I still have Hope
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· 136 viewsI still have hope even when faced with despair.
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so I say, “Gone is my glory,
and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.”
The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS A POETIC BOOK RESPONDING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AND THE TEMPLE BY THE BABYLONIANS.
IT IS A BOOK OF 5 DISTINCT POEMS FULL OF TEARS AND SORROW.
THEY ARE POEMS OF LAMENT...A PASSIONATE EXPRESSION OF GRIEF OR SORROW.
ONE PREACHER REFERRED TO THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS….. AS A POEMS OF PITY, A HYMN OF HEARTBREAK, A PSALM OF SADNESS, A SYMPHONY OF SORROW, AND A BOOK OF “BOO-HOOS.”
IN FACT, SOME CALL IT THE ... WAILING WALL OF THE BIBLE. AND SOME HAVE SAID….THAT NO MEMPHIS BLUES SINGER HAS EVER SUNG A SADDER SONG ... THAN WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE BOOK OF LAMENTATIONS.
THESE FIVE CHAPTERS ARE A SERIES OF FUNERAL HYMNS IN WHICH THE WRITER DESCRIBES AND LAMENTS OVER THE DESOLATION AND DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM BY THE BABYLONIANS IN 586 B.C.
IN OTHER WORDS, LAMENTATIONS IS THIS WRITER’S RESPONSE TO THE CHASTENING BY THE HAND OF GOD.
NOW…I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU... BUT I KNOW I NEVER ENJOYED GETTING A WHIPPING.
WHETHER IT WAS A WHIPPING FROM MY PARENTS OR A SPIRITUAL CHASTENING BY GOD. IN FACT, SCRIPTURE TELLS US IN
PROVERBS 3:11-12: “MY SON, DESPISE NOT THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD; NEITHER BE WEARY OF HIS CORRECTION: FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVETH HE CORRECTETH; EVEN AS A FATHER THE SON IN WHOM HE DELIGHTETH.”
WHILE I UNDERSTAND AND REALIZE THAT, THE STRIPES FROM A WHIPPING ARE FOR OUR OWN GOOD.
YET, I THINK ITS SAFE TO SAY THAT NOBODY IN HERE ENJOYED THE PAIN AND BRUISES FROM A WHIPPING.
WELL ... THAT IS WHAT HAS TAKING PLACE IN OUR TEXT.
JUDAH AND ITS CAPITAL JERUSALEM HAD SUFFERED A SPANKING UNDER THE HANDS OF GOD, AND HAD FALLEN TO THE BABYLONIAN ARMY UNDER NEBUCHADNEZZAR.
THE CITY AND THOSE LEFT ALIVE ARE IN A CRISIS AND THE SIEGE HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL.
THE SURVIVORS ARE DESPERATE FOR FOOD, FOR THEIR FORTUNES, AND FOR THEIR FUTURES.
THEY LOOKED AROUND BUT NO HELP CAME FROM THEIR ALLIES.
IN FACT, GOD HAD CAUSED THEIR FORMER ALLIES TO TURN AGAINST THEM IN HER HOUR OF NEED.
THE KINGDOM AND CITY THAT WAS ONCE A QUEEN AMONG THE NATIONS IS NOW LIKE A HOPELESS WIDOW.
THE THING THAT HURTS THE WRITER OF LAMENTATIONS THE MOST IS THE REALIZATION THAT THIS CHASTENING COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED AND THAT THIS IS THEIR OWN FAULT.
YOU SEE ... IN DEUTERONOMY 11, GOD OFFERS ISRAEL A CHOICE: EITHER A LIFE OF PRODUCTIVITY AND ENJOYMENT MADE POSSIBLE BY OBEDIENCE TO HIM, OR A LIFE OF DIFFICULTY AND OPPOSITION MADE NECESSARY BY DISOBEDIENCE.
UNFORTUNATELY, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THEY CHOSE THE LATTER.
AND AS A RESULT OF JUDAH’S SIN, THEY HAVE LOST THE PEACE, HAPPINESS, AND HOPE THAT THEY ONCE ENJOYED.
WELL ... SOME OF YOU MAY BE FEELING THAT WAY TODAY ......THAT YOU HAVE LOST YOUR PEACE, HAPPINESS, AND HOPE.
