Free Christian Sermons: God Is Always On Time

God is always on time even when He seems late.

This great truth of life it is proven numerous times in the Bible in situations where God’s timing proved to be the right time.

Mordecai and Haman

The first Biblical example of God always being on time is from the book of Esther where we see King Ahaseurus developing insomnia one night.

The Bible tells us that the king could not sleep and so he Commanded his servant to bring the book of the records and read it to him. (Esther 6:1) 

As the history books were being read, they came across the passage where it was written how Mordecai had saved the king’s life by revealing a plot by his doorkeepers to assassinate him.

King Ahaseurus then asked how Mordecai had been rewarded for this deed and he was informed that Mordecai had not been rewarded. (Esther 6:1)

Early the next morning, the king waited with bated breath for the first person to come into his court. 

Haman, who was a powerful official in his government, happened to be the first person to come into the court that morning To suggest to the king that Mordecai should be hanged on the gallows that he had built (Esther 6:4) simply because Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage. (Esther 3:5)  

The king then asked Haman, “What should be done for a man whom the King wants to honor?” (Esther 6:6)

Upon hearing the question, Haman asked himself within his heart, “Whom would the king want to honor more than me?” (Esther 6:6) He assumed that the king wanted to honor him and thus answered the king’s question by saying that that person should be rewarded by having him dressed by a noble prince with a royal robe. He should also be given a horse with a royal crest on its head and paraded on horseback through the city square with the proclamation, “This is what shall be done to the person whom it pleases the king to honor” been made before him. (Esther 6:8-9)

The king then commanded Haman to go and do all those great things for Mordecai.

Haman had no choice but to obey the king and dress Mordecai with a royal robe and lead him on horseback through the city square while proclaiming, “Thus shall it be done for the man whom it pleases the king to honor.” (Esther 6:8-9)

From these events, we can see that God was not late even though some time had passed since Mordecai had saved the king's life and failed to be rewarded for it.

We can also see that God is always on time because the night that King developed insomnia was the same night that it was read to him how Mordecai had saved his life but had not been rewarded and the same night that he felt in his heart that Mordecai should be rewarded with immediate effect and the night that preceded the morning when powerful Haman was coming to ask for Mordecai’s life after he had finished building gallows that were 50 cubits high to hang Mordecai.

Therefore, understand that even if you have done some great deeds that were not rewarded by humans, God has not forgotten and He will repay you at the right time.

Secondly, understand that even if it seems that you have run out of time to save your life or your health or your family or your finances or your ministry or your career, and your enemies have finalized their “foolproof” plans to finish you, it is not over because their plans are not God-proof.

This is because God can use any means necessary including causing Kings to develop sleepless nights so that He can save you since My thoughts are not your thoughts and neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than yours and My thoughts than yours. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Therefore, do not waste your days worrying or your nights thinking about all the elaborate plans that your enemies have set to destroy you for The Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep (Psalm 121:4) and even at midnight He can turn the tables on your enemies and turn your situation around.

Therefore believe that The Lord God is your protector and He is by your side to protect you. The sun will not hurt you during the day nor the moon at night for the Lord will protect you from all evil. (Psalm 121:5-7) 

Free Christian Sermons: Do I Go Back, Stand Still? Move Forward?

When Pharaoh was told that the Israelite slaves had left, he took all the chariots of Egypt with captains over each of them and pursued the children of Israel.

When the Israelites saw the Egyptian army marching after them, they became very afraid and cried out to the Lord.

Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have brought us out here to die here in the wilderness? 
Why did you bring us out of Egypt? 
Did we not tell you when we were in Egypt to leave us alone so that we may continue serving the Egyptians because it would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die here in the wilderness?”  

Moses replied and told them, “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of God, what He will accomplish for you today.” 

…

And God said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod and stretch your hand over the sea and divide it. (Exodus 14:1-16)

Do I Go Back?

