Christian Blog : Daily Devotions : Bible Verses : Prayers : Poems

IT IS FOLLY TO FORGET GOD

Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.  
Psalms 78:1-4
It is a sad thing when any nation forgets the goodness, guidance and faithfulness of God, but is it especially sad when that nation is God’s chosen nation, Israel.  Our nation has been a blessed nation; we have a Godly history.  It is sad to see us forget God.  We like the nation of Israel, have a knowledge of the works and will of God.  We have His Word, we have seen His works, and we have been blessed by His presence.  We have heard the old-timers and our own fathers tell us of the wonderful works of God.  There are many today that do not want to hear it, but it has been told.
 
There was a time in our nation when children sat in rapt attention as they heard these stories.  I can only imagine how it must have been for those Hebrew children as they were told of all that God had done in their rich history.  God help our nation to remember our God, so many have done so much to keep us from forgetting.  They have guarded the Bible, written wonderful hymns and carefully recorded God’s works in History books.
 
Then we have Church history.  The best instruction of our history has been handed down to us from our Church fathers.  These wise and holy men have given us the best literature has to offer.  The early Church instructed parents and challenged them to read and study their Bibles.  They in turn handed down that Biblical knowledge to their children.
 
The goodness of God is made known to us that we might impart it to others. The Israelites were instructed over and over to make sure their children knew the works of God and also anyone that might be in their homes.  It was a binding religious duty.  When that duty is not performed, the knowledge will become lost, forgotten and ultimately hated.  So it is with our nation today.
 
Today there are those that look for faults with the religious of history and then use those faults to discredit all that they said and stood for. The Israelites were instructed to tell of the goodness and mercy of God, in spite of their many and terrible sins. They were even to tell of His judgment and chastisement.  All of it was to be used to teach love, wisdom, faithfulness and a hate for evil.
 
The youth of today have no praise for the Lord because they have not been told of His mercy, goodness and mighty works.  National pride is not enough, a nation only has something to be proud of when its history includes God.  God help Christians to see how much the coming generation will need the knowledge and principles of God that we possess.  
 
Times change, circumstances change, people grow in experience and knowledge, but no generation has ever or will ever rejoice without the knowledge of God. It is the duty of a nation to hand down this knowledge of God and it is the folly of a nation to neglect or refuse this duty.
 
Every generation is to hand down the great treasures of information, experience, knowledge, wisdom, emotion and conviction and then encourage those that follow us to do the same.  It is for their benefit, to help them avoid the errors and sins of their ancestors.

ESTABLISHING GOD’S TESTIMONY GIVES HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.  
Psalms 78:5-8
Instead of cutting off the future of the next generation for the sins of their fathers, God gives them instructions that will help give His people hope. Again, the Israelites had a testimony of murmuring, stubbornness and rebellion.  They forsook the Lord on many occasions.  Their history and God’s dealings with them must be told so those that follow them might take warning and shun their errors.
 
We are not only to pass on God’s works and wonders to the next generation to help them avoid trouble, but also to make them a righteous generation. The commandments of God are to be given to them that they might keep them.  So, as we tell it, let us tell it in a way that will cause them to regard them as holy, just and good.  They must see God and His works as divinely wise and benevolent and they must seek to comply with His will.
 
The coming generation must have hope; hope in God.  They must know that God is ever working in nature, in history and in redemption.  A study of history is of little value if it is only sought for information. The value of history is in a reverence for how God works in it.  The future of our nation is going to be materialistic, atheistic and hopeless, unless we change the way we present God to them.  They must see God in truth, in beauty, in might and in faithfulness, so they might be attracted to Him, be led by Him and trust and believe in Him.  With an accurate knowledge of God, each generation will grow richer in goodness and wisdom.
 
Just a few thoughts about what we are to teach our children:
The love of God that welcomes them
The evil that surrounds them
The possibilities that await them
The weakness that is in them
The need for instruction that hinders them
The praise of God that is due from them
The works of God that are toward them
And the obligation that is upon them

A NATION’S FALTERING

The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.  
Psalms 78:9-11
The “Children of Ephraim” is a reference to the whole nation of Israel, but in particular the two tribes, Manasseh and Benjamin, which make up this segment.  Great leaders came out of these, Joshua, Gideon, Saul and others.  Great were these people, so great that many in the world thought there was no equal to them.  How could a proud people become cowards?  How could they turn back in battle, when all they had known was victory?  These tribes were known for their brave men.  Why did things change?  It was because turned away from God.
 
This was not a surprise attack, they were fully armed, yet they refused to fight.  This is a clear picture of our nation.  We have been victorious and bold, we have been supplied with weapons, yet now we are a nation that weakly yields to our foes and dishonors our proud history. Why?  Because we turn from God and forget His works and His Words.
 
It is a fact; those that will not keep God’s covenant will not keep His power.  The power to be a great nation rests in God.  He instills in our hearts, minds and conscience the will to fight for right and good.  He gives us the courage and energy to fight.  Courage and victory are God’s gift to a pure heart.  
 
Those that refuse to walk in the ways of God will only be convicted and guilt will make cowards of the bravest of men.  We can never be assured of victory on the battlefield if we cannot win the moral battles in our own nation and personal lives.
 
