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SUNDAY SERVICE Jan 4,2006 This is a message from earlier this year, but I feel this is a message for today. God bless you all. SPECIAL SONG "HEAR OH LORD AND HAVE MERCY" CLICK LIVE WITH JOY INSTEAD OF MOURNING Psalms 147:2-3 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. Life is meant to be filled with joy and peace, but for many, it is just the opposite. Some of us are sad, depressed, and even bitter. Wednesday, I spoke about the problem of looking backward at a past that was better and longing for it so much that we can't see what God is doing in the PRESENT. But sometimes the problem with looking at the past is that bad things happened and we can't break free of it. Either way--looking backwards is only good for two things:
The thing about the past is that it's over and done. We can't go back. We can't change it. But, we certainly can change the present and the future. Will we make it better or worse? Are you dwelling on a past that was unhappy---and continuing to suffer from it even though the conditions have changed? Maybe you've been hurt and you're resentful. If you don't forgive, you will continue to live in the past and you will be bound to that person or persons who hurt you---bound by your unforgiveness. Or, maybe you're remembering a time when you were strong and well---not sick or weak or imprisoned---and you want to be that way again. Since you feel you never can, you're just giving up on life and destiny. Maybe you're remembering joyous times with loved ones who are no longer here. The contrast of present loneliness can bring sorrow and depression. For those of us who have prayed for healing and we are still sick, we are mourning the life we could have if we were well. Why don't we get better? Why don't the doctors help? Why hasn't God healed us? (We'll talk about healing next week). For those who are taking care of people who are sick, we're not only mourning the life that THEY could have had, but the life WE could have had if we didn't have to be caring for the sick person. And we may actually resent the sick person and resent God too--and then suffer guilt because we feel that way. But whatever the reason for the sadness and sorrow you're feeling---there is Hope! It's not that we'll never have problems or sorrow---but that there is a solution! We go through sorrow, we don't stay in it. Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has
anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and
afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to
announce liberty to captives, and to open the eyes of the
blind. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time
of God's favor to them has come, and the day of his wrath to
their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel he will give:
beauty for ashes; joy instead of mourning; praise instead of
heaviness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful
oaks for his own glory. This is not an empty promise or merely lofty words written long ago; this is the Living Word of God---for today. The prophet Isaiah wrote it to Israel, and Jesus, the Son of God spoke it many years later, not only to Israel, but to people of every nation, every background, every social standing---to people like you and me. How do we avail ourselves of this promise? Just like we receive every single promise of God: by faith. We believe and receive. We don't have to work for it or be good enough. We could never be good enough. The only requirement for having your heart healed is for it to be hurting or broken; the only requirement for being 'bandaged' is being wounded; the only requirement for obtaining peace is to need it. So, if you are hurting today...now is the time to call on God. He is your Father and He loves you. He'll meet you right where you are. Father God, please help us. We come to You in the Mighty name of Jesus and ask that You would make us whole--deliver us from sadness and regret. Heal the hearts that are broken and give us a life that has Your purpose. Help us to make peace with he past no matter what it was like. Help us to go on and follow You and lead a joyful life. Amen. Maybe you still feel like you aren't good enough---that you're unworthy. Maybe you've even done some very bad things. God will accept you right where you're at. If you know Jesus, we need to confess what we're feeling to Him and ask Him to restore us--to renew us and to heal us and bind up our wounds. If you do not know Jesus as YOUR Lord and Savior, this is a good time to remedy that. He will forgive your sins---all of them! He sent His Son, Jesus to earth to bear your sins AND your sorrows. Jesus died for you and rose again to give you the victory. Perhaps you would like to pray: Dear God, Thank you for wanting to heal me and give me peace. I accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for me. I believe He died and rose from the dead. I ask now that your forgive me for all the wrong things I've done or thought of. I give my heart and my life to you. Amen. If you prayed this and meant it, you can be absolutely certain that God heard and accepted your prayer. He will work in your life and in your heart. PRAISE SONG: "SHOUT FOR JOY" click HERE IS THE WORD OF GOD THAT YOU CAN STAND ON IF YOU'VE JUST ACCEPTED JESUS: Romans 3:22 Now God says he will accept and acquit us--declare us "not guilty"--if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. Romans 3:23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal;
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GOD HAS GOOD PLANS FOR YOUR FUTURE
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.
Jeremiah 29:11 (Message Bible) |
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