JUNE 3, 2007
“WHY DO WE WASTE TIME WORRYING?”
SCRIPTURE READING:
ISAIAH 41:1-10
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
ISAIAH 41:10
Fear thou not;
for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy
God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;
yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness.
INTRO:
A little girl’s
prayer, “No sense both of us stay awake all night.”
When you are faced
with a difficult situation, do you worry and stew
about it or do you turn it over to God?
How often have we
looked back following times of difficulties, only to
see the hand of the Lord in everything?
Psalm 37:23-24 (KJV)
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord:
and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he
shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord
upholdeth him with his hand.
It is hard
sometimes to see God hand in the picture when things
seem to be falling apart all around us.
We must remember
that the sun is always shinning even when the clouds
hides it from our eyes.
Because the Bible
teaches us not to worry, does this mean that we are
to be filled with apathy?
What is the
difference between worry and concern?
Worry leads to
fear.
Fear will lead to
doubt, doubt will lead to unbelief and unbelief will
lead to sin.
Concern leads to
action, the greatest action concern can take is
prayer.
Concern does what
it can and turns the rest over to God.
ISAIAH 41:10
Fear thou
not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am
thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help
thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of
my righteousness.
I. TWO PARTS OF THIS
VERSE ARE COMMANDS;
A. THE FIRST
COMMAND IS, “FEAR THOU NOT”.
God does not want
His children to live in fear.
1 John
4:18 (KJV)
There is no fear in love; but perfect love
casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that
feareth is not made perfect in love.
NOTE:
At least forty-nine
times God tells His children “FEAR NOT”.
2 Tim. 1:7 (KJV)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
When we abide in
fear we are not abiding in His love and our hearts
are filled with worry and anxiety.
B. THE SECOND
COMMAND IS, “BE NOT DISMAYED”.
Dismayed is the
Hebrew word,
shaw-aw';
a primitive root; to gaze at or about (properly
for help)
God is telling
us not to be looking around for help from some other
source but rather to look to Him alone.
King Asa looked
for help from other sources than God.
2 Chronicles 16:9
(KJV)
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout
the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the
behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from
henceforth thou shalt have wars.
II. THERE ARE TWO
FACTS STATED IN THIS VERSE:
When we accept
these facts to be truth all fear and anxiety will
leave our hearts and we will be filled with peace in
spite of the circumstance we are in.
-
FACT ONE.
“FOR I AM WITH THEE.”
NOTE:
This is not a
promise it is a fact.
God is always
with us, when we have Christ in our lives God is
there.
Regardless of the
circumstances we find ourselves in, we must believe
the fact the God is with us and if He is with us all
things are well.
-
FACT TWO.
“I AM THY GOD.”
Romans 8:31-32 (KJV)
What shall we then say to these things? If God be
for us, who can be against us? He that spared not
his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how
shall he not with him also freely give us all
things?
NOTE:
It is great to have
God as our God.
There are many
who worship a false God.
The more we know
about our God, the great our faith will be.
Jeremiah 32:27 (KJV)
Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is
there any thing too hard for me?
III.
THERE ARE THREE PROMISES IN THIS VERSE.
A.
I WILL
STRENGTHEN THEE.
·
God
will be our strength when we face our enemies.
2 Samuel
22:40 (KJV)
For thou hast girded me with strength to battle:
them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under
me.
1 Samuel
17:47 (KJV)
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord
saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is
the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.
2 Chronicles 20:15
(KJV)
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.
·
God
will strength us when we become weary.
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
But
they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall
walk, and not faint.
·
God
will be our strength when we are weak.
2 Corinthians 12:9
(KJV)
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for
thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon
me.
B.
I WILL
HELP THEE.
Psalm 40:17 (KJV)
But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh
upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no
tarrying, O my God.
Isaiah 50:9 (KJV)
Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is he that
shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a
garment; the moth shall eat them up.
Hebrews 13:6 (KJV)
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
C.
I WILL
UPHOLD THEE WITH THE RIGHT HAND OF MY
RIGHTEOUSNESS.
NOTE:
The right hand
speaks of power.
God will uphold
us by the power of His righteousness.
Deuteronomy 33:27
(KJV)
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are
the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the
enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Psalm 18:35 (KJV)
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy
salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and
thy gentleness hath made me great.
Isaiah 46:4 (KJV)
And even to your old age I am he; and even to
hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will
bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
CONCLUSION:
There is no need
to worry when we turn everything over to God.
JUNE 10, 2007
“GOD’S
PROTECTION AND PROVISION”
SCRIPTURE READING:
ISAIAH 41:10-20
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
ISAIAH 41:10
Fear thou
not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am
thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help
thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of
my righteousness.
INTRO:
This is not just a
historical event; it is a living spiritual
experience for all God’s children.
We are living in
a time of fear.
Fear against
attacks from terrorist and others.
