Advertise on podcast: Haddington Elim Church

You will be encouraged today by this message from Elaine Berrick. Sometimes when we are facing things, we may know how or even what to pray. We can take comfort knowing that the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us!

Last week we looked at keeping our lamps lit and to be ready for Jesus’ return and to stay faithful. The Bible speaks a lot about being ready, prepared, alert and awake and faithful. The contrast is to be asleep, distracted or unaware. We looked at Demas, who when the persecution increased, he turned away from the faith and Paul. This is always a danger for each of us. We can think that what we are facing is beyond our ability to bear. We can decide to turn away and leave the faith. The saints of old sand songs like, “ I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.” We need endurance and tenacity to continue on when the road is hard. This is an area where the Holy Spirit helps us. He leads us and guides us. He strengthens and encourages us. His Word is a lamp for our feet and a light to our path. When the way is hard and the path is dark, we trust that He will guide us and keep our feet from slipping.

The last few weeks I have been speaking about being prepared and locked in. As I mentioned, the Bible has a lot to say about this. Also I mentioned, there were several articles in the BBC about preparedness as the threat of something happening is becoming very real. The Bible also says to not be afraid, do not fear the future. We are alert and aware of the times we are in.  The early Church lived and ministered under the strong arm of Rome. They were arrested and some killed. Our days are no less perilous than those early days. Evil and wickedness seem to be on the rise, but throughout history, they have been there. The early Church not only survived but thrived during extreme persecution.  We looked at Jesus telling a parable about 10 maidens attending a wedding banquet. Some were wise and some foolish regarding oil for their lamps.  The New Testament further emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance. Jesus' parables and teachings frequently use the imagery of watchfulness to encourage believers to remain faithful and alert.

In the day in which we live, we may have encountered people who are fair-weathered friends. People make their promises but before long, they break them. We can be hurt and wounded along the way. It is hard to find someone who is faithful. We serve a God Who is faithful. He is a God Who keeps His promises. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He changes not! We can count on Him as much today as anyone listed in the Bible. He is the same God Who parted the Red Sea and still keeps us everyday of our lives too. He is faithful! Faithful means steadfast in affection or allegiance, firm in keeping promises, and true to one’s duty—one that is worthy of trust We can look no further than the nation of Israel.They had forsaken Him, walked away, set up and worshiped idols, sacrificed their children in the fire, disobeyed time and again yet God never wavered in His faithfulness to them. God has remained as faithful to them as the day He made His covenant with Abraham. When God says that it is a perpetual covenant, He means it! When God says forever, it is forever! Who can stop what God has spoken?

A few weeks ago, I spoke about how God is our Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep and they know His voice. As the Good Shepherd, He knows what He is doing and knows what we need. He leads us beside the still waters, into green pastures and prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. In Him, we find rest and can enter into His presence with joy. Last week Sheri gave us a timely message about how God pursues us! He doesn’t want one lost and goes to great lengths to find the one! He keeps at it until it is found! Let’s look again at Jesus’ words in John 10. John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

We have been looking at how our God is the Good Shepherd. He lays down His life for the sheep. Sheri brings this message this week about how God pursues us. He would leave the ninety-nine to search for the one-Until He Finds It! God is searching for each of you. Will you hear His voice calling out your name? We hope you are encouraged by this message.

This week we’re looking at how God is our Good Shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The word translated “good” means “intrinsically good, beautiful, fair.” It describes that which is the ideal, the model that others may safely imitate and follow. God’s goodness was permanently in His character and His nature. To call Jesus “good” is the same as calling Him “God”.    The Good Shepherd purchases the sheep, and they are His because He died for them. They belong to Him, and He cares for them. In Scotland there are loads of sheep. You don’t need to drive too long before you see sheep. One thing we don’t see here, compared to other cultures, are shepherds. In Romania, we saw shepherds who stayed with the sheep at all times. To be fair they have wolves and bears there and have to keep them safe.  Psalm 23 is a beautiful description of how the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. In the pastures, by the waters, and even through the valleys, the sheep do not need to fear, because the shepherd is caring for them and meeting their needs. If you connect Psalm 23:1 and verse 6, you get the main theme: “I shall not want … all the days of my life.”

