Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided -

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

This great Hymn of the church was written by Thomas Chisholm.

He did not write this hymn because of something great, or even miraculous that had happened in his life, no, rather he wrote it because as he looked back over his life, he learned to see the great faithfulness of God. At age 75, he wrote these words;

The faithfulness of God is an amazing thing… Not based upon our actions or deeds

but only based upon the commitment and love that He gives us continually on a nonstop basis.

God's faithfulness is everywhere and anywhere, all the time...there is no where

His faithfulness doesn't reach, or that His presence does not touch...

There are some who try to flee from his presence like the story of Jonah in the Bible… But it is an impossible task.

In the modern age that we live in, sometimes we think how much further can humanity get from the presence of God…

but no matter how far society seems from God, His presence is still there… His presence is even closer than the mention of his name!

It is only possible by His presence being available in our lives…to be afforded

the luxury

of mentioning his name in the first place and expecting Him

to act on our behalf in the time of need!

Everywhere all over the world this morning there are people who are not in church this morning...and its a troubling thing

Now for those who have never heard the gospel or known Jesus to be their Savior

and made a profession of faith...

we would understand why they would not be in attendance.

But for those who have sensed and felt the presence of God and accepted Jesus as their Savior...

you wonder how in the world did they ever fall away from the church.

And these are people that we all know… People who were once vibrant and involved

in the work of the church...

Luke 12:48The Message (MSG)

47-48 “The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he’ll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!

We have been given the greatest gift known to mankind...it's not a theory of relativity and or the quantum physics… It's Jesus!

For whatever reason and there really isn't a good one...people choose not to frequent the church on a regular occasion...

But what's worse, is when they choose not to frequent church at all...they just stop

The old adage is… I don't have to go to church to have a relationship with God. And while that is a true statement...

I wonder really...how their relationship is with God when they won't even frequent his house on a regular basis?

While the presence of God is everywhere… Most people don't look everywhere for the presence of God!

Dan Bear illus. "Dan who?" (Every body knows someone who once thought they were more than what were...only

later to find out it wasn't quite the way they everybody else thought it was)

Acts 19:15 NKJ

15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

John 15:11-15 MSG

11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

TBS. Jesus told his disciples's and the people there with him… he gave him some great advice, because He knew they would need to be encouraged and refreshed!!

He also said "Do not for sake the assembling of your selves together"

Which means when you have a chance to get together and lift up the name of Jesus you should do it!

Proverbs 18:24 MSG.

24. Friends come and friends go,

but a true friend sticks by you like family.

Psalm 139:7-10NKJ.

7. Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

8. If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.