Knowing the Greatness of Our God
January 10, 2024 · 1:24:49 · Watch on YouTube ↗
These notes - summary, key points, and highlighted thoughts - were generated by AI from the recording and are not the preacher’s exact words.
Summary
This midweek service welcomed two visiting bishops from the Slavic district, and both turned the church toward Christ. After an opening meditation on Jesus' words in John 16 - that the Father Himself loves us and we now come to Him directly through the Son - the first guest preached from the angel's promise in Luke 1: "He will be great." He asked why it truly matters that we grasp the greatness of God, and answered through Scripture: like David facing Goliath, knowing how great God is keeps small obstacles from defeating us; like Moses, it teaches a reverent, right-hearted approach to His holiness; like Isaiah before the throne, it humbles us to repentance and then sends us out to proclaim Christ.
He reminded the church that Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart, and he urged believers to do the same - to listen closely, to gather every revelation of who Jesus is, and to let the Spirit fill the heart with the knowledge of His majesty.
The second guest preached from Luke 5 and the miraculous catch of fish. He warned of a famine for hearing God's word and called the church to press in close, pay the price, and truly listen. Jesus, he said, is wonderfully accessible and chooses to cooperate with us - He borrowed Simon's boat, and He still asks for our hands, our feet, and our voices. The reward comes later; now is the time to work. And true success is found not in skill or feelings but in obeying His word, as Peter did when he said, "at Your word I will let down the nets."
Key Points
- Knowing the greatness of God turns giants into small obstacles, as it did for David against Goliath.
- A reverent heart in God's presence flows from grasping His holiness - the lesson Moses learned too late.
- Seeing God's majesty, like Isaiah at the throne, leads first to repentance and then to bold witness.
- Like Mary, treasure and ponder every revelation of who Jesus is until the Spirit fills your heart with it.
- To hear God's word you must draw near and pay the price; it does not come to those who stay comfortable and distant.
- Jesus is accessible and longs to cooperate with us, asking for our hands, feet, and voices in His work.
- True success comes not from skill or feeling but from obeying His word: "at Your word I will let down the nets."
- Now is the time to labor in God's field; the reward and the crowns are kept for the day He appears in glory.
Devotional
Take a moment to ask the Lord to show you how great He really is. When you truly know His majesty, the giants looming over your week shrink to their real size, and your heart learns to worship rather than complain. Like Mary, treasure every glimpse of who Jesus is and keep it in your heart. And when He speaks, do not lean on your own skill or feelings - simply obey, for it is at His word that the empty nets are filled.
Knowing how great God is keeps the small obstacles of life from ever defeating us.
Jesus is wonderfully accessible, and He still chooses to work hand in hand with us.
We toiled all night and caught nothing, but at Your word I will let down the nets.