exp. You may be the nicest person in the world - but you may be forbidden to get on the motorway.

1. The unclean are not allowed on the highway.

8 ...the unclean shall not pass over it; ... 

note: Some churches teach men wrongly that they can come to God WITH their sin. GOD'S WORD teaches that men can come to Christ - DESPITE their sin TO BE CLEANSED of their sin.

ill. Jesus said - Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

 app. If you refuse to repent of your sin, you SHALL NOT PASS OVER.

2. The foolish won't accidentally get on it.

8 ...the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

exp. There are many explorers in history WHO ACCIDENTALLY made great discoveries.

 ill. Christopher Columbus did not ‘discover’ America, contrary to popular belief. Unbeknown to him, natives had lived there for many centuries, and been discovered by other Europeans. However, he stumbled across the continent rather accidentally while taking what he thought was a shortcut from Europe to Asia. Despite others landing there first, Columbus made Europeans more aware of this New World, leading to increased contact between the lands and ultimately the development of the modern Western world.

 ill. Evangelism - someday I will find out - SOMEDAY WILL BE TOO LATE.

 app. Nobody is going to accidentally find this way.

C. It will be prepared highway.

but it shall be for those:

exp. Those who believe on Jesus Christ and have imputed righteousness have a reservation in glory.

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

ill. PGA - tournament - tickets with food - found out they were on the 18th green just a few feet from the whole. (You couldn't get in there without an invitation.)

Matthew 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

 app. You don't want to get to God's banquet without an IDENTIFYING WEDDING GARMENT.

D. It will be a protected highway.

9  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; 

ill. I imagine if we lived in a tribal area of Africa - our hearts would embrace this truth more quickly. If lions were in our area - we would long to be free from the fear of that dreaded beast.

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

exp. But, there is a great day coming - where the devil will be banished.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

app. THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!

A day of Regeneration - a perfect new place to live for all eternity.

A day of REJUVENATION, RESTORATION, REVELATION, REVIVAL, REFRESHMENT.

 

VI. A day of Redemption.

 exp. You sense as we read this passage - that man is in a bad place, corrupted by sin and ruled by Satan - mankind need a REDEEMER.

Isaiah 35:3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

exp. We end this evening with one final point about this great day. It is a day of REDEMPTION.

  A. Jesus is the redeemer.

v. 9 ....but the redeemed shall walk there:

def. redeemed:A primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), that is, to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative’s property, marry his widow,

 ill. Ruth - widowed, indebted, needing a kinsman to purchase her husbands property and marry her.

 app. Has your debt been paid by Jesus? Have you been purchased by Him?

B. Jesus sets men free.

10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, 

def. ransomed: released, rescued....

 ill. 8 October, 2020 - Sophie Petronin - 75 year old Aid Worker - held capive in Mali.

Pétronin was abducted by gunmen on 24 December 2016, in the northern city of Gao, where she worked for a children’s charity.

The French president, Emmanuel Macron, immediately welcomed the release of Pétronin, the last French hostage in the world, and expressed his country’s continued support for Mali in its fight against terrorism.

“Sophie Pétronin is free. Held hostage for nearly four years in Mali, her release is a great relief,” Macron wrote on Twitter.

“I think I haven’t realized yet. She’s on the plane,” her son Sébastien Chadaud-Pétronin, who flew to Mali early this week on the expectation of her release, told France Info radio.

exp. How wonderful for her to be reunited with her country and her family. But, someone had to negotiate her release.

"One of the intermediaries who was involved in the release negotiations, who requested anonymity, said the process “was not easy”.

exp. Jesus negotiated our release by paying an incredible ransom.

1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1Co 7:23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

app. We haven't yet arrived in our HOME COUNTRY AND BEEN REUNITED WITH OUR FAMILY. THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING!

 

 conclusion: 

I praise the Lord for our 11 year anniversary as a church. This is a great day!

 

THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!

 

REDEMPTION - no more parting

REGENERATION, - perfect environment

REJUVENATION, - the water of life bringing perfect life

RESTORATION, - new strength - new song

REVELATION - perfect spiritual sight, spiritual hearing

REVIVAL,  - refreshment

 

And as God Word says in conclusion.....

 

v.1010  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Date: 30 June, 2021
Text: Isaiah 35:1-10
Title:  A Great Day Coming
Theme:
Proposition:
Rhetorical:
Introduction:
 
Have you ever looked forward to a day? (A wedding, a birthday, an anniversary.... like today.)
 