The Israelites were walking away from a horrible past of cruel enslavement by their Egyptian masters for The Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with harshness and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage – in mortar, in brick and in all manner of service. (Exodus 1:13-14)

They then cried out to God and He delivered them from this bondage with His Mighty Arm after He unleashed the 10 plagues on Egypt. The Israelites were now marching towards their glorious future of living in freedom in their Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

However, as they marched through the wilderness towards their promised future, they arrived at the shores of the Red Sea and on looking back, they saw their enemies in the form of Pharaoh’s army hurrying towards them.

This made them very afraid and they began to think of surrendering and going back to their bitter bondage rather than face what seemed like certain Egyptian annihilation. 

We can see that they were thinking of retreating because they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt? … It would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die here in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14:11-12)

Do I Stand Still?

Moses without a doubt also saw the advancing Israelite army but when the Israelites began to ask him questions that suggested retreating back to Egypt would be the better option considering the current challenges they were facing of the Red Sea and the Egyptian Army, he said to them, “Do not be afraid. Stand still” (Exodus 14:13)    

1. Do Not Look Back

The first life lesson from this tough situation is that you should never look back at your past, at the life of bondage that you are leaving behind regardless of whether it is a dead end job or an abusive relationship or a drug addiction even if you find yourself facing a Red Sea of rising debts or crushing loneliness or severe withdrawal symptoms.

This is because looking back at your past when you are facing mammoth challenges in your present, will color the problems that you left behind and make them seem less horrible than they really were. 

Looking back at your past will make you think thoughts like:
“At least when I was working at that minimum wage job I had some money coming in.” 
OR
“At least when I was in that abusive relationship I had someone to spend my days with.” 
OR
“At least when I was using drugs regularly I never felt this bad.”

Such thoughts can make you consider surrendering any progress you may have made as you walk towards your future and make you move back into the bondage of your past.

Therefore, when you are facing by harsh problems in your present that are hindering your progress, do not reminisce over the few good times you may have had in your generally bad past.

Do not look back especially if you have been following God’s leading to your future because we can see that the Israelites had camped right in front of the Red Sea under God’s direction for God said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel to turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the Red Sea.” (Exodus 14:1-2)

2. Do Not Fear

The second lesson is that you should not be afraid if you find that a Red Sea of problems stretching itself out in front of you as far as your eyes can see but you also have to deal with problems from your past that are hurrying to catch up with you like Pharaoh’s army to ensure that you do not cross over from your current wilderness and enter your Promised Land of freedom.

These problems from the past can include a former employer who does not want to release you or a stalking partner who will not let you go or a drug dealer who does not want to lose one of his former best customers.  

Therefore, if you have been obedient to God in leaving the bondage of your past and you find your progress hindered by a mighty Red Sea of problems and Pharaoh’s army of problems is still chasing you, heed Moses and “Do not be afraid. Stand still.” (Exodus 14:13)

Fight the fear of Pharaoh’s army by having faith that God will see you through all your problems. We can see that Moses tried to build up the Israelites faith in God ability to save them by telling them, “The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.” (Exodus 14:14)

Therefore overcome the fear of fighting with the Pharaoh’s army from your past that is chasing you regardless of whether it is a politically connected employer or a powerful spouse or a ruthless drug dealer by believing that God will fight for you.

So fight the fear by believing that “The Lord will fight for you.” (Exodus 14:14)

To learn more read How to Fight Fear with Bible Verses

3. Be Still

The third lesson is that you have to be still and hold your peace so that you do not defeat yourself with your mouth by contaminating your present and future with your own negative words since The tongue has the power of life and death. (Proverbs 18:21)

To calm down when you are trapped between Pharaoh's Army and the Red Sea, you have to believe that God is still in control over your situation.

So Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10) so that you do not speak like the Israelites and say things like “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have brought us to die here in the wilderness? 
Why did you bring us out of Egypt? 
Did we not tell you when we were in Egypt to leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians because it would have been better to serve the Egyptians that to die here in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14:14)

In your case it might be saying things like,

Why did you tell me to resign? Did I not tell you when I was working in that Corporation to leave me alone so that I can continue earning a minimum wage because it would have been better to serve under those harsh conditions than to die here of mounting debt in the wilderness of starting a home business or ministry?”

