Renewed Strength Through Faith and Community

Devotional

Day 1: God's Everlasting Presence Transcends Our Challenges

God's presence is not limited by time or space; He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This understanding provides a foundation of strength and hope, allowing us to navigate life's challenges with confidence. When we recognize that God is always with us and for us, we can face any situation with courage, knowing that His everlasting nature is a constant source of support. This perspective shifts our focus from our problems to the greatness of God, who is high and lifted above all our circumstances. [01:15:33]

Isaiah 46:4 (ESV): "Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save."

Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to trust in God's everlasting presence today, and how can you remind yourself of His constant support throughout the day?

Day 2: Divine Strength in Our Weakness

God offers His strength to the weary, providing divine power when our human strength is depleted. This strength is not something we earn but a gift from God, enabling us to accomplish what we could not do on our own. In moments of weakness, we are reminded that His strength is made perfect, allowing us to rely on Him fully. This divine empowerment encourages us to lean on God, trusting that He will provide the strength we need to overcome any challenge. [01:22:36]

2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Reflection: Identify a current challenge where you feel weak. How can you invite God to show His strength in this area today?

Day 3: Hope as a Source of Renewal

Hope in God is an active, confident expectation that He will fulfill His promises. This hope renews our strength, allowing us to rise above our circumstances and continue moving forward with faith and perseverance. By placing our hope in God, we are empowered to face life's difficulties with a renewed spirit, trusting that He will provide the strength and guidance we need. This hope is not passive but a dynamic force that propels us toward God's promises. [01:26:38]

Lamentations 3:21-23 (ESV): "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Reflection: What is one promise of God that you need to actively hope in today, and how can this hope renew your strength in a specific situation?

Day 4: The Power of Remembrance

Sometimes, we don't need new information but a reminder of who God is and what He has done. Remembering God's character and past faithfulness can reignite our faith and give us the courage to face current challenges. By recalling His past works, we are encouraged to trust in His continued presence and provision. This act of remembrance strengthens our faith, reminding us that the same God who was faithful before will be faithful again. [01:00:56]

Psalm 77:11-12 (ESV): "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."

Reflection: Take a moment to remember a specific time when God was faithful in your life. How can this memory encourage you to trust Him with a current challenge?

Day 5: Intergenerational Worship and Community

Involving all generations in worship strengthens our community and ensures that our faith is passed down to future generations. By celebrating the contributions of both young and old, we create a vibrant, intergenerational community that honors the legacy of those who have gone before us. This approach fosters a sense of belonging and continuity, encouraging each generation to contribute to the life and mission of the church. [01:31:40]

Psalm 145:4 (ESV): "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts."

Reflection: How can you actively engage with someone from a different generation in your church community this week, and what can you learn from their perspective on faith?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we focused on the theme of seeking strength from God, drawing inspiration from Isaiah 40. We began by acknowledging the greatness of God, who is high and lifted above all our problems and circumstances. This sets the tone for a worshipful spirit, recognizing that our God is worthy of praise and that His presence is transformative. We welcomed everyone, especially our guests, emphasizing our church's mission to grow people and transform lives. We celebrated our church's progress and vision for 2025, highlighting our commitment to advancing in faith, purpose, and kingdom impact.

We also took time to honor Black History Month by spotlighting Fanny Lou Hamer, a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement, whose legacy inspires us to continue fighting for justice and equality. We prayed for our community, especially those in need of healing and strength, reminding ourselves that if God is for us, no one can be against us.

The sermon centered on the need for divine strength, especially in times of weariness and challenge. We reflected on the story of Thomas A. Dorsey, who wrote "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" in a moment of personal tragedy, illustrating the deep dependency we must have on God for strength. Isaiah 40 reminds us that God is an everlasting God who does not grow tired or weary, and His understanding is beyond our comprehension. This passage encourages us to wait on the Lord, promising that those who hope in Him will renew their strength, soar on wings like eagles, run without growing weary, and walk without fainting.

We concluded with a call to action, inviting those who need God's strength to come forward for prayer and to make decisions for salvation, rededication, or membership. We emphasized the importance of giving, both as an act of worship and as a means to support the church's mission. Finally, we looked forward to our Black History program, celebrating our heritage and the contributions of our community.

