Sermons and Outlines

Isaiah 25:8-9

SOME TEARS OUR LORD WILL WIPE AWAY

Intro: This passage is part of a prophecy concerning the Millennium. It concerns that period of time when Jesus Christ is reigning upon the earth in glory and power. It is a message of hope and promise to the Jews. Yet, as I read this verse, I am reminded of a parallel passage in Rev. 21:4. That verse is not a prophecy to the Jews, but it is a promise to all of God’s children. Notice what that great verse says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” I don’t know about you, but I like the thought of Jesus wiping all of our tears away!

Tonight, I want to take some time to look at this prophetic passage. I want to look at what Isaiah is saying and I would like to preach for a few minutes on Some Tears Our Lord Will Wipe Away.

I want you to know that there is a better day coming for all of God’s children. I want you to know that weeping and sorrow will not last forever. I want you to know that trials and heartaches will come to an end one of these days. I want you to know that one day, God’s children are going home and, when we arrive there, God will take His great handkerchief of grace and all of our tears will be wiped away. Here are some of the tears our Lord will wipe away.

I. V. 8a HE WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS OF DEATH

A. Death has a universal impact and many live in fear of death and dying - Heb. 9:27. (Ever since man sinned in the Garden man has been dying, Rom. 5:12!) (Ill. We have all been touched by it and if the Lord doesn’t return in our lifetimes, we will experience it personally!)

B. Jesus has conquered death for His people - (Ill. The resurrection, Matt. 28:1-6) (Ill. 1 Cor. 15:49-55)

C. God's people need not fear death - 2 Cor. 5:1-8, Phil. 1:21-23; 1 Thes, 4:13-17. (Ill. Death is not the end, it is but a passage to a new beginning. Ill. 2 Tim. 4:8 the word Paul used for his death was “departure”. This word was used by sailors to speak of “loosening the moorings to set sail for a new destination.” It was used by armies to refer to “striking the tents to move to a new location”. It was used by travelers to speak of “taking a saddle off a horse and putting in a stall to rest.” It was a legal term used to speak of “taking the shackles from a prisoner and giving them freedom.” Paul didn’t see death as a sad end to life, but as a new adventure and as a doorway into the presence of God, v. 9.)

D. Death has been abolished where we are going, Rev. 21:4. Never again will we follow a loved one to the cemetery. Never again will view them in their coffins. Never again will the cold, icy grip of death take hold on those we love! No tears over death, because death will be no more!

II. V. 8b HE WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS OF DESPAIR

A. This verse reminds us that this world is a land of weeping. Homes and hearts are broken. Families and the lives of individuals lie in shambles due to the touch and taint of sin. Just this week spouses, children and parents watched their loved ones march off to war, not knowing what the outcome will be for the one they love. This world is a vale of tears! The Bible makes it clear that there will be times when we will pass through times of heartache and sorrow, Job 14:1l 5:7; John 16:33.

B. Even in the midst of heartbreak now, Jesus goes on giving us the victory! Ill. Paul - 2 Cor. 12:7-9. Don't despair, do as Job did - Job 1:20-21. (Ill. The devil squeezes you because he wants to extract bitter juice from your life. If you will shout in his face, he’ll let you go!) (Ill. The Psalmist has good advise for those who are passing through a difficult time - Psalm 84:6. The word “Baca” means “Weeping”. The Psalmist tells those who are passing through the “Valley of Weeping” to “make it a well.” In other words, he is saying, “When you pass through a hard, deep valley, scoop out some places along the way. When God sends His rain of refreshing into your life, it will leave some valuable water behind for those pilgrims who enter the valley after you.” Friend, God may just use your valley experience to be a blessing to someone else! Look for God in your valley, He is there, Song of Solomon 2:1. Then, when He brings you out, tell others about Him and what He did for you!

C. A day will come when Jesus Himself will wipe away all tears - Rev. 21:4. He will heal all broken hearts - Psa. 30:5. Friend, this valley, this dark night of the soul, will not last forever!

III. V. 8c HE WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS OF DISPARAGEMENT

A. God speaks of the trials His people endure simply because they are His people! He is saying that a day is coming when God’s people will be persecuted no more!

