"T-R-O-U-B-L-E" Right Here In RiverCity!
Has anyone ever seen the musical, "the music man"?
If you haven't, it's a story about salesman..who is also a con man
And he comes into a trouble free town named river city
and he convinces them of how much trouble they had and didn't even know it.
It's where the phrase was coined, "There's trouble....
begins with T and ends with an E....Trouble right here in River city"
And the only way they can get rid of their imaginary trouble is to buy what he has to sell..and they fall, hook, line and sinker for the lie.
Sounds a lot like what the accuser does, doesn't it?
He's always reminding everyone about their trouble...
both real and imaginary!
TBS. The father of all lies..goes to and fro, all over the whole world..
Seeking whom he may devour!
What about the stories we see played out on the news and videos all over the internet?
Good people mugged and robbed, knocked down for no apparent reason...and people just walk on by..just turning a blind eye!
Not willing to help or get involved in the situation...and when someone does,
It's so seldom seen nowadays..that their declared a hero, for doing something..and for lack of better description..
what used to be known as "doing the right thing"
We can thank The Lord, that our help is not dependent on some stranger walking by!
“A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19, NIV)
Everyone has a little drama in their life once in a while, the label Christian doesn’t make you immune to it,
And it doesn't mean you will never have any troubles in life.
It doesn't mean things, that will be hard to handle, won't happen in your life.
But TBS. no matter what “troubles” you may be facing today, big ones or however insignificant they may seem to you,
Gods Grace, is sufficient and is bigger than all of them,
and God has promised to help you through and to deliver you from them as well!
Now some might believe, that some of the smaller ones can be dealt with, without really bothering God with the details,
And I would like to say to those folks...let me know after service how that's been working out for ya!
Truth is, God doesn’t want you to be bothered with any...even the smallest issues of life, but the answer to life’'s issues can not be found from within yourself.
TBS. in 1 Peter 5:7 NKJ
6. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7. casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
I like the way the message says it;
6-7.So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.
Carefree before God..footloose and fancy free?...well I don't know about that
But TBS. To cast ALL your cares on Him, because He cares for you!
There aren't to many carefree relationships in this life, especially ones that are genuinely and honestly...concerned all about your well being!
The thing about trouble in life is, sometimes its kind of hard to stay above the fray,
I think we all know or have known someone who was a magnet and trouble was the steel in their life!
Thing about trouble and or drama is...it will drag you farther into it every time, then you want to go!
by that I mean its easy to get involved in any situation, but sometimes or should i say most every time, its just not worth going there.
And believe me, two days later the world has already forgot, who won or lost the battle and what it was even about in the first place.
The devil doesn’t care what it takes to get at you, he just knows if he throws enough at you..and believe you me, he will and then comes retaliation, you know the part right before regret,
You know the attitude, we've all been there,
In the workplace,
In the check out line,
In traffic on the interstate,
Even in the very pew, where we worship...
We have all been guilty of thinking....
if you want trouble I’ll show you trouble....
And that’s why the next part of the word in 1 Peter is important!!
1 Peter 5: 8-11 MSG.
8-11.Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ— eternal and glorious plans they are!— will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
One thing is for sure with God, when He says He’ll take care of it, He means it!
And He will, if you'll just trust Him and let Him work in your life
Its not like were not trying to relate to someone who hasn’t been in the same situations that we have to go through in this life were living.
TBS. that Jesus knows all about it, from first hand experience! There is nothing you could ever come against, that He hasn't already conquered.
Like in the movie shaw shank redemption..the scene in the boarding room, where there are words carved in the wall...and it says red was here..
Right smack dab where your at right now..in the supernatural.. There is a sign that reads.. Don't worry Jesus was already here..and has left the solution for your problem!
That's how much God cares...His caring Son, the very best help He could ever send...was there ahead of time, before you ever arrived or needed it!
Praise God, for How Much He cares for you! Amen?
Hebrews 4:14-16 MSG.
14-16. Now that we know what we have— Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God, —let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. (aren't you glad, He's always current and relevant) He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all— but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
That’s a comforting thought, that we can walk right up to Jesus and get the relief that were looking for and obtain His mercy!
So true, yet so many don't because they don't feel like they are worthy enough to do so.
The life of unworthiness and the devils condemnation..is about as close as you can get to hell on earth..and a lie straight from the pit of hell!
And I'm not exaggerating, when I tell you...
there are literally millions upon millions of people that are living there..
On a continual basis, that need to be set free!
Get this amazing fact down in your heart..and tell everyone you know, so no one spends one more minute under the terrible illusion of the devils lies!
Free indeed, he whom the Son sets free, is free indeed! Thank You Jesus!
If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will never be more qualified, then you were..and are...the moment you made him Lord in your life!
You may have not been aware that all this time, its been available for you experience and enjoy, but it doesn't change the fact that it has!
In other words, you can't get any more qualified then Jesus has already made you, isn't it time to start experiencing what you already have!
He is ready and willing to help who so ever is willing to come with the expectation of their need being met.
“A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” (Psalm 34:19, NIV)
Don’t you like the thoroughness God uses in the word.
Notice today’s verse doesn’t say He’s going to deliver you from “some” of your troubles as long you say and do everything perfectly.
Because if it did...we would all in trouble...with no hope what so ever in sight!
But we have Hope...and if you are righteous today, then God promises to deliver you from all of your troubles
Maybe the devils trying to tell you right now...listen friend, there is no way you are righteous..don't you remember what you did yesterday?
Don't you remember what you said this very morning?
You can tell him yes..and then quote him the word, where it says...
NOTHING! Shall Ever Separate Me From The Love Of God
How do you know if you are righteous?
The moment when you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, are you getting the recurring theme here?,
when you accept His forgiveness and choose to believe that He is working in your life,
then you are righteous, because He is righteous, and He has given you His righteousness...
TBS. everything that He has..is made available to you..
the moment you make Him The Lord of your life
And that includes His "Righteousness!"
Can somebody Praise God!
I said...Can somebody say Praise God for the miracle of Salvation??
TBS. in Romans chapter 4, that “Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.”
And if anyone would have had a hard time believing, it would have been Abraham and Sarah,
At their age, the father and the mother of many nations...human nature would say prepausterous!
Guess what faith in the Living, Resurrected Son of God would say?...
My Father..the God of all possibilities,
means it....when He says “Nothing is Impossible to him that Believeth and does Not Doubt in his heart”,
Faith in self, will always let you down..faith in God will always make a way!
Your faith in the goodness of God is His righteousness at work in your heart
You can..."Expect that He is always, not just sometimes", not just once in a while!
but always working, not just behind the scenes, but on every side of the spectrum...on your behalf! Amen? Amen??
Always on the job..always up to something good, always bringing about good things in your life, just for you!
Helping you steer clear of all the potholes and the obstacles of life.
If you will let Him, He will be more than just a co-pilot in your life,
He will be the pilot and everything else that you need Him to be and more,
He’'s just waiting to be asked!
So ask Him!
Luke 11:9-10 MSG
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Opportunity awaits...each and everyone of us...all for just the asking!
The things that God has in store for those who love Him..await those who keep asking for them...
keep knocking expecting doors to open for them...all the while keeping the faith that God will surely do, all that He has Promised!
Amen?
Let's pray!