Key Takeaways

1. kT_A&t=4533s'>[01:15:33]
2. Divine Strength in Weakness: God gives strength to the weary, offering His divine power when our human strength is depleted. This strength is not something we earn but a gift from God, enabling us to do what we could not do on our own. It is a reminder that in our weakness, His strength is made perfect.

3. Hope as a Source of Renewal: Hope in God is not passive but an active, confident expectation that He will fulfill His promises. This hope renews our strength, allowing us to rise above our circumstances and continue moving forward with faith and perseverance.

4. The Power of Remembrance: Sometimes, we don't need new information but a reminder of who God is and what He has done. Remembering God's character and past faithfulness can reignite our faith and give us the courage to face current challenges.

5. Intergenerational Worship and Community: Emphasizing the importance of involving all generations in worship, we celebrate the contributions of our young people and the legacy of those who have gone before us. This intergenerational approach strengthens our community and ensures that our faith is passed down to future generations.

** [75:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[05:00] - Greeting and Acknowledgments
[10:00] - Church Vision and Mission
[15:00] - Black History Month Spotlight: Fanny Lou Hamer
[20:00] - Community Prayers and Announcements
[25:00] - Children's Choir and Dance Performance
[30:00] - Introduction to the Sermon
[35:00] - Sermon: Lord, Give Me Strength
[45:00] - The Everlasting God
[55:00] - Divine Strength in Our Weakness
[65:00] - Hope and Renewal
[75:00] - Invitation to Salvation and Prayer
[85:00] - Offering and Closing Remarks
[90:00] - Dismissal and Upcoming Events

Sermon Clips

And so if you're a guest, we're not going to embarrass you. Just wave your hand at us real quick. If you're a guest, amen, amen, amen. We see your hands. God bless you. Welcome to worship. We thank God for you all the more. We see you in the balcony as well. If you are online, do me a favor. There are people on both YouTube and Facebook who are waiting to see that if you are a guest, they will put a form in the chat. Click that form and you will be able to fill it out and we will welcome you in a more formal manner later on this week. Come on, Springfield. Let's thank God for all of our guests in the room and online. Amen, amen. Listen, our motto is simple here. Our motto is that we want to grow people and transform lives. All that means is that we believe that you ought not leave out the same way that you came in. Amen. [00:35:07]

