Faith Free Will Baptist Church

Posts Tagged ‘lovingkindness’

*AT WITS END*

(PS 107:27,28 )

What have you given to the Lord?

1)      Your Life

2)      Your  family

3)      Your worries and cares

4)      Your failures

Whatever we are troubled with again and again is evidence that we need to commit those things to the Lord.

(vs 27) “at wits end”

The meaning carries an understanding that there is a situation we are trying to deal with but are unsuccessful.  It means:

1)      Nothing I can do

2)      I cannot work it out

3)      It is bigger than me but not bigger than God (Ps 108:12)

We need to be reminded of what the Apostle Paul said in (Rom 8:28 )

1)      There is no greatness without trouble  (Act 14)

2)      There is no growing without trouble (Act 12)

3)      There is no developing the Christ-like life in us without troubles (Act 28 )

(1)    The Lord we know

(vs 1)

Notice two things:

1)      God is good

The worst thing that could happen to us is listening to the devil and thinking God is not

as good toward us as He is toward others.

(John 8:44)

(Rom 2:4)

2)      God is merciful

In (Ps 136) All the verses contain “His mercy endureth forever.

(Ps 23:6)

(2)    The life we live

Notice four groups of people:

1)      People needing direction

(107:3-8 )

2)      People in need

(107:9-12)

3)      People who are healed

(107:17-21)

4)      People in trouble

(107:23-27)

These people are not brought low by sin but trouble in life.

(Job 14:1)

Are you at wits end, are you ready to say “Lord, I can’t handle this, I need help”.

*FOUR BIBLE FACTS EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW*

(Job 14:1-7,14)

*Our world is faced with many questions: job, bank stabilities, safety of our people and children.  Sadly there are not many easy answers.

*The Book of Job is considered one of the oldest books in the Bible; it answers a lot of questions concerning man and God.

Yet, there are four great facts Job reveals that every generation needs to know:

(1)    Man’s frailty

(vs 1) “Man born of a woman is of a few days.”

*No matter the age we live to be, it never seems long enough.

*As flowers bloom in spring showing their radiant colors, soon fall comes and they wither: So is our life, time seems to move fast.

(Jam 4:14  Read)

*Our bodies as we get older are troubled by afflictions yet God has prepared us for incorruption (II Cor 5:1)

(2) Man’s troubles

(vs 1) “full of trouble”

(Job 5:7) “Yet man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.”

*No matter our age or nationality troubles, sorrows, disappointments come sometimes into our lives.

*Sometimes we say “Why me?”  The devil tells us something is wrong with our spiritual life.

*Yet rough times have come into the lives of good people: Joseph, Daniel, Paul; but the greatest of men knows our troubles and sorrows.

*In 33 ½ years Jesus lived on this earth.  He faced many troubling times

(Isa 53:3) “A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief”

*As Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, He came to His disciples Peter, James and John and said (Matt 26:38) “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful”.

(3) Man’s destiny with death

(Job 4:15  Read   &  Job 12:10  Read)

*No matter your status in life, rich or poor, king or servant, male or female: God knows your days (Job 7:1 Read)

*Our days are appointed and we must face death and God  (Heb 9:27)

*It is how we live and who we live for that determines whether we are ready to face death and God.

(Amos 4:12) “Prepare to meet thy God.”

(4) Man’s hope

(vs 7,14  Read)

*Since man’s creation he has looked for the Fountain of Youth.

*Ponce Deleon spent his life looking for that which did not exist, death crushed all his hopes.

*Billions of dollars are spent on creams and plastic surgery, but age takes all who use them, hopes.

Yet the greatest need, the greatest hope is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  (John 11:25,26  Read)

*INWARD PEACE THAT CONTROLS THE OUTWARD STORMS”

(Matt 8:23-27)

1)      Have you ever had a storm in your life?

2)       How many times have you faced problems, troubles, struggles?

(Phil 4:6,7)

The word careful mean worries.

(I Kings 19) Elijah’s troubles after a great victory.