It's a blessing to have special days to look forward to....
- My birthday was this week - I was nearly born on Independence Day - (Carlee Rose)
- But, I was born exactly 200 years to the day, signing of the declaration of independence.
- I would hesitate to mention this - but since many in Scotland are seeking....
- I turned 45 BUT STILL WAS EXCITED TO HAVE FAMILY TIME AND SPECIAL....
 
EVEN BETTER THAN A GREAT DAY - IS TO FINALLY GET PAST A GREAT TRIAL
 
exp. These two idea combine in this text....
- It's a great day because of all the blessings.
- It's a great day because the trial is past.
 
Psalm 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
 
note: Our text is both historic and prophetic....
1) Barnes Notes:The object of the whole is, to show that all the enemies of the people of God, and particularly Edom, which had so peculiarly and grievously offended them, would be destroyed; and that the destruction of their foes would be followed by times of security, prosperity, and joy.
2) The primary focus of this passage is prophetic still....
a. I believe (as you will see)
- It has happened.
- It is happening.
- And it will happen.
exp. The blessing has begun but it will have....
b. A FINAL fulfilment in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 note: This passage contains both PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL promises. 
- blind, dumb, deaf, lame - healed.
- land that was blighted by drought brought back to life.
- A displaced people restored to their land.
- The Jewish people cared for by their loving God.
 exp. These no doubt have been fulfilled and will be fulfilled.
 
 note: But of far great consequence and blessing to us as NT believers is the spiritual applications which we will consider as we look at this passage tonight.
 app. We are living in SPIRITUAL DROUGHT, SPIRITUAL HANDICAPS, SPIRITUAL DISPLACEMENT - but I remind us today.....
THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT.
 Question: Are you living in victory today anticipating this great day? Or, weak/ afraid...?
 
prayer:
exp. I just want to remind us that we ought to live in hope as believers......
THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!
 
I. A day of refreshment.
1  The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
exp. The wilderness had been in a condition of lifelessness, but it was about to be made alive.
 ill. Katie and I had our honeymoon in Tucson, AZ during the monsoon season - meaning we got an afternoon Thunderstorm daily during our time there - praise the Lord - comfortabel temps. But, the dessert that looked so parched - is refreshed and suddenly life appears everywhere.
 question: Have you ever felt spiritually parched?
Psalm 63:1  A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2  To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
 ill. I enjoyed being in Engedi - the wilderness haunt of the annointed future King of Israel, King David. He drew great spiritual truths from the land around him.
 exp. He recognized that our spiritual life at times becomes dry, and we need a season of refreshment or as we would say - REVIVAL.
 app. Do you know - God can give that season of refreshment? There is a great day coming? 
BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!
 
II. A day of Revelation.
exp. 2 physical handicaps are listed in verse 5. Blindness and deafness - both limit man's ability to perceive physical things. (Knowledge and understanding are deeply impacted by these limitations.)
note: These physical handicaps PICTURE man's spiritual handicaps VERY SADLY limiting his spiritual knowledge and understanding. (Sadder still is the it is a wilful handicap.)
 ill. Jesus - 18  Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
 note: If man understood today as he ought - this church would be packed out - not because of this preacher or this congregation BUT BECAUSE GOD IS WORTHY AND HIS TRUTH IS SO SATISFYING TO THE MAN WHO SEES AND HEARS SPIRITUALLY.
A. There will be seeing eyes.
5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 
question: What might they see? 
v. 2 - ...they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
1. Some need their eyes opened to the terror of the Lord.
 ill. Remember that ornery prophet Balaam - a wicked prophet who continued to push against God. God opened his eyes to his terror.
Num. 22:31  Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
exp. Would to God that this world would likewise fall on their face before God. The God who's Word ALONE is sustaining this planet and will soon by His Word destroy the ungodly.
2. Some need their eyes opened to God's power.
 ill. Elisha had a servant like this. He was weak and fearful because He didn't see spiritual realities.
2Ki 6:17  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
exp. Would to God that God's people would have their eyes open to WHO IS WITH US!
Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
 app. There is a great day coming - men's eyes will be opened spiritually. A day of revelation.
B. There will be hearing ears.
...and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
 ill. My dad is partially deaf. A few years ago, he got an infection in his ear.He has some special hearing aids. He wears the hearing aid in his deaf ear and it throws the sound over to his other ear.
 exp. Someone who is totally deaf - perceives nothing that is said to the (if they can't lip read.)
  ill. If you are saved, you have begun to hear from God. Your ears were opened.
1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
 app. Is that you today? Can you hear spiritual things? God help us to hear better! 
 transition: There is a great day coming, a day of Revelation, Refreshment....
 