advance that means that we are advancing in our faith advancing in our purpose and advancing in our kingdom impact that means we want to make sure that everything we do this year we do it with intentionality to help advance the kingdom of God because the Bible says that the kingdom suffer the violence but the violent take it by force and so we want to move ahead and the things that God has ordained for us to do so that God will get the glory and that his kingdom will continue to grow so we are indeed advanced in the kingdom amen let me say this thank you so much to each and every person on yesterday who came to our church meeting amen whether online or in the room we thank God for you we had a great church meeting just looking back at some of the things that we were able to do in 2024 as well as getting a detailed vision of where it is we're seeking to do in 2025 and I left excited didn't you leave excited knowing that God had great things in store for us that as we go into our 86 year God has continued to bless us to do great things and to impact not only this community but the world amen amen so I was real proud of the report from our north campus south campus as well as our global online campus so we are indeed grateful to God amen amen listen don't forget starting next week everybody shout next week as we've concluded our first things first series you know that we've made our decision that we're gonna trust God with our first fruits amen and so beginning next Sunday and the whole month of March we will be able to bring God the best and the first of what he has blessed us with in this year remember there's no set amount we ask that you pray about what God will lay on your heart to be a blessing to the kingdom because we just want to make sure that God's house is taken care of and we're able to do ministry at an optimal level with excellence amen amen so that will begin on next week please please please make sure that you are prayerful as we continue to do the things that God has set forth for us to do amen amen now this is black history month amen y 'all got your African attire on and so we are indeed grateful you know that every Sunday in this month we've been intentional in spotlighting one of our heroes or sheroes as it relates to us as a people and so today's spotlight is none other than Fanny L Lue Hamer born October 16th 1917 in Mississippi and she was the last child born to sharecroppers Lue and and and James Townsend she grew up in poverty and so much so that at the age of six she helped her family with picking cotton but from those humble beginnings a fire inside of Fanny Lue Hamer was stoked so much so that she rose and to one of the most important to one of the most important to one of the most important and powerful voices as it relates to civil rights and voting rights 1964 Fanny Lue Hamer's reputation has soared to such a great height that she co -founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party which she challenged local democratic parties to make sure that there was black participation so much so that it was in 1968 that Hamer's vision for the the party to be inclusive of the party to be inclusive of blacks she was able to become one of Mississippi's first integrated delegations amen and so we are indeed grateful for that in addition to that Fanny Lue Hamer organized freedom summer which brought hundreds of college students black and white to help with voter registration second in the segregated south as well as sit -ins and civil rights acts and so we are indeed grateful for that and I like this even against the will and desire of people in 1964 she announced her candidacy for the Mississippi House of Representatives until she was barred from the ballot but when it gets better brother Joe smiling he didn't know about that in Mississippi but she didn't quit she kept going kept continued to fight for justice so much so that in 1971 she helped found the National Women's Political Caucus which is still active to this day can y 'all do me a favor put your hands together and help us thank God for Fanny Lue Hamer amen and we are indeed grateful let's see we want to keep our several of our members lifted up in prayer we want to keep our very own Deacon Ruffin lifted up in prayer we know that he's watching pray that God will continue to bring healing to his body we're going to keep Mother Pat Ross lifted up in prayer as well Deaconess Regina Anderson and of course we want to keep the Raleigh family lifted up Pastor Raleigh who's a little under the weather as well keep him and Lady Annette Raleigh lifted up in prayer as well and we also want to keep our federal workforce in prayer amen as we know that many members of this church are part of the federal workforce with such sweeping actions many of which are unwarranted I know that it may instill in us a sense of fear but I want us to be mindful that the Bible says if God be for us who can be against us and so we want to continue to trust God in the midst of the times in which we live and we're going to believe God to have his hand in it and that he will continue to strengthen us all the more amen amen amen Deacon Buchanan there he is Deacon Buchanan and Deaconess Betty Buchanan [00:36:47]

it was in august 1932 a man by the name of thomas a dorsey who is considered the father of gospel music he pins a song in response to his wife and newborn child dying during childbirth he pins this song while even away leading others to worship sits down at a piano and through his pain he pins this song that often many of us know precious lord take my hand lead me on let me stand i am tired i am weak i am worn but through the storm and through the night lead me on through the light take my hand precious lord and lead me home it is this song that speaks to the dependency that we must have on a god who can give us strength is this strength that god and only god can give that we as a people have been able to endure the ups and the downs of life it's this strength that only god can give that help our ancestors come through the mid -atlantic trade passageway wickedness of 240 plus years of slavery civil war and jim and jane crow of segregation from civil rights movement to freedom riders and sit -ins it was the lord who gave strength from the march on washington to the civil rights act to bloody sunday in selma it was god who gave strength and i want you to know that the same way god gave out for parents strength is the same way that no matter what we face god can give us strength i know sometimes it gets difficult and the way gets hard but our god is able to give us strength in the midst of what we go through he can give strength so that when you go through what you go through you don't look like what you've been through how god is a god who can give strength that he's always there with us that regardless of the circumstance or the challenge god can give strength strength in the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of the midst of Thank you. [01:03:18]

Mass layoffs. Can I take my time in the midst of dismantling DEI God? Can give you strength and that strength is what gives us hope Because the Bible says that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen We have hope when we understand that we're not in this life by ourselves But we have a God who walks with us who talks with us Who tells us that we are his own we have a God who's always Fighting for us so much so that no weapon formed against us will be able to prosper We have a God who won't let us be condemned or shamed because the word says there is therefore no Condemnation to those who were in Christ Jesus We have a God who sees us the Bible says if I ascend to the heavens He's there if I make my bed in hell He's there we have a God who's always Given us strength so that no matter what we go through. He's bigger than it He's badder than that and we are able to make it through and I wonder is there anybody besides Myself that you can say pastor. I've seen some things in my lifetime I've seen some stuff that many folk did not get over I've been through some things that took many people out but by the grace and the strength of God I got the t -shirt I got the testimony and I know that can't nobody do me like the Lord Is there any body here that knows that he woke you up this morning with new strength? He put praise in your mouth with new strength He allowed you to come to worship by the strength of the Lord and as long as he gives me strength I made up my mind every day. I rise. I'm gonna thank him every day. I get up I'm gonna bless him every day. I wake up I'm gonna decree and declare this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad Is it anybody in the house that said I've had moments when I was weak, but I pulled on his strength and his strength Pick me up his strength made me better. His strength brought me out. His strength saw me through it. I need the Lord's strength [01:06:28]

