As the battle continues against the coronavirus, remember that Jesus is in control. He always has been and always will be in complete control. As Jesus said according to Hebrews 13:5b, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Verse 8 reminds us of yet another great truth: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He never changes. He will protect and keep you through all things. Trust Him!
To continue ministering the Word of God to you throughout the month of April, I plan to preach to an empty church, record the message as always, then post it to my podcast. So going forward, there will be a new message posted to my podcast every Sunday afternoon. Beginning this Sunday, Palm Sunday, you can go online to my blog, click on the "Sermons" tab at the top of the page, and be taken to my podcast, where you can listen to that new message or any previous message you may have missed. You can also go straight to my podcast at pastorlaott.buzzsprout.com.
I would like to point out just a few things from the above mentioned verses in Hebrews 13. First of all, the words in verse 5b, "I will never leave you nor forsake you," point out that God is completely reliable. He never fails. He will always be there for you, watching over you, keeping you from all harm, doing battle for you against the satanic forces of evil: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).
No matter what happens, in all circumstances of life, God's people are secure in Christ Jesus, because He is with them. Faith in Jesus makes you secure. Not money, not possessions, not position—only complete faith and trust in Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews expands on this truth by quoting from Psalm 118:6, "So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Heb. 13:6). The psalmist points out first that the Lord is our helper, you can count on Him. Second, the psalmist renounces fear. With the Lord Jesus at our side, there is no reason for fear. Third, there is the rhetorical queston, "What can man do to me?" Literally, this should read, "What will man do to me?" He is not thinking in theory of what might happen, but in reality of what will happen. When you trust in Jesus, nothing that man tries to do to you will succeed. Nothing.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (v. 8) isn't so much a reference to His preexistance or the Incarnation, but stands for the past as a whole. This statement brings past, present, and future together in an impressive declaration of Christ's unchanging nature. Past, present, or future makes no difference to the Savior. You need not fear that Jesus will somehow be different now or will be different in the future than He has been in the past.
"Forever" (v. 8) is literally "into the ages," or "to eternity." No matter what lies ahead, throughout all ages, Christ is always the same. He will never change. He will take care of you. Trust Him. Amen.
No matter what happens, in all circumstances of life, God's people are secure in Christ Jesus, because He is with them. Faith in Jesus makes you secure. Not money, not possessions, not position—only complete faith and trust in Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews expands on this truth by quoting from Psalm 118:6, "So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Heb. 13:6). The psalmist points out first that the Lord is our helper, you can count on Him. Second, the psalmist renounces fear. With the Lord Jesus at our side, there is no reason for fear. Third, there is the rhetorical queston, "What can man do to me?" Literally, this should read, "What will man do to me?" He is not thinking in theory of what might happen, but in reality of what will happen. When you trust in Jesus, nothing that man tries to do to you will succeed. Nothing.
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (v. 8) isn't so much a reference to His preexistance or the Incarnation, but stands for the past as a whole. This statement brings past, present, and future together in an impressive declaration of Christ's unchanging nature. Past, present, or future makes no difference to the Savior. You need not fear that Jesus will somehow be different now or will be different in the future than He has been in the past.
"Forever" (v. 8) is literally "into the ages," or "to eternity." No matter what lies ahead, throughout all ages, Christ is always the same. He will never change. He will take care of you. Trust Him. Amen.
AMEN and AMEN!!!! Thank you Pastor Ott!!! God bless!
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