AND..... I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT EVEN IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, WE CAN STILL HAVE HOPE.
WITHIN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING, ARE WORDS OF COMFORT TO GOD’S PEOPLE WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE AND DISTRESSED.
AND THIS IS GOOD NEWS, BECAUSE ... SOMEBODY... NEEDS TO KNOW THIS MORNING THAT YES ...WE WILL ALL FACE TRAGEDY IN OUR LIVES, BUT IN THE MIDST OF OUR AFFLICTION, SHINES A RAY OF HOPE.
SO LET US EXAMINE OUR TEXT...
WE NEED TO POINT OUT THAT WHILE THE AUTHOR OF OUR TEXT IS NOT REVEALED......
IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS IS THE WEEPING PROPHET JEREMIAH SPEAKING.
IN VERSE 18.....WE SEE JEREMIAH SAYING
so I say, “Gone is my glory,
and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.”
I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT WE MAKE OUR SITUATION WORST
... THE MOMENT WE START COMPLAINING, AND MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE ARE COMPLAINING ...
WE DON’T EVEN REALIZE WHAT WE ARE SAYING, WE HAVEN’T A CLUE!
WE DISCOVER THAT JEREMIAH HAS LOST HIS STRENGTH, AND HIS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.
THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL HAS GONE OUT
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HEBREW DEFINITION OF THE WORD HOPE.
THIS WORD IN THE HEBREW MEANS EXPECTATION.
WHICH MEANS TO
* TO WAIT
* TO BE PATIENT
* CAUSE TO HAVE, OR MAKE TO HAVE HOPE
* STAY
* TARRY
* TRUST
* TO BE IN PAIN (CF. YOU KNOW, LIKE THE APOSTLE PAUL WHO PRAYED THRICE (THREE TIMES) FOR GOD TO HEAL HIS BODY. BUT GOD SAID “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: FOR MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.” 2 COR 12:9
SO, IN ESSENCE JEREMIAH HAS GIVEN UP ON HIS EXPECTATION OF GOD’S ABILITY TO HELP HIM.
IN OTHER WORDS ... ALL HOPE WAS LOST BECAUSE HE BELIEVED GOD HAS WITHDRAWN (AND RENEGED) AND TOOK BACK HIS STRENGTH
WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A STRUGGLE BETWEEN UNBELIEF AND FAITH.
YOU SEE ... ON ONE HAND, JEREMIAH RIGHTLY ATTRIBUTES THAT GOD IS THE SOURCE OF HIS STRENGTH AND HOPE.
HOWEVER........ON THE OTHER, HE WAS PERSUADED THAT GOD HAD FORSAKEN HIM, SO HE HAS MADE UP IN HIS MIND
so I say, “Gone is my glory,
and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.”
AND WHAT BROUGHT JEREMIAH TO THIS CONCLUSION ... WELL, IT IS RIGHT HERE IN OUR TEXT (V.19). YOU SEE, THIS WHOLE THING STARTED IN HIS MIND.
WE SEE IN VERSE 19 THAT JEREMIAH … HAD LOST ALL HOPE BECAUSE HE REMEMBERS HIS AFFLICTION
……THE WORMWOOD AND THE GALL....WHICH IS A METAPHOR FOR A VERY BITTER EXPERIENCES...
JEREMIAH IN ESSENCE… BLAMES HIS LACK OF FAITH ON HIS EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE FACT THAT HE IS SO PRESSED DOWN BY HIS AFFLICTION.
MY BROTHERS AND SISTER.....AND I DON’T KNOW WHO I’M TALKING TO THIS MORNING....
BUT I’M HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT YOUR CURRENT SITUATION.....YOUR CURRENT STATE....YOUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES .....DON’T DEFINE YOU OR YOUR FUTURE....
IN OTHER WORDS, NOW ISN’T THE TIME TO GIVE UP AND THROW IN THE TOWEL BECAUSE THINGS AREN’T GOING YOUR WAY.....OR THE WAY YOU WANT THEM TO GO......
YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT ISN’T PERMANENT
YOUR FINANCIAL SITUATION ISN’T PERMANENT
YOUR RELATIONSHIP STATUS ISN’T PERMANENT
YOUR CONDITION ISN’T PERMANENT.....
