The Eternal Things

The. Apostle Paul tells us not to focus on the trials of this life, but on the glory of the next life. 

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

That doesn't mean we don't hurt or we won't have problems. It means that we learn to keep everything in its proper perspective. 

The valleys can’t last forever, but Heaven and all its joys are eternal. 

This is why Paul could keep his focus on Heaven when he was persecuted. 

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 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;

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

Joy Unspeakable And Full Of Glory

As David closes his beautiful “Song of Songs” in 2 Samual 22, he examines the past years of his life, rejoicing again in the precious hand of God leading him, keeping him, and blessing him. 

It would do us good to look back to where we were when Jesus found us and saved us and changed our lives — to remember the times when He showed up where we needed Him most. 

But for the mercies and grace of God, at least four times my bones should’ve been carried to the graveyard.  

God has been good to me and mine. The longer I serve Him the sweeter He grows.  It makes me want to sing an old gospel song — “Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory”.  

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

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Whether a lion, a bear, a giant, a king, a soldier or his son; God gave David victory over every obstacle he faced — ever revealing the next step in his path. David wrote about it in a song. 

2 Samuel 22:19-20 They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay. He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

The saints of God enjoy the same kind of relationship with our Father.  

— In troubling  times He gives us strength to overcome, Eph. 6:12-13.  

— In times of testing and trials, He supports us with His presence, Matt. 28:20.  

— He sustains us with His power, Eph. 3:20.  

— He supplies us with His promises, Phil. 4:19; Psalm 55:22.  

That ought to fill our hearts with songs of praise. 

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

Peace In The Battle

Israel is about to honor the peace treaty they made with the Gibeonites. As they prepare to fight the kings that have risen up against them, the Lord encourages Joshua.

Joshua 10:8  And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

God intervened supernaturally on behalf of Israel that day, giving them all the daylight they needed for a victorious win!

When Jesus saved us, He did so with the promise that we could walk in His victory. 

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are times when the Lord will supernaturally intervene in our lives as He fights our battles. 

That doesn't mean that every situation will work out the way we want it to, but it does mean that God will enable us to live above our circumstances and accept His will. 

For those who will walk by faith and not by sight, the Lord still gives peace. 

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

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

Victory In Jesus

Matthew 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

It’s far easier to list what God can’t do than what He can do. God can’t lie. He can’t change. God can’t make mistakes and He can’t fail. 

But He can deliver us from evil and give victory to our prayers. He is a powerful God.  

So when we humbly come before Him in prayer and behold His sovereignty and holiness, we can pray with confidence because He has the power to hear us and grant our requests. 

Oh yes! We can rely on Jesus in the greatest battles of our lives — in every temptation — because His is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever!

That’s why we sing “Victory In Jesus” and “Glory To His Name”. 

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

Surely I Come Quickly

The final promise of the Savior and the final prayer of the saint who recorded it are found in the last verse of God’s Holy Word.   

These sixteen words  teach a truth so majestic that it will only be fully comprehended when the Lord Himself returns in the clouds for His people.

Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” 

This is a restatement of the glorious promise He made to His disciples the night before He went to the cross, John 14:1-3.  

I get excited about the return of the Lord — actually, I get homesick waiting. 

There’s a heavenly pull in hearts of the saints for Christ’s return  - Phil. 1:23; Phil. 3:20.  

Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

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

Until Then

There are times when the valleys seem to go on forever, times when the night never seems to end. 

Times when our load seems so heavy that we feel the next step will be our last. 

The good news is that these things will not last for ever. One day soon we will reach the end of this road and we will step out of this life of troubles and trials into an eternity free from even the hint of pain. 

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

“But until then my heart will go on singing — Until then with joy I'll carry on — Until the day my eyes behold my Saviour — Until the day God calls me home “ 

— by Stuart Hamblen

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