WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
GUEST SPEAKER: BRO. BOB WARDLAW
SERMON TITLE: GOD CARES FOR YOU
I’D LIKE FOR YOU TO OPEN YOUR BIBLES TO PSALMS 142:1-2 “I CRIED UNTO THE LORD WITH MY VOICE; WITH MY VOICE UNTO THE LORD DID I MAKE MY SUPPLICATION. I POURED OUT MY COMPLAINT BEFORE HIM; I SHEWED HIM MY TROUBLE.”
IT’S ALRIGHT TO COMPLAIN AS LONG AS YOU COMPLAIN TO THE RIGHT PERSON. YOU SEE MOST OF US WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT, WE COMPLAIN TO ONE ANOTHER. THERE’S ALWAYS SOMEBODY WE CAN CALL ON THE PHONE WHO WILL LISTEN TO OUR COMPLAINTS. BUT DAVID IS COMPLAINING BUT HE POURED OUT HIS COMPLAINT UNTO THE LORD. WE’RE NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT HIM, WE’RE JUST POURING OUT OUR COMPLAINT TO HIM OF WHAT’S UPON OUR HEART. I BELIEVE THAT’S WHAT HE TELLS US TO DO IN HEBREWS 4 WHEN HE SAID LET US COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE OF GRACE. THE BOLDLY THERE MEANS TO COME WITH AN OPEN HEART, TELLING HIM EXACTLY WHAT’S UPON YOUR HEART. IT’S NOT COMING BEFORE HIM IN AN ARROGANT PROUDFUL MANNER. BUT IT’S COMING, OPENING UP YOUR HEART. SAYING, LORD, THIS IS JUST HOW I FEEL. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT’S GOING ON IN MY LIFE. WE MIGHT STAND UP HERE IN CHURCH AND TESTIFY AND WE MAY NOTBE QUITE AS OPEN AS WE WOUOLD LIKE TO BE BUT WHEN WE COME BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD WE ARE TO OPEN OUR HEARTS WITHOUT ANY HIDDEN RECESSES. ALL THE DOORS ARE TO BE OPEN AND WE TELL HIM JUST HOW WE FEEL. IF YOU’VE BEEN UNFAITHFUL JUST TELL HIM YOU’VE BEEN UNFAITHFUL. IF YOU’RE IN PAIN AND HURTING, TELL HIM YOU’RE IN PAIN AND HURTING. SO THAT IS WHAT DAVID IS DOING HERE. HE MUST HAVE A LOT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT BECAUSE IT SAYS HE POURED IT OUT. AFTER HE POURED IT OUT HE SAID, HEY GOD, THERE IT IS. THAT’S WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO.
IN VERSE 3 IT SAYS “MY SPIRIT WAS OVERWHELMED WITHIN ME...” NOW IT’S POSSIBLE FOR A CHILD OF GOD TO BE OVERWHELMED WITH THE SITUATIONS OF LIFE. BEING OVERWHELMED IS THE SAME THING AS BEING COMPLETELY ENGULFED OR TO BE COMPLETELY OVERFLOWING WITH SOMETHING. THEN HE SAID: “THEN THOU KNEWEST MY PATH...” I’M GLAD GOD KNOWS THE PATH WE’RE ON. THEN HE SAID: “IN THE WAY WHEREIN I WALKED HAVE THEY PRIVLY LAID A SNARE FOR ME.”
NOW I WANT TO LOOK AT THIS VERSE 4. “I LOOKED ON MY RIGHT HAND, AND BEHELD, BUT THERE WAS NO MAN THAT WOULD KNOW ME: REFUGE FAILED ME; NO MAN CARED FOR MY SOUL.” THIS IS THE CONCLUSION DAVID CAME TO: NO MAN CARED FOR HIS SOUL.
