Things to be reminded of...

On Sunday, our former church pastor came to preach and I soaked up every word of his sermon. I thought I'd put the notes here so that others could also be reminded. I don't know where your walk in life is right now, but these things I think are applicable no matter what.

We need to be REMINDED:

1. God is SOVERN.

He is the creator, He is the only God, He is in control. We must remember to trust him at all times. And to only trust him.

Isaiah 45

³ I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the LORD,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.

⁵ I am the LORD, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
⁶ That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the LORD, and there is no other;

¹⁸ For thus says the LORD,
Who created the heavens,
Who is God,
Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it,
Who did not create it in vain,
Who formed it to be inhabited:

“ I am the LORD, and there is no other.

2. God is AT WORK.

He is working in 1000 different ways all at the same time for His will and to bring you good if you love him and are faithful to him.

God never wastes pain. (big breath)

Romans 5

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

¹ Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have^[a] peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Butch said we don’t glory in our tribulations often at the time we are feeling attacked or at our lowly places. He said first there will be a time of whining and crying. But… when we do remember to PRAISE GOD through the rough places, He will be faithful to use those to our good.

He said again “GOD NEVER WASTES PAIN”. He said that oculd be physical pain, but also it very much can be emotional pain and internal strife. God wont waste that pain, he will use it. He will bring us up from our dark places. Because we HAVE HOPE because we HAVE CHRIST. He said “God does the best work during our trials and tribulations.”

Romans 8

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us^[b] with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

3. The enemy is NOT FLESH AND BLOOD.

Eph 6

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Relationship have the ability to cause us pain. And the stronger the relationship, the greater the capacity for pain. Think about your marriage. Where else can God work better to strength and grow you in a relationship? Where else can God refine who you are as a part of a relationship than in your marriage? Your spouse should be like Heavenly sandpaper, God using them to help rough out the edges of your abilities in a relationship.

Eph 6

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

So be strong in your relationships. And be secure in your marriages.

The enemy is not people. The church has a enemy. And that is the Devil. And he has come to kill, steal and destroy. Don’t let him in. Stay strong and firm. And remember that people are not the enemy. … So we need to pray. You need to trust that he is what he says he is. And trust that the enemy is not physically among you.

4. Jesus expects us to PRAY for, PROMOTE, and PROTECT the unity and harmony of the church.

John 17

Jesus Prays for Himself

¹ Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, ² as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should^[a] give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. ⁴ I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. ⁵ And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

⁶ “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. ⁷ Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. ⁸ For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.
⁹ “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. ¹⁰ And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me,^[b] that they may be one as We are. ¹² While I was with them in the world,^[c] I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept;^[d] and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. ¹³ But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸ As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

²⁰ “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will^[e] believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
²⁴ “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶ And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

If your FOCUS is on the Lord, then we should have no trouble, as a church body, keeping on keeping on. It is our job to do our job. We should not be battling each other or with each other, we must keep the unity in God’s house, in God’s church and with God’s people.

“It’s not about you. It’s not about me, It’s not about preferences and traditions. It’s about the Lord. It’s about KING JESUS. It’s about doing the work of the Lord and living for Jesus and keeping our eyes on Him and our focus on Him and not on people. We have no time for sulking, pouting or crying, because GOD is seeking people who SEEK HIM.

So, get on your knees and pay attention, because He should HAVE your attention.”

5. PRAY without ceasing and DO the great commission.

1 Thessalonians 5

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

²³ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
²⁵ Brethren, pray for us.
²⁶ Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
²⁷ I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy^[a] brethren.
²⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

The last thing he said was… “Obedience is evidence of faith and faithfulness.”