III. A day of Restoration.
 ill. Some people are gifted in restoration - man in the church in Tucson - restored a 1960's Ford Mustang - Took everything apart - had the frame painted white - beautiful black leather seats....
exp. It is wonderful to see something beat up, rusted, broken, FULLY RESTORED.
 app. God is a restorative God....
A. There will be new strength.
6  Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, 
ill. Beautiful morning on the day I prepared this message - walked by a field of grain - Hart (deer) was out in it - the morning sun was shining - the deer saw me and went bounding through the field.
 exp. I was reminded of this passage. (A handicapped person would look with longing at that deer.)
 ill. Peter saw a lame man leaping with joy through the power of God!
Act 3:2  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3  Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6  Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.8  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
 app. Are you spiritually weak - there is hope today - a day of ULTIMATE restoration is coming - Look to Jesus for the strength He gives today. Isa 40:31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
B. There will be new songs.
....and the tongue of the dumb sing: 
exp. I wonder if in Heaven we will have perfect singing. But, I don't think pitch would matter much to you if you had just been healed.
 ill. Kay Lee and Benson are having a great summer. We don't have much time to speak, but when we do there isn't much silence on the other end. There is much they want to share with us.
 exp. When your mouth get's opened by God - how can you keep from telling Him everything?
 note: The mouth of this man - HAD NEVER PRAISED GOD, NEVER THANKED GOD, NEVER GLORIFIED GOD. NOW HE CAN SING PRAISE TO GOD.
Hymn: The Meeting in the Air
There is going to be a meeting in the air
In the sweet, sweet bye and bye
I am going to meet you, meet you over there
In that home beyond the sky
Such singing you will hear never heard by mortal ear'
Twill be glorious, I do declare
And God's own son will be the leading one
At the meeting in the air
 app. Are you ready to join that heavenly chorus - singing the new song of the redeemed? God is a God of restoration - restoring strength - restoring men's mouths to praise His name.
 transition: There is a great day coming, a day of 
RESTORATION, REVELATION, REVIVAL, REFRESHMENT.
 
IV. A day of Rejuvenation.
2  It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
 ill. Desert Bloom:A desert bloom is a climatic phenomenon that occurs in various deserts around the world. The phenomenon consists of the blossoming of a wide variety of flowers during early-mid spring in years when rainfall is unusually high.
 exp. It is beautiful! It is alive! Why? Because....
A. There will be life giving water.
...for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7  And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: 
 ill. Israel - great water shortages - much study on ways to generate water - Sea of Galilee....
 Israel has incredible scientists - but they can't sustain life without water. 
exp. They are doing some incredible irrigation and life is beginning to come back into the land.
 note: What would be very sad is IF THEY HAD ALL THE WATER THEY NEEDED - and nobody had faith to irrigate and bring the desert to life.
 exp. Our world is DRY AND LIFELESS. BUT THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF WATER.
Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 22:1  And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
Rev 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
 app. I say to all who hear - COME TAKE OF THE WATER OF LIFE - BE REJUVENATED!
B. There will be life giving pastures.
in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
ill. We saw reeds and rushes recently at a country park - identified an abundance of water - pond.
exp. The term "dragon" just means beast, whatever that may be. Whatever was able to live in that desert wasteland, will now find such an abundance of water that it will be marshy.
 app. Believers know this - yes there are dry times - but God is able to make streams in the dessert. He is the God of emotional, mental, spiritual, physical rejuvenation.
THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!
A day of REJUVENATION, RESTORATION, REVELATION, REVIVAL, REFRESHMENT.
 