Three thoughts to notice in (Matt 8:23-27):

(1)    The disciples followed Jesus

(vs 18,23)

(Psl 37:23)

(Rom 8:28 )

(Heb 13:5)

(2)    A great storm confronts them

(vs 24)

Notice two things:

1)      Storm represents troubles

2)      Ship represents our life

A physical, emotional, spiritual storm come into our lives and sometimes seems to knock the spiritual breath out of us.

(Matt 7:24-27)

Two things we can learn from the disciples:

1)      They knew Jesus was in the ship with them

2)      They called on Him, they knew He could help

(3)    The Master gives peace

(vs 26)

They acknowledge their own inability to control the storm.

(vs 27)

*THE MIGHTY CONQUEROR*
(Isaiah 63:1-10)

Israel had been in bondage, defeated, and rejected but God delivers them.
God gives a promise (62:4-12)
But not all were willing to do that which was required for victory (63:10)
Notice (vs 1 of chpt 63)
1)    Who is this man whose garment is dyed and stained red with blood?
2)    Who is this man who comes from Bozrah?
3)    Who is this man who is glorious in His apparel?
4)    Who is this man who works in His own great strength, who needs none to assist Him?
5)    Who is this man that speaks in His own righteousness with power to save?
(Rev 19:11-13)
Notice (Isa 63:5)
There was and is nothing man can do in his own power to redeem himself.
(Rom 3)
But we see Jesus standing before every enemy,  defeating them,  marching forth as the Mighty Conqueror.
(1)    He defeated sin’s Bondage
(II Chor 6:36)
(Eph 2:1-2)
(Gal 4:4-5)
(Rom 6:6)
(Rom 5:8 )
(2)    He defeated the power of death
(Heb 2:14,15)
(Rev 1:18 )
(3)    He defeated Satan, the enemy of all men
(I John 3:8 )
(Col 2:13-15)

*GOD’S TOUCH*

(Job 19:21)

Some people like Job’s so called friends have the idea that God is a great giant sitting on a throne  somewhere not caring whether we live or die.  That He is not interested in what’s going on in our life, whether we are having good times or struggles.

*How wrong they are.  God is a great, benevolent and loving Father.

*He is interested in every phrase of our lives, wanting the best for us, being there in our good days and bad days.

*He does not leave us to blind chance.  He is ever guiding and ever touching our life.

*If we are His children we bear His handprint on our life.

Notice times when God touches us:

(1)   There is the touch of salvation

*Having been born in sin we walk the straight line that leads to hell if a divine change does not take place.

*God sees us, God loves us, He touches our hearts and says (Isa 1:18  Read)

*In (Acts 9) God touched a murderer named Saul and changed him to a minister named Paul.

*In (Acts 16) God touched a jailer and transformed him into a justified child of God.

*In (Acts 8 ) God touched an Ethiopian.

*Has He touched you?  Do you know Him through a personal relationship with His Son Jesus Christ?

(2)   There is the touch of service

(Matt 4:18-22   Read)

1)      Moses was tending a flock when God touched him for service

2)      Isaiah was busy in the temple

3)      Peter, Andrew, James and John were about their fishing business

*Has God touched and called you to some service?  Are you doing it?  If not, why?  If not, when?

Beloved fear not His call to service for who He calls He equips.  Give Him your availability and He will give you the ability.

(3)   There is the touch of strength

(I Pet 5:8,9    Read)

*We face an enemy who is relentless in his attacks.  At times it seems like one attack after another.

*Yet we have the same promise God gave the Apostle Paul.  (II Cor 12:9 Read)

*Devil I may not can whoop you but my Big Brother can.  He’s got your number “He is the Lord my strength”.

(4)  There is the touch of solace and comfort

*Life is full of sorrows, God’s children at times have eyes filled with tears.  During those times we may feel alone, feel God is not near.

*The story is told of a little girl who woke up in the darkness and was afraid.  She called out “Father”.  Her dad heard her but kept quiet hoping she would go back to sleep.  But she called out louder “Father”.  He answered her “Yes honey, what do you want?” “Nothing” she said. “I just wanted to know that you are there.”