IT’S VERY EASY FOR YOU AND ME TONIGHT TO HAVE THE SAME FEELINGS THAT DAVID HAD IN THESE VERSES. DAVID IS GOING THROUGH SOME HARD TIMES. HE BEGAN TO LOOK AROUND AND HE SAID: WHERE WAS EVERYBODY. YOU SEE THIS ISN’T THE WAY IT WAS BACK IN 1 SAMUEL 22. IN THAT PASSAGE WHEN DAVID WAS FLEEING FROM SAUL, THERE WERE SOME OTHER FOLK THAT WERE FLEEING FROM SAUL ALSO. AND HE SAID: “THOSE THAT WERE IN DISTRESS SOUGHT ME OUT.” “THOSE THAT WERE DISCOURAGED AND DISCONTENTED SOUGHT ME OUT.” THERE WERE OVER FOUR HUNDRED OF THESE PEOPLE THAT DAVID OUT AND THEY LIVED IN CAVES FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME AND WHEN DAVID WAS HAVING TROUBLE THERE WAS SOMEBODY THAT LIVED AROUND HIM AT ALL TIMES. NOW DAVID IS GOING THROUGH ANOTHER PROBLEM AND THIS CROWD IS NOT THERE. AND HE SAID: “NO MAN CARED FOR MY SOUL.” NOBODY SEEMED TO REALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS SITUATION. IT’S VERY EASY FOR YOU AND ME TO FEEL THAT WAY ALSO. IT’S VERY EASY FOR US TO FEEL LIKE EVEN THE PASTOR DOESN’T CARE, THE CHILDREN DON’T CARE, THE CONGREGATION DOESN’T CARE. HOW MANY OF US HAVE SAID IN OUR HEARTS OR EVEN THROUGH OUR VOICE THAT NOBODY REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE SITUATION I’M IN. NOBODY REALLY CARES WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH. I’M BEARING THIS LOAD BY MYSELF AND NOBODY EVEN CARES FOR ME. IT’S BAD ENOUGH TO SAY THAT PEOPLE DON’T CARE ABOUT THEM BUT SOME HAVE GOTTEN TO A PLACE WHERE THEY SAY EVEN GOD DOESN’T CARE FOR ME. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW MANY CHURCH FOLK THAT ARE BORN AGAIN CHRISTIANS THAT DUE TO A TRIAL IN THEIR LIFE THEY HAVE COME TO A PLACE WHERE THEY WONDER IF GOD HIMSELF EVEN CARES. MAYBE SOMEBODY HERE TONIGHT HAS PRAYED OR EVEN AGONIZED AND YOU MAY HAVE GONE TO GOD MANY MANY TIMES AND YOUR SITUATION HAS NOT CHANGED AND YOU WONDER IF GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU LIVE, GOD DO YOU REALLY CARE. YOU SEE WE COME TO CHURCH AND WE GET A LITTLE BIT REVIVED AND WE SHAKE SOME HANDS AND FELLOWSHIP AWHILE AND THEN WE GO BACK HOME TO THE SAME SITUATION. WE HAVE THE SAME ACHES AND PAINS AND THE SAME DISCOURAGEMENTS. AND SO WE SAY LORD, DO YOU EVEN CARE? LORD I KNOW THESE FOLKS AROUND ME DON’T CARE BUT LORD I THOUGHT YOU’D CARE.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU CAN GET ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY AND HEAVEN SEEMS TO OPEN UP BUT THERE ARE OTHER TIMES IT SEEMS LIKE HEAVEN TURNS TO BRASS. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOD MANIFESTS HIMSELF IN A GREAT AND MIGHTY WAY BUT THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN YOU SEE NO PRESENCE OF GOD ANYWHERE. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT AND THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WHEN THE CLOUDS HOVER OVER HEAD. THE SUN IS HIDDEN FROM VIEW. AND YOU BEGIN TO SAY LORD: DO YOU EVEN CARE ABOUT MY SITUATION? I WANT TO SAY TONIGHT THAT DOES CARE! NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE. IT MATTERS NOT WHAT KIND OF TRIAL, WHAT KIND OF TEST OR TRIBULATION OR VALLEY; GOD CARES. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU LIVE; GOD CARES FOR YOU. IF YOU’RE HIS CHILD, HE CARES. YOU SAY PREACHER, MY PHONE NEVER RINGS AND NOBODY EVER ASKS ME HOW I’M DOING. YOU MAY COME TO CHURCH WITH YOUR CHIN DRAGGING THE FLOOR, YOU MAY BE DOWNCAST OR DISCOURAGED OR THROWING IN THE TOWEL AND QUITTING.....IF EVERY PERSON IN THIS BUILDING LOOKED AT YOU TONIGHT AND SAID I DON’T CARE ABOUT YOU, KNOW THIS.....GOD CARES FOR YOU! DAVID SAID NO MAN CARED FOR ME BUT I READ IN THE BIBLE IN 1 PETER 5:7 “CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; FOR HE CARETH FOR YOU.” I’M GLAD GOD CARES.
I WANT TO SHARE A FEW THOUGHT WITH YOU TONIGHT ON THE LORD TRULY CARES FOR YOU AND ME.
ISAIAH 66:13 “AS ONE WHOM IS MOTHER COMFORTETH, SO WILL I COMFORT YOU...”
HOW MUCH DOES GOD CARE FOR YOU AND ME? HOW MUCH IS GOD CONCERNED ABOUT YOU TONIGHT? JUST LIKE A MOTHER COMFORTING A CHILD IN A TIME OF NEED IS EXACTLY HOW MUCH GOD CARES FOR YOU. THERE’S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT A MOTHER AND HER CARING FOR HER CHILD. IT’S UNIQUE. HER HEART REACHES OUT TO CONSOLE A CHILD IN NEED. EVERYONE OF US IN THIS BUILDING CAN RELATE TO A TIME WHEN WE HAD SUCH A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR MOTHER. IT’S DIFFERENT THAN WITH OUR FATHER. A MOTHER HAS A TOUCH LIKE NO OTHER PERSON. GOD SAID I CARE FOR YOU AND I’LL COMFORT YOU JUST A MOTHER COMFORTS HER OWN CHILD.
