Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0173A recorded on May 18, 1980 teaching from Isaiah 49:20-21 – The Importance of Being Around the House of God.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens presents a vision for spiritual and numerical growth by interpreting the restoration promises of Isaiah 49. He argues that a healthy church must move past the apathy of looking backward and instead embrace a future defined by faith and expansion, even when the departure of members to the mission field or through death creates a temporary sense of desolation. The central theme is the travail of soul, a metaphor for the intense, agonizing prayer required of believers to “give birth” to new converts and expand the kingdom of God. Ultimately, Stevens challenges his listeners to enlarge their hearts and overcome their hesitations, urging us to proactively share the gospel so that the church might witness a surprising and miraculous increase in its spiritual family.