Somewhere Over the Rainbow
By Rev. Stanley Baker
Have you ever read something that made all the bells go off inside you? You yell, "That's it! That's what I've been thinking!" because it seems the author has been reading your thoughts.
Well I read this story about a Grandma in Church.
Grandma Baker, who sits in church with a number of hurts and spiritual needs. Although she's lovingly known throughout the congregation as a saint, she gets nothing but harassment and trials at home for her faith.
When she gets to church, she needs a word from God.
On one particular morning, her pastor stands at the pulpit and preaches from Genesis chapter 9, the main thrust of which is his outline, with all the points beginning with the same letters. The outline is excellent, as those things go:
Creation Presented
Capital Punishment
Covenant Promised
Carnality Practiced
Consequences Prophesied
As she departs the sanctuary, Granny mutters to herself, "Last week it was all Ss. Today it's all CPs." She walks out of the church that day with her hunger unabated and returns home to face a hostile husband and another week of trials.
Rev 10
This morning I want to talk to you about the rainbows in our lives, because "Storms are a part of life; God made it that way.
But I've learned a secret that's helped me all these years, and it's still helping me today: Always look for the rainbow.
The world looks for the silver lining and sings 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' but we Christians have something far better than that.
You and I will experience storms until we are called to heaven, and then all storms will cease.
Expect the storms and don't be afraid of them, because God is always faithful.
Just remember God's message to us today: Always look for the rainbows.
Did you ever meet the three men in the Bible who saw rainbows?"
Let me tell you about them.
John saw a rainbow;
Rev 4:1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2
And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3
And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Can I tell you this morning that I have seen this rainbow described here by John.
Its real and we all are going to see it, even Grandma Thatcher will see it.
Ezekiel saw a rainbow
Ezekiel 1:1
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
Ezekiel was a prisoner when God came to him and we were prisoners of Satan until God called us. He saw the rainbow that John saw.
Noah talked to God after the flood and God said:
Gen 9:12
This is the token of the covenant, which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
Gen 9:13
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
Noah saw the same rainbow that John and Ezekiel would see.
This outline this morning centers around the rainbow that Noah, saw AFTER the storm, and the rainbow that Ezekiel in the MIDST of the storm; and the rainbow that John saw BEFORE the storm
Just remember Always look for the rainbow.
It makes no difference, when you see the rainbow just be glad that you see it.
Depend on the faithfulness of God.
Sometimes He'll show you the rainbow after the storm, sometimes during the storm,
and sometimes before the storm.
But He will never fail you." He’ll always show you the rainbow.
And in my case when I ask the Holy Spirit to assist me in preparing a message, I am in contact with the Head Librarian
He is the Ultimate Source. He is the one that was crucified for us.
Lets always remember that Grandma Baker sits in our congregation.
She appears saintly and everyone adores her as the godliest person they know.
But inwardly and privately, she fights battles unknown to all but a few.
She's in church today waiting for a word from God.
And For her sake, I must Preach the word of God.
Here is that word from God.
Rev 4:6
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 15:2
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Because, some where just over the rainbow, is a place called Heaven with a sea of glass and a throne were my God sits,.
And I can’t wait to go,
how about you?
