Great Is God's Faithfulness

318 TOPIC: Fishing Pews Harder Than Rocks?

As a woman watched her husband fishing for hours, sitting on the rocky shoreline of the lake, she commented to her friend, “Can that possibly be the same man who complains every Sunday about uncomfortable pews?”

Hodgin, M. (2010). 1002 humorous illustrations for public speaking: fresh, timely, compelling illustrations for preachers, teachers, and speakers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Lamentations 3:22–26 KJV 1900

22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

Hebrews 10:23 KJV 1900

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.[85]

[85] C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, paperback ed. (New York: Macmillan, 1962; reprint, 1986), 93.

Swindoll, C. R. (2014). Revelation (Vol. 15, p. 131). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Psalm 40:1–4 KJV 1900

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Isaiah 26:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: For in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Faith, Exercise Of

A student once purchased a new mechanical pencil. After some time he found himself in the middle of an important test, and his pencil ran out of lead! There was a great deal of frustration and anguish as he wasted precious minutes going around to other students trying to borrow another pencil. Later the student found out that his new pencil was designed with a complete supply of extra lead inside that could be dispensed with a mere press of the button.

Christians are often like this student: although they have all of God’s sufficiency available to them, because of lack of knowledge they do not draw on it in their time of need. Faith must be linked to knowledge to be exercised and to grow

James 5:11 KJV 1900

11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 4184. πολύσπλαγχνος

extremely compassionate:—very pitiful.

2 Peter 3:9 KJV 1900

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

320 TOPIC: Fishing Teaching Worms to Swim

A man saw a young boy who was fishing without permission in his private lake. He approached the boy. “This lake is clearly posted with No FISHING signs. So why are you fishing in my private lake?”

“I’m not fishing, sir,” the boy politely answered. “I’m just teaching these worms how to swim!”

Hodgin, M. (2010). 1002 humorous illustrations for public speaking: fresh, timely, compelling illustrations for preachers, teachers, and speakers. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.