The God Who is Big, Able, and Near

So, uh, speaking of first and second grade, I decided tonight that the challenge will be taking you back to children's church. Um, I know you guys have graduated, and I know some of you guys have graduated twice already, being out of college already. Um, but I there's some truths that we learn in Sunday school, in children's church, that I feel is very important even as you grow and even as you move on. And I know some of you guys, we feel like we've outgrown a lot of things, but there's some children's songs that are actually very good that I hope you will never outgrow. So, I'm going to share with you guys the three children's song tonight, and I want you guys to sing the first one with me.

Uh, if you guys know, please sing it out. Um, if not, tonight's the night that you will learn it. I'll take you to children's church. Now, you know that you've been there. But here's the first song. Ready? My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty. There's nothing my God cannot do for you. Ah, good job you guys. You guys, you guys know. We're just going to sing the first song just for time sake. But my God is so big, so strong, and so mighty. Tonight's challenge is not necessarily exeetical, but it's Bible truth. And it's a reminder for us, even for us church members, cuz yes, they'll need it, but I think we also need it every day.

And the truth is, God is very powerful. I mean, is he not the creator of this world? Is he not the one that in Genesis chapter 1, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth? God is very big. In Genesis chapter number 18 verse number 14, God asked Abraham a question that still echoes today. And that question was, "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" I think if we just take that question and run with it, you can be challenged by it. Like seriously, what is so big that God cannot handle? Like is it a disease? Is it some kind of financial problem that I have? Is it an ex exam that's due and it's coming up?

God is so big. There's nothing too hard for him. Jeremiah says this in Jeremiah 32:17. Bible says, "Ah Lord God, behold, thou has made the heaven and the earth by the great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee." Paul even takes it further and says this in Ephesians chapter number 3 20. He says, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that workketh in us, my God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do." And so for you college students or for you graduates who are going into college, whether it's a whether it's college, whether it's career, whether it's just the fact that you're done with high school, there is no college, but there's career, there's adulthood.

Maybe you're excited and maybe you're anxious. Either way, don't forget that whatever comes your way, you have a big God. You serve a big God. The God you sang about as a child, the one who holds mountains, valleys, and stars is the same God who is actually holding your future. When life feels overwhelming, uncertain, or too much to handle, go back to that truth. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. Not a test, not a job hunt, not a broken relationship, not even your own doubts because I know that a lot of times we have our doubts. But God is so big. And even for us church members, this isn't just for them.

Whether you're navigating retirement, whether you're raising a family, whether you're facing health battles, or whatever it is that is your struggle, God hasn't changed. He's still big, and there's still nothing too hard for him. and his strength has no expiration date. There is no prayer too big, no sin too deep, and no need knee too great for our God. And I hope that this simple truth will encourage you moving forth that my God is so big, so strong, and so mighty. There's nothing my God cannot do. And I love that last line for you because he's not just a God of Abraham, of the Jews. He can also be your God.

He is very personal. So that's the first song. The second second song I want to remind us tonight is this. Ready? He's able. He's able. I know he's able. I know my God is able to carry me through. Good job. You can stop there. Very good song. But these aren't just comforting lyrics, though. They're backed by the neverfailing word of God. Because all throughout scripture, you've seen God work and you've seen God use many people. And David even said this, "I I have been young, but when he was old, he's never seen God forsake him." And God can carry you through any struggle that you come upon. And for college students that I mean it might seem small to you, I mean to us, but to you it might be big.

Whether it is what college am I going to go to, what what um what am I going to do after college? What career? Who am I going to get to know? All of these things that are that an anxious graduate from high school thinks upon. But if you just trust in the Lord, he can carry you through even those those things that you deem to be big. God is faithful and he can carry you through. I love what um Paul said in Hebrews chapter number 13 verse number five. This is a very good verse to remember. But he said in the latter part of it, he said, "For he had said,"I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." And that's a promise of God that God will never leave us.

