YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON GOD
Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Jan. 17, 1999, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia:
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON GOD
By Michael D. O’Neal ……Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church ……Albany, Georgia
Scripture Reading: Deut. 31:1-8
Text: Deut. 31:6
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Introduction: Yesterday I took Michael Chinell visiting with me. We must have made at least nine or 10 visits in the few hours we were out. During one of the visits it became very apparent that someone Michael had admired was in a bad, backslidden condition. He said to me, “I would have expected that from anybody but HIM.” It was sad, indeed.
People will let you down.
1. My pastor’s lack of support when I started my first church.
2. My preacher boys who have fallen by the wayside.
Politicians will let you down.
Physical health will let you down.
Possessions will let you down.
I. HIS PERCEPTION NEVER FAILS
Job 36:7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
A. He knows EVERY sorrow
B. He knows EVERY stress
C. He knows EVERY sin – Heb. 4:13
II. HIS PITY (COMPASSION) NEVER FAILS
Lamentations 3:22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
A. He hurts whenever you hurt
1. If you are saved, you are part of His body; therefore, part of Him.
B. He hears whenever you call
C. He helps whenever you are in danger
III. HIS POWER NEVER FAILS
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Psalms 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Isaiah 26:4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
A. He has power for every task
B. He has power for every trial
IV. HIS PROMISES NEVER FAIL
1 Kings 8:56 Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.
Joshua 21:45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
A. You can count on His promise of deliverance
1. Acts 16:31
B. You can count on His promise of damnation
1.1. John 3:18
1.2. Rev. 20:14-15
V. HIS PEACE NEVER FAILS
Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
A. He has sufficient peace – an awesome supply
B. He has saving peace – Rom. 5:1
C. He has sustaining peace – Phil. 4:7
VI. HIS PRESENCE NEVER FAILS
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
1 Chronicles 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.
A. To encourage us
B. To explain to us
1.1. How to do the work of God
1.2. How to fight the battles of God
1.3. What God is doing in our lives
C. To equip us
1.1. With ability
1.2. With armor
VII. HIS PROTECTION NEVER FAILS
Isaiah 33:2 O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.
A. Sometimes He protects us FROM temptations (trials)
B. Sometimes He protects us WITH temptations
1.1. He uses the problem to strengthen us
C. ALWAYS He protects us THROUGH temptations
1.1. Bringing us out on the other side
1.2. Job said when God had tried him, he would come forth as gold.