We have a lot to go through today.
I'm going to really try and move fast.
But if you get to the 30-minute mark and you really got to go to the bathroom,
or your child really needs something, I'm not going to be offended.
But we need to, as the old King James language says,
gird up the loins of our minds this morning for all that we need to go through.
But just join me in a quick word of prayer.
Father, we offer up this time to you.
You would be pleased.
Help us to focus.
Help us to listen to your word.
It would take deep root in our hearts and have your desired effect upon our lives.
Work in and through us during this time.
Use me, a broken man, a broken vessel, to accomplish this in Christ's name.
Amen.
So we've been, we started last week walking through the monumental chapter,
Mount Everest chapter of Isaiah 40.
So I encourage you to go back and listen to the message from last week
because it lays sort of the historical background, historical context for everything going on,
to which you may be a little lost.
But I'll try to summarize in a couple minutes because that's all we have, maybe one minute.
But the first part of Isaiah from chapter 7 to 39 is mostly pictures and pronouncements of divine judgment
against the people of Israel and then later on Judah.
And so a very grim, hard words to God's people.
He had been patient with them.
He had sent them prophets.
He had done all kinds of things to show them, like his love and his forbearance.
But now that time had passed and he said, judgment is going to come.
And eventually the northern kingdom comprised of 10 different tribes were destroyed by Assyria.
And then 100 and I think 35 years later, Judah and Jerusalem were eventually destroyed by the new superpower, Babylon.
And so Isaiah lived though during the time of Assyria.
And when he gets to chapter 39, it ends with King Hezekiah.
And so, but if we jump into chapter 40, in the blink of an eye, Isaiah is sort of transported into the future.
So he's speaking to God's people in the context of their future exile in Babylon.
It's one of the cool things that Bible prophets do, what God does through them.
So he knows that they're in the future going to be in Babylon, in exile, even though they currently are not while he's saying these things.
He knows that it will happen.
And so God speaks through him a word of comfort and assurance and certainty in their future exile,
kind of projected by the Holy Spirit into the future, much like John was in Revelation.
But he knows the questions that they're going to be asking while they're in exile.
Has God failed? Has his promises failed?
Does God even want to deliver us?
And if he wants to, can he deliver us?
And if all those things are true, will he actually do it?
Will he actually make the decision to do it?
Especially since they don't deserve it, just much like we don't deserve the grace of God.
And so in their darkest moments, this call of prophecy goes out into the future to speak a word of comfort.
So we broke up this chapter into three sections.
Last week, we just did one of them.
And that was the glory of God is the comfort of his people.
That's what we talked about up until this week.
So this week, I'll summarize really quickly what we covered last week.
But some of the images of Christ that we see in the first part of this is the comfort to Jerusalem prefigures the comfort that is found in Christ Jesus.
And that's verse three.
And then later on, John the Baptist uses those words to announce the coming of the Lord in person.
Verse five, we see that the glory of the Lord is revealed through Jesus Christ.
Right?
Then later on in verse five, that the fading of human lives is contrasted with the eternal salvation in Christ.
And then verse eight, which is getting close to where we ended.
Jesus is the incarnate tendered shepherd who carries his helpless people.
Okay, so just a few connections to last week.
But today, we're going to do part one and part two or part three.
So let's just dive into it.
And just, excuse me, just for time's sake, we're just going to walk through this Bible study style.
I'm going to break the preaching rule and not read it all because it'll take four or five minutes for me to read it all.
So we're just going to walk by it and eat it kind of piecemeal.
But part two is the uniqueness of God is the assurance of his people.
The uniqueness of God is the assurance of his people.
And so we'll start in verse 12.
All right?
We see God transitioning to a focus on his sovereign power and executive rule as the creator of all things.
Last week, we saw the attractiveness and tenderness of the shepherd and the promise of comfort.
And today, we see God's irresistible power to make what he said come to pass.
Therefore, it's impossible for such a great God to forget his people or neglect his people.
