House of Judah Ministries
1970 Parker Road
Saint Louis Mo. 63138
Pastor James A. Thomas Jr.
Anniversary Sermon
April 20, 2008
God will make a way
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
First I would like to applaud the commitment of this great congregation and its members for being a pillar of the community and for standing for 51 years. For 51 years of being a leaning post and a light house to lost and weary souls. And a bright light in the midst of darkness and an open bosom to the broken hearted. For if there is one thing I know it has not always been easy. It has not been a walk in the park. I know this because I overheard Job having a conversation. He was saying you know God has been good to me real
Good, he said but I found out that man that is born of a woman is of a few days. He said and those few days are full of trouble. So I know truth be told someone here knows there have been times when your body didn’t feel like it could make it. But you pushed on anyway. There have been days of uncertainty but yet you have pushed on anyway. Moments of discouragement, nights of despair, sometimes it seems as though God is not listening. See Solomon was warning us at the same time he was encouraging us.
The verse has a two fold meaning, he says trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding. Solomon was saying there are going to be times when it seems like the more you pray the more you have to pray. Times when it seems as if you can see your vision your dreams fading and drifting away. Sometimes it seems as if your dreams are
on hold and your time has passed and gone. Solomon was telling us the same thing God told Joshua. In the first chapter of Joshua three times God warns and encourages Joshua at the same time. In Joshua 1 verse 6, 7 and nine God tells Joshua be strong and of good courage. I have told our church anytime God warns you of something 3 times take head.
God would not tell you to be strong unless there was a need to be concerned. Not unless danger was close and evident. Ask Nehemiah anytime you attempt do God’s work the enemy is always busy. The enemy will get busy trying to destroy your character your reputation trying to slow you down. I like what God said in verse 5b he said I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. That’s why Solomon said lean not to thine own understanding he was saying stop focusing on what you see and don’t listen to what you hear. If God has promised you something even if you can’t see how it
is going to come to pass even if you can’t see when it is going to come to pass. Just remember numbers 23:19 God is not a man that he should lie neither the son of man that he should repent hath he said it and shall he not do it or hath he spoken it and shall he not make it good.
I believe that someone here has made up their mind that no matter what it looks like I am going to trust God anyhow. I believe there is a mother on the mother board who has said Lord all that I am and ever will be is yours.
I believe that there are some deacon’s here who have made up in their mind Lord if no one else goes I will go. I believe there are some ushers here who have said Lord I trust you I’m going to stand when no one else will stand. Choir members who said they may not sing my favorite song Lord but long as you let me sing as long as I have a voice. Some ministers who have
been holding on to a promise and you refuse to let it go and sometimes it don’t look like it is going to come to pass but you have made up your mind. Like Jacob lord I’m going to hold on to you bless me. I’m holding on with all that I have I can’t go forward and refuse to go backwards. Lord even if I can’t see what you are doing I trust you. Even though I can’t understand I trust you. Friendship if God made you a promise you don’t have to worry about it. Because a promise from God is better than money in the bank it is not like any other promise you will ever receive. God does not know how to fail. Somebody said from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the Lord’s nameis to be praised.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but his word will stand forever. The mountains will fade, the winds will cease to blow, the waters will dry up and the clouds
will fall from the sky but his word will stand forever. See when we say Lord I trust you it sounds good it feels good but when you tell God you trust him. Know that trusting God sometimes comes with bumps and bruises. It will test the strength of your faith you will have cuts and scrapes. Learning to trust in God is easier said that done. Because sometimes while you are waiting on God it doesn’t seem like he is moving. Sometimes it seems as if he is somewhere with his eyes clothes and you feel like habakkuh and you find yourself asking God. Lord how long oh God
how long must this go on? That is why I like the Hebrew boys If they were here they would say we couldn’t see any way out of our situation and we couldn’t see how God was going to do it but we made up our minds that anything God put us in he can deliver us out of. So we told king we no you are the king and you have the power to throw us in the furnace but there is one thing that we want you to know the God we serve is able to deliver us, but if he don’t we will still serve him. If he don’t move this mountain if he
don’t cool the fire he is still able. Anybody trust God in the fire tonight anybody know that not only will God deliver you from the fire but he will stand right there in midst of the fire with you. Job said though he slay me. In other words if he take my life, he gave it to me If I have to suffer he can deliver me. Job said yet will I trust in him but then he said
I will maintain my own ways before him. Job said I’m going to keep on serving him. Job said if I die, he is able if I live he is able, but what ever happens I’m going to trust him with all that I am with all that I have. That is where some of us get lost Paul said I have fought a good fight I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. That word kept doesn’t mean kept like held on to it means I have guarded my faith, friendship it means I have protected my faith Friendship you have to trust God even when it looks like all hell is breaking lose around you. You have to hold on with both hands tight with every breathe you have. Faith is not faith until it has been tested trust isn’t trust until God has allowed us to be tested us. You have to go through something in order to get to something. After 51 years I am sure somebody here has a testimony somebody knows that God can and he will make a way.
