GOD THE FATHER HAS NOT CHANGED!

                                                          JAMES 1:16-17                                                  

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. GOD HAS NOT CHANGED

1. His Power Has Not Changed [Isaiah 50:2, 59:1]

- Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness: their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

-Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

2. His Policy Has Not Changed [Malachi 3:1-7]

3. His Predictions Have Not Changed [Isaiah 34:16]

- Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

II. GOD’S WORD HAS NOT CHANGED

1. It has the Same Comfort [Romans 15:4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4]

- For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

-Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2. It has the Same Hope [Romans 15:4, Acts 26:6]

- For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

- And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:

3. It has the Same Promises [Ps. 77:8, 2 Peter 1:4]

-Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore?

- Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

III. GOD’S EXPECTATIONS HAVE NOT CHANGED

1. His Love Hasn’t Changed [Jeremiah 31:3, Jn. 3:16, 1 Jn. 4:7-11]

-The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

-Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

2. His Longing Hasn’t Changed [Rm. 5:8, 2 Peter 3:9]

- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

- The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

3. His Loyalty Hasn’t Changed [Psalm 119:90, Lamentations 3:23, 1 Cor. 1:9, 10:13]

-Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

-They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

-God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

-There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.