the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever
Hebrews 13:5-8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
INTRODUCTION:
We have an unchanging God. God is the same yesterday today
and forever.
Immutabilty - "unchangeable," Heb.
6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong
consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Lam. 3:22-23 It is of the LORD's mercies that
we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every
morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Throughout history, mankind has depended upon great people
for guidance, leadership, hope, and direction. Think about a time in the past,
in any country or kingdom, and you can name many individuals who stepped out
from among the masses leading their people to victory over oppression, who have
maintained a great nation of people, who have guided their kingdoms through
famine or disease, or who guided their people through necessary changes in
technology and knowledge in order to maintain their nation’s strength in a
tough competitive world.
But through all of the wonderful and terrible changes,
through all the times of peace and war, through all of the famines and the
harvests of plenty, there has always been One – one person who has stood the
test of time – one person who has reigned over all creation from the beginning,
one person who set history in motion, one person who has promised the world
that He is in control, one person who looks down from His place in heaven who
is working through all of the people and physical events, continuously giving
people permanent hope until he decrees the end of days.
And His name is Jesus Christ. - and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The
mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
All of the great leaders are gone. All of them. Who can we
trust today?
There is One. His name is Jesus Christ. He is The One.
Because He is not dead. He is risen. He is the same yesterday, today, and
forever.
Because He is risen, we can know that His words of wisdom
and hope are not only true, but they are still alive, and so His words are true
– forever. Because He is risen, we can know that their will always be eternal
life available for all who come to Him.
Because He is risen, we can know that there will be peace
on earth, and men will demonstrate good will towards each other forever.
Why is Jesus Christ the answer? Because He was God is the
past, He is God in the present, and He will always be God in the future for all
eternity.
The hopes of mankind cannot rest on a man. With a man or a
woman comes temporary hope. Hope that cannot guarantee but a few short years of
light. No matter how great the light of a man, that light must necessarily be
put out.
With Jesus Christ comes an eternal light, a hope that can
never fade away. For it is impossible for the eternal light who created the
world to be extinguished.
With Jesus Christ, there is no depending upon a man or a
woman for the answers…
With Jesus Christ, there are the words of life. Eternal
life. Eternal hope. Permanent answers to life’s toughest questions. We have the
spoken words of God in the flesh. Flesh that was once dead, but is now risen.
These words of Jesus Christ not only answer the most
important questions of life, but go directly to the question of His becoming a
human being in the first place. Why DID Jesus Christ add humanity to His divine
glory? Jesus came to seek out and save people who are lost.
Jesus Christ came to
save. Not just a certain people, or a nation, or a race. But all who will come
to Him. All who recognize not just themselves, but that all of mankind is lost
and helpless to save – just as our history lessons have already taught us.
Mankind has been in a mess from the beginning.
Mankind has been lost yesterday, today, and forever.
And now– who are we going to
trust to lead us into the future? More great men and women? Or the One who is
the same yesterday, today, and forever?
1. God’s Power is unchanging
Look around you and see how vast this universe is that God
has made. God is truly all powerful. The power of God is amazing and it has
always been a wonderful things for us. Look at the clouds and the sky and you
will just amazed by God’s power. The Bible gives some great descriptions and
verses about God’s great power.
God does not rely on other contractor or architect or
designer when He created the whole universe and the earth in just six days…
Jeremiah 10:12 He hath made the
earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath
stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Psalm 62:11 - …that
power belongeth unto God.
1 Corinthians 6:14 - And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his
own power.
2 Corinthians 13:4 - For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power
of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of
God toward you.
Job 9:4 He is
wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him,
and hath prospered?
Isaiah 26:4 Trust
ye in the Lord for
ever: for in the Lord
Jehovah is everlasting strength:
Matthew 19:26 But
Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with
God all things are possible.
Psalm 66:7 He
ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the
rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.
Are you weary or heavy laden – tell it to Jesus.
Are you tired or persecuted or discourage – why don’t you
tell it to Jesus and to your God your
Father in heaven – the unchanging God – the All Powerful Heavenly Father God.
Nothing is impossible to Him.
1. God’s Protection is
unchanging
As humans, we want to see God's protection as a magic force
field that keeps us from all harm. Yes, God has to stop any evil or destruction
but we must remember that we live in a fallen world where we have free will and
sometimes God works in ways that we do not understand. Sometimes God's
protection comes in the form of peace and strength in the middle of despair.
Sometimes God's protection comes as an ending because he sees something more on
the horizon that we cannot see. As a believer in Jesus, we are promised a new
life covered under the protection of God in which NOTHING can separate us from
His love. Rest knowing that no matter what hardship you face, God is your
provider and protector!
Ps. 34:19 Many
are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of
them all.
1 Cor. 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear
it.
2 Thess. 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from
evil.
Deut. 31:6 Be
strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy
God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear
thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness.
Ps. 46:1 God
is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Ps 23:4 Yea, though
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
2
Cor. 4:8 We are troubled on
every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted,
but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2 Sam. 22:3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my
shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my
savior— from violent people you save me. 4 “I called to the LORD, who is worthy
of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.
John
10:28 And I give unto them eternal
life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than
all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
Ps. 121:1 I
will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.2 My
help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.3 He
will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.4 Behold,
he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.6 The
sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil:
he shall preserve thy soul.8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy
coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
2. God's Promises is unchanging
God's Word is filled with promises from our Creator to
provide and deliver. The Bible is the ultimate source for truth and God is
faithful to fulfill all His promises. Freedom from addictions, deliverance from
sin and evil, financial provision, hope for lost and hurting family and friends,
overcoming depression, recovering a marriage, good health, healing, being free
from fear and anxiety, strength, and many more are the blessings and gifts that
God promises to provide for those who believe in Him.
Exo. 14:14 The Lord shall
fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace
Isa. 40:29-31 He giveth power to the
faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even
the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But
they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not
faint.
Isa. 41:10
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will
strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right
hand of my righteousness.
Isa. 43:2 When
thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt
not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 54: No
weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall
rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the
servants of the Lord,
and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
1 John 1:9 If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Deut. 31:8
And the Lord,
he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Jer. 29:11 For
I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jos. 1:9 … Be
strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for
the Lord thy
God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Ps. 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom
shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Ps. 34:17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
Ps. 50:15 and call on me in the day of trouble; I will
deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Rom. 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Phi. 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in
every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
That He will save you give you eternal life – Rom. 10:13, John
3:16. John 3:26
That He will give you abundant live John 10:10, Jeremiah
29:11
That He will preserve you – John 10:27-29
ThatGod will never leave you and forsake you
That He will answer your prayer – 2 Chronicles 7:14, Jer.
33:3, Mat. 7:7; Luke 11:9-13; Mark 11:24; John 14:13-16
That He will deliver you – Psalm 9:9-10, Ps. 23:1-6
That He will provide all of your need – Matt. 6:31-33.
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches
in glory by Christ Jesus.
That He will give you wisdom and guides you – James 1:5;
Prov. 3:5-6
That He will give you strength -
That He will establish you and make you perfect – Eph
3:16-19
CONCLUSION:
We have an unchanging God – His power does not change His
Protection and His Promises does not change even His love and faithfulness and
mercy towards us does not change…
Heb. 13:5-8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Lam.
3:22-23 – It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every
morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Psalm
103:2-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his
benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who
healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from
destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who
satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the
eagle's.
Ark Bible Way Baptist Mission
reydalde@gmail.com