OR

Why did you tell me to leave that relationship? Did I not tell you when I was living with my partner to leave me alone so that I can continue enjoying the few good times we had together when they were sober because it would have been better to live under those harsh conditions than to die here of biting loneliness in the wilderness of singlehood?”

OR

Why did you tell me to stop using drugs? Did I not tell you when I was using those drugs to leave me alone so that I can continue enjoying my life because it would have been better to continue having my highs than to die here of these harsh withdrawal symptoms in this wilderness of rehabilitation?”

If you have already spoken such or similar negative words, pray and ask God to forgive you and then decide that you will never utter another negative word about your situation again.    

In addition to not speaking negative words about your situation, you also have to stand still right where you are and do not give up any ground that you have gained back to the enemy.

Therefore do not abandon the business or Christian ministry that God has asked you to start and start looking for another job. 
Do not begin returning your former partner’s emails or calls. 
Do not begin using drugs or drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes.    

Be determined to stand still in your position until you hear from God what your next step should be. 

4. Wear Your Armor

The fourth lesson is that you have to wear your armor.

To be able to stand still in your position when you are besieged by problems from all sides, you have to Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of the Gospel of peace.

Above all take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the enemy.

And put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ensure that you are always praying in the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:13-18)

Click on the link to learn How to Put on the Armor of God

5. Change Your Mind

The fifth lesson is that you have to change your mind.

To know what God would like you to do, you have to Be not conformed to this world. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you can prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2) 

This means that you should not let your thoughts conform to the negativity around you brought caused by being trapped by Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea. Instead, you should transform yourself from the inside by renewing your mind with the positivity that comes from the Word of God.

To be transformed by the renewing of your mind, you have to meditate on Bible verses that nullify all the negative thoughts in your mind.

Therefore find Bible verses to meditate on and replace all the thoughts of defeat or retreating or surrendering to the enemy or any other negative thoughts in your mind like The Lord will fight for you. (Exodus 14:14).

Once you have replaced all negative thoughts with the Word of God, you will be in a better position to discern what God would like you to do in your current situation.   

Do I Move Forward?

5. Obey God

After hearing from God or discerning His perfect will for you, you have to obey Him.

We can see that the Israelites begun to move forward after God said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to move forward.” (Exodus 14:15)

As you obey Him, obey Him in totality so that you do not drown in the Red Sea of problems in front of you. We can see this from the fact that God told Moses “Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the Red Sea and divide it.” (Exodus 14:16) 

  

Therefore, understand that doing exactly what God has told you to do is very important and be determined to obey His instructions up to the minute details even if what He tells you to do seems improbable like stretching out a hand holding a rod to part a sea because With God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

So, if God asks you to lift up the standards of your products and stretch your marketing efforts over a certain niche, do it even if your efforts seem useless in the face of the severe competition in that market because with God’s power all things are possible.

If God tells you to lift up your mingling efforts and stretch your socializing to Christian circles, do it even if your efforts seem useless in the face of all the other personal problems you are facing because with God’s power all things are possible.

If God tells you to lift up your efforts for being clean or sober and stretch your quest for help to a Christian addiction treatment center, do it even if enrolling in another rehabilitation center seems useless in the face of all the numerous programs you have been through because with God’s power all things are possible.    

6. Focus on the Future

The sixth lesson we learn is that God did not tell Moses to lift up his rod and stretch out his hand over the camp of Pharaoh’s army because He does not want you to focus on your past. He wants you move forward by looking forward towards the glorious future that He has planned for you.

Therefore, concentrate on solving the Red Sea of problems stretching out in front of you and believe that God will deal with the problems from your past Himself just as He dealt with Pharaoh’s army until they recognized that it was God Himself dealing with them for they said, Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them (Exodus 14:25) when He took off the wheels of their chariots so that they drove them with difficulty.

So, as you move forward into your future through the path that God has parted for you between your problems, do not concern yourself with the enemies from your past who are still chasing you. Focus on where God is taking you and leave Him to deal with your past.

