Times Of Trial

Times of trials can either move us toward God or away from Him. In my trials I found the presence of the Lord to be ever so near. 

Author Joseph Lincoln said, "Troubles are like hot weather; it sours milk, but it sweetens apples." 

Job said, (13:15) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

In troubled times it would do us well to remember a few truths that are easily forgotten. 

1. God's ways are not our ways, so we will never figure Him out  

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

2. We can produce nothing through self-effort, so we must trust the Lord for everything — seek the Lord's will then actively pursue it. 

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

3. We can accomplish nothing through worry. Trust is the only option we have, and it is the only option that will work.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 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 teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit.

The Heavenly Choir

Believers know about the struggles of life, and the touch of the Master’s hand. We know what it is to be redeemed by His grace, lifted out of sin and its prison, and to have no hope and then to be given a “new song”, Psa. 40:1-3.

But the angels have never had our experience with sin and redemption. All they know is glory, triumph, victory and praise.  

They have never been given a song, but we have — praise the Lord. 

I love gospel music, and some day I will sing my heart out with the amazing Heavenly Choir the Apostle John wrote about. 

Revelation 5:11-12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 

12.  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

But the angels can’t sing our song. 

“Holy, holy, is what the angels sing, — And I expect to help them make the courts of Heaven ring; — But when I sing redemption’s story, they will fold their wings, — For angels never felt the joys — That our salvation brings.”  

Johnson Oatman, Jr, 1856 - 1922

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

God Is Not Too Busy

Recently my friend told her doctor that she had prayed and felt the Lord had healed her. The doctor informed her that God was too busy to pay attention to her. 

I don’t believe the doctor knows the God of the Bible. The prophet Isaiah could have enlightened him. 

Isaiah 40:28-29  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

I’m glad God not only knows every teeny, tiny thing about us, — our heartache, our weakness, our pain and other problems — He also loves us in spite of our flaws. 

Luke 12:6-7 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

I’m glad the Lord has time for me. I have never walked alone. He has been with me every weary step of the way. 

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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.

Our Divine Helper

The Psalmist knew that the real source of his help was Almighty God. 

Psalm 121:2-3 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

He isn’t referring to a friend or an ally, but to the Creator of the universe. 

The idea is this:  “If God can make this world, then surely He has the power to take care of me!”

What a truth! Our helper is none other than the One who stood on the edge of nothing and made everything with the power of His Word. 

Need help? Tell the Lord. He is never too busy for you. 

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

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.

The Gospel Of Christ

There are many different gospels being preached in our day. There is the Gospel of:

— Religion that says, "Turn over a new leaf." 

— Materialism that says, "Your worth is determined by what you have.”

— Liberalism that says "I'm OK and you're OK. God accepts us like we are and will take us to Heaven if Heaven really exists." 

— Society that says, "Do as you please for life is short." 

— The Apostle Paul's message is the "Gospel of Christ." 

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Nowhere is the power of God so visible as it is in the Gospel of Christ. When God takes a lost sinner and saves him by His grace and makes him a new creature, that is a powerful thing. 

Paul's message, says, "You are a sinner, and if you die in your sins, you will go to Hell. But God loves you and sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, into the world. Jesus died for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead. If you will place your faith in Him to forgive your sins, then you can and will be eternally saved and go to Heaven." 

Good works alone will not get you to Heaven. You must believe. 

Everywhere Paul went preaching the cross, he was ridiculed, cast out, imprisoned, or treated cruelly. 

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.

Sow In Tears - Reap In Joy

As the Israelites remember their oppression in captivity, they praise God for His great power in setting them free and bringing them back to their homeland. 

But when they return they find it totally destroyed. The fields are dirt brown and there is little food to eat.  

All they have are a few precious seeds that hold the promise of a future harvest. With backbreaking work and tears, they sow those seeds into the earth. With faith and patience they wait. 

In a few weeks those few seeds have been transformed into a great harvest, and the workers return from the fields with great rejoicing, carrying their sheaves in their arms.

Psalm 126:5-6  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

There is much to be distressed about in the world today — crime, war, politics, disease, death, sin, evil, etc. 

If we can learn to keep our hearts focused on the Lord and all that He has done for us, it will go a long way toward giving us joy even in the midst of trials.  

Make God and His gracious gifts the focus of your joy, then you can rejoice regardless of what is happening around you.

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.

Soul Satisfaction

2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

When Jesus met the woman at the well He told her that He was able to satisfy the deepest thirst of her soul and that she would never feel thirsty again, John 4:13-14. 

Jesus satisfies. I have never seen a Christian, who was abiding in Jesus, feel that he or  she lacked any good thing. 

I never met a Christian, who was abiding in Christ, who longed for the things of this world. 

For those who are abiding in Jesus have found a sweet, cool, soul-satisfying fountain of living water that has produced within themselves a well of water springing up into everlasting life, John 4:14.

Only Jesus can satisfy your soul. 

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.