03/05/2022 Church service

周日礼拜

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  Nevertheless – 2023
Jeremiah 33:6-9

Decades ago, our whole family was gifted a week at someone’s beach condo
We all loved the beach, and it was so exciting (and, because of some interesting situations at were going on at that time) very timely for us to get away.

Something happened that we weren’t expecting, however…
It rained the entire week we were there.

Nevertheless, it turned out to be a wonderful trip. We were “forced” to just relax and enjoy the much-needed time for beneficial rest and time away.

nev•er•the•less adverb - in spite of that; notwithstanding; all the same.

The disappointment of the many days of rain was replaced by the “nevertheless” of such a peaceful, healing time away

In some part of your life, I’ll bet you can relate a similar experience?

In some area of your life you may currently find struggle and confusion…
…maybe the victory over your old self still seems impossible…

It may have seem dark and hopeless at times…

God has a nevertheless ready for you today

In the NIV version, today’s verses start with:
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to repent from dead works and receive newness of life

Are you ready for God’s “nevertheless” to override your current direction and place you on the path to “abundant peace and security?”
Today’s scripture lesson from Jeremiah is set in a time of judgement for the sin and rebellion…
and yet, even then, God offers this “nevertheless.”

In the New Testament =, it reflects the mercy of God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

There are a lot of historical and prophetic parts to this passage, but today I want us to apply this to our own lives – personalize it.

“Nevertheless”
God’s grace is beyond our carnal comprehension

You can’t get beyond condemnation and into restoration without first believing in God’s “Nevertheless.”
…because we can never earn His forgiveness

Eph 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

“In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace.”

God is sovereign – and God is also rich in grace and mercy.

Eph 2:4 - “But God,
…being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
You were wandering through your own wilderness – and with no idea how to turn things around and find your way to the promised land you always dreamed of…
…But GOD… (a Divine interruption to the devil’s corruption)

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
Without the “nevertherless,” and the “but GOD” we will just stay stuck.
Still living in our past regrets. Maybe even hopelessness.
When you want your life to be for something – to mean something – to make a difference – you have to start with God’s “Nevertheless.”

Hope for the future means a hope that includes leaving the past chains and limitations behind. Being FREE to fulfill your God-planned destiny

Viktor Frankl: “Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you acted wrongly the first time.”

Sounds like repentance. Sounds like being Born Again.

We say “God is Love” and we sing “Jesus Loves Me” – but do we recognize just how much He really does love us?
We have to realize that it is an unconditional, un-compromisable love.
“God doesn’t love you any less, even when your life’s a mess.”
Romans 9:16 - It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
“the immeasurable riches of His grace”
You can’t get beyond condemnation and into restoration without first believing in God’s “Nevertheless.”
Step out of the past – and walk away from the darkness that you only thought you could never escape.
“Put aside the deeds of darkness…”
1 John 1:5 – “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:
God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
A friend of mine sent me a video on Instagram.
The person was demonstrating how are lives can get full of … well, let’s just call it “dirt”
She took a glass of clean drinking water and put in several spoonful’s of dirt and then stirred it all up. “This cup represents our life.”

If we focus on getting out the little bits of dirt – “stuff” – we don’t get much accomplished.

Then, instead of spooning out the dirt, she took a pitcher of water and flooded the glass with quarts of water until there was nothing left but pure, clean water.
If we are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds” we need to stop putting dirt into it and start flooding it with Living Water – Living Word.
There can be no darkness (no dirt) in the Presence of the Lord.
Psalm 119:116: “Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. “
“Support me in keeping with Your promise, O God, so that I may live; do not let my hope turn into shame.”
“Hold me up by Your Word and I will live.”
“You’re my place of quiet retreat; I wait for your Word to renew me.”
It does not matter what things looked like before you walked in here this morning.
Right here – right now – is your place of rest.
“Neverless…
I can be blessed. I can be at rest.”
It doesn’t matter how old you are, either. His mercies are new every morning.
“The one thing that makes us all the same in this room today is that we are all struggle”
“Live as if you were living a second time, and as though you had acted wrongly the first time.”
It doesn’t matter what that mess is… no mess is too big for God.
Maybe the mess is sin – but maybe it is sickness.
Maybe it is Fear. (“fear hath torment”) Maybe it is Financial. Emotional. Relational.
What part of this was left out when Jesus paid it all?
GOD wants to show you “the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it;
I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”

The Cross overrides your weakneses.




  

Hillside United Methodist Church
3739 US 80
Phenix City  AL  36870
United States
Pastor: Mike J Koger

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