Subject: Sermon: "Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord Will Provide!" THEME: THE NAMES OF GOD! (1) SUBJECT: "JEHOVAH-JIREH, THE LORD WILL PROVIDE!" TEXT: GENSIS 22:14, "AND ABRAHAM CALLED THE NAME OF THAT PLACE JEHOVAH-JIREH: AS IT SAID TO THIS DAY, IN THE MOUNT OF THE LORD IT SHALL BE SEEN." INTRODUCTION: THE NAMES OF GOD HOLDS AN IMPORTANT KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE DOCTRINE OF GOD AND THE DOCTRINE OF REVELATION. THE NAME OF GOD IS A PERSONAL DISCLOSURE AND REVEALS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE. HIS NAME IS KNOWN ONLY BECAUSE HE CHOOSES TO MAKE IT KNOWN. TO THE HEBREW MIND, GOD WAS BOTH HIDDEN AND REVEALED, TRANSCENDENT AND INSTINCTIVE. EVEN THOUGH HE WAS MYSTERIOUS, LOFTY, AND UNAPPROACHABLE, HE BRIDGED THE GAP WITH HUMANKIND BY REVEALING HIS NAME. THE TRUTH OF GOD'S CHARACTER IS FOCUSED IN HIS NAME. THE DIVINE NAME REVEALS GOD'S POWER, AUTHORITY, AND HOLINESS. THIS ACCOUNTS FOR ISRAEL'S GREAT REVERENCE FOR GOD'S NAME. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS PROHIBITED THE VIOLATION OF GOD'S NAME EX.20:7, "THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY GOD IN VAIN; FOR FOR THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN." DEUT.5:11, SAYS THE SAME THING! PROPHETS SPOKE WITH AUTHORITY WHEN THEY UTTERED GOD'S NAME. OATHS TAKEN IN GOD'S NAME WERE CONSIDERED BINDING, AND BATTLES FOUGHT IN THE NAME OF GOD WERE VICTORIOUS. OTHER NATIONS WOULD FEAR ISRAEL, NOT BECAUSE IT WAS A MIGHTY NATION, BUT BECAUSE IT PAGE 2. CON'T RALLIED UNDER THE LORD'S NAME. IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, GOD'S NAME IS MANIFESTED MOST CLEARLY IN JESUS CHRIST. HE IS CALLED "THE WORD" (JN.1:1), AND JESUS HIMSELF REVEALED THE NAME OF GOD. JN.17:6, "I HAVE MANIFESTED THY NAME UNTO THE MEN WHICH THOU GAVEST ME OUT OF THE WORLD: THINE THEY WERE, AND THOU GAVEST THEM ME; AND THEY HAVE KEPT THY WORD." GOD'S NAME IS HIS PROMISE TO DWELL WITH HIS PEOPLE! JN.15:26, "BUT WHEN THE COMFORTER IS COME, WHOM I WILL SEND UNTO YOU FROM THE FATHER, EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, WHICH PROCEEDETH FROM THE FATHER, HE SHALL TESTIFY OF ME..." JN.14:26, "BUT THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING ALL THINGS TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU." DOWN THROUGH THE AGES, GOD HAS ALWAYS PROVIDED FOR HIS CHILDREN. WHEN THERE WAS NO WAY HE MADE A WAY. SINCE HE PROVIDED A HELPMATE FOR ADAM, UNTIL THIS DAY, HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL IN PROVIDING. 1.) PROVIDED A SACRIFICE - GEN.22:13. A. "AND ABRAHAM LIFTED UP HIS EYES, AND LOOKED, AND BEHOLD BEHIND HIM A RAM CAUGHT IN A THICKET BY HIS HORNS: AND ABRAHAM WENT AND TOOK THE RAM, AND OFFERED HIM UP FOR A BURNT OFFERING IN THE STEAD OF HIS SON." B. FROM GOD'S TEST OF ABRAHAM WE LEARN THAT: PAGE 3. CON'T 1. GOD SOMETIMES TESTS THE FAITH OF HIS CHILDREN: 1 PET.1:6-7. "WHEREIN YE GREATLY REJOICE, THOUGH NOW FOR A SEASON, IF NEED BE, YE ARE IN HEAVINESS THROUGH MANIFOLD TEMPTATIONS: THAT THE TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH, BEING MUCH MORE PRECIOUS THAN OF GOLD THAT PERISHETH, THOUGH IT BE TRIED WITH FIRE, MIGHT BE FOUND UNTO PRAISE AND HONOUR AND GLORY AT THE APPEARING OF JESUS CHRIST..." JAMES 1:2-3. "MY BRETHREN, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YE FALL INTO DIVERS TEMP- TATIONS; KNOWING THIS, THAT THE TRYING OF YOUR FAITH WORKETH PATI- ENCE." C. TESTINGS WILL DEVELOP THREE KIND OF PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH. THEY ARE: 1. ROWBOAT PEOPLE! 