19th March 2017 - Liam Parker - Generous During the Tough Times

19^th March 2017 – Liam Parker

Generous During the Tough Times

Bible Verse: Psalms 136

God wants us to know how generous he has been to us in the past, so that in the tough times we can remind ourselves of His generous love, to have hope.

‘His love endures forever’… through the generations.

Enduring Love

The phrase ‘enduring love’ is exactly that… it endures. It is important that we know that we are bound to go through trails in life, and that we will have to endure. Its then that we can claim that we endure. We don’t endure in the good times in life – these are blessings. We endure through the difficult times.

Psalms 136 was a worship song sung in the temple and sung by the army as it headed into battle. They reminded themselves of the good things that God had done and that He will continue to endure. It is a battle song…a battle cry.

Let’s use this Psalm and the enduing love as our battle cry through our current situations.

God at the Start and the Centre

The Psalm puts God at the start. We often talk about putting Jesus at the centre but He also needs to be the start of our decisions and problems. He must be the first thought, the emergency contact on our life. In the UK, life has become comfortable. When compared to rest of world. This becomes a problem as we rely on our circumstances and objects too much. Then we start to relate to Gods love as to how well our circumstances are, and when things go wrong we start to question Him. However, God is with us in the good times but doesn’t leave us when life gets difficult. Don’t measure God by your circumstances.

God’s love endures before, during and after I am here on earth. Hence, we should maintain the same expectations regardless of what we see before us or the circumstances we are in.

All the characters in the bible went through circumstances and carried on walking knowing that Gods love endures forever.

We need to go to God first in all our circumstances: for finances, help and support. We often try and solve it ourselves first, then we go to our parents or friends and then God (last). But we should go to God first. He gives us the correct attitude and is the first voice we should listen to…..’Seek First the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you’.

Personal Growth

Psalm 136 Refers to the time in Egypt when the Israelites were oppressed as slaves. It was a tough time, for a long time. Some people were born a slave and died a slave. BUT His love endured forever. God was doing a lot in Egypt before He lifted them out of the situation. In our lives, before He lifts us out of the situation, He will provide for you in the mist. God used the Egyptians to provide for the Israelites. The Israelites also grew in number during this time. We need to remember that we grow as we go through our challenging season.

Gods unique love is amazing: the more opposition to Gods love – the more it grows.

Allowing God to Do His Work

We need to stop controlling the circumstances we are in and start focusing on growing our relationship with God in the situation. He will then flip the situation around.

Patience and love then grows in us to allow us to handle the situation. As per Romans 5.

When we go through tough times we need to celebrate and give glory to God as it builds character.  However, we must go through the suffering WITH Him. We shouldn’t walk it alone. When we walk alone we are trying to control the situation and not letting God do his work. Read John 15 – the vine and the branches.

The situation that’s causing you to feel less peace IS the situation that God can use to give you more, when you focus on God.

Psalms 136: It refers to the Kings that Israel overcame: Cross Reference Numbers 21 and the many battles. The Israelites had to march through the Kings land. They asked permission to do so and were told no. The army came out against them. They then came across the second Kings army that was twice as big. We have moments in life when tough circumstances occur, we get through it and then even tougher circumstances follow. However, God spoke to Moses and they beat both armies.

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t matter how big your situation is if you walk it with God. Let’s not place our hope in people, finances etc. Only and firstly trust in God’s love as it endures forever. Let’s go to him first.

Questions:

1. Read Psalms 136 together as a group – each taking one verse at a time
2. Can you share with your group a trial that you have gone through in the past – where you experienced Gods Enduring Love.
3. Is there a trial in your life that you are going through RIGHT NOW - that you need to remind yourself of His love that endures?
4. Pray for each other – for the challenges and situations that each of you know Gods Enduring Love on you

Take your requests to God – go first to Him and seek Him. Ask God to intervene. Stop relying on others.

 

Remind yourself of what God has done in your life. Keep your hope alive. Remind yourself regularly. Carry those things daily as they remind you of the hope during your circumstances.

 

Take things to God first. Glorify God in the situation. Walk through the situation with Him.