And I want to encourage us today because we all need His strength That's what's interesting about this text today Isaiah is talking about a people Who MIT Gavin needs The Lord's strength Got to understand something that when Isaiah writes this he's writing to a people who are in babylonian captivity He's writing to a people who are no longer in the land that God promised them They are on the outside Looking in and as a result They have become discouraged They have become overwhelmed Because now it's it seems like today doesn't it it feels like they have been defeated It feels like God doesn't see them it feels like that the purpose God had for them will not come to pass and what God promised that he would do He hadn't done it yet And all along the way They had gotten weary Despair had crept in and they had felt abandoned by God And wondered God where are you have you ever been going through life so bad that you say God where are you God do you see what's going on and these same people were wondering God where are you They were wondering where is their hope that believe that God could help them they had lost hope and let me tell you this is dangerous when you lose hope And Isaiah says listen if God is going to bring us back we got to be mindful of who God is If God is going to give us what we need we got to remember the day in which God blessed us and that's what this entire 40 chapters seeks to do This 40th chapter seeks to reignite the hope that only God can bring this chapter seeks to remind us that no matter what we go through Our hope is still in God because after all God is still God After all he's still sitting on the throne after all he still sits high and looks low and God says to Israel I'm the same yesterday Today and forevermore So here is what God does listen. I want you to hear it the same way God gives it to Isaiah Watch what God says to Isaiah. Do you not know? Have you not heard? [01:11:25]

The Lord is the everlasting God The creator of the ends of the earth He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom Here it is. If you're gonna say lord give me shrimp. Here's the first thing you got to be mindful of you got to be reminded Of the character of God Hear me what I say You got to be mindful of not what God does But who God Help me preach You got to be mindful that God is still who he is And what Isaiah says is I don't need to point you to your crisis I need to point you to his character He said I know Israel we got a lot going on. I know we are preoccupied with our problems But let me let me remind you. Do you not know who he is? Do you not remember what he's done? He said I know I'm not telling you nothing You [01:14:48]

you don't know. This is not new information. This is just a reminder of old information. And isn't it funny that sometimes when you go through the ups and downs of life, it's not that you got to get some new information. You just got to be reminded of some stuff you already know. You just got to be reminded that God is on your side. You just got to be reminded that God is a healer. You just got to be reminded that God will provide because I've never seen the righteous forsaken nor is seed beggeth bread. Every time you're going through, you don't need new information. You just need to be reminded of who God is. [01:16:08]

God is yesterday, today, and tomorrow at the same time. God is an everlasting God who's in the past, the present, in the future, all at the same time, which means that you got to get to a place like Isaiah says. I may not know what's going to happen tomorrow, but I know who brought me through yesterday. I may not know what tomorrow's going to bring, but I know who's keeping me upright in the present, which means the same God that was with me in the past is keeping me in the present will see me in the future. Is there anybody here that knows what I'm talking about? You don't serve a temporary God. You don't serve an average God who's here today and go tomorrow, but you serve an everlasting God. You serve an eternal God. You serve a God who says, I am Alpha and Omega. I'm the beginning and the end. You serve a God who knows everything and cannot fail. It says, our God is everlasting. [01:14:15]