Somebody knows him to be and ever present help in a time of trouble. I have found that God will promise you things that will cause you to become nervous trying to figure out how it will ever come to pass. God will show you things that will cause you to step a step back and check to see who it is that is talking. God has shared with your Pastor a vision for this church and he didn’t share it with everybody but you got to trust in God for he watches over his word to perform it. God has a away of blowing a persons
mind when he shows them something. God’s power is so awesome that he will show you a building on a vacant lot. He will show you a youth ministry with no youth leader.
God will show you a choir and you can have no members. God will show you growth in membership while you see members declining. Gods will show you a new building while you are trying to figure out how to pay for one you have. God will show you a van ministry a bus ministry and you will think you are crazy because you have no one to put on the bus. See God will promise the blessing, and then he will put us in our wilderness because the wilderness is a time of testing and preparation to see if we can stand through
the rain. See you can’t walk on water without first getting your feet wet and you can’t stand in the fiery furnace without first walking through the fire. You can’t kill goliath without looking your giant dead in the eye. You can’t claim healing if have never been sick. You can’t shout for a financial miracle if you have never experienced been broke.
There is now way to heal a drug addict that has never been hooked on drugs before. And God can’t save someone who has never been lost. But I believe in my heart that there is somebody in here who can say that trouble don’t last always. I’m leaning and depending on the Lord. When the road gets dark can you still trust him when the winds of trouble are blowing can you still trust him when they are dragging your name through the mud can you still trust him when the walls begin to close in can you still trust him when
cancer is in your body can you trust him when diabetes is in your body and the doctors cannot find an answer can you still trust him Blood pressure rocking back and forth and they don’t know why. When the pains have you bent over can you still trust him Late in
the midnight hour can you still trust him? When your burdens are heavy and weighing you down can you still trust him when you can’t lift your head up can you still trust him When you are frustrated and can’t see your way can you still trust him when the job is
threatening you can you still trust him when husband isn’t acting right and you have been a good wife can you still trust him. Down to your last dime can you trust him When you’re lonely and no is there can you still trust him. When the tears are running down your face can you still trust him when you can’t stand can any longer you still trust him When you are in between jobs can you still trust him? When deliverance doesn’t come right away can you still trust him? Preacher can you preach when no one is there Can you pray when they talk about you deacon can you deacon when no one is there. Somebody said I been running for Jesus a long time and I’m tired yet l I have learned to trust in Jesus and I have learned to trust in God. Somebody ought to shout I don’t believe he brought us this far to leave us.
I have come too far to turn back now. Listen, Solomon said lean not to thine own understanding Solomon was saying you are not going to always understand why God is doing what he is doing. And you are not going to always see what God is doing but know this that God is moving people in your path and opening new doors and close old ones. Friendship God is not through with you yet. Somebody said we have come this far by faith leaning and depending on the Lord. Weeping may endure for a night but Joy cometh in the morning. Somebody here knows he will make a way shake your neighbor tell I know he can I know he will because I tried him for myself I know for myself he brought me out picked me up turned me around placed my feet on solid ground I know he will I know he will He healed my body yeah cleaned me up gave me my peace back gave me my joy back made a way out of no way.
51 years of standing 51 one years of praying 51 years of shouting 51 years of praising God 51 years of baptizing 51 years of shall run and not get weary they shall walk and not faint. Is there anybody here who loves my Jesus Is there anybody here who loves my God yeah ain’t he alright, won’t he do it .Don’t worry it’s alright to cry some times. I heard Jesus the other day he got discouraged he got weak he got tired and he found himself crying out to God. Jesus who was God in the flesh Jesus who was the rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the valley. Jesus who was the great high Priest and the chief conerstone. Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus found himself calling on the name of the Lord he said Lord I’m trusting you. Daddy i am trusting you I’m tired I’m weary but if it be your will. Daddy I love you but if be your will if it be your will let this cup pass.
Eli Eli sabathani My GOD My God why has thou forsaken me. I heard God say don’t worry my blessed son Don’t worry if you can hold on just a little while Longer. Just stay your course just a little while longer. Weeping may endure for a night just a little while longer. With all i have with all that i am I am trusting you. I got to go i have to leave you now but I heard Jesus say not my not my will but Lord your will be done. Oh yeah is there anybody who loves my Jesus is there anybody who loves My God. Jesus said daddy I’m on my way home now it is finished it is done but early …early Sunday morning he got up he got up crowned in Glory walking on clouds and sat down at the right hand of God and I can hear him now Daddy friendship been holding on a long time now I’m going to send them and angel to let them no they miracle is on the way. To let them know you havene’t forgotten them. Jesus is holding stretched out hands today for us his brothers and sisters. he’s there all the time he’s there.
