A Mighty God for Miserable Times by Kelcy Steele
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NRSV)
Is there anybody here who knows that God is the joy and the strength of your life? He removes all pain, misery and strife, he promised to keep you, never to leave you, and never fall short of his word.
It doesn’t take a theologian to figure out that we are living in some perilous and miserable times.
But here is the good news: He’s a Mighty God even in miserable times!
Isn’t it good to know that God always delivers a message in your misery, a word for your wilderness, and a prophesy for your predicament.
God is Mighty! He is so mighty that his office is manifold. His promise is sure. His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. And His word is enough.
GOD IS A MIGHTY GOD!
There is none who can stand before him! There will be none who will stand after him.
And if we serve a Mighty God today why do we walk around here looking so miserable?
You have the same power and authority to overcome your fears, defeat the demonic, and declare the victory. Because God is too mighty for you to be walking around miserable, tell your neighbor, “smile!”
Here it is, the Prophet Isaiah declaring, “for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseler, the mighty God.”
It is the Prophet Isaiah who stood in the gap for 40 years declaring to a people that we might be in some miserable times but God is still mighty.
It’s hard sometimes to tell people who are dealing with hell, haters, and hypocrites that greater is coming. It’s hard sometimes to tell people who are dealing with problems, pains, and predicaments that greater is coming.
You can’t allow your misery to strangle out your miracle, strip you of your joy, or rob you of your future.
Because we serve a Mighty God even in miserable times.
May I ask the question and I ain’t trying to get in your business? What does miserable look like? Look straight and don’t look at your neighbor!
The word miserable means that you are in the midst of a wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable situation. Because injustice, tribulation, and discrimination are wretchedly uncomfortable.
That’s not the time to silence your voice, apply for medical marijuana, and pop Zoloft and Prozac, punk out, and tuck your tail in between your legs like a puppy dog and run home.
Will the real prophet please stand up?
Because whenever there is injustice, tribulation, and discrimination, that should be the calling card of every prophet whose prophetic voice hasn’t been castrated and muted due to social ignorance and hidden agendas or being overly indulged in a happy gospel.
I wonder how “Happy” Pharrell Williams feels right about now? After tuning into the news and watching protest after protest, march after march, Black Lives Matter. All lives matters because it’s hard to be happy when life seems like a living hell.
Don’t allow your happy gospel of prosperity – name it and claim it, grab it and blab it, water down the social Gospel where you forget that your Christian ethics ought to be applied to social problems. Will the real prophet please stand up?
There’s nothing wrong with the shout, but the problem begins when you stop shouting and never speak out or speak to. What’s oppressing you?
There’s nothing wrong with the dance, but the problem begins when you stop dancing and never decree like Isaiah that God is mightier than all the misery that’s in your life.
HE’S A MIGHTY GOD!
And now we are here at “Can’t Breathe” “Hands Up” miserable, still staring injustice, tribulation, and discrimination in the face.
I have some good news: we are not serving a miserable God. But we serve a Mighty God even in miserable times.
Our God is Mighty. He is not shaken by our circumstances and taunted by our troubles. His battle plans are already completed, the victory is already won.
And I don’t know about you, but our God is too mighty to sit here with our “altogether lovely selves” and not prophesy that enough is enough. Do I have any contemporary Isaiahs? Who refuse to sit back and allow the devil to floss and flex? But you are ready to prophesy that enough is enough.
Will the real prophets please stand up?
Enough of burying Black men and boys before their time. Enough of their lives being snuffed out by the very people who are trained and paid to protect and serve. Enough of America turning a blind eye to police brutality and overall violence against Blacks. Enough is enough.
Will the real prophets please stand up?
I couldn’t breathe in 2006 when Sean Bell was shot and killed by a undercover NYPD officers
I can’t breath at the mentioning of the names of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, or Michael Brown.
And I don’t know about some of you. But I come like the Prophet Isaiah prophesying that God is mightier then our misery. Isn’t that Good news? That his name will be called…Mighty God.
This name Mighty God in the Hebrew is El Gibbor,
El comes from the root word meaning strength, power and might! Somebody shout, “He’s a mighty God!” Gibbor means that God is a Warrior and a Champion.
God is our Strength. God is our Power. And God is Mighty.
Gibbor means champion,
Gibbor means conqueror.
Gibbor means warrior.
Gibbor means hero.
Is there anybody here who don’t mind touching your neighbor and tell them God is my hero? Isn’t that good news, that our Savior supersedes superhero status?
Jesus is better then Superman: he knows all things, created all things, and has authority and power over all things. Kryptonite can’t stop him: he had no hidden agendas. He didn’t need a mask, a created identity or a double-lifestyle. He simply walked with God.
Tell somebody: He’s a mighty God.
Hindus acknowledge many gods, Buddhists say there is no deity, New Age followers believe they are God, Muslims believe in a powerful but unknowable God.
But we believe in a mighty God.
I dare you to touch somebody and tell them “God is my hero!”
Let me tell you how I know that God is mighty! The infinitely powerful became weak. The wonderfully majestic became humble. The creator of the universe became one of us. The infinite, eternal, self-sustaining being, who created every atom in the universe and put them all in their respective places became dependent on the nourishment of his mother’s breast and the warmth of her loving touch.
He’s a mighty God.
He is a Servant who was rejected.
He is a Substitute who was punished.
He is a Savior who made provision.
He’s a mighty God.
He became like us to free us.
He walked among us to guide us.
He stayed with us to teach us.
HE’S A MIGHTY GOD!
The eternal became the mortal. When the Word became flesh:
The infinite became the finite.
The glory put on sandals.
The majestic wore clothing.
The creator walked among us.
HE’S A MIGHTY GOD!
And the government rested on his shoulders. And that’s why we sing:
What a mighty God we serve!
What a mighty God we serve!
Angels bow before Him
Heaven and earth adore Him
What a mighty God we serve!
In the name of Jesus, we have the victory! Anybody have victory today in the name of Jesus, Satan will have to flee! Tell me who can stand before us when we call on this great name?
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS! We have the victory!
Can somebody help me call his name today?
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
There’s just something about that Name.
Master, Savior, Jesus,
Like the fragrance after the rain.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all heaven and earth proclaim,
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,
But there’s something about that Name.
Do you know him?
In Genesis he’s the seed of the woman.
In Exodus he’s the Passover lamb.
In Leviticus he’s the high priest.
Do you know him?
In Numbers he’s the cloud and the fire.
In Deuteronomy he’s the prophet like Moses.
In Joshua he’s the captain of our salvation.
In Judges he’s the Judge and Lawgiver.
Do You know him?
In Ruth he’s the Kinsman Redeemer.
In 1 and 2 Samuel he’s the prophet of the Lord.
In 1 and 2 Kings he’s the Reigning King.
Do you know him?
He’s Ezra faith scribe.
He’s Nehemiah’s wall builder.
He’s Esther’s Mordecai.
He’s Job’s dayspring from on high.
He’s Psalms’ shepherd.
He’s Proverbs’ and Ecclesiastes’ wisdom.
He’s Solomon’s lover and bridegroom.
He’s Isaiah’s suffering servant.
Do You Know Him? I’m glad I know him: He’s the lily of the valley, he’s a bright and morning star. It’s good to know the Lord! He’s Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. It’s good to know the Lord! He’s joy in sorrow, he’s my hope for tomorrow. It’s good to know the Lord!
Can somebody throw back your head and throw up your hand and call his name? Jesus!
HE’S A MIGHTY GOD!