“Our God Reigns!” – FBC Morning Light (9/22/23)

Well, a good Friday morning to you. We are coming to the end of yet another week, a work week anyway, on this Friday. Looking forward to the Lord's Day on Sunday, and hope you are, trust you are, planning to gather with God's people and worship the Lord together and hear from his word, and just make that your top priority for the weekend.

Don't let anything else interfere with your gathering with God's people on Sunday. Well, today in our Bible reading, we are reading in Isaiah 51 -52, 2 Thessalonians 3 and Proverbs 19. How are you feeling about our world and about our country today?

How are you feeling about those things? You know, I see news reports about, you know, these horrible crimes committed in small towns in America. I read about the plans and the objectives of some of these radical left-wing groups that incite violence and create mayhem, wanting to target small towns so that they know nobody is outside of their reach.

I live in a town of about 15 ,000 people. I hear about those things. I see the instability of our political arena, right? I mean, have you ever seen such a political mess in our country? I don't think so.

I don't think it's ever been such a mess. That, of course, just breeds instability and uncertainty for the future. And then you can expand your view globally, and there's just all kinds of things going on in this world that can create anxiety and fear.

The Lord Comforts His People and Exposes the Fear of Man

Isaiah chapter 51, and from it, be encouraged. This is the Lord speaking to his people. People is real, but, you know, his people, all right? If you are in Christ, you are one of his people. The Lord says this, I, even I, am he who comforts you.

Who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of man who will be like grass? Is this not similar to what Jesus says? He said, fear not him who's able to destroy the body, but isn't able to destroy the soul.

Rather, fear him who's able to destroy both soul and body in hell, and who's that? Of course, God. Jesus is telling us to fear God, but not man. This is what the Lord says to us. He says, who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and you forget the Lord your maker?

Are you looking at, do you watch the news? Maybe it'd be a good idea to shut it off. But if you do, it, always watch the news through the grid of the Lord your maker. Because listen to what he says, don't, and you forget the Lord your maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth.

You have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor when he is prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor? The Lord has him in his hands. The Lord has this one under control.

The captive exile hastens that he may be loosed, that he should not die in the pit, and that his bread should not fail. But I am the Lord your God, who divided the sea, whose waves roar. The Lord of hosts is his name.

I am the Lord your God. I am the creator of all things. Don't forget the Lord your maker, who stretched out the heavens. Don't forget the Lord your maker, who has this world in the palm of his hands, and he has everything in this world that's going on under, totally under his control.

Oh, how important it is for us to remember that and find comfort in that. And then also find comfort in this truth in Isaiah 52, where the Lord says, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, listen, here's what he says, your God reigns.

Your God reigns. Are you a worshiper of the God of the Bible? Are you his child? Is he your heavenly father? Have you come to him through faith in Jesus Christ? Listen today. Whatever is going on in this world, whatever's happening in your town, in your community, your God reigns.

You don't need to fear man who will die. You can trust in your God who reigns. And I just encourage you to do that today. As hard as it is sometimes when we hear all the stuff going on in the news, just keep in mind, if you're going to watch the news, watch it through the grid of my God reigns.

He reigns. So Father, we are grateful that you do, and thank you for the revelation of your word that helps us to put into perspective everything that's going on in this crazy, mixed up, messed up world in which we find ourselves.

We thank you that it's not messed up from your estimation. It's a world that is totally under your control as the God who reigns. We're grateful for this, and we thank you and praise you in Jesus' name and for his sake.

Amen. All right, listen, have a great weekend, and don't forget, get to God's house. Again, make that your priority, to be with God's people on the Lord's day. Good day.