Sermon prepared by the Holy Spirit and Pastor Andrew T. Okai

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

February 4, 2018

 

Sermon text: Isaiah 40:28–31a

Sermon theme: Grace for All the Gears of Life

 

Introduction

Grace, mercy, and peace...

Throughout Epiphany we have been talking about how God establishes relationships with us with the primary purpose of building fellowship, and how when fellowship is built, our perspectives are changed and when our perspectives change, it affects our priorities.

Today we will talk about how knowing God helps us stay in fellowship with him. This is a very important subject, because the first attack against believers is to steal us away from believing God.

The names of God

The word Lord comes from the Hebrew word Jehovah, which means “the self-existent One” or every other being in the universe depends on another being for its existence, but God depends upon no one; he exists within himself, by himself, and for himself.

This name identifies him as a covenant keeper, as the God who stands by his word, a God who can be trusted.

This name appears many times in the Old Testament:

• Jehovah-Rohi – The LORD My Shepherd
• Jehovah-Jireh – The LORD Will Provider
• Jehovah-Shalom – The LORD My Peace
• Jehovah-Raphi – The LORD My Healer
• Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The LORD My Righteousness
• Jehovah-Shammah – The LORD Is There
• Jehovah-Nissi– The LORD Our Banner
• Jehovah-M’Kaddesh – The LORD My Sanctifier
• Jehovah-El Elyon – The LORD Most High

The nature of God

God never gets tired, even though he is holding all things by the power of his word

The text also talks about how his knowledge is beyond our human comprehension.

The power of God

God reminds us that even the strongest man is prone to weakness and failure. We are cautioned to wait on the Lord. We hope, we wait, and we pray...