Triumphant Over Troubles and Trials
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Introduction: How many of us are going thru some kind of trouble or trial? Probably all of us. Zephaniah the prophet, (yes, it’s in our Bibles – pages may be stuck together??) warns Judah the “Day of the Lord” is coming…. this was partially fulfilled when the Babylonians invaded the southern kingdom of Judah. Later, during the tribulation and into the millennium, it will be totally fulfilled. But during the “bad times,” our GREAT GOD will bring “glad times,” because He is a “mighty sovereign Lord” who rules and reigns! In other words, BLESSINGS flow from burdensome trials. Three (3) biblical principles surface from the writings of the prophet, which were written during dreadful days much like today.
1. Will you ask Jesus for His PERFECT PEACE & ABSOLUTE ASSURANCE because He’s in Control? (Zephaniah 3:15, 16)
“The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel….thou shalt not see evil anymore. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.”
• Why? Because Jesus overcame the enemy (v 15)
• Why? Because the enemy wants us to live in FEAR (v 16)
2. Will we believe Jesus for His STRENGTH and SECURITY because He’s in, over, and with us? (Zephaniah 3:17)
“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”
• Strength & security is ours… because we’re never alone (v 17)
• Strength & security is ours because He’s rejoicing over us (v 17)
3. Will we REST in Jesus’ ACCEPTANCE and AFFIRMATION because of His unconditional love? (Zephaniah 3:17, 20)
“At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.”
• Rest In Peace & have security in His great Love (v 17)
• Rest In the Tests of Faith which will turn into Testimonies of Faith
Conclusion: The way to find “Perfect Peace,” “Strength and Security,” and “Acceptance & Affirmation” is thru the LOVE of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though we may be going thru troubles and trials, knowing He’s with us and He will bring about good out of bad should cause us to “TRIUMPH thru TRIALS”!
Fighting Fire with Fire
Introduction: Have you ever been bitten with bitter feelings? Tell the truth. Most have. Just as a poisonous snake can bite you and make you sick, the devil can bite you with poisonous venom called bitterness. Unless treated, your spiritual health could suffer and eventually die a terrible death. God the Holy Spirit thru Paul gives us (3) biblical principles of how to be treated when you are bitten by the devil’s poison.
1. Are we supposed to Return EVIL for EVIL? (Rom 12:17)
“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men….If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”
{The word “Recompense” is the Greek word apodidomi, which means give back}
• What did Jesus tell Peter to do when done wrong? (Matt 18)
2. Are we supposed to Return GOOD for EVIL? (Rom 12:21)
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
• Does this take away the right to bear arms? No. (See Jesus’ response concerning self defense – Luke 22:35-38)
• Is there such a thing as a just war? Yes. (See Psalm 44 & 1 Samuel 22 along with Ecclesiastes 3:1-10)
3. Are we supposed to Trust our Lord Jesus Christ to make the WRONG – RIGHT? (Rom 12:19)
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”
{The word “Vengeance” is “ekdikeo,” which means to punish}
• Justice is not always carried out here on earth
• God is just and will make the wrong right
Conclusion: Have you ever been burned by fire? It hurts! Can we fight FIRE with FIRE? Fire experts tell us that fire needs oxygen and fuel, such as leaves and vegetation. Take those away and the chemical reaction needed dissipates. Flames gone. Fire extinguished. However, in this example Paul uses, we are not to return EVIL for EVIL, rather we are to return GOOD for EVIL and in so doing, God is honored and glorified.
*** Bottom line ***
We can trust our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to MAKE the WRONG RIGHT!
In God’s Will Instead of God’s Way
Introduction: Don’t you want to be in God’s will? What is God’s will? Some things are crystal clear to be God’s will and other things are gray areas. For instance, we know these things to be God’s will:
* All to be saved (1 Tim 2:4)
* In everything give thanks (1 Thess 5:18)
* To deliver us from sin (Gal 1:4)
* For believers to abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thess 4:3)
But what about where to live, to work… who to marry, what to invest, and a multitude of other decisions we must make daily. Paul identifies with the Ephesian CHRISTians by laying down some biblical principles in regards to how to be in God’s will instead of His way.
1. How can we choose to get in GOD’S WAY? (Eph 5:1-12)
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleaness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving if thanks.”
