Speaker: Bro. Bobby Rodriguez ,Elder, The Lord's Flcok Catholic Charismatic Community

“ The Greatness of God ”

G od Is In Control

W hen we are in difficult times, can we still praise and worship God? When we face trials, is God in control of our lives? God is in control whatever happens in our lives. Even though we experience many problems, the Lord of Host is with us. He is in control.

T he stories of Daniel and Nehemiah are two biblical examples of God's control. Both men trusted God for his greatness.

T he Faithfulness of Daniel

“ B e still and confess that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth .” ( Psalms 46:11) , Daniel, a faithful servant of the Lord, knew about the greatness of God long before he was brought to the lions' den.

D aniel was cast into the lions' den when he continued his custom of going home to kneel in prayer and give thanks to his God in the upper chamber three times a day despite a prohibition by a decree of King Darius. (Daniel 6:1-18).

D aniel stood before God with a quiet faith. He could have been anxious but he placed his trust in the power of God. He knew that there was no problem that God could not solve. No one knew what transpired between God and Daniel that night but we can imagine that he prayed and trusted God's faithfulness. “ If we are unfaithful he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself .” (2 Timothy 2:13).

W hen King Darius hastened to the lions' den the next morning, he found that God had delivered Daniel. (Daniel 6:20-23).

A re we faithful servants of the Lord like Daniel? Nothing is more powerful than God's protective care. He is sovereign over all the universe. He loves us with intimate and eternal love. Daniel knew that he could trust the Lord; and even if he would meet his death, God's mercy would be his.

M any times, we ourselves are emotionally overwhelmed by circumstances around us. We lose track of God's awesome power. We have to trust God not on the basis of what we feel but on the basis of who God is. We can face our battles victoriously because we know that God holds us in the palm of his mighty hand. When our own world seems to have turned upside down, let us remember that God loves us and He will make things right for us. Let us not be overwhelmed by fear, anger and discouragement. Let us not give up. God says: “ Fear not! ” He is near and He will provide the strength, hope, and encouragement that we need to remain in the right path. He is in complete control.

T he Prayerfulness of Nehemiah

W hen faced with trials and our peace is threatened, what shall we do ? – Let us do what

Nehemiah did. His weapon was prayer. When he learned that the wall of Jerusalem was destroyed, he was grieved and he turned to the Lord in prayer. He had faith and devotion to an awesome and all powerful God. “ O Lord, God of heaven, great and awesome God, you who preserve your covenant of mercy toward those who love you and keep your commandments, may your ear be attentive, and your eyes open, to heed the prayer which I, your servant, now offer in your presence day and night for your servants .” (Nehemiah 1:5-6). Like Nehemiah, we have to proclaim our dependence in the Lord. We have to trust him to place a wall of protection around our life in order to experience God's victory in every situation. When we are faithful servants of the Lord, we and our families are safe; our possessions in our land will also increase. Let us not go out of the protective wall of God.

What To Do When We Are Attacked By Our Enemies

•  Maintain Our Spiritual Focus – When we sense problems and attacks from our enemies, we should immediately turn to the Lord in prayer. Prayer is crucial to our faith and spiritual well-being – especially in times of distress and trials. Without prayer, we shall flounder with feelings of hopelessness. Nehemiah did not flounder with his burden of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem . He turned to God with his prayers.

W hen God places a burden in our heart, He always provide what we need to meet the challenge or task. An author wrote that when God puts a burden on us, He puts his own arm underneath to support us. God's right arm held Nehemiah and those who rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem . God sustained Nehemiah with courage in facing a great challenge to complete his task.

G od directs the course of our lives. He protects us and gives us the ability to accomplish our goals. He is our ever present help. Let us maintain our spiritual focus on God especially when we are attacked by our enemies.

N ehemiah refused to listen to his enemies and their threats and accusations. He remained strong with his faith and did not lose his spiritual focus. He said “Have no fear of them! Keep in mind the Lord, who is great and to be feared, and fight for your brethren, your sons and daughters, your wives and your homes.” (Nehemiah 4:8).

•  Ask God for Wisdom and Discernment – Let us ask God for wisdom and discernment. He will provide us with what we need to complete the work He has given us.

•  Trust God – Like Daniel and Nehemiah, let us trust God completely. Let us not doubt. Let us not be fearful. When we trust God, He will guide us.

•  Claim the Promises Written in God's Word – God is an intimate and loving God. He has good plans for all of us: ? “ For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. ” (Jeremiah 29:11). ? “ I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly .” (John 10:10).

E ven when we face trials, God has a promise: “ No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it .” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

T he word of God is alive. (Hebrews 4:12). Our faith must stand on God's word. His word serves as a solid and permanent foundation. “ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away .” (Matthew 24:35). Let us claim God's many promises. “ The promises of the Lord are sure .” (Psalms 12:7). God keeps his promises.

How Nehemiah Saw the Greatness of God

N ehemiah saw the following greatness of God:

1. God Is Externally Faithful – Nehemiah's view of the faithfulness of God is the same as those of Joseph, the dreamer, Daniel, David, and Moses who recited the words of a song: “ For I will sing the Lord's renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God! The Rock – how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways! A faithful God, without deceit, how just and upright he is! (Deuteronomy 32: 3-4). Truly, God's work is perfect and all his ways are just. He is a God of faithfulness and without injustice; righteous and upright is He!

2. God Has Infinite Power – God has infinite power. He is sovereign over all things. With his infinite wisdom, He sees and knows the trials and affliction that we face and endure. We can always turn to him for help.

3. God Is Ruler Over All – There will be times when we feel that other people hold our destiny in their hands. The temptation for us is to become angry or fearful. We may want to run away from the difficulty. The wisest thing we can do is to turn to God. We proclaim his faithfulness in our lives and we cling to him even when the winds of adversity come to us through the actions or words of another believer. God is truly the ruler over all.

How Our View of God's Greatness Affects Our Prayer Life

O ur view of God affects three aspects of our prayer life:

1. Our Request To God – Our sovereign God loves us with unconditional love. We can approach his throne with our heart-felt request. He has promised to listen to us and to provide for our deepest needs. If we need encouragement, God will grant it. If we need wisdom, He will provide it. If we are sick, He will heal us – “I, the Lord, am your healer.” (Exodus 15:26). If we are in a vulnerable situation, He will cover us with his mighty and protective hand. No one and nothing is greater than the Lord, our God. Let us pray to him and seek his protection.

2. Our Lifestyle – Once we understand the goodness of God and how He loves us, then our lifestyle will no longer revolve around the finite pleasures of the world. Instead, the focus of our life will be set on God. He may ask as to stay in a difficult place; but He will grant us his eternal care and bless us abundantly for our obedience.

3. Our Faith – Prayer is an act of faith. By praying to God, we declare our trust to someone other than ourselves. Our faith is increased as we pray and watch how God answers our prayers. “Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell to you things great beyond reach of your knowledge.” (Jeremiah 33:3).

G od is great! We view God by standing on solid rock – Jesus Christ. There is no way for us to fail; we will succeed. We will be victorious. “…whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these….” ( John 14:12).