A STORY WAS TOLD AND IT WAS A TRUE STORY ABOUT A YOUNG SOLDIER WHO HAD BEEN IN BATTLE AND HE WAS WOUNDED AND HIS EYES HAD BEEN BLINDED. HE WAS IN A MILITARY HOSPITAL. HIS MOTHER WAS FLOWN FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER TO BE BESIDE HER SON. HE DID NOT EVEN KNOW HIS MOTHER WAS THERE. SHE WALKED UP BESIDE THE BED AND LAID HER HAND UPON HIM AND IMMEDIATELY HE SAID MOTHER IS THAT YOU. HE DIDN’T HAVE TO SEE HER OR HEAR HER, JUST A TOUCH TOLD HIM SHE WAS THERE. GOD CARES FOR YOU. SOME OF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MOM, ALL OF YOU MOTHERS IN HERE TONIGHT WHEN THAT BABY WAS BORN YOU PULLED THAT BABY TO YOUR BREAST AND YOU ROCKED AND YOU SANG AND YOU DID EVERYTHING YOU COULD TO COMFORT THAT CHILD. AND GOD SAID THAT’S THE WAY I AM. HE’LL BE WITH YOU IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR AND HE’LL PULL YOU TO HIS BREAST AND HE’LL WHISPER IN YOUR EAR AND HE’LL COMFORT YOU.
I ALSO READ THAT HE CARES FOR US LIKE A SHEPHERD SEEKING HIS SHEEP. A SHEPHERD NEVER LAYS DOWN AT NIGHT AND RESTS IF THERE’S ANYONE OF HIS SHEEP IN DISTRESS. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT THOUGH HE HAVE NINETY AND NINE SAFE IN THE FOLD HE’LL LEAVE THOSE TO GO AFTER THE ONE THAT IS LOST. LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT SHEEP. SHEEP NEED A SHEPHERD. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHERE THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT A PASTOR: THE WORD PASTOR AND THE WORD SHEPHERD COME FROM THE SAME WORD. GOD IS OUR CHIEF SHEPHERD AND THE PASTOR IS THE SHEPHERD UNDER THE CHIEF SHEPHERD AND THE CHURCH IS THE FLOCK. DID YOU KNOW THAT SHEEP DO CRAZY THINGS? I’M TALKING ABOUT NATURAL SHEEP. IF YOU’LL STUDY ABOUT SHEEP AND THE LIFE OF A SHEPHERD TO HIS SHEEP, THE WORD THEY USED TO DESCRIBE THE ACTIONS OF SHEEP IS “STUPID”. THEY SAY SHEEP DO STUPID THINGS. HERE THEY ARE RIGHT UNDER THE CARE OF A SHEPHERD. HE HAS A ROD AND THE ENEMY IS OUT THERE AND SHEEP HAVE NO WAY OF PROTECTING THEMSELVES WITHOUT THE SHEPHERD. THEY ARE VUNERABLE TO THE ENEMY. THEIR WOOL IS SO COARSE AND TIGHT THAT IF THEY GET NEXT TO A BUSH THEY’LL GET HUNG IN IT AND CAN’T GET OUT. DID YOU KNOW THAT PHRASE THE PSALMIST DAVID SAID: THOU RESTORETH MY SOUL, COMES FROM A PHRASE AND AN ACTION IN A SHEEPS LIFE CALLED A CAST SHEEP. SHEEP GET CAST DOWN SOMETIMES. WHAT THAT SIMPLY MEANS IS THIS: A SHEEP WITH A FULL GROWTH OF WOOL ON HIM WILL LAY DOWN ON THE GROUND AND MAYBE THERE’S A LOW SPOT IN THE GROUND AND IT WILL ROLL OVER ON IT’S BACK AND IT’S LEGS WILL GO UP IN THE AIR, IT’S HAVING A GOOD TIME. BUT BECAUSE OF THE EXCESS WOOL IT CAN’T TURN BACK OVER. IT WILL LAY THERE AND STRANGLE TO DEATH. THE SHEPHERD GOES OUT AND HE SEARCHES THE HILLS AND THE VALLEYS LOOKING FOR THAT SHEEP. THAT LITTLE OLD SHEEP CAN’T TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. IT MUST HAVE A SHEPHERD TO LEAD IT TO WATER, TO LEAD IT TO CHRIST WHERE IT CAN EAT AND TO PROTECT IT FROM THE ENEMY AND YET BY CHARACTER ITS SO STUPID IT WILL LOOK DOWN AND NOT LOOK BACK AND JUST GET AWAY. THEY SAY A SHEEP CAN GET OVER THE HILL AND IT CAN’T EVEN FIND IT’S WAY BACK. TO THE FLOCK. IT NEEDS A SHEPHERD. GOD SAID I CARE FOR YOU SO MUCH THAT I WILL SEEK YOU OUT LIKE A SHEPHERD LOOKING FOR SHEEP THAT HAVE GONE ASTRAY. CAN YOU SEE THE GOOD KIND SHEPHERD OUT IN THE STORM AT NIGHT WITH THE RAIN FALLING AND THE LIGHTNING CRACKING AND THE THUNDER ROLLING AND MAYBE THERE S A BOBCAT UP ON THE SIDE OF THE HILL. MAYBE THERE’S AN ENEMY CROUCHING BEHIND A ROCK, SEEKING WHOM IT MAY DEVOUR. AND HE SAYS YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF DEATH I FEAR NO EVIL FOR THOU ART WITH ME. THE SHEPHERD JUST KEEPS LOOKING. HE DOESN’T LET PEOPLE TURN HIM BACK, HE DOESN’T LET THE STORM TURN HIM BACK OR EVEN PUBLIC OPINION. HE LOVES YOU AND CARES FOR YOU TONIGHT.
