“Hurry up, God!” (Isaiah 63:15-64:12) Pastor Matt Stephens

The Problem: perceived absence of God The Problem: perceived absence of God The Solution: wait for Him! The Solution: wait for Him!

Key Verse: Isaiah 64:4 “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.”

“Waiting for God” "to exercise a patient, confident and expectant faith”

Isaiah 31:1 “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord!”

Isaiah 8:17 “I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.”

Isaiah 25:9 “It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Isaiah 49:23 Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame.”

Isaiah 63:10 “But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore, He turned to be their enemy, and Himself fought against them.”

The Truth God works for those who wait for Him!

The Truth God works for those who wait for Him! Will you wait for Him?

How do we wait for God? 1.SEEK HIM EARNESTLY

How do we wait for God? 1.SEEK HIM EARNESTLY Isa. 63:15 - "Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation.”Isa. 63:15 - "Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation.”

How do we wait for God? 1.SEEK HIM EARNESTLY Isa. 63:15 - "Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation.”Isa. 63:15 - "Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation.” 63:17 - “Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage”63:17 - “Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage”

How do we wait for God? 1.SEEK HIM EARNESTLY Isa. 63:15 - "Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation.”Isa. 63:15 - "Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation.” 63:17 - “Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage”63:17 - “Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage” 64:1 - “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down…!"64:1 - “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down…!"

Hard Questions 63:15 - "Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.” 63:15 - "Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.” 63:17 - “Why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?” 63:17 - “Why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?”

Hard Questions 63:15 - "Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.” 63:15 - "Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.”

Hard Questions 63:15 - "Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.” 63:15 - "Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.” 63:17 - “Why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?” 63:17 - “Why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?”

Hard Questions 63:15 - "Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.” 63:15 - "Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.” 63:17 - “Why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?” 63:17 - “Why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?” 64:12 - “Will you restrain yourself at these things, O Lord? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?” 64:12 - “Will you restrain yourself at these things, O Lord? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?”

What are we to make of this? 1.God’s character is consistent.

What are we to make of this? 1.God’s character is consistent. 2.Because of their willful rebellion against their Creator, humankind deserves whatever punishment they receive from God’s hand.

Romans 1:18-25 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth…

Romans 1:18-25 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Romans 1:18-25 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:18-25 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Romans 1:18-25 Therefore, God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.”

Isaiah 6:9-10 Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Psalm 2:11 “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

How do we wait for God? 2. CLING TO HIM DESPERATELY

How do we wait for God? 2. CLING TO HIM DESPERATELY 63:16 - “For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; You, O Lord, are our Father. ‘Our Redeemer from of Old’ is your name”

How do we wait for God? 2. CLING TO HIM DESPERATELY 64:8-9 - "But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look: we are all your people!”

How do we wait for God? 3. SERVE HIM JOYFULLY

How do we wait for God? 3. SERVE HIM JOYFULLY 64:5a-b - “You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways.”

How do we wait for God? 3. SERVE HIM JOYFULLY 2 Cor. 9:7 - “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

How do we wait for God? 4. TURN TO HIM HUMBLY 64:5c-6b - “Behold, you were angry, for we sinned. In our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.”

How do we wait for God? 4. TURN TO HIM HUMBLY 64:6c-7 - “We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.”

How do we wait for God? 4. TURN TO HIM HUMBLY 64:8-9 - “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look: we are all your people!

Humility Jas. 4:6 - “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.” Jas. 4:6 - “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.”

Humility 4: “Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” 4: “Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Humility 1. 1.Severity: “in our sins we have been a long time…” (64:5c).

Humility 2. 2.Universal guilt: “We have all become unclean… We all fade like a leaf” (6).

Humility 1. 1.Severity: “in our sins we have been a long time…” (64:5c) Universal guilt: “We have all become unclean… We all fade like a leaf” (6) Depravity: “We’ve all become like one who is unclean…”

Humility 1. 1.Severity: “in our sins we have been a long time…” (64:5c) Universal guilt: “We have all become unclean… We all fade like a leaf” (6) Depravity: “We’ve all become like one who is unclean…” 4. 4.Consequences: “wilting like dead leaves, swept away by the wind” (6)

Humility 1. 1.Severity: “in our sins we have been a long time…” (64:5c) Universal guilt: “We have all become unclean… We all fade like a leaf” (6) Depravity: “We’ve all become like one who is unclean…” 4. 4.Consequences: “wilting like dead leaves, swept away by the wind” (6) 5. 5.Dependence (8-9)

Humility Applied Confess our sin honestly and often, both to God and to fellow believers (cf. 1 Jn. 1:9; Jas. 5:16).

Humility Applied Confess our sin honestly and often, both to God and to fellow believers (cf. 1 Jn. 1:9; Jas. 5:16) Seek the Lord’s will through prayer before taking hasty action (cf. Ps. 106:13).

Humility Applied Confess our sin honestly and often, both to God and to fellow believers (cf. 1 Jn. 1:9; Jas. 5:16) Seek the Lord’s will through prayer before taking hasty action (cf. Ps. 106:13) Admit that we’re just as guilty of God’s judgment as our neighbor, regardless of what their trademark sins happen to be (cf. Rom. 3:23).

Humility Applied Confess our sin honestly and often, both to God and to fellow believers (cf. 1 Jn. 1:9; Jas. 5:16) Seek the Lord’s will through prayer before taking hasty action (cf. Ps. 106:13) Admit that we’re just as guilty of God’s judgment as our neighbor, regardless of what their trademark sins happen to be (cf. Rom. 3:23) Accept the natural consequences of our sin as one of our Father’s primary means of producing good character in us (cf. Gal. 6:7).

Humility Applied Remember that every good thing that we have is the product of God’s countless blessings, not primarily the result of our own efforts.

Humility Applied Remember that every good thing that we have is the product of God’s countless blessings, not primarily the result of our own efforts Acknowledge our limitations as human beings, accepting help from others and resisting the temptation to try and do everything ourselves.

Humility Applied Remember that every good thing that we have is the product of God’s countless blessings, not primarily the result of our own efforts Acknowledge our limitations as human beings, accepting help from others and resisting the temptation to try and do everything ourselves Submit to correction or reproof from God as well as one another.

JESUS

God works for those who wait for Him.

How do we wait for God? 1.Seek Him earnestly

How do we wait for God? 1.Seek Him earnestly 2.Cling to Him desperately

How do we wait for God? 1.Seek Him earnestly 2.Cling to Him desperately 3.Serve Him joyfully

How do we wait for God? 1.Seek Him earnestly 2.Cling to Him desperately 3.Serve Him joyfully 4.Turn to Him humbly