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Isaiah 40: Comfort. Eric Messelt Timberline Baptist Church October 28, 2007. Introduction. Speaker: Eric Messelt- student at Western Seminary, Portland. Introduction. Speaker: Eric Messelt- student at Western Seminary, Portland
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Isaiah 40: Comfort Eric Messelt Timberline Baptist Church October 28, 2007
Introduction • Speaker: Eric Messelt- student at Western Seminary, Portland
Introduction • Speaker: Eric Messelt- student at Western Seminary, Portland • Isaiah 40 – God wants you to be comforted by understanding who He is!
First Proclamation (1-2): Comfort • Why the phrase, “Comfort Ye?” • Context:
First Proclamation (1-2): Comfort • Why the phrase, “Comfort Ye?” • Context: • Judgment!
First Proclamation (1-2): Comfort • Why the phrase, “Comfort Ye?” • Context: • Judgment! • Hezekiah’s goof
First Proclamation (1-2): Comfort • Why the phrase, “Comfort Ye?” • Context: • Judgment! • Hezekiah’s goof • You’re going to need comfort! • This introduces the Messiah
Comfort: God’s Got A Plan • Vs. 3-5: • God will do something spectacular
Comfort: God’s Got A Plan • Vs. 3-5: • God will do something spectacular • Who’s the preparer?
Comfort: God’s Got A Plan • Vs. 3-5: • God will do something spectacular • Who’s the preparer? John the Baptizer (Matt. 3:1-3)
Comfort: God’s Got A Plan • Vs. 3-5: • God will do something spectacular • Who’s the preparer? John the Baptizer (Matt. 3:1-3) • How do we know all this will happen? God has spoken.
Comfort: God’s Got A Plan • Vs. 3-5: • God will do something spectacular • Who’s the preparer? John the Baptizer (Matt. 3:1-3) • How do we know all this will happen? God has spoken. • What’s so special about God speaking?
Comfort: God Speaks! • Vs. 6-8 • God’s word is strong and …
Comfort: God Speaks! • Vs. 6-8 • God’s word is strong and … • God’s word is permanent
Comfort: God Speaks! • Vs. 6-8 • God’s word is strong and … • God’s word is permanent • We can rely on it
Comfort: God Speaks! • Vs. 6-8 • God’s word is strong and … • God’s word is permanent • We can rely on it • Compared to God, humanity is ‘dust in the wind’ (Is. 17:13)
Comfort: God Speaks! • Vs. 6-8 • God’s word is strong and … • God’s word is permanent • We can rely on it • Compared to God, humanity is ‘dust in the wind’ (Is. 17:13) • What’s so special about God?
Comfort: God is Great • Vs. 9-10 – God is Important
Comfort: God is Great • Vs. 9-10 – God is Important • Vs. 11 – God is Loving (Ex. 34:6-7)
Comfort: God is Great • Vs. 9-10 – God is Important • Vs. 11 – God is Loving (Ex. 34:6-7) • Vs. 12 – God is Big
Comfort: God is Great • Vs. 9-10 – God is Important • Vs. 11 – God is Loving (Ex. 34:6-7) • Vs. 12 – God is Big • Vs. 13-14 – God is Smart
Comfort: God is Great • Vs. 9-10 – God is Important • Vs. 11 – God is Loving (Ex. 34:6-7) • Vs. 12 – God is Big • Vs. 13-14 – God is Smart • Vs. 15-17 – God is Supreme
Comfort: God is Great • Vs. 9-10 – God is Important • Vs. 11 – God is Loving (Ex. 34:6-7) • Vs. 12 – God is Big • Vs. 13-14 – God is Smart • Vs. 15-17 – God is Supreme • Vs. 18-20 – God can not be completely understood
Comfort: God is REALLY Great! • Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that?
Comfort: God is REALLY Great! • Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that? • Vs. 25 – God is Incomparable
Comfort: God is REALLY Great! • Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that? • Vs. 25 – God is Incomparable • Vs. 26a – God is Creator
Comfort: God is REALLY Great! • Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that? • Vs. 25 – God is Incomparable • Vs. 26a – God is Creator • Vs. 26b – God is Sustainer (Col. 1:16-17)
Comfort: God is REALLY Great! • Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that? • Vs. 25 – God is Incomparable • Vs. 26a – God is Creator • Vs. 26b – God is Sustainer (Col. 1:16-17) • Vs. 27 – God Knows Everything
Comfort: God is REALLY Great! • Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that? • Vs. 25 – God is Incomparable • Vs. 26a – God is Creator • Vs. 26b – God is Sustainer (Col. 1:16-17) • Vs. 27 – God Knows Everything • Vs. 28a – God is Powerful
Comfort: God is REALLY Great! • Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that? • Vs. 25 – God is Incomparable • Vs. 26a – God is Creator • Vs. 26b – God is Sustainer (Col. 1:16-17) • Vs. 27 – God Knows Everything • Vs. 28a – God is Powerful • Vs. 28b – God is Smart
Comfort: • Finally: vs. 29-31 – God is With Us!!!
Comfort: God Is With Us • Finally: vs. 29-31 – God is With Us!!! • What does this mean to the audience? • A generation in exile
Comfort: God Is With Us • Finally: vs. 29-31 – God is With Us!!! • What does this mean to the audience? • A generation in exile • Exile will be long and exhausting (v. 30)
Comfort: God Is With Us • Finally: vs. 29-31 – God is With Us!!! • What does this mean to the audience? • A generation in exile • Exile will be long and exhausting (v. 30) • “You need to wait for me” (v. 31)
Comfort: God Is With Us • Finally: vs. 29-31 – God is With Us!!! • What does this mean to the audience? • A generation in exile • Exile will be long and exhausting (v. 30) • “You need to wait for me” (v. 31) • THEN the people will be delivered and…
Comfort: God Is With Us • Finally: vs. 29-31 – God is With Us!!! • What does this mean to the audience? • A generation in exile • Exile will be long and exhausting (v. 30) • “You need to wait for me” (v. 31) • THEN the people will be delivered and… • God will be withthem (41:10)
Isaiah 41:10 I will strengthen you and help you; Do not be dismayed, For I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Comfort? • What do we do when we are distressed and need comfort? • Anesthetize
Comfort? • What do we do when we are distressed and need comfort? • Anesthetize • Activate
Comfort? • What do we do when we are distressed and need comfort? • Anesthetize • Activate • Accommodate
Comfort? • What do we do when we are distressed and need comfort? • Anesthetize • Activate • Accommodate • Affinity
Application • Example of Christians in post-Christian society
Application • Example of Christians in post-Christian society • What should we do?
Application • Example of Christians in post-Christian society • What should we do? • We should live in and love our city and state
Application • Example of Christians in post-Christian society • What should we do? • We should live in and love our city and state • But aware that our efforts will never ultimately prevail
Application • Are we looking to the right places for comfort? • Political over spiritual reality
Application • Are we looking to the right places for comfort? • Political over spiritual reality • Ideology over Bible
Application • Are we looking to the right places for comfort? • Political over spiritual reality • Ideology over Bible • Self-protection over glorifying God
Application • Are we looking to the right places for comfort? • Political over spiritual reality • Ideology over Bible • Self-protection over glorifying God • Independence over One-anothers
Application • Are we looking to the right places for comfort? • Political over spiritual reality • Ideology over Bible • Self-protection over glorifying God • Independence over One-anothers • God is Powerful to Comfort us in His Greatness!