HE SAID HE ALSO CARES FOR YOU LIKE AN EAGLE BEARING UP ITS YOUNG UPON ITS WINGS. IN THE BIBLE HE TALKS ABOUT AN EAGLE BEARING UP ITS YOUNG UPON HIS WINGS. YOU SAY GOD ISN’T REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT YOU. I’M STANDING ON A SLIPPERY PLACE AND IT SEEMS LIKE I’M GOING TO FALL AND IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE I’M GOING TO MAKE IT PREACHER AND NOBODY CARES. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A STEEP HILL THAT WAS WET AND SLIPPERY AND YOU WERE AFRAID TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP BECAUSE YOU KNEW YOU’D FALL? A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIKE THAT SPIRITUALLY. BUT HE CARES FOR YOU AND HE DOESN’T WANT YOU TO GET HURT. OVER IN PSALMS 77 THE PSALMIST SAID I LOOKED AROUND AND SAW EVERYBODY DOING GOOD AND I BEGAN TO THINK SINCE MY FEET WERE ON SLIPPERY GROUND, MAYBE I WASN’T DOING SO GOOD AND HE WENT TO THE HOUSE OF GOD AND HE SAID I HEARD FROM HEAVEN AND I LEARNED THAT IT’S NOT THE CHILDREN OF GOD THAT ARE STANDING ON SLIPPERY GROUND BUT THE WORLD AND THE LOST WHO ARE UNDONE WITHOUT GOD.
IT JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE GOING DOWN. IT JUST LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE HEADED FOR THE BIG FALL. GOD SAID LIKE AN EAGLE BEARETH UP HER YOUNG ON HER WINGS HE SAID THAT’S HOW MUCH I CARE FOR YOU.
YOU WON’T GO OUTSIDE AND FIND ANY EAGLES IN THESE PINE TREES. YOU CAN FIND ALL OTHER KINDS OF BIRDS AND NESTS BUT YOU HAVE TO GET UP IN TO THE HIGH ELEVATION TO FIND WHERE THE EAGLE BUILDS HER NEST. SHE’LL BUILD HER NEST RIGHT ON THE SIDE OF A CLIFF. SHE’LL TAKE STICKS AND VINES AND THORNY BUSHES AND WEAVE THEM TOGETHER. SHE CAN’T HATCH OUT HER EGGS ON THAT. SO SHE BEGINS TO TAKE FEATHERS AND SOFT MATERIAL AND SHE BEGINS TO PAD THAT NEST ALL THE WAY AROUND. SHE LAYS HER EGGS AND THOSE EGGS HATCH. THOSE LITTLE EAGLETS COME OUT WITH A FEW PIN FEATHERS AND THEY LAY IN THERE ON THE COMFORT OF THAT PADDED NEST AND THE THISTLES AND THINGS DO NOT STICK THEM. BUT AFTER SHE’S CAPTURED ENOUGH WORMS AND PUT THEM DOWN THEIR THROATS AND THEY’VE GROWN ENOUGH, SHE’LL BEGIN TO COMMUNICATE AND TELL THEM IT’S TIME TO FLY AND LEAVE THE NEST. THAT’S WHERE A LOT OF GODS PEOPLE ARE TONIGHT. THEIR IN THE PADDED NEST AND GOD WANTS US TO DO SOME FLYING. HE SAID THOSE THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS AN EAGLE. HE WANTS YOU TO FLY. SO THE EAGLE SITS DOWN WITH HER CHILDREN AND TELLS THEM THEY NEED TO LEARN HOW TO FLY AND THE CHILDREN DON’T UNDERSTAND. SO SHE TELLS THEM TO PUT THEIR CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN HER AND SHE’LL TEACH THEM. SO SHE COACHES THEM AND THEY’LL CLIMB OUT OF THE NEST AND THEY LOOK DOWN AND SEE THAT THEY ARE THOUSANDS OF FEET FROM THE GROUND AND THEY JUMP BACK IN THAT NEST SO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DOES? SHE STARTS PULLING THE PACKING OUT. THOSE THORNS BEGIN TO STICK AND THOSE EAGLETS DON’T LIKE SITTING IN THE NEST ANYMORE. THEY SAY: SOMETHING’S HAPPENED TO MY RESTING