Fear against high
prices and the loss of everything we own.
God does not want
us to live in fear.
2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but
of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Life at best is
a struggle against fear.
1.
Physically
·
Health
·
Financially
·
Property failure
2.
Mentally and Emotionally
·
Family
issues
·
Relationships
·
Disappointments
3.
Spiritually
·
Past
sins
·
Present sins
·
Doubt
·
Apathy
There are two
things we need as we struggle through life:
1. PROTECTION
2. PROVISION
God wants to provide
these for us if only we will put our trust in Him.
I. GOD’S
PROTECTION.
NOTE:
We are in spiritual
warfare. Satan is attacking us on all fronts.
-
From without
the Church, persecution & temptation
-
From within
the Church, apathy & compromise.
Proverbs 18:10 (KJV)
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the
righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
NOTE:
God seeks
to bring us under His protection but too often we
fail to take advantage of His promises.
2 Chronicles 16:9
(KJV)
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout
the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the
behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from
henceforth thou shalt have wars.
When we fail to
place ourselves under God’s protection we are domed
to face Satan and his attacks alone.
Ephesians
6:10-18 (KJV)
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and
in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour
of God, that ye may be able to stand against the
wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God,
that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore,
having your loins girt about with truth, and having
on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet
shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye
shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
praying always with all prayer and supplication in
the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
A. GOD’S
PROTECTION IN THE PAST.
NOTE:
Though out the
Scriptures we see where God has protected His
people.
1. The Children
of Israel at the Red Sea.
Exodus 14:19-20
(KJV)
And the angel of
God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed
and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud
went from before their face, and stood behind them:
And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and
the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and
darkness to
them, but it gave light by night to these: so that
the one came not near the other all the night.
God stands as a
buffer between us as Satan.
2. Elisha
surrounded by the enemy.
2
Kings 6:16-17 (KJV)
And he answered,
Fear not: for they that be with us are more than
they that be with them.
And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open
his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the
eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the
mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire
round about Elisha.
NOTE:
We need
our spiritual eyes open so we can see God’s
protection.
3. The Three
Hebrew Children.
Daniel 3:25 (KJV)
He
answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking
in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and
the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
NOTE:
God not only will protect us during times of
difficulties, He will also be with us.
4.
Paul
and Silas in prison.
Acts 16:25-26 (KJV)
And at
midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises
unto God: and the prisoners heard them. [26] And
suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the
foundations of the prison were shaken: and
immediately all the doors were opened, and every
one's bands were loosed.
NOTE:
We should be able to
rejoice even when things go wrong because God has
promised to be our protection.
B. GOD’S
PROMISE OF PROTECTION NOW.
Isaiah 59:19b (KJV)
…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the
Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against
him.
NOTE:
A flood
can come against us in several ways.
Satan comes
against us in many different ways.
1.
God
has promised to fight our battles.
2 Chronicles 32:8
(KJV)
With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord
our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And
the people rested themselves upon the words of
Hezekiah king of
Judah.
2.
God
has promised to surround us with His presence.
Psalm 34:7 (KJV)
The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them
that fear him, and delivereth them.
Psalm
91:4 (KJV)
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under
his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy
shield and buckler.
Psalm 125:2 (KJV)
As the mountains are round about
Jerusalem, so the
Lord is round about his people from henceforth even
for ever.
Zechariah 2:5 (KJV)
For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of
fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst
of her.
C. GOD’S
PROMISE OF PROTECTION IN THE FUTURE.
1. God’s
protection against the judgment of sin.
Psalm 91:8 (KJV)
Only
with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward
of the wicked.
Revelation 20:6
(KJV)
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no
power, but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
JUNE 17, 2007
“WHO IS YOUR FATHER?
SCRIPTURE READING:
PROVERBS 4:20-27
SCRIPTURE
TEXT: 1 JOHN
3:1 (KJV)
Behold, what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we
should be called the sons of God: therefore the
world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when
he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall
see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope
in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
INTRO: “WHO’S YOUR DADDY?”
A seminary
professor was vacationing with his wife in
Gatlinburg, TN. One morning,
they were eating breakfast at a little restaurant,
hoping to enjoy a quiet, family meal. While they
were waiting for their food, they noticed a
distinguished looking, white-haired man moving from
table to table, visiting with the guests. The
professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, "I
hope he doesn't come over here." But sure enough,
the man did come over to their table.
“Where are you folks from?" he asked in a
friendly voice.
"Oklahoma,"
they answered.
"Great to have you here in
Tennessee,"
the stranger said. "What do you do for a living?"
"I teach at a seminary," he replied.
"Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do
you? Well!, I've got a really great story for you."
And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and
sat down at the table with the couple.
The professor groaned and thought to himself,
"Great ... Just what I need ... another preacher
story!"
The man started, "See that mountain over there?
