INVIGORATED
5 May 2008
(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.
Here's a lighter side of being fed up and tired
And the Lord spoke to Noah and said: "In six months I'm going to make it rain until the whole earth is covered with water and all the evil people are destroyed. But I want to save a few good people, and two of every kind of living thing on the planet. I am ordering you to build an Ark," said the Lord.
And in a flash of lightning He delivered the specifications for an Ark.
"OK," said Noah, trembling in fear and fumbling with the blueprints. "Six months, and it starts to rain" thundered the Lord. "You'd better have the Ark completed, or learn how to swim for a very long time."
And six months passed.
The skies began to cloud up and rain began to fall. The Lord saw that Noah was sitting in his front yard, weeping. And there was no Ark.
"Noah," shouted the Lord, "where is my Ark?" A lightning bolt crashed into the ground next to Noah, for emphasis.
"Lord, please forgive me," begged Noah. "I did my best. But there were big problems. First I had to get a building permit for the Ark construction project, and the plans didn't meet Code. So I had to hire an engineer to redraw the plans. Then I got into a big fight over whether or not the Ark needed a fire sprinkler system. My neighbors objected claiming I was violating zoning by building the Ark in my front yard, so I had to get a variance from the city planning commission.
"Then I had a big problem getting enough wood for the Ark because there was a ban on cutting trees to save the Spotted Owl.
Then the carpenters formed a union and went out on strike. I had to negotiate a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board before anyone would pick up a saw or a hammer. Now we got 16 carpenters going on the boat, and still no owls.
"Then I started gathering up the animals, and got sued by an animal rights group. They objected to me taking only two of each kind. Just when I got the suit dismissed, EPA notified me that I couldn't complete the Ark without filing an environmental impact statement on your proposed Flood.
Then the Army Corps of Engineers wanted a map of the proposed new flood plain. I sent them a globe.
And the IRS (The tax authorities) has seized all my assets claiming I'm trying to avoid paying taxes by leaving the country, and I just got a notice from the state about owing some kind of use tax.
"I really don't think I can finish the Ark for at least another five years," Noah wailed.
The sky began to clear. The sun began to shine. A rainbow arched across the sky. Noah looked up and smiled. "You mean you're not going to destroy the earth?" Noah asked, hopefully.
"Wrong!" thundered the Lord. "I fully intend to smite the Earth, but with something far worse than a Flood. Something Man invented himself."
"What's that?" asked Noah.
There was a long pause, and then the Lord spoke:
"Government."
Weariness is a familiar problem.
(Gen 25:29) And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
(Gen 25:30) And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
One cannot live without being exhausted. Physical work uses up our supply of energy. And Stress empties us of emotional strength. Especially nowadays, most of us are well acquainted with the meaning of the word “exhaustion” — the state of being used up.
At the pace we go, we drain ourselves so completely that a normal night’s sleep is not enough to repair the damage we do to ourselves in one day. We drag out of bed in the mornings still tired. Sleep alone cannot refill even the physical resources we exhaust in the kinds of work that we do now.
But, as bad as it is physical exhaustion is not the worst kind.
THE PROBLEM OF SPIRITUAL “WEARINESS”
Life is spiritually draining.
Most humans recognize that they have qualities not possessed by even the highest of the animals. There is something about a person that is separate from his body and even his natural mind.
This inner part of us can become tired, just as the outer part can. We may not recognize this kind of weariness for what it really is, but living in this world depletes the spiritual resources of our inmost being. “The spirit of man grows tired — it wearies of the world”.
Job said,
(Job 10:1) My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
THE INABILITY OF ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD TO TRULY REFRESH US
Bluntly, there is nothing in the physical world that is capable of thoroughly rejuvenating a person physically or mentally, much less spiritually. The things that help only partially restore our vitality.
(Ecc 1:3) What profit hath a man of all his labor which he taketh under the sun?
(Ecc 1:8) All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
(Ecc 2:11) Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
(Ecc 2:17) Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
(Ecc 2:22) For what hath man of all his labor, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath labored under the sun?
(Ecc 2:23) For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
(Ecc 2:26) For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
(1Pe 1:18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Those who honestly try to live without the provisions of anything or anyone higher than this world find life, in the long run, to be overwhelmingly unfair. Try as one might to find true refreshment, one becomes as worn-out and fed-up inwardly as he is exhausted outwardly.
This life takes more than it gives.
(Gen 27:46) And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?
THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST GIVES US STRENGTH AND LIFE
Even in the Old Testament, God portrayed Himself as the Giver of rest.
(Isa 28:12) To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
One of the remarkable things about the New Testament is the evidence it contains of a “Revitalization” or what we call “Revival” that took place in the lives of the earliest Christians.
(Act 2:36) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
(Act 2:37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
(Act 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
(Act 2:39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
(Act 2:40) And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
(Act 2:41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
(Act 2:42) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
(Act 2:43) And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
(Act 2:44) And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
(Act 2:45) And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
(Act 2:46) And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
(Act 2:47) Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Genuine faith in Jesus Christ, and drastic obedience to Him, resulted in people’s lives being enriched and full of life in often surprising ways.
These people were cheered and stimulated — often despite considerable hardship as Christians.
The faith was an energizing force they had failed to find anywhere else in the world.
Becoming a Christian holds the promise of times of refreshing.
(Act 3:19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
(1Pe 2:3) If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
The work of this world is tiresomely empty, but in the Lord our labor is “not in vain”
(1Co 15:58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
(Rev 14:13) And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
Jesus said:
(Mat 11:28) Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(Mat 11:29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(Mat 11:30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
(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.
Today, we can enjoy the invigoration experienced by New Testament Christians — but only if we do what they did. We say we want revival, and we want a refreshing newness but at the same time we don’t want to surrender to the Lord, its time to find out what direction you are heading and take the road that leads to Christ. Please take this time now Amen.
Home 
Faith Statement