2. SAILBOAT PEOPLE! 3. STEAMBOAT PEOPLE! D. ROWBOAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE PUSHED OR SHOVED ALONG. SAILBOAT PEOPLE MOVE WHEN A FAVORABLE WIND IS BLOWING. STEAMBOAT PEOPLE MOVE CONTINUOUSLY, THROUGH CALM OR STORM. THEY LEARN HOW TO MASTER THEIR SORROUNDINGS! E. WE NEED TO LEARN THAT TESTING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AN HONOR FOR THE CHILD OF GOD! 1 PET.4:12-14. "BELOVED, THINK IT NOT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL PAGE 4. CON'T WHICH IS TO TRY YOU, AS THOUGH SOME STRANGE THING HAPPENED UNTO YOU: BUT REJOICE, INASMUCH AS YE ARE PARTAKERS OF CHRIST'S SUFFER- INGS; THAT, WHEN HIS GLORY SHALL BE REVEALED, YE MAY BE GLAD ALSO WITH EXCEEDING JOY. IF YE BE REPROACHED(i.e. Rail at) FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, HAPPY ARE YE; FOR THE SPIRIT OF GLORY AND OF GOD RESTETH UPON YOU: ON THEIR PART HE IS EVIL SPOKEN OF, BUT ON YOUR PART HE IS GLORIFIED." F. SECOND, THROUGH FIERY TRIALS GOD ALLOWS YOU TO SHARE IN HIS SUFFERING AND FORMS WITHIN YOU THE QUALITY OF CHARACTER HE DESIRES. ROM.5:3-5. "AND NOT ONLY SO, BUT WE GLORY IN TRIBULATION ALSO: KNOWING THAT TRIBULATION WORKETH PATIENCE; AND PATIENCE, EXPERIENCE; AND EXPERIENCE, HOPE: AND HOPE MAKETH NOT ASHAMED; BECAUSE THE LOVE OF GOD IS SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO YOU." G. IN THE MIDST OF YOUR TRIBULATIONS GOD'S GRACE ENABLES US TO SEEK HIS FACE MORE DILIGENTLY AND PRODUCES IN US A PERSEVERING SPIRIT AND CHARACTER THAT OVERCOME THE TRIALS AND TROUBLES OF LIFE. H. INSTEAD OF DRIVING US TO DESPAIR AND HOPELESSNESS, TRIBULATION BRINGS FORTH PERSEVERANCE, PERSEVERANCE BRINGS FORTH PROVEN CHARACTER(V.4), AND PROVEN CHARACTER RESULTS IN A MATURE HOPE PAGE 5. CON'T THAT WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED (V.5). I. WE LEARN THAT GOD IS THE PROVIDER, THAT ENABLES US TO OVERCOME ANY CIRCUMSTANCE THAT BEFALLS OUR LIVES! REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY MIGHT BE! J. GOD'S GRACE ENABLES US TO LOOK BEYOND OUR PRESENT PROBLEMS TO A FERVENT HOPE IN GOD AND A CERTAIN HOPE FOR THE RETURN OF OUR LORD TO ESTABLISH RIGHTEOUSNESS AND GODLINESS IN THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH.(1 THESS.4:13). K. IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE ON THIS EARTH, WE HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD SHED ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY GHOST IN ORDER TO COM- FORT US IN OUR TRIALS AND BRING CHRIST'S PRESENCE NEAR. JN.14:16-21. "AND I WILL PRAY THE FATHER, AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU FOR EVER; EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, BE- CAUSE IT SEETH HIM NOT, NEITHER KNOWETH HIM: BUT YE KNOW HIM; FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU. I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS: I WILL COME TO YOU. YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND THE WORLD SEETH ME NO MORE; BUT YE SEE ME: BECAUSE I LIVE, YE SHALL LIVE ALSO. AT THAT DAY YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM IN MY FATHER, AND YE IN ME, AND I IN YOU. HE THAT HATH MY COMMANDMENTS, AND KEEPETH THEM, HE IT IS THAT LOVETH ME: AND HE THAT LOVETH ME SHALL BE LOVED OF MY FATHER, AND I WILL LOVE HIM, AND WILL MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM." PAGE 6. CON'T L. AS ABRAHAM BEGAN TO PERFORM THE SACRIFICE (GEN.22:10), GOD SAW THAT HE HAD MADE THE ULTIMATE SURRENDER IN HIS HEART. THE LORD NOW KNEW THAT ABRAHAM WAS A GOD-FEARING MAN WHOSE CHIEF CONCERN WAS TO DO GOD'S WILL. M. THE NAME OF JEHOVAH-JIREH IS A TESTIMONY TO GOD'S DELIVERANCE! 2.) PROVIDES SALVATION - PS.27:1. A. "THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE; OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?" B. EVERY CHRISTIAN DESIRES TO HAVE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION, THAT IS, THE CERTAINTY THAT WHEN CHRIST RETURNS OR DEATH COMES, HE OR SHE WILL GO TO BE WITH THE LORD JESUS IN HEAVEN. C. 1 JN.5:13. "THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT YE MAY BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD." D. CONSIDER THESE POINTS: 1. WE HAVE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE IF WE BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD! 1 JN.5:13. 2. WE HAVE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE IF WE ARE HONORING CHRIST AS LORD OF OUR LIVES AND ARE SINCERELY SEEKING TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS (1 JN.2:3-5). "AND HEREBY WE DO KNOW THAT WE KNOW HIM, IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. HE THAT SAITH, I KNOW HIM, AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMAND- MENTS, IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM. PAGE 7. CON'T BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD, IN HIM VERILY IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED: HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE ARE IN HIM." 3. WE HAVE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE IF WE LOVE THE FATHER AND THE SON RATHER THAN THE WORLD, AND IF WE OVERCOME THE INFL- UENCE OF THE WORLD. 1 JN.2:15-17. (READ) 4. WE HAVE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE IF WE HABITUALLY AND PER- SISTENTLY PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS RATHER THAN SIN. 1 JN.2:29. "IF WE KNOW THAT HE IS RIGHTEOUS, YE KNOW THAT EVERY ONE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS BORN OF HIM." 5. WE HAVE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE IF WE LOVE THE BRETHREN. 1 JN.3:14-15. "WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE, BECAUSE WE LOVE THE BRETHREN, HE THAT LOVETH NOT HIS BROTHER ABID- ETH IN DEATH. WHOSOEVER HATETH HIS BROTHER IS A MURDERER: AND YE KNOW THAT NO MURDERER HATH ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING IN HIM." 6. WE HAVE ASSURANCE OF ETERNAL LIFE IF WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF HOLY SPIRIT DWELLING WITHIN US. 1 JN. 3:24. "...AND HEREBY WE KNOW THAT HE (JESUS CHRIST) ABIDETH IN US, BY THE SPIRIT WHICH HE HATH GIVEN US." E. THE ONLY TRUE JOYIOUS PEOPLE ON EARTH, ARE SAVED PEOPLE! THE WORLD MAY