The Faithful God

Israel is about to enter the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness while a rebellious generation dies off. 

In the last month of his life Moses delivers a series of sermons to the people of God. 

They will face the fight of their lives, and they need divine assurance that they can depend on God to be with them. 

Deuteronomy 7:9  Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Just as Israel can believe God’s promises and depend on His power to deliver them, so can we. 

We live in days when the people of the Lord need to remember that our God is faithful to all generations. He knows where we are and what we need. 

Do you love Him and keep His commandments? Rejoice and rest in His faithfulness for He is The Faithful God. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

When Life Closes In On You

Martin Luther was prone to periods of deep depression. One day, during one of those times, he came to the breakfast table to find his wife dressed in black garments. She looked as if she were gong to a funeral. 

Luther asked his wife who had died and she replied "God." 

Luther raised his voice and said, "Woman, that is blaspheme!" 

She replied, "It is no more blaspheme to say that God is dead than it is to live as though He were dead." 

Luther got the point and repented of his foolishness.  

When life closes in on you, remember this: If you belong to Jesus, God is behind every circumstance you face (Job 1 &; 2). It had to pass across His desk and receive His approval before it came to you. 

Romans 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

An Instrument Of Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:4. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

At a prayer meeting one evening, an elderly saint of God gave this prayer of thanksgiving. He said, “O Lord, we will praise Thee. We will praise Thee with an instrument of ten strings!" 

People wondered what he meant, but understood when he continued, 

"We will praise Thee with our two eyes by looking only unto Thee. We will exalt Thee with our two ears by listening only to Thy voice. 

We will extol Thee with our two hands by working in Thy service. We will honor Thee with our own two feet by walking in the way of Thy statutes. 

We will magnify Thee with our tongue by bearing testimony to Thy loving kindness. We will worship Thee with our heart by loving only Thee. 

We thank Thee for this instrument, Lord; keep it in tune. Play upon it as Thou wilt and ring out the melodies of Thy grace.  May its harmonies always express Thy glory!"

Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Give God thanks for His many blessings. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission.

Hopeless

The brothers of Joseph sold him like he was a piece of trash. They received $98.24 in today’s money—the price of a crippled slave. 

Genesis 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Joseph is a picture of the Lord Jesus. He was hated and betrayed by His brethren who should have loved Him—betrayed for the price of a slave.  

Praise the Lord that He loved us so much that He endured such shame and hatred, yet He died on a cruel cross to save people like us. 

Joseph’s father, Jacob, is heartbroken and inconsolable. What appears to be a hopeless situation is merely setting the stage for hope in the future by God’s Sovereignty. 

There will be times in our lives when things appear hopeless. We need to understand that the Lord has a good plan for us and nothing can derail that plan.

Cling to God’s promises—Rom. 8:28; Psa. 37:23; Job 23:10.  Give Him your hopeless situation and let Him give you help in dealing with them. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission. 

We Are So Blessed

Psalm 100:4-5 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

To tally past year blessings softens my heart. How do I thank the Lord without arousing tears for peacefully carrying me through chemo and radiation and recovery? Words seem inadequate. 

At my weakest point, my daughter Penny helped me for a month and my husband always helped. When I asked the Lord for strength, He gave me strength for the task at hand. When I asked for sleep, He gave me sleep. 

Such mercy! Such sufficient grace!

I look forward to our annual Thanksgiving service at church tonight. Sitting at round tables in the fellowship hall, each of our dear brothers and sisters share the blessings of God to them this past year. It’s our most tissue-humbling service. 

God is good and I’m thankful. We are so blessed. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed permission

Following Jesus

When we face times of a crisis or seek direction in life, we need to learn to follow Jesus.

Following God may not be the easiest thing we do, but it will be the best thing we do. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

When the time comes that we acknowledge God, when we praise Him and trust Him with everything we have and everything we do or think; we will leave our place of comfort and follow Jesus. 

Did you know that Jesus was there all the time, saying,  “Follow me, I have a plan!”

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed 

Hallowed Be Thy Name

When we come before the Lord in prayer we face a decision. We can either focus our prayer around ourselves or center our thoughts on Him.  

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

When we truly grasp the fact that the God of creation is our Heavenly Father, we will want to worship and glorify Him. 

If we truly believe His name is hallowed, we will want to bow before Him in humble submission and reverence. 

We will want to give Him first place in our thoughts, our affections, and our lives. 

Worship the Lord this Thanksgiving. 

Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit without their expressed