The "nots" of the Bible

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 2023 am

MR LLOYD WATSON

ISAIAH 40 VERSES 28 – 31

In the book of Galatians chapter 6 verse 9 we read “And let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”

 

There are several “nots” in the word of God.  The Lord in his mercy has given us 365 promises in his word, one for each day of the year.  There are many “yeas” and “nays” as well.  It shows us that we need to put into practice the word of God.

 

Isaiah 41 verse 10 – “fear not”.  We need to examine ourselves whether we are in Christ and if it is well with our souls.  Are we saved?  Do we know the power of cleaning power in our lives.  The Lord is able to save unto the uttermost all that will look unto him.  If you are feeling a burden today, the Lord tells you “fear not”.  It is a word to the distressed.  Haggai 2 verse 5 “fear ye not for my Spirit remaineth amongst you.”  What you are passing through the Lord knows all about.

 

Psalm 37 verse 1 – “fret not thyself because of evil doers … for they shall soon be cut off”  Evil doers can abound for a while but God tells us to fret not because of them.  We see that judgment will eventually come to them.  It is a word for the worried today.  Perhaps there is a burden on your heart, things have been difficult for you perhaps for days, weeks, years.  It does make a difference when people die in the Lord.  God’s word says “fret not” because of evildoers.”  A word in season.  Matthew 11 verse 28 “come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  It is a word for the wounded.  Many people are wounded inwardly today.  Maybe another Christian has done harm.  Those hurts need to be healed.  I am glad our God is one of mercy, forgiveness and peace.  If we have something against a brother or sister we should go and be reconciled with them.  Many people need healing and cleansing from the word of God. 

 

Hebrews 10 verse 25 – “forsake not the assembling of yourselves together”.  It is a very important biblical principle.  We should count it a privilege to attend God’s house.  Psalm 40 verse 8 “I delight to do thy will O my God.”  Psalm 103 verse 1 “bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name.”  The Lord giveth us blessings daily.  We see his grace every day.  We also see his giving.  He is the God of many mercies, so generous, so liberal.  He giveth and giveth and giveth again. 

 

Genesis 45 verse 24 “fall not from grace”.  When Jesus was on earth he was sorely tempted by Satan himself.  The bible tells us “greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4 verse 4) We are not to fall into temptation.  The Lord was “tempted in all points like as we are yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4 verse 15)  We are not to fall into trouble.  Situations arise that are not our fault.  We have to try our best not to fall not into trouble.  Jeremiah 33 verse 3 “call unto me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.”  The Lord can keep us from falling.

 

Proverbs 24 verse 10 “faint not in the day of adversity”.  David’s 2 wives were taken into captivity.  God told him that adversity, hard times, difficult times, periods will come to every child of God.  Thank God he is the one who giveth power to the faint.  Galatians 6 verse 6 “we shall reap if we faint not. “ Ephesians 6 verse 10 “be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.”  We need his strength to conquer the powers of evil and darkness.  We need to be steadfast, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

 

Exodus 23 verse 2 “Follow not a multitude to do evil”.  Many a life has been ruined when people decided to fall in with the crowd that were doing evil.  Romans 12 verse 9 “Let love be without dissimulation.  Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” 2 Corinthians 6 verse 14 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?”  We need to be walking with the Lord not with ungodly sinners, unsaved Christians.  We need not to have fellowship with evil doers. 

 

2 Chronicles 13 verse 12 – “fight not against the Lord” – some people as God’s own children rebel against the Lord instead of saying “here I am send me” will say “send someone else.”  Some people harden their hearts, rebel against the Lord.  The scriptures say “give me thine heart”.  We need to yield to the master.  “Take my life and let it be consecrated to thee”.