YOUR SICKNESS ISN’T PERMANENT.....
AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU ARE NOT GOING THROUGH ANY TRIALS NOW....AND ALL IS WELL IN YOUR LIFE.....
PRAISE THE LORD.....
WE SEE HUMBLENESS IN JEREMIAH….IN THE NEXT VERSE….
My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me.
HUMBLED:THIS HEBREW VERB MEANS
* TO BE BOWED DOWN
* TO BE DOWNCAST
WHAT THE AUTHOR IS SAYING IS…..LORD HELP ME... THIS SITUATION ... HAS GOT A HOLD ON ME!
HE’S IN DEEP ANGUISH
JEREMIAH IS SAYING…..I’M GOING TO HUMBLE MYSELF TO BE IN COMPLETE SUBMISSION TO GOD
I LIKE THIS RIGHT HERE ...
THE TEXT TELLS US THAT HIS SOUL IS HUMBLED.
IN OTHER WORDS, SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE GOT A HOLD OF HIM.
SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE BROUGHT ABOUT A CHANGE IN HIS MIND
JEREMIAH WANTED TO QUIT AND HE WANTED TO THROW IN THE TOWEL
... SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE HAS REMINDED HIM THAT
* HIS BATTLE BELONGS TO THE LORD
* HE COULD LIFT UP HIS EYES UNTO THE HILLS, FROM WHENCE COMETH HIS HELP. HIS HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD, WHICH MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH.
* NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST HIM WILL PROSPER
* WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
OH YEAH ... HE IS ABOUT TO ASCEND FROM THE PIT TO THE PINNACLE AND THE MIND THAT ONCE CAUSED HIM TO DOUBT NOW, REMINDS HIM THAT ... I STILL HAVE HOPE
SOME OF YOU MAY BE FEELING LIKE JEREMIAH THIS MORNING, AND READY TO THROW IN THE TOWEL ... AND DECLARE THAT ALL HOPE IS LOST.
WELL, LET ME ENCOURAGE YOU. DON’T GIVE UP THE FIGHT, YOU SEE...
* GOD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US
* I HAVE BEEN YOUNG, AND NOW AM OLD; YET HAVE I NOT SEEN THE RIGHTEOUS FORSAKEN, NOR HIS SEED BEGGING BREAD
* WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVE US
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THIS MORNING THAT EVEN WHEN ALL HOPE SEEMS LOST, THAT THIS IS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY TO MANIFEST A MIRACLE…
YOU SEE ... SOMETHING ON THE INSIDE GOT A HOLD OF JEREMIAH AND HE STARTED TO REMEMBER, AND A MIRACLE IS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE IN HIS THINKING.
JEREMIAH THOUGHT BACK OVER HIS LIFE........ THEN BEGAN TO REEVALUATE HIS SITUATION.
THIS BROUGHT HIM A FEELING THAT HOPE JUST MIGHT BE ON THE HORIZON.
AT THE VERY MOMENT WHEN WE ARE AT OUR LOWEST …… THIS JUST MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME FOR US TO RENEW OUR MINDS ...
BY REMEMBERING THAT GOD HAS NEVER FAILED US, SO WHY SHOULD HE START NOW.
LOOK AT THIS…..
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
NOTICE HE SAYS, “THIS I CALL TO MIND” THE WORD “THIS” HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS STILL WRESTLING WITH SOME THINGS IN HIS MIND.
IN (V.18) HE REMEMBERED HIS AFFLICTION, WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE HOPE.
NOW IN (V.21) HE HAS RECALLED SOMETHING THAT HAS CAUSED HIM TO HAVE HOPE.
WE HAVE HERE A TUG-OF-WAR IN THE MIND.
THE WORD RECALL IN HEBREW IS A VERB….. WHICH MEANS TO RETURN
WELL ... WHAT IS HE RETURNING TO? NOTICE (V.21) SAYS “THIS I CALL TO MIND.”
WELL, THAT JUST LEAD TO THE SECOND QUESTION, WHAT IS “THIS” THAT HE RECALLED?
THEOLOGIAN JOHN CALVIN SAYS THE WORD “THIS” IN (V.21) REFERS TO THE INFIRMITIES (MISERY, GALL) WHICH JEREMIAH DESCRIBED IN (V.18).
