Encouraging Words from God’s Word Message 3

Encouraging Words from God’s Word

Message 3

Never Forsaken

Desperate Times

a. It seemed as if there was no way out

i. It was truly desperate times

ii. The church we pastored paid very little but expected us to live far above our means

iii. I secretly I applied for food stamps

iv. I believe if they knew that we would have been let go.

v. Churches are still doing this today It’s a disgrace

vi. At the time it seemed that there was no way out

b. I was feeling very discouraged

i. I opened my bible and read this passage

ii. I wrote a note in my bible I’m pretty sure it was the date.

iii. Psalm 37:25 (NIV) — 25 I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

Psalm 37:25 NIV

I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

c. Looking back

i. It was a life changing moment for me.

ii. I have a low tolerance for the self-righteous

iii. Everybody struggles

iv. God did provide and we were able to escape, and life moved on.

We:

Promise

a. Did you ever break a promise?

i. It is one of the worst things in world to me.

ii. I hate when someone does it to me.

iii. The worst is when I do it.

iv. I’m big on commitment

When God makes a promise

i. In the NLT promise is used 115 times the word is used

ii. We have this solid truth

iii. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) — 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

c. Look how the Bible describes God’s promises

i. Hebrews 6:17 (NLT) — 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.

Hebrews 6:17 NLT

God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.

ii. Hebrews 6:18 (NLT) — 18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

Hebrews 6:18 NLT

So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

iii. Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) — 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Hebrews 10:23 NLT

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

iv. Hebrews 11:11 (NLT) — 11 It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

Hebrews 11:11 NLT

It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

d. I want to focus on one promise

Never forsaken

ii. Matthew 28:20 (GW) — 20 Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.”

Matthew 28:20 GW

Teach them to do everything I have commanded you.  “And remember that I am always with you until the end of time.” 

God:

Never Forsaken

The life of David

i. Can you imagine the discouragement?

ii. Listen to the desperation in voice

iii. Psalm 13:1–2 (NLT) — 1 O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? 2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Psalm 13:1–2 NLT

O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

iv. I’ve been there

v. Feeling like God is looking the other way

vi. David wanted to quit “How long will my enemy have the upper hand?”

vii. I’ve been there too

viii. Why are you letting these people do this to me. I’m trying to serve you!

ix. Yet God was always there

x. Psalm 13:5–6 (NLT) — 5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. 6I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

Psalm 13:5–6 NLT

But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

ANOTHER

The burden of sin

i. Oh, preacher I have sinned, and God has forsaken me

ii. As parents, we often have to discipline our children

iii. Why? Because we love them

iv. When a child disobeys, he doesn’t cease being a member of the family!

v. “We don’t forsake our children when they disobey, and God the heavenly Father doesn’t forsake us when we sin.”

vi. The sweet fellowship can be broken

vii. But you are never forsaken

viii. “He lovingly warns us, convicts us, rebukes us, and, if necessary, chastens us; and all of this is proof that He has not forsaken us.”

You:

Make a note

a. That note had a huge impact on me.

i. You may be in the biggest struggle of your life at the moment

ii. God hasn’t forsaken you

He cares about our needs

i. Matthew 6:26 (NLT) — 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

Matthew 6:26 NLT

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

ii. Matthew 6:31–32 (NLT) — 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Matthew 6:31–32 NLT

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

We:

Discouraged

a. Those low times

i. We all get discouraged

ii. It’s the devil’s number one tool

iii. It doesn’t to be material things

iv. Relationship, the emotional drains, job,

You are never forsaken

i. Claim that promise

ii. Pray that passage

iii. Lord, you said…