Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Celebrating Bethany’s 49th Anniversary

2. Focus of our Celebration

a) The LORD as our God

b) The strength that He Has given to us all these years

A FREQUENT PROBLEM DECLARED

“Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
‘My way is hidden from the LORD,
And my just claim is passed over by my God?’ ”   Isaiah 40:27

1. Declaration of ancient Israel

2. Discouragement of the nation

a) Their ways are hidden to the LORD

b) Their “just claim” is passed over by God

3. Despair of the nation

a) Deep and dreary feelings

b) Dark and Disconsolate attitude

GOD’S FIRST CHALLENGE

“Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.”   Isaiah 40:28

1. The Problem does not lie with God

2. The Problem identified:

a) A lack of knowledge

b) A lack of Faith

3. The First Challenge is to deepen knowledge of God

4. Let us discover afresh:

a) The everlasting God

b) The LORD

c) The Creator of the ends of the earth

d) He neither faints nor is weary

e) His understanding is unsearchable

GOD’S SECOND CHALLENGE

29 “He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall”   Isaiah 40:29-30

1. The Weak may find Power from God

2. Those who have no might can find increased strength

3. Human strength is limited indeed:

a) The glory of youth is their strength

b) Yet, they can be weary and they can utterly fall

GOD’S THIRD CHALLENGE

“But those who wait on 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 faint.”   Isaiah 40:31

1. To learn to wait on the LORD

a) In patience

b) In perseverance

c) In prayer

d) In person

2. What we may discover as we wait on the LORD

a) Renewal of Strength

b) Rising up with the wings of eagles

c) Running and not wearied out

d) Walking and not fainting

CONCLUSION

1. Let us ascribe Strength to God as we look back 49 years

2. Let us apply God’s Strength as we commence our 50th year

3. Let us aspire to finding even greater Strength in the year ahead