The great works of God were shamefully forgotten by these people and as a result, when they went into battle, they did not have the inspiration that recollection of the past could have given them.  If we plan to defeat the foes of the future, we must look back in gratitude at the victories of the past.
 
They had no righteousness and they had no memory of God, and that meant that they would have no help from God.  They could not seek help from the One whose covenant they had violated. So they went into battle without the Lord and returned dishonored.
 
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
(Joshua 7:12).
Let us learn the lessons given to us here.  Our nation, as great as it has been in the past, is facing some powerful enemies.  We must face the battle with courage and might.  If we do not have that which only the Lord can give, we will be vanquished and ruined.
 
Let us go forth in the strength of God and we will return victorious.  We must have moral courage, a clear and clean conscience, a memory of the goodness of our God and an unfaltering trust in Him.

GOD’S FAVOR FORGOTTEN

Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation:
Psalms 78:22
We have a brief record of some of the things that God had done for these people, but there is also a record of some of their sin against Him. Jehovah God had delivered them from cruel oppression.  It was not a close fight; God crushed the enemy and did a marvelous work in the eyes of the world.  In spite of their oppression, they had increased and multiplied and gathered power.  We all know the story of how God moved on their behalf and they were set free from Egypt and how God delivered them at the Red Sea.  We know how God led them with the cloud by day and the fire by night.  And we know how God provided for them in their journey through the wilderness.  He had quails fly into the camp as supper, rained bread down from Heaven and caused water to flow from the rock.  All of this should have showed them His great love and care for them, His great hatred for sin and wickedness.  But in spite of all they had seen and received, they sinned yet more.  Shameful is the nation that cannot be awakened by the goodness of God; a nation that has no gratitude, contentment or faith.  No song of thankfulness rose from their lips, only a wicked and selfish demand for something different to satisfy their lust.
 
Again, we need to look upon this picture of extreme wickedness and remember the shame of not remembering and being grateful for God’s goodness. God favored these people; they neglected and accused Him, and then His wrath was against them.  
 
God had been good to them, but they doubted His goodness
God had provided for them, but they doubted His ability to provide
God had demonstrated His guidance, guarding and supply, but they doubted His assurances
 
Unbelief is the sin that dishonors a Holy God.  Among great men it is an insult to discredit the word of another, how much worse is it to discredit the Word of God?  How dishonoring is it to doubt His truthfulness, His faithfulness, His love, His goodness, and His ability!
 
How sad it is today to see even those that claim to be Christians dishonor their God with the sin of unbelief.  God has blessed us, blessed us in abundance and blessed us supernaturally.  How could we doubt Him?
 
There are some lessons to be learned here:
God sees all that man does
God blesses even sinful people
God is affected by the actions and hearts of men
God will punish even those that He has favored in the past
 
May we never forget the goodness of our God!

THEY SINNED STILL AND BELIEVED NOT

30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.
33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
Psalms 78:30-37
All that God had done for this nation failed to quicken them in faith toward Him.  Despite all His miracles, they still doubted His power.  Despite all His kindness, they still doubted His goodness.  How sad it is that man in his unbelief can limit and dishonor a Holy God.  
 
Such is the case with America today; all of God’s mercies will not lead us to humility, gratitude or trust.  We are filled with our own selfishness and unreasonable reactions. God’s judgments will not lead us to an improved character because as soon as we are out of danger, we return to our old ways.  His goodness will not lead us to repentance.
 
God’s Word sums it up for our nation, “for all this, they sinned still and believed not.”  Just as in the case of these people, what little words of repentance we utter are not real.  The promises we make are not kept.  The things we say are not true.  The prayers we say are not from our hearts.  And our hearts are not right with Him.
 
When there is true repentance, we will turn from sin and hate it and we will seek the Lord with humility and faith.  America is like these people; we are not turning from sin, we are just trying to rid ourselves from the penalty of our sin.  True repentance will produce a changed life and a changed nation.
 
Repentance will also make us hold to God and His Word.  These people, like America today, were not steadfast in His covenant.  When a person truly repents, he will turn from that which displeases and offends God.  Simply put, “a clean life will follow repentance.”
 
My heart is hurting for America today.  May we bless God so He might once again bless us!

GOD’S FORBEARANCE

38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Psalms 78:38-39
God judged this nation, His judgments were severe, but not as much as they deserved, the Bible clearly says that God drew back His wrath.  I do not understand it, except to say that it is the mercy of our God.  His wrath toward them was not so bad to keep them from returning to their evil ways.
 
As I said, “I do not understand it,” but thank God for His compassion, thank God that He is full of compassion.  Many times He turns away His anger from us.  I know this to be the case in my life and I know it is also the case with you.  I am so thankful that He does not deal with us after our sins, but according to His mercy.
 
I am so grateful that we have a God that can forgive so graciously and so completely.  He has placed our sin as far as the East is from the West, behind His back and cast them into the depths of the sea.  He has abundantly pardoned us and dealt with us in patience and love.
 
Would to God that America would realize that God is looking down today in grace and He remembers that we are but flesh.  We are as the wind that comes and then passes way to come no more.  Would to God that we would be grateful that He knows our state, that we are prone to evil, subject to pain and sorrow and unable to help ourselves.
 
God could have, and probably should have, destroyed us long ago, but His mercy still prevails.  His compassion is still upon us.  Our sins call loudly for our destruction, but we receive mercy instead.

A NATION’S FORGETFULNESS

40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
Psalms 78:40-42
Many of these people, even though they had received so much from the Lord, found their graves in the wilderness.  We must beware that a continued persistence in evil will cause us to fail and fall short of our expectations.  A life lived against God will end in misery, void of all that is true and good.  But God still gives even the most wicked chance after chance.  His long patience with us is a great testimony of His willingness to pardon and save.  God help America not to limit or frustrate God’s grace toward us. His dealings and His judgments are opportunities to help us.  His grace is an invitation to trust Him.  Let us not sin away our day of grace.
 
It is a terrible thing to forget God:
 
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
(Psalms 9:17).
The nation that quickly forgets its repentance will go deeper into sin and farther away from God.

A REMINDER FROM GOD

43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:
44 And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Psalms 78:43-53
God reminds these people of some of the things that He had done for them. This is not a complete list, nor is it in order; it is just a reminder.  We would do well to stop and be reminded of the goodness of our God.
 
Egypt prided themselves in their great river, but God turned it into blood.  That which was beautiful and delicious to drink was now ugly and deadly.  God turned their glory into a curse.  This is just a reminder that He can do the same today. He can take our choicest treasures and turn them into a scourge because of our sins.
 
He also reminded them that He can use the least of His creatures to afflict and torment sinners.  Flies, frogs and locusts brought down a powerful nation.  No armor could stand against them.  No nation is too mighty to withstand the judging hand of God.
 
He also reminds them that He controls the forces of nature. Hail, frost and lightening are His tools against those that will not bow.  All of nature waits for His call.  God help us to remember who He is and our obligation to Him.
 
The angels are also His instruments of judgment.  I do not believe that the angels themselves were evil, but were used by God to bring evil upon the wicked.  The Death Angel was such an angel.  All of these creatures excel in strength and hearken to the voice of His mouth.  Each one hastens to do His bidding.
 
Here is the clear message, HE CAN ARM ALL NATURE, AIR, EARTH, FIRE AND WATER TO FIGHT AGAINST THOSE THAT REFUSE TO SUBMIT TO HIM!  He can employ everything from the smallest insect to the mighty Heavenly beings to come against the wicked.
 
God help us to get the message; the only way to escape the wrath of God is to obey His commandments.  Our suffering may seem as just a minor irritation now, but be it known that God is able to conquer any nation.    Over and over, God pauses between afflictions, just as He did for Egypt.  He has no pleasure in the total destruction of the wicked; He desires that all men repent.  But God is prepared to inflict the ultimate stroke of anger against His enemies.  He always has a sharper and more powerful sword.
 
While his enemies suffer, His people can go free.  He will lead us like sheep.  Noah and his family were spared from the flood.  Lot was spared from the fire of Sodom. And the Israelites were spared from the fate of Pharaoh.  The actions of God should make all men pause to consider their ways and His will.  His actions ought also cause the righteous to have great confidence in Him.  He is in control of all events for the purpose of bringing about His perfect design and plan.  The end result of the workings of our God will be that evil will be defeated and God and good will be established.

A NATION TURNING BACK

54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Psalms 78:54-58
Here we have the goodness of God brought before us.  He deals with His people in mercy and in judgment. He settled His people in the promised land, even though He knew their hearts.  He guided them, drove out the heathen from before them and gave them their inheritance forever.
 
God has been good to our nation, we need never forget why and from whom those blessing come.  We have not been blessed because we were worthy, but because He is merciful. As long as we stay with Him, we have an inheritance that cannot be taken away.
 
But we just as these people are guilty of repeated disobedience and unfaithful acts.  They turned away from God in their hearts and in their lives.  As far as their relation to God, they had proven themselves to be totally untrustworthy.
 
They were also guilty of idolatry.  They committed spiritual adultery and moved the True and Living God to jealousy.  How tragic, this people that had been so blessed by God, His own chosen people, people called to be witnesses to all nations, would depart from their God to serve and worship idols.
 
For His goodness, they returned disobedience
For His fidelity, they returned unfaithfulness
For His provisions and protection, they returned idolatry
 
America needs to take heed; God never leaves a nation until they leave Him.  He will never withdraw until He is driven away.  It is a fearful thing to know that we have done both.

A NATION FORSAKING THE TEMPLE OF GOD

59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
62 He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
65 Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
Psalms 78:59-66
Here we see the loss of power and honor.  The Tabernacle and the Ark that was in it was a symbol of their strength and glory, it was the ornament of God.  On many occasions they only had to look to the Ark and get inspiration and extra strength in battle.  The Tabernacle and the Ark was the visible symbol of their distinction and glory as the chosen people of God and that God dwelt among them.
 
When God forsook the Tabernacle and the Ark was captured by their enemies, their inspiration and protection was gone, their glory was now dim.  
When God abandons a man, all moral power, all spiritual dignity and all confidence is gone.
When God abandons a Church, all those things and more are passed away.
When God abandons a nation, there is no restraint for their enemies.
 