So I hope we're going to break this up into a few different pieces under this.
But number one, verses 12 through 14, it says,
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in its scales, and the hills in a balance?
Number one, God is the ever-wise creator.
That's what we see here in verses 12 through 14.
God is the ever-wise creator.
So it always helps to magnify the Lord by thinking about what was going on before creation.
But God existed eternal and immutable.
He needed nothing.
He was independent.
He didn't choose to create the world or us or anything else because he was lonely and needed company,
or he just, you know, wanted to pick up a hobby.
He wasn't needy or dependent on anything.
When Paul was in Athens, Greece, he said,
The God who made the world and everything in it, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by human hands,
nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything.
So the next time you have a weak view of God, just have that in mind that he needs nothing.
He's not served by us.
Since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
That's Acts 17, 24 through 25.
So, Yahweh, the living God, gloriously and freely reigned before anything else in creation.
Perfectly satisfied and happy in himself.
Something that we don't understand.
Therefore, he chose not to create because he lacked something,
because it was an expression or an overflow of his greatness.
Revelation 4, 11.
Worthy are you, our Lord and our God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
because you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.
So, God is the Creator.
He's holding all creation.
So, if you look at verse 10 of chapter 40,
the translation really is sovereign Lord.
So, he asked a series of rhetorical questions
to demonstrate how God is the sovereign Lord.
He established creation and he is uniquely powerful and wise.
His omnipotence, his wisdom,
he spoke all things into being before there was anything made at all.
Psalm 33, verse 6,
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by his breath, the breath of his mouth, their host.
God is all-powerful, therefore his word is all-powerful.
Our word doesn't really accomplish a whole lot,
but his, as you can read in later chapters,
I think chapter 55,
talks about how his word does not return to him void.
It accomplishes all he desires.
And so, we see a proclamation here.
He looks at creation, different parts of creation.
The waters of the world.
You see this?
He says,
The oceans, the seas, the lakes, the rivers are held
like a tiny drop,
a tiny pool
in the hand
of Yahweh.
Crazy.
The heavens are marked off.
I love this.
The Hebrew means to adjust.
To adjust a thing to its proper place
or function.
And it means,
you see the word span that's used there.
He marks off the heavens with a span.
So, the outstretched thumb
and the pinky.
So, it's like God's going,
that's like what he's doing
with the universe
or with the heavens.
And he positions them there.
He said,
You will go here
and this will be your function.
And we know how well
finely tuned the universe is
and how finely tuned earth is
and one little change
there would be no life here.
Perfect.
He measured it out
by his outstretched thumb
and pinky.
The span.
He is so supreme
that he positioned the heavens
and the earth
saying,
This will go here.
An old Puritan said,
Remember,
a long time ago,
Can we,
when we behold
the starry theater
of heaven and earth,
conclude other?
But that finger
and arms
and wisdom of God
has been there.
God is so vast
that he holds
all the dust
of the earth
in a small basket
or pen pot.
Now this is cool.
This astounds me.
It says he holds
the dust in a measure.
You see that?
The phrase,
in a measure?
It means a third.
Anybody know
how much
land makes up
on the earth?
Maybe 30%.
So a third.
He holds the dust
of the earth
on a scale.
That's where water
covers about 70%.
The dust makes up
30.
A third.
In a measure
is what in a measure
means.
A third.
Pretty crazy.
I double checked
on that one.
I kind of found that
on my own,
which I was kind of like,
Wow, that's really neat.
Then,
it makes mentions
of the mountains
and the hills
of the earth
saying,
God is so mighty
and powerful
that he can pick them up
and move them
with no problem.
With ease.
With no problem.
He can put them
on a pair of scales
and weigh them
in the balance.
So he takes
all of creation
at a glance
and says,
Who else but the Almighty
could weigh these things
and measure them,
determine its boundaries
with perfect precision?
So,
the point is,
any of this
is too big for us.
This is stuff
that we can't conceive,
something that we have
no ability
to do or comprehend.