Do not be tempted to look back and take one small peak at the army of Pharaoh that is following you at full speed because what you see may cause you to be so afraid that the fear may permanently paralyze you and you may become like Lot’s wife who looked back at the past from which God was delivering her from and she became permanently immobilized as A pillar of salt. (Genesis 9:26) 

Top 20 Stress Management Gifts

The Top 20 Stress Management Gifts is a compilation of some of the best stress relief products that also double as unique presents. 

These stress management gifts can help a person who is coping with a stressful situation relax and enjoy holidays like Christmas day, Valentine’s day, Mother’s day, Father’s day, St. Patrick’s day, Easter or their birthday, anniversary, graduation or any other special day in their life that coincides which coincides with a stressful event.

Aromatherapy Essential Oils

Aromatherapy essential oils are some of the best stress management gifts since they can help a stressed person feel relaxed almost instantaneously. 

Examples of aromatherapy oils with soothing properties include lavender essential oil and Roman chamomile essential oil.

Other essential oils have different effects which can are also beneficial to a person dealing with stress. Examples include eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils which have invigorating and refreshing effects that are beneficial for those dealing with stress related lethargy. Rosemary essential oil is also very useful for managing stress related depression.

These aromatherapy essential oil gifts can also be combined with a book like How To Use Essential Oils so that one can experiment with their multiple healing effects. 

Bath Gift Sets

A long, hot, aromatic bath can help even the most stressed and tightly wound person relax since it helps their tension dissipate. 

Therefore give sets of stress relief products like scented bath gels, body lotions, and candles to your stressed friends so that they can savor them leisurely. 

You can also learn How To Make Natural Skincare Products and How To Make Gift Baskets so that you can make your own special bath and body products and customize your gift baskets for that extra special touch. 

Biofeedback Devices

Biofeedback devices are other excellent stress management gifts because they can help a person monitor and therefore try to consciously reduce their stress levels through various means.

For example, the Stress Thermometer tracks the body temperature which drops when one is tense and rises as the circulation improves when one relaxes.

Biofeedback devices can also be used to train a person to relax by using breathing techniques or changing negative thought patterns which contribute to negative emotions and increased stress in the body since they will see the evidence as it were on the screen of their device as their body relaxes.  

 

Chocolate

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate ice cream, chocolate brownies and all other chocolate-containing foods are universally loved comfort food because they are known to aid in coping with stressful situations.

Eating dark chocolate is doubly beneficial since it stimulates the production of endorphins which are the body’s “feel good” hormones and increases the levels of serotonin in the body. This serotonin is important since it imparts a feeling of emotional well being.

Therefore consider giving a box of dark chocolates to a stressed person or learn How To Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries so that you make your own special present. 

Container Gardens

Container gardens are great stress management gifts since research has shown that gardening is beneficial for managing depression which is a common companion of long standing stress.

These window sill gardens can also flavor your giftee's life for months and even years to come when they use the organic herbs for cooking gourmet meals. Furthermore, indoor gardens also make excellent home decor accents and help bring dead space corners and counters to life.

Therefore, do not hesitate in giving a container garden even if the giftee does not have green fingers since many of the top range counter top container gardens come with premium seeds, organic soil and solid instructions to ensure that the herbs will flourish even under stressful conditions.

Christian Meditation CDs

 Christian Meditation CDs and DVDs make perfect stress management gifts because meditation is a very effective relaxation technique.

Research has shown that by focusing on a specific phrase or Scripture, the heart rate slows down, tension dissipates and the physical body is able to relax.

The Word of God is also the Sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and therefore meditating on it will help the stressed person fight and win any spiritual battle that they may be engaged in and that may be contributing to their stressful situation.

Day Spa Gift Card

 Spa gift cards are excellent stress relief gifts since a day spent in a spa is an awesome way of dealing with distress for it allows the giftee to relax and be treated with tender loving care.

Therefore, help yourself or a stressed friend forget their stressful problems by spoiling them with a day of pampering pedicures, manicures and facials at a day spa.

Exercise DVDs

Giving exercise DVDs is another way of helping a stressed person workout aerobically and burn all the circulating stress hormones and thus reduce their chances of developing stress related illnesses.

Regular aerobic exercise also results in the release of endorphins hormones which will help them feel better even if their situation has not improved. It will also help them look better and possibly also feel better about themselves.

