WHO GOD IS AND WHAT GOD CAN DO!
1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 (NIV)
9 GOD, WHO HAS CALLED YOU INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, IS FAITHFUL.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 (NIV)
8 AND GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TO YOU, SO THAT IN ALL THINGS AT ALL TIMES, HAVING ALL THAT YOU NEED, YOU WILL ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK.
EPHESIANS 3:20 (NIV)
20 NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US,
INTRODUCTION : THIS MORNING AS WE SIT HERE IN OUR FELLOWSHIP HALL, WE CANNOT HELP BUT BE REMINDED OF WHAT WE HAVE ALL GONE THROUGH RECENTLY. IN VARYING DEGREES WE HAVE ALL BEEN IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IAN. LOSS OF POWER, LOSS OF WATER, SCARCE GAS, ANIMALS ON THE LOOSE, BUILDING DAMAGE, AND THE LIST GOES ON. HARD NOT TO BE IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND EVEN EXPERIENCE A LITTLE PTSD AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BETHANY AS A CHURCH HAS FOR THE SECOND TIME NEEDED TO COME BACK FROM A HURRICANE. WHEN IRMA CAME THROUGH, I THOUGHT, “WOW, THIS HAS GOT TO BE AS BD AAS IT GETS.” AND THEN WE MET IAN. CAUGHT IN 110MILE PLUS WINDS, FULLY ENGULFED BY THE EYE WALL, SIDEWAYS RAIN, TOPPLED TREES, FLOODED ROADS, AND ONCE AGAIN THE LIST GOES ON.
IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, WE SAW BETHANY AS A COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER. SUNDAY WAS A DAY WHEN OUR SERVICE WAS SERVING. FAITH, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS CAME TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN IN A MARVELOUS WAS!THE WORK DONE ON THE GROUNDS OF OUR CHURCH WAS AMAZING. FROM YOUNG TO OLD AND EVERYWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, ALL HANDS WERE ON DECK AND SO MUCH WAS ACCOMPLISHED. BUILDINGS WERE SPARED EVEN THOUGH TREES WERE TOPPLED. WE HAVE A HUGE PILE OF DEBRIS ACROSS THE STREET WHICH BEARS A TESTIMONY TO ALL THAT HAPPENED.
AND THE MIRACLES:
BUILDINGS WERE SPARED WITH THE DOWNING OF TREES
PARTS DESPERATELY NEEDED HAVE BEEN SECURED
TIS PAST WEDNESDAY, WE HEARD FROM MANY OF YOU AS TO THE WAY GOD REVEALED HIMSELF REAL. AMEN
IT WITH THIS IN MIND THAT I WANTED TO SHE THREE VERSES WITH YOU; LOOKING TO SEE HOW THEY BRING TO LIGHT OUR GOD AND HIS HAND IN OUR LIFE
GOD IS FAITHFUL..
* WHEN THE BETRAYAL OF OTHERS LEAVES YOU TRAPPED LIKE WHITE DOVES IN A HUNTER'S NET, GOD IS FAITHFUL TO ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR DESPAIR.
* WHEN REJECTED BY THOSE YOU ONCE CALLED "FRIEND," GOD IS FAITHFUL TO STAND AT YOUR SIDE AND KEEP HIS PROMISE, "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE."
* WHEN TRIALS OVERWHELM YOU LIKE A THUNDERING AVALANCHE OF SNOW CASCADING DOWN THE FACE OF BLEACHED MOUNTAINS, GOD IS FAITHFUL TO STRENGTHEN YOU.
* WHEN THOSE YOU LOOK TO FOR HELP ARE UNRELIABLE AND BREAK THEIR PROMISES LIKE A SHATTERED CLAY JAR, GOD IS FAITHFUL TO MEET YOUR NEEDS.
* WHEN PROBLEMS VEIL YOUR WAY LIKE THE SMOKE OF A COOL, FOGGY MIST ON A COUNTRY POND AT DAWN, GOD IS FAITHFUL TO LEAD YOU ON YOUR PATH.
GOD IS FAITHFUL...
* THE THREE HEBREWS SHIELDED FROM THE LICK OF HOT, DANCING FLAMES IN NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S FURNACE FOUND THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL IN THE FACE OF DEATH.
* TWO MILLION TRAPPED ISRAELITES THAT WALKED ON A CARPET OF DRY SAND ENCASED ON BOTH SIDES BY A WALL OF WATER FROM THE RED SEA FOUND THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL WHEN YOU'RE CORNERED AND YOUR BACK IS AGAINST THE WALL.
* THE PROPHET ELIJAH WHO DINED FOR THREE YEARS ON A TABLE IN THE WILDERNESS, WITH RAVENS FOR WAITRESSES, AND A BROOK FOR A DRINKING FOUNTAIN, FOUND THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE.
* THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH THAT PREPARED THE FINAL MORSELS OF FOOD IN HER CUPBOARD FOR ELIJAH, FOUND THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL AS HER BARREL OF MEAL AND CRUISE OF OIL WERE TURNED INTO BOTTOMLESS VESSELS OF DIVINE BLESSING AND PROVISION.
* THE ISRAELITES THAT MARCHED AROUND JERICHO FOR SEVEN DAYS AND WATCHED ITS WALLS FALL LIKE STACKED DOMINOES, FOUND THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL AND THAT THE BATTLES WE FACE ARE THE LORD'S. BELOVED, GOD IS FAITHFUL.