*God has promised to be there

(II Cor 1:3-5  Read)

(5)   There is the touch of satisfaction

*Christians are never fully satisfied here.  Because there is work to be done.  Jesus said “Occupy til I come”.  Simply put: We have business to do for our King.

*But King David gave us a clue when we will be completely satisfied (Ps 17:15  Read)

Has God touched you?

Thanks to Calvary

Luke 23:33

Where would we be without Calvary?

John 3:16

It is at Calvary we see the greatest example of Love, the greatest sacrifice made.

Romans 5:8

The Apostle Paul makes a very strong statement: I Corinthians 1:18

Our world consists of seasons. By these times, farmers do their work. In the Spring, they plant and in the late Summer, they bring in their harvest. When harvest begins, there is but a small window of opportunity top accomplish this task.

There is a spiritual truth in this; some say “I can get saved anytime.”

Genesis 6:3

Sadly, some will wait until it is too late.

Jeremiah 8:20

The reality is that there are only a few windows of opportunity for people to accept Christ Jesus as their Savior:1.            The Window of Youth

Ecclesiastes 12:1

Paul exhorts a young preacher named Timothy.

II Timothy 3:14,15

2.            The Window of Concern

II Corinthians 5:11

Two thoughts should be noticed:

(1) To the sinner: Are you concerned about facing God?

(Hebrews 9:27) – (John 3:36)

(2) To the Saints: Are you concerned about the Lost? If not, when will you be?

John 4:35

3.            The Window of Conviction

Genesis 6:3

Romans 3:23

Proverbs 29:1

Right now, the Holy Spirit is convicting.

John 16:8

4.            The Window of Catastrophe

Job 14:1

Catastrophe means: A thing that happens suddenly and causes great loss or suffering.

(1) Hurricane Katrina: Lost all

(2) Pakistan Earthquake: 1,000’s killed

(3) September 11, 2001: Over 3,000 deaths

People are dying every day of disease, violence, auto wrecks.

What will it take to wake you up?

I John 5:12

Thanks to Calvary, you can have peace,  joy and forgiveness.

*THE LORD IS WITH THEE*

(Judges 6:11-16)

Let me give a quick survey of (chp 6 & 7).  After 40 years of peace (vs 1) says the children did evil in the sight of the Lord.  The Lord used the Midianites to oppress His people.  (vs 3 & 4)  tells us that their crops, their herds and flocks were destroyed.  (Vs 6)  says Israel was greatly impoverished.  (Vs 11,12) tells us and Angel of the Lord visits a young man named Gideon, who was cutting wheat behind the winepress so the Midianites would not see him and take the wheat.  The Angel tells Gideon God will use him to deliver Israel from their enemy.

*Gideon asks for a sign and God performs three.

*Gideon gathers an army of 32,000 men but the Lord says that is too many.  He then begins cutting down his number.

1)  Those afraid could go home.  22,000 left and went home.

2)  10,000 went to the river and 9,700 were sent home.

3)  300 men were left to fight.  Over 100,000 estimated soldiers.  (vs 5)

*Gideon split the men into 3 groups each having a trumphet and a pitcher with a lite lamp inside.

*Notice  (7:18,19)

*The remaining victory is read in the remaining verses.

This great deliverence reveals six tremedous truths.

1)  God sees our potential

(6:12  Read)

*Gideon’s response (vs 15  Read)

*In other words “who me?”

*God knew Gideon’s ability.  There are possibly some here who suffer with this same problem.  The difficulty of believing God could use you.

1)  Moses, called of God to deliver Israel out of Egypt, but he made excuses.  1) They won’t

believe me.  (2) I’m slow of speech.

2) Apostle Peter was called “ignorant and unlearned”.  Yet God used him to bring 1,000’s to Christ.

*If we could select people for church membership we probably would select, doctors, lawyers, educated professors.  But God sees beyond our appearance and uses a faithful heart.

*Listen: The Lord Jesus chooses people not on the bases of what they were but what they will become for His glory.

2) Every Christian has a place and it is important that they be in that place.

