Sermon for Sunday January 27th, 2008
A Tribute to Dr. MLK:
"Hidden in The Shadow of God’s Hand" by Ken Harris
Isaiah 49:1-49:7
20 January 2008
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Ord Military Chapel
Seaside, CA
BIG IDEA: God calls, protects and hides us in the shadow of His hand.
REFERENCES: Isaiah 49:1-7 (NLV) 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness; Romans 2:11 (KJV) For there is no respect of
persons with God; Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) I know what I’m doing. I have it all
planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the
future you hope for; Psalms 22:10 (GW) I was placed in your care from birth.
From my mother’s womb you have been my God; Isaiah 44:24 (MSG) GOD, your
Redeemer, who shaped your life in your mother’s womb, says: "I am GOD. I made
all that is. With no help from you I spread out the skies and laid out the
earth."; Isaiah 49:1 (GW) Listen to me, you islands. Pay attention, you people
far away. Before I was born, the LORD chose me. While I was in my mother’s womb,
he recorded my name; Job 10:8a (KJV): Thine hands have made me and fashioned me
together round about; Proverb 16:4 (MSG): GOD made everything with a place and
purpose;
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 49:1-7 (NLV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 49:1-7 (NLV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Isaiah 49:1b-2 (NLV) The Lord called Me before I was born.
From the body of My mother he said My name. He has made My mouth like a sharp
sword. He has hidden Me in the shadow of His hand. He has made Me a shining
arrow, keeping me in His secret place.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate hearers - in the midst of the Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., Holiday Celebration - to affirm to others that God calls, protects, and
hide us in the Shadow of His hand.
INTRODUCTION: It has been said that , “James Earl Ray bullet took the life of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” but NOT HIS WORK.
In fact, since 1983, on the third Monday in January, we have celebrated the life
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tomorrow, Monday – 21 January 2008 – all across America, folk of every ethnic
group will hold hands, remember and celebrate the life and works of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr.
Many will remember the signed Civil Right Acts of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of
1965, and the presidential speech of the President L. B. Johnson, … which was
aired on National television as he rallied the faces of congress (in support of
Dr. King) to the chant “we shall overcome”. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended
segregation in public places while the Voting Rights of 1965 allowed African
Americans the status of no longer being considered “second class citizens”.
Yes, tomorrow … as we did as a congregation earlier, folk of every group will
hold hands as symbolic gesture of togetherness … and a promise … to never forget
… the past while embracing the civil rights challenges of the future.
Now, my brothers and sisters, in reference to “Hands” … there are a multiplicity
of stories, poems, and songs that have been written about the “Hand”.
In fact, Bill Withers’ song – Grandma’s Hands is one of my all times favorite.
Listen to lyrics in Grandma’s Hands:
Grandma’s hands
Clapped in church on Sunday morning
Grandma’s hands
Played a tambourine so well
Grandma’s hands
Used to issue out a warning
She’d say, “Billy don’t you run so fast
Might fall on a piece of glass
”Might be snakes there in that grass”
Grandma’s hands
Grandma’s hands
Soothed a local unwed mother
Grandma’s hands
Used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma’s hands
Used to lift her face and tell her,
”Baby, Grandma understands
That you really love that man
Put yourself in Jesus hands”
Grandma’s hands”…
Grandma’s hands
Used to hand me piece of candy
Grandma’s hands
Picked me up each time I fell
Grandma’s hands
boy, they really came in handy
She’d say, “Matty don’t you whip that boy”
What you want to spank him for?
He didn’t drop no apple core”
But I don’t have Grandma anymore
“If I get to Heaven I’ll look for Grandma’s Hands …”
*****************Take 5 Beats ***************
MOVE 1: Likewise, I contend this morning that there are hands that are even more
loving than Grandma’s Hands.
a. And they are the hands of God.
b. For God calls, protects and hides us in the shadow of His hand.
c. In fact, the Bible (and life in general) is filled with wonderful events and
chronicles of God showing His hand of protection and righteousness in the life
of believers.
d. Yet, have you ever wonder why terrible things happened to Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. and others that God called and promised to protect?
e. Why is it that some of the most trusting and dedicated believers …
f. … Sometimes experience the most devastating circumstances that life (on this
side of heaven) has to offer?
************Take 5 Beats ***************
MOVE 2: Seriously, have you ever wondered why God allowed Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., and his family to go through what they went through (in the midst of
non-violently fighting for the Civil Rights and Equal Rights for All Ethnic
Groups) ?
a. And why did God allow the Prophet Daniel in the Old Testament (who prayed
three times a day) to be thrown into the vicious lion dens (in Daniel 6:16-22)?
b. Or perhaps, you can explain to me why God allow three teens (who may have
been fatherless) from the ghetto of Jerusalem – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
- to get thrown into the fiery furnace?
c. Was it really necessary for teenagers to have such traumatic life experiences
while others - who were much older and who were also professed believers - did
not?
d. Is it fair for terrible things to happen to some believers and not to all
believers?
e. Yet, the scriptures tells us that God isn’t bias, because God has no respect
of persons – Romans 2:11 - .
f. In other words, whatever freedom God allows to happen to one ethnic group; He
will also allow to happen to other ethnic groups … as they engage in His will
and purpose for their life … regardless of the challenges.