A perfect example of awesome home exercise DVDs is the P90X Home Fitness Workout DVD Program. This program consists of 13 DVDs, 12 of which are workout DVDs with numerous workout routines and muscle confusion techniques to avoid exercise plateaus. It also contains an Exercise Planner and a Nutrition Guide.

Flowers

 Giving a bouquet of fresh flowers can brighten a stressed out friend’s day. Therefore regardless of whether they love lilies or roses or orchids, dazzle them with a fresh spray in their favorite color.

If they do not like live plants because of allergies or any other reason, consider buying them a bouquet of beautiful faux flowers.

Fountains

 The gentle water streams of miniature fountains contribute to creating a stress free ambiance in any room. Therefore consider gifting a stressed pal with a table top fountain as a home décor accent to help them relax.

Gym Membership

Give a close pal who is dealing with a lot of stress a paid up gym membership and offer to work out with them so that you can both improve your health and manage the stress together. 

If you live with them, consider learning How To Set Up A Home Gym so that you can help them relax as their workout partner in the privacy of your own home.

Home Spa Party Invitations
 Home Spa Party Invitations are gifts that can help stressed girl friends relax together and cut down on spa costs.

Therefore buy some massage oils, hire a massage therapist, order some healthy finger foods and invite your dearest friends to a private party in your home spa. 

You can also just buy a large spa gift basket, like the one on the right, that contains both bath treats and edible treats like English tea and chocolate cake and savor the contents together with your fellow spa party goers.  

Humorous DVDs

 Give a gift that will make a friend smile, forget their misery and even laugh in the middle of their crisis by buying DVDs of clean comedians because humor is an excellent stress reducer and consequently an effective relaxation technique.

These comedy DVDs also make superb presents since they cross gender and stress barriers as thus are appropriate gifts for men as well as women dealing with different kinds of stress. 

Healthy Comfort Food

 Buy a gift basket filled with gourmet comfort foods or cook them yourself or treat a stressed out friend to a dinner in a restaurant that serves healthy comfort food like low fat chicken soup, fish and whole grain main courses and dark chocolate desserts to help them feel better both emotionally and physically.

Instructional DVDs 

 Give a gift that will teach a stressed pal how to manage stress so that they can deal with their current and future stressful situation more effectively.

You can give them DVDs that teach relaxation techniques like abdominal breathing, visualization and stretching exercises.

Jesus Christ

 Jesus Christ is the best stress management therapist.

Therefore encouraging a stressed person to have a personal relationship with Him so that they can cast their stressful burdens on Him because He cares for them (1 Peter 5:7) and He can also sustain them (Psalm 55:22) can be one of the best stress management presents you can give them.   

Help them accept Jesus into their lives by saying, “Jesus is Lord” and believing in their hearts that when He died for our sins, God raised Him from the dead and they will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Then remind them to share their problems with Him daily through prayer and to read their Bible so that they can receive the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. 

Journals

 Pretty journals with cute pens make elegant stress relief presents since journaling is a very effective method of catharsis.

Therefore buy a couple for a stressed friend and encourage them to journal and write their stress away.

Joke Books

 Books filled with jokes or funny cartoons are also perfect stress relief gifts since they bring a smile to the receivers face and leave them with a merry heart which is just as good as medicine.

Linen

 A gift of high thread count bed sheets and pillow cases combined with comfy pajamas, lavender eye pillows and a relaxing linen spray will help a stressed friend relax, drift off to dreamland and leave their stressful problems behind for a couple of hours.

Therefore buy a set for a close stressed pal and one for yourself.

Music CDs and MP3s

 Music CDs and MP3s are wonderful relaxation gifts since music can soothe a troubled mind like it did for King Saul in the Bible.

Therefore, give the gift of soothing instrumental music which can be listened to at home, when exercising and even when commuting to and from a stressful job.

Pedometers

 A pedometer can serve as a gentle hint to a stressed out pal and help them increase the distance they walk and thereby inadvertently help them manage stress more effectively since aerobic exercises like brisk walking are some of the best stress relief activities.