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River Church Sermons


Jan 5, 2020

#forparker

God Loves & Is #forparker

By Louie Marsh, 1-5-2020

1) God loves Parker = God wants what’s BEST FOR US.

 

16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV)

 

  • Despite the bad things in my life – God is FOR ME.

 

31  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Romans 8:31-34 (ESV)

 

5  Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. 6  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7  The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. Psalm 118:5-7 (ESV)

 

2) One problem is DEFINING what’s best!

 

3  Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4  In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5  And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6  For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Hebrews 12:3-6 (ESV)

 

3) Another problem is SEPARATING God’s love from my circumstances.

 

1  I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; 2  he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; 3  surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long… 24  “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25  The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. Lamentations 3:1-3;24-25 (ESV)

 

41  And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42  saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Luke 22:41-42 (ESV)

 

4) Third problem: BELIEVING that Father knows best!

 

9  Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10  For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:9-11 (ESV)

 

5) God promises to restore me, no matter what, if I’ll just FOLLOW JESUS.

 

8  “But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home. 9  For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. 10  And I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt. 11  And I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 36:8-11 (ESV)