2 Corinthians 2:14 NASB

“Thanks be to God who always leads us”

Paul’s original plan had been derailed slightly, and he wanted to let the Corinthians know he was following God

This is how we all need to be, followers of God no matter if it isn’t according to our plans

Smells tend to stick in our memory. Both pleasant and unpleasant smells.

In this passage it is talking about a triumph parade during which the generals burned incense as they passed by

The picture here is of God in His triumph as a sweet aroma that we should always remember

We too should have a sweet aroma to God as we serve Him daily

The aroma of the triumph smelled great to the victors but very bad to those defeated

In this passage the drastic difference is the gospel is sweet to those who have received and foul to those who have rejected

Never the less, we are to strive to send that sweet aroma to God’s nostrils as we serve Him

Who is sufficient?

Is anyone sufficient?

Truly not one is really worthy but through Christ we can consult God

When we truly spend time with the Father our message to others is not corrupted by self

We give to them what God gives to us and it is a great thing

“we are not peddling the Word of God”

The meaning here is that we aren’t watering down or changing the Word of God but delivering it as we receive it

Have you ever watched an interpreter?

Sometimes I wonder are they really saying exactly what the person told them to say or not?

There are people in this world today that try to spin God’s word to fit their desire

When this happens the aroma is actually a stench

“we speak in the sight of God in Christ”

It is because of Christ and His propitiation of our sins, that we can hear from God in the first place

Through Christ we speak the Word of God and the first audience of that is God

When we hear from God and then share the gospel with others, God is the first audience member

He is listening so you better not spin it but pass it on, just like you received it.

When we do, God is pleased and we are like that sweet aroma that God loves so much.

If you choose not to share the word that God has given you, the aroma is not sweet but foul

Today will you march in triumph and produce a sweet aroma as you speak the gospel message?

Or will you remain stagnant and give off a foul stench that would not be pleasing to anyone especially God?

Happy Mother’s Day!

Today I would like to look at one biblical mother named Sarah

So we see that Sarah could not believe what she heard

Some people want to say that Sarah didn’t have much faith

Sarai, as she was originally called, is found following her husband in faith

She didn’t know where they were going or what they were supposed to do

But she did not protest; she followed where God told them to go

We can learn a lot from this mother

God could choose to show us everything planned for us up front

But, He doesn’t

So many of us are hesitant to step out on faith for any reason

What we can learn from Sarai/Sarah, it is most important to just go

I sometimes wonder how many people remain lost today due to our reluctance

In our text today, we are critical of Sarah because she laughed at a miracle

Most of you ladies in here could relate that, at an old age, childbirth would be impossible

All things are possible with God

Vs 1 says “the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised”

You see when we take that step of Faith God honors that

Sarah, at 99 years of age, gave birth to a son

I know what you are thinking

"I’m so glad that wasn’t me"

But for Sarah, God was faithful and He always is

Again, what we see is, even though Sarah doubted...

God blessed her

What we need to take away from this is, God is able

Knowing God is able, we need to trust Him and be faithful

One of our biggest problems today is we don’t fully trust God

We don’t want to step out on faith, but you never know when God will use YOU.

Sarah, after seeing the miracle that God did, said “God has made laughter for me”

“Everyone who hears will laugh with me”

When we are faithful, all those who are around us are lifted up too

Do you truly trust God?

Are you ready to do that right now?

Have you ever been so excited that you just felt like shouting?

Surely most of you in here have let out a big "woohoo!" a time or two in your life

Sing! This passage shows great joy. So much so we should burst forth in song!

I get so tired of us Christians who jump and shout and scream during a meaningless football game

And we won’t even shout out a good "AMEN!" in a church service. The Holy God should excite you!

The LORD is in your midst!

That ought to make you shout with praise, or maybe fear, if you’ve been living wrongly.

Don’t stop there however, the LORD is in our midst, with power to save!

We have committed sin which dooms us to eternal Hell, BUT GOD, shows up with the power to save!

God takes Joy in you!

You know I am messed up there is no way God could be joyful in me.

You can rest in His love!

This is the craziest thought ever….. God sings over you

Our messed up view of this stoic, rock faced God, sitting on His throne, makes it hard to think that God would sing

“He will rejoice over you with shouts of Joy”

You make God so joyful he breaks out in song!!

We often think we have failed so badly that God is annoyed with us but here we see God sings over us.

Fear NOT!
God loves YOU

Because of God’s great love “do not let your hands fall limp”

Don’t grow weary in your service to God

Rejoice!!

Sing praises, tell others, serve Him in every way because He saved you.

But all the downfalls I’ve had and the evil people that are never punished.

Rejoice!!
God will defeat the enemy!

He will gather His people to Himself

Rejoice! Show the world that you know the LORD is in our midst and He is mighty to save!

God has NEVER abandoned His people and He never will!

Perhaps you can’t seem to Rejoice today

I ask you this question…Do you know Jesus?

Have you truly given your life to Him?

Rejoice, Rejoice oh people of God!!

As a Christian, the celebration of Easter is a huge deal!

The build up, the long day of celebration, the tremendous joy that we feel knowing Jesus is alive.

Today, I want to talk about what sometimes happens after that day.

The first thing I want us to see here is; Jesus gave orders to His apostles

There was a purpose of showing Himself, alive, to the disciples. He wanted them to believe, so they would actually carry out His orders

They had heard that he was going to rise from the grave, but doubt is powerful

Now, they have the motivation to carry out the orders that Jesus left them, knowing there is no doubt

Jesus gives them another command, to wait for the Holy Spirit

Sometimes, after a great event like Easter, we are energized and want to just strike out doing things for Jesus

But, we need to receive, through the Holy Spirit, what or how we are to do these things.

In other words, take time to pray for guidance before striking out.

When you receive the Holy Spirit, you will be My witnesses even unto all the earth

Basically what Jesus said in this passage is, you don’t have to know everything, you just have to believe and be obedient.

We may not know the days or times, but we know that Jesus will come again.

When we listen to the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit says to go here, tell this person, wait on this to happen, we need to answer

Jesus had equipped the disciples and given them orders to carry out because He knew He was about to leave.

While they were standing there with Him, He ascended into heaven.

They had to be amazed, excited and also fearful all at the same time.

Jesus, whom they had been walking with for all this time, has now gone to be with the Father

He didn’t leave them alone and He didn’t leave them without direction.

However, this event was so powerful, all they could do was stand and stare

We, as modern day believers, sometimes find ourselves after Easter standing and staring at the cross because it has been so powerful.

We want to just stay in the moment of the love that Jesus showed on that cross.

But look at verse 11 again

Why do you stand and stare? Don’t you remember what He said? He will come again.

When He comes again, don’t you want Him to find you carrying out the orders He left?

Remember, that those same orders Jesus gave to the apostles, He gives to all believers

GO! And TELL!

The cross is so amazing, because without the love that Jesus showed on that cross, we would have no hope.

However, He didn’t go to the cross for us to stare at it, but so that we could take that hope and share it with all who will listen.

We have been given an order and it is one that has never been rescinded.

Are you carrying out the final orders of Jesus today? Are you ready to begin doing just that?