PLACE. THAT’S LIKE US. WE LIKE IT COMFORTABLE. WE’D RATHER ENJOY THAN ENDURE. WE’D RATHER BE HAPPY THAN BE HOLY. THAT’S THE REASON WHY A LOT OF CHURCHES HAVE TURNED THEIR UPPER ROOMS INTO SUPPER ROOMS. SO WHEN THE EAGLETS AREN’T COMFORTABLE IN THEIR NEST THEY TELL THEIR MOM THAT THEY CAN’T GET ANY REST AND SHE SAYS THEN IT’S TIME TO FLY. AN EAGLE ISN’T SUPPOSED TO SIT ON THE NEST ALL THE TIME. GOD MADE YOU FOR HIGH ELEVATION AND YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO FLY. WHEN THEY DON’T SHE TAKES HER WING AND PUSHES THAT NEST OFF THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN UNTIL IT RESTS ON THE CLIFF AND THEN SHE PUSHES THEM OFF OF THAT CLIFF AND THEIR FLIPPING AND TURNING SOMERSAULTS AND SCREAMING AND HOLLERING “WE’RE GOING TO DIE, NOBODY CARES FOR ME ANYMORE”! BUT SHE HAS HER EYES ON THEM AND JUST AT THE RIGHT TIME SHE COMES OFF THAT CLIFF AND GOES TOWARD THEM AND GETS UP UNDER THEM AND THEY FALL RIGHT UP ON HER AND SHE BEARS THEM ON HER WINGS AND CARRIES THEM BACK TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. SO THEY GET BACK THERE AND THEY SAY WELL THAT WASN’T TOO BAD. THEN SHE REPEATS THAT OVER AND OVER UNTIL THEY LEARN HOW TO FLY ON THEIR OWN. AFTER AWHILE THEY SOAR. SHE TELL THEM YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT THE WIND, JUST SURRENDER TO IT. SO THEY’LL SPREAD THOSE WINGS AND THE WIND WILL CATCH IT AND IT WILL SEND THEM HIGHER AND HIGHER. GOD SAID YOU MAY THINK I DON’T CARE BUT I CARE FOR YOU JUST LIKE A MOTHER EAGLE CARES FOR HER YOUNG. YOU SEE GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO SPEND OUR TIME WITH THE CHICKENS AND THE TURKEYS. HE WANTS US TO FLY WITH THE EAGLES.
HE CARES FOR YOU LIKE A FATHER PITIES HIS CHILD. NOW A MOTHER COMFORTS LIKE NO ONE ELSE BUT THERE’S NOT A PERSON ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH THAT CAN PITY LIKE A FATHER. I BELIEVE AS WE SEARCH THE PAGES OF THIS BOOK GOD SAID LIKE A FATHER WITH A BROKEN HEART OF AFFECTION FOR HIS YOUNG. HE SAID I’LL SHOW AFFECTION TO YOU JUST LIKE A FATHER CARING FOR HIS YOUNG. A FATHER TONIGHT IF THE PHONE RANG IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR AND HIS CHILD WERE ON THE OTHER LINE WEEPING AND CRYING AND SAYING, I NEED YOU DAD, I TELL YOU WHAT HE’D DO, HE’D HEAD OUT. IT WOULDN’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE HOW DIFFICULT OR HOW BAD, HOW MANY STORMS WARNINGS, WHAT THE COST MIGHT BE; HE’D GO. HE’S GOING TO GO TO HIS CHILD NO MATTER WHAT IN HIS TIME OF NEED. GOD SAYS: THAT’S HOW MUCH I CARE FOR YOU. IF YOU GO BACK IN YOUR LIFE AND YOU REMEMBER A TIME WHEN YOU HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DAD AND HE PUT FORTH AN EXTRA SPECIAL EFFORT IN TENDERNESS TO HELP US. HE SAID THAT’S HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. JUST LIKE YOUR PASTOR I’VE STOOD IN HOSPITAL ROOMS AND SEEN MEN 250 POUNDS AND WERE SIX FEET TALL AND WEEP LIKE A BABY. WHY? HIS HEARTS BREAKS AND GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW I CARE FOR YOU LIKE A FATHER PITIES HIS CHILD.
