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1) The rain is lovely. There is something wonderful about walking outside when it's raining. I was just outside and I just stood in the rain for a while and it was wonderful. I can breathe more freely in the rain.
2) My dad had a really great sermon today (as he often does) and I am finally going to share some of it. Often I feel like sharing my responses to his sermons but don't because I get lazy Sabbath afternoon. But, my sis is gone tonight and I'm at my parents' house so I have the time.
My Dad's sermon today was on the first half of the new Conference theme: "A Limitless God for a Hungry People." I had forgotten what a powerful passage Isaiah 40 is. Dad focused on Isaiah 40 for the message today in talking about how limitless God is. The background is that God's power is for fulfilling his purposes, not mine and that this is shown through the Israelites. God's power didn't come to rescue the Israelites from Babylon, even when that was what they expected. Instead, when they were ready for him to come and take them out of captivity he responded to them by basically saying, "Hey...settle down, have babies, raise crops, build houses--you're going to be here for a while." But, his power did come to their aid in his own timing. Turn to Isaiah 40:1-5. Amazing! He says, "Hey! Take heart! I'm coming! I'm making my own super-highway and going to pick you all up and take you back where you belong."
Now, the limitless part is the awesome part. So, God makes this claim to power and then Isaiah 40 continues to prove that when at the end of verse 5 he says, "For the mouth of the Lord has spoken" there is power in that which is trustworthy. Dad outlined some ways, just working through the passage, that show the trustworthiness of that limitless power and...wow...I seriously got goosebumps in church. Awesome!
Anchor for the trustworthiness of God's word:
1) Our God is everlasting.
Isaiah 40:6-8 (New International Version)
6 A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
There is such power in those words.
2) Our God is powerful.
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid (!!); say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
4) Our God is incomparable: nothing can compare with him: (and if the previous 3 points and 11 verses haven't done it for you yet why the Israelites should trust God when he says that his mouth has spoken and so it's a done deal....)
a) No one can do what he has done (as Creator)
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
b) No one is his equal in knowledge and understanding
13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor?
14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?
c) No world power is greater than him
15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.
d) No idol is anything but pathetic in comparison with His true divinity
18 To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?
19 As for an idol, a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A man too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot. He looks for a skilled craftsman to set up an idol that will not topple.
e) No one is above him, for he is sovereign over the world and all its inhabitants
21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
Dude, read that chapter out loud to yourself. It gave me goosebumps as my dad just continued through the passage. That is one HOT God!
But, we haven't even finished. The point has been made fairly well, I'd say, that we have a limitless God. So here's the kicker. After all that, both my Dad and Isaiah conclude with 2 points:
1) I must never think that God has overlooked me or is unaware of my situation. No matter how much I feel like God doesn't see me or is far from me, it's total baloney. If I can understand how limitless God is, the thought that God has merely overlooked me is a vast underrating of his power and not a thought worthy of me. So when you feel alone and that God is far away, listen to these words!
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?
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 his understanding no one can fathom. (Hello!?!)
He calls each of the stars by name so he has surely not forgotten about you!
Conclusion 2) Whatever my situation, when I hope in the Lord, he will renew my strength. The key word though is hope. You have to hope in the Lord! He will be faithful!
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.
Praise God
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