Our Mighty Father Series

1. Depending on Others

In 2006, James Kim, his wife Kati, and their two young daughters left San Francisco on November 18 for a combined vacation and work trip. They spent Thanksgiving in Seattle with family and then went to Portland, Oregon to visit with a friend. After the visit in Portland, the family headed home but missed a critical turnoff. So they decided to drive the 55 miles down Interstate 5 to Grants Pass. There they turned onto Bear Camp Road, which is lightly traveled even in the summer and often is closed in the winter.

It was stormy and James mistakenly turned off onto a logging road later that evening. They were soon wending up into the mountains and when they reached higher elevations it began to snow. The family became hopelessly lost and finally became stranded in snow. The Kim family ran the engine of their station wagon to power its heater until the gas was gone. They ate what little food they had, and Kati Kim breast-fed her two daughters. After a week of being stranded James decided to venture out on foot to seek help.

James Kim put himself through a desperate ordeal, climbing down a ravine over boulders and logs, though nearly impenetrable brush and in and out of an icy creek, in what one rescue leader called a "superhuman" effort to save his family.

Kati and the girls were spotted two days after James had left to look for help. James' body was found two days after his family had been rescued.

(This article appeared on page A-1 of the San Francisco Chronicle December 7, 2006)

The Kim family had become lost. They had become absolutely dependent on others for their rescue. Over one hundred rescue works had searched for them. Even a satellite had been turned to the area in hopes of finding James.

We need to remember that it is still easy to get stranded or lost. Not just physically but also spiritually as well. We need someone who can rescue/save us. Jesus is that One as our Mighty God and Everlasting Father:

2. Isaiah 9:6

3. His Name will be Called:

* Wonderful -- He takes care of the dullness of life (meant to be exciting and abundant)

* Counselor -- He takes care of the decisions of life -- directs our steps

* Mighty God -- He takes care of the demands of life

* Eternal Father -- he takes care of the dimensions/destination of life

4. We are Dependent on Him as Mighty God and Everlasting Father, He is able to change lives today and forever -- Colossians 1.9-14

9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I. As Mighty God He Demonstrates His Power in Battle

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one [Warrior] who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3.17

A. In His Victory He is Able to Save Us -- Hebrews 7.25

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

1. In Creation God shows his hand; in salvation God shows his heart.

2. The cross was the ultimate battleground for Jesus

B. In His Victory He is Able to Support Us -- Jude 24-25

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

1. The solid foundation -- Matthew 7.24-27

2. [Ben Franklin at Constitutional Convention

In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection.- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor.