NBOC Food 4 Soul

SERMON OUTLINE

"NOTHING TOO HARD"
January 20, 2002

Introduction: Have you ever felt hopeless and discouraged and ready to give up for your problems seemed to be endless? You have tried your best to be good, tried to alleviate situations, tried to "hang in there" so to speak, yet to no avail. Hear this, IS THERE ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD?"

Text: Jeremiah 32:17 Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

1. Nothing is too hard if you have the FAITH.

Matthew 17: 20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

2. Nothing is too hard for the CHOSEN OF GOD.

Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God."

3. Nothing is too hard if you REMAIN IN THE VINE.

John 15:6 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Examples

Abraham and Sarah
Moses
Gideon
Jehoshaphat
David
Joshua and Caleb
Daniel
Joseph
Paul, Peter, the Apostles
Mary, mother of Jesus

Challenge: Nothing is too hard for God. Let God be God in your life. He alone has the answer to all your needs. There is nothing impossible with Him. This week trust Him fully. Ask and receive the desires of your heart. Only BELIEVE, NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW
Jan. 13, 2002

Introduction: GOD IS DOING A NEW THING. HE IS THE GOD OF CREATION. HE CAN MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING. HE CAN TURN THE OLD INTO NEW. THEREFORE, MAKE ROOM FOR NEW THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.

Isaiah 42:9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being

I announce them to you. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth,

you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.

11Let the desert and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.

Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.

Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 48:6 "From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you.

1. Make Room for New Mercy

Lam. 3:23-24 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

2. Make Room for a New Heart and a New Spirit

Eze. 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

3. Make Room for New Wineskins

Matthew 9:17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

4. Make Room for the New Covenant

Luke 22:20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

5. Make Room for the New Commandment

John 13:34 A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Challenge: God is doing a new thing. Let us be aware of what He is doing in our lives. He wants to begin anew, allow Him to start in your heart. Make room for His mercy and grace, for the new wine, for a new heart and spirit, for a new covenant and a new commandment. You are marked for something new. Receive it!

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SPIRITUAL GROWTH

The Truth That Frees

Several years ago, my brother and I became responsible for the welfare of an elderly great aunt who has lost all of her family. Although she is related to us by marriage, she has always been a part of our lives and we love her. However, she has a form of dementia from a series of strokes. For her own safety, she cannot be left alone; her short term memory is completely gone. For a couple of years we maintained her in her own home, hiring around the clock sitters. Finally we had to move her into an assisted living home. Her home has been sold to help support her. In the past, I have told my aunt the whole truth about her situation, assuring her that she is doing fine ... but on a daily basis now, I have realized that owning property (in her mind) is security. And so now I tell her that she is renting her home and does not have to worry about money.

Up to this stage in my life, I have always been very careful about the truth ... but now, with my aunt, I find myself handling it loosely (in her case). This had caused me much guilt ... until the Lord led me to Psalms 15:1-2, "O LORD, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart." Oh the Father is good to us. He took the guilt that the enemy was throwing at me and gave me peace in caring for my aunt ... and in caring for her peace of mind and fear. He assured me that I am dealing truthfully and lovingly with my aunt’s illness.

But what is Truth? Dare we handle it loosely? I have also started noticing as I read my New American Standard Bible that when "truth" is used as an attribute of God (i.e., Psalm 89:14), the marginal note says, "faithfulness." Can it be that God’s Truth to us is His very faithfulness to what He has said? The Truth of God is the very essence of His Being. He has not, does not and will not change ... He is I AM. And He is a God who joins lovingkindness to truth (Psalms 85:10). The Scriptures are full of the lovingkindness of the Lord ... full of His desire to forgive and bless those who call upon Him (Psalm 86:5).

So what is Truth? Jesus answered that question in His life ... and with His life. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6) Jesus is the "Yes" and "Amen" to all of God’s promises (2 Corinthians 1:20). Jesus is God’s faithfulness to His promise to Israel. Jesus is God’s promise of life to those who truly seek Him. Jesus is the Truth in which we are to dwell ... to live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). It is in This Truth that we are to walk, moment by moment. This is the Truth that God desires to dwell within us and to control us. The presence of Jesus reigning in our lives is the fragrance of God in our world today (2 Corinthians 2:14-15). Oh may we be faithful to Him.

- Anne Doman