Sermons from Good News: Times of Refreshing

Blogger's Note: On Sundays, I will be copying and pasting on this blog notes I take in my phone from sermons at the church I attend. I'll be sharing sermons from the current week. On Wednesdays I'll also be sharing sermon messages dating back to October, when I first began attending my current church. Because of the backlog of sermons, I will be running posts on Wednesdays until sometime in May. My goal on Sundays is that sharing these sermons will theoretically be perpetual, or until I feel God nudging me to do something different. I want to also clarify that these are not my sermons, but rather the bullet point notes I put together. I enjoy our pastor's messages very much, and more importantly he preaches the Word of God as-is, which means the Spirit of God is imparting wisdom and knowledge through him. To God alone be the glory.

Church 2/27/2021

Offertory scripture:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%203:5-6&version=NIV

Honor God, yes; but also trust Him.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:7-8 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%203:7-8&version=NIV

Trust God first; this will help you really honor Him.

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%203:9-10&version=NIV

Take the first step. Then as a reward He will bless you.

Sermon message:

God is good and wants you blessed.

Thesis: times of refreshing.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:19&version=NIV

The Bible is a book of faith.

Story: Israel after leaving Egypt and slavery, after passing through the Red Sea. They're now in the wilderness. Background: they're in the desert. Today: Everything has changed. Work had changed. School has changed. Relationships have changed. Socializing has changed. People are drained, mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually... just like the Israelites.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:19&version=KJV

God is with you.

        1. God leads us to places of refreshing.

And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
Exodus 15:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Exodus%2015:27&version=KJV

Pillar of cloud to block out the hot sun in the day. Pillar of fire to keep them warm at night and to keep scavengers away. God being with them and protecting them.

God is leading you to places of refreshment. That's how He works.

God has a plan for your life.

Don't miss the places of refreshment God has put in your life. Don't reject them! Don't try to "gut it out"! You NEED refreshment!

Even Jesus did this regularly. He regularly withdrew to pray to the Father. The prophets needed it; the apostles needed it. Trust God. He knows we need refreshment. He provides it for us.

And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.
Exodus 15:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Exodus%2015:27&version=KJV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:1-3 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Psalm%2023:1-3&version=NIV

Home is an oasis. If it's not, you need to restructure.

Church is an oasis of love and compassion. Right now, Satan has been trying to prevent churches from meeting, so that we can't be refreshed. But if we gather more we can be refreshed, function properly.

Your prayer time is as oasis.

        2. God leads us to places of refreshing to remind us of His purpose for you

Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they encamped there by the water.
Exodus 15:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Exodus%2015:27&version=ESV

12 springs of water. 12 tribes of Israel. 70 palm trees. 70 elders of Israel.

Just receive God's forgiveness; he wants to forgive you.

        3. When God brings you to places of refreshing, receive it.

It's here today. You need it. Receive it. It's what God has for you. All things are possible with God.

"And they encamped there by the water." Exodus 15:27 the last part.

What we believe in our hearts is important and powerful, in the same way that what we speak with our mouths matters.

        4. Focusing on Jesus brings refreshing

Philippians 4:19 our refreshing comes through Jesus Christ