Encouraging Words from God’s Word Message 3
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Encouraging Words from God’s Word
Message 3
Never Forsaken
Never Forsaken
Desperate Times
Desperate Times
a. It seemed as if there was no way out
i. It was truly desperate times
ii. The church we pastored paid very little but expected us to live far above our means
iii. I secretly I applied for food stamps
iv. I believe if they knew that we would have been let go.
v. Churches are still doing this today It’s a disgrace
vi. At the time it seemed that there was no way out
b. I was feeling very discouraged
i. I opened my bible and read this passage
ii. I wrote a note in my bible I’m pretty sure it was the date.
iii. Psalm 37:25 (NIV) — 25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
c. Looking back
i. It was a life changing moment for me.
ii. I have a low tolerance for the self-righteous
iii. Everybody struggles
iv. God did provide and we were able to escape, and life moved on.
We:
Promise
Promise
a. Did you ever break a promise?
i. It is one of the worst things in world to me.
ii. I hate when someone does it to me.
iii. The worst is when I do it.
iv. I’m big on commitment
When God makes a promise
When God makes a promise
i. In the NLT promise is used 115 times the word is used
ii. We have this solid truth
iii. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) — 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
c. Look how the Bible describes God’s promises
i. Hebrews 6:17 (NLT) — 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.
God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.
ii. Hebrews 6:18 (NLT) — 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
iii. Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) — 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
iv. Hebrews 11:11 (NLT) — 11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.
It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.
d. I want to focus on one promise
Never forsaken
ii. Matthew 28:20 (GW) — 20 Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”
Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”
God:
Never Forsaken
Never Forsaken
The life of David
The life of David
i. Can you imagine the discouragement?
ii. Listen to the desperation in voice
iii. Psalm 13:1–2 (NLT) — 1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
iv. I’ve been there
v. Feeling like God is looking the other way
vi. David wanted to quit “How long will my enemy have the upper hand?”
vii. I’ve been there too
viii. Why are you letting these people do this to me. I’m trying to serve you!
ix. Yet God was always there
x. Psalm 13:5–6 (NLT) — 5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. 6I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.
ANOTHER
The burden of sin
The burden of sin
i. Oh, preacher I have sinned, and God has forsaken me
ii. As parents, we often have to discipline our children
iii. Why? Because we love them
iv. When a child disobeys, he doesn’t cease being a member of the family!
v. “We don’t forsake our children when they disobey, and God the heavenly Father doesn’t forsake us when we sin.”
vi. The sweet fellowship can be broken
vii. But you are never forsaken
viii. “He lovingly warns us, convicts us, rebukes us, and, if necessary, chastens us; and all of this is proof that He has not forsaken us.”
You:
Make a note
Make a note
a. That note had a huge impact on me.
i. You may be in the biggest struggle of your life at the moment
ii. God hasn’t forsaken you
He cares about our needs
He cares about our needs
i. Matthew 6:26 (NLT) — 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
ii. Matthew 6:31–32 (NLT) — 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
We:
Discouraged
Discouraged
a. Those low times
i. We all get discouraged
ii. It’s the devil’s number one tool
iii. It doesn’t to be material things
iv. Relationship, the emotional drains, job,
You are never forsaken
You are never forsaken
i. Claim that promise
ii. Pray that passage
iii. Lord, you said…