Isaiah 41:10 says this, "Fear thou not, for I am with thee." And then later on he says, "I will strengthen thee. Yay, I will help thee." God is going to be with you and he can help you in those situations. And then Psalm 46:1 says this, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." And so whether the when the weight of life gets heavy or you remember you will you were never meant to carry whatever that weight is alone, God doesn't just walk with us. He actually helps us. He holds us. And for you graduates, maybe it's it's open doors that are causing new open doors that are causing a lot of pressure.

And so anxiety is a big thing today. And maybe anxiety is is skyrocketing with you. Remember God and go back to him cuz he's able to help you through your college stress. Maybe it's it's a career. Whatever it is, whatever it is, God is able to carry you through. The Lord who gave you breath, who gave you dreams, he is also the one who can carry you through every disappointment, every unknown, and every hard night. And it's not just true for college students or graduates. It's the same truth for every single person. If you are struggling with something and you're struggling by yourself, that's probably the problem.

You need to trust God and run to him because God is the one that can help you through whatever that struggle is. And so the second one is he is able to carry me through. But then the last one, this one is very basic. I'm going to take you back to the basic, but it's this. Read your Bible. Pray every day. Pray every day. Pray every day. Read your Bible. Pray every day. And you'll grow, grow, grow. Let's sing the second line. Okay. Neglect your Bible. Forget to pray. Forget to pray. Forget to pray. Neglect your Bible. Forget to pray and you'll shrink. Shrink. Shrink. It's very basic and very simple.

But it's not just an application for graduates. It's actually an application for every single Christian. If you want to grow in your walk with the Lord, if you want to be a strong Christian, but you neglect the word of God and you neglect prayer, then you're not going to grow. And as as Christians going into the workforce or as Christians going to school, furthering your education, if you want to continue to grow as a Christian, then you need to read your Bible and pray every day. not as some kind of task, but it's it's a way for you to actually connect with God and grow closer to God. And I know it's basic and it's simple, but that's why it's so awesome because it God makes it easy for us to just spend time with him.

Psalm chapter number 63, I hope that we can echo this in verse number one. David said this in the first part part of that. He said, "Oh God, thou art my God. Early will I seek thee. My soul thirsteth for thee. And it's that deep longing for God that is needed for us Christians. In 2 Timothy chapter number three, and this is why scripture is so good in verse number 16, Bible says this, all scripture is given by inspiration of God. And then later on it says this, that the man of God may be perfect. We need scripture so that we can continue to grow in our walk with the Lord. Joshua chapter number 1:8 says this this book of the law and this is actually the definition of a successful person if

you meditate therein day and night then thou shalt have good success that's what Joshua is saying there and then reading your Bible and praying every day is the only way that you can grow spiritually if you don't then you won't be able to grow and you're about to leave behind your high school your teacher teachers and maybe even your your hometown. But I hope that you do not leave behind the truths of scripture and the truths of this psalm. That just because you've outgrown your teenage years and you've outgrown high school that you're now going to outgrow your walk with the Lord, too. I hope that you do not do that.

I hope that you actually turn back to God and continue to grow in your walk with the Lord. Your Bible is more than just a book. It's actually your foundation and will help you to continue to grow. So build your new life on old truths. The best graduates, the best graduates aren't just moving forward, they're actually growing upward. So please continue to grow in your walk with the Lord. But let's be honest, some of us feel stuck even as regular church members. Sometimes we know that truth, but we don't live it out. And sometimes we use excuses like, "Oh, I'm too busy. I have work. I have kids. I have two kids.

I have three kids. I have four kids. I just I was at Sam this afternoon getting the cake for the graduates." And then a mom is walking with her shirt and it's like a you know on your iPhone has the dead battery and it's a red bar. So it's like a dead battery. And on the description on the bottom, three toddlers. And and so we have that excuse. Oh, we have kids. I can't spend time with God or whatever it is that we come up with. I hope you understand that if you keep using those excuses, you'll you won't grow regardless of what excuse you use. And so, I hope that you will be challenged as well that you need to read your Bible, pray every day, and you'll grow, grow, grow. So, these aren't just kid songs. They're very good, catchy kid songs, but I hope that you'll refer back to them every now and then. Remember, your God is big enough.