1. Isaiah 40: Comfort Eric Messelt Timberline Baptist Church October 28, 2007

2. Introduction Speaker: Eric Messelt- student at Western Seminary, Portland

3. Introduction Speaker: Eric Messelt- student at Western Seminary, Portland Isaiah 40 – God wants you to be comforted by understanding who He is!

4. First Proclamation (1-2): Comfort Why the phrase, “Comfort Ye?” Context:

5. First Proclamation (1-2): Comfort Why the phrase, “Comfort Ye?” Context: –Judgment!

6. First Proclamation (1-2): Comfort Why the phrase, “Comfort Ye?” Context: –Judgment! –Hezekiah’s goof

7. 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

8. Comfort: God’s Got A Plan Vs. 3-5: –God will do something spectacular

9. Comfort: God’s Got A Plan Vs. 3-5: –God will do something spectacular –Who’s the preparer?

10. 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)

11. 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.

12. 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?

13. Comfort: God Speaks! Vs. 6-8 –God’s word is strong and …

14. Comfort: God Speaks! Vs. 6-8 –God’s word is strong and … –God’s word is permanent

15. Comfort: God Speaks! Vs. 6-8 –God’s word is strong and … –God’s word is permanent –We can rely on it

16. 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)

17. 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?

18. Comfort: God is Great Vs. 9-10 – God is Important

19. Comfort: God is Great Vs. 9-10 – God is Important Vs. 11 – God is Loving (Ex. 34:6-7)

20. Comfort: God is Great Vs. 9-10 – God is Important Vs. 11 – God is Loving (Ex. 34:6-7) Vs. 12 – God is Big

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. Comfort: God is REALLY Great! Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that?

25. Comfort: God is REALLY Great! Vs. 21-24 – God is In Control; Why is that? Vs. 25 – God is Incomparable

26. 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

27. 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)

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Comfort: Finally: vs. 29-31 – God is With Us!!!

32. Comfort: God Is With Us Finally: vs. 29-31 – God is With Us!!! What does this mean to the audience? –A generation in exile

33. 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)

34. 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)

35. 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…

36. 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 with them (41:10)

37. 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.

38. Comfort? What do we do when we are distressed and need comfort? –Anesthetize

39. Comfort? What do we do when we are distressed and need comfort? –Anesthetize –Activate

40. Comfort? What do we do when we are distressed and need comfort? –Anesthetize –Activate –Accommodate

41. Comfort? What do we do when we are distressed and need comfort? –Anesthetize –Activate –Accommodate –Affinity

42. Application Example of Christians in post-Christian society

43. Application Example of Christians in post-Christian society What should we do?

44. Application Example of Christians in post-Christian society What should we do? –We should live in and love our city and state

45. 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

46. Application Are we looking to the right places for comfort? –Political over spiritual reality

47. Application Are we looking to the right places for comfort? –Political over spiritual reality –Ideology over Bible

48. Application Are we looking to the right places for comfort? –Political over spiritual reality –Ideology over Bible –Self-protection over glorifying God

49. 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

50. 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!

51. Concluding Thoughts We can comfort one another with words

52. Concluding Thoughts We can comfort one another with words God’s Plan is working!

53. Concluding Thoughts We can comfort one another with words God’s Plan is working! God is Great!

54. Isaiah 40: Comfort God wants you to be comforted by understanding who He is…

55. Isaiah 40: Comfort God wants you to be comforted by understanding who He is… Our comfort must be in God’s greatness.

56. Be Comforted Blessings to you and yours in this next week.