But the Bible does tell us that God intends to save us through His judgment (see Romans 8:3). The ship was destroyed some of them had to swim to shore. He knew everything about our frailties and even our sins, but he chose us, came for us, and redeemed us anyway. Title: Beating the Summertime Church Blahs! It was interesting to me because of the angle he took. Thank you for your words of encouragement and the reminder that The Lord will hold on to us when our grip loosens a bit. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. Because God was in his life, he said I cannot raise my hand against the Lords anointed. When you have God, you dont need to faint. In the following decades, Jerusalems insurrection will lead them to war with Rome. But you must remember in the storm once you receive news that God is going to deliver you, the devil will turn up the volume and cause the wind to get louder. The cross is nothing else than an instrument of death. How do we learn patience, and more importantly, how do we hold on to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Prayers for "a touch". God commands us to hold on in order to hold out, Joshua held on and did not allow the fear of leadership to keep him from doing his best for God. TEXT: Philippians 2:12-18 It all depends on what you see rather than what grabs your attention. It wasnt really a plea for people to vote for him. Am going throw a rough time, Ive applying for a job for so long and it seems like God is not interested in me. Reflection Questions: Turn your demons over to the Lord. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a786e9ad83bf99a78435d5bb414014a9" );document.getElementById("i012d3fd9f").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Some of the things you and I have had to face would have been impossible to survive had it not been for God. Where in Jesus words do you find comfort and hope that can endure through judgment? Even with that, we need Gods plain path. The empire will send its legions. What we must do is prepare for God as our Refuge. There are some lessons that we can learn from this episode in the life of the apostle Paul that I believe can serve as tools that can/will help us when we encounter our individual storms. While you are going through, you can still rejoice. Through the Lords mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. While I was there, I had the As these events (the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.) prefigured the future Final Judgment, which of Jesus warnings do you need to take to heart today? However, if we look to ourselves or at the "beast . For we are told that they were on a small ship caught up in the midst of a storm. We must also Proclaim God as our Light. So rest in knowing that when you keep holding on, you will see that in your weakness, God will be your strength. Paul and the entire crew made it safely to the shore. They sang and prayed until God shook the jail house. OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church July 12, 2009 Mariah Marlin-Warfield | Jun 6, 2021 | Sermons Genesis 8:1-12 Right in the middle of the scripture Sylvia read, Noah looked out the window of the ark, and he saw the dove swooping toward him. "Still Holding On" Luke 21:16-18 [Jesus was saying to His disciples,] "You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. Evangelical/Non-Denominational. TEXT: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; New Living Translation. One of the treatments had taken a horrible turn. Christ has both hands on the reins. Thanks for prayer for no fear. Sometimes when you're at the end of your rope you have to learn how to tie the knot and still hold on, To save items to a SermonFolder, please sign in to your account. Yes, I notice I have a problem but I look to see God. Why would God show us His Deliverance if we could not run there in the time of trouble? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:4b-5). read more, Scripture: He will cause the lightening to flash even more and the thunder to roll even more. One situation at a time. Our God is the only one that can see us through the chaos of this messed up life. To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. God did not bring them all that way to abandon them in the midnight hour. Some Things I Know Holding on seems to be a helpless act, but it is a powerful testimony of trust. In our sermon last week, we saw Jesus healing the fathers son who had been possessed by an unclean (impure) spirit. The one thing that I've learnt Church, is that when you've passed through the storm, you'll be a much stronger person.yes? I can tell you from my own experience that the problems of life can sometimes come upon us and before we can get one thing straightened out, we are bombarded with another. O say can you see, were the first lines in Francis Scott Keys Star Spangled Banner. If we do and when we do, patience will make us complete and lacking nothing. [Jesus was saying to His disciples,] You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. I have grown tired and unsure of myself and my abilities to bring company back to a state of success..at any rate I drove down to a shady spot under a tree to pray(overwhelmed today) and the song came on k love about hold on to him who's holding on to you..this is playing the same time as I read your post, and has bought me much encouragement in a time of great need! God has to give patience, and He does so through the learning process. God commands us to hold on in order to hold out. You must see Him as everything to you and recognize that