Experiencing the Care of Jesus
I. The God you can trust
a. Trials bring doubts
i. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 “Paul’s difficulties brought doubts”
ii. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “Troubles are all around us – pressing us from every side”
iii. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 “God’s power made perfect through weakness”
b. Does God care?
i. Exodus 14:10-14 - “The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still”
ii. I Peter 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you”
iii. If you are not sure what to do, allow God to take the lead.
c. God’s concern in motion
i. Psalm 109:21 – “God’s love is good and will deliver me”
ii. 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 “not rely on ourselves but on God”
iii. Luke 1:37 – “nothing is impossible for God”
iv. God will fight for us. We just need to trust.
d. Entrusting ourselves to His care
i. Matthew 6:28-33 “Seek first His kingdom and God will give you what you need”
ii. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me you who are weary and I will give you rest”
iii. Isaiah 40:11 – “He tends his flock like a shepherd, gathering us in His arms”
e. His care is enough
i. Ephesians 1:19-20 – “God’s power is very great for those who believe”
ii. Psalm 46:1 – “God is present in our times of trouble”
iii. Isaiah 41:10 – “He strengthens us”
iv. 2 Corinthians 9:8 – “God is able to make all grace abound to you , so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”
II. God’s provision
a. The secret of success
i. The power you need is really a power you already have. Just look deep enough, long enough, and there’s nothing you cannot do.
ii. Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty”
b. God provides the Spirit
i. Galatians 3:3 – “After beginning by means of the Spirit, now you finish by means of the flesh?”
ii. Matthew 10:19-20 – “The Spirit of the Father speaks through you”
iii. John 6:63 – “The Spirit gives life”
iv. John 14:26 – “The Spirit teaches and reminds us of Christ’s teachings”
v. John 16:13 – “The Spirit guides us into truth”
vi. Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit so he can care for us in our time of need.
c. From the inside out
i. John 14:16-17 – “The Spirit of truth lives with you and is in you”
ii. Ezekiel 36:26-27 – “And I will put my Spirit in you”
iii. Acts 15:8-9 – “God showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did us. He made no distinction between us and them”
iv. Romans 5:5 – “God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he as given us.”
v. Jesus’ gift of the Holy Spirit is a tangible expression of his care and concern.
vi. I Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you received from God”
vii. The dwelling place of God is in us.
III. Jesus – God’s gift to the world
a. Who cares about our world?
i. Joshua 1:9 – “Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go”
ii. Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God”
iii. John 14:27 – “my peace I give you…Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid”
iv. No matter how out-of-control things appear, we are not to be afraid.
b. God’s promise to care for us
i. 2 Corinthians 1:18-20 – “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘yes’ in Christ.”
ii. Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold unswervingly to hope…for he who promised is faithful”
iii. 2 Peter 1:3-4 – “he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, and escape the corruption in the world”
iv. God has kept all of His promises.
c. The power of a promise
i. Acts 13:23 – “God brought to Israel the Savior Jesus”
ii. Acts 13:32-33 – “What God promised our fathers, he has fulfilled for us…by raising up Jesus”
iii. Matthew 24:13 – “he who stands firm to the end will be saved”
iv. James 1:12 – “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, he shall receive the crown of life that God has promised”
v. Nothing and no one can thwart God’s promise to save us.
IV. The Gift of Unhappiness
a. The search for satisfaction
i. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 – “He has set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done”
ii. What the Bible says about satisfaction. Psalm 145:16, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Isaiah 55:2, Luke 6:21
iii. Our heart longs for satisfaction
b. Hunger for Heaven
i. Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven
ii. Psalm 49:16-17 – no matter how much wealth you attain, you can’t take it with you.
iii. Haggai 1:6 – whatever it is, it is never enough.
iv. 2 Corinthians 4:18 – it’s all temporary
v. Matthew 6:19 – things wear out or get stolen, so don’t store up treasures on earth
c. Not at home
i. 1 Peter 2:11 “we are like foreigners and strangers in this world”
ii. You will never be completely satisfied on earth, because you were not made for earth.
iii. Hebrews 11:13-16 – “they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one”
d. Until we get home
i. We will only be satisfied when we reach heaven
ii. Moses longed to see God Exodus 33:18 – “Please show me your glory”
iii. The beauty of heaven is seeing God
e. God alone satisfies us
i. Psalm 17:15 – “I will be satisfied seeing your likeness”
ii. Nothing on earth can satisfy our deepest longing – to see God.
V. God knows your name
a. Derailed dreams
i. What is the difference between changing direction in your life and losing your passion?
ii. Does God care about our dreams? Psalm 55:22, Nahum 1:7, 1 Peter 5:7
b. God’s plan demonstrates His care
i. Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed”
ii. God demonstrates his care for us by using us in his service
c. God’s not through yet
i. God uses the weak in service to him
ii. I Corinthians 1:27 – “God chose the weak to shame the strong”
iii. 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “my power is made perfect in weakness”
iv. Hebrews 11:34 – “weakness turned to strength”
d. A good work in you
i. Philippians 1:6 – “he who began a good work in you will carry It on to completion”
ii. Isaiah 58:11 – “he will satisfy your needs… and will strengthen your frame”
iii. 2 Thessalonians 1:11 – God will help you live the life that he called you to live.
iv. God won’t be finished with you until Jesus comes again.
e. The name only God knows
i. Revelation 2:17 – “To him who overcomes, I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it”
Our future in heaven is so promising it warrants a new home, a new body, a new life, and a new name
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