Sermon Central
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God's Promises For A Weary People
Contributed by Larry Finley on Sep 18, 2008 (message contributor)
Summary: Weariness often makes us lose heart and forget God’s Promises
GOD’S PROMISES FOR A WEARY PEOPLE
9/17/08 Psalm 125 S__ L__ R__
1. Many Days on way to Jerusalem to Worship
a. thoughts of home
b. thoughts of remainder of trip
c. bone tired – weary – perhaps ready to turn back
2. Life gets like that
a. trials and tribulations
b. swimming against the stream – stop & float
i. dead fish - driftwood & wrecks
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
3. God’s Promises for a Weary People
1. PEOPLE OF GOD’S PROMISES Vs. 1a They that trust
A. People of Dependence
1. First thought of God’s presence – in the Lord
a. not what they trust, but WHO
b. run to one’s side
B. People of Confidence
1. no room for doubt
2. Neb. Fiery Furnace- bow or burn
Daniel 3:16-18 (MSG)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "Your threat means nothing to us. 17 If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. 18 But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up."
C. People of Ebullience
1. full of enthusiasm
2. boiling vigorously
2. PERMANENCE OF GOD’S PROMISES Vs.1b
A. Unshakeable –cannot be removed
1. Can’t be swayed by the culture
2. Can’t be thrown off course by the liberal
3. Can’t be damaged by the worldly
B. Unchangeable –abides forever
1. settled in
2. set down permanently
Jeremiah 36:22-23; 27-31
3. PROTECTION OF GOD’S PROMISES Vs. 2-3
A. Positive vs. 2
1. Guarded
a. Nothing catches God by surprise
b. 2 Cor. 12:9 God said to Paul My grace is sufficient
c. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (MSG)
No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.
2. Girded – so the Lord is round about His people
a. Psalms 34:7
The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.
B. Negative Vs. 3
1. Persecution - times the wicked will rule
a. sin of leadership or the people
b. oppression might be severe -the rod of the wicked
2. Limitation -shall not rest upon the lot
a. stay or settle down –
Isaiah 5:18-25 (MSG)
18 Doom to you who use lies to sell evil, who haul sin to market by the truckload, 19 Who say, "What’s God waiting for? Let him get a move on so we can see it. Whatever The Holy of Israel has cooked up, we’d like to check it out." 20 Doom to you who call evil good and good evil, Who put darkness in place of light and light in place of darkness, Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21 Doom to you who think you’re so smart, who hold such a high opinion of yourselves! 22 All you’re good at is drinking—champion boozers who collect trophies from drinking bouts 23 And then line your pockets with bribes from the guilty while you violate the rights of the innocent. 24 But they won’t get by with it. As fire eats stubble and dry grass goes up in smoke, Their souls will atrophy, their achievements crumble into dust, Because they said no to the revelation of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Would have nothing to do with The Holy of Israel. 25 That’s why God flamed out in anger against his people, reached out and knocked them down. The mountains trembled as their dead bodies piled up in the streets. But even after that, he was still angry, his fist still raised, ready to hit them again.
4. PROVISIONS OF GOD’S PROMISES Vs. 4
A. Reciprocal
1. Law of reaping and sowing
He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: …
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
B. Multiple 2 Corinthians 9:6
But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
