We’ll Understand It Better By and By

 Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I don’t know what I will face tomorrow, but I know that when all my tomorrow’s are finished, I have a future secured in the Lord Jesus Christ, John 14:1-3.

We’ll Understand It Better By and By

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Trials dark on every hand, — and we cannot understand — all the ways of God would lead us — to that blessed promised land; —  But he guides us with his eye, — and we'll follow till we die, — for we'll understand it better by and by. 

CHORUS:

By and by, when the morning comes,     —   when the saints of God are gathered home,     —   we'll tell the story how we've overcome,     —   for we'll understand it better by and by. 

Temptations, hidden snares — often take us unawares, — and our hearts are made to bleed     —   for a thoughtless word or deed;     —   and we wonder why the test     —   when we try to do our best,     —   but we'll understand it better by and by. 

Charles A. Tindley   1905

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. 

Faith is The Victory

 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We are wasting our time worrying about the future because we simply can’t know it or change it, Pro. 27:1. 

Just know that it is part of God’s plan for the end times and leave it in His hands. 

After all, God promised to meet our needs, Phil. 4:19. 

Have faith in God. 

Faith is The Victory

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Encamped along the hills of light,    —    Ye Christian soldiers, rise,    —    And press the battle ere the night    —    Shall veil the glowing skies.    —    Against the foe in vales below    —    Let all our strength be hurled; — Faith is the victory, we know, — That overcomes the world.

CHORUS:

Faith is the victory!    —    Faith is the victory!    —    Oh, glorious victory,    —    That overcomes the world.

His banner over us is love, — Our sword the Word of God; — We tread the road the saints above — With shouts of triumph trod. —    By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,    —    Swept on o’er every field;    —    The faith by which they conquered death    —    Is still our shining shield.

On every hand the foe we find — Drawn up in dread array; — Let tents of ease be left behind, — And onward to the fray. — Salvation’s helmet on each head, — With truth all girt about, — The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread, — And echo with our shout.

To him that overcomes the foe,    —    White raiment shall be giv’n;    —    Before the angels he shall know    —    His name confessed in heav’n. — Then onward from the hills of light, —   Our hearts with love aflame,    —    We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,    —    In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.

John H. Yates 1891

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 Battle Hymn of the Republic

2 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

It seems battles are rising, if not the COVID, the threat against freedom. 

Believers, trust the Lord, because the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. 

Of all the songs written during and about the Civil War, perhaps none is as strongly identified with the Union.

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

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Mine eyes have seen the glory — Of the coming of the Lord; — He is trampling out the vintage    —    Where the grapes of wrath are stored;  —  He hath loosed the fateful lightning  —  Of His terrible swift sword;    —    His truth is marching on.

CHORUS:
Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!  — Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! — Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!    —    His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watchfires    —    Of a hundred circling camps    —    They have builded Him an altar    —    In the evening dews and damps;    —    I can read His righteous sentence    —    By the dim and flaring lamps;    —    His day is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet    —    That shall never call retreat; — He is sifting out the hearts of men — Before His judgement seat; — Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him; — Be jubilant, my feet;    —    Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies    —    Christ was born across the sea,    —    With a glory in His bosom    —    That transfigures you and me;    —    As He died to make men holy,    —    Let us die to make men free;    —    While God is marching on. 

Julia Ward Howe  1861

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. 

A Shelter in The Time of Storm

Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

When life seems overwhelming, you need to tell it to someone who can help you. 

That would be Jesus. He wants you to draw near and worship Him and trust Him.  He is your refuge. 

A Shelter in The Time of Storm 

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The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm;    —    Secure whatever ill betide,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm.

CHORUS:

Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,    —    A weary land, a weary land;    —    Oh, Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm.

A shade by day, defense by night,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm;    —    No fears alarm, no foes afright,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm.

The raging storms may round us beat,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm;    —    We’ll never leave our safe Retreat,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm.

O Rock divine, O Refuge dear,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm;    —    Be Thou our Helper ever near,    —    A Shelter in the time of storm.

Vernon J. Charlesworth  1880  

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. 

There Is a Fountain

 Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

[9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

There is no doubt as to the love of God as we look back at a place called Calvary. 

There we see a holy and a sinless God as life leaves His body and blood runs down the cross, dripping in great pools on the ground. 

There Is a Fountain

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There is a fountain filled with blood,   —    Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,   —    And sinners plunged beneath that flood   —  Lose all their guilty stains:

The dying thief rejoiced to see — That fountain in His day; — And there have I, though vile as he,   —    Washed all my sins away:

E’er since by faith I saw the stream   —    Thy flowing wounds supply, —  Redeeming love has been my theme,   —    And shall be till I die:

When this poor, lisping, stamm’ring tongue   —    Lies silent in the grave,   —    Then in a nobler, sweeter song,   —     I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save:

William Cowper 1772

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 Love of God

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Frederick Lehman tells us that the English rendition of verse three included in his song had reportedly “been found penciled on the wall of a patient’s room in an insane asylum after he had been carried to his grave.” 

The Love of God

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The love of God is greater far    —    Than tongue or pen can ever tell;    —    It goes beyond the highest star,    —    And reaches to the lowest hell;  — The guilty pair, bowed down with care, — God gave His Son to win; — His erring child He reconciled,  —  And pardoned from his sin.

CHORUS:

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!    —    How measureless and strong!    —    It shall forevermore endure    —    The saints’ and angels’ song.

When hoary time shall pass away,    —    And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall, — When men who here refuse to pray, —  On rocks and hills and mountains call, —  God’s love so sure, shall still endure,  —  All measureless and strong;    —    Redeeming grace to Adam’s race    —    The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,    —    And were the skies of parchment made, — Were every stalk on earth a quill, — And every man a scribe by trade;    —    To write the love of God above    —    Would drain the ocean dry;    —    Nor could the scroll contain the whole,    —    Though stretched from sky to sky.

Frederick M. Lehman  1917

V,3 by anonymous

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 Leads Us Along

Psalm 23:2-3  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 

[3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

From green pastures to still waters to dark valleys; the Lord is ever leading His sheep in close proximity. 

Born again believers are God's sheep. 

He leads us, feeds us, protects us, and watches over us at all times - Heb. 13:5; Matt. 28:20. We are to follow.

God Leads Us Along

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In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,    —   God leads His dear children along;    —   Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,    —   God leads His dear children along.

CHORUS:

Some through the waters, some through the flood,    —   Some through the fire, but all through the blood;    —   Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,    —   In the night season and all the day long.

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright, — God leads His dear children along;    —   Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,    —   God leads His dear children along.

Though sorrows befall us and Satan oppose,    —   God leads His dear children along;    —   Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,    —   God leads His dear children along.

Away from the mire, and away from the clay,    —   God leads His dear children along;  — Away up in glory, eternity’s day,  — God leads His dear children along.

George A. Young  1903

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.