Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0497A recorded on February 21, 1982 teaching from Isaiah 43:1-11 – I Am With Thee.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens focuses on the concept of God’s unwavering presence and love for believers, as found in Isaiah 43:1-11. Stevens emphasizes the phrase “I am with thee,” stressing that despite challenges and anxieties, God is always with His people. He goes on to discuss the importance of being called by name rather than being reduced to a mere number in a system, drawing a parallel between God’s personal relationship with believers and the impersonal nature of modern technology and government surveillance. He then explores the concept of adoption, arguing that becoming a child of God requires a spiritual rebirth, not simply an intellectual understanding. Stevens concludes by highlighting the divine side of this relationship, focusing on five aspects of God’s love: His peculiar love, fatherly care, parental discipline, parental comfort, and the inheritance of Heaven. Stevens aims to comfort and assure believers of God’s presence and love, while simultaneously challenging us to embrace a deeper, more personal relationship with Him.