THE IDEA HERE IS THAT HIS VERY WEAKNESS CAUSED HIM TO RETURN TO GOD.
IN HIS WEAKNESS, HE FINDS HOPE THAT GOD WILL STEP IN AND SUPPLY THE STRENGTH THAT HE NEEDS.
THE WORD PICTURE HERE IS THE SAME AS THAT OF THE PRODIGAL SON, WHO AFTER HE HAD BLOWN ALL OF HIS INHERITANCE, FOUND HIMSELF EATING THE SLOP THAT HE FED THE PIGS.
LUKE 15:17 SAYS, “AND WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF...” THIS SIMPLY MEANS THAT HE RECALLED AND REMEMBERED HOW GOOD HE HAD IT IN HIS FATHER’S HOUSE, SO HE RETURNED HOME.
BUT THE LOOK AT VERSE 22 OF OUR TEXT…
HERE IS WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THE MERCIES OF THE TEXT... NOTICE
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
WELL, WE WILL GET TO THE COMPASSIONS, BUT LET US FIRST DEAL WITH MERCIES.
THIS HEBREW NOUN IS TRANSLATED “LOVING-KINDNESS” OVER 30 TIMES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
IT IS A VERY EXPRESSIVE WORD THAT CONVEYS ALL THE IDEAS OF “LOVE, GRACE, MERCY, FAITHFULNESS, GOODNESS, AND DEVOTION.”
GRACE IS DEFINED AS “THE UNMERITED LOVE AND FAVOR OF GOD TOWARD SINNERS.”
WELL... SOMEBODY HERE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT SAME GRACE IS STILL MADE AVAILABLE FOR US TODAY. YOU SEE WE SIMPLY NEED TO REMEMBER THAT...
* IT IS GOD’S GRACE THAT SAVED US. ONLY GRACE COULD HAVE REACHED DOWN AND PICKED US UP OUT OF OUR LOST AND DOOMED CONDITION.
EPHESIANS 2:8-9
(V.8) FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: (V.9) NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.
WELL ... WE CAN’T TALK ABOUT GRACE WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT COMPASSION
THIS HEBREW WORD (RAH’-HUM): LITERALLY MEANS “WOMB.”
IT MEANS, “TO BE MOVED IN THE HEART OUT OF LOVE FOR ANOTHER.”
THIS WORD IS A PICTURE OF THE GRACE OF GOD ACTIVELY MOVING IN THE LIFE OF THE BELIEVER.
YOU SEE ... COMPASSION IS A WORD OF ACTION.
CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF COMPASSION… IS MORE THAN PITY OR SYMPATHY, BECAUSE IT CAUSES US TO DO SOMETHING.
THE BIBLE SAYS JESUS WAS “MOVED WITH COMPASSION” AND AS RESULT, HE HEALED THE SICK, FED THE HUNGRY, CAST OUT DEMONS, AND DIED ON AN OLD RUGGED CROSS FOR YOU AND FOR ME.
NOW NOTICE IN OUR TEXT (V.22-23) THAT JEREMIAH POINTS OUT TWO THINGS CONCERNING THE MERCIES AND COMPASSIONS OF GOD.
#1 (V.22). “THEY NEVER CEASE”....YOUR VERSION MAY SAY.........THEY FAIL NOT
THIS VERSE SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO GOD’S IMMUTABILITY, WHICH SIMPLY MEANS THAT GOD CANNOT CHANGE! HE CANNOT GET BETTER, HE CANNOT GET WORST.
IN FACT, GOD SAYS IN MALACHI 3:6 SAY, “FOR I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT;
I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…….BUT….IT IS GOOD TO KNOW ... THAT GOD NEVER FAILS TO BE COMPASSIONATE.
ISN’T IT WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT THE JUDGMENT OF GOD NEVER COMES UNTIL EVERY MEANS OF GRACE HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED (NOW, THAT IS COMPASSION).
BUT LOOK AT THE SECOND THING THE AUTHOR TELLS US ABOUT GOD’S MERCIES AND COMPASSIONS…
#2 “THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING” (V.23)
IT SEEMS THAT GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME WAY TO DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE FOR US EACH NEW DAY.
NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE MERCIES AND COMPASSIONS OF GOD …. BUT THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING.
