Sermon Tone Analysis

Great is Our God

Isaiah 40:28-31

 

Introduction

 

The story is told of a wife who went to wake her husband up one Sunday morning.

“Honey, its time to wake up,” the wife said with a cheerful voice.

The husband responded, “I don’t want to get out of bed!”  “Now dear,” she responded, “we don’t want to be late for church?”

“I don’t want to go to church,” the husband snarled back.

“Give me three good reasons why I should go to church.”

The wife answered: “First, you need to go to church because of the fellowship with loving people.

Second, you need to go to church because the Bible says so.

And third, you need to go to church because you are the pastor!” (sermoncentral.com

illustration)

 

I want to let you know that that did not happen this morning.

My wife and I are thrilled to join with you today as we worship God together.

Text

 

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV) *Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 **He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 **Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 **but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.*

* *

Thesis

 

This morning I want to share with you a message entitled: “Great is our God.”

With all the challenges and trials life affords, it is important that we understand that God is in control.

We do not have to live in fear—to live stressed-out lives—but we can live in the confidence on knowing that God is greater than any problem, any heartache, and any turmoil that we may face.

I think this is why the Old Testament governor of Judea, Nehemiah, declared to his people: *“The joy of the Lord is your strength” *(Nehemiah 8:10).

Although we can easily be concerned about the devastation of sin in our world and in the people we love, it is a wonderful thought that we can *“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”* (1 Peter 5:7).

Isaiah chapter 40 is my favorite passage of Old Testament Scripture.

The prophet Isaiah is led of the Lord to write about the Omnipotence and greatness of our God.

There is no greater study, no greater pursuit than to earnestly seek the truth about God.

Isaiah declared in another part of his book that we are to *“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near”* (Isaiah 55:6).

In fact Jesus, during His earthly ministry, as He preached the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew proclaimed: *“**But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”* (Matthew 6:33).

So, I think we are on solid, biblical ground, in seeking the truth about God.

And, why is this so important?

The value may seem obvious, but, so many people, for so many different reasons, have dismissed the discipline of knowing God.

The ramifications have sadly become clear.

Sin seems to abound.

Victory over transgression seems elusive.

Faith has been replaced by doubt and fear.

But for you, you are here this morning not just to hear a message given by a guy from California—I think you deeply desire to hear from God—to experience the life changing power that God’s word affords.

And, quite frankly, that is why I am here as well.

So we journey together—you and me—and we journey through one of the great passages of Scripture.

Transition

 

Let me set the stage for you.

The people of Israel were angry with God.  “Instead of praising the Lord, the nation was complaining to Him that He acted as though He did not know their situation or have any concern for their problems” (Be Comforted) “Instead of seeing the open door, the Jews saw only the long road before them; and they complained that they did not have strength for the journey.

God was asking them to do the impossible” (Be Comforted).

Left to their devices and emotions, Israel would abandon God—and many times they did just that!

So God intervenes.

He cuts through the fabric of time, and enters our world.

He pushes back that stumbling blocks of doubt and confusion, and makes clear of who He is and what He expects from us.

And, in this passage of Scripture reveals to us at least four incredible principles that will change and transform our lives.

Look with me at verse 28: “*Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary.”*

And with this God reveals the principle of how:

 

I.

Great is His Power

 

As God responds to Israel’s complaint—he asks a rhetorical question: “*Do you not know?

Have you not heard?”

*The answer is obvious and clear.

Throughout Israel’s existence, God revealed His awesome power and authority.

From Abraham to Jacob to Joseph to Moses to Joshua to Gideon to Samuel to David to Solomon to Josiah to Jeremiah to Isaiah—God has demonstrated His great power.

One of the more humorous stories of Scripture is found in 1 Samuel 5:1-12.

The Ark of the Covenant was captured by the Philistines.

They placed the Ark in the temple of their god, Dagon.

This was supposed to be a great insult to the God of Israel.

But, the Philistines had no idea who they were messing with.

Look what happened—I pick up the story in verse 3: “1 Samuel 5:3-4 (NIV) *“**When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord!

They took Dagon and put him back in his place.

4 **But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord!

His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.”*

The Philistines didn’t know what to do.

Wherever they took the Ark, great calamity befell the people.

In fact, they finally decided to give the Ark back to Israel.

Why?

Because they realized that God was greater.

Whether it was the Red Sea, or manna from heaven, or water from a rock, or walls of the enemy falling down, or trumpets and lamps defeating mighty armies—God was not to be messed with.

No mighty man, or impressive idols made of stone or precious metal, or kingdoms of this earth could stand against an awesome and dreadful God.

You would think even now we would learn—but like Israel, we have often become cenacle, wondering if God really is as great as His Book makes Him out to be.

But one day, there is coming One who will unleash the *“fury of the wrath of God Almighty” *(Revelation 19:15).

Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV) *“**I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.

With justice he judges and makes war.

12 **His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.

He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.

13 **He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 **The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 **Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations.

“He will rule them with an iron scepter.”

He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

16 **On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND Lord OF LordS.”*

Friend, you may find yourself under the pressures of life: sickness, poverty, depression, confusion, humiliation.

But remember—God is greater—His power is greater than any disease, any struggle, any sin, any problem.

God, by His power has caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dead to come to life—and God can reach into your situation and by His power can cause you to overcome—can bring healing to your life and can bring restoration to your soul.

But, it doesn’t stop there.

Not only is His power great, but: 

 

II.

Great is His Understanding

 

*“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”