HAVE A JOY FOR SEASON, BUT IT DOSEN'T LAST. ONLY CHRIST GIVES REAL JOY! PAGE 8. CON'T 3.) PROVIDES FOR YOUR FUTURE LIFE! JN.14:1-3. A. "LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO." B. 1 THESS.4:16-17. "FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST: THEN WE WHICH ARE LIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD." C. ROM.13:11. "AND THAT, KNOWING THE TIME, THAT NOW IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP: FOR NOW IS OUR SALVATION NEARER THAN WHEN WE BELIEVED." D. ST.LK.12:35-40. "LET YOUR LOINS BE GIRDED ABOUT, AND YOUR LIGHTS BURNING; AND YE YOURSELVES LIKE UNTO MEN THAT WAIT FOR THEIR LORD, WHEN HE WILL RETURN FROM THE WEDDING; THAT WHEN HE COMETH AND KNOCKETH, THEY MAY OPEN UNTO HIM IMMEDIATELY. BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS, WHOM THE LORD WHEN HE COMETH SHALL FIND WATCHING: VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT HE SHALL PAGE 9. CON'T GIRD HIMSELF, AND MAKE THEM SIT DOWN TO MEAT, AND WILL COME FORTH AND SERVE THEM. AND IF HE SHALL COME IN THE SECOND WATCH, OR COME IN THE THIRD WATCH, AND FIND THEM SO, BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS. AND THIS KNOW, THAT IF THE GOODMAN OF THE HOUSE HAD KNOWN WHAT HOUR THE THIEF WOULD COME, HE WOULD HAVE WATCHED, AND NOT HAVE SUFFERED HIS HOUSE TO BE BROKEN THROUGH. BE YE THEREFORE READY ALSO: FOR THE SON OF MAN COMETH AT AN HOUR WHEN YE THINK NOT." E. 1 COR.15:51-52. "BEHOLD, I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY; WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT, IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, AND THE DEAD SHALL BE RAISED IN- CORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED." 4.) PROVIDES LIFE! - JN.10:10. A. "THE THIEF COMETH NOT, BUT FOR TO STEAL, AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY: I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY." B. JN.11:25. "HE THAT LOVETH HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT; AND HE THAT HATETH HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD SHALL KEEP IT UNTO LIFE ETERNAL. C. HATING ONE'S OWN LIFE POINTS TO THE ATTITUDE THAT VALUES HEAV- ENLY AND SPIRITUAL INTERESTS FAR ABOVE THOSE OF THIS EARTH. THE BELIEVER PLACES LITTLE IMPORTANCE IN THE PLEASURES, PHIL- PAGE 10. CON'T OSOPHIES, SUCESSES, VALUES, GOALS, OR WAYS OF THE WORLD. THIS TYPE OF PERSON WILL GAIN "LIFE ETERNAL," FOR HE COUNTS NOTHING IN THIS WORLD SO DEAR THAT HE WILL NOT GIVE IT UP FOR THE SAKE OF THE LORD. D. MATT.16:24-26. "THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIS DISCIPLES, IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME. FOR WHOSOEVER WILL SAVE HIS LIFE SHALL LOSE IT: AND WHOSOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE SHALL FIND IT. FOR WHAT IS A MAN PROFITED, IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL? OR WHAT SHALL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS SOUL?" E. DO YOU WANT THIS LIFE? IT BEGINS WHEN YOU ACCEPT CHRIST? F. GOD IS OUR PROVIDER. HE WILL PROVIDE FOR ALL WE NEED! WHEN WE ACCEPT HIM, WE ARE IN HIS FAMILY, AND OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL TAKE CARE OF US. CONCLUSION: IF YOU DESIRE, GOD WILL BE YOUR PROVIDER. BUT YOU MUST ASK HIM TO BE!