I. GOD IS FAITHFUL -- 1 CORINTHIANS 1:9 GOD, WHO HAS CALLED YOU INTO FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, IS FAITHFUL.
A. UNDERSTANDING THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD IS CAUGHT, NOT TAUGHT.
B. WE CANNOT BE TAUGHT FAITHFULNESS, WE NEED TO SEE IT
i. WE NEED TO SEE THAT GOD NEVER CHANGES – CONSISTENCY REGARDLESS OF SITUATION
ii. WE NEED TO SEE HAT GOD IS ALWAYS TRUE TO HIS WORD – NEVER BREAKS A PROMISE
iii. WE EMBRACE FAITHFULNESS WHEN WE LEARN TO DISTINGUISH GOD’S “VOICE”. MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE AND FOLLOW ME
iv. WHEN WE CAN DO THIS WE WILL TRUST IN THE CHARACTER OF GOD BEFORE WE SEE WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO. FAITHFULNESS IS WHEN WE DIRECT OF GAZE TO THE PERSON OF GOD AND AWAY FROM THE SITUATION SURROUNDING US.
C. PART OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS HIS CALL TO FELLOWSHIP
i. NOW WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT THE GREEK WORD FOR FELLOWSHIP
ii. PERHAPS WE HAVE NOT REALLY EMBRACED THE MEANING
iii. FELLOWSHIP MEANS “JOINT PARTNERSHIP” AND “JOINT PARTICIPATION”
D. SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD IT IS ALL ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE IS NOT
ONLY FAITHFUL TO US, HE IS FAITHFUL WITH US
E. THE WORD FAITHFUL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS AT THE END OF OUR VERSE, IT IS THE FIRST WORD IN THE GREEK NEW TESTAMENT.
i. IT IS THE EMPHASIS OF THE VERSE
ii. PASSIVE FAITHFULNESS – GOD CAN BE TRUSTED AND IS RELIABLE
iii. ACTIVE FAITHFULNESS – I AM BELIEVING, TRUSTING AND RELYING ON GOD
SO HERE IS THE BIG TAKE AWAY HERE: FAITHFULNESS IS CAUGHT WHEN I EMBRACE THE FACT THAT FAITHFULNESS MEANS GOD IS FAITHFUL TO ME AND FAITHFUL WITH ME. THIS IS ROOTED IN BOTH WHO GOD IS AND HOW I RESPOND TO HIS PERSON.
II. GOD IS ABLE -- 2 CORINTHIANS 8:9 FOR YOU KNOW THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT THOUGH HE WAS RICH, YET FOR YOUR SAKES HE BECAME POOR, SO THAT YOU THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT BECOME RICH.
A. THE CONTEXT OF THIS VERSE DEALS WITH FINANCES
B. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE VERSE IS UNIVERSAL, ESPECIALLY IN CONTEXT
C. THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE WE HAVE IN TRUSTING AND FOLLOWING THE LORD IS THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN
i. WORRY – REMEMBER THE TEACHING OF JESUS. WORRY ADDS NOTHING TO OUR LIVES BUT TAKES AWAY PEACE AND TRANQUILITY
PHILIPPIANS 4:6 (NIV) DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD.
ii. NOTICE THE “BUT”. “BUT” REVEALS A CONTRAST
iii. DON’T BE ANXIOUS BUT PRAY
iv. ANXIETY KEEPS US FROM ALL ASPECTS OF COMMUNICATING WITH GOD
MATTHEW 6:25 "THEREFORE I TELL YOU, DO NOT WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT YOU WILL EAT OR DRINK; OR ABOUT YOUR BODY, WHAT YOU WILL WEAR. IS NOT LIFE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOD, AND THE BODY MORE IMPORTANT THAN CLOTHES?
1. WORRY GETS US FOCUSING ON THINGS WE HAVE NO CONTROL OVER
2. WORRY GETS US FOCUSING ON THINGS GOD HAS UNDER HIS CONTROL
D. GOD HAS THE POWER TO DO FOR US SO THAT WE MAY GIVE TO HIM (ALL O US)
i. THE WORD “ABLE” MEANS POWERFUL
ii. GOD IS ABLE – POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DO WHAT WE NEED AT ALL TIMES SO THAT WE MAY FOCUS OUR ENERGY ON HIM AND HIS WILL
III. THE PROMISE -- EPHESIANS 3:20 NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO IMMEASURABLY MORE THAN ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US,
A. GOD CAN DO MORE WITH US THAN WE THINK
B. WE CAN’T MEASURE WHAT GOD CAN DO
C. WE CAN’T ASK MORE THAN GOD CAN DO
D. WE CAN’T IMAGINE – DREAM MORE THAN GOD CAN DO
E. HOW CAN GOD DO THIS
i. GOD IS FAITHFUL – FAITHFULNESS IS A CHARACTER OF GOD, A DESCRIPTION
ii. GOD IS ABLE – ABLE IS A CHARACTER OF GOD, A DESCRIPTION
F. THE PART THAT WE DO NOT SEE IS THAT WE COULD ALSO JUST AS EASILY TRANSLATE THESE PHRASES AS
i. FAITHFUL IS GOD – FAITHFULNESS IS AN ACTIVITY
ii. ABLE IS GOD – ABLE IS N ACTIVITY
THE GREATEST THING WE CAN HOLD ON TO IS THAT IN ANY SITUATION – EVEN A HURRICANE BOTH THE NATURE AND ACTIVITY OF GOD IS TO HAVE OUR BACK AND TO ACT ON OUR BEHALF.
GOD’S GOT YOU!
