MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM SPIRITUAL GROWTH - Isaiah 40: God is Great

We are ending our series on spiritual growth by looking at the 4 G's of God.

Why is this? Because as our minds our renewed we will be transformed (Romans 12.1-2). Sin came into the world (and the Shalom of God was broken) because we believed a lie (Genesis 3.1ff). We therefore need the truth that sets us free because the devil is still speaking lies (John 8).

(1) God is Great - so I don’t have to be in control
(2) God is Glorious - so I don’t have to fear others
(3) God is Good - so I don’t have to look elsewhere
(4) God is Gracious - so I don’t have to prove myself

Isaiah 40.12-31 gives us a picture of the greatness and sovereignty of God which climaxes in verse 31 with a promise of “changing your strength” or “gaining new strength.” There are 4 things we know about the people of God

(1) Their Enemies - previously the Assyrians and now the Babylonians
(2) Their Circumstances - living in exile in Babylon
(3) Their Hopes - The other nations and their idols
(4) Their Physical and Emotional state - tired and weary

And into this situation God asks them the question (twice - vs18/25) - To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal? Imagine how getting a picture of the greatness of God (having their minds renewed - vs21-28 = do you not know, have you not heard) would have transformed their lives and each of these 4 things. It wouldn’t mean their circumstances would have changed necessarily (there were still enemies and exile etc) but they would have had hope, strength, perspective and reassurance. They would have been able to sleep at night (see Psalm 3) and had confidence for the trials. They would have realised that their idols (what they put their hope in) could easily topple as they would eventually grow tired and weary.

Here are 7 negative (and their counterparts) fruits that come from not believing the truth ‘that God is great and I am small’ but believing the lie that “I am in control”

(1) Manipulations/Patience - people and circumstances
(2) Busyness/Ability to say “no” and “I can’t do that”
(3) Fearful/Confidence
(4) Anxiety/Peace
(5) Obsession with an inability to switch off/Freedom and being able to sleep at night
(6) Pride/humility
(7) Complaining/joyful

Do you see that if you believe the lie then you become tired and weary? And do you notice how the passage ends - Soar….Run…Walk - why the anticlimax? Because in life sometimes we’ll soar…often we’ll run…BUT WE’LL ALWAYS WALK. We still live in a broken world so even though we put our hope in the everlasting God and not ourselves sometimes we cannot expect to always soar and run but we can always expect to walk….and if the weight is on God’s shoulders and not ours….we’ll never be faint.

Practically - see Philippians 4.6-8 - give your requests to God and leave them with him. And read Isaiah 40. Job 38-42.

Reflection + Application

(1) Meditate on Isaiah 40.12-31 (or part of Job 38-42) as a way of focussing on God and his greatness. Thank him for everything it says about his character and his actions.

(2) In what areas of life do we most want to “be in control” and ensure things happen the way we want them? How does this leave you physically, mentally, emotionally + spiritually?

(3) What did the people of God want control over in Isaiah’s day? How did they go about trying to get control? How did that leave them?

(4) Read Isaiah 40.12-31 - How would have hearing this truth have set them free (see 4 things above if you are the leader)? How could it set you free in the areas you want control over (pick one verse that helps you…and explain why)?

(5) List the 7 fruits….which one’s do you see in your life? How might the truth of the greatness of God and his control over all things transform your life? What does it practically (day to day) mean to remind yourself of this truth?

(6) What do people feel anxious about at the moment? Use Philippians 4.6-8 as a way of praying about these issues.

*****PLEASE NOTE***** these reflections and application questions are to be tailored by whoever is leading the study. You do not have to do all the questions and you can add in extra questions. If it says that you are to “meditate or reflect” on a bible passage that is to be done during your time of sung worship (not in the study).