That is why there was defeat and slaughter in battle, God not only did not fight for them, He gave them over to the enemy.  God help us to realize that we are only strong and confident as we walk with God and according to His Word.  When God withdraws from America, we will fall easy prey to our enemies.  When God withdraws from us personally, we will be defeated by Satan.  And when He withdraws from the Church, we lose the war against ignorance and sin.
 
God can also withdraw from a society.  Ichabod can come to a whole nation as well as a single Church. That is the road that America is traveling today.  Great sorrow and dishonor is ahead for the nation that is forsaken by God. Social wretchedness and misery will reign.
 
10 Thus saith the LORD unto this people, Thus have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the LORD doth not accept them; he will now remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
11 Then said the LORD unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
12 When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.
(Jeremiah 14:10-12).
But God did finally come to the aid of His people:
 
As we have said, God is in control of all events.  He used the Philistines to execute His wrath upon His own people for their sins, but the Philistines were not His servants. Now, God rises up and defeats them.  God had withdrawn from His people for a season, but He had not cast them off forever.
 
The verses picture God as a mighty man arising out of refreshing sleep, shouting for battle.  We must remember this is just the Psalmist’s picture, the truth is, God never sleeps or needs rest.  But there are periods when His hand does not seem to be manifested in the affairs of men.

Salvation : Get Saved

God Save Me Now from my Sins:

GOD will save those who want to be saved
He has called them to Him for Salvation

To Get saved / Salvation, then, is to be born again, or repent
you must believe in Jesus, believe he died for your sins....

The Truth about Being Saved
I asked the Preacher what he meant by the term
"get saved / Salvation " this being saved is the reality of being saved from DEATH and HELL

The Truth About getting Saved / Salvation

 You Must Be Born Again

ACT 16:30-31Sirs what must I do to be SAVED?
and they said"Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST,
And thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
ACT 16:30-31

If you Want to be Saved / Salvation

you MUST ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST as SAVIOUR to be SAVED

You Must Believe in Jesus by Faith

You can only know that you are saved
if your life has been supernaturally changed by GOD
You will have a New Nature to follow Jesus and Repent.

It will be a LIFE CHANGING EVENT.

Is God Working in your Life? is He Changing You?

Do you want to turn away from your sin?

There is nothing accept JESUS CHRIST that can SAVE YOU,

NOT a PRAYER, NOTHING but the BLOOD of JESUS.

Just because you prayed a prayer one time doesn't mean your saved

You Must Believe in Jesus by Faith to be Saved

I can only plant the seed the Lord will harvest the seeds

This is Very Important Please Read Carefully

You Must Believe in Jesus by Faith
Believe He died for your sins
Believe He was raised from the dead
Believe He is the Son of God
Repent of your Sins

Does Jesus Know You? Will He Open the Gate for You?

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN CALL UPON JESUS

All you need to do to be saved is to BELIEVE upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you admit that you are a GUILTY sinner under the condemnation of God's LAW (the ten commandements), and deserving of nothing but Hellfire?

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God He is (God in the flesh) who willingly died upon the cross to pay for our sins?

Or Maybe you'd feel better praying a sinners prayer as did the publican in Luke 18:13... "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."

PLEASE PRAY the following Prayer

Dear Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner, deserving of Hell. Please forgive me of my sins and take me to Heaven when I die. I now believe upon You alone for my salvation, apart from all works and religions.I call upon you as my personal Savior. Thank you. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen."

It's not the words that "save you"
Repentance of your sins and Faith in Jesus
through the Blood of Jesus
that's what saves you nothing else

if you prayed that prayer and really meant it
Repented of your sins and placed your Faith in Jesus
you are now a saved child of the King.
if you didn't mean it IT MEANS NOTHING

Just as you were born physically to your parents, you were just born spiritually into the Family of God when you believed on Jesus! (John 3:3). Please understand that we are not saved because we pray a prayer; but because we believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is certainly appropriate to ask the Lord in prayer to forgive and save us; but it is our faith which prompted us to pray the prayer.

You could just as easily believe in your heart upon the Lord to be saved, and not pray at all. Salvation is of the heart, as we read in Romans 10:10, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness..."

You do NOT have to be baptized or doing anything to go to Heaven other than trust upon the Lord as your Savior. Romans 4:5 proclaims... "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." The only sin which can prevent a person from being saved is UNBELIEF. Thus, unbelief is the only sin which a person needs to repent of to be saved. What a wonderful Saviour we Serve!

You will need to be Baptized
Join a Good Bible Based Church - King James Bible Church
Read your KJV* Bible daily, KJV are the only true Bible versions

Do the Fathers will not thy will .

I am saved, Now what do I do ?

1.Read your Bible everyday to get to know Jesus Christ better

2.Talk to God in prayer everyday.

3. Be Baptized, worship, felowship and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.

4. Tell others about Jesus Christ

To learn about JESUS you can start out
by reading the four gospels

the the Gospel of John is a good one to start on.

the Gospel of Mark
the Gospel of Matthew
the Gosple of Luke

Please let us know if you made a commitment for JESUS
have a question, comment or testimony Contact us

Matthew 7:13-27 King James Version (KJV)

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 
 

ABC'S of BEING SAVED / SALVATION

A : ADMIT THAT YOUR ARE A SINNER AND YOU NEED TO BE SAVED.
ROMANS 3:23
For All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
ROMANS 3:23

God tells us that no sin can enter heaven.
Something must be done to get rid of your sin.

B : BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS AT CALVARY TO SAVE YOU AND ME.
Jesus shed His life blood to save you from your sins.
He took your place on the cross, and suffered the punishment for your sin.
1 Peter 2:24
"Who His own self (Jesus) bare our sins in His own body
on the tree that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed"
1 Peter 2:24

C : CALL UPON GOD TO SAVE YOU.Tell God you're sorry for your sins and that you believe in Jesus
and accept Him as your Savior from your sins.
Luke 18:13
"God be merciful to me a sinner."
Luke 18:13

John 11:25-26

Jesus said unto her, " I am the resurrection, and
the life: he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall
never die. Believest thou this?"

JOHN 3:16
For GOD loved the world, that he gave his
Only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
JOHN 3:16

JOHN 10:9

I am the Door; by me if any man enter in, he
shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

JOHN 10:9

Come let us adore him Christ the Lord

John 13:34
"A new commandment I give unto you: that ye Love one another.
As I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:34

Gal 2:20
I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; ye not I, but Christ liveth in me.
and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me and gave himself for me.
Gal 2:20

Eph 2:4
But GOD, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us , 
Eph 2:4

1 John 4:10
Herein is love: not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:10

John 13:1now before the Feast of Passover.
when Jesus knew that the hour was come for him to depart out of this world unto the Father. Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved the unto the end.
John 13:1

no matter what, we can never be separated from God’s love:

Rom 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who
loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:37-39

But unto us there is but one GOD, the Father of
whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
1 Corinthians 8:6

Grace be to you and peace from GOD our father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be GOD, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies and the GOD of all comfort.
who comforteth us in all our tribulations, that
we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are
comforted of GOD. 2 Corinthians 1:2-4

Rev 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us and has washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:5

I have failed as has most of my generation, what I am talking about is soul winning!  If we had followed the commandments of the Bible and each one of us that is SAVED would have won one a month to the Lord and trained them to win one and then both of us had gone out and won one more, I believe that America would not be in the mess that we are in today!  Although I have won some to the Lord, I accept the fact that I have not been aggressively after winning souls as I should have been!

It is easier for us to make excuses about why we can't do it than to follow the Great Commission and win the lost at any cost! 

Then there are Preachers who argue over the terms soul-winning, winning the lost, bringing people to Jesus, personal evangelism, and all the while multitudes go to a Christ-less eternity in Hell and our Nation goes down the tubes. 

I KNOW that I cannot SAVE anybody, but I can introduce him or her to the only ONE who can! 

Please pray for me as I set out to try to witness to more people and not only witness but also to try to win them, bring them, introduce them to the SAVIOUR.

I also feel that there may be someone reading my posts that is lost and searching for the truth, if that is you, I want to tell you that faith in Jesus Christ is not only the answer but is the only answer to your need.

If you accept the fact that you are without Christ, Lost, on your way to Hell and believe what the Bible says about Jesus Christ being the Son of God, the One born of a Virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the Cross to pay your sin debt, was buried and then Resurrected on the third day, then you are close to being SAVED! But being close is not good enough.
What you must do is to pray to God, confess your sins, and by Faith ask Him to forgive you of your sins and SAVE you for Christ's sake.  If you do that from your heart, He will SAVE you. So Call to GOD and Get Saved Today  

FAILURE IS NOT FATAL

PROVERBS 24: 16

 I see people often that have had a failure in their lives. They are good folks that for any number of reasons have allowed to Devil to entice them and they fell victim to his trap of sin.

I never want to give the impression that I agree with or condone sin, I do not. But, I realize that we are all human and we have some failures in this life.

There is one word that I would like to emphasize this morning. I would like every person to see clearly that God personally gives this word to each of us.

That word is HOPE.

Someone told me that there is a place, a hospital somewhere on the West coast that has inscribed over the door. NO HOPE. If someone has a hopeless medical condition, they will send them to this place.

My friend, God does not intend for the Christian to feel that he belongs in a place like that, no matter what his condition. If you are saved and you are breathing, you have hope.

I know I spend a lot of time warning people about the effects and the dangers of sin. That is necessary and I plan to keep on doing that. I believe that we ought to do all we can to keep from falling into the Devil’s trap of sin.

It is a truth that there is no provision for failure in the Bible. God never expects His children to fail. But there is provision if you do fail. God loves you no matter what.

The truth of this life is that there is not a place that you can climb that you can be assured that you cannot fall. Some of the greatest people in history have been those that have failed many times.

Books have been written about people like Abraham Lincoln that failed and failed until one day he met great success. Those books and stories are good and we need them.

But, at the same time, we pay very little attention to those in the Bible that met with failure and God eventually gave them great victory.

Because we have not looked to the Bible for these examples, we have the wrong picture of God. He is not some mean-spirited tyrant that is looking for an opportunity to punish us for every thing we do that is wrong.

This Bible says the a just man may fall, but he will get up again. We must take these examples and learn from them.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition...... (1Corinthians 10:11).

The first thing we need to learn is that God is not looking for a quitter as an example. The world is full of quitters that say the Church is bad because they tried to do right and something happened so they quit.

