Praise for Deliverance

[0:00] A pastor's reflections. Praise for deliverance. Exodus 18, 9-10.! And Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the Lord had done.

[0:12] ! And Jethro said, Blessed be the Lord who has delivered. Psalm 13, 6. I will sing unto the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

[0:23] 2 Peter 2, 9. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly. It is appropriate to give thanks for what has been received. Whether it be a meal or a gift, it is appropriate to thank the individual responsible, who has given that which has been received.

[0:40] The scripture tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5, 18. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. In everything give thanks?

[0:53] Yes, in every trial and temptation, in every frustration and failing, in all circumstances and conditions, give thanks. But what about sin?

[1:06] Am I to give thanks in sin? What about a deep loss or sorrow? Am I to give thanks in those circumstances as well? Yes, we are to give thanks in those things, not for those things.

[1:22] When I sin, I do not thank God for my sin, but I can give thanks in my sin, because God's goodness and deliverance has overcome that sin. Even at our worst, God is still good, and God still delivers.

[1:37] In Exodus 18, Moses had just recounted to Jethro all of the difficulties and deliverances that the people of Israel had gone through in following their God.

[1:50] Their difficulties were not by accident. God had specifically led them into trials and testings along the way from Egypt to the Mount of God. Why?

[2:03] Because it would only be in those difficulties and trials that they would come to see just how good and able their God was to deliver. God is not so much interested in what the trial is as what the trial does.

[2:18] Today, we have an opportunity to respond as Jethro did when we see or hear of trials and difficulties that God's people may be going through. Praise God!

[2:30] He is good, and He delivers. Do you believe that today? Do you believe that right now God is good, and right now God is delivering? Because He is, and He always will be so.

[2:46] Father, we want to thank You. We thank You for Your promised deliverance. Whether we can see how You will deliver or not, we can be assured that You will deliver, and that You are delivering.

[2:57] Help us to be quick to praise instead of complain. Thank You for all that we have received from Your loving hand. Amen.