Who Is God?

Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee

Jeremiah reminds us of Who our great Lord is. He’s the God of grace, love, mercy, and provision. 

He’s the God of miracles and power. He’s the God Who moves heaven and earth, and suspends the very laws of nature, if necessary, to meet the needs of His children.

Regardless of what lies in your path today, remember that if you are His, you belong to the God Who made heaven and earth.  

He still knows what it takes and possesses what it takes to see you through whatever you may face in this life; Heb. 13:5; Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:33. 

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 permission. 

Problems And Valleys

The Apostle Paul gives us some insight into handling problems as we serve the Lord.  

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 

When you face a difficult time, remember, God has allowed it as part of His plan for you, Rom. 8:28.

2 Corinthians 4:15-16 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Though it may be hard to understand, "All things are for your sakes" includes our valleys. 

But God was there before the valley, He will be there after the valley, and He will certainly be there in the valley, Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20. 

If there’s a storm brewing on your horizon, and you want to be ready for it, take it to Jesus right now and leave it with Him. He may want to grow you spiritually with this one. 

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 permission. 

Be Not Dismayed

Don't you think it looked hopeless to the old widow there in Zaraphath, expecting to die after preparing her last meal for Elijah? 

I wonder how Israel felt with their backs to the Red Sea and their faces towards the Egyptians. 

I suppose Elijah may have felt pretty intimidated being outnumbered 850 to 1 there on Mt. Carmel. 

Mary and Martha surely lost hope when Lazarus died. 

How many of us trembled at a cancer diagnosis or other sorrow, but God brought us through as He did all those mentioned here. Praise Him. 

Never count God out. No matter how dark the night, remember morning is coming and with the morning comes rejoicing - Psa. 30:5.

Isaiah 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

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 permission

A Caring God

It may surprise some to think about God being a caring God. He is often portrayed as a God of wrath and judgment. 

That is one side of His character, but He is also a God of love, compassion and intimacy. He is a God who cares because He knows what we face in life. 

While He lived among us He endured more than His share of pain, poverty and suffering. 

He knows what it’s like to be rejected, John 1:11 — to be hated — to be hungry, thirsty and alone. He knows what it’s like to die. 

Jesus experienced all this so that He might better help you in your time of need. Bring your needs to Jesus. He cares. 

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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 permission. 

Don’t Grow Weary

Let us not grow weary as we walk through this world. Sometimes it’s hard to worship, pray and do the work of God. Sometimes we suffer. Sometimes we fail.  

But we have a Helper — the Holy Spirit — the Comforter within us who rises up to meet the challenge and enables us to walk in victory. 

Romans 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

God is working out His purpose in us. What is that purpose? He is making us in the image of Jesus. 

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.

In hard times, remember that we have the Spirit of God within us, and He enables us to remain diligent and committed as we travel toward a better country. 

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 permission. 

Keep On

No sacrifice, no struggle, no self-denial, no valley or no work for the Lord goes unnoticed by God 

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

So keep on praying, keep on serving, and keep on living for Jesus. What you do for Him in His name is “not in vain”— not a “waste of time”.  

The good Lord sees it all. He knows it all.  One day He will reward it all.  

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

That should give us confidence to continue serving Him regardless of what life brings our way.

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 permission. 

Anger

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Not all anger is wrong.  A good rule of thumb is this: If you are angry about something that affects you — how you feel or what you think —  it’s sinful anger. 

If you are angry about the harm done to God or others, it can be righteous anger.

Anger that is allowed to simmer turns into resentment. Resentment soon turns into bitterness. Bitterness turns into a root of self-righteousness that chokes the life, peace and joy out of you and everyone around you. 

There once was a man who was told by his doctor that he had rabies. The patient immediately pulled out a pad and pencil and began to write.

Thinking the man was making out his will, the doctor said, “Listen, this doesn’t mean you’re going to die. There’s a cure for rabies.”

“I know that,” said the man. “I’m makin’ a list of people I’m gonna bite.”

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 permission.