God said, don’t look at that crowd, look at the just ones who may have failed but they keep getting up and trying to do right. A quitter will never be justified.

I want to tell you this morning that your failure is not fatal, get up, dust yourself off and start again. For God’s sake, don’t quit.

Let’s look at a few examples in God’s Word:

1 - ABRAHAM FAILED, BUT IT WAS NOT FATAL

Abraham is mentioned more in the New Testament than any other man. He was called the friend of God. I believe everyone in this room would like to be known as the friend of God.

But Abraham lied. That ought to give a lot of us hope. Abraham

purposely planned to tell a lye. But he got up and went on for the Lord. He did not quit. He did not say, well I failed so I can never please God. No, he got up.

Abraham committed adultery. He took his wife’s handmaiden and bore a child that caused God’s people a lot of trouble. He didn’t say, well that another failure, I guess I’ll quit.

No, he got up and went on. Some of you have thought of quitting for a lot less that this. But God is looking for some friends in this room this morning. The just that will get up from their failures and keep on.

Abraham disobeyed God’s orders and went to Egypt. He could have done like some Baptist I know. He could have said, I know what I was supposed to do, but I didn’t do it so I will just sit in Church and give up.

I tried doing like the preacher and the Bible said, but it’s hard and I think I will quit. You will loose hope if you quit. Get up and keep your eyes on the Lord. There is always hope in Him.

Failure is not fatal.

You see, before Abraham lied, before he committed adultery, before his faith got weak and he went down the Egypt, God told him that He would make him a great nation.

He had a promise from God and he kept his eyes on the promise and not the failures. God did not major on the failures either. God stuck with His Word and He will do the same thing for you.

He said I will never leave you nor forsake you and He will stick to His Word.

He said I will supply all your needs and He will stick to His Word.

He said He will help you do all things and He will stick to His Word.

Sure Abraham failed, sure he shouldn’t have done those things, sure it cost him, but he kept his hope in God and God said he was a man of faith and the friend of God.

Failure is not fatal.

2 - MOSES FAILED, BUT IT WAS NOT FATAL

Not one person here could do what this great man did for the Lord.

He had to put up with 3 1/2 million complaining, gripping Baptist. There were not too many compliments, mostly complaints and accusations.

But wait, he killed a man. He had been told that God was going to use him, but he got in a hurry. He was a man beating one of the

Israelites and he killed him.

You may think that was OK, but the Bible was true for Moses just as it is true for us. It is wrong to murder. Moses murdered a man and buried him in the sand.

But he didn’t go join a liberal Church and quit on God. He did what all just Christians should do when they fall, he got up.

I believe what I am preaching this morning and many Baptist will claim that they believe it too. But as soon as someone fall into a trap set by Satan, they want to kick them out of the Church and ruin their name all over town.

Someone said that Baptist are the only group that bury their dead. I believe that there are a lot of other Christians groups that do the same. We ought to be helping them get up and go on for the Lord.

As I said, I’m not talking about excusing, condoning, or hiding sin, but when a people seek help to get up from a fall, we have an obligation to help them.

Moses fell, but he got up. Failure was not fatal.

Then we find him on the back side of the desert. He looked over at a bush burning but not consumed and heard the voice of the Lord. He argued with God and would not do all that God told him to do.

That was a failure, but he got up and went on for the Lord. His

failure was not fatal.

Also, do you remember that he lost his temper and smote the rock twice instead of once as God told him. It was wrong and it cost him the privilege of going into the Promised Land.

But Moses did not get mad at God and go join the Philistines. He knew that he failed, he accepted the consequences and he got up and went on for the Lord.

His failure was not fatal.

He did not major on his failure and neither did God. God still used this man with all that failure. He gave him the law, He used him to lead the people out of bondage, He took him up on the mountain to speak with him.

His failure was not fatal.

God knew all about each failure before it happened and He still called and chose Moses. He knows all about your failures even before you fail and He still is calling you to fallow and serve Him this morning.

Get up and allow Him the opportunity to do a work in your life.

3 - NOAH FAILED BUT IT WAS NOT FATAL

For 120 years he stayed in the will of God and did not waver. The Bible said that he found favor with God. He built the Ark in the midst of the most adverse circumstances imaginable.

The Children sing songs about him, millions of sermons have been preached about him. There is no doubt that Noah was a great man of God.

But Noah got drunk. So drunk that he passed out. He willfully drank the liquor and passed out on his sofa. He failed. Did God kill him or makes his name forgotten by everybody.

Noah did not say, well it is all over, God has forgotten about me so I’ll just quit. No, he did what the just are supposed to do. He got up.

His failure was not fatal.

Listen, don’t let the Devil or any body else beat you down and defeat you because of your failure. The song writer said, take your burden to the Lord and leave them there. Bezet’s translation, confess it and get up and go on for the Lord.

4 - SAMUEL FAILED BUT IT WAS NOT FATAL

This priest, a great man of God that God used to lead a nation and direct a great kingdom. He failed with his kids. They were as wicked as any heathen in the land.

He knew it, he did not deny it, but he didn’t quit on God. He failed but he got up.

His failure was not fatal.

I know that there may be some broken hearted parents in this room today. I know that your children may not be what you had hoped and prayed that they would be. I know that you feel that you have failed.

