Yesterday was Harvest Sunday at church. Hopefully we will have some pictures to post at a later date. It was a good day overall. We did have a number of visitors with us during the day. The ladies did a fine job with cooking as usual. My brother barbecued some chicken which was a blessing! In the morning service the Taylor girls sang one of my favorite songs, " I have been blessed. " It was a special request, by me since it would go with my message for that day. The following is a part of that message:
" God's been so Good! "
Psalms 103:1-22
If you will read verses 1-5 you will find our text: " Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. "
We don't ever need to forget what God has done for you. It's very easy to forget, isn't it? God has been good to all of us. I like that song the ladies sang, " I have been blessed, God's so good to me, precious are His thoughts toward you and me, God has been good, so good, I have been blessed! "
Amen! I want you think with me about how God has been good to us today.
I. God has been good to share life with us. ( vs. 4-5 )
Each of us needs to be grateful for the life that we enjoy day by day. So many are invalid or bed-ridden, they are physically unable to get about, or they need medical attention 24hrs/day. We should not forget His benefits.
1. How often do we take our health for granted. I am thinking of two people right now that are going to have open heart surgery tomorrow. Another is at a hospital in Greenville, on a respirator and in critical condition. Oh, friend today realize how blessed you are if you have health and strength to get our and move and enjoy life.
2. How often we take our family for granted. Our God has freely given us all things, ( Rom. 8:32 ) James 1:17 says every good and perfect gift comes from the Father above. Yes, your family is a gift from God. Men, we take our wives for granted, ladies, you take your husband for granted, and children, you take your parents for granted. We should not forget all His benefits. His blessings of good things. ( vs. 5 ) God has blessed us with life. I remember watching the video of Dr. Curtis Hutson's life, as he came to the end of his life, while he was dying, he said, " Lord, thank you for life, I love life. " He realized his life was a precious gift, often Brother Hutson said, " enjoy the good things the Lord has given you. " He enjoyed life.
3. How often we take creation for granted. We should thank God for the sunrise and the sunset. Thank Him for the majestic mountains, and the lovely oceans. Just enjoy the beautiful flowers and the wonderful simple things that God has blessed you with. How sad to go through life and not enjoy things. We're only here a short period of time. ( vs. 15-16 )
God has been good, amen?
II. God's been good to show His love to us. ( vs. 4 )
Verse 13 says He pities us like a Father, why? Because He loves us. He loves you and me more than any earthly father could. John 3:16, " For God so loved..." even when we were unlovely, while we were sinners. ( Rom. 5:8 ) We should never take for granted God's love toward us. The most wonderful love story anyone has ever heard is the story of redeeming love, when God reached down, He saw us lost on the way to Hell. But God so loved us, that He sent His son to die on the cross for us. He laid down His life for us, why? Because he loved you and me. He was buried, and rose again the third day, because He loved us. His mercy is so great. ( vs. 8-13 )
He has removed our transgressions from us, they were nailed to the cross. God is so good, He has shone His love through His word, and in His Son, He loves you today. He loves the sinner, even those who despise Him today. His love is everlasting, God will never stop loving you. Let's praise Him today, God's been so good.
III.God's been so good to save us from Hell. ( vs. 10 )
If we got what we deserved, we'd all be in hell today. Because we are sinners, we were born sinners. ( Ps.58:3 ) ( Isaiah 53:6 ) The Bible says in Rom. 3:10, " There is none righteous, no not one." No one can get to Heaven on their own. Hell is separation from God. It is eternal torment in a lake of fire. Jesus came to save us from hell. ( Luke 19:10 )
Everything that we should have suffered, Jesus suffered on the cross. Everything that we should have gone through, Jesus went through. God made a way for us to go to Heaven. It was made possible through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. His death on the cross made it possible for us to be made righteous, through His righteousness. ( Rom. 3:24-26 ) I am not going to hell because there was a day that I put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I asked Him to save me and at that moment I received eternal life. I am no longer under the condemnation of God. ( John 5:24 ) God's been so good to save us from Hell.
IV. God's been so good to secure us for Heaven.
(Ps. 103:17-19 ) His throne in Heaven. I am reminded of the verses in John 14:1-3. He said He's preparing a place for us in Heaven. When He saves us, He writes our names down in the Book of Life in Heaven. ( Luke 10:20 )
We can rest assured that Heaven is our eternal home:
1. Because we are already citizens of Heaven. ( Eph. 2:19, Phil. 3:20 )
2. Because our eternity is secure because Jesus is Eternal. He gives eternal life. ( John 10:27-28 ) Phil. 1:6 ) He has power to save and keep us. ( I Pet. 1:5 )
3. We have an unfading, incorruptible inheritance, reserved in Heaven. ( I Pet. 1:4 )
We have the promise that He will present us faultless before the throne. ( Jude 24 )
God has been so good to promise us eternal life, and He cannot lie. He is merciful. ( vs. 8 ) Read vs. 11, and vs. 17. From everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him. Thank God for eternal salvation. Have you accepted Christ as your Saviour? Do you know for sure that Heaven is your eternal home? you can be sure today, if you call upon the name of the Lord today. Why not trust Him now. Thank God for His blessings on our lives. God has been so good to give us life, to show us His love, to save us from hell, and to secure us Heaven. God has been good to you and me.
Amen and Amen!!
If this message has been a blessing to you, let me know. If you received the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, please send me an email and let me know so I can rejoice with you.
Pastor Johnny Taylor
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