Our God Is Able

This morning we got up early – 6 a.m. My devotional reading took me to Scripture I had read a few days earlier – “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7) and “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

Our God is Able. 

With God’s power and God’s love and God’s control and our undivided focus on Him, we have nothing to fear. And if we are fearful, we can go to God and “ASK” for help and receive it, we can “SEEK” guidance and find it, we can “KNOCK” on the door of understanding and discernment and wisdom will be opened to us.

A prayer gram we received from Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville (our friend Jani Ford’s mom is a member) included the following verse, which also happened to be a favorite of the late Ted Manzke, a former professor at Hannibal-LaGrange College.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Seek / Find a place
to be still
Seek / Find a place
to be alone
in My Presence
and listen
hear My voice
consider
what I say
understand
My ways

 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways (says the Lord). For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”     (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

Live in the Light
of My Son
Jesus
and be
obedient
to His call
on you.

This morning we drove a little over an hour south to Wilton, Iowa, where Jim shared God’s message with the folks at Wilton Baptist Church. We have been there before, but this was the first time this year. To be honest, we were not expecting a call to come – a man had come in view of a call -- but God knew we were to be there this day, for such a time as this, and He knew we would go.

Hence, we came.

Our God is Able.

All along, we see how able God is, and how unable we are, without Him.

Jim’s sermon, “Our God is Able,” was taken from II Timothy 1: 8-14, with primary emphasis on verse 12 – “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

Every trial we come up against, every painful struggle … is important to God.  He has promised we will face trials. But He also promises to be with us through the trials. We have the Great Physician on our side. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.

Our God is Able.
    To Deliver us from Dangers

He delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they were thrown into the fiery furnace. (See Daniel 3:17)

        To Provide and Supply All Our Needs

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  (II Corinthians 9:8)

“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, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.”  (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD; thou art my trust from my youth.” (Psalm 71:5)

This particular verse Jim read in one of his devotional books, Proverbs for Men. The author made the following comments …

We Christians have many reasons to be confident. God is in His heaven; Christ has risen, and we are the sheep of His flock. Yet sometimes, even the most devout Christians can become discouraged. Discouragement, however, is not God’s way. He is a God of possibility not negativity.  Are you a confident Christian? You should be. God’s grace is eternal and His promises are unambiguous. So, count your blessings, not your hardships. And live courageously. God is the Giver of all things good, and He watches over you today and forever.

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? … et.al " (Matthew 6:25-34)

       To Make All Grace Abound

“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good word.”           (II Corinthians 9:8)

When a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize and deserves no award, yet receives a gift anyway – that is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor – God’s grace, His Amazing Grace!

       To Control All Things

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

       To Preserve Us

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” (June 1:24)

 Our God is able. … no matter what may come our way, God is on our side. Trouble will come … it is a given. But He will take care of us. We must trust in Him with our every step.

When we are a child of the Living God, we can all face the coming days with assurance and comfort knowing Our God Is Able.