It's just an overwhelming,
overpowering thought.
And it's meant to be
because it's meant
to make us small
and God enormous.
So,
if God can do this,
He alone
is worthy
of His people's trust
and love.
Go to verse 13.
It says,
Who has measured
the Spirit of the Lord?
Or what man
shows Him counsel?
Whom did He
consult
and who made
Him understand?
Who taught Him
the path of justice
and taught Him
knowledge
and showed Him
the way of understanding?
So,
to ask some
very intensely
humble questions.
So,
just as Yahweh
can easily measure
with perfect precision
all creation,
all created things,
can any created thing
do that?
Can any created thing
do what He
just talked about?
The answer is no.
Can anyone
fathom or comprehend
the mind of God
that created
all these things?
No.
What puny mortal
like me
or you
would dare
look at the face
of God
and try to give Him
counsel
or teach Him
what's right
or wrong?
That's what it says.
right out of
Deuteronomy
chapter 32.
It says,
the rock
about God.
His work is perfect
for all His ways
are justice,
a God of faithfulness
and without iniquity.
Just
and upright
is He.
God's knowledge
is perfect.
1 John 3.20
He knows
all things.
Psalm 147
verse 7.
Great is the Lord
and abundant in power.
His understanding
is beyond
measure.
So all this
is meant
to humble us,
meant to dwarf us
and make us feel
small and insignificant.
Sin makes you
want to feel
significant.
Sin makes you
want to feel
big and powerful.
Puts us in the wrong
position
before God.
So God is saying,
is it you?
Would you
dare
compare yourself
to me
or would any
man at all
compare himself
to me?
So what
a great God.
Paul
in Romans
actually
cites this,
quotes this,
providential plan
of salvation,
of surety
for redemption
for the Jews
and the Gentiles.
And he
cites this
and he breaks
side
and prays.
And he says
in Romans 11
verse 33,
Oh the depth
and riches,
wisdom and
knowledge of God.
How unsearchable
are his judgments
and how inscrutable
his ways.
For who has
known the mind
of the Lord?
Right?
700 years later
he's quoting this.
For who has
known the mind
of the Lord
or who has
been his
counselor?
Or who has
given him a
gift that he
might be repaid?
For from him,
through him,
and to him
are all things.
To him be glory
forever.
Amen.
So that's
number one
under this
first title.
Number two,
God is the
immense Lord
of the nations.
The immense
Lord of the
nations.
You see this
in verse 16.
Behold,
the nations
are like a
drop from a
bucket and
are counted
as the dust
on the scales.
Behold,
he takes up
coastlands
like fine
dust.
Lebanon
would not
suffice for
fuel,
nor are its
beasts enough
for burnt
offering.
The nations
are as
nothing
before him.
They are
accounted by
him as
less than
nothing
and emptiness.
So,
to further
magnify the
uniqueness of
God,
Isaiah says
that the
nations are
like a
drop from
a bucket
before him.
A very
humble
imagery.
How many
of you ever
carried a
big bucket
of water
in your
yard to
do something?
Wash a
car,
water a
plant,
and you
accidentally
bump something
and one
little drop
goes flying
out?
That's
like what
the nations
are like
to God.
You wouldn't
like go back
and refill
the bucket.
You would
just say,
just a
drop,
doesn't
matter.
And that's
what the
nations are
before God.
And that's
not to say
he hates
the nations
or despises
them.
It's just
saying in
comparison,
they are
nothing.
They are
little.
They are
insignificant
compared to
God.
God does
love the
nations.
He sent
them a
savior.
He desires
praise from
the nations.
But they
rage against
him.
They rebel
against him,
much in the way
our own nation
is in many
ways.
But the
whole point
is this is
not a
vexing
problem to
God.
He's not
concerned.
He's not
threatened by
any nation
whatsoever.
Or the sum
total of
them.
He is not
threatened.
He has no
issue, but he
governs them as
he chooses.
Right?
They present
no threat.
