Sundays are inevitable….that’s the word I received from the Lord this past week about 3:00 a.m. What does it mean? The resurrection of Jesus was foretold and promised——once God said that it would happen, it was inevitable that it was going to happen. NO ONE could stop it. It broke the laws of science and medicine and turned the world upside down! But once God gives His word—-the matter is sealed.
On Sunday God did what could not be done—-He raised a man from the dead —after that same man, Jesus, had prophesied that it would happen. NOTHING can stop something that God purposes and plans to do. No matter how absurd or impossible it sounds to our mortal ears. Friends, NOTHING can change, alter, dilute or diminish the word, promises and intentions of God—nothing.
Isn’t that good to know this morning? Sunday morning is coming for all of us——the undeterred hand of God upon history. He is coming again—-nothing can stop it. He will establish a righteous kingdom that will exist forever and ever. You and I, and all that love God and have received the new life that Christ offered, will live with Him, the Creator of the universe(!) and lover of our souls for eternity. Take me and those that I love home right now Lord Jesus…
Hear these words from the book of Joshua: “Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45, NIV.
The author made that remark for a purpose: So that future generations would know that when God makes a promise, you can be sure He will keep it. Has He made a promise to you? He’s not a man that breaks a promise or is capricious. In fact, He cannot break His word! It is contrary to His very nature! There is no way in the universe that God can be found to have lied, deceived or broken His word. Now the Muslim God can do this——he’s a despot God that makes and breaks his laws as it suits him. But our God, the real, true and only God, is unable to sin and act contrary to His very nature.
Sundays——with it’s resurrections and the beginning of new things—are evidence of who God is. God keeps His promise about Sundays, it’s a sure thing. If you read all of Joshua you will find that every single promise He made to Joshua was kept. The chapter ends with a final, sweeping confirmation of how God fulfilled every promise He made to Israel. Not one good promise failed. Everything God promised His people He brought about. Not One Promise Failed
Joshua emphasized the fact that not even one of the smallest of God’s promises went unfulfilled. God was faithful to fulfill every promise He made to His people. God was good—-and still is. Do you believe that? God has not changed since the days of Joshua. He is still the promise-keeping God. You can have confidence that if God has made you a promise, He will be faithful to fulfill that promise. In a moment I want to challenge you to listen to some promises He has made to us.
If you are holding onto a promise today, keep holding on. Don’t lose heart, God hasn’t forgotten those promises that His Holy Spirit inspired men to write 4000 years ago—-He will bring it to pass. Sundays are inevitable—-God is going to do what He said and what He has promised you and all of mankind!
So this morning hear these promises and realize that it is unavoidable and certain that He will keep His promise:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10, NIV
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV
“The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23-24, NIV
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29, NIV
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NIV
“..but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. Psalms 34:17
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7, NIV
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11, NIV
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—John 14:13-16, NIV
We come now to what is perhaps the greatest promise in the entire Bible. And it is great because it includes all of the other promises in itself.” The wonderful promise of Philippians 4:19 is this: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (ESV).
The opening conjunction, “And,” is key to understanding this promise. The Philippians were in need. Yet they neglected their own needs to supply what Paul needed to advance the gospel. Now Paul assures the saints that God has not forgotten their needs.
Paul was under house arrest in Rome, where he awaited trial with an uncertain outcome. There was no guarantee that he would be able to personally repay the generosity of the Philippians. But he was confident that the living God would fully meet their every need. Here’s the bottom-line: Generous Christians live on the promise that God will meet our needs.
The verse begins with Paul speaking of God the Father in the most personal terms: “And my God.” God is not just a God. And God is not just the God. The Christian boldly declares that God is my God through saving-faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God is so personal that Paul spoke of him possessively. Yet every Christian can call the Father “my God.” Nothing is impossible if God is your God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 19 says: “And my God will supply every need of yours…” This promise is all-inclusive. God himself will meet every need the generous Christian has. God is the all-sufficient source. Do not judge God’s faithfulness by the fulfillment of our goals. God promises to meet your need, not our greed. There are times when God will snatch away the things you think you need to teach us that we need him not them.
How is God able to meet every need? Verse 19 says: “And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory…” God’s glorious riches are inexhaustible. There is no limit to God’s riches. He is totally sufficient to meet every need that arises in your life. In Psalm 23:1, David sings, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” God’s glorious riches will meet your needs.
“No one has yet believed in God and the kingdom of God, no one has yet heard about the realm of the resurrected, and not been homesick from that hour, waiting and looking forward joyfully to being released from bodily existence.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The next Sunday morning is coming—-for you and me. Nothing can prevent this grand reunion—-this incredible culmination of standing before God Almighty and hearing Him say your name and my name and call us beloved—-His adopted sons and daughters.
Let no one deceive you! The miracle of a Sunday morning will happen and we will be transformed in the twinkling of an eye.
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”. CS Lewis
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