Our Powerful, Loving God

When I think of God making the world and everything that is a part of it —  creating light and the universe with a word. I am amazed. 

Why would He pay attention to me? Why would He hear my prayers? The Psalmist asked the same question. 

Psalm 8:3-4 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 

[4] What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

The Devil has thrown that question at me at times when I prayed, telling me God is too busy to listen. I believe the answer to the question is love. 

Psalm 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Nobody loves us more than Almighty God, because His is a loving kindness that is excellent. 

Love Him. Trust Him. 

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.

Ever Growing Faith

Other than creaky joints and weak legs, I’ve noticed another trend in my old age and it’s good. As my senior years expand, there is more power in my faith. 

No doubt about it, the good Lord has planted enough obstacles in my path that only faith let me pass. 

Daniel’s faith allowed him to enjoy victory over the Den of Lions and his enemies. 

He learned what every saint can learn —  God will either get you out of your trial or He will give you grace in your trial.   

What He doesn’t take away, He makes a way.  

Faith can still part your sea, fill your barrel, walk on your storm, and multiply your loaves and fishes.  

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

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.

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

I never know which gospel song will play next from the couple thousand stored on the thumb drive in my car. 

Though I know most of them and they bless my journey, an unfamiliar one surfaced yesterday, causing me to pause. 

The flow and harmony was great, but the words “Safe Thus Far” left some doubt that the future may not be safe. 

Lest I be accused of blacklisting songs, today I googled the words, and author Kyla Roland shattered the doubt in Verse Two. 

“I stood in the face of stormy seas as they rolled apart. — I rested in peace as He spoke to my trembling heart. — And I really don't know what lies ahead, but i have no doubt no fear or dread; — Ill still be standing telling my story, safe thus far.”

Actually, this second verse is also my testimony. 

“Many Things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, — But I know who holds tomorrow, — And I know who holds my hand.” — Ira Stanphill

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

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 Glory Of God

Romans 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Everything in this world exists because there is a God in Heaven Who willed it to be here.  

That’s Who He is and, that’s the power He possesses. 

Paul said it this way: Col. 1:16, For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.  

God is the center of His universe. Is He the center of yours? If you are giving Him the glory due His name, He is.  

Therefore, let every believer come to the place where we are more than willing to seek His glory first in everything we are and do. 

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 Tender Lord

Believers need not fear the trials, sorrows, sins, enemies and troubles of this life. 

None of them will ever be able to break us completely or utterly quench our light. 

Our Tender Lord is able to sustain us, to support us and to see us through it all. 

God didn’t save our soul to allow us to be completely broken or to have our light snuffed out along the way. 

He saved us to do a work of grace in our life that will endure through eternity. He saved with the assurance that He would complete His work in us.

Phil. 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

2 Timothy 1:12,  “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

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.

Trust

Deity doesn’t run on our schedule. God is not bound by the constraints of time and space. It may surprise you, but God does not possess a clock or a calendar. 

The delays of life are designed to increase our faith. 

You take a Joseph and throw him in a pit, then into slavery, then in to prison; and out of that delay God will give you the Prime Minister of Egypt and a man of God. 

When God doesn’t move as quickly as you might like, trust Him anyway.

Ephesians 3:20 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,

Faith in Jesus may start out very small, but it will not stay that way for long. God has a way of growing our faith as we walk with Him through the days of our lives.

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.

Pray

Psalm 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

Isaiah 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Since the Lord hears our prayers, we can pray with confidence. 

So, pray when God says "yes". 

Pray when He says "no". 

Pray when He says "wait".  

Pray for His will in all answers. 

Prayer is more than a religious activity, it’s a path out of the dark valley. 

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.