But to us,
they seem
big.
They seem
insurmountable.
But to
Israel, the
nations around
them seemed
overwhelming.
But they're
not.
And the
same is
true for
us.
Then he
mentions
Lebanon
here in
verse 16.
Without further
ado, really
quickly, Lebanon
just had these
big cedar
forests and a
lot of animal
life.
And basically
saying, like,
you know, wood
is used to
build the fire
to have a
burnt offering.
So you have
all the wood
of Lebanon
laid down.
And then on
top of that,
put down all
the animals
that are
there for
a sacrifice.
He would
say, not
enough.
Like, even a
burnt offering
that big would
ultimately fall
short of what
God truly
deserves.
But the
best of human
worship will
always fall
short.
God only
accepted fully
and was
pleased with
one sacrifice.
That's 2,000
years ago on
the cross.
Number
three.
Very simple.
God alone
is God.
God alone
is God.
Verse 18.
To whom
will you liken
God?
Or what
likeness
compare with
Him?
An idol?
A craftsman
casts it.
A goldsmith
overlays it
with gold
and casts
it for silver
chains.
He who is
too impoverished
for an offering
chooses wood
that it will
not rot.
He seeks
out a
skillful
craftsman
to set
up the
idol
that it
will not
move.
And so
God offers
a challenge
here.
Verse 18.
I dare
you to
find anything
else in
all creation
to compare
with me.
Simply put,
God alone
is God.
And so
this is
sarcasm
on God's
part.
Look at
these idols
made of
silver,
gold,
or wood.
Right?
And they have
to be propped
up because
they'll fall
over.
And like,
you're going
to give
your worship
to these
things?
Compared
to the
ancient of
days?
Before we
like laugh
at ancient
culture,
we do it
all the time.
What idols
do you have
in your life?
What do you
look to for
comfort,
for meaning,
for protection,
and assurance?
I went
to a Hindu
temple a long
time ago
and there
was all
these little
gods inside
the room.
And,
you know,
they're just
statues.
But people
were going
up to them
and putting
food in
their hands
to feed
them.
And you
would look
at that
and just
think,
that's nuts.
That thing
is not going
to eat that
stuff.
But we do
that every
week.
we feed
our little
idols to
give us
comfort,
meaning,
and assurance.
We go up
to them
and keep
them going.
And they
fall over.
They'll
fall over.
Right?
So God
is saying,
will you
dare compare
me to
such as
that?
I am the
immortal
God.
Number
four,
God is
the active
Lord.
Verse
21,
He says,
do you
not know
do you
not hear?
Has it
not been
told you
from the
beginning?
Have you
not understood
from the
foundations
of the
earth?
It is
He who
sits above
the circle
of the
earth,
and its
inhabitants
are like
grasshoppers,
who stretches
out the
heavens like
a curtain,
and spreads
them like a
tent to
dwell in,
who brings
princes to
nothing,
and makes
the rulers
of the
earth as
emptiness.
Scarcely
are they
planted,
scarcely
are they
sown.
Scarcely
has their
stem taken
root in
the earth.
When He
blows on
them,
they
wither,
and the
tempest
carries
them off
like
stubble.
So,
here,
He says,
if a person
has not
heard,
they should
have heard.
Isn't that
interesting?
Like,
because of
His resounding
glory throughout
the earth,
He says,
if you
haven't heard,
you should
have heard.
He sits
transcendent,
enthroned above
the circle of
the earth.
There's one of
those scientific
things.
A lot of
people think
the earth was
flat for
centuries,
but it
actually says
here,
God's
knowledge of
what He
made,
the earth,
is a
sphere,
a circle,
right?
Actually,
it says that
in Job 22,
verse 14,
as well.
And He
looks at all
the people
on it as
small,
insignificant,
like grasshoppers,
using the
language of the
day,
like nothing.
Such greatness
is incomparable.
And He pitches
out the heavens,
the universe,
like a tent,
and stretches
them out for
a place to
dwell in.