V. A day of Regeneration.
 ill. Regeneration projects: A run down city, brought to life, houses repaired, business enticed to invest, etc. *Dalkeith - old is becoming new.
exp. you don't just let anyone build, or live in this village - you have bylaws,....
note: I would love to live in a PERFECT earthly environment - but it does not exist.
 app. God has a PERFECT regeneration program for new perfect eternal home.
- You can leave the corruption of this life.
- You can obtain the incorruption of glory.
- God has made a highway - you can get on it and head to this perfect place.
A. It will be a HOLY highway.
8  And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; 
ill. Applecross is one of the most remote places in Scotland - coast road completed in 1975.
The road to Applecross is the ONLY WAY by car to the village. They used to take boat.
 ill. The Holy Highway to Heaven is the ONLY WAY.
Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
 app. When a man wants to get on the path to regeneration - it is the path of the cross of Jesus!
B. It will be an restricted highway.
 ill. My wife grew up in Amish country - they don't use motor vehicles, they use horse and buggy exclusively. As you get onto the motorway in the states - there may be a sign with an image of a bicycle (With a circle around it with a line through it. - not allowed) In Amish country you might see a horse and buggy image with the same exclusion.
exp. You may be the nicest person in the world - but you may be forbidden to get on the motorway.
1. The unclean are not allowed on the highway.
8 ...the unclean shall not pass over it; ... 
note: Some churches teach men wrongly that they can come to God WITH their sin. GOD'S WORD teaches that men can come to Christ - DESPITE their sin TO BE CLEANSED of their sin.
ill. Jesus said - Luk 13:3  I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
 app. If you refuse to repent of your sin, you SHALL NOT PASS OVER.
2. The foolish won't accidentally get on it.
8 ...the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
exp. There are many explorers in history WHO ACCIDENTALLY made great discoveries.
 ill. Christopher Columbus did not ‘discover’ America, contrary to popular belief. Unbeknown to him, natives had lived there for many centuries, and been discovered by other Europeans. However, he stumbled across the continent rather accidentally while taking what he thought was a shortcut from Europe to Asia. Despite others landing there first, Columbus made Europeans more aware of this New World, leading to increased contact between the lands and ultimately the development of the modern Western world.
 ill. Evangelism - someday I will find out - SOMEDAY WILL BE TOO LATE.
 app. Nobody is going to accidentally find this way.
C. It will be prepared highway.
but it shall be for those:
exp. Those who believe on Jesus Christ and have imputed righteousness have a reservation in glory.
Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
ill. PGA - tournament - tickets with food - found out they were on the 18th green just a few feet from the whole. (You couldn't get in there without an invitation.)
Matthew 22:11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14  For many are called, but few are chosen.
 app. You don't want to get to God's banquet without an IDENTIFYING WEDDING GARMENT.
D. It will be a protected highway.
9  No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; 
ill. I imagine if we lived in a tribal area of Africa - our hearts would embrace this truth more quickly. If lions were in our area - we would long to be free from the fear of that dreaded beast.
1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
exp. But, there is a great day coming - where the devil will be banished.
Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Rev 20:2  And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
app. THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!
A day of Regeneration - a perfect new place to live for all eternity.
A day of REJUVENATION, RESTORATION, REVELATION, REVIVAL, REFRESHMENT.
 
VI. A day of Redemption.
 exp. You sense as we read this passage - that man is in a bad place, corrupted by sin and ruled by Satan - mankind need a REDEEMER.
Isaiah 35:3  Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4  Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
exp. We end this evening with one final point about this great day. It is a day of REDEMPTION.
  A. Jesus is the redeemer.
v. 9 ....but the redeemed shall walk there:
def. redeemed:A primitive root, to redeem (according to the Oriental law of kinship), that is, to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative’s property, marry his widow,
 ill. Ruth - widowed, indebted, needing a kinsman to purchase her husbands property and marry her.
 app. Has your debt been paid by Jesus? Have you been purchased by Him?
B. Jesus sets men free.
10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, 
def. ransomed: released, rescued....
 ill. 8 October, 2020 - Sophie Petronin - 75 year old Aid Worker - held capive in Mali.
Pétronin was abducted by gunmen on 24 December 2016, in the northern city of Gao, where she worked for a children’s charity.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, immediately welcomed the release of Pétronin, the last French hostage in the world, and expressed his country’s continued support for Mali in its fight against terrorism.
“Sophie Pétronin is free. Held hostage for nearly four years in Mali, her release is a great relief,” Macron wrote on Twitter.
“I think I haven’t realized yet. She’s on the plane,” her son Sébastien Chadaud-Pétronin, who flew to Mali early this week on the expectation of her release, told France Info radio.
exp. How wonderful for her to be reunited with her country and her family. But, someone had to negotiate her release.
"One of the intermediaries who was involved in the release negotiations, who requested anonymity, said the process “was not easy”.
exp. Jesus negotiated our release by paying an incredible ransom.
1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1Co 7:23  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
app. We haven't yet arrived in our HOME COUNTRY AND BEEN REUNITED WITH OUR FAMILY. THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING!
 
 conclusion: 
I praise the Lord for our 11 year anniversary as a church. This is a great day!
 
THERE IS A GREAT DAY COMING - BE STRONG - FEAR NOT!
 
REDEMPTION - no more parting
REGENERATION, - perfect environment
REJUVENATION, - the water of life bringing perfect life
RESTORATION, - new strength - new song
REVELATION - perfect spiritual sight, spiritual hearing
REVIVAL,  - refreshment
 
And as God Word says in conclusion.....
 
v.1010  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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