HE ALSO SAID HE CARES FOR YOU LIKE A BRIDE GROOM REJOICES OVER HIS BRIDE. DID YOU KNOW A BRIDE GROOM JUST CAN’T SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE BRIDE? WEDDINGS ARE SOMETHING SPECIAL. WHEN THE ORGANIST SITS DOWN TO PLAY “HERE COMES THE BRIDE”, THE DOORS IN THE VESTIBUL SWING OPEN AND THE BRIDE COMES DOWN THE AISLE IN HER BEAUTIFUL WHITE DRESS AND THE TRAIN TRAILING BEHIND HER. HER DAD LEADING HER DOWN THE AISLE. THAT’S JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL. I’VE BEEN THE BEST MAN IN THE WEDDING. I’VE BEEN THE MAN IN THE WEDDING BUT I’VE NEVER BEEN THE BRIDE. BUT WE’RE GOING TO BE THE BRIDE IN THE WEDDING BECAUSE EVERYONE OF US THAT IS SAVED; THE GROOM IS COMING AFTER HIS BRIDE. THE GROOM IS JESUS AND THE BRIDE ARE HIS THAT ARE SAVED. THERE’S GOING TO BE A GRAND WEDDING.
I KNEW A MAN WHO WAS AN ASSISTANT PASTOR TO REV. RILEY IN MINNEAPOLIS. BROTHER WILEY AND THIS MAN WERE STANDING DOWN HERE AT THE FRONT AND THE BRIDE WAS COMING DOWN THE AISLE AND HER DAD WAS ESCORTING HER. DR. RILEY TURNED AROUND TO MARK CAMERON AND HE SAID MARK, I CAN TELL BY THE LOOK IN YOUR EYES THAT YOU’D LIKE TO LEAD HER DOWN THE AISLE YOURSELF. HE SAID IT’S YOUR WEDDING AND IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT THEN JUST GO GET HER AND TAKE HER BY THE ARM AND ESCORT HER ON UP THE AISLE. HE WALKED OUT OF THE ALTAR, WENT DOWN THE AISLE AND TOOK HER BY THE ARM AND WALKED HER DOWN TO THE ALTAR. BUT WHEN HE TOLD ME ABOUT THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT ANOTHER BRIDEGROOM. THE ONE WHO SITS BESIDE THE HEAVENLY FATHER IN GLORY. THE LORD JESUS. HE HAS HIS EYE ON THE BRIDES ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY. THOSE GIRLS THAT ARE IN PRISON IN AFGHANISTAN TONIGHT, MOST LIKELY BORN AGAIN, AND THOSE WITH CANCER, THOSE IN PRISONS AND THOSE WITH ALL KINDS OF CIRCUMSTANCES; THE LORD JESUS HAS HIS EYE ON THE BRIDE. ONE OF THESE DAYS THE FATHER IS GOING TO SAY SON GO GET HER AND THE TRUMPETS GOING TO BLOW AND THE DEAD ARE GOING TO RISE AND HE’S COMING BACK. WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS YOU CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM TONIGHT. WHEN HE SEES HER COME DOWN THAT AISLE HIS EYES LIGHT UP. THE SMILE COMES ON HER FACE. IT’S STILL VIVID IN MY MIND HOW MARK CAMERON SHOWED SUCH LOVE AND APPRECIATION OF HIS BRIDE. GOD SAYS THAT’S HOW I CARE ABOUT YOU. YOU MAY THINK NOBODY CARES BUT GOD DOES.
HE SAID I LOVE YOU AND CARE FOR YOU LIKE A HEN GATHERING HER CHICKS TOGETHER UNDER HER WINGS. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY AND WE HAD WHAT IS KNOWN AS YARD CHICKENS. IT TOOK MONTHS TO GROW THEM. NOW A DAYS THEY GROW THEM IN WEEKS. THEY SHOOT THEM SO FULL OF DRUGS THAT THEY GROW EXTRA QUICK. BUT SOME OF US CAN RELATE WHEN IT TOOK MONTHS TO GROW THEM. THEN WE HAD TO CHASE THEM DOWN ALL OVER THE YARD TO GET ONE FOR MOM TO KILL FOR DINNER. I REMEMBER CATCHING ONE BY THE NECK AND I DROPPED HER AND HAD TO CATCH HER AGAIN. THERE WAS SOME OF THOSE LITTLE OLD BANTA HENS. YOU TALK ABOUT TENACIOUS AND FEROCIOUS; THEY’D JUMP ALL OVER YOU. YOU COME UP ON HER AND SHE’D SET THEM WINGS OUT THERE AND SCUFF HER FEET. YOU LET AN OLD HAWK START FLYING OVER, YOU LET THE ENEMY SHOW ITSELF AND SHE’LL SEND OUT A CALL AND THEM LITTLE BIDDIES WILL RUN FOR HER AND SHE’LL SIT DOWN ON TOP OF THEM AND COVER THEM UP AND SHIELD THEM FROM THE ENEMY. GOD SAID THAT ’S HOW MUCH I CARE FOR YOU. THE WIND MAY BE BLOWING AND THE STORM MAY BE BILLOWING AND IT MAY SEEM TO YOU LIKE THE ROOF IS CAVING IN AND YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO BUT GOD COVERS US WITH HIS FEATHERS AND HE CARES FOR YOU.