(pointing out the restaurant window). Not far from
the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to
an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up,
because every place he went, he was always asked the
same question, 'Hey boy, Who's your daddy?' Whether
he was at school, in the grocery store or drug
store, people would ask the same question, 'Who's
your daddy?'
He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other
students. He would avoid going in to stores because
that question hurt him so bad.
"When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher
came to his church. He would always go in late and
slip out early to avoid hearing the question, 'Who's
your daddy?' But one day, the new preacher said the
benediction so fast he got caught and had to walk
out with the crowd.
Just about the time he got to the back door, the
new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put
his hand on his shoulder and asked him, Son, who's
your daddy?
The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel
every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone
would finally know the answer to the question,
'Who's your daddy?'
"This new preacher, though, sensed the situation
around him and using discernment that only the Holy
Spirit could give, said the following to that scared
little boy ... "Wait a minute! I know who you are. I
see the family resemblance now. You are a child of
God. "
With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and
said, "Boy, you've got a great inheritance. Go and
claim it."
"With that, the boy smiled for the first time in
a long time and walked out the door a changed
person. He was never the same again. Whenever
anybody asked him, 'Who's your Daddy?' he'd just
tell them, 'I'm a Child of God.'"
The distinguished gentleman got up from the table
and said, "Isn't that a great story?"
The professor responded that it really was a
great story!
As the man turned to leave, he said, "You know,
if that new preacher hadn't told me that I was one
of God's children, I probably never would have
amounted to anything!" And he walked away.
The seminary professor and his wife were stunned.
He called the waitress over & asked her, "Do you
know who that man was who just left that was sitting
at our table?"
The waitress grinned and said, "Of course.
Everybody here knows him. That's Ben Hooper. He's
the former governor of
Tennessee!"
When you seem overcome with situations and
circumstances, just remember who your Father is.
If you were arrested
for being a Christian, what evidence would they be
able to bring against you that would bring a
conviction?
-
Church
attendance
-
Generous
-
Work in the
church
Our religious
activities do not prove that we are a Christian; it
is our daily lives that will either bring a verdict
of guilty or innocent.
There are only
two spiritual fathers; God the Father, who is father
of all the redeemed and Satan the father of all
those who are not redeemed.
It is our every
day conduct that reveals who our true father is.
There are seven
parts of our body that we use that reveals who our
true father is.
Isaiah 33:15 (NIV)
He who walks righteously and speaks what is
right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his
hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears
against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against
contemplating evil,
this is the man who
will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the
mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and
water will not fail him.
ILL:
“Be careful little eyes what you see.”
-
OUR EYES
NOTE:
The eyes are called
the window of the soul.
Psalm 119:37 (NIV)
Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve
my life according to your word.
One of the ways
the devil was able to get Eve to eat of the
forbidden fruit was to first look at it.
Genesis 3:6 (KJV)
And when
the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and
that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be
desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit
thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband
with her; and he did eat.
1 John 2:16 (KJV)
For
all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world.
There are two
ways in which we use our eyes:
·
Physically
o
What
we read.
o
What
we watch on TV or the movies
o
Pornography
Matthew 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a
woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with
her already in his heart.
Jesus felt very
strongly about the affect our eyes have upon our
relationship with God.
Matthew 5:29
And if thy
right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it
from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of
thy members should perish, and not that thy whole
body should be cast into hell.
·
Spiritually
o
Our
view of God
o
Our
view of His Word
What we allow to
past through our eyes will affect us in our
relationship with God.
-
OUR EARS
What do we listen
to?
·
Music
·
Stories & jokes
·
Gossip, backbiting, grumbling and complaints
-
OUR MOUTH
James 3:6, 9-10
(KJV)
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is
the tongue among our members, that it defileth the
whole body, and setteth on fire the course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell… Therewith
bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse
we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and
cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to
be.
Ephesians 4:29 (KJV)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your
mouth, but that which is good to the use of
edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
hearers.
Colossians 4:6 (KJV)
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned
with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer
every man.
James 4:11 (KJV)
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that
speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his
brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the
law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer
of the law, but a judge.
NOTE:
How we talk to
someone or about someone reveals who our father is.
Psalm 141:3 (KJV)
Set a
watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my
lips.
-
OUR HANDS
NOTE:
Our hands represent
what we do.
John 9:4 (NIV)
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him
who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
Are our hands
busy or are they idle?
Ecclesiastes 10:18
(KJV)
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and
through idleness of the hands the house droppeth
through.
Do we use our
hands to build up or do we use them to tear down.
Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake
hath forgiven you.
-
OUR FEET
NOTE:
Where do we enjoy
spending our time?
Psalm 37:23 (KJV)
The
steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he
delighteth in his way.
Psalm 122:1 (KJV)
I was
glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the
house of the Lord.
NOTE:
Do we come to the
House of the Lord gladly or do we come dragging our
feet?
