01/04/26 Sermon

Abundance in Isaiah 60:1-6

Isaiah 60:1–6 ESV

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

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Isaiah 60:1-3

Isaiah 60:1–3 ESV

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

—> Epiphany Sunday is the recognition that God has come to earth not just for the Jewish people but for all people.

—> Just as the Magi were drawn to the star first in darkness, the same is true for us.

—> We see who Jesus is and what what he offers because we see the light in the darkness of the world.

—> The dark isn’t something to fear, it is simply to be acknowledged, because all can see the light and will come to it.

Isaiah 60:4–6 ESV

Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord.

“The abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,”

—> To see what God has in store for us, to see what God has doing we can look at the darkness but instead we need to look up. If we focus on God we will see what he is doing.

—> When we focus on God we realize that we live in abundance.

In 2026 I want us to see the abundance God has for us and leave the darkness behind.

God’s light, God’s love, God’s grace is abundant. It never runs out; it only spreads.

I believe we have seen that first hand. Story after story comes through the Storehouse, when people have a need and only want to take the minimum we tell them to take what to them seems like an abundant amount and what happens??? We get more in its place.

—> God’s abundance is why we share this meal together today. The Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion , is a reminder that God gives abundantly to ALL who ask for it his love, grace, and mercy. Throughout the world today the church is enjoying this meal together and God is pouring out His Spirit in abundance on all those that participate. Not just one church or one denomination but to ALL people everywhere.