HE SAID I LOVE YOU AND CARE FOR YOU LIKE A PRIEST INTERCEDES. IN HEBREWS 7:25 HE SAID: THAT HE EVER LIVETH TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR YOU AND ME.
DID YOU KNOW THAT JESUS CARES SO MUCH FOR US TONIGHT THAT HE SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE FATHER IN GLORY AND CALLS OUT OUR NAME AND INTERCEDES FOR US. THE DEVIL ACCUSES US BUT WHEN JESUS INTERCEDES FOR US ON THE BASIS OF OUR GOODNESS BECAUSE WE HAVE NONE. HE INTERCEDES FOR US ON THE BASIS OF CALVARY. WHEN THE DEVIL COMES TO ACCUSE YOU OF SOMETHING YOU DID OR SOMEONE ELSE DID, JESUS DOESN’T ARGUE OUT THE FACT. HE COMES TO THE FATHER AND SAYS: FATHER, I WENT TO CALVARY AND I TOOK ALL THEIR SINS AWAY AND I PAID THE DEBT AND THEIR MINE AND CARE FOR THEM AND I LOVE THEM.
I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE TONIGHT AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH BUT YOUR NAME MAY NOT BE CALLED OVER AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN WASHINGTON D.C., BUT PAST THE SUN IS A PLACE CALLED THE THIRD HEAVEN AND THERE’S A THRONE ROOM THERE AND THERE’S A MAN SITTING ON THAT THRONE BY THE NAME OF JESUS AND HE CALLS OUT MY NAME TO THE FATHER. HE CARES FOR YOU.
I WANT TO SHOW YOU JUST HOW MUCH GOD CARES FOR YOU. HE KNOWS YOUR NAME PERSONALLY. HE SAID I KNOW MY SHEEP AND I CALL THEM BY NAME. YOU MAY THINK NOBODY CARES BUT IF A PERSON KNOWS YOUR NAME THEY CONSIDER IT ENOUGH TO AT LEAST REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE. BUT HE SAID I CALL MY SHEEP BY NAME. DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN MARY CAME TO THE TOMB AFTER THE RESURRECTION AND SHE SAW A GARDNER THERE AND SHE ASKED HIM WHERE HE HAD LAID HIM. JESUS SAID UNTO HER “MARY” AND WHEN SHE HEARD HER NAME SHE KNEW IT WAS HIM. NOT ONLY DOES HE KNOW YOUR NAME BUT HE KNOWS THE NUMBER OF HAIRS ON YOUR HEAD. HE MUST THINK A LOT OF US TO KNOW HOW MANY HAIRS WE HAVE. HE ALSO COUNTS THE STEPS OF OUR FEET. WHEN YOUR BABIES GET OLD ENOUGH AND THEY TAKE THEIR FIRST STEPS, YOU BEGIN TO COUNT THEM. THE PARENTS ARE EXCITED. THEN AFTER AWHILE YOU’RE CHASING THAT BABY FROM ROOM TO ROOM AND YOU NO LONGER COUNT THE STEPS. BUT GOD COUNTS THE STEPS WE MAKE AND HE DOESN’T STOP. SOME OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY TAKEN SOME PRETTY HARD STEPS. YOU MAY HAVE HAD TO TAKE SOME STEPS THAT YOU FELT YOU COULDN’T MAKE IT. IT MAY HAVE BEEN TO A DOCTORS OFFICE OR TO A FUNERAL HOME OR TO A HOSPITAL. THE STEPS WERE SO HARD YOU SAID “OH GOD, I DON’T KNOW HOW IN THE WORLD I’M GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THIS!” THE TEARS ROLL DOWN YOUR FACE AND YOU’RE TAKING STEPS THAT ARE BREAKING YOUR HEART BUT AS YOU WERE TAKING THEM, GOD WAS COUNTING EVERY STEP YOU TOOK. THERE ARE TIMES WE TAKE STEPS OF JOY AND STEPS OF GLORY AND EVERY THINGS ALL RIGHT BUT THEN WE TAKE STEPS THAT MAKE US WEEP AND TIMES WE HAVE BURDENS AND EVERY THING SEEMS TO BE FALLING APART AND HE COUNTS EVERY ONE. EVERY STEP WE TAKE. HE RECORDS THE THOUGHTS OF OUR MIND. HE SAID THERE’S A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE. HE HOLDS US BY OUR RIGHT HAND WITH HIS RIGHT HAND. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE BITTY BOY ABOUT THREE AND I HAD THIS TRICYCLE. I CAME TO A RAILROAD TRACK AND I WAS TRYING TO GET THAT TRICYCLE OVER THAT RAILROAD TRACK AND I COULDN’T DO IT. MY DAD WALKED OVER AND REACHED OVER AND TOOK ME BY THE HAND AND BROUGHT ME ACROSS. THAT’S HOW MUCH GOD CARES FOR YOU. HE SUPPLIES ALL OUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY.