Psalm 56:13 (KJV)
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt
not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may
walk before God in the light of the living?
Psalm 119:105 (KJV)
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto
my path.
-
OUR MIND
Romans 8:6 (KJV)
For to
be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace.
NOTE:
What kind of
thoughts do we harbor in our minds?
Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…
Philippians 4:8
(KJV)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if
there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.
Titus 1:15 (KJV)
Unto
the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are
defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even
their mind and conscience is defiled.
-
OUR HEART
NOTE:
It is our heart, the
things we love and desire, which control the rest of
our body.
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV)
Keep
thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of life.
Matthew 6:19-21
(KJV)
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through
nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also.
Philippians 4:7
(KJV)
And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION:
Our heritage is
shown more by our conduct than by our profession.
JUNE 24, 2007
GOD’S PROVISION
SCRIPTURE READING:
ISAIAH 41:10-20
SCRIPTURE TEXT:
PHILIPPIANS 4:19 (KJV)
But my God
shall supply all your need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.
INTRO:
The land of Judah had been laid desolate
by the invading armies.
After the
Assyrian army left the land was still ravaged.
There are lives
that Satan and sin has left ravaged and desolate.
But God has
promised to provide a renewal, to those who repent
that will surpass what was before.
Joel 2:21-27 (KJV)
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the
Lord will do great things. Be not afraid, ye beasts
of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do
spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree
and the vine do yield their strength. Be glad then,
ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your
God: for he hath given you the former rain
moderately, and he will cause to come down for you
the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in
the first month. And the floors shall be full of
wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and
oil. And I will restore to you the years that the
locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the
caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which
I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and
be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your
God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my
people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know
that I am in the midst of
Israel, and that I
am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people
shall never be ashamed.
Many who come to
Christ after living a life of sin and rebellion feel
that their lives have nothing to offer God for
service.
Satan seeks to
rob us of all we have, but Jesus has come to restore
and give us new life in Him.
John 10:10 (KJV)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to
kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have
life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Satan offers
death and ruin, Jesus offers life and joy.
I. GOD WANTS TO
PROVIDE US WITH TRUE JOY.
NOTE:
Sin will rob us of
our joy.
God wants us to
live a life filled with joy.
When we come to God
with tears of repentance He turns our mourning into
dancing.
Psalm 30:11 (KJV)
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:
thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with
gladness;
Psalm 51:8 (KJV)
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones
which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psalm 51:12 (KJV)
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and
uphold me with thy free spirit.
John 15:11 (KJV)
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy
might remain in you, and that your joy might be
full.
John 16:24 (KJV)
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask,
and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
II. GOD WANTS TO
PROVIDE US WITH PEACE.
NOTE:
Sin will rob us of peace.
Nothing can
rob a heart of its peace quite like a guilty
conscience.
Isaiah 57:20 (KJV)
But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it
cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Isaiah 48:22 (KJV)
There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the
wicked.
Isaiah 59:8 (KJV)
The way of peace they know not; and there is no
judgment in their goings: they have made them
crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not
know peace.
The more we serve
God the peace we possess.
God wants to
provide us with true peace.
John
14:27 (KJV)
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not
your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
How is the
world’s peace different from the peace God gives?
The world’s peace
is dependent upon circumstances; God’s peace is
dependent on relationship.
Psalm 29:11 (KJV)
The Lord will give strength unto his people; the
Lord will bless his people with peace.
Psalm 119:165 (KJV)
Great peace have they which love thy law: and
nothing shall offend them.
Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind
is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
We lose our peace
when we break our relationship with God.
Isaiah 48:18 (KJV)
O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments!
then had thy peace been as a river, and thy
righteousness as the waves of the sea:
III. GOD IS OUR
PROVISION FOR OUR PHYSICAL NEEDS.
NOTE:
This does not mean
that we have no responsibilities towards meeting our
physical needs, but what it does mean is that we
place our relationship with God above our desires
for the thing of this world.
The wealth we gather
in this world ends when our lives in the world
ends.
Matthew 6:19-21
(KJV)
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves
break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through
nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will
your heart be also.
Too often we
allow the cares of this world to over shadow our
relationship with God.
If we will put
God first, He will take care of the things we need
in this world.
Matthew 6:24-34
(NIV)
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate
the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to
the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both
God and Money.
"Therefore I tell
you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat
or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is
not life more important than food, and the body more
important than clothes? Look at the birds of the
air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns,
and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not
much more valuable than they? Who of you by
worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you
worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field
grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that
not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed
like one of these. If that is how God clothes the
grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow
is thrown into the fire, will he not much more
clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry,
saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we
drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run
after all these things, and your heavenly Father
knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each
day has enough trouble of its own.
CONCLUSION:
Allow God to be
your provider of Joy, Peace and the necessities of
this world.