{The Greek word for “jesting” is yootrapeleeah, which means crude joking; TV, songs, etc)
- Get in God’s Way?…With dirty walk (v 2, 3)
- Get in God’s Way? …With dirty talk (v 4)
- Get in God’s way?…With dirty thought (v 4)
2. How can we choose to get in GOD’S WILL? (Eph 5:13-17)
” …. Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepeth, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light.”
- Wake up in a sleepy world! (v 14)
- Get up in a world falling down! (v 14)
- Light a world in darkness! (v 14)
Conclusion: Are we in God’s WILL or His WAY? “Daily Decisions Determine Devoted Disciples Direction.” In other words, whatever goes into our mind and comes out of our mouth is a “dead giveaway” or indication of whether we are in God’s will or His way?
* Guard your mind
* Guard your heart
* Guide your mind
* Guide your heart
Love y’all,
Mega Promises
2 Peter 1:1-10
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises.”
Introduction: Is your faith growing? Throughout this journey called the CHRISTian life, our FAITH in the God of the Bible ought to be increasing. It begins as a root, then adds the foliage, and finally blossoms into the “fruit of faith”- much fruit (John 15:1-7). Peter is an old man at this time. He’s getting ready to depart from this life into the life to come. The Holy Spirit led him to remind us what “MEGA PROMISES” our Lord has for those who trust in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
1. The Root of “PRECIOUS Faith”! (2 Pet 1:1-3)
“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God….according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.”
{The word “Precious” is timeeos which means especially dear, great price, held in honor}
• How do we get “Precious Faith”? (2 Pet 1:1)
“Through the righteousness of God, and of Jesus Christ.”
• How does it work? (2 Pet 1:3)
“According to his divine power.”
2. The Foliage of “PRECIOUS Faith”! (2 Pet 1:4)
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
• “Mega” great promises (v 4)
• “Might” be partakers (v 4)
3. The Fruit of “PRECIOUS Faith”! (2 Pet 1:5-9)
“And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue: and virtue knowledge: and temperance….. patience….godliness….brotherly kindness….charity”
• “Virtue” {Greek word aretay, which means moral character, purity, modesty}
• “Knowledge” – understanding
• “Patience” – self control, endurance
Conclusion: This new life in Christ “Promises” every believer a life of fulfillment filled with much fruit. Good and delicious fruit because it’s produced inwardly as a result of being indwelt by a living God! Peter concludes, “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 1:8).
Isn’t that Good News because of His “MEGA PROMISES”!
Facing the Lions
2 Samuel 23:20-22
1 Chronicles 11:22-25
Introduction: What would you do if you faced a lion? You say, “Run”! A full grown lion is a massive creature….with its large fangs, sharp claws, solid muscles, an intimidating roar! No wonder they are called “The King of the jungle”! Seeing a lion up close [outside of a cage] has to be a frightening experience….terrifying. This reminds me of a little boy that told his friend that God spoke to him when he saw a great big dog coming at him. His friend asked, “What did God say?” The little boy replied, “God said…RUN JIMMY…RUN!” But seriously, King David had some “Mighty Men”; one of which was named Benaiah. He faced and fought a lion. Consider (3) points to ponder as we FACE the LIONS:
1. We’ve got to FACE our LIONS! (1 Chron 11:22)
“Benaiah….who had done many acts; slew two lionlike men of Moab; also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.”
• What kind of lions are you facing? (1 Pet 5:8)
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.”
• Will you face your lions? “He went down..”
2. We’ve got to FIGHT our LIONS! (1 Chron 11:22)
“Benaiah …..slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.”
• Why fight? (2 Cor 10:3-5; Eph 6:10-12)
Paul writes, we are not not wrestling against flesh and blood but principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness.
• How fight? “With the Sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6:10-18)
3. We’ve got to have FAITH in Jesus, the LION KILLER! (1 Chron 11:22; 1 Pet 5:8-10)
“Benaiah….slew a lion”
• Jesus defeated death (John 11:25)
• Jesus defeated the devil (Heb 2:14)
Conclusion: Although we may not be looking for LIONS, they come looking for us. Therefore, we need to be ready to “FACE our LIONS,” and “FIGHT our LIONS,” with “FAITH in the LION”- killer, Jesus!
You facing any LIONS?
