God's Goodness

Our attitude toward Almighty God will determine the degree of darkness or light that we experience as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. It is normal for individuals to feel grief at the loss of someone dear to them. Help is available for times such as these! King Solomon, the wisest man ever to live on the face of this earth, with the exception of Jesus, the Christ, in Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (NLT), tells us: "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under Heaven. (v. 2) A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. (v. 3) A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. (v. 4) A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance."

It is obvious that King Solomon recognizes the hurts of life - but, He points out that help is available; and, that this help comes from Almighty God, whom the Prophet Nahum describes as being good! Yes, my brothers and sisters, the Lord God Almighty is good! We see the goodness of Almighty God in the world that He created! In the "Book of Beginnings" - in Genesis 1:31 (NLT) - we read: "Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day." Just look at these beautiful flowers that He created to be available during times of sorrow to bring comfort to those who are grieving!

We know the goodness of Almighty God through His Word! The psalmist, David, in Psalm 34:8 NLT), tells us: "Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who trust in Him!" In Psalm 107:1 (NLT), David goes on to say: "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever."

We know that Almighty God is good because of the pains to which He went to bring about the redemption of mankind - both male and female! It was the goodness of Almighty God that sent His only-begotten Son to pay the price for our sins - your sins and my sins! The beloved Disciple/Apostle John, in John 3:16 (NLT), records Jesus, the Christ, Himself, saying: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have Eternal Life." Almighty God has tasted the sorrow that we feel and He does not have to feel our sorrow; but, because He is good, He does!

Almighty God - this good God - is our stronghold in times of trouble! Mankind - both male and female - has found this to be true in every situation of life! It is comforting to know that this good God invites us to come to Him in our hour of need! The Disciple/Apostle Matthew, in Matthew 11:28 (NLT), records Jesus, the Christ, Himself, saying: "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest."

Almighty God does not remove the difficulties and sorrows from our pathway; but, He does provide us with the strength to face them! The psalmist tells us, in Psalm 46:1 (NLT): "God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble." The psalmist goes on to tell us, in Psalm 121:2 (NLT), "My help comes from the Lord, Who made the heavens and the earth!" It is absolutely amazing what we can survive when we look to the Lord for help!

Almighty God - this good God - knows those who trust Him! There are some blessings that come from Almighty God to each and every one of us! The Disciple/Apostle Matthew, in Matthew 5:44-45 (NLT), records Jesus, the Christ, Himself, saying: "But I say, ’love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! (v. 45) In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in Heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.’"

As we travel the interstate highways of this great nation of ours, we find rest areas for weary travelers; however, they are only helpful to those who use them! It is the very same thing with the promises of Almighty God! This good God, that the Prophet Nahum offers to us, waits for us to look to Him today!  ~Bits and Pieces of Sermon by George Dillihunty

LIFE'S VOYAGE

Some of you set sail in big ships; you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.  Out at sea you saw God in action, saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean:  With a word he called up the wind—an ocean storm, towering waves!  You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out; your hearts were stuck in your throats.  You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk, you didn’t know which end was up.  Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time.  He quieted the wind down to a whisper,  put a muzzle on all the big waves.  And you were so glad when the storm died down, and he led you safely back to harbor.  So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves.  Lift high your praises when the people assemble, shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!  (Psalm 107:23-32 MSG)

LIFE AT BEST IS UNCERTAIN
As brief as our lives are, a person is indeed foolish if they attempt to journey on life’s uncharted seas without God. Let no day pass without praising and thanking God for the multitude of blessings that He bestows upon us daily. Since we cannot be sure about tomorrow, let us glorify His Name today.

“Behold, Thou hast made my days as a handbreadth; and my lifetime as nothing in Thy sight”. (Psalm 39:5)

“You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14 NASB)

"Man, who is born of woman, is short of days, and full of trouble. Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain.”  (Job 14:1-2)

WE ARE MUCH LIKE THE FRAIL SHIPS OF OLD

Doubtful in severe storms; increasingly fragile with the passing years; battered when tossed upon the rocks; helpless when run aground upon the unseen sand bars and uncharted reefs of life.

1. Storms of doubt; fear; distress; confusion; disappointment, etc.

2. Rocks of temptations; opposition (often by family and friends)

3. Sandbars of discouragement; weariness in well doing.

Some storms are of our own making while other storms are beyond our control or power to prevent. But we must never forget that however frail or weak we may be, His grace is always sufficient and His strength is always accessible to us.