And it also
says in
Revelation that
He'll roll up
that same tent,
like start over,
cleanse,
new,
right?
This one
particularly is a
great comfort to
anybody who's
aware of what's
going on in our
country or the
world,
but He rules
effortlessly,
over all
world leaders,
good or bad,
Christian or
non-Christian,
fools and
wise,
powerful and
weak,
He rules over
them all.
There's much
trouble in our
world today of
nations plotting
war and rumors
of war,
world leaders
seeking their
own advancement,
power,
control,
riches,
even at the
expense of their
own people,
east being set
against west
once again.
It can cause a
great deal of
anxiety if you
watch the news
too much,
but just be
aware.
But it says
here that
Yahweh brings
the princes,
which actually
means just
people of
importance,
people of
importance,
to nothing,
and makes the
rulers of the
earth as
emptiness.
That word
means meaningless.
It actually
implies He
makes them of
no further
significance.
The glory that
they thought they
had is gone,
and they're
forgotten.
All He has
to do is
just blow on
them.
He gets
back to that
imagery of
they are like
grass.
They're planted,
they're sown,
they grow,
the Lord blows,
and they're
gone.
That's like how
it is.
Some of you
have lived
longer than
the rest of
us, or
people who
just know
history,
some of the
greatest leaders
in the world,
you know where
they all are
now?
Gone.
And in a
time they
will be
forgotten,
and such as
it is with
anyone else
today, all
God has to
do is just
blow on
them.
Minimal
effort.
Daniel said
of God,
it is He who
changes times
and seasons.
He disposes
kings and
raises up
others.
So God
controls, you
see in our
text, He
controls the
tempest and
carries them
off.
Right?
So trust
Him completely.
This is not
meant to
scare, it's
meant to
say, that's
our God, our
God does
that.
So take
hope, right?
Trust Him
completely.
And then
five, number
five under
this first
part, God
is the
watchful
creator.
Verse 25,
He issues
that challenge
again, to
whom will
you compare
me that I
should be
like Him,
says the
Holy One.
Lift up
your eyes
on high and
see who
created
these, who
brings out
their hosts
by number,
calling them
all by
name, by
the greatness
of His
might, and
because He
is strong
in power, not
one of them
is missing.
So He
offers that
challenge again.
So you see
the title,
the Holy
One.
Isaiah
uses that
title a lot
for God.
And if you
read chapter
7, you'll
know why he
uses that
title for
God.
When he
was called
by God,
and he
heard the
seraphine
crying,
holy, holy,
holy is the
Lord of
hosts.
So, holy
is a very
profound word,
but just for
our sake, it
means that God
is in a
category of
His own.
He is
unique, He
is separated
from all
His created
things,
undefiled,
perfect,
and pure.
So, He
calls us to
go out on a
clear night,
which you can
do up here
in the mountains,
and look at
the stars,
look overhead,
look and
behold what
I have made,
is what God
is saying.
Many of the
pagan religions
of the ancient
Near East
people,
they had
astrological
phenomena that
they looked
to, and
they foolishly
worshipped the
creation rather
than the
Creator,
because God
is the one
who controls
the stars.
The starry
constellations,
they believed,
were controlled
by God.
Thus, only
God is
worthy of
worship.
He controls
the things
that the
pagans are
worshipping,
which sounds
foolish, and
it is.
Read Romans
1 and 2.
He says,
not one of
them is
missing, so
God creates
and sustains
the stars.
All inspiring.
I'll spare you
all the science
behind that.
Just go check
it out.
All kind of
stuff.
The galaxies,
the stars,
the Milky
Wave,
etc.
But whoever
he goes on,
he says he
doesn't just
create them,
but he names
them.
They got
names.
And that
ensures that
not one of
them is
missing.
Psalm 147,
verse 4,
it says,
God determines
the number
of stars,
and to all
of them he
gives them
names.
Psalm 147,
verse 4.
So,
the whole
point is to
teach us some
astronomy lesson,
the answer is
no.
