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Fasting is one of the forgotten spiritual disciplines. Perhaps most modern Christians do not know what it is. Nevertheless, it is an important tool in the spiritual struggle and in the spiritual life in general. What is it, and why is fasting important? The prophet Isaiah speaks about this, explaining in detail not only the essence of fasting but also the proper attitude toward it.

A broken heart is the acknowledgment of one’s unworthiness before God, the realization of His greatness, and complete dependence on Him. As we reflect on the words of the prophet Isaiah, we will see how God draws near to those who are broken and humble in spirit, revives their hearts, heals their emotional wounds, and fills them with grace. True brokenness is not merely a low opinion of oneself: it arises from a correct understanding of who God is and who we are before Him, and is expressed in trust and obedience to Him. What prevents us from having a broken heart? How can we grow in brokenness? The answers are in this sermon.

Reaching souls with the good news of salvation is one of the most important callings of God’s children. God’s salvation, at its core, means being filled with the Holy Spirit and adopting His perspective on life and everything around us—including sinful people who do not know Him. This is what makes God’s plan unique: He creates a people so that, through them, salvation may reach all the nations of the earth.

The Word is an expression of God’s power. Through the Word, God created the universe; thanks to the Word, everything exists today. But the primary sphere in which the power of the Word is manifested is the human soul. The salvation of the soul and the building up of the Church are God’s primary purposes in the universe. The Word is the primary instrument through which He accomplishes this. The prophet Isaiah explains how this happens.

God infinitely surpasses human beings in His nature and in His capabilities. As bearers of God’s image and likeness, human beings can think, draw conclusions, and act, but they cannot even come close to matching God’s mind and abilities. Therefore, we cannot accurately judge God’s plans and actions. We cannot claim to fully understand God’s actions. But we can trust them, relying on God’s love, His wisdom, and His faithfulness.

Continuing his address to the people of Judah in chapter 55, the prophet Isaiah calls on them to seek the Lord. In order to come to God, to listen to His Word, and to partake of His goodness, the soul must first begin to seek Him. Why must we seek the Lord? What does it mean to seek the Lord? Why should we seek the Lord? We will attempt to answer these questions in this sermon.

Human life is full of difficulties and problems. Even after finding salvation and becoming part of God’s family, we continue to live in the midst of an ocean of sorrows and various trials. But believers—those saved by Christ—have a tremendous advantage. Jesus Christ has given them a firm foundation and an unshakable hope. The guarantee of this hope is God’s covenant, established by the Son on the cross at Calvary. Isaiah calls this covenant a covenant of peace and mercy—two key attributes of God’s character that each of us needs.

The Church is God’s most complex creation. God has been working on its creation for several thousand years. To accomplish this, He had to create the universe as we know it. He had to create humankind within it. He had to prepare and carry out a grand plan of redemption, which included the long history of Israel and the coming of the Messiah through it. Redemption—the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ—became the foundation of the Church. It is precisely this that made possible the continued work of the Holy Spirit, who saves souls and, one by one, incorporates them into a single organism, the Body of Jesus Christ. By design, the Church is a most marvelous creation. It unites millions—perhaps even billions—of people who have lived in different periods of history, in completely different cultures, and in different parts of the world. Each of these people is unique. Each one is needed in the Body of Christ. And each one—absolutely every single one—brings something special to it, something specifically created by God for the greatness and beauty of the Body of Christ.