“He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  (II Corinthians 12:9)

THE STORMS OF LIFE REVEAL THE POWER OF GOD

Almost any ship can safely sail on calm seas...but the seas of life are rarely calm. The power of God is revealed when we have exhausted our strength. God knows our frail condition. “Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. He calms the storm, so that the waves are still. Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He guides them to their desired haven.” (Psalm 107:27-30)

God has a purpose in every storm, shipwreck, tragedy, disease, or whatever comes upon His children. All these things do not necessarily come from God but they are used by God to bless and strengthen our faith.

Chance, happenstance or “luck” play no part in the life of the life of a godly Christian. There is a divine purpose for every thing that happens in our lives. For Paul, the ship-wreck at Malta became an opportunity to win that island to Christ. The blessings that come out of the trials and tribulations we experience may not become immediately obvious to us as they did to Paul on that occasion, but hold firm to the truth of Romans 8:28 and in God’s time, they will.

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3-4)

Stay focused! Keep your eyes on Jesus, all the while remembering that to those who “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these things will be added” to them. (Matthew 6:33)

Live victoriously, knowing that “God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

Bits and Pieces of Sermon by Kenneth Trent

WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, PEOPLE PERISH

Solomon, in his wisdom and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote, "Where there is no vision the people perish."  Proverbs 29:18

Once God has given us a vision we must never let people distract or discourage us, but we must also continue to listen to the Lord for His guidance and direction as we move forward.  In Nehemiah 4:6-12 – 6, we see God gave Nehemiah a vision and there were people with little faith that became a discouragement to that vision. Where God is at work, the enemy is also at work. Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem was certainly no exception to this. When people take kingdom priorities seriously, Satan stirs up agitators to block the work of God. Nehemiah did finish the wall and God’s vision was accomplished in spite of all the opposition and seeds of discouragement that were planted. Nehemiah faced the threats and did three practical things:

1. He prayed to the Lord and asked for Divine intervention (v.9)
2. He Placed a a guard day and night to meet the threat (v.9)
3. He Reorganized the priorities (v.13 - “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest point of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.”)
4. He asked the people to get focused in the Lord and to praise Him (verse 14“…Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…”)

As it was with Nehemiah and so many others, it is with us as well. Once God gives us a burning vision within us to be a blessing to the Kingdom and to the King's people then we must take time, make time, to quietly listen to the Lord as He guides us into His glorious future.

When you start doing things on your own and refuse to follow God’s Vision he will not punish you but he will let you go and suffer the consequences. As a loving father God will be right there waiting for your to return to His arms of love. Just accept Divine guidance and leave this Church today with the attitude of a conqueror. You are victorious, you are blessed, you are God’s chosen child and even if people try to discourage you can always lift up your chin and tell them who you are in Christ. 

How does the Lord want us to achieve this?   After waiting God answers Habakkuk.

And then God answered: 
 “Write the vision.
        Make it clear on tablets
            so that anyone can read it quickly.
The vision will still happen at the appointed time.
    It hurries toward its goal.
    It won’t be a lie.
    If it’s delayed, wait for it.
    It will certainly happen.
    It won’t be late.
(Habakkuk. 2:2-3 GWT)


1. Connect:  Jesus had a team He "did life" with. He ate with them, walked with them, and ministered with them. He developed meaningful relationships with them and developed a strategy through which all humankind could be reconciled. 

The early church connected in very natural, organic ways: "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts" (Acts 2:46 NIV). They loved to eat a good meal together, laugh together, and pray together in one another's homes as well as in their large temple gatherings.

2. Grow:  Jesus "grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52 NIV). Once you have connected in relationship within the church, it is time for you to grow!

3. Serve:  Serving enables us to use our gifts in the body of Christ and in the world so we can become all God has created us to be. We are poised as weapons in God's hand to do great exploits and accomplishments for His kingdom: "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph. 2:10 NIV).

 ~Bits and Pieces of Sermon by Antonio Silveira

~Through life experience, I have found sharing a God-given vision is an important way to ensure the calling is fulfilled. It is His purpose and plan for you to share you vision with others. (Habakkuk 2:2)  ~Joan Hunter