By Rev. Thomas L. Lewis Sr.
God loves you
Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,
It is with a glad heart that I welcome you this morning, for those who are visiting and for those who are home, I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is truly a good thing to know that with all the hell going on in the world, we have been given a place to come to, where we are made safe. Truly we serve a loving and merciful God. A GOD WHO IN SPITE OF OURSELVES, LOVES US. A GOD WHO IN SPITE OF OURSELVES, CARES FOR US. A GOD WHO IN SPITE OF OURSELVES, SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, to die for us.
Truly a loving and merciful God.
choir: "Your grace and mercy brought me through, I'm living this moment because of you and I want to thank you and praise to cause your grace and mercy brought me through."
(music playing softly) Father God I thank this morning for the preaching moment, for this a teaching moment, but surely not a moment for me, but a moment for you to come a dwell with your children, Father I pray that you would touch my hands that they may do the healing you have called them to do, touch my heart that it may remain pure, touch my mind that it may only think on those things which are good, touch my ears that they may here what the spirit has to say to the church,touch my eyes that they may be focused upon
your cross, and then Father touch my lips which you molded of clay that they may speak with thus sayeth
the Lord. Father God give these words power in the proclamation, POWER TO DO HEALING, POWER TO SET THE CAPTIVES AT LIBERTY, POWER TO GIVE PEACE to a weary soul. Come holy spirit with all thine quickening power and shed abroad a savior's love in these cold hearts of ours, AMEN, Amen, and amen.
If you will open your Bibles to the second Epistle Paul had written to the church in Corinth for those
who are not word literate second Corinthians chpt.4 versus 8 and 9. while you are searching your
scriptures let me sing these few words " Falling in love with Jesus, falling in love in with Jesus, falling in love with Jesus is the best thing I ever, ever done, In His arms I feel protected, in His arms I feel protected, in His arms I feel protected and there's no place I'd rather, rather be." All being on one accord let us stand in reverence to Gods word. Here Paul records these words "We are Troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;....." May God add a blessing to the reading and hearing of his most holy word,
Amen.
Look to your neighbor, say neighbor oh neighbor is there a but in your life. I won't be before you long BUT, for a few minutes I would like to speak to you from the topic the BUT factor.
Here Paul writes to a troubled church to let them know that in there affliction, that God still gives
comfort. That we are not forgotten in the midst of our troubles, he reassures that God who sits on high is
still looking on low, that God is concerned about his children. that in every life there is going to be some
trouble, there's going Tobe SOME BILLS WE CAN'T PAY, THREATS OF EVICTION, SOME SICKNESS WE CAN'T HEAL, SOME PAIN WE MUST ENDURE, SOME CHILDREN WHO DON'T LISTEN, AN UNCARING SPOUSE, FRIENDS WHO TURN THEIR BACKS AT
THE WRONG TIME, AND FOR ALL OF THIS TROUBLE GOD GAVE US A BUT, YES A BUT, when he said yes, I will be your provider, I will be your healer, I will be your comforter. right here and we've just scratched the surface.
Then Paul goes on to say we are perplexed, BUT not in despair. Perplexed is a state of confusion but God
said that I'm not a God of confusion. this is to say we are going to go through some things in life we can't explain but I won't you to know that God said I will give you peace that transcends all of man understanding..
That we are persecuted, but not forsaken. Persecution to go through torment be it physical, or mental. but
there is a but for you to God says you have not been forsaken, oh I feel like preaching now, Cause I can
remember when I was down and out there was a God that
put a but in my life, FOR THE DRUG ADDICT THERE'S A
BUT, A HIGH LIKE NO OTHER, THE ALCOHOLIC THERE'S A
BUT, A DRUNK YOU'VE NEVER SEEN, FOR THE SICK, THERE'S
BUT, A HEALING LIKE NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN, AND FOR YOU
WHO HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE WORLD THERE'S A BUT FOR YOU
TO, THE BUT THAT SAYS SATAN YOU ALMOST HAD BUT YOU LET
ME GET TO THE ALTER, CANCER YOU ALMOST HAD ME , BUT
YOU LET ME GET TO THE ALTER, ADULTERY YOU JUST ABOUT
HAD ME BUT YOU LET ME GET TO MY KNEES, ALL I WANT TO
SAY IS WHEN LIFE IS BRINGING YOU DOWN JUST LOOK TO THE
HILLS FROM WHENCE COMETH YOUR HELP AND I PROMISE THERE
WILL BE BUT IN YOUR LIFE, I DARE YOU, COME ON I DARE
YOU TO TRY HIM, THERE IS A BUT FOR YOU AME, AMEN,
amen,amen, HALLELUJAH!!!!!
At this time we will prepare to show our appreciation
for the but God has put into our lives the trustees
will come to take up this mornings offering. thank you
God bless. Trustees In Charge
It is time for prayer how many know that prayer
changes things, how many know that God listens and
moves upon the prayers of the righteous.
Heavenly father, the Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Father that sits on High and Looks down low, the Father that sticks closer than any brother. We thank you for the but, we thank you for the love you showed us Lord now we pray that bless all those who are underneath the sound of my weak voice, touch them bless them with the blessing you see they stand in the need of, some healing, some peace and just need a listening ear,and some just your love,we love and thank you and if you would answer just a few of these request we will be sure to give your name all the honor and all the glory counting and receiving it has being done in Jesus name Amen, Amen, and Amen.
Now as we prepare to leave May the countenance of the Father rest rule and abide With you now hence forth and forever more and let the redeem of the Lord say,
Amen
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