***************Take 5 Beats ***************
MOVE 3: Like Dr. King in years past, and many Christians today, all of the
before mentioned believers demonstrated an unusual faith and trust in the Hands
of God.
a. Therefore, I submit to you this morning that just as God allowed you and me
to go through various levels of trials and tribulations in 2007 - in order for
others to be encouraged in their faith;
b. He also allowed the patriarchs of old (and Dr. King) to experience terrible
things in order for the believers in 2008 to be inspired NOT TO GIVE-UP;
c. … but to Hang In There and remain in God’s Hands because “We Shall Overcome”.
d. It’s a fact. God allow believers to go through trials and tribulations in
order for other believers (and non believers alike) to believe and be
strengthened in their faith … and in their walk for God.
e. For don’t you remember, the Bible says (in 2 Timothy 3:16) “All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness”.
f. Recently, my wife (Dedra) asked me “if I ever thought about the magnitude of
the trials and tribulations that we experienced in 2007 - as a family - and how
we got through those experiences?” In other words, it’s a blur now; but how did
God protect us?
**************Take 5 Beats****************
MOVE 4: I pointed out to Dedra that God allowed certain magnitude of fiery
trials to come upon us;
a. but when the devil thought and tried to destroy us with a sudden onslaught of
troubles – God (through His Hands and His Word) protected us from the devils
best shots without us really being aware of God’s presence!
b. In fact, I believe that just as God allowed His Son to have been hidden in
the presence of Shadrach, MeShach, and Abednigo heated trial –
c. He also hides Christ (in our day and time) with believers.
d. For the Bible says in (Colossians 3:1-3) … If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of
God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are
dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
e. When we … (believers) … attend Bible Studies and become rooted and grounded
in God’s word –
f. …. God protects and hides us from the strongest spiritual onslaughts of the
devil … so much so
g. … that afterwards … we don’t really remember how bad and terrible things were
when we were going through the trials.
**************Take 5 Beats *****************
MOVE 5: It’s akin to what the Bible says about a woman in labor/travail in John
16:21:
a. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as
soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, …
b. … for joy that a man is born into the world.
c. Likewise, as soon as God delivers us from our trials, ….
d. … we often forget how devastating and disheartening the trial was because of
the blessing that lies before us.
***************Take 5 Beats **************
MOVE 6: In our text this morning, we find ourselves eavesdropping on a Man of
God’s prayer.
a. The crazy thing is, in this prayer to God, Isaiah seems almost aware of our
eavesdropping presence.
b. So, Isaiah takes this opportunity to minister to us as well. In fact, he
invites us to listen.
c. At first, it appears as if he and God are going back and forth in their
dialogue.
d. Then suddenly, the message of the prophet is clear: Babylon – the big bad
wolf and Iraqi proto-type of the Old Testament - had fallen and believers were
suddenly free to leave Babylon;
e. Like many of us, when we don’t quite understand how and why God has delivered
us, Isaiah and the trusting and dedicated believers had questions of God.
f. But, then as Isaiah looked back over his life, he concluded that God’s hand
had been there (in the midst of his life) from the START.
*************Take 5 Beats **************
MOVE 7: Likewise, my brothers and sisters, if we were to look back over our
lives – we too would conclude that God has been there all along.
a. God has been with us through the good; the bad and the ugly.
b. In fact, Isaiah says it was God who created him in his mother’s womb with his
present set of circumstances in mind.
c. And he concluded that His life wasn’t an accident.
d. For long … before he was born, God had already intended for him to have an
epiphany …
e. “and to personally see Him” in the year that his dear cousin Uzziah died
(Isaiah 6:1).
f. No. Isaiah circumstance wasn’t a coincident or happenstance.
************Take 5 Beats ***************
MOVE 8: And neither were the people of God circumstances, trials and
tribulations a coincident.
a. Every prophet, every civil rights leader, every president, every person, and
every circumstance, …
b. … every trial and every act of deliverance had been pre-ordained by God
himself, ….
c. … in order for God to be glorified .
d. Israel saw and experienced Babylonian captivity for 70 years;
e. … but … what they didn’t see …
f. … were the many times … the devil attempted an onslaught of spiritual
troubles… in addition to the troubles that they were already going through;
g. But God – through His Grace - hid them like He hides us (in the shadow of his
hand) … and protected them …
h. from experiencing … certain spiritual life … ending devastations.
*************Take 5 Beats *************
CELEBRATION: The psalmist says in best, in Psalms 91:1-3; 7-11, when he says:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the
shadow the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God in him will I
trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;
but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see
the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High thy
habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy
dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.