Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, July 25, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
——-
TRUST GOD TO DO THE UNEXPECTED By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9
Text: Isaiah 55:8
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Introduction: God’s THOUGHTS are not our thoughts, and His WAYS are not our ways. His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours. What we EXPECT to happen are our THOUGHTS about the WAYS of things. Therefore, what we EXPECT God to do is often different from what God DOES.
God is in the habit of DOING THE UNEXPECTED. You might remember that when God spoke to Elijah, He did not do so in the fire, the wind, or the earthquake, but in a still, small voice.
I. GOD SENT AN UNLIKELY SAVIOR
Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
A. His cradle was unlikely
B. His craft was unlikely
C. His companions were unlikely
* Galilaeans
D. His cross was unlikely
Christ was rejected, because He was unexpected! They looked for a crown, but not the cross! They looked for a sovereign, but not the servant! They looked for the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but not for the Lamb to be slain for sinners!
II. GOD SAVES UNLIKELY SINNERS
Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
A. They are hell-bound sinners
B. They are hellish sinners
C. They are hopeless sinners
III. GOD SUPPLIES IN UNLIKELY SITUATIONS
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
A. Through unlikely sources
* The ravens that fed Elijah
* The widow at Zarephath who made Elijah a cake of bread first, although she was destitute with only a handful of meal
* The lad with the five loaves and two small fishes
B. In unlikely seasons
C. In unlikely sizes
* 12 baskets of fragments remained after feeding 5,000 men with five loaves and two small fishes – Jn. 6:9-13
* 7 baskets of fragments remained after feeding 4,000 men with seven loaves and a few little fishes
IV. GOD SENDS UNLIKELY SERVANTS
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
A. He gives perception to fools to confound the wise of this world – Acts 4:13
B. He gives power to the weak to confound the mighty in this world
C. He gives positions of honor to the humble and unnoticed to bring to nought the honored of this world.
He used Moses as an ambassador to the most powerful man in the world, although he was slow of speech.
He used Peter to preach to thousands and see them saved on the day of Pentecost, but he was formerly just a crude, hot-tempered fisherman.
He can use you!