I do not know your circumstance, maybe you did fail, but it is not fatal. God loves you and them and as long as you get up and go on for the Lord there is always hope.

Hope disappears when you sit down and say, it is no use, I think I’ll quit. An unjust parent will never be able to see their children come back to the Lord. The just ones that get up from their failure and go on for the Lord always have hope.

We all hold fast to the memory of great men like Billy Sunday, J. Frank Norris, and many others that had their kids do wrong, but they got up and went on for the Lord.

Their failures were painful and costly, but they were not fatal. God majored on the victories for them and He will do the same thing for you.

If you have failed with your family, it’s not fatal, get up.

If you know someone that has failed with their family, don’t give up on them, help them up so they can go on for the Lord.

Failure does not have to be fatal.

I want you to know one thing this morning. If you fail in any of these areas, you can believe that this preacher still loves you and he is always on your side. I will be here to help you get up and go on for the Lord.

I want to be in the hope giving business not the writing off business. There is grace and hope for every person in this room because God loves you and wants to see you get up from your failure.

There are some scarred folks in this room that got up from their failures and God is using them in a wonderful way.

Sin in never pleasant, but it does not have to be fatal. I wish everyone did what was right all the time and they never failed, but it happens and there ought to be a place and a preacher that will help them rise up.

I am going to preach as hard as I can on every sin that I can think of, but at the same time I want this Church to be a lighthouse for those that have failed and are seeking to rise up again.

This is a hospital for the sick and injured of this world that need a place to find healing. Christ is the answer for the lost, and He is the answer for the saved that have failed.

Maybe you marriage broke up and you have gone through the agony of divorce. That is awful, but it does not have to be fatal. God will allow you the opportunity to rise up again.

Sure there will be scars, sure there will be some limitations, but it does not have to be fatal. You can rise up from that failure and go on for the Lord.

I wish people would listen to God, His Word and His preacher, but many times they don’t and they fail. But God still loves them and wants to see them rise up.

Victory Baptist Church, you need to listen to me, it may be you or your children that fall one day. Then you will want those here to love them and help them rise up. Then you make sure you are ready to do that for others today.

We are not the judge and jury for those things that are God’s. We are merely His instruments for helping those who seek it to rise up from their failure.

I’m doing all that I can to see that the failures do not come, but if and when they do, I want to do all I can to help them rise up.

Thank God failure is not fatal.

I guess that is why God allows some rascals like myself to get right with Him and calls them into the ministry so there can be someone with a heart to help restore the fallen.

Listen to what God has to say about this:

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him..... (Isaiah 57:18).

God want to restore you today. There is great comfort for those that come to God after failure. Failure is not fatal. For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD........... (Jeremiah 30:17)

The Bible tells us that by His stripes we are healed. That is for those that have failed as well as for anybody else.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1).

The Church and all those that claim to know the Lord, we have a responsibility to do the Lord work. Part of that work is giving hope to those that have failed. We must tell them, Failure is not fatal.

David failed, but it was not fatal.
Paul failed, but it was not fatal.
Peter failed, but it was not fatal.
Jeremiah failed and wanted to quit, but it was not fatal.
Many in this room have failed, but it was not fatal.

The list is long, but Jesus looked at each on and said, I am not your enemy, I am your friend. The greatest friend is one that sticks with you even in times of failure.

Jesus is your greatest friend this morning. He loves you even in your failure. He is calling for you to rise up from your failure and let Him restore you.

Teen-ager, sin is always bad and it will cost you dearly, but it does not have to be fatal. God lives you and will restore you.

Adult, you will not get away with sin. It is bad and has a terrible price, but it does not have to be fatal. You can be restored.

Parents, your failure with your family is painful and you wish you could change it all, but it does not have to be fatal.

What ever your failure this morning, come to the best friend you have. Come to Jesus. He is waiting to restore you.

There is no valid excuse for sin, But thank God He has given us a place of repentance this morning. Would you come to that place?

Over the door of that hospital were the words, NO HOPE. That is not the case with you this morning. There is hope in Jesus, always.

FAILURE IS NOT FATAL.

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.... (Proverbs 24:16).

PRAY!

COUNTING BLESSINGS

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  Psalms 77:1-9
The songwriter said, “Count your blessings, name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”  In our times of depression, even great distress, we need to recount the blessings and mercy of God.  We may face times when we feel as though we are forsaken, even by God, but that is the time we are to count our blessings.  Every person will encounter some trouble in this life. God has not ordained it to be that any should travel through life under unclouded skies, favored always by refreshing breezes, looking upon only enchanting scenery and walking only on the easy road.  Some will have to walk in loneliness and sorrow, walk with weary limbs and bleeding feet, carry within them an aching heart, travel beneath darkened skies and go through pelting storms.  There is no greater or blessed life than that of a Christian, but being a child of God does not exempt us from life’s sorrows and trials.  Pains and diseases visit the Godly as well as the wicked. Disappointments, losses, afflictions and the anguish of death will come to us and/or those we love.  We are subject to our own imperfections and sin. The contrast between what we think life should be and what it really is can be great and painful.  Because of these things, we may experience seasons of dark doubt, sadness and distress.  In such times we may feel that God is hiding His face from us. It is from such an experience that the Psalmist pens this Psalm:
 
God help us to know and understand that we must begin our times of trouble in prayer if we expect to end them in praise.  God will hear the voice of His children, even if that voice cries out in agony of the soul.
 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them...John 10:27
We are told in the Bible that this life is a life of trouble:
 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.Job 5:7
We live is a sinful world, so trouble is common to all men.  One of the blessings of trouble in our lives is the fact that others see us call out to and trust in God.  This is what we are instructed by God to do:
 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.Psalms 50:15
God will hear the cry of His child, even if that cry is a feeble whisper.

COUNTING BLESSINGS - Continued

I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.
Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  Psalms 77:1-9
The Psalmist was prone to do what so many of us do, in our times of greatest trouble; we push away the cup of gladness because our soul is overwhelmed. What a shame that there are times that a wounded heart will refuse the balm that can heal, the consolation of God.  In such times, we not only get to the point that we refuse consolation, we can also get to the point that the remembrance of God is painful.  This may be common for the wicked, but it should never come to the saved.  Thoughts of God should always fill our souls and bring His sweet music into our lives.  
 
The trouble of the Psalmist must have been of the most severe nature to cause him to be troubled at his recollection of God.  He did remember God and his spirit was overwhelmed.  Again, how sad it is when the thought of God only increases our grief.  I have dealt with those that have been plunged deeper into despair when they thought about God in their times of great trouble.  They are simply unable to find relief or rest.
 
These great trials can be a source of great blessings because in the darkness of the night, God can shine His light upon us and we can see Him, His will and the precious truth He is trying to teach us.  It could be that we would not see or learn those things in the absence of trouble.
 
For the child of God, trouble can be a blessing.

GOD IS STILL GOD IN OUR SORROW

Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  Psalms 77:4-9
Our sad times MUST be times of faith.  In our trouble, we can take ourselves to the throne of His grace, we have a recourse; it is God.  But that recourse does not always manifest itself quickly. Nevertheless, “the just shall live by faith.”  Many times the only way we can have faith is to remember the past.  The future is uncertain and fearful, but we all have seen the blessings of God in the past.  The Psalmist said, “Even though I cannot sleep, even though I am too troubled to speak, I can remember your past goodness.”  
 
Thank God that the Psalmist had enough faith not to be driven away from God.  He had confidence that he could speak to God and that God would hear him.  He may have been troubled even at the thought of God, but he knew that the goodness of God was real.  Instead of turning away from God, he called to remembrance his past songs in the night.  This was not his first encounter with trouble.  God had been there to help him in the past and He would be there again.  Instead of focusing on present troubles, let us remember the past times when trouble enabled us to sing in the darkness.
 
We serve a good God, no matter what our circumstances may lead us to think.  We may think He is hiding His face, but we still must go to the throne, we must carry our burden to Him.  Our Bible tells us that God is love.  When trouble comes, no matter how severe, it can be a great blessing when it leads us to draw closer to God.
 
In verse one, the Psalmist said that he knew that God heard him, yet he did not get immediate relief.  I don’t understand it and I don’t always appreciate it, but the answer from God just may be that our trouble continue for a while.  Remember what He said to Paul? “I will not heal you, but my grace is sufficient.”  The blessing of God may be delayed or even denied so our faith and patience may be increased and our relationship with Him may be richer and fuller. We must trust the infinite goodness and wisdom of God; He knows what is best and when to give it.  While our prayers are not always answered at once or even at all, our prayers are always helpful to us and precious to God.    So, let us learn the great uses of trouble and our great resource in trouble.  Our God is sufficient, able, available and gracious.
 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
(Psalms 61:2).

GOD IS STILL GOD IN OUR SORROW - Continued

Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.
I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah.  Psalms 77:4-9
We have a tendency to only look outward, but there are times when God desires us to look inward.  This happened for the Psalmist.  He looked past his circumstances and saw his past experiences and the past working of God in his life.  This secret and silent teaching of the Christian heart is a sweet gift of God. All through the Bible we are taught that we commune with God with our heart.  It may be that God desires us to close our mouths and open our hearts.
 
This searching of his own soul and heart caused him to ask questions that had already been answered for him.    He knew that God had not forgotten him or cast him off.  He knew that God was an unchangeable God; He knew that God was a faithful God.  God’s mercy and grace had been with him so many times in the past, these questions seemed almost ridiculous.
 
As we search we will be reminded of a few things:
 
The reason there is trouble and suffering in this world is because of sin.  God made man and this world too be upright.  Let us never forget that He is not responsible for sin, man is.  That makes man responsible for trouble and suffering.  God is against sin.
 
Next, we are reminded that even Godly people need to be disciplined now and then.  God uses trouble to educate us and help the growing process in our lives.  The world is our school and man is the student and suffering and trouble are the teachers.  Not all suffering and trouble is punitive, sometimes it is educational and disciplinary.
 
Next, trouble and suffering many times is the door to God’s richest blessings.  It can lead us to deeper faith and a closer walk with Christ.  The Bible says that Jesus was our example and was made perfect by suffering:
 
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 5:8-9
Because He is our example, it is because of trouble and suffering that we see His glory:
 
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Romans 5:3-4
As we journey toward our eternal home, may we keep our eyes on Him and know that He does all things well and that His grace is sufficient.