B. Right now, it is unpopular in our world for a person to declare their faith in Jesus. It is not “politically correct” for us to say that Jesus is the only way of salvation. The world says that we are narrow-minded and too exclusive. They mock us for our faith. They ridicule us for our stand on the Bible. They laugh at us and call us old-fashioned because we have moral standards. We believe sex should be reserved for the marriage bed and they call us prudish. We believe that marriage is reserved for men and women, and they say we are out of touch. We believe it is wrong to drink and use drugs, and they say we are out of step with the world.

Now, they don’t mind us preaching this stuff in our churches, but when we try to share the Gospel message in the world, they go crazy. They do not want to hear that they are sinners in need of a Savior and anyone who tries to tell them will be persecuted, 2 Tim. 3:12!

C. Brothers and Sisters, the day is coming in this old world when those who do not know the Lord Jesus will wish they did! There is coming a day when the greatest men of this world, along with the vilest sinners will cry out for the rocks and the mountains to shield them from the face of the Lamb and from His wrath, Rev. 6:12-17. There will come a day when it will be desirable to be found in Jesus Christ.

D. Don’t be ashamed of your relationship with Jesus! Whether it be at your place of employment, at the school house or where you live, be glad that you know Him, for one day, He will remove the reproach and the disgrace of His people from off the earth! The best place to be in that day is in Jesus Christ, saved, secured by His blood! Are you there? Those who are will never be ashamed or put to shame, Ill. Rom. 10:11.

IV. V. 9 HE WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS OF DISTANCE

(Ill. Verse 9 pictures the Jews finally seeing their Messiah after having waited on Him for thousands of years. Often, what we perceive as His delay in coming causes many to become discouraged and disillusioned. Sometimes the enemy, old slew foot, will whisper in your ear “He’s not coming! You are wasting your time living for Him!” I just want to remind you that the devil is a liar! Jesus will come! One day, He will bridge the distance between us and Himself and He will come to take us home, to be with Him forever. That is His plan and that is His promise, John 14:1-3. In that day, He will replace our sighing with shouting! We will see Him and spend our eternity praising Him. This great verse gives us three themes that will form the basis of our praise in glory.)

A. We Will Praise Him For His Steadfastness - We will praise Him because He said He would come for us and He did! Notice the wording of verse 9. “THIS is our God...THIS is the Lord”. The Jews are praising Him because He came like He said He would. May I just remind you this evening, we serve a steadfast God? He is faithful, Lam. 3:23. Not the least of His promises to you shall go unfulfilled. He will take care of you in this life and He will safely transport you to His home in Heaven when the time comes. We will praise Him because He did not let us down! We ought to be praising Him for that tonight! (Ill. All the promises He has kept for you!)

B. We Will Praise Him For His Sovereignty - He is called “God” and “Lord”. These two titles remind us that He is in absolute control of the path. It may get tough at times, but God is the One directing your steps and ordering your way, Psa. 37:23. We will praise Him for the fact that He was working all the time in our lives as we journeyed, Rom. 8:28. And we will praise Him for taking us to a place where trials and sufferings cannot come. In fact, there is no comparison between the two, Rom. 8:18. (Ill. Aren’t you glad God is in control even tonight? Maybe we ought to start praising Him now!)

C. We Will Praise Him For His Salvation - We will praise Him there for His great salvation. We will praise Him for sending Jesus to die for us. We will praise Him for calling us, saving us and for keeping us saved. We will exalt His name for His marvelous, saving power! (Ill. Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5 - The word “saved” means “to rescue from all harm and danger; to make safe and sound.” What God has given us through Jesus is a perfect, complete salvation that will never fail until we are all safely home. We are saved from the penalty, the power and ultimately from the presence of sin.) No wonder that saints will praise Him! (Ill. If you are already saved, you can get started on praising Him for that right now!)

Conc: I really believe that you and I will have tears and burdens as long as we walk in this world. But, I thank God a day is coming when He will wipe them every one away forever. And, after He does, they will never return again! Hallelujah!

But, some of you need help tonight! You can find the help you need in Jesus. He invites you to bring your tears, your worries and your fear to Him, Matt. 11:28; 1 Pet. 5:7. He will hear you and help you, Heb. 4:15-16. Others may need to be saved. If you will come to Him and call on Him by faith, He will save you right now. Whatever you need tonight, you need to know that Jesus can meet that need and He can dry your eyes. Will you come to Him tonight and get the help you need? Will you come before Him an praise Him and not wait until you get to Heaven. Just obey Him!