YOU SAY,BROTHER BOB, DOES GOD REALLY CARE? I MET A GENTLEMAN IN 1957, HE WAS IN HIS EARLY 80’S. BROTHER WYGLE. HE WAS AN EVANGELIST, A SINGER AND SONGWRITER. ONE OF THE GREATEST EVANGELISTS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO IN THIS COUNTRY. WHEN HE BECAME AN EVANGELIST HIS WIFE SAID I DON’T WANT TO BE A PREACHERS WIFE. SHE LEFT HIM AND SHE WENT OUT IN SIN AND CONTRACTED A DISEASE. SHE CALLED BROTHER CHARLES WYGLE TO HER SIDE AND SHE ASKED HIM TO FORGIVE HER. HE STAYED TRUE TO GOD. SHE TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD BEEN THE GREATEST CHRISTIAN SHE HAD EVER KNOWN. THEN SHE DIED. HE LIVED IN FLORIDA AND HE WALKED OUT ONTO A PIER WHEN THE TIDE WAS GOING OUT AND THE DEVIL CLIMBED UP ON HIS SHOULDER AND TOLD HIM NOBODY CARED ABOUT HIM. HE TOLD HIM HIS WIFE WOULD OF NEVER LEFT HIM HAD SHE CARED. SAID GOD DON’T EVEN CARE. WHY DON’T YOU JUST JUMP IN AND JUST END IT BECAUSE NOBODY CARES FOR YOU. CHARLES WYGLE STOOD THERE WITH WHITE HAIR AT 80 YEARS OLD AND HE CONTEMPLATED JUMPING IN BECAUSE NOBODY CARED FOR HIM BUT THE HOLY GHOST SPOKE TO HIS HEART AND SAID: NO NE CARES FOR YOU LIKE JESUS DOES. AND CHARLES TURNED AND RUSHED BACK TO HIS ROOM AND SAT DOWN AT HIS PIANO AND IN A VERY FEW MINUTES HE HAD THE MUSIC AND THE WORDS TO “NO ONE EVER CARED SO MUCH FOR ME LIKE JESUS.”
I DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH BUT I’D LIKE TO SAY THAT NO ONE CARES FOR YOU LIKE JESUS.
LET US PRAY: FATHER I PRAY YOU’D SPEAK TO OUR HEARTS TODAY. I KNOW YOU LOVE ME BUT I FEEL LIKE I’M AT MY WITS END. I NEED HELP BEFORE THE DEVIL TEMPS ME TO SOMETHING. I WANT TO FEEL LOVED. HEAR MY CRY O LORD! HELP ME! I’M IN PAIN AND I HURT AND I CAN’T BEAR IT ANY LONGER. IF YOU WON’T TAKE THE PAIN AWAY BECAUSE IT’S NOT YOUR WILL THEN I ASK YOU LORD TO GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO BEAR IT.
FATHER, I HAVEN’T ALWAYS BEEN FOUND BEING FAITHFUL TO YOU. I WANT TO DO BETTER LORD. I WANT TO PRAY AND READ MY BIBLE AND FIND ALL THE TIMES WHEN OTHERS HAVE FACED WHAT I AM FACING AND SEE HOW YOU LOVED THEM SO I CAN TELL THE DEVIL, YES, JESUS DOES LOVE ME AND CARE FOR ME.
FATHER, THE GREATEST GIFT YOU EVER GAVE WAS YOURSELF. YOU UNSELFISHLY DIED ON A CROSS SO THAT I MIGHT HAVE LIFE EVERLASTING. THANK YOU LORD FOR DOING THIS FOR ME. NO ONE EVER CARED SO MUCH FOR ME. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN
WHAT A SERVICE THIS WAS. COUNTLESS SOULS CAME TO THE ALTAR TO REDEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST. TO ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND ONE PRECIOUS SOUL WAS SAVED. PRAISE GOD!
NO ONE EVER CARED SO MUCH FOR ME
VERSE ONE
THERE’S NO OTHER NAME SO SWEET AS JESUS
NO ONE EVER CARED SO MUCH FOR ME
AS TO SHED HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD TO SAVE ME
NO ONE EVER CARED SO MUCH FOR ME
CHORUS
THERE’S NO ONE WHO CARES LIKE JESUS
THERE’S NO FRIEND SO PRECIOUS TO ME
WHO WOULD WALK, AND CARRY A CROSS UP TO CALVARY
NO ONE EVER CARED SO MUCH FOR ME
VERSE TWO
WHEN I SEE HIM FACE TO FACE IN GLORY
I WILL BOW AT HIS NAIL SCARED FEET
AND I’LL THANK HIM FOR THE PAIN HE SUFFERED
ALL BECAUSE HE CARED SO MUCH FOR ME.