Our God is Mighty to Save! His arm is not short nor is He unable to help. Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Saviour [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.  What a picture of our God! Our God saves! The LORD is in our midst with the power to save.  Save can mean to keep someone or something from dying, being injured, or getting destroyed, We often underestimate the joy God has in His people, and too often think God is annoyed or irritated with us. He rejoices over us with joy! He sings over us like a mother sings to their children. We have this idea in our minds that He is an angry God always ready to smite someone, but Jesus said if you’ve seen Him, you’ve seen the Father.  The people of God can sing and shout because of all that God has done for us. He has taken away our punishment, defeated our enemies, and come to dwell in us. God holds us next to His heart like a loving mother holds a baby; He quiets us with His love, and He even sings to us!

We have been looking at the Kingdom Principle of sowing and reaping. We will reap what we sow. We also looked at the most popular message any church can give, about giving, giving of our time, talent and treasure. To tithe or not to tithe that is the question. That would have been a witty title for last week’s message. We can sow heavenward and reap both in this life, and the life to come. God sees everything! I mentioned last week that God is a giver and gives us blessings that we could never earn. He gives them through grace, His unmerited favour. He is generous and loves us dearly.   With all He has given us and will continue to bless us with, how can we withhold anything from Him?  There isn’t a good thing He withholds from us.  Romans 8:32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?

We can’t stop sowing and pressing forward. In Him we live, and move and have our being. We walk by faith and not by sight. If a farmer waited until all the variables were right to plant his field, he may be waiting for years. He sows in faith believing that he will reap a harvest.  Another way we sow is by our giving. Whether we tithe, give an offering or volunteer our time, our giving/sowing to His Kingdom will bring in a harvest. Our faithful giving enables God’s Kingdom to expand in the earth.

The Bible teaches us a Kingdom Principle called sowing and reaping. We will reap what we've sown. A farmer sows seed expecting a harvest at the end of the season. In the same way, we sow seeds, either to the flesh or to the Spirit. One day we will reap a harvest from those seeds we've sown. Sow wisely!

I see a real weariness coming over people in the church. One way satan may be attacking Christians is by simply wearing them down. We’re seemingly too tired to fight. When we are going through things, they appear as if they will never end. The enemy always uses every opportunity to magnify the problems and diminish God’s power in our eyes. It is like a spirit of slumber that hits like a freight train coming against God’s people.  So how do we overcome these feelings of weariness? Weary: Physically or mentally tired; Expressive of or prompted by tiredness.Having one's interest, forbearance, or indulgence worn out. We are not only finding ourselves tired physically but mentally. Our emotions are tired going from one extreme to the other. Our minds are tired from the onslaught of media and other sources pumping out information. It’s sometimes too much to process. It’s like when a computer is overloaded and cannot keep up with the information being sent. It lags and can crash. We can too.

The Bible says many are called but few are chosen. Jesus is still calling for disciples. How will we respond to His call? Listen today and be encouraged.

Many times our entire lives can boil down to one decision. God gives us free will and we can make choices in life. We do, however, need to live with the consequences of those decisions. With the choices we have, I implore you to make a good decision today! Choose Christ!

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Sin can hold us back. But there are also things that may not be sin (every weight) but are merely hindrances that can keep us from running effectively the race God has for us. We must use discernment to distinguish what it is that is keeping us back.  Our choices are not always between right and wrong, but between something that may hinder us and something else that may not. Is there a weight in your life you must lay aside? We are called to follow Jesus. That is our call and mission. If something is hindering us or keeping us from our pursuit, we must not allow it to control us.