His mercy endures forever. I want to make sure we are clear on the subject of the broken-hearted. When He approached Jerusalem, He wept for the city. But God needs somebody in the storm to have faith and say even in the storm, I know its rough and I know its hard but Im coming out! Thus he says in verse 13, I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Peter and the other friend were below. The Psalmist recognized that he had enemies. read more, Scripture: 12. The Psalmist recognized that he had enemies. And before he could really come to grips with the first and second problem, he was then assaulted by a third one. What we must do is prepare for God as our Refuge. I know its difficult and the situation is serious but Im coming through!. Peter was the belayer. It is good to know that when life is overwhelming Gods goodness will give us power to hold on. The take off in Portland, Maine had been very smooth. Let's look at these closing verses together and see what we can learn for the strengthening of our own faith. And it kept on raging. I pray you find your solid anchor again! Water would splash upon those on board. For my face to look pleasing and pretty. If you have been reading, listening, or watching my sermons over the recent years then you know that the heart is very important to me. In fact, she died a couple of years later. Look to the Lord. And as it neared towards the end of this series of days, some say day thirteen, Paul realized that the men had reached a state of hopelessness. Paul and Silas would still say, dont faint. 15 For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now Im here in prison, but I Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. :O) I cherished EVERY WORD! I read a story about a little girl who was very nervous at the prospect of her first horseback ride, even though she was to be perched behind her grandfather who was an excellent rider. The medications were being balanced and the side effects had diminished, although she was still being kept and monitored. David held on and did not faint while facing the threats of King Saul. Its alright for somebody else to encourage you but maybe they are not going through what you are going through. Luther Barnes and the Red Budd Gospel Choir with Deborah Barnes on lead. Someone I tell you is in one of lifes storms. And there are some things you need to get rid of in a storm. I used to experience election merely as theoretical. She looked at me that afternoon from her hospital bed, almost without recognition, with deep pain in her eyes. In my Christian life there are some things I have come to know. Why desire and seek after to dwell in the House of the Lord? Not only must we see God, we must also seek His goodness. You dont know the heartache. Here are some scriptures to encourage you to keep holding on to God. What do I do?Her grandfather said in a reassuring tone, Dont worry about the horse or about how to ride it. Todays Bible in a Year Reading: What a lesson for such a hurried society as ours! Otherwise the stuff of life would have you so messed up. If you are depressed in spirit, I want to also share this scripture from Lamentations 3:25: The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. Teach me Thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of my enemies. You can do nothing without God. And just in case there is someone looking at me right now, who finds themselves in the midst of a storm, I submit to you this morning, my brothers and sisters, DONT GIVE UP IN THE STORM. read more, Scripture: We either dont think depression is real or we dont take depression as seriously as I believe we should. Sarah could not hold on to God in her darkest hour, but she knew that he was still holding on to her. *I must go to my seat less I keep you too long, but you know when the storms of life are raging its easier said than done to be of good cheer. This brings us to the third lesson: Gods Goodness will show up. At one point, Joshua prayed that the Sun would stand still and the moon would stay in place until they finished the battle. And she looked exhausted. We desperately need God to teach us. Joshua was not blind. Joshua was not blind. Paul said, Men you should have listened to me and not set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss.. So in all things, keep God first and let Him deal with your worst. How Jacob obtained the promise AFTER he struggled. And the men on board the ship would be rolling about and tossed to and fro like marbles on a concrete floor and rising up and down like a see-saw. The wisdom we need in this world often wears black. God is still in control. It may not even be in Gods will for our life. You may say, holding on is easy when the problem has not arrived. What did David see? There is something profoundly stabilizing about knowing that the most powerful One in the universe holds you (John 10:2829). I had to wipe many tears from my eyes. It is our duty and responsibility, as believers, to be there for those who are defeated and broken in spirit. I believe I already live in a world that is rather sad and depressing, so I dont personally care to ever escape, in my mind, to reading something thats also sad and depressing. read more, Scripture: read more, Scripture: The walls come tumbling down. And she had nothing in her beak. Hope that the Lord would keep not only him but also his people as well. Universe holds you ( John 10:2829 )? her grandfather said in a reassuring,! A hurried society as ours must see him as everything to you and have! 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