Introduction

Welcome, beloved family of Christ. I am so glad to see each of you here today, gathered in the spirit of unity and love, eager to hear what the Lord has to say to us. We are here together, not because of our own merits or desires, but because our Heavenly Father, in His infinite wisdom and boundless love, has drawn us to this place. We are here to listen, to learn, to lean on each other, and most importantly, to lean on God.

Today, we shall turn our hearts and minds to a powerful passage from the book of Isaiah. This passage, my friends, is not just a collection of words or a historical narrative. It is a living testament of God's faithfulness, a beacon of hope in the midst of life's storms, a manual for spiritual survival when the floods of life rise against us. Listen, as I read Isaiah 59:19,

So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

This verse, my dear brothers and sisters, speaks of fear, but not the fear that paralyzes or torments. It speaks of the fear of the Lord, a holy reverence that is the beginning of wisdom. It speaks of the glory of the Lord that shines brighter than the rising sun. It speaks of the enemy that comes like a flood, but also of the Spirit of the Lord who lifts a standard against him.

Facing the Floods Fearlessly

In the midst of life's storms, it's natural for fear to creep in. The waters rise, the winds howl, and we find ourselves feeling small and helpless. But the words of Isaiah remind us that we are not alone. The Spirit of the Lord is with us, ready to lift a standard against the enemy. This is not a call to ignore the reality of the storm, but rather to face it with courage, knowing that we are not facing it alone.

Consider the image of a flood. It's powerful, destructive, and seemingly unstoppable. It sweeps away everything in its path, leaving devastation in its wake. But the prophet Isaiah tells us that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift a standard against him. This is a promise of protection, a promise of deliverance, a promise of victory.

The first thing we need to understand about this promise is that it's not a guarantee of a storm-free life. The storms will come. The floods will rise. The enemy will attack. But in the midst of the storm, in the midst of the flood, in the midst of the attack, the Spirit of the Lord will be there, lifting a standard against the enemy. This is the promise we cling to as we face the floods fearlessly.

Next is that the promise is not just for us, but for all who fear the name of the Lord. This is a collective promise, a promise for the community of believers. We are not alone in the storm. We are not alone in the flood. We are not alone in the battle.

The third thing we need to understand is that the promise is not just for the present, but also for the future. The enemy will come again. The floods will rise again. The storms will rage again. But each time, the Spirit of the Lord will be there, lifting a standard against the enemy. This is our hope as we face the future fearlessly.

Finally is that the promise is not just a promise of protection, but also a promise of victory. The standard that the Spirit of the Lord lifts is not just a shield to protect us, but also a banner of victory. Even in the midst of the storm, even in the midst of the flood, even in the midst of the battle, we can claim the victory because the Spirit of the Lord is with us.

Finding Faith in the Floods

We have considered the reality of life's storms ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO