““But God…”But God…”

two small but powerful words...two small but powerful words...

Introduction:

As we read through the Scriptures, we learn of the As we read through the Scriptures, we learn of the struggles of ordinary and extraordinary people. struggles of ordinary and extraordinary people. People just like you and I. Their problems, at People just like you and I. Their problems, at times, seem impossible to solve. “...But God...” times, seem impossible to solve. “...But God...” Two words that change the whole picture. We will Two words that change the whole picture. We will look at some of those pictures so that we may find look at some of those pictures so that we may find comfort for our own lives and others we love...comfort for our own lives and others we love...

Joseph

Genesis 48:21Genesis 48:21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: die: butbut GodGod shall be with you, and bring you again unto shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. the land of your fathers.

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; me; butbut GodGod meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it isit is this day, to save much people alive. this day, to save much people alive.

Israelites Delivered From Egypt

Exodus 13:18Exodus 13:18 ButBut GodGod led the people about, led the people about, throughthrough the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. (in ranks)of the land of Egypt. (in ranks)

David & Saul

1 Samuel 23:141 Samuel 23:14 And David abode in the And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, sought him every day, butbut GodGod delivered him not delivered him not into his hand.into his hand.

Jehoshaphat

2 Chronicles 20:152 Chronicles 20:15 And he said, Hearken ye, all And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayedBe not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this by reason of this great multitude; great multitude; for the battle for the battle isis not yours not yours, , butbut GodGod’s.’s.

David-the power of the grave

(Psa 49:12-14) Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not (Psa 49:12-14) Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; He is like the beasts that perish. {13} This is the way remain; He is like the beasts that perish. {13} This is the way of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve of those who are foolish, And of their posterity who approve their sayings. Selah {14} Like sheep they are laid in the grave; their sayings. Selah {14} Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be

consumed in the grave, far from their dwellingconsumed in the grave, far from their dwelling..

Psalms 49:15Psalms 49:15 ButBut GodGod will redeem my soul from will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.

God's power-over my fears

Psalms 73:26Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: My flesh and my heart faileth: but but GodGod is the strength of my heart, and my portion is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.for ever.

God's power-over rulers

Psalms 75:7Psalms 75:7 ButBut GodGod isis the judge: he putteth the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.down one, and setteth up another.

God has the power to judge the wicked and God has the power to judge the wicked and deliver the righteous...deliver the righteous...

God's power-over the nations

Isaiah 17:13Isaiah 17:13 The nations shall rush like the The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: rushing of many waters: butbut GodGod shall rebuke shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.

Jonah

Jonah 4:7Jonah 4:7 ButBut GodGod prepared a worm when the prepared a worm when the morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd morning rose the next day, and it smote the gourd that it withered.that it withered.But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. (Jon 1:4 )be broken. (Jon 1:4 )

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jon 1:17 )nights. (Jon 1:17 )

The religious crowd

Mark 2:7Mark 2:7 Why doth this Why doth this manman thus speak thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins blasphemies? who can forgive sins butbut GodGod only? only?

The rich fool-eat, drink, and be merry...

Luke 12:20Luke 12:20 ButBut GodGod said unto him, said unto him, ThouThou fool, fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which you have whose shall those things be, which you have provided?provided?

The self-righteous...

Luke 16:15Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, You are they And he said unto them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; which justify yourselves before men; butbut GodGod knows your hearts: for that which is highly knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.of God.

Paul-about Jesus' resurrection

Acts 13:30Acts 13:30 ButBut GodGod raised him from the dead: raised him from the dead:

And he was seen many days of them which came up with And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. (Act 13:31)...unto the people. (Act 13:31)...

God has fulfilled the same to us their children, in that he God has fulfilled the same to us their children, in that he has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the has raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, You art my Son, this day have I begotten second psalm, You art my Son, this day have I begotten you. (Act 13:33)you. (Act 13:33)

God's love...

Romans 5:8Romans 5:8 ButBut GodGod commendeth his love commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Christ died for us.

God - chooses and reveals

1 Corinthians 1:271 Corinthians 1:27 ButBut GodGod has chosen the has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;...to confound the things which are mighty;...

1 Corinthians 2:101 Corinthians 2:10 ButBut GodGod has revealed has revealed themthem unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yes, the deep things of God.things, yes, the deep things of God.

The Harvest...

1 Corinthians 3:61 Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos I have planted, Apollos watered; watered; butbut GodGod gave the increase. gave the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:71 Corinthians 3:7 So then neither is he that So then neither is he that plants any thing, neither he that waters; plants any thing, neither he that waters; butbut GodGod that gives the increase.that gives the increase.

God is faithful & watchful

1 Corinthians 10:131 Corinthians 10:13 There has no temptation There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: taken you but such as is common to man: butbut GodGod isis faithful, who will not suffer you to be faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear may be able to bear itit..

The Church-God puts it together1 Corinthians 12:241 Corinthians 12:24 For our comely For our comely partsparts have have no need: no need: butbut GodGod has tempered the body has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to together, having given more abundant honour to that that partpart which lacked: which lacked:

That there should be no schism in the body; but That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one that the members should have the same care one for another. (1Co 12:25 )for another. (1Co 12:25 )

But God...By Grace!

Ephesians 2:4-7 Ephesians 2:4-7 ButBut GodGod, who is rich in , who is rich in mercymercy, , for his for his great lovegreat love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, has when we were dead in sins, has quickened usquickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) 6 together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) 6 And has And has raised usraised us up together, and made us sit up together, and made us sit together in together in heavenly places in Christ Jesusheavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 : 7 That in the ages to come he might show the That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding exceeding riches of his graceriches of his grace in his in his kindnesskindness toward us toward us through Christ Jesusthrough Christ Jesus..

But God! From Losing toBut God! From Losing toWinning - By His Grace!Winning - By His Grace!

...let us run with patience the race that is ...let us run with patience the race that is set before us, set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Looking unto Jesus the

author and finisher of author and finisher of ourour faith...Heb 12:1 faith...Heb 12:1 && 22