Love y’all,
How to Take a Load Off
1 Peter 5:6, 7
Introduction: Do you feel like you are carrying a LOAD? Load of CARE? What is it you are troubled over today? Is it consuming your mind and energy? How can we deal with “CARE” without it dealing with us? Peter understood the significance of facing hardships and sufferings; and yet he was led by the Holy Spirit to give us some instructions as to “what to do” during those experiences. In his epistle, 1st Peter, he covers a number of both spiritual and practical “truths that transform”:
* Suffering of the strangers scattered (1 Pet 1)
* Suffering of the Savior as our Substitute (1 Pet 2)
* Suffering and the Scriptures for the Skeptic (1 Pet 3)
* Suffering for the saints for not singing (1 Pet 4)
* Suffering and struggling under stress (1 Pet 5)
1. Lay all your TROUBLES DOWN! (1 Pet 5:6, 7)
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him:”
{The word “Exalt” is Greek “hoopsoo” which means to lift up on high}
{The word “Cast” is the Greek “epirhripto”, which means throw, place}
{The word “Care” is the Greek “merimnan” which means distraction, anxiety}
• Are you distracted?
• Will you humble yourself?
• How much CARE are you carrying? Throw it down!
2. Lay all your TROUBLES DOWN upon the Lord Jesus! (1 Pet 5:7)
“For he careth for you…”
{The word “Care” is Greek “melo” which means “cares about”}
• Doesn’t it bring Comfort and Peace to your heart to know that our God CARES for US?
• After all, He knows us!
Conclusion: ***Decision time….Are we going to continue to carry our cares around until they drag us down (mentally, emotionally, spiritually – breakdown)? Or will we “Throw” our anxieties on Jesus because not only does He CARE for us, but PRAISE GOD, He can CARRY them as well.
* He loves us
* He cares for us
* He bought us
* He’s gone to prepare a place for us
* He’s coming back for us
Love y’all,
Partnering with Jesus
Hebrews 3:14
Introduction: Have you seen God working in the lives of people lately? Don’t you love it! Isn’t it life’s ultimate fulfillment when our Lord uses us? Learning to COOPERATE with the Holy Spirit should be a desire of every CHRISTian. With so many people today experiencing both spiritual and relational issues, it is absolutely important for us to be Spirit-filled believer’s who can give “godly counsel and prayer.” The writer to the book of Hebrews (many say Paul – this author too) carries us thru (3) steps to being used in a mighty way:
1. Starts with the ACTIVATION process! (Heb 3:14)
“For we are partakers of Christ”
{The word “Partakers” is the Greek word metochos, which means sharing in, partnering, partaking.}
• Our Faith in Jesus needs to be ACTIVATED (Example – a cell phone doesn’t work unless activated)
• His work “In” us and “through” us will then be MOTIVATED (2 Cor 5:14, 15)
2. Then Goes to the PARTICIPATION process! (Heb 3:14)
{The word “Confidence” in the Greek is hupostasis, which means assurance.}
• 1st Cooperation with Christ (Come under)
• 2nd Participation with Christ (His hands – feet)
3. Ends with the DEMONSTRATION process! (Heb 3:14)
” Steadfast unto the end”
{The word “Steadfast” is the Greek word bebios, which means sure, firm.}
• The end is death
• Rewards await believers at the Judgement Seat (2 Cor 5:10)
Keep up the Good work – PARTNER!!
Love y’all,
Just a Closer Walk With Thee
Genesis 5:21-24
Introduction: How many of you would like to have a CLOSER WALK with JESUS? Guess what? It doesn’t happen automatically; rather, decisions, changes, sacrifices, commitments, must be made. Are you willing to do “Whatever it Takes”? If so, be assured, our Lord will make it well worth it! A look at the life of Enoch, who WALKED with his Lord during a tough time, gives us some insight as to how we can have a CLOSER WALK with HIM:
1. When Enoch WALKED with God! (Gen 5:21, 22, 24)
“And Enoch lived sixty and five years….and begat Methuselah…..And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” {Enoch’s name is Hanoch in Hebrew and means “Dedicated”} {The word “Walk” is halak which means to go, to come, a manner of life}
• Enoch walked with God with the demands of a family
• Enoch walked with God while living among evil and sin sick people
2. How Enoch WALKED with God! (Jude 14)
“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold the Lord comets with ten thousands of his saints.” {The word “Prophesied” is the word “propheteuo” which means to Foretell or predict the future}
• Because Enoch had a relationship with God, he was given insights
• Because Enoch had a relationship with his Lord, he was given foresight
Conclusion: Besides Elijah, Enoch was the only other human being who did not die in the Bible. God took him. Somebody said the Lord said to him as he WALKED with Him, “It’s closer to My house than yours Come on home!” Will we make some important decisions today that will determine if we WALK with our Lord? He’s ready, willing, and waiting for us to decide…
“Just a Closer Walk with thee…grant it Jesus is my plea….daily walking close to thee….dear Lord, let it be.”