EVERY MORNING WE HAVE FRESH INSTANCES OF GOD’S COMPASSION TOWARDS US!
* HE GIVES US THE LIFE AND THE AIR WE BREATHE
* HE SUPPLIES THE EARTH WITH THE SUNSHINE AND THE RAIN IT NEED TO PRODUCE FOOD FOR US TO EAT
* HE PAINTS BEAUTIFUL SUNRISES AND SUNSETS ACROSS THE SKY FOR OUR ENJOYMENT.
* HE SMILES UPON US EACH DAY WITH MORE BLESSINGS THAN WE CAN POSSIBLY THINK OF OR IMAGINE.
THIS VERSE SIMPLY MEANS THAT HIS LOVING-KINDNESS AND COMPASSION CAN NEVER BE EXHAUSTED. WE WAKE UP EVERY MORNING TO FIND NEW RESOURCES TO ENCOURAGE US.
OUR FATHER LOVES US SO MUCH ... THAT HE DOES NOT WANT US TO HAVE OLD STALE MERCIES AND COMPASSION TO LIVE FROM DURING THE DAY.
AND I THANK HIM FOR THAT ... BECAUSE, TODAY IS A NEW DAY.
I WILL NEVER SEE APRIL 11TH 2021, AGAIN IN MY LIFE...
WHAT WE FACE TODAY, IS NOT THE SAME THINGS YOU FACED ON YESTERDAY, OR WHAT YOU WILL FACE TOMORROW.
EACH DAY HAS ITS OWN TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THAT DAY.
OUR FATHER KNOWS THAT, SO HE GIVES US NEW AND FRESH MERCIES AND COMPASSIONS THAT ARE JUST WHAT WE NEED FOR EACH DAY.
FRESH MERCIES....
BRAND NEW MERCIES
HOT OFF THE PRESS MERCIES….
UNUSED MERCIES
ORIGINAL MERCIES…..
IMMACULATE MERCIES…
NEVER BEEN SEEN MERCIES…
BUT NOT ONLY DOES THE AUTHOR REALIZE THAT HE HAS MERCIES AND COMPASSION THAT FAIL NOT…AND ARE BRAND NEW EVERDAY… HE RECOGNIZES HIS FAITHFULNESS…
(V.23) ... GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.
THE WORD “FAITHFULNESS” MEANS “FIRMNESS, FIDELITY, STEADINESS, AND STEADFASTNESS.” LIKE I TOLD YOU LAST WEEK……IT’S AN EVERLASTING FAITHFULNESS
THIS WORD PICTURES GOD AS ONE UPON WHOM WE CAN DEPEND.
* HE IS FAITHFUL TO FINISH THE GOOD WORK THAT HE HAS STARTED IN YOU (PHIL 1:6)
* HE IS FAITHFUL TO CHASTEN US WHEN WE ARE WRONG. HEB 12:6 “FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVETH HE CHASTENETH, AND SCOURGETH EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVETH.”
* HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE US WHEN WE DO CONFESS OUR SINS (1 JOHN 1:9)
* HE IS FAITHFUL TO SYMPATHIZE WHEN WE HAVE BURDENS AND PROBLEMS (HEB 4:15) ”FOR WE HAVE NOT AN HIGH PRIEST WHICH CANNOT BE TOUCHED WITH THE FEELING OF OUR INFIRMITIES; BUT WAS IN ALL POINTS TEMPTED LIKE AS WE ARE, YET WITHOUT SIN.”
GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS...
* HE IS FAITHFUL TO DELIVER WHEN WE CRY OUT FOR HELP IN A TIME OF TEMPTATION. (1 COR. 10:13) “THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN: BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT.”
* HE IS FAITHFUL TO SAVE A LOST SINNER LIKE YOU AND LIKE ME (1 TIM. 1:15) “THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; OF WHOM I AM CHIEF.”
GREAT ... IS THY FAITHFULNESS.
YES, WE CAN COMMIT OUR LIVES AND SOULS INTO THE HANDS OF OUR FAITHFUL CREATOR AND KNOW THAT HE WILL ALWAYS BE FAITHFUL.
IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, WE NEED TO IMITATE JEREMIAH WHO LOOKED AWAY FROM OURSELVES AND LOOK TO THE LORD, AND WAIT ON THE LORD IN PATIENCE AND FAITH.