So,
what's the
catch?
God is
trying to
teach Israel
and trying
to teach
us something
about himself
that we don't
need to
miss.
If God
can create
the stars
and name
all of them
and not
lose any
of them,
surely he
will not
forget his
people who
are so much
greater,
those that he
died to
save.
He will
not forget
his promise
to them.
So,
if he
manages the
universe,
do you
think he
will lose
track of
you?
And the
answer is
no.
He keeps
his promise.
Alright,
part three,
really quickly.
Part three,
the greatness
of God is
the renewal
of his
people.
The greatness
of God is
the renewal
of his
people.
And this
starts in
verse 27,
so break
this up into
three little
separate parts.
Number one,
our immense
despair.
Verse 27,
Why do you
say, O Jacob,
and speak,
O Israel,
my way is
hidden from
the Lord,
and my right
hand is
disregarded
by my
God?
So he
knows that
the Jews
in the
future,
in exile,
in Babylon,
are going
to feel
like,
has God
forgotten
us?
Has he
grown
ignorant of
our hard
conditions?
Is he
so busy
that he
can't take
note of
us?
It's that
complaint.
But,
remember
though,
God is
always true
to his
covenant
people.
Despite our
unbelief,
despite our
lack of
faith at
times,
he stays
true to
us.
So when
we're at
our weakness
and our
darkness,
God intervenes
to bring
us comfort
and to
strengthen
us to
that end.
So,
what weighs
heavily on
your mind
that you
need comfort
and encouragement
for?
Are you
wondering
if your
job is
going to
be enough
to take
care of
your family
in the
coming years?
Are you
worried about
our economy?
Are you
worried about
the chaos
in the
world?
The
certain
political
parties'
agendas
against the
unborn?
For
illness or
loss of a
family member?
God
weighs you
down?
What do
you need
encouragement
with?
Don't
repeat what
they're
repeating.
Like,
does our
God even
notice us?
Because God
is telling
you,
yes,
I see
you.
I care.
Then He
answers,
right?
This is
number two,
God's
greatness.
This
starts in
verse 28.
He answers
that.
Have you
not known?
Have you
not heard?
The Lord
is the
everlasting
God,
the creator
of the
ends of
the
earth.
He does
not faint
or grow
weary.
His
understanding
is
unsearchable.
He gives
power to
the faint
and to
him who
has no
might,
he increases
strength.
So,
he draws
this sharp
comparison
between
mortal,
weak
mankind
and
himself.
The
Lord is
the
everlasting
God,
meaning
He is
eternal.
He
always
has
existed.
He
exists
and He
will
always
exist.
In
Revelation,
chapter 1,
he says,
you hear
them crying
out,
the Lord
God
who is,
who was,
and who
is to
come,
the
Almighty.
Revelation
1.8.
So,
God is
saying,
no one
created
me,
no one
had the
power to
bring me
into being
or shape
my personality.
I had no
beginning and
I will have
no end.
Alright?
So,
further,
He is the
creator of the
ends of
earth and
He does
not grow
faint or
weary.
Right?
So,
He spoke
all things
into existence
by the
power of
His
word.
In His
understanding,
His
knowledge is
omniscient,
unsearchable.
And then
lastly,
our renewal,
number three,
our renewal.
Verse 30.
One of those
well-known
coffee mug
verses that
get abused
a lot.
Verse 30.
Even
youth shall
faint
and be
weary,
and young
men
shall fall
exhausted.
But,
they who
wait for
the Lord
shall renew
their strength.
They shall
mount up
with wings
like eagles.
They shall
run and
not be
weary.
They shall
walk and
not be
faint.
And so,
we see that
it's not
our strength
to endure
these things,
but God's
strength.
He is the
source of
our strength
and not
our physical
abilities.
So,
look at
verse 30.
It says
young men.
It actually
means picked
men.
So,
picked men,
those who
are picked
out for
their prowess,
the prime
of their
strength,
the guys
who are
the best
of the
best,
like pick
those men
to be on
your team
to win
kind of
idea.