*Gideon depended on each of those 300 men to be in their proper place.  To not be in that place could be devastating.

*The church functions at peak efficiency if it is to accomplish it’s task.  It is very difficult to operate effective if teachers, choir, soloist, musicians are not here ready to minister.

*I may not be able to play ball well with one arm but two would be better.

*I run better with two legs, not one.

3)  The Lord refused to use the fearful.  (7:3)

*Can you image how the battle would have gone with 22,000 frightened men.

(II Tim 1:7)  “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and a sound mind.”

(Isa 12:2)  “I will trust and not be afraid.

4)  Brokeness was essential to success.  (7:20  Read)

*When the pitchers were broken the light shines.  (Matt 5:14)

*The Christian who gives excuses who cannot give themselves to full service for the Lord, may save the physical side but will lose out on the spiritual side of blessings.

(Matt 16:24,25  Read)

*The Apostel Paul suffered prison, beatings, stoning, sleeplessness, but he called it all gain for Christ.

5) Testing preceded victory

(7:24  Read)

*Though some missed the start of this battle, they joined later to accomplish the task.

*This church had many battles and tests thru the years, some of us were here during those trying time, now we have others who know nothing of those times but enjoy the victories, the fruit of those before them.

*But all of us will face more struggles, so whether good or bad, light or darkness, let us be faithful.

(I Cor 15:58 Read)

6) The victory was by grace alone,

*Why were 32,000 men too many?  (7:2   Read)

*With 300 men everyone knew this victory was of the Lord.

Friend that is exactly your condition.

If there was any other way you could earn your salvation you would be tempted to say “you did it your way”.

(Eph 2:8,9  Read)

Song: “Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

*GOD IS SO GOOD*

(Psalms 145:8-13)

*One of the attributes of God is His goodness:

1) He gives us eternal life the moment we believe.

2) He gives us immediate access to Him thru prayer.

3) He gives us purpose in the worst of life’s troubles.

4) He gives us discipline when we stray into sin.

5) He gives us everything we need to live a successful Christian life.

6) He gives us what we need to meet our physical needs.

*We think of these things given to the saved but;

Question:  How good is God to the unsaved?   (Vs 9  Read)

Rom 2:4  “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”

*The apostle Paul makes this statement after telling us in (Rom 1:18-32) the entire human race lives in sin and wickedness.  Whether they are good, religious, or heathens we stand without excuse before the True and Holy God.  (Rom 3:23) “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

*With this in mind:  Look at how good God is to the unsaved. Understand that every breathe the unsaved takes is showing God’s goodness which should lead to repentance.

(1) God is good by creating them knowing that they would rebel.

(Gen 1)  Seven times He looks over creation and calls it good.  The last time He looked over creation with man in it and He said “It is very good”.

*Yet God knew that the peace and joy of Paradise would soon be broken by Adam’s foolish sin.  He knew what Eve and Adam would do.  He knew the pain and result of sin on the whole human race.  Yet seeing it all, knowing it all, He still created man.

(Jer 17:9)  “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.”

(2) God is good by sustaining them in spite of their continued rebellion.

(Exo 34:6)  “God is merciful and gracious. longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth.”

(Ps 103:10)  “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.”

(Exo 32:7)  The people had corrupted themselves.

*No one could blame God if He chose to destroy all men but He has not.  He would have been justified to destroy Adam and Eve.

(3) God is good by pouring out common grace upon unsaved.

*Common grace is a term that refers to the general blessings God gives to men regardless of their spiritual condition.

(Matt 5:45)  “He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.

*Although the lost may not know it, they are receivers of God’s goodness.  The sun, the rain, shine and fall on them as it does to the saved.

(4) God is good to the unsaved by putting a desire for God inside every human heart.

(Ecc 3:11)  Tells us God has put eternity in every human heart.  When Paul preached in Athens he spoke of them being very religious, in fact they even had a shrine to “to unknown God”.

*There is something in man that drives him to seek and acknowledge a higher power.  If you go to the darkest jungles you will find men worshiping something.

(5) God is good to the unsaved by hearing the prayers of the saved for the lost.