he's saying you can't figure out his ways because God's ways are not your ways and as high as the heavens are above the earth so are your ways from his ways so are your thoughts from his thoughts now you could get frustrated with that or you can shout that our God is wiser than us our God is stronger than us that means that if our God knows more than what we know we can run to him and we ain't got to try to see what we can't see we ain't got to try to figure out what's beyond our comprehension because we serve a God who's all -knowing we serve a God who can do anything but fail we serve a God who takes the good the bad and the indifferent and make them work together for the good of them who love the Lord is there anybody here besides myself that can thank God that our God is wiser than us our God knows more than us even the stuff that doesn't make sense he can make it work together here it is we got a role he says look give me strength because I'm reminded of God's character here's the second piece real quick he says I'm reminded of the character of God but I'm also renewed by the strength of God reminded of who God is and what God can do but then I'm renewed by the strength of God listen to the text verse 29 says he gives strength to the weary we read it too fast I'm gonna say it again he gives strength to the weary which means the only reason he gives strength is because people he give it to are weary [01:18:36]

um he doesn't give strength to the strong because he know we're not strong and no matter how strong you think you are he's still stronger but listen to what it says he gives strength it didn't say that we are able to get his strength but he gives us strength now I want you to see this picture that means that when our strength is depleted God gives us some of his when our human strength is down God gives us strength that won't run out he gives us strength when we are ready to throw in the towel when we are depleted physically and mentally and emotionally and spiritually God is the one who gives us strength now here's the thing about this when God gives us strength that strength lets you do what you could not do if God didn't give you what he gave you all right all right um so you got to be careful when God gives you strength because if you are not careful you'll think it's you and it's really God and God says the only reason you are where you are is because I gave you some strength okay okay uh it's kind of like grace grace is when God gives you what you don't deserve grace is when God gives you something to do what you could not do if he never gave you what you didn't deserve and all God is trying to tell you is that when you understand that I'm the source of your strength I give you strength that allows you to do what you could not do if it wasn't for me giving you some of my I wish I had somebody to say Lord give me strength I don't need more human strength I need some divine strength I need some supernatural strength I need some strength to keep going keep pushing keep pressing keep moving forward keep living the life that God wants me to live until my change comes he says he gives us strength shares it with us this is Geneva this messed me up because in order for a strong God to give a weak person strength means he has to see that you're weak [01:21:56]

and what that does that encourages me it lets me know that one God sees us but two God won't see what you need and not give you what you need okay all right all right so so he sees that when we get weak he gives us strength and that's why he says when I give you strength the weak can say I'm strong he gives us strength so that when your heart is discouraged and your mind is overwhelmed he gives you the strength he says because I see what you're going through and that's where Israel was they thought that God didn't see them want to encourage you even in the midnight hour with tears rolling from your eyes God sees you the Bible says that heaven keeps a record of every tear you cry God sees you even knows the number of hairs on your head God sees you can I tell you how I know he sees you because the Bible says that even the youth grow weary even the youth get tired even young men stumble and fall he said he said but it's God who gives you now you may say well pastor why did they say that well because sometimes we think if we were younger we could do more [01:24:01]

Hope says, watch this, I'm not looking at my problems. I'm looking at God. Hope says, I'm not looking at my situation. I'm looking at the Savior. And when you have hope, your trust that God can bring you through. I'm done. But that word hope is that confident expectation. That word hope, Brother Joe, is not just you waiting, doing nothing. That word hope is you waiting and watching at the same time. That word hope means that I'm waiting, but I'm also letting God be in control. That word hope means I'm standing on the promises of God. Even when I don't see the answer, hope says, I know God is working. I know that he's moving. Because watch this, it is hope that brings change. [01:27:05]

It is hope that brings transformation. That's what the Bible says, but those whose hope is in the Lord, they will renew their strength. Isn't that a change? From weak to renewed. That word renew means he going to make you brand new again. Renew means literally exchanging or replacing. And I like it because I like the animal that he uses for the metaphor. Y 'all know why I like that animal? Because he's an eagle. I told you. I'm sorry. See, he ain't going to play for me now because he's a commander. But he's an eagle. And I like that. Because he says that his eagle is one that soars. [01:28:02]

I'm dependent that the Lord will let me soar. I'm dependent that he'll make me rise above my difficulties. I'm dependent that I can fly above the storm. I'm dependent that he'll let me go higher than I ever imagined. If I just wait on him, he's able to lift me higher. Is there anybody besides myself that said, Lord, lift me up? Let me go higher. Let me go higher. Let me soar like an eagle. But I got to move. But not only does he say that, he says, I want you to fly [01:31:39]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?