TOO OFTEN, WE LOOK AT OUR PROBLEMS AND OURSELVES AND BECOME SO DISCOURAGED THAT WE QUIT.
INSTEAD, WE MUST “LOOK UNTO JESUS” AND LET HIM SEE US THROUGH THE TROUBLES.
WHEN YOUR HEART BECOMES OVERWHELMED BY, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE AND YOU FEEL THAT EVEN GOD HAS DESERTED YOU.
REMEMBER, HIS MERCIES, HIS COMPASSIONS, AND HIS FAITHFULNESS AND YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE STILL HAVE HOPE IN THE MIDST OF ANY STORM.
IN THAT, WE CAN BE SURE THAT AS WE FACE THE STORMS, TRIALS AND VALLEYS OF LIFE, GOD WILL ALWAYS PROVE HIMSELF TO BE STEADFAST AND FAITHFUL TO YOU AND ME.
IN OTHER WORDS….., GOD IS SAYING ... YOU CAN COUNT ON ME!
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THIS MORNING AND BE CONFIDENT IN THAT FACT THAT THE LORD WILL GIVE YOU THE NECESSARY STRENGTH TO FACE THE TRYING TIMES OF LIFE.
I NEED TO LET SOMEBODY KNOW, THAT YOU WILL NEVER FACE A SITUATION AS A BELIEVER THAT GOD WILL NOT GIVE GRACE TO HELP YOU MAKE IT THROUGH.
* EACH DAY COMES WITH NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO GET RIGHT WHAT I MESSED UP ON YESTERDAY
* EACH NEW DAY BRINGS NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO TELL HIM ... THANK YOU, FOR SAVING A WRETCH LIKE ME
* EACH NEW DAY …..GIVES NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO TELL HIM THANK YOU FOR SHINING A LIGHT IN MY DARK SITUATION, WHEN I COULDN’T SEE MY WAY THROUGH
* WHEN I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS NO WAY OUT ... YOU SHOWED MERCY AND COMPASSION AND STEPPED IN AND SAVED ME.
THAT IS WHY ... I CAN SAY……I STILL HAVE HOPE….
WHY ... BECAUSE GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS.
* HE WAS FAITHFUL EVEN TO THE CROSS
* HE DIED FOR YOU AND FOR ME
... BUT EARLY, SUNDAY MORNING -- HE GOT UP WILL AL POWER IN HIS HAND.
IF YOU DON’T REMEMBER ANYTHING ELSE I SAID ... REMEMBER THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL.
JUST AS EVERY NEW DAY BRINGS WITH IT ITS OWN SET OF BURDENS AND PROBLEMS,
EACH DAY BRINGS A NEW, UNFAILING… AN ALL-SUFFICIENT, SUPPLY OF GOD’S MARVELOUS, MATCHLESS, WONDERFUL, AMAZING MERCIES.
I STILL HAVE HOPE!!!
THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH IS OPEN...
THERE MAY BE SOMEONE TODAY WHO FEELS LIKE THEY HAVE LOST ALL HOPE. WELL, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO CRY OUT WITH THE SAME WORDS AS JEREMIAH WHEN HE SAID IN 17:14:
“HEAL ME, O LORD, AND I SHALL BE HEALED: SAVE ME; AND I SHALL BE SAVED: FOR THOU ART MY PRAISE.”
THERE MAY BE SOMEONE HERE, WHO HAS NOT ACCEPTED CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR.
YOU CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW BY GETTING UP FROM WHERE YOU ARE AND WALKING DOWN THESE ISLES AND GIVING ME YOUR HAND AND GOD YOUR HEART.
* I INVITE YOU TO COME TO JESUS ... THIS MORNING AND HE WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL.
* GOD CAN SAVE YOUR SOUL BY HIS MARVELOUS GRACE, IF YOU WILL BUT LOOK TO HIM IN FAITH
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ... STOP TRUSTING IN YOURSELF, IN YOUR OWN GOODNESS; AND IF YOU WILL COME TO GOD CONFESSING YOUR SINS AND CALLING ON JESUS FOR SALVATION, GOD WILL SAVE YOUR SOUL.
ROMANS 10:9-10, 13
because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”