|
TEXT: Ps 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. INTRO: When Queen Elizabeth's mother - affectionately known to the British as the "Queen Mum" - died at the age of 101, reporters did a lot of reflecting on her special place in British hearts. Much of it was traced to the way she stood by and supported her husband, the king - as well as the British people - during the darkest days of World War II. Night after night, the German bombers would rain down destruction on England's largest cities. London lived largely underground at night, trying desperately to hold out against Hitler's determination to conquer their little nation. At one point, there was a rumor that Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret - then just little girls - were going to be sent to another country for their safety. When the "Queen Mum" was asked about that, this was her famous reply: "The girls can't leave unless I leave and go with them, and I can't leave unless the King leaves. And the King will never leave." TRANSITION: “The King Will Never Leave." That's a powerful promise - especially when the hour is very dark. 1. Unloseable Hug It's a promise you have,from the King of all kings. One of the most amazing, most significant promises Jesus Christ ever made is contained in these eight words from Hebrews 13:5 "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." No loopholes. No room for disappointment or a change of heart. The Son of God promises to every person who belongs to Him that He will never leave them. Which may be the kind of unloseable love, the kind of anchor-relationship you need - because there have been way too many people who did leave. Someone who's reading right now knows what it is to be abandoned, to be betrayed, to be disappointed, or dropped, or ignored. Or maybe you've lost people close to you - by their choice or by their death. When God gives a hug, He never lets go! But sometimes we’re so used to being dissapointed, we refuse to trust that hug! Are you letting God hug you? Are you relaxing in His arms? When He’s holding on, you can let go! Will you? Will you trust Him? Take a chance on others? Embrace yourGod back and grow!? Ps 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 2. His Persisant Way All the time God has been preparing you for the One who will never leave you, and that's Jesus Christ. And it's almost ironic that He's our never-leaving One because of all the times we have left Him. According to the Bible, "We have all gone our own way" (Isaiah 53:6) rather than His way. We've lied when we should have told the truth, we've made so many things more important than Him in our life, we've done things with our body, our mind, our mouth, the people we love that we never should have done. But in spite of our turning our back on God and His plans for us, He has not turned His back on us. Ps 37:25 I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. The 4 parts to God’s Love: 1. Benevolence - Father care for the well being of His children! 2. Grace - Unmerited Innocence 3. Mercy - Pity on our state. 4. Persistance - Patiently waiting and continually picking us up! In His love He not only refused to turn Hid back on us but instead He sent Jesus, His Son, to die to pay for everything we've done against Him! Jesus with arms open wide on the cross is Him waiting for you to come and get His embrace! Ps 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 3. Behold His Hands! Here's what He says in Isaiah 49 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! I have engraved you on the palms of My hands." Look at that same Jesus’ hands on the cross, what do you see? The pain of loving you! But that gone and healed and forgotten now right? Joh 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. Jesus has His impression of love even after He is ressurected! Re 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And agin in eternity our God will always have His love impressed on Him. Do you? Do you love Him enough to take some pain? Love hurts in a fallen world, and brothers that is our calling. Jesus on the cross went brefore us and assured our home where love heals! Like Thomas, Behold His hands and believe, in His love for you - always! Not just when your looking ggod or doing right, but when your covered in sins mud and actively evil! Jesus looks at His hands and He sees there the nail prints that are there because of how much He loves you. Will you recieve His love? Will you return it to Him? and those around you! 2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; [we are] perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Isn't it time you resigned from running your own life. The bombs may be falling. The hour may be dark. Others may not be there for you. But once you give yourself to King Jesus, the King will never leave! You have His word on it. You have His life on it. |