(Luke 18) Jesus tells a story in order to encourage us to pray and not give up or grow weary.

(Rom 10) Paul says his heart’s desire and prayer is for Israel to be saved.  Some are alive today because of prayer.

*How many of us are saved because someone prayed for us: A father, mother, wife, husband, son or daughter or a friend whispered a prayer with a broken heart for you to be born again before you perish without Him.

(6) God is good to the unsaved by inviting them to salvation and making provisions thur Jesus’ death.

(Eze 18) Tells us God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

(I Tim 2) Tells us that God desires all men to be saved.

(II Pet 3) Tells us God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

(Rev 22) Contains the very last invitation in the bible for men to come to Christ. “Whosever will”.

*No sinner will ever be able to say ” I asked for mercy in Jesus’ name but God turned me away”.

(John 3:16)

*WHAT JESUS REFUSES TO DO*

(Matt 12:14-21)

In the Alpine Mountains of Switzerland there is a place where you can throw a piece of wood in one direction and it will float into the Danu River and then into the Black Sea.  Wood thrown in another direction will float into the Rhine River and out into the North Sea.  Still another throw will travel into the Mediterranean Sea.

*Three pieces of wood each going a dirrerent direction depending on certain choices.

*Life is like this: What we do tomorrow is being determined by the choices we make today.

*This was true in the life of our Lord Jesus: Day by day he made choices that developed his character, His glory.

*As we look in the Gospels we can be thrilled by the things Jesus willingly chose to do:

1) Willingly He raised the dead.

2) Willingly He healed the sick.

3) Willingly He lifted up the broken hearted.

*But there are somethings He stedfastly refused to do then and refuses to do today.

(1) Jesus refuses to be impatient with sinners.

*Once in a fit of anger Martin Luther shouted “If I were God and the world treated me as it has Him, I would have destroyed this wretched world long ago”.

*This may be the attitude of many but not the Lord Jesus.

(Vs 20)  “A bruised reed shall He not break.”

*Picture the scene: A reed has been stepped on, bruised almost broken, the slightest wind could finish it.  But the true picture is not a reed, but  mankind in his lost state.  Bruised and near destruction.

(Jer 29:11)  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you saith the Lord; thoughts of peace and not evil.”

*The Lord is not looking down in hopes of swatting you down but waits patiently to save.

1) Man trys to turn over a new leaf.  Jesus wants to give new life.

2) Man trys to reform but Jesus waits patiently to reconcile.

(Rom 2:4)  “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”

*Song declares: “Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me”.

(2) Jesus refuses to discourage those who are weary and troubled.

*Jesus is the great Encourager.  His words “Be of good cheer, be not afaid it is I”.

*It is not His desire to discourage us along life’s journey.  People may, but not Jesus.

(Vs 20) “A smoking flax shall He not quench.”

*1st century people would light their homes with a linen wick that smoked only when about out of oil.

*The smoking flax represents people who are overwhelmed by life’s burdens, troubles and are about to crumble under some unbearable load.

*Beloved: It is not the Lord Jesus’ desire to crush, quench or to tear down.  Listen to His word.

(Matt 11:28-30  Read)

*This does not sound like someone who does not care.

*To those burdened down and near fainting from life’s trouble look to Jesus.  His presence brings joy.

(3) Jesus refuses to enter where He is not invited.

*Many ask “Why doesn’t the Lord help me?”

*How can He if you refuse to let Him into your life?

(Vs 19)  “Neither shall any man hears His voice in the streets.”

*Simply means:  A door must be opened, then He will be heard clearly.

*Does anyone know who Holman Hunt is?  He painted a well known picture.  Christ is standing at a vine covered door.  There is no knob on the outside of the door, it must be opened from the inside.  Above the picture is the Latin phrase “O do not pass me by”.

(Rev 3:20   Read)

*Will you open your heart to Him?

*He is waiting patiently for you.

*To the lost He says “come drink of the water of life freely”.

*To those burdened He waits patiently for you to cast your burdens upon Him.

(I Pet 5)  “Casting all your cares upon Him; for He careth for you.”