Surviving Devastating TimesSurviving Devastating Times   Isaiah 50:4-9 Isaiah 50:4-9

4The Lord GOD hath given me the 4The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season know how to speak a word in season to to him that ishim that is weary: he wakeneth weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. 5 mine ear to hear as the learned. 5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6 I gave my back turned away back. 6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. not my face from shame and spitting.

8 8 He isHe is near that justifieth me; who will near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: contend with me? let us stand together: who who isis mine adversary? let him come mine adversary? let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who will help me; who isis he he thatthat shall shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them as a garment; the moth shall eat them up. up.

I . KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES I . KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given

me the tongue of the learned, that I me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in should know how to speak a word in season to season to him that ishim that is weary:… weary:…

A. Jesus knew the Word and taught the A. Jesus knew the Word and taught the Word as Word as oneone having authority having authority

Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as oneone having authority, and not as the scribes.having authority, and not as the scribes.

B. We gradually learn as we read and B. We gradually learn as we read and study the Scripturesstudy the Scriptures

II Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself II Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.dividing the word of truth.

I Peter 2:2 desire the sincere milk of the I Peter 2:2 desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby.word that you may grow thereby.

C. We start out where we are and add to our C. We start out where we are and add to our knowledge knowledge

Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the Isaiah 50:4 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned tongue of the learned

D. We should go to church as Jesus set the D. We should go to church as Jesus set the exampleexample

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some of ourselves together, as the manner of some isis; but exhorting ; but exhorting one anotherone another: and so much : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. the more, as ye see the day approaching.

II. BE CONSISTENT II. BE CONSISTENT

Isaiah 50:4….. he wakeneth morning by Isaiah 50:4….. he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.as the learned.

A. Luke speaks of Jesus going to the A. Luke speaks of Jesus going to the temple and all the people came early in temple and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple. the morning to hear him at the temple.

Luke 21:37,38 And in the day time he Luke 21:37,38 And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount he went out, and abode in the mount that is called that is called the mountthe mount of Olives. 38And of Olives. 38And all the people came early in the morning all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him to him in the temple, for to hear him

B. Going along with consistency day by B. Going along with consistency day by day, is complying with God’s Wordday, is complying with God’s Word

Isaiah 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened Isaiah 50:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.neither turned away back.

Luke 21:5 The Lord GOD hath opened Luke 21:5 The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear….. mine ear…..

James 1:22 tells us to be “doers of the James 1:22 tells us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only...”word, and not hearers only...”

III. DON’T SHRINK BACK III. DON’T SHRINK BACK Isaiah 50:5…. and I was not rebellious, Isaiah 50:5…. and I was not rebellious,

neither turned away back neither turned away back

A. Jesus was willing to go ahead with his A. Jesus was willing to go ahead with his mission even though he saw a great deal of mission even though he saw a great deal of difficulty and discouragement difficulty and discouragement

Philippians 2:7,8 But made himself of no Philippians 2:7,8 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8And being found in fashion as a man, he 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.death, even the death of the cross.

B. He had obedient patience in his suffering B. He had obedient patience in his suffering

Isaiah 50:5,6...I was not rebellious, neither Isaiah 50:5,6...I was not rebellious, neither turned away back. 6I gave my back to the turned away back. 6I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. spitting.

IV. BE DEPENDENT UPON GOD IV. BE DEPENDENT UPON GOD

Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confoundedtherefore shall I not be confounded: : therefore therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.I shall not be ashamed.

Philippians 4:11-13 …. for I have learned, in Philippians 4:11-13 …. for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, whatsoever state I am, therewiththerewith to be to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.Christ which strengtheneth me.