Sermon Central
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When God Says No
Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Oct 15, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: It is hard to understand why God doesn’t answer our prayers as we would like. When God says no, He never says, "Because I said so!" ALSO USEFUL FOR FUNERAL SERVICE
Parents often have to tell their children, “no.”
From time to time God tells His children no also. We have all experienced the confusion and disappointment that floods our hearts when God tells us no.
+ Isaiah 40:10-15 10See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. 12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? 13Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? 14Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? 15Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. (NIV)
GOD IS THE SOVEREIGN LORD!
When God tells us, “NO” lets remember He is still God.
Verse 10: “See the Sovereign Lord!”
When things don’t turn out the way we would like and, God tells us “NO,” we all are tempted at times to ask “WHY?”
Verse 13-14: Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?
When God tells us, “NO” He may not answer all of our questions, but He doesn’t just tell us, “Because I said so.”
God makes Himself known personally to us so we can accept His decision when He must tell us, “NO.” The more you know about God and who He is the less you have to ask, “WHY?”
WHEN GOD SAYS NO REMEMBER:
1. GOD IS ALMIGHTY IN POWER!
When God says, “NO it does not mean God is weak. We may be tempted to think God could not do it; our problem was beyond God’s ability.
Verse 10: “See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power.”
When God says, “NO” it doesn’t mean that God has given up. God is more than able!
+ Psalm 147:5 How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! (NLT)
+ Jeremiah 10:6 No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. (NIV)
2. GOD’S DECREE IS EFFECTIVE.
When God says, “NO” it does not mean God has lost control and does not know what to do.
Verse 10: “and his arm rules for him”
+ Isaiah 55:8-11 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
Even when God says, “NO” His word is still powerful and effective. When God says, “NO” it will still accomplish what He desires.
3. GOD DOSE WHAT IS BEST.
When God say, “NO” it does not mean God is being unfair.
Verse 10: “See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.”
God wants to reward us; He wants to give us good things. However, sometimes we ask for things that would not be good for us.
+ James 4:3-6 3When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6But he gives us more grace. (NIV)
God knows everything we ask for won’t be good for us. Instead of being thankful and drawing closer to God, some of the things we ask for would actually separate us from God and ultimately result in His judgement. But He gives us more grace. . .He says NO.
