Read Isaiah 6:1-5.
“God is Still on His Throne”
1. I’ve been taken by the picture that this text paints as I’ve been reading it the past few weeks.
2. Read through, describe the picture.
3. It shows the power and majesty of the Almighty God.
4. In the times in which we are living, it’s easy to be consumed with fear and worry.
5. But the message that I have for you this morning is simple: God is still on His throne!
We need to remember this…
When we face personal tragedy
1. Many of us have experienced real personal tragedy.
2. I’ve wondered – what do you do when something like this happens?
3. In Luke 7, Jesus walks upon a funeral procession at Nain – a widow’s son has died, leaving her with no future, and no hope.
4. Until Jesus, filled with compassion for her, touched the coffin and dead boy sat up and lived!
5. As I read this passage again yesterday, I was reminded that – even in the most difficult of circumstances – even in the face of personal tragedy – God is still on His throne!
When we face sickness
1. What do you do when the doctor says “we need to talk”?
2. How do you face life with a sickness that you can’t seem to beat?
3. Even through sickness, and even through pain, we must never forget: God is still on His throne!
When we face financial troubles
1. Today, we’re facing one of the most difficult worldwide economical periods in our history.
2. Many have lost everything they have – their savings, their stocks, their homes… everything!
3. But so many people are frantic – and they don’t know where to turn, or what to do.
4. I’m reminded of two stories from the New Testament – first, the widow who had nothing but brought all that she had (just a penny) as an offering to God. Jesus said that she gave more than anyone else.
5. And also, the story of the rich young ruler – who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give the money to the poor.
6. What does this tell us? It means that, if we belong to God, even if we live day by day, minute by minute, we’re better off than the one who has a million dollars in the bank!
7. We can face financial difficulty – how? By remembering that God is still on His throne!
When we face fear and doubt
1. I’ve told you before that I had to stop watching the news channels.
2. We are living in a day when we are being assailed with fear and doubt!
3. Remember our visiting minster from a few weeks ago: “You don’t need to watch the news more than once a day in America.”
4. Why? Because the news agencies don’t make their money by reporting the news, they money off of fear – because fear equals ratings!
5. Look at a typical day: we’re told to expect a possible terrorist attack, that the stock market is crashing, that more of our troops have died in Iraq…
6. But, when we look back, we see that Jesus told us one very important thing: Do not fear.
7. But how? Look at what we’re facing, look at what is going on! Let’s get out of our tunnel vision, turn off the television, and get a God-vision, and remember that God is still on His throne!
When we face personal struggles
1. I’m not one to over-spiritualize things, but today I see people going through more spiritual attacks than ever before.
2. The temptation brought about by the devil is stronger than ever before.
3. The devil wants to make sure that you are struggling in your walk with Christ, and that you aren’t living a truly victorious life.
4. To make matters worse, most branches of our faith today no longer believe that God calls us to live a holy life.
5. But He has not only called us, He has equipped us to do so!
6. But these attacks that we face – the temptations that we face – aren’t going to go away!
7. In fact, scripture tells us that they will grow worse as the coming of the Lord gets closer.
8. But what do we do? What can we do to fight against the enemy, to stay strong in the Lord? Remember that God is still on His throne! That, no matter what you are facing, He is there, He is in control, and He will stand with you through it all.
Closing
1. Read vv. 6, 7.
2. Through it all – I must remember all that He’s done for me.
3. He’s forgiven me, saved me, made me His child.
4. In whatever I face – He is still on His throne! He is in control.
5. Don’t let fear, doubt, or whatever you are facing beat you down – trust in the Lord and in His power and strength.
