Sermon Central
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Jesus Christ Is The Same Yesterday ,today And Forever
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Nov 20, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: THIS SERMON IS ABOUT EXPERIENCING AN UNCHANGING GOD IN A CHANGING WORLD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WHO IS THE SAME YESTERDAY ,TODAY AND FOREVER . HE IS OUR ANCHOR AND SURE FOUNDATION IN TIMES OF TRAUMATIC CHANGES IN OUR LIVES.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY ,TODAY AND FOREVER : AN UNCHANGING GOD IN A CHANGING WORLD
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1. THE LORD IS OUR UNCHANGING REFUGE AND STRENGTH IN THIS RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD. HE IS OUR ANCHOR WHEN WE FACE MANY CHANGES WHICH CAN AFFECT US DEEPLY . WE CAN EXPERIENCE SUCH CHANGES IN OUR HOME , WORKPLACE , RELATIONSHIPS , NATURE , FINANCES , HEALTH , CULTURE , FASHION , LAWS , GOVERNMENT , STATUS , PEOPLE ETC. SOMETIMES CHANGES CAN BE SUDDEN AND TRAUMATIC . IN THESE TIMES OF CHANGES AND DISTURBANCES WE MUST RELY ON THE UNCHANGING GOD WHO IS OUR SURE FOUNDATION . THE LORD WILL BE OUR FAITHFUL FRIEND AND GUIDE US THROUGH THESE PERIODS OF CHANGE AND UNCERTAINITY.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. " Hebrews 13:8
" The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, ’Destroy him!’ " Deuteronomy 33:27
2.THE LORD IS OUR UNCHANGING REFUGE AND STRENGTH IN ALL THE SITUATIONS THAT WE MAY FACE IN OUR LIFE . HE IS OUR SURE AND STEADFAST COMPANION . HE HAS PROMISED NEVER TO LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US . THE LORD JESUS KNEW THAT DURING HIS EXPERIENCE OF THE CROSS , EVERYONE INCLUDING ALL HIS DISCIPLES WILL FORSAKE HIM, BUT HE HAD THE ASSURANCE THAT HIS HEAVENLY FATHER WILL BE WITH HIM EVEN IN THAT TIME OF LONELINESS. WE CAN TRUST THE LORD TO BE WITH US , EVEN WHEN EVERYONE ELSE HAS FORSAKEN US.
" No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. " Joshua 1:5
"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. " John 16:32
3. THE LORD IS OUR UNCHANGING REFUGE AND STRENGTH EVEN WHEN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE CHANGE AND THEIR LOVE TURNS TO HATE. THE LOVE OF GOD NEVER CHANGES . THE HEARTS AND THE FACES OF PEOPLE CAN CHANGE AND THEY MAY TURN AGAINST US . PEOPLE WHO USED TO LOVE US AND FAVOUR US MAY CHANGE THEIR ATTITUDES SUDDENLY. BUT THE LORD WILL ALWAYS BE GRACIOUS TO US AND LOOK ON US WITH FAVOUR. HIS LOVE IS UNCHANGING TOWARDS US.
" The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. " Jeremiah 31:5
" and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. " Genesis 31:5
" Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. " Daniel 3:19
" the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." ’ Numbers 6 : 25-26
4. THE LORD IS OUR UNCHANGING REFUGE AND STRENGTH EVEN IF EVERYONE ELSE HAS FORGOTTEN US , DUE TO OUR LOW STATUS. EVERYONE REMEMBERS US WHEN WE ARE PROSPEROUS AND POWERFUL . BUT ONLY OUR TRUE FRIENDS REMEMBER US IN OUR TIMES OF NEED AND LONELINESS. THE LORD REWARDED THE DISCIPLES WHO STOOD WITH HIM IN TIMES OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS . WE CAN TRUST THE LORD TO BE WITH US EVEN DURING OUR LOWLY AND LONELY STATE . HE WILL STRENGTHEN US BY HIS LOVE AND COMPASSION.
" Who remembered us in our lowly state, For His mercy endures forever; " Psalm 136:23
" The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. " Proverbs 14:20
" Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man’s friend deserts him.
A poor man is shunned by all his relatives— how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found " Proverbs 19:4,7
"You are those who have stood by me in my trials.
And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,
so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. " Luke 22 :28-30
5. THE LORD IS OUR UNCHANGING REFUGE AND STRENGTH EVEN WHEN WE FACE CHANGES IN OUR FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS. HE WILL MEET OUR NEEDS EVEN WHEN WE FACE A WILDERNESS IN OUR FINANCES AND SOCIAL STATUS . HE PROVIDED FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL DURING THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS FOR 40 YEARS , WHERE THERE WAS NO HOPE OF ANY HUMAN HELP. HE DOES NOT FORSAKE US OR DESPISE US IN OUR TIMES OF DESPERATE NEED. WE SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK TO HIM TO MEET OUR NEEDS EVEN WHEN THE SITUATION LOOKS IMPOSSIBLE. HE IS OUR UNCHANGING PROVIDER.
