Understand and embrace the unchanging nature of God's Word, the victorious strength of God, and the fact that our circumstances do not define us.
Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ. To quote from Teresa Of Avila, "Let nothing disturb you, nothing frighten you, all things are passing, God is unchanging. Patience gains all; nothing is lacking to those who have God: God alone is sufficient." It can be difficult to trust God in negative circumstances, and that’s exactly what I want to talk to you about today.
Let us turn to 2 Corinthians 13:3-10. It reads,
"since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down."
Let's bow our heads for a moment of prayer.
The Bible, as the written Word of God, is the primary means through which we come to know God, His character, His promises, and His will for our lives. It is the foundation upon which our faith is built, and it is the standard against which we measure all truth.
A reflection of the unchanging nature of God Himself: In Malachi 3:6, God declares, "I the LORD do not change." Just as God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so too is His Word. It does not shift or evolve with the changing tides of culture or society. It is not subject to the whims of human opinion or the passing fads of the day. It remains constant and steadfast, a sure and reliable guide in a world that is often uncertain and unpredictable.
A source of great comfort and assurance for us: It means that the promises God has made to us in His Word are sure and certain. They are not subject to change or cancellation. They are not dependent on our performance or our worthiness. They are based solely on God's faithfulness and His unchanging character. This gives us a firm foundation on which to stand, a solid rock on which to build our lives.
A challenge to us: It confronts us with the reality of God's standards and expectations. It calls us to a life of holiness and obedience, a life that is often at odds with the values and priorities of the world around us. It reminds us that we are not free to pick and choose the parts of God's Word that we like and ignore the parts that we don't. We are called to submit to the authority of God's Word in every area of our lives, trusting that His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.
The importance of studying and knowing the Bible: If God's Word is our guide and standard, then it is essential that we know what it says and what it means. We cannot live by God's Word if we do not know God's Word. This is why we are encouraged to read and study the Bible regularly, to meditate on it day and night, and to hide its truths in our hearts.
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, states, "For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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