Even
those men
are going
to fall
flat,
utterly
exhausted.
Right?
So,
you may
think if
I was a
little
stronger,
I could
handle
everything.
Nope.
God will
still find
a way
to humble
you.
But,
he,
he never
tires or
grow weary.
He cares
about his
people.
Right?
Even in
our greatest
despair.
So,
then,
secondly,
look at
this.
It says,
we must
learn to
wait for
the Lord.
That same
word can
be translated
hope in
the Lord.
So,
those who
expect God,
those who
hope for
Him,
those who
look to
Him,
as believers
in Christ,
we can see
with
unprecedented
clarity
exactly
what it
is to
wait for
the Lord.
So,
are you
willing to
wait for
God?
Or,
are you a
control freak
who wants
to tell
God the
pace is
set?
It has
to be
this way.
It has
to look
that way.
I must
know.
Or,
are you
okay with
God's
timing,
His terms,
allowing Him
to set the
pace?
There's
freedom in
surrendering
that.
In God,
we can
discover
reservoirs
of strength
we had
no idea
about.
When we
ourselves
are exhausted,
we can
continue not
to look to
our own
resources,
but God's.
Right?
He doesn't
faint or
grow weary.
He gives
power to
the faint.
So,
the more
we learn
to appreciate
our
smallness,
our
insignificance,
and accept
our own
limitations,
the more
we will
glory in
the power
of God.
Right?
I'll mention
the eagles
because people
want me to
mention the
eagles,
not the
football team.
It says,
they shall
mount up,
meaning to
arise,
to ascend,
to climb
with wings
of eagles.
Eagles are
pretty darn
cool creatures
that God
made.
Finely
tuned.
I think
they're like
eight times
more acute
than we
are on
everything.
They can
see twice
the distance
that any
human can
see.
They
actually don't
run away
from storms.
They fly
at storms.
Isn't that
crazy?
Like,
come on.
So,
they fly
up above
storms.
Isn't that
nuts?
Actually,
the storm is
below them
and they're
up here.
They can fly
at altitudes
of close
to 10,000
feet.
And so,
the point
is,
the point
is,
if we put
our trust
in God
and allow
Him to
renew our
strength,
He will
lift us
up above
the storms
on trials
of life.
So,
not to
fret about
the future.
Accept your
limitations
and allow
Christ to
be your
strength.
And finally,
in closing,
I didn't ask you
to turn
anywhere,
but look,
in closing,
2 Corinthians
4,
2 Corinthians
4,
verse 16,
in closing.
So,
if we will
accept our
limitations
in our
own
strength,
knowledge
and wisdom,
we will
have
God's.
In Christ
Jesus,
we have
all we
need
and more.
And so,
Paul picks
up on this,
just like how
weak and
insignificant
we are.
It would
be hard
not to
read the
whole chapter.
2 Corinthians
4,
we'll just
read a few
verses.
Look at
verse 16.
And remember
the words,
comfort,
comfort my
people,
out of
Isaiah 40.
2 Corinthians
4,
verse 16.
So we
do not
lose heart.
Though our
outer self
is wasting
away,
our inner
self is
being renewed
day by
day.
For this
light and
momentary
affliction
is preparing
for us
an eternal
weight of
glory beyond
all comparison.
As we
look not to
the things
that are
seen,
but to
the things
that are
unseen.
For the
things that
are seen
are transient,
are temporary.
The things
that are
unseen
are eternal.
So in
Christ,
we look
to the
eternal.
Right?
For His
resources,
His wisdom,
His power,
all is
ours in
Jesus Christ.
Alright?
So,
I hope that
focusing on
the greatness
and power
of God
is like a
source to
snap you
out of
depression,
anxiety,
fear,
laziness.
is enough
to motivate
us when
we see how
big our
God is.
So stop
looking at
yourself and
look up to
Him.
Alright?
Let's pray
together.