Under His Control on the Edge of Eternity
Revelation 19:1-21
Introduction: Does it seem like things are spiraling downward and spinning out of control? John, in the book of Revelation, sees the BIG PICTURE….the past, the present and the future! This should bring great comfort and confidence to every CHRISTian!
Is this world Falling Apart? What have we learned from this Deadly Disease? Consider (7) lessons learned from Covid 19:
1. The Reliability of Authority! (Rev 19:1, 2)
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying Allelujah: Salvation and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God.”
• Government’s under God-given authority (Rom 13:1-8)
• God’s superseding Authority over the Government (Acts 5:29)
2. The Authenticity of Bible Prophecy! (Rev 19:10)
“And I fell at his feet to worship him…..and have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
• Past & Present Fulfillment of the Bible
• Future Fulfillment of the Bible
3. The Audacity of the Enemy! (Rev 19:19)
“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse and against his army.”
• China (Rev 16:12)
• Russia (Ezek 38, 39)
4. The Vulnerability of Humanity! (Rev 19:15)
“And out of his mouth govern a sharp sword, that with it, he should smite the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: he that treadeth the wine press of the fierceness, and wrath of Almighty God.”
• Indispensable? Really?
• Undeniable
5. The Dependability of God’s Sovereignty! (Rev 19:6)
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and the voice of many waters, and the voice of mighty thundering, saying Allelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
• Helpless
• Hopeless
6. The Priority of Humility! (Rev 19:4)
“And I saw the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying Amen and Allelujah.”
• The way Up is down (Isa 14; Ezek 28)
• Jesus came down but got Up (Phil 2:5-11)
7. The Urgency of Eternity! (Rev 19:20)
“The beast….and the false prophet were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
• Time’s running out (Eph 5:16; James 4:14)
• Teach us to number our days (Psa 90:12)
Conclusion: Since things are going according to God’s plan (permissive will), what CHANGES do you need to make? Who do you desperately need to talk to immediately before it’s too late? Who can we reach out to and offer HOPE? Where are you heading? How are you doing?
Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese
In Times Like These
2 Samuel 22:1-50
Introduction: Are you facing some “Tough Times”? It seems like most everybody is having unresolved conflicts, irreconcilable problems, and heartbreaking disappointments. You too? Well what do we do, “In Times like These”? The writer of 2nd Samuel (writing from a prophetic point of view) describes the multifaceted life of King David. Up in age, perhaps late 70’s or early 80’s, and after facing almost immediate death from the hand of the giant Ishbibenob, not to mention the mad-man Saul, the king offered worship and praise to his GREAT God! Learning from his example, we too can experience these (3) life changing decisions.
1. In Times like These, we need to know, “WHERE to GO!” (2 Sam 22:3)
“And David spake unto the Lord in the words of this song….The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.”
• In times like these, Where do we go? To our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.
• In times like these, Why? Because He’s able to deliver us, calm our storm, heal our bodies, and give us strength.
2. In Times like These, we need to know,” WHAT to DO!” (2 Sam 22:3)
“The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou saves me from violence.”
• In times like these, put our our TRUST in the Lord.
• In times like these, REST in Him.
3. In Times like These, we need to know, “WHY to Go to the LORD!” (2 Sam 22:4, 21)
“I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised….The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness.”
• In times like these, He has blessings for those who trust Him
• In times like these, He is worthy to be praised
Conclusion: While we can’t help the “Times,” we can help our response to the “Times.” Are we going to complain? Be bitter? Be depressed? Or are we going to call upon the Lord and trust in Him?
Love y’all,