Encouragement
We could try to define God, but there are not enough words (nor thoughts) to fully define God.
Let's keep it simple.
1) GOD IS FAITHFUL
a) GOD IS OUR GREATEST 'FIND' (Jeremiah 29:13)
"You shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart"
Jeremiah says, "Call, pray, and listen for God and He WILL respond."
Proverbs wisely says, "Whosoever finds God, finds life."
Zacheus was the 'seeker-sought' and the day that Jesus found him, changed his life!
Finding God (or realizing that God is 'finding' you) is more precious than diamonds...more precious than gold.
Over 1900 times in the Bible, God is saying 'Come' and Jesus (by his Spirit) stands at your door and knocks. (Rev. 3:20)
He has always 'sought' you!
Now YOU must seek Him....and really want Him to come in and make a difference in your life.
Don't ever forget that Jesus came to 'seek and to save' those who are lost.
Once you are saved, He does NOT stop seeking you!
b) GOD IS OUR GREATEST FRIEND
What a Friend we have in Jesus!
(He lived and taught us about God).
The song 'What A Friend' tells us:
"What a friend we have in Jesus..
All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege it is to carry everything to Him in prayer."
A passenger on a plane was working a crossword puzzle.
The clue was 'man's best friend' and the middle letter was 'o'.
But 'dog' would not work, so the man was stumped....until he realized that man's best friend is God!
The Bible says:
'Jesus is THE Friend who sticks closer than a brother.'
A song says: "The one who knows me best, loves me most."
So many NEED this friend we call 'God'. We need to tell them, "I'd like for you to meet my best friend".
In Him, you can have the greatest friendship and fellowship and really, the greatest 'follow-ship'.
c) IN....THROUGH....AND OF GOD, WE HAVE THE GREATEST FUTURE.
(Rom. 14:8) "Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's"
(Philippians 1:21) "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
The word 'future' is not in the Bible, but I like the word 'eternity' and 'eternal' better.
Actually, we need to get the thought that our future is not just THIS life, for there is so much more.
John 3:16 uses the words 'eternal life', but we fail if we think ONLY in quantity....
and not quality of life.
The moment that you are saved (born again), your eternal life begins....and never ends, even in death!
A favorite song of many people is "How Great Thou Art".
Learn it and sing it when you are 'down'.
Colossians 1:27 reads:
"God is making known the glory of His mysteries, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
The last song that I heard my Dad sing before he died at age 62, was:
"Just When I Need Him Most, Jesus is Near, to Comfort and Cheer!"
Until then, we should live with Eternity in mind....
this will cause more 'depth' in your life and in your witness.
Every person you meet is headed for Heaven or Hell....and YOU might be the difference.
d) GREAT SCRIPTURES ON 'GOD IS FAITHFUL':
1. God is faithful every day (Lamentations 3:21-26)
(This is the scripture that our eldest son had taped to the dashboard of his car for the past 2 yrs.)
2. God is faithful in your temptations, testings and trials.
( I Corinthians 10:13)
When I met La Moyne, she was memorizing Scriptures as she rode the bus ride to and from school and work.
This Scripture was the one she was memorizing when we met.
"None of these have taken you, but such as is common with man, but...
GOD IS FAITHFUL, who with these, will make a way of escape that you might be able to bear them."
Of course, we are to respond in faithfulness to:
FLEE, FOLLOW, FIGHT, FAITH and FINISH. (I Tim.6:11-12)
3. God is faithful forever. (Deut. 7:8)
4. God is faithful, for it is impossible for God to lie and it would deny His character.
(Heb. 6:18-19)
2) GOD IS NOT ONLY FAITHFUL, BUT HE IS ABLE:
a. God is able to save. (Heb. 7:25)
"God is able to save to the uttermost, anyone who comes to Him in Christ, for He ever lives, to make intercession for us."
Really, God is able to save to the 'gutter-most', so don't ever 'write anyone off' as 'too bad to be saved'.
b. God is able to succor (help). Jesus Himself has been through suffering and temptation, so He knows what it is like when WE suffer or are tempted. So He is wonderfully able to help us! (Heb. 2:18)
c. God is able to support and to keep us from falling. (Jude: verses 24-25)
"Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy, to the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
This is often used as a benediction, but also it could be an invocation, for God truly invokes us to trust His ability and power.
d. God is able to subdue all things unto Himself. (Philippians 3:21)
The battle is the Lord's (II Chron. 20:15 and 32:8)
and we are 'soldiers of the Cross' using spiritual weapons (Isaiah 54:17 and II Corin. 10:4-5)
and the whole wardrobe of the Christian (Eph. 6:13-18).
e. God is able to secure in death. (II Tim. 1:12)
"I know in Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him, against that day."
In Romans 8, Paul emphasizes that:
'In the almighty God, there can be no condemnation....no ultimate defeat....and no separation'.
f. God is able to supply ALL our needs (Philippians 4:19)
"My God shall supply all my needs, according to His riches in Glory, by Christ Jesus."
I've shared with you before, that 'God is more than enough....He is sufficient!'
( II Corin. 3:4-5....8:9....9:8....12:9)
CONCLUSION:
God has been so faithful and able in our lives.
When I had to take early retirement at age 64 (due to cancer of the larynx), it was a difficult time.
But as we look back, we feel that some of our most productive ministries have been during these past 11 years when we served as Interim Pastor in 10 different churches.
Many Scriptures carried us through those years, but these 2 became very precious to us.
Malachi 3:10: "Prove me now, saith the Lord".
Galatians 3:23: "I am shut up to faith" (Paul was in prison when he wrote this)
Of course we are looking 'back'....and most of you are looking 'forward'.
But God is able (and faithful) for both! Amen and amen!
A song that has meant much to us is: "HE IS ABLE TO DELIVER THEE" (Daniel 3:17-18)
'Tis the grandest theme, through the ages rung...
'Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue.
'Tis the grandest theme, that the world e'er sung,
"Our God is able to deliver thee."
'Tis the grandest theme, let the tidings roll
To the guilty heart, to the sinful soul.
Look to God in faith, He will make you whole.
"Our God is able to deliver thee."
He is able to deliver thee,
He is able to deliver thee,
Though by sin oppressed,
Go to Him for rest.
"Our God is able to deliver thee."
(by Wm. A. Ogden)
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Blessings, Sharon