More Sermons
for Christ Covenant International Ministries

1)  Review:  God has given us the gifts of Love, Value, and Faithfulness

 God tells us in many ways and in many places in Scripture: We are loved and treasured
Further, we are assured that God is faithful, and God is good.

Bible Stories:

 In the story of Joseph in Egypt we learned that God considers us of great value, and although the world may treat us badly—even our own relatives—God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives.

Today we will talk about how God provides promises and delivers people from oppression as we look at the suffering people in Egypt .

You have probably already noticed that these Bible stories have elements of the lives you have led in Sudan and the US . One of God’s wonderful blessings to us are multiple Bible stories to help us think about our lives and our continuing care within God’s promises.

 Bible Verses:

 God says, “If you obey my voice and keep my covenant,
you shall be my treasured possession out of all peoples.”  (Exodus 19:5)

  “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.
You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.” (Isaiah 43: 2, 4)

“You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.” (Isaiah 43: 4)

“All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God… You have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” (Romans 8:13, 16)

The Bible verses and stories we study today confirm that not only are we are loved and valued, but God is faithful and reliable. Therefore, we know that we can trust God.

When in doubt remember: God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.

God is good. God promises. God delivers. We can trust God All the time.

2) We Have Good Reason to Trust God

 >>Our Bible story today tells us of God’s promises and God’s ability,
and God’s deliverance.

Bible Story     People Enslaved in Egypt —God provides hope through promise and delivery

Exodus 1:6-16   ⁶ Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and that whole generation.  ⁷ But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.  ⁸ Now a new king arose over Egypt , who did not know Joseph.  ⁹ He said to his people, "Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we.  ¹⁰ Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land."  ¹¹ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh.  ¹² But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.  ¹³ The Egyptians became ruthless in imposing tasks on the Israelites,  ¹⁴ and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.  ¹⁵ The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,  ¹⁶ "When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live."

 >>We read in Psalm 136 about all the wonderful things God has done for us, 
and 26 times we are told: “God’s steadfast love endures forever.”

 We have good reason to trust God and live in hope.

 3) We are Called to Trust God and live in hope.
     Because we can trust God, we can live in hope.

>>God is trustworthy. God is reliable. God is good. (Repeat) We can trust God.

            EXAMPLE: My child was frightened about getting into a bath of hot water because he could do nothing to protect himself, but I realized the water was hot before placing him in the tub: so he was safe. 
Remember that God can do things that we cannot do.

             God is all powerful. God can do things we can’t even imagine.

Note: Sometimes we wonder, if God is all powerful, why do bad things happen? Below are some possible reasons for bad things to happen, but talk to God about the ones bothering you today.

1. Consequences for risky behavior

2.  Consequences for risky behavior of others

3.  Natural phenomena: earthquake, fire, hunger, fatigue, illness, death

4.  Learning experience—some of us are very slow

5.  Sometimes there is no known explanation (see above)

 Paul reminds us of some basic logic.

Memory Verse

“Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Romans 8:24-25

At all times we are called to

1. Be in awe (Ps 33:18)—that is, hope in God’s steadfast love

2.  Wait for the Lord, knowing he is our help and shield (Ps 33:20)

3.  Be glad—because we trust god’s holy name

4.  Call humbly to God with our needs and hope. (Ps 33:22)

5.  Acknowledge our folly and helplessness (Ps 131)

6.  Give thanks and praise—that is, acknowledge God’s goodness and steadfast love

 4)  Trust is the Most Natural Response to God’s Character

 >>God provides both promises and deliverance.

God’s Promises (Ps 33, Ps 31)

1.  God promises to deliver our souls from death (Ps 33:19)

2.  God keeps us alive during difficulties (Ps 33:19)

3.  Awareness and steadfast love is provided to those who trust (Ps 33:18)
   Note: God’s loves those who don’t trust too, but they don’t know it.

4.  Refuge (Ps 31:19-21)
   Note: Shelter can take many forms. EXAMPLE: poverty, allergies, difficulties
   God devises ways to keep us safe from evil—EXAMPLE, plainness, weakness

God’s Provision (Ps 146)

Note: God’s deliverance does not return things to “the way they were.”

>>God calls us to trust. God is reliable. God is faithful.

The most natural, reasonable response to God’s loving, trustworthy character 
is to love and trust God in return.

>>Trusting God provides peace of mind, comfort, courage, confidence, strength, power. When we trust God, we experience:

Note:  There is no easy way to follow God through all trials—but it is harder not to.

READ: November Notes (below), a poem written during recovery from cancer in 1997.
From Season of Lovers by Mary Carol Lewis © 2003

November Notes

♥          Thank you for
the woodland morning glories
the gentle murmur of waking birds
the sun’s radiance sweeping away the clouds
    in the morning sky
the tree that stands alone in the distant mist
the call of the migrating geese
the vast grassy field with dew on every blade
the vibrant red field flowers
    against the golden harvest grain
the last summer song of the evening cricket 

♥          Thank you for
the vast, powerful, gray-green ocean
the ever-pounding surf
the raucous call of sea birds
the strong, salty wind
the mounds of shifting sand
the radiant clouds
the golden sun rising

♥          Thank you for
shocking reality
the comfort of structure 
invigorating freedom
the awareness of pain
the confrontation of anger
the path-altering terror of fear
challenging ideas
soul-searching questions
solid, vibrant answers
patience
time

The difficulties she faced made Mary Carol Lewis a poet.

>>Others may not forgive you for the wrongs you have done toward them,
but you can live as if you have been forgiven—because God has forgiven you.
And you can develop patience toward those who fail to forgive you.

>>We can picture ourselves as God sees us: full of hope and trust.

Remember: God is good all the time.

God loves you. God provides for you. God gives you opportunities like coming today.

God gives you spirit. God gives you confidence.

God delivers you from evil—as we said in the Lord’s prayer today.

God has a plan for you. God provides discernment to guide you.

You can follow God’s way, or your own. You have a choice.

 Prayer:

Thank you, God, for loving me and redeeming me and preserving my life.
Thank you for making a plan for me and calling me to yourself.
Thank you for being holy and full of love.
Forgive me for failing you and failing others.
Forgive me for failing to love myself every day.
Open my heart to receive your love. Teach me to love myself.
Remind me that you are always good—regardless of my circumstances.
Remind me that Jesus died for me. Prepare me to live with you.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

 God is good. All the time.

 Charge and Benediction from my grandmother’s Bible (Jeremiah 29:11-12)

 “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare
and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 
Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 
When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.”

Go in peace with hope.

Scripture Texts

Psalm 33:18-22